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The Battle of the Bookshops by Poppy Alexander #Review

  The Battle of the Bookshops by Poppy Alexander was published by Avon Books on September 25th.  A charming literary-themed novel about a young woman determined to save her great-aunt’s beloved bookshop from extinction by the shiny new competition—which also happens to be run by the handsome son of her family’s rivals. The cute, seaside town of Portneath has been the home of Capelthorne’s Books for nearly a hundred years… The shop, in the heart of a high street that stretches crookedly down the hill from the castle to the sea, may be a tad run-down these days, but to Jules Capelthorne, the wonky, dusty world of literary treasures is full of precious childhood memories. When her great-aunt Florence gets too frail to run it alone, Jules ditches her junior publishing job in London and comes home to make the bookshop’s hundredth birthday a celebration to remember. Jules quickly discovers things are worse than she ever imagined: The bookshop is close to bankruptcy, ...
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The Mix-Up by Holly McCullogh #Review

 

I loved Holly McCullogh's debut novel, Just Friends and looking at the views for the post, I'd say that many other people shared my view. I am delighted therefore to feature Holly's second novel, The Mix-Up, which is published by Corgi on 5th August in paperback. It will be available in digital form on 24th June.


Paige might bake wedding cakes for a living but that doesn't mean she's dreaming about her own perfect day. Far from it.

Trusting people is hard after she was badly let down by her family and boyfriend just when she needed them most. And to make things worse, her ex has justwalked into her bakery with his new fiancée...

Needing a little no-strings-attached fun, Paige goes to a party where her friend knows just the guy -the guy in the black top.

There's just one problem. There are two men wearing black tops.

Noah was meant to be her perfect distraction...instead, he wants more than just a bit of fun. But could the wrong guy turn out to be the right choice?


 My Thoughts

This is a delightful read with some hugely relatable characters who I liked from the very first. Paige has some demons in her past which you are slowly let into her confidence about. Most people she deals with on a need to know basis and buries herself in her work to avoid relationships. I don't include her family in the characters who I warmed to- quite the opposite and there are no easy fixes in her relationship with them. Luckily there are a few key people in her life who do support her.

    I enjoyed Paige's views on the wedding market and wedding cakes in particular.  This story is a real mixture of poignant moments and laugh out loud times and you are rooting for Paige throughout. There is humour and romance  but never of the sugary sweet variety. Quite where Noah gets his patience from, I'm not sure! I must add that I feel that a trigger warning for serious illness is needed.

In short: A witty romcom with a serious issue at its heart.

About the Author


Holly McCulloch lives in Oxfordshire and bakes beautiful (and delicious) cakes for a living. The Mix-Up is her second novel; her debut novel, Just Friends, is also published by Corgi.

 

You can follow Holly here: Twitter

Book link: Amazon UK



Thanks to Holly McCulloch, the publishers and Anne Cater of Random Things Tours  for a copy of the book and a place on the tour. 

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