Ok this is different. I like the plot and how is a whole journey to rediscover. I like the interaction of the characters and how they develop. Enjoyed quite a bit . Will definitely recommend

I devoured Not Quite By the Book in 24 hours! A delightful story about family and self-discovery with a backdrop of romance. I appreciated that the first 60% of the book focused on Emma’s journey to re-discover herself. The highs and lows of her quest to live the life of Emily Dickinson, complete with gardening, letter writing, and making Victorian-era foods were both cozy and comical. The writing also painted a beautiful portrait of an idyllic autumn in Amherst that made me extra excited for fall. This book is quite reminiscent of Emily Henry’s Book Lovers and will especially hit home for overachieving eldest daughters with people-pleaser tendencies who love classic romantic gestures (flowers, letter writing, and just overall SEEING a person). I will be recommending this to friends! Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. #NotQuitebytheBook #NetGalley

Wow! This book was so good! I loved the storyline. The main character is so relatable. I loved her journey. I also loved reading about the old activities she tried and what some of them meant. This book was hard to put down.

Julie Hatcher has written a lovely story about so many of my favorite things – a small town in the fall, cozy bookstores, and romantic walks under the downtown twinkle lights. I felt like I stepped into a Nancy Meyers film and never wanted to leave. Our leading lady, Emma Rini, loves her job managing her family’s bookstore, but with her sister headed into motherhood and her parent’s impending retirement, Emma starts to question if there could be more for her. She decides to overhaul her life, using the beloved poet Emily Dickinson as her muse. Following a list of “how to be like Emily” should be easy enough, right? However, Emma’s efforts are challenged at every turn and, despite her plucky determination to write haikus, learn to garden, and give up on love, an assortment of characters, especially the handsome handyman, prove to be quite the obstacle to Emma’s plan. Emma’s escape from her normal, everyday life has her realizing that maybe what she thought she wanted, isn’t what she wants at all. Maybe when you learn to love yourself, it opens you up to all kinds of affection and community from the people around you. Hatcher’s story will have readers understanding that sometimes, we have to let go of where we think we should be to end up where we are meant to be. This feel good story will warm your heart and have you rooting for Emma to find happiness the whole way through! Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and Julie Hatcher for the chance to read this delightfully enjoyable book.

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

This was a fun and whimsical romance. I really enjoyed this and think it will be a perfect romantic read.

Emma is working at her parents bookshop all her life and she realises that is all she does the last years of her life . She takes six weeks of vacation to stay in a manon in Amherst where she will be like her favourite poet Emily Dickinson . The manson has no wifi , no hot water or heat . She spents her hours writing letters gardening and baking like Emily did . She has desided that she will not love any man but there is Davis the charming architect owner of the manor who always keeps calling him for help . Also who is the man who sent her letters ?
I received this book from netgalley , the author and the publicer as an ARC . Thank you . All thoughts and opinions are my own .

Baking, books, fixing a manor all some of my favourite things included in a book? Yes I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Julie Hatcher’s “Not Quite by the book” is an informative and fascinating story about self discovery and unexpectedly finding love in the midst of all.

“𝘐, 𝘌𝘮𝘮𝘢 𝘙𝘪𝘯𝘪, 𝘳𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴’ 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘺.”

Emma can’t remember the last time she took a vacation. Or had a romance that hovered above disappointing. From the moment a tragedy struck her family when she was a child she was thrust into growing up quickly, taking care of her younger sister and making sure her father wasn’t stretched thin which progressively developed her tendency to pleasing was the only way to get their love.

Years later everyone in her family well and happy, she is overworked, she seems to be forgotten and her sister has found the romance she has been waiting diligently for whiles she is the only one who has been tirelessly keeping their family bookshop afloat.

However when her parents plans to retire and assumes she’ll take over the bookshop without asking for her input, together with the cold shoulder her little sister has been giving her for months,
Emma decides it was time to put herself first for once. She rents a crumbling manor in Amherst where she can learn how to be quietly and blissfully alone whiles she channels her inner Emily Dickson — her favourite poet recluse.

