Kate inherited a shop in her mother’s hometown and decided to open a bookstore with modern and fun titles. The problem? It turns out there’s already another bookstore across the street, and it’s the town’s favorite. What’s more, Sebastian, the owner, isn’t too happy about the competition, and at every chance he gets, he makes sure Kate knows she’s not welcome. 🥺

Both are forced to work together during the town’s literary festival, and as they start to get along a little, a shocking family secret that ties their pasts together comes to light…

It’s a pretty quick read, with some cute moments, and honestly, I hated the protagonists’ parents—the decisions they made were terrible.

I was expecting something different, but it wasn’t too bad either. It turned out to be a fairly entertaining read.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review. 📚

This was a sweet romance book. Whilst it wasn't for me, I understand why it's gotten so many five star reviews.

I have never read a book by this author and thought it was going to be just a cutsey little bookstore romance but the smut was unreal!

Welcome to mainstream Ms Ashenden! I've been a fan of the author's thru her Harlequin days and was excited to see this one come thru on a more mainstream market. Title- check. Cover- check. Story- check check. This is an easy, quick read that I really enjoyed. I hope that we see more from this author in a more readily available format in the future! Will be recommending to customers and keeping in stock for them.

this rom-com was incredibly fun to read! the characters are amazing and exactly what you look for in a great rom-com.

a great grumpy x sunshine couple who’s tension will have you SWEATING! this is a couple who you just KNOW are deeply in love with each other. they balance each out perfectly and help each other overcome and grow so much! you will absolutely fall in love with them.

this was an easy, cozy read that any romance reader will fall in love with!

Jackie Ashenden's Book People is a delightful and heartwarming journey into the world of books, love, and personal growth. From the very first page, Ashenden captivates readers with her relatable characters, witty dialogue, and heartfelt exploration of relationships.

The story centers around a group of book lovers whose shared passion for literature binds them together in ways that transcend the pages of the novels they adore. Ashenden brilliantly captures the magic of the written word and how books can act as mirrors for our own lives and emotions. The characters, each with their quirks and imperfections, are wonderfully crafted, making it easy for readers to connect with them on a deep level.

The romantic elements in Book People are particularly well done. Ashenden weaves a slow-burn romance that feels both natural and satisfying. The chemistry between the leads is palpable, and their journey toward self-discovery and understanding is beautifully written. The relationship development feels organic, avoiding clichés, and showing the complexity of love in all its forms.

But what truly sets this book apart is its celebration of bookish culture. For any reader who has ever felt a special connection to a beloved book or dreamed of finding a community that shares that passion, Book People feels like coming home. Ashenden’s writing is warm and inviting, making this a perfect read for anyone looking to be immersed in a world where literature truly comes to life.

With its rich emotional depth, witty humor, and celebration of books, Book People is an uplifting and enjoyable read. It's the perfect book for book lovers everywhere, and it will leave you with a smile on your face and a renewed love for the world of stories.

Jackie Ashenden's "Book People" transports us to a charming village in small-town England, where two rival bookshops serve as both adversaries and the backdrop for a blossoming romance. On one side, we meet Kate, the optimistic newcomer who has revitalized her late mother's property into “Portable Magic,” a lively sanctuary for romance, cozy mysteries, and thrillers. Across the street stands Sebastian Blackwood, the town's brooding book lover, whose shop, “Blackwood Books,” appeals to serious literature enthusiasts and Booker Prize fans. Their relationship is a classic case of… well, tension-filled proximity.

The narrative unfolds six months after Kate's arrival, as her frustration with Sebastian's frosty demeanour grows. At the same time, he seems just as annoyed by her cheerful presence—and the very existence of her bookstore. Complicating matters is a long-standing family feud, subtly hinted at early in the story and intricately woven throughout the plot, alongside the impending deadline of a literary festival that Sebastian is organizing.

Ashenden's prose shines, skillfully capturing the idiosyncrasies of village life and the pleasures (and occasional challenges) of running a bookshop. Both Kate and Sebastian are intriguing characters, and the author’s playful examination of their contrasting personalities—sunshine versus storm cloud—infuses the story with humour and warmth.

However, the romance doesn't always progress as seamlessly as one might wish. While Sebastian's gruff exterior can be charming, his recurring self-doubt and belief that he is unworthy of love sometimes burden the narrative. The chemistry between him and Kate, though often endearing, can occasionally feel uneven because of this.

