I loved this quirky, charming romance so much! I love Emily Dickinson and the references of her in the book. I found the characters quirks to be lovable and just adored watching these two fall in love. Great book! I am looking forward to more from this author!

This was kind of off-putting—especially the love letters… I just couldn’t find them sweet; instead, it was just plain weird.

I’m disappointed; I really thought I could love this at first, and then the romance started. I did not see the connection between Emma and Davis AT ALL. Their relationship was not it. I was cringing more than I ever have, and there wasn’t enough buildup between the two.

Emma was… quirky. I started off really liking her, and then I got super weirded out. I wish that she wasn’t so obsessed with being someone else. There were better ways to go about her situation (I know this is fiction, but still), and I found it kind of strange that she tried so hard to follow in another person's footsteps—doing exactly what they did, learning their hobbies, etc.—that's just weird to me. There’s a difference between looking up to someone and being disturbingly obsessed. In this case, Emma was quite (understatement) obsessed.

The only thing about this book that I liked was the hopeless romantic aspect and the self-discovery.

No hate to the author! This is MY opinion.

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙍𝘾.

I enjoyed this one more that I thought I would as I was never a fan of Emily Dickinson. But I found myself relating to Emma because of the whole parent's expecting her to follow what they wanted for her life, to take over the family bookshop. Not really caring about what she wanted. It's not something I would reread again. But I did enjoy it for a once read.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. It was cozy and delightful!

"Not Quite by the Book" von Julie Hatcher ist ein bezaubernder Roman über Selbstfindung und unerwartete Liebe. Die Protagonistin Emma fühlt sich in der Familienbuchhandlung gefangen und beschliesst, eine Auszeit zu nehmen. Inspiriert von ihrer Lieblingsdichterin Emily Dickinson mietet sie ein altes Herrenhaus in Amherst, um dort die Einsamkeit zu suchen. Doch ihre Pläne werden durch die Begegnung mit dem mürrischen Architekten Davis durchkreuzt, der das Anwesen renoviert. ​

Hatchers flüssiger Schreibstil und die detaillierte Beschreibung Neuenglands im frühen Herbst schaffen eine einladende Atmosphäre. Die Charaktere sind authentisch und vielschichtig dargestellt, wobei Emmas Entwicklung von der zurückgezogenen Buchhändlerin zur selbstbewussten Frau besonders hervorsticht.

Fazit: eine herzerwärmende Geschichte über die Suche nach dem eigenen Weg und die Überraschungen, die das Leben bereithält.

Not Quite by the Book is a delightful and thoughtful exploration of self-discovery, love, and the pressures of family expectations. The story follows Emma Rini, a bookshop owner who finds herself stuck in a monotonous routine, feeling overshadowed by her more dynamic family. The novel paints a humorous and heartfelt portrait of Emma’s attempt to withdraw from the world by embracing a solitary life in a crumbling manor house, inspired by the reclusive Emily Dickinson.

Hatcher does a fantastic job balancing sharp wit with emotional depth. Emma’s journey is relatable to anyone who has ever felt the weight of other people's expectations or questioned whether they are living authentically. As she navigates the challenges of rural life, from battling bunnies in the garden to dealing with the fiery architect renovating the manor, the book explores themes of isolation, self-reliance, and the unexpected ways life forces us to confront our desires.

The dynamic between Emma and the grumpy architect adds an engaging layer of romance and tension, but the real heart of the book lies in Emma’s internal growth. Through her missteps and misunderstandings, she learns that perhaps it’s not about retreating from the world entirely, but about embracing both solitude and connection in a way that feels true to herself.

Hatcher’s writing is clever and warm, making it easy to fall into the world of Emma’s quirky journey. The novel also brings in an intriguing mystery with the secret admirer sending cryptic floral messages, which adds a touch of whimsy without detracting from the core story. The ending is satisfying without being overly predictable, leaving readers with a sense of hope and possibility.

In essence, Not Quite by the Book is a charming read for anyone who has ever dreamed of escaping their routine, found solace in books, or wondered whether they might be missing out on something bigger than the life they know. It’s a reminder that, sometimes, stepping away from the pursuit of love can lead to a deeper understanding of what you truly need.

Julie Hatcher has knocked it out of the park on her first pass at Women’s Fiction. It’s not a genre I typically pick up, but Julie is one of my favorite author’s so I will follow her anywhere (Julie, please don’t ever venture into horror… I don’t think I could follow you down that path).

While I was dying for more romance, I loved the character growth/exploration of the main character: Emma Rini. I related to her character so much! I swear Julie was hiding under my bed and wrote this story based on my life lol J/k, but seriously…*looks under bed* “Julie, are you under here?”

The relationship growth between Emma and her parents, as well as, Emma and her sister was really profound. Not all problems were fixed in a day, but conversations were had and the trip to become her best Emily was a success even if it wasn’t in the ways Emma had intended.

