I really enjoyed this story, a book about books and bookstores will always be one of my favourite things!

I loved:
- the bookstore setting
- Jasper!
- the challenge of reading books and going on adventures to match
- the dirty birds
- Jasper!
- There was only one bed

I really liked drew and jasper together, I thought their love story was a great mix of sweet and spicy moments! Also I know we shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover but I do think this cover is gorgeous!

I have to say I agree with some of my fellow 3-star reviewers. I found it hard to engage with the writing style of this book. I felt like I was being told after the fact rather than being immersed in a present description of the story as it evolved. Great premise, I loved the synopsis and couldn't want to get stuck in but feel a little deflated and I'm left wanting more detail, context and substance.

3 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline Eternal for a copy of this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

The fun-sounding synopsis of this book intrigued me, and I'm a sucker for any romance set in a bookstore, so I had high hopes coming into this read. Unfortunately, it didn't quite hit the mark.

The foundations were there for this to be a great read. Drew, the main protagonist, was working her way through a lot of emotions around the loss of her Grandmother and running the bookshop in her stead at the start of this book, and I was initially intrigued to see where this journey would take her. I enjoyed the friendship between Drew and the Dirty Birds, especially with their meddling ways of setting her up with Jasper. It sounded like this was going to be such a cute read, and whilst it was to some degree, it just failed to reach those heights for me.

I think it comes down to the fact that there was a lot packaged into this world and it wasn't properly developed at times. As Drew's emotions or the storyline fluttered around, as did the intention in the moment. This would have been a clever way to showcase her lack of properly grieving or dealing with her Daddy issues, but it just felt a bit directionless, especially when we'd move from one thing to the next without properly addressing a moment of importance. As this continued, I struggled to form a bond with her as the main protagonist.

The biggest issue though wasn't the story trajectory for me, but the writing style. For starters, Drew is nearing thirty. But her voice is much more juvenile, and frankly unrelatable. She often goes off on tangents, her thoughts are inconsistent, and some of the humour is very misplaced or shared in poor taste (there was an internal remark about Jasper's dad that really stood out to me and made me question why the author put it into this book so casually). Drew feels much younger than the storyline tells us. Again, this is also noticeable with her friend and sister. I honestly thought I was reading a bunch of college-aged women when they got together.

With the grief of losing her Grandmother on top of some really needing to be resolved Daddy issues, it was hard for the romance to have any substantial growth to make it believable. One moment, Jasper and Drew are exploring Colorado together, the next, they're jumping each other like bunnies. There is a lot of telling rather than showing their relationship with multiple chapters starting by jumping three weeks and giving a brief recap that there had been "lots of sex" for the couple. Even in the pinnacle moment of addressing some of her grief, the author insists on letting us know there was lots of sexual activity before moving onto another topic and leaving that grief open-ended. I didn't feel like I was shown enough chemistry between Jasper and Drew to root for them and the conflict to drive them apart was so unnecessary. Jasper as a character, having not gotten much of a fleshed-out version in my head before this point as is, felt sabotaged for the sake of conflict. It was rather disappointing to read.

As critical as my thoughts have been, if this story had been better constructed, I could see how this would make for the really adorable romance I was hoping for. It is a quick and easy read despite my thoughts, and I can see how it could appeal to other romance readers. But with the heaviness of self-discovery being poorly handled, and the writing style as it were, I can say I just wasn't the right reader for this book.

Drew recently inherited her beloved Grandmother's bookshop, despite the fact that she hates to read. However, an encounter with visiting romance author Jasper makes her look again at everything...

This book was so sweet, with some really beautiful female friendships as well as a great romance. Drew's Dad was a bit of a strange caricature that didn't quite fit with the story, but otherwise I loved everything about the book!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

I loved the premise of this book, a woman who owns a book-shop and hates books and a highly rated romance author. There are some heavy themes or grief but I think they were portrayed really well along with a well told story of complicated family dynamics. I gave it 3 stars because it felt like there was a lot of telling me what happened without showing me. At one point it felt like there were 2-3 week time jumps each chapter that essentially just told us that “they had fun spending time together” but because we didn't see this and only saw the two main characters when something major happened it made it hard to fully see the chemistry between them. However, it was a romance book that felt really realistic and relatable and I found it a quick easy read.

Captivating, romantic and book themed perfection.. This was a beautiful story that had me hooked and thinking about it even when finished. LOVE LOVE LOVE it! Perfect for romance and book lovers.

A book about books will always be the greatest, you just can't go wrong.
I find it hilarious how Drew hates books... But yet owns a bookstore. Enter Jasper, a big ball of sunshine, and a romance author who is determined to make her fall in love with reading.
The Dirty Birds bookclub was one of the main best parts. A group of old women who remind me of my own grandmother, mischievous, meddling and just absolutely hilarious
Thankyou NetGalley and Headline Eternal for providing this ARC

I loved The Book Nook, it is everything you would want and I adored the dirty birds book club, they were mischievous and so much fun.

