This was such a lovely read. My favourite subjects books and bookshop, my idea of heaven. If I owned a bookshop I’d probably spend all day reading the stock. This story was so pleasant and I got a wonderful insight of all the different characters. Another new author for me, one I’ll keep my eye out for in the future. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Jenny and Marianne run a bookshop together and have done for a few years; now the gloss is wearing off and all Jenny can see is Marianne leaving her to do the heavy lifting and admin, while breezing in and out and making the books untidy while Marianne is fed up of Jenny behaving like a saint or martyr and making her feel guilty. Of course it turns out Marianne could do with a bit more planning in her life and Jenny needs to let go a bit, but they only discover this when they both take a long-haul, long-term trip, Jenny to the Maldives to run a bookshop and Marianne on a US roadtrip.

I felt like the synopsis didn't really match the book itself; it was far more about a friendship gone wrong through not talking than running a beach bookshop. Having Jenny's parts in the first person and Marianne's in the third made it clear where our loyalties should lie, and it was nice to have a book centring around friendship rather than romance (though that was there too a bit) but it did read a bit like a travel advertorial and it was difficult to sustain interest.

The holiday bookshop by Lucy Dickens

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to netgalley, random house uk and Lucy Dickens for the opportunity to read this book.

All in all I've given it a 3 star rating because it was okay but there were things I would change. I'd given jennys story a 3.5 and mariannes a 2.

There nothing wrong with marianne as a character or her story but I went into this expecting a story about a girl opening a bookshop in the Maldives and so unfortunately mariannes story became a hindrance to the enjoyment of that. Maybe if the extra information had been in the book description I'd read and I'd been in the mood for a road trip book I wouldn't have minded so much. She also felt rather shallow compared to the level of personality we got from jenny.

I appreciate the book as a story about a set of friends needing to be apart to find themselves but unfortunately the romances fell flat for me. Especially jenny's. It just felt like we didn't have nearly enough scenes of them together to get the foundation set for the romance which is a shame because the potential was there.

A delightful summer read loved the characters Jenny and Marianne who run a bookshop together in Cornwall. When Jenny sees a advert to run a bookshop in the Maldives she thinks sounds good but thinks no more of it until a falling out with Marianne who decides to go on a road trip with her boyfriend in America makes her accept a interview and accept the 3 month job of setting up a bookshop in a upcoming resort.
What follows is a story about 2 friends who despite going their different ways still think of one another but are too stubborn to contact one another.
Loved the settings in the Maldives and America this is a must read for the beach.
Thanks to NetGalley & Pengiun Books for a advanced copy.

A good fun holiday read. I would love to run a bookshop in the Maldives (who wouldn't??) I liked the characters Marianne and Jenny and the story of their friendship. A good summer read.
Thanks to the publishers Random House UK and NetGalley for the e-arc.

The Holiday Bookshop tells the story of Jenny and Marianne, business partners and lifelong best friends, who run a bookshop on the Cornish Coast. Jenny is serious and a planner, Marianne goes with the flow and is more creative. A falling out leads Jenny to go with the flow and take a summer job setting up a bookshop on an island in The Maldives, Meanwhile, Marianne decides to take the trip of a life time with her boyfriend Drew to the East Coast of the States.

The. two contrasting personalities find themselves in two contrasting holiday spots and situations.. Whilst Jenny struggles to find her creative side to launch a bookshop against the odds, Marianne finds sometimes. going with flow is not always without problems. Will Marianne and Drew last the holiday ? Will Jenny find love and who with ?

I loved the descriptions of both these places - the Maldive Idyll versus the craziness of Coachella and Las Vegas. both were bought alive in the story and made me want to pack my. bags and head to either or both. The plight of the Maldives and the need for ecological action was touched upon and it was good this issue wasn't glossed over.

All in all, a great holiday read - although maybe not if you're going to want to pack your bags and go somewhere else !

