✔️ small town
✔️ You’ve Got Mail vibes
✔️ family drama
✔️ kisses only
✔️ bookstores
✔️ the cottage from The Holiday, but older

If any of these appeal to you at all, pick this book up immediately!

Not Quite By the Book by Julie Hatcher
This was a fun romance that included bookshops, letter writing, and dogs, a perfect combination!
Emma Rini runs the family bookstore and it has become her whole existence. Her sister is having her first baby, her parents are preoccupied with retirement and she feels excluded.
Emma is way overdue for a vacation and romance. She is frustrated with her parents’ expectations of assuming control of the book store and lack of consideration for help. She runs, taking six weeks off to channel her favorite author, Emily Dickinson. She tries every avenue to become Emily and dismiss love from her life expectations. A handsome architect, new friends, and a crumbling manor house challenge her plans in this sweet story. It is filled with romantic suspense and sweet friendships.
The characters are so well developed and the story just sweeps the reader in and carries them along. What a great book! 5/5⭐️s

I absolutely adore when romance books focus on character development and Not Quite by the Book impressed me to no end. I enjoyed reading Emma find and discover her place in her life.

Not quite by the book: Julie hatcher

This was a super cute and cozy bookish romance perfect for lovers of classical romance.
I loved that Emma was such an old soul, wanting to find herself by living like Emily Dickinson for 6 weeks for a break from reality. Not expecting to find love, with only the goal of finding herself.
You could feel the relationships and bonds of friendship formed between the character’s as Emma was on her journey, which left me wanting to know about every single person. The entire book had such an adorable small town feel & was such a cute read!

Thanks to NetGalley, lake union & Julie Hatcher for providing me with an ARC of this book!

An eldest daughter’s journey to self discovery and people pleasing recovery.
This is definitely one for the more classic romance book lovers, especially those who love Emily Dickinson. The story follows eldest daughter Emma who is struggling to break out of her people pleasing ways (relatable). It was a very cute clean book which was more about Emma finding herself and then getting a romantic ending. I did yearn to see a little more relationship development between the two main characters.

Not my favorite book to be honest. The summary/blurb of this book made it sound so cute. It had a cute cover, but I found myself being unable to finish.

I did finish, but I really didn’t want to lol.

I get that these characters are often into books and writing, and that was no different for Emma. She’s this overworked and overlooked character who loves Emily Dickinson. and while I knew that the Dickinson references would come often given her goal to live more like Dickinson, it got sooo repetitive and I found myself groaning and cringing every time she was mentioned. Sometimes it felt like it was mentioned jsut to not forget that Emma liked Emily Dickinson.

Some of the dialogue was disjointed and I felt like the story had a lot of promise but wasn’t written the best. I would try another from Hatcher, but this wasn’t for me.

Julie Hatcher's first book club read is a delight. Emma Rini has been toiling away at her parents' bookshop for years. As the only person running the store, she's working around the clock, from the moment she wakes up in the apartment above it to the moment she crashes. She's disconnected from her parents, and her sister is starting a family. Meanwhile, Emma can't find love either. So when she finds a creaky old mansion in Amherst, Massachusetts, she decides to take six weeks off and live like Emily Dickinson. There's another bookstore owner there, so it'll be perfect for her sabbatical. Emma's family grumbles--after all, her parents have to start working again!--so Emma takes off without a look back.

Emma brings a list of Emily's favorite things to do, but she fails miserably, burning baked goods and getting her garden overrun by bunnies. And then there's the last item: give up on love. It's hard for Emma to do that with a hot handyman running the mansion. Davis Sommers is grumpy at first but reveals himself to be much more than he seems. As their bond grows, Emma wrestles with the next direction for her life.

If you've read any of Hatcher's mysteries, specifically those under the name of Bree Baker, you'll know how sparkling and funny her writing is. However, here she gets the chance to go deeper, not having to rely on a formula to grow character. Emma's journey is the heart of the novel. Davis is a dream, of course, and their story dovetails with Emma's. But this book is really about a woman reclaiming her life from what others expect of her. A fun, easy, yet complex read.

