The Door to Door Bookstore tells the story of Carl who delivers books to his customers after hours. One day a young girl accompanies him that girl is named Schascha. I loved this bright and smart little girl so much, she made my day! The story is about family, community and fighting for what you believe in. I can not imagine a world without books and this book gave me all the feels. It's a sweet little book that made me smile from ear to ear. I recommend it as a happy easy read.

The idea of a personalised book delivery service run by Carl hooked me in. His passion for reading and his meticulous care he took of books kept me there. It was clear from the start this novel was for bibliophiles. With many book related observations and quotes I longed to remember, I felt not only connected to Carl and the other book loving characters described here but also seen. If Carl was real, he’d be a welcome visitor to my house.

It was a delight to join Carl and Schascha on their rounds. Their colliding personalities and revelations snuck in during their banter gave this book an emotional depth and two unlikely protagonists. Not only was the story heart-warming, it made me fall not only in love with Carl and his customers, but with the city too.

The points of view hopped a bit within chapters but this could be a translation issue and didn’t detract from my love for this book. It enabled the individual stories of Carl’s clients and their motivation behind their desire for his visits to be revealed. Carsten Henn’s passion for reading and books enthused this novel with much wisdom and made me keep turning the page just as much as the desire to know what Carl would do when his job is under threat. From Dog the unforgettable cat, to Sister Maria Hildegard, all the customers lives come together for an unexpected but more than satisfying conclusion.

Would I recommend?
Oh yes. This intergenerational tale of friendship, books and the ability to transform lives with small actions is an adorable delight. It made me grin, reach for the tissues, feel angry and love. The emotional journey through the city provided several small stories and each one has lodged into my heart. Every time I see a yellow coat wearing child I will think of Schascha.

Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a wonderful story full of wonderful characters and so beautifully written.

I really enjoyed this book, and couldn’t wait to see how it ended but at the same time, didn’t want it to end. Carl is amazing, putting so much effort into making sure his customers get their books and get the right book for them. Even when his job is under threat, he tells no one - still making sure they get their novels at great personal cost to himself.

Each character has their own story that unfolds as the book progresses, Carl has his own names for all of them and we only learn their real ones as the story continues. Then there’s Schascha, the little girl who decides to walk with The Book Walker (as she calls him) every day, even though he doesn’t want her company. She’s pretty special to the story, helping deliver the books and uncover the real stories too. And in her yellow winter coat, some sunshine too!

A brilliantly written, heartwarming (and wrenching at the same time) story of friendship and books. Who could ask for more.

This is a lovely feel good book about an elderly bookseller, Carl, who has for many years provided a special service to his customers. He chooses books for them and delivers them to their homes giving each customer a secret name from literature. It was a little slow at the start but as soon as the story progressed I found myself completely immersed in this beautiful story.

Briefly, one day nine year old Schascha joins Carl on his walk. Schascha calls Carl the book walker, and although he tries to discourage her she keeps coming back until he realises that he, and his customers, are enjoying their new found friend. Until one day she isn’t there…

This book is full of wonderful characters and just their name was enough to put a picture in my head about how they looked and their personalities. I found this really quite an emotional read, but in a good way. It was sad in parts but uplifting and very enjoyable. A comforting, cozy read perfect for curling up on the sofa with a cup of tea and cake! I really enjoyed it and was going to give it 4⭐️ but it left me with a warm feeling inside and that’s priceless 5⭐️

The Door-to-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn

Carl has been choosing and delivering books to his customers for years but times are changing and the new bookshop owner wants to dispense with his services. When Carl meets a 9 year old girl on his rounds his life changes in lots of unexpected ways.

Oh WOW, I've read 72 books this year so far and this is in the top 3 for sure... I absolutely loved this beautiful story with great characters, and I really enjoyed the literary references too. I hope this book is a massive success, it made my day and I'm sure everyone would enjoy it too. I've already got a few copies on pre-order as Christmas presents. Very VERY highly recommended.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and of course the author for gifting me this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

What an incredible and moving book - it will definitely stay with me for a long time. Full of emotions that have you on your rollercoaster throughout filled with love, heartbreak, tears and cheers.

Following the story of an elderly man called Carl Christian Kollhoff who delivers books door to door in the evening with his own recommendations for the people he delivers to. On his rounds he meets a 9 year old girl called Schascha who insists on keeping him company when he does his delivery route.

This is honestly such a beautiful and heartwarming story. I cannot wait to read more by this author.

A beautiful story for any book-lover.
Central to the book were Carl and Schasha; an elderly man whose love for books had driven every aspect of his life, and a determined little girl who will be as memorable to me as Lyra from Northern Lights and Liesel from The Book Thief.
Carl delivers books to people, whose lives depend on his visits. The wider cast of characters, as they are introduced are also utterly memorable, each with their own moving stories.
The relationships between all these characters was simply heart warming and like all uplifting books demonstrated the absolute necessity for love and friendship in every person's life.
The book has a fairy tale quality about it too, which was like slipping into a bedtime story every time I picked it back up.
Gorgeous. Thoroughly recommend,

A brilliant book about simplicity and reading. I loved the pace, the way the story unfolded with each turn of the page, and the brilliant characters. Whilst not a book I will recommend to students, the idea of a door to door library is something I know will resonate with students.