A nice, easy summer read. Best friends Jennie and Marianne own a bookshop together in Cornwall. Marianne is the creative genius and Jenn the business brain who keeps it all going. They complement each other so well. Mari keeps nagging Jenn to take time off and Jenn has always resisted until she sees an advert to run a bookshop in an upmarket resort in the Maldives for 3 months. Without thinking too much, she applies and is offered the job. But Marianne wants to go off on the holiday of a lifetime with new boyfriend Drew. Step forward Evan, Mari's brother and Jenn's crush to run the shop allowing both to head off on their adventures. But the girls' relationship is spoiled and they don't contact each other. I loved how the book then split into a chapter from Jenn in the Maldives, and then one from Marianne in America, showing how different they are but how connected to each other. A beautiful read, visually depicting the places they find themselves, humour, fun and emotion. Beautiful. #netgalley #theholidaybookshop

A cute, sweet summer read, with books and glorious sunshine vibes.

SYNOPSIS
"One woman. One island. A bookshop in need of revival...
Jenny has never been a risk taker. But when her best friend takes off on an American road trip, Jenny finds herself saying yes to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of her own and accepts the role of a bookseller in the Maldives.

The island of Bounty Cove Cay is everything she'd hoped for: white sandy beaches, glistening turquoise waters and palm trees bursting with coconuts. But it's not all plain sailing...

The resort bookshop is far from thriving and, in an unexpected twist, management are threatening closure.

Can Jenny throw her rulebook to the wind and turn things around before it's too late? And might she find her own happy ending along the way?"

WHAT I ENJOYED

☀️ Two POVs in sunny destinations - Jenny and Marianne - friends and bookstore owners, who take a break from running their bookstore and each other to go on their own adventures.

☀️ The sunshine settings within the book are just pure escapism: Marianne & Jenny's coastal bookstore, then when they head off on their own trips - Jenny in the Maldives, trying to launch a new bookstore and Marianne on her booky-themed trip to the U.S. with her new boyfriend.

☀️ The bookish themes - what bookworm doesn't love a book about books/bookshops?!

☀️ The book is more than a romance - that's kinda secondary to the story - it's more about the friendship and their ups and downs. Jenny as my fave, as at times I felt Marianne was very selfish in their relationship.

☀️ So, I loved Jenny's adventures the most, her temp job in the Maldives to launch a new book store in a resort was just cosy and fun to read - I felt like I was on the island.

☀️ Any of the romance was all closed-door which is just perfect for me.

A cosy, sweet, satisfying summer read, like eating ice cream on a sunny warm day.

This is a brilliant summer, holiday read, set in the Maldives and the USA with lots of great travel descriptions! I loved the idea of Jenny going to the Maldives to set up a bookshop in a luxury hotel - everyone’s dream job, surely! Marianne goes to America on a road trip of a lifetime with potentially her soulmate.

Lots of great adventures and I loved the way they readied that the success of their bookshop back home was down to the different skills they both brought to the table and they needed both of them for it to do well.

A book that has it all - books, holiday locations, romance, friendship, finding themselves - lots to enjoy!

This spoke to my inner armchair travel enthusiast, my inner booklover, my love of all things wonderfully escapist as it is a fantastic story that had perhaps a lot more going for it then you may first imagine.

For I loved Marianne's storyline and adventure just as much as Jenny's. They are best friends and business partners, but recently not being getting along as well as normal.

When they go off in separate directions for a while, it is a real journey of self discovery for each of them as they realise more about themselves than they expected.

I loved the setting of the Maldives for Jenna's new role, and I discovering the atolls through her eyes.

I just couldn't get enough of this story, the various plot lines and as always top quality writing.

Thank you to Penguin and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Two friends since childhood have set up a store
Where they sell books close to the seashore.
However, following their dreams comes at a cost
And aspects of their friendship they seem to have lost.

So when Jenny spots an ad for a temporary job she'd adore
She jokingly fills in the application, not expecting to hear more.
However, Marianne has planned to be away for a month or two
Exploring the US with her author boyfriend, too.

