3.5 stars

Grumpy x sunshine HEA, he’s a historic bookshop owner & she’s the new bookshop owner across the way. Small UK town & historical family love letters vibes. The story was a little predictable but nice; the writing was good enough to keep me interested. However, the ending dragged a little bit with the back and forth will they or won’t they. The random happily ever after reunion made things tied up a little too neatly in the end. Overall a good read, but likely won’t be thinking about this much beyond closing it.

I received an ARC from the publisher, though the opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Headline for providing me with an eARC of Book People by Jackie Ashenden in return for my honest opinion.

If you are looking for an easy to read rom-com at the beach this summer, I highly recommend this book!! I devoured it in two sittings, could have almost done it one if I disregarded sleep but alas my tiredness won that battle!

Book People delivers exactly what it promises, a sweet and spicy, enemies to lovers bookshop rom-com! I am a big lover of enemies to lovers, especially when we also have a grumpy- sunshine dynamic, which is exactly what Kate and Sebastian are!

I loved the idea that these two owned rival bookshops in the same small town, I do think the enemies section was rather short but the chemistry between these two was off the charts, so I was grateful that it wasn’t a slow burn! I also loved the side story of the mysterious love letters between Seb’s great-grandfather and the mystery women (the plot twist was kinda obvious to me, but I loved it all the same).

I did feel that sometimes that we were having a lot of the same or very similar conversations, especially when it came to Seb not understanding or denying his feelings… However Seb is like a constipated potato when it comes to his emotions so I can forgive this quite easily!

This was sweet and cute and extremely predictable.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for the e-arc.

Actual rating: 2.5 stars

This book sounded so good and right up my alley when I first saw it on NetGalley, but honestly I didn't enjoy it much. I really wanted to like it and told myself to keep reading to see if it got better, but the more I read the more I wanted to put the book down.

There were a lot of things that bothered me but Sebastian and Kate's characters bothered me the most. Sebastian consistently calling her Miss Jones instead of Kate was annoying. There wasn't much character development in my opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Perfect for readers who enjoy a romance with banter and some spice! I enjoyed reading this book and although I would have loved it if there was more passion and tension, I still really enjoyed it. I loved the characters and the personal experiences of them and how they both overcome challenges. I would recommend this book to readers who love a enemies to lovers romance but them not really being enemies.

Thank you Net Galley, the author and publisher for allowing me to receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Cute, cozy bookshop romance. Loved the small town setting and the vibes. The ending needed more, in my opinion, but overall, a solid book that I'll be recommending.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC to review!

3.75 stars rounded up to 4!


I really liked the moments Kate and Sebastian had. I also enjoyed how Kate was as a FMC to be honest. She was strong willed, didn't act like the typical FMC when certain things would happen, would voice what she wanted and felt.

Why I couldn't give it a straight 4 stars is because something happened toward the end that I just wanted to shake Bas but I did enjoy this!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m kind of in the middle on this one. Cute and spicy at times, repetitive at others. Characters are sometimes fun and sometimes a bit cringe. Quick and entertaining for the most part.

Book People by Jackie Ashenden is a delightful and enchanting read that will captivate any book lover, offering a charming, smart, and heartwarming journey that is as engaging as it is memorable. For anyone who has ever found solace in the pages of a good book or reveled in the magic of a well-crafted story, this book is a must-read.

Thank you NetGalley and Headline Eternal for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book has all the tropes I love: enemies-to-lovers, small-town setting, grumpy-sunshine, forced proximity and... bookshops! Not one, but two!

Both our main characters have a very strong personality, and emotional wounds that they use to protect themselves and while they connect, they also evolve. That's amazing to "watch" as a reader.

Loved the secret love story and the secret letters. The ending was predictable, but knowing me, I still loved it. I could use a romance without the 3rd act breakup but again, it wasn't a big thing since I knew they would end up together nevertheless.

The writing was a bit repetitive at times, however, the story and the characters compensated it.

Book People is a very cute romance set in an equally adorable British village. The village's long-time bookstore owner is perturbed when a woman opens a bookstore right across the road from him, and seems to be making a better go of it in just a few months than he has in, well, ever. Nevertheless, he has a difficult time denying his feelings for her. I liked that the story revolves around a literary festival as the booksellers compete for customers and also discover a relationship between their ancestors. A light, smart read. With many thanks to author Jackie Ashenden, the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-book of Book People.

Book People by Jackie Ashenden started off with so much promise, and I absolutely loved the first half. The character development was spot-on, especially when it came to Sebastian. Watching him slowly reveal his true self, layer by layer, was such a satisfying experience. The growing tension between him and Kate added a spark to the story, making their dynamic feel electric and real. I really appreciated the slow burn, which kept me hooked and invested in how their relationship would unfold.

However, as the book progressed into the second half, I felt like it lost some of its momentum. The pacing felt off, and the relationship between Sebastian and Kate took a sudden, rushed turn. The love they were developing felt more like a switch being flipped than a gradual, earned connection. Unfortunately, this shift made the tension that had been so strong earlier in the book evaporate. The writing, which had been so compelling before, seemed to lose its edge, and the story lost some of the depth that had made the first half so engaging. Despite my enjoyment of the beginning, the second half left me a bit disappointed.

I absolutely loved this book.
We got a modern day grumpy sunshine love story as well as a love mystery.
Sebastian was such an interesting character. He is quiet and loves to be alone so I loved being able to see him develop the further we got into the book.
I loved the bookshop/ small village setting. It was really cute and fun.

This is one of my new favourites!

