Author: Deborah Meyler
Publisher: Gallery Books
Publication Date: August 2013
Genre: Adult Fiction
Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone
Synopsis can be found here. NetGalley review.
Review:
Esme Garland arrives in New York City from England to go to college. Her life is thrown for a loop when she learns she is pregnant, and that the baby's father wants nothing to do with her. Trying to come to terms with her new life, Esme starts working part time at The Owl, a second hand bookstore down the street from her apartment. She meets an array of characters who bring love and warmth into her life.
Especially when her complicated ex-boyfriend comes back into the picture.
When I read the synopsis for this book, I knew I had to read it. Honestly, I've always wanted to work in a bookstore and have not yet gotten the chance. (Despite my many applications to chain and independently owned bookstores in the Los Angeles area. I have no book selling experience and I've found this, sadly, always places me at the bottom of the pile.)
The book's descriptions of The Owl's array of characters is fun and warm. I liked how different everyone was and Meyler does a wonderful job giving all of the characters their own unique voice. The description of The Owl is by far my favorite, and I am envious of the endless hours that Esme spends there. I particularly like Luke, standoffish and hard to read, who tries to give Esme a lessons in music. And George, eccentric, clever and humours George who has a twinkle in his eye and old fashioned sensibilities.
I was disappointed in Esme as a character. She does have her own little quirks, but Esme was probably the least interesting character of all of them. When her boyfriend Mitchell dumps her, it is in such an insensitive and awful sort of way, I sympathized with her. But as the novel wears on, and Esme goes through her journey, I felt more and more distant from her character. I was especially fed up with the ending because I felt like Esme still hadn't grown and I found myself very frustrated.
Especially when her complicated ex-boyfriend comes back into the picture.
When I read the synopsis for this book, I knew I had to read it. Honestly, I've always wanted to work in a bookstore and have not yet gotten the chance. (Despite my many applications to chain and independently owned bookstores in the Los Angeles area. I have no book selling experience and I've found this, sadly, always places me at the bottom of the pile.)
The book's descriptions of The Owl's array of characters is fun and warm. I liked how different everyone was and Meyler does a wonderful job giving all of the characters their own unique voice. The description of The Owl is by far my favorite, and I am envious of the endless hours that Esme spends there. I particularly like Luke, standoffish and hard to read, who tries to give Esme a lessons in music. And George, eccentric, clever and humours George who has a twinkle in his eye and old fashioned sensibilities.
I was disappointed in Esme as a character. She does have her own little quirks, but Esme was probably the least interesting character of all of them. When her boyfriend Mitchell dumps her, it is in such an insensitive and awful sort of way, I sympathized with her. But as the novel wears on, and Esme goes through her journey, I felt more and more distant from her character. I was especially fed up with the ending because I felt like Esme still hadn't grown and I found myself very frustrated.
The story goes slowly and though I wasn't tempted to put it down, a couple of times I felt like I had lost the thread.
I did enjoy getting lost at The Owl, and the scenes between Esme and Luke and Esme and George. And it made me wonder where I could find a quirky little used bookshop of my own to work in.
Rating 5 Okay
I'm not sure I'd be able to become fully invested in this novel, but I like the premise, and the author sounds really promising. Wonderful review, doll! :)
ReplyDeleteI like the cover and the bookstore sounds awesome. Sorry that the story wasn't more captivating, but glad you were able to finish reading it. Thanks for sharing and I hope you find a quirky bookstore to work in. :)
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to work in a bookstore too. Or a flower shop. :) Alas, I work in neither. Oh well. At least I can read books and share them in the blogging world! Thanks for sharing this review.
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