It was easy paced, with well liked characters.
Though hoped the side characters had more screen time especially Grace and her meddling friends, Paul and his kind letters. I think Davis was alright but he made their relationship much more complicated.

Emma growth was much highlighted, the story showed the discovery of how she thought being a people pleaser was the only way she could receive their love to realising she was already loved and adored not especially because of the things she does for them but because she was Emma rini, kind, hardworking and easily lovable. And making that discovery allowed her to love herself and be proud of who she is.

Thank you Netgalley , the author and the publisher for a review copy!

A solid 4 stars!! This book was actually so unexpectedly great! I really enjoyed everything about it (the main characters, the little town, even the historic house setting). I will always love reading a book in which the main characters also are book lovers!! I especially enjoyed all of the other literature quotes it had, and I feel like I learned a good bit about Emily Dickinson too which was random but nice! The writing was immediately captivating, and the story had me interested throughout the entire book. The FMC Emma was really someone I was able to connect to and root for! Thank you to NetGalley, the Publisher, and Julie Hatcher for the opportunity to read this ARC! (also I am hoping there is a second book to this series for Clayton & Cecily?🤞🏻)

An endearing romance filled with warmth and humor, featuring characters so real they tugged at my emotions.

I was able to read this novel thru NetGalley and though the premise was good it dragged a bit for me. I was frustrated with the main female character as she began her slightly ridiculous journey to become like her favorite poet from the 1800s. As the story continues we got glimpses of why she was such a helper in her life and didn’t focus in her own needs. The ending certainly seemed a lot like a certain rommcom movie about a bookstore.

I loved this book so much! I related so much to the struggle of wanting to give up on love and trying to find individuality in an exhausting world. i also adored the sweet love story. this was great.

Not Quite by the Book has everything I love: bookstores and romance. This was a great read! Pick up this one on publication day!

this was the perfect romance
the characters are all soo good
the main character is relatable and you want her to find herself and love
it was an easy and cozy read
who doesn't love a small town romance?!

thank you netgalley for the arc

A book I didn’t know I needed. Emma was thrust into growing up quickly and rushed through pleasing everyone around her, except for her. This story shows Emma grow into her self, allowed herself to shine in a light that shows her that people adore her for being her. Let’s not forget a the mystery of love in this small town romance. 🤞🏻 for a book 2.

I really liked the idea of this book.

Enjoyed the characters and the storyline. I thought the pacing of the romance was great. The writing style was good too.

Would recommend!

Oh what a sweet cozy read. I loved reading about Emma’s journey of self discovery. I liked the message of finding happiness within herself before she could be open to love. And Davis… sweet sweet Davis. Such a great read.

The way Emma navigates her charmingly chaotic new life; dealing with stubborn bunnies, a brooding architect, and mysterious admirers brings so much humor and depth to her story. I adored every moment of Emma’s evolution as she learns to balance family expectations with her own dreams. This book was definitely worth the wait, offering a beautifully crafted tale of personal growth and the joy of finding one’s true passion.

Julie Hatcher's *Not Quite by the Book*, with its clever blending of literary elegance and compelling characters, offers a novel perspective on modern romance. When Amelia Hayes, a careful librarian, interacts with the extroverted and reckless author Lucas Hart on a library project, her neat world is turned upside down.

This work stands out for its careful handling of literary allusions and the developing chemistry between Amelia and Lucas. Hatcher captures the characters' development and the romantic tension between them with a razor-sharp sense of humour. Even though the book has excellent character and comedic development, some story points could seem familiar to readers who have read romance novels before. A couple supporting characters might also use additional development to improve the story as a whole. All things considered, these small problems don't really take away from the enjoyment of the book.

In conclusion, Not Quite by the Book is an endearing and fun story that presents a novel viewpoint on romance. This novel is a great option for anyone searching for a sweet and thought-provoking love story because of Julie Hatcher's skilful integration of literary devices with a traditional romance plot. This book is highly recommended if you're looking for a romance that also celebrates books and personal development.