I felt for the main character Drew, she has been through a lot and seeing her work through her grief for her grandmother was quite emotional, but there were so many encouraging and uplifting moments too with those who supported and loved her, like the dirty birds, her sister and her BFF. Drew at times could be quite pessimistic and guarded but that added to her character growth and she felt very relatable. I also really liked Jasper, her love interest and the chemistry they had together.

I enjoyed this story, I loved the romance side but also the exploration of grief and the supportive relationships that can help us through the sad times and celebrate the good times.

A charming, swoon-worthy and utterly relatable rom-com about a reluctant (and book hating) bookstore owner, Drew Young who learns to reevaluate her pessimistic outlook on love—and life when she meets kindhearted (and gorgeously handsome) romance author Jasper Williams.

I absolutely adored reading this, lately I’ve become a complete sucker for the grumpy x sunshine trope so I knew as soon as I heard the premise that I had to read this immediately. And I’m really glad I did as it was everything I could want in a rom-com; endearing protagonists, a sizzling romance that I couldn’t get enough of and a quirky cast of characters who provided a much needed dose of humour during some of the more emotional/intense scenes.

I especially loved the dirty birds who were MARVELLOUSLY entertaining, they’re incorrigible and just a little meddling but I’d honestly do anything to join their book club and get to experience their infectious brand of humour. They really look out for Drew and treat her as one of their own family members—I loved seeing them leap to Drew’s defence when Drew’s estranged father shows up and causes trouble.

I really liked Drew too, and loved how heartfelt and detailed her character development was. She’s a very down to earth character who’s flawed and complex—and her emotional journey surrounding her grief (in loosing her grandmother and her dream career in one fell swoop) was absolutely heartbreaking to watch unfold, fortunately she does have a really supportive group of friends and family (specifically her mum, sister, best friend and the dirty birds) that really made Drew—despite her prickly, pessimistic and guarded personality—incredibly relatable.

Jasper likewise, was a fantastic character and love interest for Drew (and my new favourite book boyfriend.) His kindness, patience and hopeless romantic tendencies made him the perfect (sunshiney) counterpoint to Drew and I genuinely loved the chemistry between them, trust me the sparks start flying pretty much as soon as they meet —not to mention how utterly swoon-worthy all those romantic (and bookish) dates were!

I can’t really say anything more as I fear accidentally spoiling the entire plot but if you love opposites attract, sunshine/ grump or only one bed tropes then I definitely urge you to go pre-order this slow burn, sizzlingly sweet and poignant contemporary romance ASAP!

And a huge thank you to Headline Eternal and Netgalley for the e-arc.

I was attached to this book right from the cover. It was so funny to read about a book hater for once as usually it is a book lover and I loved the old meddling ladies as well as of course Jasper. Much more to come on this charming book. Would make a great romantic comedy book as well.

—————

Love isn't always by the book...

Self-declared book hater Drew Young never expected to inherit her grandmother's old bookshop, the Book Nook. And now, as she prepares to host a signing for bestselling author (and hopeless romantic) Jasper Williams, she finds herself caught between a bookshelf and a hard place.

Sensing sparks between the unlikely match, a group of mischievous old ladies - otherwise known as the Book Nook's resident book club - spot the opportunity to do what they do best: meddle.

Pushed together, Drew and Jasper soon come to an agreement. If Jasper can create a book bucket list to introduce Drew to the joy of reading, she'll help him explore beautiful Colorado for his next book.

With the shop's future in jeopardy, Drew is determined not to get distracted by the love story Jasper wants to write for them.
She knows that real life isn't like it is in the books, but could Jasper be the plot twist Drew never saw coming?
................................................................................

Better than Fiction
by Alexa Martin
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
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“I already know that nothing lasts forever - not the bad and definitely not the good. All I can do is indulge in the now and appreciate every beautiful second it lasts.”
——
Better than Fiction is a story about a woman, Drew, who is suffocating under the weight of her grief after losing her grandmother, but trying her best to hide it.
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Her grandmother leaves her bookshop to Drew, despite Drew not being a reader, and a lot of the story focuses on the emotions and weight that are tangled up in that. How do you keep and enjoy something when it was never your interest? But how do you part with it when the person you’re grieving for was so ingrained in it?
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Don’t get me wrong, this is a romance too, so around the grief you also get a sweet and reassuring romance. The kind that works to build the main character’s trust in relationships back up after all the men in her life have broken her. And the MMC Jasper is the epitome of sweetness and light.
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But I really felt like this book was a lot about the weight of grief underneath everything else, and how it affects your entire world. I did then notice at the end that the author mentioned she wrote it in the aftermath of losing her mother, and thought wow… I could feel that in the story.
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I loved the side characters in the book! They may have been what made it for me. The ‘dirty birds’ book club members, and Drew’s best friend Elsie were hilarious, and really helped keep the mood of the story lifted.
——————
Thank you to Headline Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! ❤️

This was a super fast paced, addictive romance. Jasper is dreamy and I want Drew to be my best friend. It's set in a book shop, which is always a plus for me. I found the romance perfectly paced and genuine feeling, it didn't rush into anything. It would have been a 5 star, but the ending ruined it slightly for me. I found it was chucked in for the big romance ending, which disappointed me. Overall a beautiful romance, and the cover is sensational.

