Jules Capelthorne returns to her seaside hometown to save her great-aunt’s beloved, century-old bookshop from closure. Only to find a shiny new rival has opened directly across the street, run by Roman Montbeau, the insufferable son of a family that’s feuded with hers for years. With the shop’s future on the line, Jules must navigate old rivalries, creative strategies, and unexpected sparks of romance as she fights to preserve the literary treasure she loves.

This was a cute audiobook. It was fairly predictable and definitely gave me strong Romeo and Juliet vibes. I liked our main characters but found their romance to go from 0–100 without the usual buildup. It felt like they just suddenly loved each other and I wanted more development. I did enjoy the side storyline of the spell book, but honestly it dragged the story out a little and made it feel longer than it needed to be. At times, the plot felt a bit scattered, with side storylines that didn’t feel essential. Overall though, it’s a light, charming read that romance and bookshop lovers will enjoy, and it makes for an easy, cozy listen.

AMAZON | GOODREADS | BOOKSHOP | ★★★

The Battle of the Bookshops is out now. Huge thanks to Avon Books for my copy in return for my honest review. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books or on Tiktok @speakingof.books