A delightful story of Lexi Austen who runs a book shop which she inherited from her grandmother in DC and finds it harder that what she thought and is struggling especially when a rival book shop owned by Sam Dickens, where as Lexi 's book shop is mainly old classics Sam's is modern.
Lexi is also trying to find love and decides to seduce Sam which makes for a funny and warming story thoroughly enjoyable read.
Would highly recommend.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Lexi Austen has inherited her late grandmother's bookshop in Washington D.C. and has been running it for the last 6yrs after moving over from England. It's not clear in the story which one of her parents was American but Lexi was at least born in America. There is another bookshop down the street from Lexi that was originally a second hand bookshop so no real competition for her, but then it was brought by Sam Dickens who is looking to turn into something more modern and fresh.

The two build up a rivalry of sorts over the years but things get more heated (at least on Lexi's side) when Sam starts adding more new books and starts broadening his scope into romance novels. Lexi decides the best way to stop him from ruining her shop is by using tactics from Jane Austen novels to make Sam fall in love with her, which he does and when he finds out she was playing games he got upset and kicked her out of bed. This happens again later in the book after Lexi tells him she's moving back to London - they're not even together and haven't even spoken about what they are or could be and he gets angry that she didn't include him in her decision and kicks her out bed.

Lexi was very whiney at the beginning, her best friend, Erin, has just got engaged and is planning her wedding and all Lexi can think about is how it affects her and what it means for her. She tries to be excited for her friend, but it really seems like Erin can tell she's not at all happy about. Even when Lexi comes home and talks to Erin, we're told that Erin is impatient with her and her woe is me attitude. She got better as the book went along but I didn't think she was particularly likeable.

Sam wasn't much better to be honest, he never stopped to talk about anything that he didn't like and instead just got angry at Lexi. Even after these things happened, they get back together again like nothing happened!

The story was ok but it dragged on quite a bit at times and I skipped over a lot of it as it was quite repetitive. There was also a number of unnecessary characters who show up but then disappear, they add absolutely nothing to the story and really could have been left out entirely.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Oh no what a shame, this book had so much potential, but failed.

It was initially giving Emily Henry vibes but this sadly didn't last long.

Thank you to Avon Books UK and Net Galley for the ARC but it wasn't for me.

It is a charming romance novel that celebrates the love of books and the magic of finding one’s soulmate. Page’s writing is warm and inviting, with a delightful mix of humor and heart. The characters are endearing. “Bookishly Ever After” is a feel-good read that will appeal to anyone who believes in the power of books to shape and enhance our lives.

Bookishly ever after - Mia Page
2.25🌟

The premise of this book sounded perfect, the two main characters have rival bookstores and I assumed it would be an enemies to lovers, but there was no chemistry there! I just know if you were to revisit this couple, the chances of them having split up would be unbelievably high.

Sam was the best thing about this book, (and Erin, I loved her) he was great and I felt sorry for him for the duration of the book because Lexi was honestly the worst. The idea of Lexi making Sam fall in love with her just so that she was at an advantage in regards to their bookstores didn't sit right with me at all, Sam didn't do anything wrong. Lexi was unbearable, I don't think I've ever been more annoyed with someone's actions in my life. There's one scene where Sam takes Erin back to her flat when she falls over the dog lead, and Erin and Sam are laughing about something Lexi has said and she throws a temper tantrum? I didn't know if I was reading about an adult or a child.

Overall, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I thought I was going to but it is quick paced (I read it in one sitting) and boasts short chapters!

Thank You to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for sending me the Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review🤍.

Bookishly Ever After was a letdown for me, I was expecting some fun bookish enemies to lovers but it just didn't follow through. I don't like leaving low-rated reviews for ARCs, I really expected to like this book more and I'm sure someone else will love this book and have a great time with it - it just wasn't for me unfortunately.

The main character, Lexi, is so unlikeable! I found myself highlighting sentences where she annoyed me rather than nice moments, she thinks very highly of herself and is very judgemental about other people.

There's also nothing really going on with the plot besides Lexi trying to save her failing bookshop and blaming all of her failings on Sam, the other bookstore owner. She seems to see Sam as this big bad rival who's out to get her and I'm still not sure what the basis of that is, there's no rivalry from Sam's side and it all seems to be Lexi's interpretation of the situation. It was very odd.

Also, Lexi is obsessed with the fact she lives in Washington DC. The number of references to it was driving me mad to the point where I counted and DC is mentioned 101 times!

This book was a really cute and cosy romcom
I was initially pulled into this book by synopsis and the description had me thinking it was going to have a 'you've got mail' vibe and while yes it did have some similar premise with the rival bookshop owners it was also unique in it's own way.
This book included
- enemies to lovers
- small town
- book lovers
- work rivals

At first I did struggle to get into the book as there seemed to be some pacing issues and I couldn't connect with the FMC but as the book went on I did enjoy the witty banter and chemistry between Lexie and Sam. The books also included references to other authors and books which I thought was a cute little addition to the story

What's not to love about this moving and entertaining book about enemies to lovers with a backdrop of rival bookstores no less!
Really great chemistry, compelling back stories and lots of soul this is a brilliant read for all romance novel fans

For me, the book just dragged in my opinion and Lexi just messing Ben over after a messy breakup was just not it for me. I liked the drama they did have at the start however the chemistry for me just faded. I just really didn't enjoy some of the monologue at times and unfortunately this just wasn't the book for me. Thank you fro accepting me to read this though!