📚 Bookstagram Review: Book People by Jackie Ashenden 📚
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you to Netgalley and Headline Books for providing me with this ARC!

If you love books about books and a cute rivals-to-lovers romance, Book People might be your next cozy read! Kate, a bright and bubbly bookseller, opens a shop celebrating fun genre fiction, only to butt heads with Sebastian, the broody highbrow bookseller across the street. Sparks fly as they clash over the town’s literary festival, and their chemistry is undeniable!

The plot and characters? Super cute—I adored their dynamic and the bookish vibes. But the writing style? It didn’t vibe with me as much as I’d hoped. The frequent fourth-wall breaking and heavy inner monologues pulled me out of the story, and I found some phrasing repetitive, which dulled the charm a little. That said, I’m quite picky about writing styles, so what didn’t work for me might click perfectly for you!

If you’re looking for a light, feel-good romance with lots of bookish charm, this is still worth checking out.

📚✨ OMG, I just finished reading "Book People" by Jackie Ashenden and I am absolutely giddy with excitement! ✨📚

From the very first page, I was hooked. Ashenden's writing is so vivid and immersive that I felt like I was right there with the characters, experiencing every twist and turn alongside them. The story is a beautiful blend of romance, drama, and a touch of mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.

The characters are so well-developed and relatable. I found myself rooting for them, laughing with them, and even shedding a tear or two. The protagonist's journey is incredibly inspiring, and I loved how Ashenden wove in themes of self-discovery and the power of community. It's one of those books that makes you reflect on your own life and the people in it.

And can we talk about the setting? The quaint little bookshop at the heart of the story is described so charmingly that I could almost smell the old books and feel the cozy atmosphere. It made me want to curl up with a cup of tea and never leave.

If you're looking for a book that will make you feel all the feels and leave you with a warm, fuzzy feeling, "Book People" is an absolute must-read. I can't recommend it enough! 🌟📖💕

I was originally lured into this book by the You've Got Mail comparisons. While I wouldn't necessarily agree that it is reminiscent of that movie, there are competing book stores and competing book store owners. These owners are at odds until they team up together to plan a literary festival and find letters from their grandparents to each other indicating their love for one another. What follows is a romance between the two book store owners and trying to solve a mystery together. I enjoyed this book and would recommend.

With some heavy You've Got Mail vibes, Book People takes the enemies to lovers trope to England and adds a strong dash of mystery. Our two book sellers have competing shops across the street from one another. As competitors with very different styles, they should hate one another but the attraction is strong! Then they are nearly forced to work together on a book festival and sparks fly. Add to this a. mysterious love story from the past and we have a fascinating story that makes our romance trope more interesting.

If you love books about book people or sexy romances, this is a great read for you. While open door, it doesn't get too steamy. I enjoyed the sections on being a bookseller, marketing and creating a festival, and the overall story. There were some parts that were a bit repetitive, but I read the galley version so it might change during the editing process. Overall it was a fun read.

Kate Johnson opened up her bookstore, Portable Magic, directly across from Sebastian Blackwood’s bookshop, Blackwood Books. The bookshops have totally different vibes and clientele, so Kate thinks it won’t be an issue at all. Sebastian feels differently. It’s hate at first sight for him, but he reluctantly works with Kate to put on a book festival that will benefit both of their shops, and a romance builds from there.

This has a cute premise about rival bookshop owners and their enemies to lovers romance, but the writing, especially in the first third of the book, is so corny. Kate and Sebastian hate each other but spend half of their respective chapters internally pining over each other while outwardly feuding. It’s really more Sebastian than Kate, but I have a hard time getting into romances where one character is a total dick to the other. I also despise third act break ups, but I did like the subplot with Kate and Sebastian’s great grandparents and how the book ended. 2.5 rounded up because this type of romance is not for me, but others will probably enjoy it. Thanks to NetGalley, Headline Eternal, and Jackie Ashenden for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Kate opens her bookstore right across the street from Sebastian and this is impacting his sales. Although they sell totally different types of books, they are in a competition with each other. Every time Kate changes her window display, Sebastian changes his too. Kate wants to work together with him, but he won't even take the time to meet with her. Eventually, she forces him to acknowledge her and also wiggles her way into his big event. Sebastian finally saves his event when his author drops out and she has the right connections to replace him with a more famous author. Finally, decides he can trust Kate and develop a friendship. He has doubts about a relationship because men in his family have not been successful with their wives. Will the secret notes they find from long ago bring them together? Perhaps they will or maybe they will not. I highly recommend this book. It was fun to read and I couldn't put it down.

Kate needs to start over, and thankfully she inherited a building in a cute little town, the perfect place to make her dream of owning a bookshop come true. Except the long standing book shop across the street is run by handsome, brooding Sebastian, who thwarts all her attempts to connect. That is until someone lets slip that he's planning to restart a book festival and Kate takes the opportunity to squeeze her ideas into the festival as well. Will their close proximity lead to more sparks between the two? Will the town be big enough for two bookstores? Will Sebastian be able to admit to his feelings?
Although I appreciated the concept of this book, it definitely felt like some tropes were pushed too hard and it threw in some spice for spice sake ("because we just can't control ourselves!" 😒) I didn't feel the connection between Kate and Sebastian. He was a little TOO broody and disconnected from his feelings. I needed more depth and connection between the two to really believe the story.
I do think there is a place for this type of book, but it just wasn't what I wanted. It is set to be published 28 Jan 25, so if it sounds like something you'd be interested in, add it to your TBR!
Thank you to @netgalley for providing me a free advanced copy in exchange for my review!
#NetGalley #BookPeople