Book Review for The Book Haters' Book Club by Gretchen Anthony

 The Book Haters' Book Club by Gretchen Anthony 

Genre:  Books About Books, Fiction

Paperback, 352 pages

Published September 13th 2022 by Park Row

 

Taken from Goodreads:  All it takes is the right book to turn a Book Hater into a Book Lover…

That was Elliott’s belief and the reason why he started The Book Haters’ Book Club—a newsletter of reading recommendations for the self-proclaimed “nonreader.” As the beloved co-owner of Over the Rainbow Bookstore, Elliott’s passion and gift was recommending books to customers. Now, after his sudden death, his grief-ridden business partner, Irma, has agreed to sell Over the Rainbow to a developer who will turn the cozy bookstore into high-rise condos.

But others won’t give up the bookstore without a fight. When Irma breaks the news to her daughters, Bree and Laney, and Elliott’s romantic partner, Thom, they are aghast. Over the Rainbow has been Bree and Laney’s sanctuary since childhood, and Thom would do anything to preserve Elliott’s legacy. Together, Thom, Bree and Laney conspire to save the bookstore, even if it takes some snooping, gossip and minor sabotage.

Filled with humor, family hijinks and actual reading recommendations, The Book Haters' Book Club is the ideal feel-good read. It’s a celebration of found family and a love letter to the everyday heroes who run bookstores.

My Thoughts:  I bought this book purely for the name.  The Book Haters’ Book Club, I could not resist.   As I started reading, I found that Elliott could be my best book friend.   I want him to send me book, to recommend books, and to discuss books with me.    The problem?  He died.  His bookstore co-owner, Irma, has decided to sell the bookstore, Over the Rainbow, and is not telling anyone why.   As Elliott’s life partner, Thom, and Irma’s daughter, Bree and Laney, work to try to save the bookstore and find out why Irma is rushing to sell the reader learns about the history of the characters. 

 

I really enjoyed this book.   I liked getting to know the characters and see their dynamic change as the story went out.    I felt like it started with each character having a preconceived idea of why the other characters were the way they were and as the story went on that idea evolved.   They were able to see the world from other people’s points of view, they saw the reasoning for why they were as they were, and they were able to better understand each other.  

 

The Book Haters’ Book club is not a quick read, there were times I put it down and did not feel that rush to get back to it.   The first half moved slow and seemed to be a little bit repetitive.  The conversations were the same, always about the sale of the bookstore.   I felt like the first 30% could have been a lot shorter and moved along at a better place.   Once I got past that part I could not stop reading.   I really enjoyed the last half. 

 

**I purchased this book myself and this review is all my opinions only.

 

Add to your MUST-READ list on Goodreads

Purchase your own copy on Amazon or Barnes and Noble

 

Meet Gretchen Anthony (taken from her website):  GRETCHEN ANTHONY is the award-winning author of The Kids Are Gonna Ask, recipient of the 2021 Alex Award from the American Library Association. Her debut novel, Evergreen Tidings from the Baumgartners, was a Midwestern Connections Pick and a best books pick by Amazon, BookBub, PopSugar, and the New York Post. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, Medium, and The Write Life, among others. She lives in Minneapolis with her family.