For a full review of my thoughts, watch Birdie and the Books’ discussion with the author here: https://www.youtube.com/live/EqwDC7sYYQw?si=N0yzjAWJMsmRz0Yb

Please Note: I received an advance copy for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley, Julie Hatcher, and Lake Union Publishing 🤓

Oh my! Julie has made the giant leap from cozy mystery to Women’s fiction and I cannot wait for more!!!! This book will have you feeling all the emotions and rooting for Emma to find herself, while also letting the reader know you are never too old to follow your dreams. I love all the hidden gems from other favorite authors to Emily Dickinson to quotes from history. This book was such a joy to read and listen to!

I thought this was a cute romance. I loved that Emma took the time she needed to unwind. It allowed her to really reflect on what she wanted in life and explore some more of her passions. Even though Davis could be grumpy he always seemed to show up when Emma was trying something new causing some funny moments. It was like they had multiple meet cutes and the friendship slowly developed. Some parts were a little predictable but honestly did not bother me at all. It’s just what I needed for a light romance.

Thank you @julieannehatcher @suzyapprovedbooktours netgalley and he publisher for the gifted copy.

I enjoyed reading this book and it’s references to Emily Dickinson. It’s a cute slow burn small down romance with all the charming characters to make it a wonderful romance story.

Take a break from life and fall in love with this like I did.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me access this book!

I am always a sucker for a romance set in or around a bookstore and while this one was primarily outside the bookstore, it was still good and involved a plethora of quotes from famous works of literature. The first half or so was interesting and well-paced, but the second half seemed to drag particularly as one of the core mysteries was constantly played with and the female lead seemed deliberately obtuse regarding the obvious signs of who her online friend was. There were several times I had to pause reading because I was so tired of this plot line. I also did not appreciate the constant lying and outright sabotage we saw from (small spoiler) Davis. I really needed more apology and groveling from him as he did a lot of messed up stuff and essentially got away with it with little to no consequences (she didn’t talk to him for what, a day?). Overall, this had cute moments, but the dragging plot, random side quests (that could have been fun if kept as brief side quests), and a male lead that read more like a bully made it a little hard to fully enjoy.

This bookish romance about a woman who travels to Amherst for an Emily Dickinson-inspired escape ended up falling short for me. The author succeeded in bringing the city to life, and the descriptive writing was enjoyable. From bookstores to historic manors, letter-writing classes to vegetable gardens, the literary vibe worked really well.

But it was hard to get past the characters and their motivations, which came across as aloof and misguided. The romance was also difficult to buy into since it relied on unrealistic miscommunication and a mistaken identity plot that was painfully obvious.

While tempted to DNF this one, I did see it through to the end and was happy that our FMC and her family members experienced growth and acknowledged some poor decisions made earlier in the novel. Despite not being a win for me, I think it will work for other romance readers, especially Emily Dickinson superfans!

A great read, the story of Emma, taking a well earned break from running her family's book store. With no Wi-Fi, internet for phone, and a rental house that has its share of problems, how will she cope? A great read.

Not Quite by the Book is a soft romance, one that flows through the pages without bashing you in the face. Emma has some familial conflict in her life right now and decides to leave her family’s bookstore for a few weeks respite. Her destination is the hometown of Emily Dickinson, not too far away. As she pacifies her family, including her pregnant sister, Emma tries her best to live as Emily lived. Things keep going wrong, however, and her savior ends up being the landlord she finds herself distractingly attracted to and irritated with at the same time.

While the secret admirer is glaringly obvious and predictable, the story was fun. When you’re taken advantage of for too long, you tend to do crazy things like take leave, run to a different town, and try to live like your favorite poet. Maybe that’s just Emma. I tend to get to the end of my rope and then get a divorce, but that’s just me. We all handle these types of situations differently. Emma probably could have been a little less selfish and sat her family down to talk instead of dropping a bombshell and then running away. If she’d done that though, we wouldn’t have the story Not Quite by the Book.

I enjoyed the story. The characters, setting, and plot are engaging. The book is full of excellent imagery and character development. The author's writing style is fluid, the pacing is perfect, and the story is so easy to read that I couldn’t believe I was almost done already. I found myself engaged and completely captivated in the story from the very beginning.

Not Quite by the Book, by Julie Hatcher

4/5✨
Contemporary Romance

Emma Rini is 31, single, and a romantic, and she can't help but feel like she will never find love. Her whole life revolves around working in her parents' bookstore, but they are too preoccupied with her sister's imminent birth to notice that Emma is unhappy. Then, a fellow bookstore owner she met in a Facebook group tells her about an opportunity to rent her manor house in Amherst, the hometown of poet Emily Dickinson, who happens to be Emma's spirit guide. Emma decides this is her chance to take some time off, explore her future possibilities, and, most importantly, give up on love. But then she meets the homeowner's nephew, and suddenly, giving up on love doesn't seem so easy anymore...

