Book Review: The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan
A review of The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan - a sweet, delightful romance for book lovers!
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The Bookshop on the Corner
By Jenny Colgan
(2016)
Romance
For fans of: Books, librarians, bookstores, Scotland, small rural villages, eccentric villagers, unexpected romance, & farm life.
B&N Amazon (commission earned)
Synopsis: Nina is losing her job. Her branch of the public library in Birmingham, England is closing, and if she can’t be a librarian, Nina needs to figure out what’s next for her life. She decides to follow her dreams and open up a bookstore - or a book bus, rather - in the Scottish Highlands, traveling around the local village to bring people the books they’re so desperately looking for. This story tells of Nina’s adventures in her book bus; the quirky people she meets, the relationships she forms, a romance nurtured through love letters and midnight train rides, and how her life changes after leaving the crowded city to move to a small village in the country.
Series: This is the first book in the Kirrinfief series. There are currently two other books in the series, but with unrelated characters. The books do not have to be read in order, and can be read as stand-alone novels.
Romance heat level: The romance in this story gets a little steamy, but there aren’t any sex scenes or explicit contents.
Profanity: The use of profanity in this book is mild, aside from one character towards the end who uses the F-word a few times.
My thoughts: I originally picked up this book after a favorite YouTuber of mine recommended it, saying it was a great autumn read for fans of the movie You’ve Got Mail. The only similarity I could draw between the two is that they both feature a female main character who owns a bookstore and loves books, but that’s enough for me! This book was truly an escape from reality. It is a light read with lovable characters and a beautiful setting. There are serious situations and deep emotions in this book, but they’re not overwhelming or difficult to process. Colgan writes with sprinkles of witty humor, making the overall tone of the story positive and fun. I found this book cozy and whimsical!
I absolutely love Nina as a main character! She is definitely a romantic and a dreamer, but she is also very responsible and mature. Nina takes chances and works hard to support her dreams, and doesn’t give up when things get off to a rocky start. She cares about the people around her, and is very observant of their needs. Nina immediately goes all-in with her new community, which is very inspiring. She also cares very deeply about books and stories, which I totally relate to! I would love to read more books with characters like Nina.
I was immediately drawn in when I discovered this story was going to take place in the Scottish Highlands! I visited the Highlands for the first time this year, and I miss being there so much. I could perfectly picture the remote little village of Kirrinfief with its vast rolling hills, fields of flowers, and old brick buildings. Such a beautiful place. It’s not hard to understand why Nina is drawn to it as well.
Scottish Highlands
I also love that this story showcases a supportive community that relies on each other. Colgan put a lot of emphasis on how the people living in Kirrinfief support each other through good times and bad. If you live in the village, you are expected to be a participant in village life. I don’t think this is a bad thing at all - we should all be there to support our neighbors and give back to the towns that give so much to us. The relationships in this Scottish village are precious.
The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan is a sweet, cozy read for winter, featuring delightful characters and a dreamy setting. This is one you’ll want to read at the end of the a long day, preferably in front of a fireplace with a hot drink! I am planning to pick up the other two books in this series, and I’m sure I’ll pick up other books by Colgan in the future.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments! Are you going to pick up this book? Have you read it already? Know any other similar titles? I want to know! :)