A fantabulous four-star read. I so wanted to give this five-stars, but sadly it missed a couple of points, I enjoyed it, but it lacked in a couple of places that surprised me as the rest was so good. I adored Drew and the Dirty Birds, and even her grandmother who sadly has passed, as Alice Young was herself a main character in some ways. There was so much right with this story, the drama and the passion about the Denver, it really pushes you to want to go check out some lovely scenery and add it to my bucket list of places to visit. But there were also some bits that just didn’t work for me, and I really don’t know why, as the rest was just so good, I honestly felt like it was writing dropped in by someone else, or like some chunks had been edited by someone other than the main story. I will be trying this author again, as when I enjoyed it, I really enjoyed it.

This is good one… I’ve never read anything by Alexa Martin before but will definitely be making my way through her other novels now. I loved Drew, and I loved her narrative voice so much - it was realistic and funny. I also enjoyed the friendships in this and Elsie’s back story that we got a glimpse of. I really appreciated the fact that there wasn’t a happy ending for Drew and her dad - he is just a bad person and it’s left at that, which is all the more realistic. There’s not always a place for everything to work out! Jasper was a great a love interest and just so lovely 🥰 My only criticism is I feel like we didn’t get to know huge amounts about him.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, a book about books is a winner for me, even before I open it. As a book reviewer, that shouldn’t come as any surprise.

Ooh this was a yummy book. The characters, the setting, the story, the journey, just everything about it. It is such a happily-ever-after book and I’m here for it! Drew and Jasper are such gorgeous characters inside and out, and the secondary characters including Daisy, Dani and Elsie, as well Vivian, Mona, Collette and Ethel, add a certain spice, a certain pizzazz to the main plot.

I can’t get my head round people who don’t like reading. I do know some people, who thanks to issues like severe dyslexia, can’t read, but they would if they could. The idea that someone chooses not to read as they don’t find it enjoyable seems so aliens to me. It’s one of my biggest fears that I may lose my ability to read. My Nan was an avid reader and that’s where I got my love from, but in the final months of her life, her dementia got so bad that she couldn’t read anymore, and that’s what I found the most heartbreaking thing.

I’d love to run a bookshop, and the Book Nook just sounds idyllic. Heaving heaving bookcases and comfortable armchairs just makes for a gorgeous setting. Especially when Jasper starts frequenting the shop, it just becomes extra gorgeous. Now, most importantly, where do I get a Jasper from? Tall, dark, handsome, kind, polite, loves books and writes for a living. I mean, does a better man exist?

I felt Jasper was so real, like I wanted to tell my friends about this great new man I’d met. Is he based on anyone? Anyone you know? Anyone who happens to be in his 30s and single and in the Hertfordshire/London area? Ahem…..asking for a friend, of course.

I felt this kinship with Drew. I’m not saying because I resemble her (as she is mixed race and I’m as pale as they come), or act like her or have her life, but I just felt this connection that I could completely understand where she was coming from.

As a bigger woman, it’s still refreshing to see a main character who isn’t the tall, skinny, typical beautiful love interest. Drew is short and curvy and loves food and hates the gym and won’t apologise for it and I like that. It’s nice to see a character whose size does not factor in as a main talking point. It is what it is. More is made of Jasper’s looks - which I have zero issues with.

I don’t know America very well at all, and I know Colorado even less. I don’t know how much of what is written is true to the country or the state, or whether Alexa invented it to whether she actually knows her America, but either way, the descriptions of Colorado sounds wonderful.

I could see this being made into a film, in the line of Notting Hill. It’s charming and really sucks you in to its world. It’s like you’re living in your very own rom-com.

I’ve read a lot of rom-coms in my time, and they all follow a similar thread and I’m definitely not complaining about that. They’re so loving and comforting and warming and this is no different. Although I’d say this had more meat on its bones. It’s not just “boy meets girl, some obstacles get thrown, they overcome everything and live happily ever after”. Sure, there is that of course, but there’s grief, and loss and tension and hatred and anger.

At its heart, it’s about family and friendship and trust and love. This is the first I’ve heard of Alexa Martin but you’re damn sure I’m going to seek out her other books, past and (hopefully) future. If they’re like this one, they’ll be a proper comfort blanket.