🌸 Books about books
🌸 Grumpy MMC
🌸 Small town
🌸 Slow burn

I love when characters relate so deeply to a historical figure that they make it their whole personality, and that's exactly what Emma does with Emily Dickinson. The book is filled with Dickinson quotes and facts about her life, and my favorite quote is: "Not knowing when the dawn will come, I open every door." This quote is particularly meaningful for Emma, as she is going through a difficult time and searching for happiness. When she finally starts to see the light again, she is ready to embrace whatever happiness comes her way, by simply waiting. And I think that's something we all should do: pursue happiness just enough so that it finds us when we need it most.

Now, I must say that the narrative was slightly slow-paced in the middle of the book, but I didn't mind the calm: it felt emblematic of Amherst and the 1850s. I have to admit that I hated Emma's parents and sister throughout the entire book. They were entitled and selfish toward her, but their behavior once again led me to an important realization: if you are unhappy, speak louder. And if they still ignore you, take matters into your own hands. In Emma's case, she leaves her town for six weeks, and boy, does that create resonance waves!

As for Davis, he’s a solid MMC, though I wish we had seen more of him. This book is probably more about rediscovering your inner self than a romance, but the slow burn was real - and very, very good.

"Maybe it was the historic manor at our side, the starry sky above, or magic in the air, but our kiss felt otherwordly."
"She believed that having one life to live, one chance to exist to the fullest, was what made living so sweet."

Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. Our main character Emma, has prioritised the family bookshop business in her life over everything else. She decides to take a holiday away from the bookshop and her usual life before her sister has her baby and her parents retire. Emma goes to stay in a cottage, in the town where her favorite author, Emily Dickson, used to reside. She’ll be a hermit, and live out her Emily Dickinson fantasies, during her vacation and also make some decisions about her own future. With no internet Emma loves her temporary switched off life in this quaint small town where everyone knows everyone. Emma had thought she would never find love but finds herself falling love with the small town and the residents, she even has a secret admirer sending her flowers. This was such a delightful read, I found myself also falling in love with the characters and the village lifestyle. I was initially drawn to this book of course because from the cover and title it was obviously about books to some degree which is always a huge draw card for me but it was so much more than a cute bookstore read. I loved being along for Emma's self discovery journey and seeing how she grew and developed relationships with people and reconnections in her life. A delightful read that will leave you with a warm heart and a smile on your face. #notquitebythebook #juliehatcher #netgalley #lakeunionpublishing #tea_sipping_bookworm #getlitsy #thestorygraph #amazonkindle #bookqueen #bookstagram

This was a fun, lighthearted, women's fiction, kissing only romance that sees a workaholic bookseller taking a vacation to embrace her Emily Dickinson/recluse era only to find out that she's not as introverted as she thought and she just might be falling for her mysterious pen pal! Good on audio and perfect for fans of You've Got Mail and anonymous text/letter exchange romances. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Not Quite by the Book by Julie Hatcher
Contemporary romance.
Emma Rina has put the family bookshop business as top priority in her life since her mother recovered from an illness years ago. With her sister pregnant and her parents looking at retirement now, Emma realizes she hasn’t had a vacation or time off in more than six years. She decides to prioritize herself and books a six week stay at a cottage in Amherst, in the town where her favorite author, Emily Dickson, used to reside. She’ll be a hermit, just like Emily, during her vacation and make some decisions her future. But no internet or cell service, and a cottage that’s more than 100 years old requires skill that Emma doesn’t have. Like laying and starting a fire in the fireplace. Davis Sommers, the owner and handyman of the cottage is the best looking man Emma has ever seen, but he keeps catching her at her worst. And he’s a little cranky.
Emma finds she’s a people person and not really fit to follow Emily’s footsteps at being a recluse. She falls in love with the small town and the residents. She plants fall flowers and spring bulbs at the cottage. She’s also getting flowers delivered from someone and letters written in calligraphy that aren’t signed either.
Emma’s life has changed while on vacation. Now she needs to think about her future and what she wants in it to be.

A delightful realization that today and tomorrow can be more. Emma’s time away makes her self aware and also opens possibilities without changing everything. She can’t change her parents or sister, but maybe she can talk to them rather than shut them out. Love is more than a single person, place or thing.
The romance is there too, in the story. And it’s sweet and adorable and perfect.
I really enjoyed all the pieces including Emma’s growth and her realizing Emily Dickinson may not have had all the answers as they apply to herself. Plus the hottie that sends her handwritten notes is pretty special too.
Dreamy and delightful.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

This is a sweet book. I liked the characters and the premise of the story. Nothing feels too rushed or too forced, which can sometimes be problematic. Definitely recommend for a lighter read.

Just finished Not Quite by the Book by Julie Hatcher — tried too hard to be quirky but felt flat. Characters felt shallow, and the pacing dragged. Not my cup of tea. 2/5.