About the Book
Synopsis from Goodreads:
After a social media post gone wrong, a literary agent runs away to look after a seaside bookshop for the summer—and forms an unlikely friendship with a charming novelist struggling with his latest idea.
Petra doesn’t like books anymore—not since her career as a literary agent imploded after a social media typo went viral. Now she is stuck for six months, babysitting a little bookshop by the sea—surrounded by books that just remind her of her failure.
Ross McCloud’s award-winning debut novel blew the minds of the world’s literati, but that was five years ago. Now Ross and his keenly awaited second work have vanished. Something has gone wrong—horribly wrong—and Ross doesn’t want to talk about it.
Marooned in Capelthorne’s Bookshop miles from London, Petra can’t stop thinking about all the ways she has let people down. Then she discovers Ross lurking, incognito, in the second-hand books section. Misery loves company it seems, and a kinship tentatively forms.
In the meantime, the magic of the bookshop slowly begins to enchant Petra. Soon, her book recommendations assume legendary status; she is chairing the newly formed Beach Reads Book Club; leading a weekly writing group and hosting a series of popular talks and signings by local authors. She is even starting to read again.
Petra is also finding time to help her new best friend Jess—owner of a local telephone box library—to launch the inaugural Portneath Literary Festival. What better opportunity to put the Festival on the map—says Ross—than for Petra to unveil his second novel to the world there, before re-launching her career representing him at the Frankfurt book fair? What a comeback! But can Petra find the courage to help the man she loves?
Their love of books may be re-ignited, but is that enough to save them both from their own worst enemy—themselves?
My Review
One mistake turns Petra’s whole life around. As a literary agent, she has many clients and the last thing she wants to do is insult any of them. However, that’s exactly what she does when one of her social media postings features a typo she can’t fix. She deletes it, but not after everyone has seen it.
Her boss takes it in stride, but her clients quickly turn towards other representation. Petra’s boss suggests she get away from London for a bit. There’s a bookshop in Devon needing help as the owners will be away for six months. It will give Petra a chance to reassess her life and future. Petra agrees, but there’s one big problem - she never wants to read another book and now she will be surrounded by them.
When Petra meets Ross McCloud, she’s overcome with excitement. Five years ago he wrote a best seller and then he vanished. He never wrote a second book and Petra is determined to find out why.
Petra quickly settles in the bookshop and the town. She makes many friends and sets up book clubs and festivals. Maybe books aren’t out of her life after all. She’s, also, determined to help Ross get through his writer’s block.
Petra and Ross grow closer and they can’t deny their attraction. Unfortunately, they each have a past that just won’t go away.
At first, I found Petra to be a bit too immature and Ross to be a bit too reserved. I couldn’t see these two as a romantic duo. However, Poppy Alexander makes it work. Although I did want to nudge both characters along the way.
I first “met” that bookshop in a previous book “The Battle of the Bookshops” and I was happy to have another visit. We caught up with a couple of characters, but in no way do you have to read that book to read this one. It’s fun if you do, but this is a standalone book. I actually enjoyed this one even more than the previous one.
It’s the perfect book to read at the beach or anywhere. It’s fun with delightful characters. They are people you can really care about.
For reading challenges:
NetGalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2026
Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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