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this book before it's release! As always, all thoughts, opinions, and comments expressed are my own.

Author Julie Hatcher's “Not Quite by the Book” is a charming and witty tale about self-discovery, family obligations, and unexpected romance. Main character Emma Rini manages her family's bookshop, but she yearns for something more in her life. Overcoming her inner turmoil, Emma makes the bold decision to break free from her mundane existence and seeks refuge in a manor near Amherst, hoping to find the poetic essence of Emily Dickinson. However, her plans quickly unravel as she becomes entangled in a series of comical and heartwarming events. From battling garden bunnies and planting flowers to engaging in verbal sparring with a stoic yet undeniably hot architect, who wants to renovate the historic manor, Emma's retreat takes on a life of its own. To add to the chaos, she receives mysterious floral messages from a secret admirer. The book is an easy-pace with extremely likeable characters. Through it all, this novel seamlessly combines literary charm with a lighthearted exploration of personal growth. Way to go, Ms. Hatcher!

There’s a lot to unpack with Emma’s Adventures. First, that it was a journey of self-discovery in your thirties—well at least, I imagine that she is. I was once in her shoes when I reached a point where I found myself in a crossroad, asking myself, “Where should I go from here?” Like me, Emma had to go through a lot of trial and errors—from baking, to gardening, to writing letters. It was a paradox of what life should be like in Emily Dickinson’s era but in a romantically catastrophic way. How I wish I could also do that kind of sabbatical while not putting everything at stake.

Second was how Emma’s life was quite a dream if you see it in a different light. Her family owns a local bookstore that she was expertly managing and running. It was every book girlie’s dream. This reignited that passion I’ve had since I was a kid and inspired me to go for it also as Emma did. One day, I hope.

Third was I did enjoy the descriptive world building as Julie established the climate of the story. You will really feel the historical element the author was trying to convey to connect it to the present time. The community felt very Gilmore Girls-ish, wherein people is tight knit, knows every single townsperson, and receives snail mails.

Fourth, I liked the characters. I think they were the typical characters you would want to see and live with in a community. Every single one has their quirks and perks, making Emma’s world more enjoyable and filled with warmth.

Here comes the part I’m kind of iffy with. The fifth point was story-wise, I think it was too vanilla. The plot was really interesting and had so much potential, but the narration just sometimes felt short or ain’t cutting it. I don’t want to spoil anyone but just for context, during my reading journey for this book, I knew when the story was about to hit climax but it didn’t really go there. It fell flat towards the middle and didn’t gain the momentum it needed not until I was in at least last 4-5 chapters. I got even surprised when all the conflict that I was waiting for to explode happened towards the end and it didn’t even peak for me. I wished the author went all out just to keep the reader’s blood running.

Overall, Not Quite By The Book is still quite an easy read with a lot of lessons to be uncovered especially if you’ve been looking for the kind of independence that will free you from all the restraints you have in life. Enjoy the characters, the setting, and the bookstore dream in between.

Thank you, Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this book before its release.

Emma Rini is disappointed in love and overburdened by managing her family’s bookstore. The tipping point comes as her happily married sister is expecting a baby, and her parents are contemplating retirement offering her ownership of the business. Emma impulsively decides to take a six-week sabbatical in an historical manor in Amherst to embrace her “spinsterhood” and emulate the life of her favorite poet, Emily Dickenson. Life, however, has other plans for her as she discovers/uncovers truths about herself and embraces new possibilities – including romance.

I enjoyed Emma’s journey of self-discovery as she sorts through her beliefs about who she is and her place in the world. There is humor as well as pathos as she navigates her attempts to align herself with Emily Dickenson’s lifestyle. The romance angle felt a little drawn out and the protracted references to Dickenson were balanced by an assortment of interesting characters and Emma’s comical failures at achieving the tasks she believed would bring her closer to her goal.

