The Boardwalk Bookshop: A Novel by Susan Mallery

 

(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

With her unique brand of witty, emotional storytelling, Susan Mallery's latest is a heartfelt tale of friendship between three women brought together by chance who open a bookshop together on the boardwalk of the California beaches and ultimately become one another's family. Fans of Elin Hilderbrand, Robyn Carr and Susan Wiggs will love The Boardwalk Bookshop!

Brought together by chance, Bree, Mikki, and Ashley become fast friends and open up a beachfront bookshop together, bringing together their three different businesses. To celebrate, each Friday at sunset they pop open champagne on the beach and enjoy the sunset together. Little did they know that that chance meeting and this simple ritual would make them one another’s family.

Bree owns the bookshop. Funny that she can’t stand authors. They’re far too demanding. But when NYT bestselling author Harding Burton, the memoirist who wrote about being paralyzed as a teenager and how he fought his way back, comes in, Bree never expected to actually like him. But anything beyond casual sex is out of the question for her. She trusts no one—a brutal first marriage and a painful childhood taught her well. Still as much as she wants to walk away, she can’t quite do it…

Ashley, Harding’s brother, owns the muffin shop and she has her own problems. She’s been happily in love with her boyfriend, Seth, for eight years. He’s thoughtful, supportive, kind, generous…but he hasn’t proposed and, she can’t hold it in any longer. When he announces that marriage isn’t for him, she’s shocked. And as much as she wishes this was enough, the truth is that she wants to be married. But what now?

And Mikki, the gift shop owner, is getting a second chance. She married her high school sweetheart, but three kids and completely different interests made them drift apart until they divorced a few years ago. They’re still close for the kids, but when someone new enters her life, he makes her feel appreciated and alive. Suddenly Mikki’s ex is making her dinner and asking her advice and Mikki must choose between the man she loved and let go of—and a chance for a brand new beginning.

my thoughts:

Talk about summer fun! The Boardwalk Bookshop by Susan Mallery is the perfect book to kickstart your summer reading.  It has romance, friendship, a bookshop, the beach, and DRAMA - what more could you ask for? I know that I enjoyed every second I spent with this book - it was just such a fun story to get caught up in. Plus, I loved getting to know Mikki, Ashley, and Bree - what a fab trio of women! And, their issues (baggage, call it what you will) was just so relatable at times. I found myself nodding my head in agreement or shaking my head in frustration - love can be so complicated. 

Mallery has written a terrific story about three women who decide to join forces and open up a bookshop right off the beach. Every Friday, they celebrate with a bottle of champagne and watch the beautiful sunset. Of course, life interrupts and soon each woman is struggling with romantic problems they didn't even know they had.

The Boardwalk Bookshop is a fun treat to read. And, it's perfect for the beach. You'll love the characters, their stories, and Mallery's writing - all top notch! This is one book you won't want to miss out on. Definitely check it out!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!