The synopsis sounded so good. I usually love books about books. The little girl was the best thing about the book, and I liked getting an insight into people’s houses, but the writing didn’t hook me at all and every other character was flat. I so wanted to love the book and was waiting to like it more, but that didn’t happen.

I wanted to love the bookstore setting, but it, the books, and the other settings, were not visual either.

I was pulled out of the book and it was such a shame. It was a DNF for me.

Thanks to Carsten Henn, Rachel’s Random Resources for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

2 stars

Read for the blog tour.

Loved the book, great characters and a reminder about the power of books.

I will be busy recommending the book

Carl is a very special sort of bookseller. His customers trust him to choose books for them based on what he knows they will like. For some he even delivers the books within the city that he hasn't stepped out of in decades. He gives each of these customers a literary name that he feels suits them. One day he finds he isn't alone on his evening deliveries, a small girl has joined him. He does his best to shirk her, much preferring to walk alone than company but she persists and badgers him so he agrees to “ just this once” as long as she behaves. Schascha being only ten years old, of course has different ideas on what behaving means and begins talking to his customers, something Carl only does in very small doses. To his surprise they like Schascha and want her to return.

This is such a beautiful story for any bibliophile. It's one that speaks our language and takes us through the whys and wherefores of reading. Are you a fish, a hare or a tortoise? (relates to type of reading speed). I couldn’t help but love many of the characters especially Carl and Schascha- the name being a story in itself. A book that gets us and wraps its comforting arms around the reader in our own wonderful world of books. A rare gem of a read I truly enjoyed.
For more reviews please follow me on Twitter or Threads @nickisbookblog #blogtour

A brilliant read and one I really enjoyed. The characters are loveable and varied, the plot is one that is engaging and medium paced. I found myself completely drawn into the story and enjoyed the writing style.

Carl is very particular about his job delivering books, he carefully wraps them up and has a predetermined route through the city that never changes. His customers know he will be able to recommend the perfect book for their needs and have been relying on him for years. This doesn't appear to go down very well with the new owner of the bookshop, Sabine, who inherited the City Gate bookshop from her father. She wants change and is trying to sweep away the old days which unfortunately includes Carl. Many changes are coming to Carl's life especially when he meets nine-year-old Schascha who refuses to leave his ordered life in peace. Charming but gentle story.

Beautiful novel about books and friendship I really enjoyed immersing myself in the world of these characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Thank you NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, I never got into this book. Before picking up, it seemed super interesting, but the plot just lagged a bit too much for me, I would have preferred it to be at a slightly faster pace. The characters were lovable, but at times lacked a bit of depth, especially emotionally. I also felt that you didn’t get enough time with the character or enough vulnerability, to connect with or form an opinion on. The characters felt quite distant in a way because of this.

This is one of those book you won't forget as you follow Carl and Schascha , root for them, and enjoy how simple things can talk to your heart.
Moving, poignant, and life affirming.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The charming international bestseller about an unlikely friendship between an elderly door-to-door bookseller and a nine-year-old girl that changes his life.

This book was a quaint, low-stakes novel about the MC and a young girl bringing the joy of reading to people in a small town. I would thoroughly recommend this book to people who enjoy reading and love books, but are maybe looking for a quiet read. Something they can read a little, put down and return to later.

The book itself is quite slow to start, which is definitely reflective of the life that the MC is living, but I found myself struggling to get into hit. The story would have definitely benefited from a slightly bigger 'hook' to engage the reader at the start, but the lovely characters and the pleasant pacing really kept me going as we went through the story.

This tale of a bookseller and his small handful of very special customers, and the nine- (almost ten!-) year-old girl who helps them all band together to help one another, has a love for books flowing through every line. Full of quirky characters who will quickly find their way into your heart (even the cat), and beautifully written, this will go down as one of my favourite books ever.

Poignant and uplifting, it's truly a book for book-lovers everywhere.

One comment about the cover art: although I love the illustration - why the bicycle? Not once is a bike mentioned in the book - Carl carries his book deliveries in a rucksack. And if the book describes him as always wearing olive green overalls, why does he look like a station master out of Thomas the Tank Engine on the cover?

Thanks to the author, publisher, Netgalley - and not least the translator for bringing this book into such gorgeous English. (Because translating that wordplay can't have been easy!)

Truly a book made for book lovers.
This was such a heart-warming, wonderful little read that'll appeal to anyone who understands what it means to fall in love with stories, and especially to fall in love with the world once you become more present in the story of your own life. I loved this.
If you enjoyed titles such as THE STORIED LIFE OF A.J. FIKRY and A MAN CALLED OVE, you're very likely going to adore this.

Carl has worked for the same bookstore for a long time which is now run by the owner's daughter. Carl likes to hand deliver the books but she thinks this is a waste of time. He's built a rapport with his readers and selects the books he thinks they need to read. On his deliveries, he meets a 9-year-old girl who is fascinated with his habit and comes along with him. This is a really beautiful, heartwarming read and I loved it! It's quite an unusual story and so well written.