Overall, this was an entertaining read and prompted me to think more about the lost art of writing letters in our high-tech culture.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

"Not Quite by the Book" by Julie Hatcher is a sweet romance about a bookstore owner's journey toward happiness and self-fulfillment, filled with insightful moments. Sometimes, you have to do things "not quite by the book" to find your true passion. After a string of thrillers, this feel-good story, with its inspiring messages, was a refreshing change.

Emma Rini is a people-pleaser who takes care of everyone except herself. She runs her parents' bookstore dutifully but is taken for granted by her family. Overworked and constantly putting others first, she never takes time to pause and smell the roses or enjoy life. Everyone around her seems happy - except for her. After a few failed dates, she’s even given up on love. Her pregnant sister is upset with her and barely speaks to her, her parents are busy traveling, and she feels left out and unnoticed - even by her best friend, Cecily. Emma reaches a breaking point when her parents announce their retirement and ask her to take over the store. While she loves books and the business, she’s not certain it’s what she truly wants.

On a whim, she takes a six-week vacation, deciding to emulate the recluse life of her favorite poet, Emily Dickinson. Emma rents a historical manor in Amherst, MA, and tries to channel her inner Emily to find peace and beauty in her life. She creates a to-do list filled with new hobbies like gardening, poetry writing, baking, embroidery, and letter writing. However, she soon discovers that following in Dickinson’s footsteps isn’t as fulfilling as she expected, and it even becomes boring. To complicate matters further, Davis - the grumpy, attractive architect - Grace, the meddling bookstore owner, new friends, and a secret admirer disrupt her plans to forsake love and live a recluse’s life.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, often reading with a smile. I loved Emma's personal growth and journey to self-discovery. Her determination to step out of her comfort zone and change her life was admirable. It takes courage to break free from routine, pursue happiness, and persist despite obstacles and a lack of support. I also appreciated her kindness and how easily she formed new friendships.

Yes, Emma was a bit slow to figure some things out, but I found her relatable and endearing. The book touches on themes like love, self-discovery, dysfunctional family dynamics, and sisterly relationships. Emma initially does things to be loved by others, mistaking it for her own happiness. She eventually realizes that she’s already loved for who she is, not just for what she does for others.

I loved the concept of writing letters instead of texting, and the inclusion of poetry was a nice touch. It brought back fond memories of my own days corresponding with pen pals. Emma’s creative ideas for the bookstore and her attempts at writing poetry were delightful, and the character interactions and dialogs were engaging. While Davis’s mixed signals and conduct were a bit irritating, I loved that he adopted a female dog, giving her a new lease on life.

Overall, I loved this story and would have appreciated an epilogue. It’s part coming-of-age tale, part character study, and part slow-burn romance. The writing is strong, with well-developed characters and thought-provoking moments. I especially enjoyed that the focus was more on Emma’s personal growth than on the romance, though there was enough romance to satisfy the romantic in me. This is the first book I’ve read by Julie Hatcher, but it certainly won’t be the last. If you’re looking for a heartwarming story with a satisfying arc, humor, and a healthy dose of emotional depth and self-reflection, this is the book for you.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

3.75 - A perfect story of finding yourself and realizing all the blessings around you. Sometimes we have to set boundaries and let go of things.

Emma has family problems...as in her family is all happy thinking Emma will run the bookshop while they all have lives. Then enters a sexy architect!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author. All opinions are my own.

Leaving your home and family for several weeks, to discover who you are and what you really want out of life is not something everyone does. The main character in this book does exactly that. In her efforts to find herself, she goes to a new city to spend several weeks reflecting on her life. She quickly makes new friends, while learning the art of letter writing at a local bookstore. When she plants a garden, she learns to have compassion on the animals that are intent on eating her flowers. She tries her hand at cooking new things, some fail miserably and others are a hit with her new friends. Giving up on love is on her agenda, however...

This is a feel good story and I loved every minute of it.