Nonetheless, "Book People" provides a delightful escape into a world filled with literary banter, charming characters, and heartfelt moments. Fans of opposites-attract romances with a literary flair will find plenty to enjoy in this enchanting tale.

Thank you to Jackie Ashenden, Headline Eternal, a division of Hachette, and NetGalley for providing an eARC in return for my honest review. Publication Date: January 28, 2025

I thought this was a super cute book and I really enjoyed it! I love romance books that are set in a bookish setting, especially combined with my love for small town romances.

I enjoyed Kate and Sebastian a lot together, especially at the beginning. For me personally I would’ve liked them to hold off on their feelings for a bit longer, but it worked out well. I just couldn’t get over how Sebastian hides behind the idea of the Blackwood men. It felt like a kind of dumb and cowardly reason to swear off relationships and feelings. Especially after his friend kept trying to reason with him.

The subplot of the letters was a really sweet addition. Not very surprising but still enjoyable to read and discover the story behind them.

I did however find the ending of the whole book a bit lacking. I wish we had gotten some more involvement of Lisa and closure about the book she writes and whether Kate got to help her with it or not. Sebastian’s family drama also seemed far from resolved. Also would love to know how they manage to keep two bookstores afloat in the same small village but I guess that’s just the reality of romantic dream worlds.

Overall I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to others who love small towns and book shop settings!

This enemies to lovers romcom if full of rivals book sellers, grumpy sunshine and forced proximity. The perfect blend of romance and spice, bookshops and a sprinkle of mystery. Kate and Sebatian are the only couple with their name, I enjoyed the added storyline of their ancestors. Easy little read perfect for the holidays by the water.

A little about the book. Kate is a passionate bookseller with a dream to open a shop dedicated to the kind of fiction she adores lighthearted, popular, and endlessly fun. But her enthusiasm isn’t shared by everyone in the cozy small town, least of all Sebastian, the rigid and refined owner of the highbrow bookstore across the street.

Sebastian has rules for everything his inventory, his wardrobe, and most importantly, his dating life (strictly no locals). So, when a town literary festival forces the two rivals to work side by side, tensions rise, sparks fly, and one impulsive, steamy kiss threatens to rewrite everything they thought they knew about love and competition.

This could have been the perfect book for me. The premise completely pulled me in! Two rival bookshops opposite each other, a grumpy-sunshine romance between the competing owners and letters revealing a secret love affair of one of their grandparents!

I love books, bookshops, books about books, love stories revolving around books. And who doesn't love a past secret affair through letters! A lot of my favourite romances revole around very similar premises.

Unfortunately, I don't think this book was for me. I found a lot of it repetitive. I wasn't particularly fond of either character. The pacing was a bit off for me and I ended up skimming a lot. It didn't do anything that made it stand out to me, personally.

This could still be a wonderful book for anyone who likes the sound of the premise. There isnt anything seriously wrong with this book, it just didn't work for me!

Rival booksellers with intertwining family history (they are not related!!). Loved the grumpy/sunshine element to this but wanted a smidge less instant love. The banter was cute and the family stuff moved me. This was an overall enjoyable read. I hope there is another book in this universe about Dan.

I received an arc from Netgalley and the publisher.

When Kate, a fledgling bookseller, decides to open a bookshop that celebrates the kinds of genre fiction she loves to read (popular and fun!), she's surprised to find that not everyone in the town is as excited as she is.

Least excited of all? Sebastian, owner of the highbrow bookshop across the road, who has rules for everything: the kind of books he sells, the clothes he wears, and the people he dates (no-one local). When the pair find themselves working together on the town's literary festival, their growing attraction becomes harder and harder to ignore.

Despite the fact that I really didn't care for Sebastian, I loved Kate, and I really enjoyed this cute little romance. It was a quick read, and who doesn't like a book about book people? 🙂 ♥️

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

This was a tough book for me. I wanted to love it. The premise reminded me of Book Lovers which I loved, but it never really pulled me in. The pace, especially in the beginning felt too slow. I found Sebastian deeply unlikable in the beginning, which I suppose works for the whole enemy’s to lovers thing. But his whole mopey “I can’t give her what I wants,” attitude as the book progressed, didn’t work for me- it just made me want to scream at him to pull it together. I liked the secret romance from the past- it was sweet and heartwarming. Speaking of the past, Jasper should have stayed firmly in the past instead of showing back up just to make a mess of things. Overall, it was fine just maybe not what I was expecting or looking for.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

Late & Seb have the best love-hate relationship, and I knew from the start I would fall in love with them. I enjoyed this book a little too much. It made me giggle like a little school girl. I found myself laughing with the characters, and the story is beautifully written. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who loves You've Got Mail. I WILL BUY A PHYSICAL COPY!

