Review: The Next Chapter Bookshop

A charming small town in Vermont, a bookstore with an opinionated resident cat, and a protagonist finding her purpose (and a little romance:) The Next Chapter Bookshop has all the elements of a purrfect story.

From the publisher:

Charlie Whitmore has her life perfectly planned out. As a rising star at a prestigious Manhattan law firm, she’s on the fast track to partnership, with spreadsheets for everything and a five-year plan that doesn’t include any surprises. Until her beloved Aunt Beth dies and leaves her a small-town bookshop in Vermont.

Oak & Ink Bookshop has stood in the heart of Leafwood Falls for nearly a century, beloved by locals for its uncanny ability to match readers with exactly the right book at exactly the right time. Charlie’s plan is simple: assess the shop’s value, list it for sale, and return to Manhattan before her corporate career derails. But Leafwood Falls has other ideas.

This book hit all the right notes for me: the lovely setting, a protagonist rediscovering herself through community and books, and, of course, a cat. Hemingway has an uncanny ability to read people and often appears when someone needs a nudge in the right direction. Sometimes that nudge may involve knocking a book off a shelf, sometimes it may just be an intense stare, or sitting on top of something that provides a cue for the person. Like the store itself, Hemingway seems to come with a touch of magic.

This book is a feel good read – and don’t we all need that right now! As is the case with most romance novels, the plot is somewhat predictable, but that’s part of what I love about the genre. And in this case, the wonderful setting and the quirky characters, along with the unexpected touch of magic, provide just the right mix of comfort and entertainment.

I didn’t want this book to end – and I was delighted to discover that it’s the first in a series. I’m currently reading the second book in the series, The Copper Kettle Cafe, and it’s equally charming.

The Next Chapter Bookshop is available from Amazon.

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