This book was really cute. It is a romance book, but it's also so much more!!
What I really enjoyed about this book, was that the romance wasn't the biggest part of the story, it was more subtle.
The main part of the book was Emma finding herself again and being happy again after years and years of only working and slowly getting more and more miserable. It's a story about her reconnecting with her sister and parents and finally deciding to talk to them about her real feelings.
She only had to book a six week stay at an old manor, trying to become more like Emily Dickinson to achieve all those things.
Reading about her days alone, trying to become someone she's not and trying out loads of new hobbies, was really fun to read about. I liked that even though she thought she wanted to be alone, she made new friendships along the way. You just can't hide who you are, and you shouldn't.
It also did make me think about my own life whilst reading.

I'd definitely recommend it to my friends!

The main character Emma is so relatable it's ridiculous! Her new life is just the kind of break a lot of people need in their busy lives. I adored the romance in this book.

Not Quite by the Book is a delightful ode to independent bookstores, Emily Dickinson, and Amherst, MA.

Emma Rini runs her family’s bookstore. As her parents look to retire and her sister is pregnant with her first child, Emma feels very much alone—not just in the family business but as a fifth wheel in the family unit. She has no life outside the bookstore and has given up on finding ‘the one’. As her parents decide to sign the bookstore over to Emma completely, she does something out of the ordinary—she takes a six-week hiatus to stay in a historic home in Amherst, MA, where she is determined to channel her inner Emily Dickinson and reframe her point of view about life…to include giving up on finding love.

Handsome handyman Davis is an unexpected and complicated surprise. He is more than he seems and his presence makes it hard for Emma to stick to the goals she set out for herself with this sabbatical. The longer she spends in Amherst, the more connections she makes in town to where she becomes a familiar figure in the community. She learns she is less like Emily Dickinson than she thought and creates a new set of goals for when she returns to the bookstore and the life she’d left behind.

It is as much a romance as it is a woman finding her place in life and finally liking what she sees of herself and of her future.

I thought at times that the Emily Dickinson theme felt forced and that the romance with Davis unfolded in uneven steps. As uncertain as they may have been with one another at different times in their evolving relationship, so many of their obstacles could have been easily deconstructed with a few simple questions to one another. I also thought that Davis’s wooing of Emma was a sweet touch but wish it had started sooner in their courtship. It came towards the end and I would have enjoyed hearing more through his online quips and his lovely letters. A cast of likable secondary characters rounds out the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

An absolutely lovely book.
This was such a heartwarming book.
Looking forward to reading more by Julie Hatcher.

Emma takes care of everyone- except herself. After taking over the family business because everyone else seemed to just let her do it all, she realized her life was passing her by. Her sister happily married with a baby on the way, her parents sliding into retirement, Emma decides to do something completely for herself, to find herself and change her life with her favorite writer, Emily Dickinson, in mind. She has a list she’s determined to complete, sure it will give her the life she wants.

This is set in a lovely New England town, a cozy manor, autumn, baking, tea, hot cocoa and sweaters. Emma experiments with writing poetry, baking, embroidery and gardening. She didn’t, however, count on the handsome handyman who shows up whenever the old manor leaves her with no heat, no power or no electricity.

This book is very sweet and brought me to tears a few times. To me, it was less about loving someone else and more really about loving yourself.

Note to spicy readers, although this is technically romance there is no spice. I give it a: 🧁/ 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

It’s a quick, easy read that you’ll leave your heart feeling good and make you close it slowly, reluctant to leave the romantic autumn countryside of Massachusetts.

After reading the synopsis, I was excited to see that this book was on Netgalley, and even more excited to find out that it was available as a Read Now option! I ended up prioritizing this book over my monthly TBR because the premise of the book was really speaking to me.

There was a lot that I loved about this book — Emma’s soul-search, the lovely descriptive writing, and the mentions of cozy hobbies such as baking, gardening, journaling, and writing poetry. For all my cottagecore girls out there, this book is for you!

I have to say that while I loved the self journey aspect of this book, I didn’t feel like the romance added much to the story. I didn’t sense a strong connection between Emma and Davis. I was very close to rating this book 5 stars, but their romance left me feeling like I was missing something!