The Bookshop on the Corner

Read Consumed, Devoured this book in one sitting. If you are a book lover and read as voraciously as I do, you know that is a special moment. And, who wouldn’t love a story with a heroine who finds herself and grabs her dreams all in one?

Nina is a bookworm, preferring books and stories to people, the outdoors, paperwork or dating. When her library branch in Birmingham is being closed for redundancy and realigned to better centralize and appeal, she’s facing a crisis. Interviewing for the job she loves, matching books to readers in just the right way, she finds herself out of place, words and eventually a job. The closing means she’s busy rescuing the discarded books and filling her flat with books, much to her roommate’s dismay. Never particularly confrontational, the petite Nina has spent her life in an almost apologetic manner: soft-spoken, hiding under her clothes, truly only coming to light with her nose in a book.

When a large van, perfect for a mobile shop appears on the internet, Nina hops a bus to the wilds of Scotland to take a look. And here is where the story just jumps into wonderful. North of nowhere, Scotland, Kirrinfief is typical of many small communities with a tiny mainstreet and hardscrabble living: farms, a pub, perhaps a school and a postman…but little else. Their nearest library closed years before, and whether or not they know it, the people are dying for a good read to while away the long winter hours.

What emerges is the growth of Nina – finding her dream and voice in a place that doesn’t crowd her, doesn’t look over her tiny size and lose her in a crowd. With plenty of assistance from friends old and new, she’s brought into the community and becomes an integral cog: story hours for little ones, favored genres to others, gently encouraging those who haven’t read before to try it, even directing a little boy back to school. Nina fits and she’s never been happier. Perhaps there are moments and descriptions that feel clichéd or stereotypical – but let’s be honest, there’s a ring of truth in many clichés and stereotypes, and the characters who become important to the story do develop into fully formed, living on the page people.

It’s so hard to write a review for a book that grabs you and drags you willingly into the story and setting. Book lovers who grew up reading everything they could touch will see a little bit of Nina in themselves. And what are we as Bloggers if we don’t find that book that feels like we could be that character – and share it widely? Grab this book. Now.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Often as reading this book I felt the emotions of Nina including her feelings of insecurity & then determination to find the right choices for her life. Could not put the book down. This is truly a page-turner.

I absolutely loved this book. The descriptions made me see the beauty of Scotland and feel what Nina was feeling. What a splendid way to see the world. I love reading almost as much as Nina.