Thank you to the publisher for the earc!

Romance isn’t my go-to genre, but sometimes I need one between heavier fantasies. This sounded perfect for me, as it features rivaling bookshop owners. While it served its entertainment purpose perfectly, I still had some issues with the book.

I was very early in the story, when I considered DNFing, because of the following exchange:

“‘As I said, it’s a literary festival.’
‘Books are literature,’ I snap.
‘Not all books,’ he says, patiently.”

Now, I kept reading so I know Sebastian just said it to anger Kate, doesn’t mean it, but I had to stop for a while after reading it. I’m a firm believer that as long as you read, it doesn’t matter what it is. Mangas, comics, poetry, audiobooks, picture books, travel guides, art books, whatever, they all count. I really hate when someone says “You can’t be a reader if you didn’t read [include whatever classic/non-fiction you’d like]!” Like, I’m sorry, but I won’t read classics if I can avoid them. High school made me hate them along with poetry, so no I won’t pick up something that was written in the 1800s. Language changed so much, most of the time I had to read sentences 3 times to understand them and by the time I reached the bottom of the page I already forgot what happened on the top. So, no I won’t read them, and if that makes me a non-tóreader in some people’s eyes, I don’t care.

Now that my rant is over I can talk about the book! It was entertaining, maybe a bit cliche, but I didn’t have huge expectations. I admit the story with the love letters was extremely predictable for me, so not even the ending was a big surprise. I did love how each chapter started with one letter, and while it was a bit confusing at first (mostly because of the formatting) quickly realized what’s going on.

I loved Kate’s character, she was smart, a bit stubborn, but had a dream and was willing to do whatever it took her to reach it. Sebastian on the other hand felt a bit too much. I wasn’t a huge fan of his character.

I did love the setting so much! I always wish to visit a small English village and now the feeling is even stronger.

Not bad, especially because Bas is nice and intense as a male character, without trespassing on the alpha male, which is a pleasant novelty. The subplot is also particularly fascinating, and all together it completes a multifaceted contemporary romance, plus books.....

Non male, soprattutto perché Bas é bello intenso come personaggio maschile, senza per questo sconfinare nel maschio alfa, il che é una piacevole novitá. La sottotrama é anche particolarmente affascinante e tutto assieme completa un contemporary romance dalle molte sfaccettature ed in piú ci sono i libri....

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

Book People tells the story of rival book shop owners, Sebastian and Kate, who end up working together to plan a book festival for their small town. I swear I have read this plot line before? They end up falling for each other, a little too quickly in my opinion. I enjoyed this book, and likely would have rated it higher if it wasn't for the insta-love. I would consider reading more from Jackie Ashenden in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. Book People is available on January 28, 2025.

This is a cozy romance built entirely on tropes and bookstores. Kate has moved back to her mother’s hometown following her mother’s death and opened an adorable bookshop that specializes in genre fiction. Across the street is a lofty bookshop owned and run by Sebastian, as haughty as the name makes him sound. Of course, they are both gorgeous and attracted to each other. And so, a grumpy sunshine romance ensues.

Overall, this is a cute and enjoyable romance. It is not a particularly memorable romance but it functions quite well within itself.

I would recommend it to readers who are looking for a read that they can escape into.

Thank you to Net Galley and Headline Eternal for the DRC. All opinions are my own.

Book People by Jackie Ashenden gave me Book Lovers-vibes, so if you're a fan of that book, this one is for you. Sebastian and Kate make an ideal grumpy-sunshine pairing which leads to plenty of laughable moments. I loved the slow-burn romance. While the story was predictable and didn’t bring anything new to the contemporary romance genre, it made for a cozy, easy read, perfect for a snowy day cuddled on the couch. The pacing was a bit uneven, with some sections feeling less engaging than others but overall still a quick fun read.
Thank you to Headline Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
#BookPeople #NetGalley

It was a quick and fun read. As a bookseller, I loved the concept of the book and would recommend it to others to read. At times I did feel like the main characters were both a little stubborn and too consumed with their past. However, it is understandable because it is what drove the plot. Ultimately, it was a great book. Thank you for allowing me to read it early!