Two bookstore owners falling in love while trying to take each other down? Yes please!

I was invested in this book the moment I knew what that it would involve bookstores and the enemies to lovers trope, and it did not disappoint!
I loved Lexi, and how her plan to take down Sam didn't work out how she planned but turned out even better in a completely different way.
I really liked Sam, and how he took control of his life, choosing what he wanted instead of what others wanted for him.
I not only loved the two main characters in this book, but the side characters were as equally amazing, and the friendships and almost found family aspect of this book made it even more enjoyable, as they were all supportive of one another, and put each other first as much as they possibly could.

overall, I would highly recommend this book if you are looking for a literature themed enemies to lovers, with bookstores and amazing side characters!

I liked that this was about rival book stores. I liked Lexi and the small town feel of the area she lives in. I liked her bookstore and the look into being an owner of a bookstore.
I think the love story here fell a bit flat.
But still a really cute premise and a good look into bookstores and how they are run.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

This book drew me in with the synopsis. Rival book owners? Check. Enemies to lovers? Check. Opposites attract? Check. Small town? Check.
But omg it was just…not good.
It was very long and drawn out, I had already checked out near the end and just ended up skim reading some of it ngl.
I didn’t really like the characters and couldn’t vibe with them; they just felt a bit odd and almost ‘too much’ in a cringy way.
The writing was also quite poor (I’m not the type of person who can normally pick up stuff like this), but some lines just didn’t flow right, and also the plot line/timelines was off at some points

Lexi inherits her grandmothers bookshop in DC and is doing reasonably well until Sam turns up and turns the secondhand bookshop round the corner into another bookshop selling brand new books

To me, this book felt forced and undercooked, and I struggled to get through it even though I could see clearly where it wanted to land. Working within this set of tropes, there are so many other versions of this book that make this plot feel light and fizzy, but I’m sorry to say this rendering felt grim and laborious.

This was not for me.
I love cosy rom coms and enemy to lovers but this one is not for me. I did not connect with the main character, she does not sound like a 30 something and more like a teenager monologue?
What she was doing seems a little shady, and a very self centred act. There are so many repetions! I couldn't cope with the same sentences being repeated constantly. Too many deviant monologues from the main plot and just too long in general.
The book seems written in the 3rd person and then the 1st person sometimes?

Thank you netgallery and Avon books for the opportunity for a arc review

This story is a typical enemies to lover storyline with two rival bookshop owners. I really enjoyed how the storyline incorporated a lot of bookish themes, mentioned other popular and current authors and books. Very clever and different.

However, overall I felt the storyline was very predictable and I knew what was coming next reason for reading this book in a couple of hours. I felt this book could have been cut down a few pages and still it would be the same outcome.

Cute ending and it did bring a smile to my face in parts.

3.5 stars rounded up

A solid rom-com with decent chemistry between the main characters (although it could have done with a little more steam). I found our heroine Lexi relatable and likeable, particularly her conflicting feelings about her friends' successes. I also enjoyed the book lovers and Jane Austen theme of the book, along with the traditional enemies-to-lovers trope. A cosy read for fans of romance novels.

This novel is You've Got Mail meets The Hating Game. Two rival bookstore owners, (You've Got Mail) Austen and Dickens who become friendlier when Austen decides to snare him in a slightly bonkers plot (The Hating Game) to make him fall in love with her. Although it seems foolproof, Austen does actually fall for Dickens and Dickens isn't as callous as he first seems. There is a bit of repetition, Austen's shop was bequeathed to her by her late grandmother which is mentioned several times, it's a pleasant enough read. Thanks to Net Galley for the advanced copy.

Okay so I have many thoughts on this book. I enjoyed the romance to an extent, the whole bookstore rivalry was interesting but mostly annoying at points. Like when someone who claims to love you is plotting the downfall of your business that you have built for years isn’t that romantic to me. Also, for people over the age of 30, it felt like I was reading a book about teenagers. The whole thing just felt so immature.

Also this book easily could have been about 200 pages less, so much unnecessary rambling from the main female character for 75% of the book, I must have skipped the majority of it. Also a best friend who seems to be annoyed at you for having a real feelings and being upset about life because she’s engaged and loved up? Sorry but no, I’ll pass. And someone please explain the actual need for Amanda? She brought nothing to the table. Sam annoyed me 50% of this book, and Lexi the other 50%.

The only thing I really enjoyed was the ending. It was cute, but I also have no concept of time in this book so idk if the epilogue and what happened in it came far too quickly or not. Honestly, this book did nothing for my romance loving heart, which is upsetting, but it’s not the worst book out there.

Thank you to Net Gallery and the publisher for sending me this arc in exchange for an honest review.

The overall story is quite good.

Is this a modern day fairy tale?

The female in this is quite man hungry.
She is quite ruthless in her thinking. To protect her business she decides to get the new owner of her competitor bookshop to fall in love with her so she can sabotage it.

The main female character was not very becoming to me and I found myself cringing with her antics throughout.

Three out of five stars from me.