Battle of the Bookstores

Battle of the Bookstores by Ali Brady

Battle of the Bookstores by Ali Brady was absolutely adorable! This book had everything I love—enemies to lovers, top-tier banter, and a competition that kept me glued to the pages. I giggled my way through Josie and Ryan’s rivalry as they fought to prove their bookstore was the better one, all while the fate of their jobs hung in the balance.

Josie, the fiercely determined manager of Tabula Inscripta (a literary bookstore), and Ryan, the charming yet infuriating manager of Happy Endings (a romance-only bookstore), were the perfect match—both on and off the page. Their anonymous BookFriends chats gave me serious You’ve Got Mail vibes, making their dynamic even more fun. Watching them unknowingly confide in each other about their work nemesis (aka each other!) was such a clever twist that had me grinning every time their messages popped up.

The side characters were just as fantastic—each with their own unique quirks and distinct voices, making the world feel so vibrant and full of personality. And let’s talk about the bookish atmosphere! As someone who is close with a bookstore owner and part of multiple book clubs, I loved every second of the setting. The literary references, the cozy bookshop vibes, and the pure love of books infused into the story made it an absolute delight.

Josie and Ryan’s personal backstories were so well done, giving depth to their motivations and making their journey feel authentic. This book was impossible to put down—I was hooked from the very first page and enjoyed every minute of their snarky, swoony, and heartfelt battle.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC! If you love books about books, laugh-out-loud banter, and a swoon-worthy enemies-to-lovers romance, Battle of the Bookstores is a must-read!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Blurb:

Rivalry and romance spark when two bookstore managers who are opposites in every way find themselves competing for the same promotion.

Despite managing bookstores on the same Boston street, Josie Klein and Ryan Lawson have never interacted much—Josie’s store focuses on serious literature, and Ryan’s sells romance only. But when the new owner of both stores decides to combine them, the two are thrust into direct competition. Only one manager will be left standing, decided by who turns the most profit over the summer.

Efficient and detail-oriented Josie instantly clashes with easygoing and disorganized Ryan. Their competing events and contrasting styles lead to more than just frustration—the sparks between them might just set the whole store on fire. Their only solace during this chaos is the friendship they’ve each struck up with an anonymous friend in an online book forum. Little do they know they’re actually chatting with each other.

As their rivalry heats up in real life, their online relationship grows, and when the walls between their stores come tumbling down, Josie and Ryan realize not all’s fair in love and war. And maybe, if they’re lucky, happily ever afters aren’t just for the books.

XOXO,
Jessica 💋