Get ready for a fall out and dreams to follow through,
New places to visit and new friendships, too.
There are challenges ahead for both of these friends,
Let's hope they'll be friends again before the story ends!

A great read that takes you to places far away,
Giving a taste of living there, if only for a day!
Nothing is plain sailing for either of these two
They'll have plenty of upsets before the story is through.

A story that shows that following your dreams
Finding leaving behind everyone special isn't what it means.
Learning to listen to what others want, too,
Can help you make your own dreams come true.

For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

Jenn and Marianne have been best friends for years.

In the seaside town of Bayside the two friends own a bookshop. It's always been Jenn's dream to own a bookshop and Marianne's to run a business with her best friend. They are such opposites but work well together.

Relationship wise - Jenn has a longtime crush on Marianne's brother, Evan but nothing has come of it. Marianne is dating an author, Drew Inkbridge.

Jenn spots an advert for a job vacancy in the Maldives for three months. She fills in the application, just for fun. Of course, she would never do anything that impulsive and adventurous. Or would she?

At the same time, Marianne wants to go on an adventure of a lifetime for two months travelling across America with Drew.

They can't both leave the bookshop, but who gets the time off? Impulsive and adventurous Marianne or workaholic Jenn? The women have a disagreement but when Evan steps in with an offer to run the shop both women leave for their travels.

Chapters are written from the point of view of both Jenn and Marianne covering the adventures they are both having abroad. Both post pictures on Instagram but neither pick up the phone to call each other. It's clear they both miss each other but neither want to make the first move after their falling out.

This is definitely one to read by the beach, the pool or a sunny garden! It has the feel good vibe to it for sure.

The author was really descriptive with her writing, so I could picture the Maldives, Las Vegas and even Bayside. Loved it!

Many thanks to Netgalley, the publishers and the author for an ARC.

This may be the nearest I get to holidaying in the glorious Maldives ! Totally bewitching descriptions of the landscape,culture and people coupled with a well crafted storyline makes this book such delightful reading. Sheer escapism

Jenny and Marianne own and run a small bookshop in Cornwall. Best friend for years their relationship is it under strain when Jenny applies for and gets a position setting up a bookshop in a resort in the Maldives for a 3 month contract.
This is more of a book exploring the difference between the two personality types than a romance with Jen's staid, logical business oriented personality against Marianne's spur of the moment, but full of ideas type. The Maldives certainly sound fantastic and Marianne's trip in the States brings back memories of s holiday my wife and I went on before Covid bought all these type of trips to a halt. There is still a touch of romance to go with those locations and plenty of laughs along the way - and even some danger. Still, the idea of a small bookshop in Cornwall would suit me better.... An ideal summer read, or to remind you of warm days come the winter.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

A great beach read.
Jen and Marianne run a bookshop in a small Cornish village on the beachfront and they both get restless, Jen gets offered a job setting up a bookshop in a hotel in the Maldives so Marianne decides to go on tour of America with her new boyfriend, leaving the bookshop to be run by her brother.
Jen and Marianne are totally different personalities and end up having a massive row before they leave..
Their journeys are totally different but can they survive without each other?
Marianne can get annoying at times on spending money they don`t have but otherwise a good light read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC

I requested this from NetGalley purely based on the title and the book cover - yep, I'm that person! I'm not sure what I expected, given that the blurb was quite short and vague, but I've read similarly titled books in the past that have been some light summer reading. This was a lot deeper than that, and it caught me off guard... in a good way.

The lasting messages that I've taken away from the book are much more thought-provoking than first appearances would have you believe, but I particularly enjoyed that they weren't shoved down your throat; they were just subtly placed as an overlay to a lovely, heartwarming story about two friends. Here are some of the key takeaways the story gave me:

Friendships can and should evolve, but it won't always be easy.
Adventure can be found in the everyday. Life itself is the adventure. It's ok if you don't go thrill-seeking, it doesn't mean you're not adventurous.
Planning and creativity are both important, but they work best when balanced together.
If left unchecked, your biggest strength can become your biggest weakness.
As you can see, it's much more than just a cosy summer beach read. That said, it had a very summery feel to it, especially the parts set in the Maldives. The author has a real flair for descriptive writing that allowed for complete immersion in all the locations the book was set in. I could see everything very clearly in my mind.

That leads me onto another surprise from this book - there were two viewpoints. We follow both Jenny and Marianne's stories throughout the book. I wasn't expecting it from the way the blurb has been written, but it was a pleasant surprise, as it gave real depth and perspective to the story, so that no one came off as the bad guy. That being said, I found it quite jarring that Jenny's perspective was written in first person, but Marianne's was written in third person. I understand that it was probably a writing tool to provide clear differentiation, but it was unnecessary and little distracting.

Equally distracting was the sheer number of sub-plots to follow and characters to keep up with. The story felt a little too busy at times, and some of the smaller characters suffered for their lack of air-time. I think the book would have been a 5 star read if there had just been one or two fewer secondary characters to keep a track of.

A lovely read, I polished it off in under 24 hours (quite an achievement with two small kids underfoot), with just a few niggles that kept it from being totally and utterly brilliant. Would recommend.

A book about friendship and adventure, being bold and brave and picking yourself back up in the face of failure and making the most of life. Which booklover hasn’t seen one of those advertisements for a bookseller position on some tropical beach in the dream holiday destination? If we were all as bold as Jenny, we could have been living our best lives in the Maldives too! This book has definitely inspired me to be more adventurous, to say yes to opportunities and to stop making excuses - I very much identify with Jenny’s character and loved to see her make bold choices, discover herself and have an amazing time in paradise.

On the flip side was Marianne, a carefree and in-the-moment character trying to enjoy every moment and see the world. It doesn’t always go to plan, and there were a lot of hiccups on her USA road trip, but she was enjoying herself and trying new things. Mixed in with it all was the shadow of Marianne and Jenny’s falling out, which plagued both characters throughout the book and definitely reflected the closeness of their bond. The men in the book were more side characters, and the focus of the book being these two friends and their history and their adventures. As a die hard romantic, I would have loved some more romance in this book - the kind Jenny was on the road to sharing with Rish if he was the right man for her. There was plenty to take away from The Holiday Bookshop and it’s a good, easy beach read.

I loved this book! its a story of friendship, love and self-discovery. Jenny and Marianne run a bookshop and café together in their hometown, having been friends since childhood. Marianne dreams up wild plans and Jenny makes them happen, until both find themselves wanting to go away at the same time. Marianne is planning a trip to Vegas with her new boyfriend and Jenny applies to run a bookshop on a Maldives Island for 3 months. The story follows their travels and journey of discovery- great holiday reading.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a lovely lighthearted romantic read.
With fabulous settings it makes a perfect holiday read.
This is a enjoyable feel good book.
I really enjoyed reading it.

Jenny and Marianne have been best friends forever. Such good friends that they open a bookshop together in their hometown of Bayside in Cornwall. They are yin and yang, each having their strong points and weak points. jenny is the practical planner. Triple checking everything. Marianne is the dreamer, coming up with ideas.
When Jenn comes across a job advert for a bookseller in the Maldives, she completes it on a whim, not taking it seriously, as after all she has her own bookshop. Meanwhile Marianne has got serious with her new author boyfriend and they decide to take a road trip on the west coast of the states.
Jenn gets an interview for the job and is offered it after she has a hell of a row with Marianne. It is decided that they will both go on their trips - Jenn's is for three months setting up the shop until the new manager comes to the Island - and that Marianne's brother, Evan, who shares a flat with Jenn (and is her secret crush) will run the shop in their absence.
They both go on their respective trips having not really spoken to each other. Jenn finds that having an ideas person would be really helpful, but discovers a strength within herself on her island paradise.
meanwhile Marianne and Drew on their "let's keep this spontaneous cos that's the way we roll" trip, find that a bit of forward planning would save a lot of time, money and headaches.
This is a lovely book about friendship and a nice read.