The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks by Shauna Robinson
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Web ID: 1525583920 reviews
Perfect
This was an unexpected favorite! Maggie is hilarious and has a lot of feelings and ideas, as I’m sure some of us can relate 🤣 She goes on an incredible journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance, and this novel is both endearing and reflective. As an avid reader, experiencing Maggie’s new-found love of reading was infectious and heartwarming.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Not perfect but worth reading
REVIEW When Maggie Banks covers her friend's maternity leave at the bookstore in Bell River, she immediately falls foul of the president of the local literary society's strict rules. Trying to boost dwindling sales, she starts a secret book club. But when she unearths a secret about the town's esteemed author, it could throw the entire town's legacy into jeopardy. There were parts of this book that I loved. I adored the community that Maggie was able to become part of (even clandestinely). I loved the camaraderie between the people who weren't fans of Edward Bell, of which Vernon, for me, was an unexpected highlight. And, I LOVED Maggie's idea for bookish evenings, and the literary mashups were hilarious. I wasn't, however, entirely sure the romance worked very well, or was even necessary, as the story felt like it was more about Maggie's self-confidence and development. I didn't get any enemies-to-lovers vibes. It was more of an opposites attract, but with very few clashes. That said, what there was of them together was very sweet. I enjoyed their meetup at the book festival, but I was so sad that Maggie didn't invite him to TJ's evening, even though I understood why. Malcolm was lovely, if a little straight-laced, and I felt for him when Maggie's secrets came out. I found the fact that Rochelle, Maggie's best friend (and manager of the bookstore), was barely in it early on a bit odd. There was no dialogue between them after the initial introductions until over halfway (even though she was living with the family, and Rochelle's husband was mostly invisible. But I think the thing I struggled with most was that a small town could keep a bookstore running in this economy purely with old books and the legacy of some long-dead local author. Still, Maggie's first meeting with Ralph, the president of the Bell Society, was hilarious, even though he was an insufferable dictator, and the subterfuge added some amusing moments. What I think I loved the most, though, was the way Maggie discovered her own love of reading. Books are for everyone, and no one should ever gatekeep which ones you can read! Not perfect, but a fun, bookish read with a satisfying conclusion. Overall Rating: ❤️❤️❤️.5 *Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to leave an honest review* Favourite Quotes: “Should I be offended that you’re recommending a children’s book to me?” “You should be honored that I’m gonna lend you my favorite book in the world.” “I like certain people.” His eyes locked on mine with enough significance to make something inside me flutter. “I’m certain people?” I asked. “You are.”
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Cute Story
Maggie is unsure what to do with her life, so when her best friend, Rochelle, asks Maggie to help in her Bell River Cobblestone Books store. When Maggie arrives, she is stunned by the town's cult-like atmosphere around Edward Bell, an author famous for his novel "The First Dollar". She finds the bookstore is limited to books published before Edward Bell's time. As Maggie realizes, the bookstore can't survive this way. So, Maggie attempts to inject some fun and life into the bookstore and the other town businesses held by the Bell Society, but all must be done in secret. What follows is Maggie uncovering town secrets and finding herself in the process. Cute story.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Small Town + Bookish Goodness + Plucky Heroine
I really enjoyed The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks and want avid readers to know about it. Shauna Robinson's debut Must Love Books was a rather dark look at the publishing industry. I’m glad the tone of her second novel is lighter. It contains conflicts and challenges, but overall it's optimistic. Maggie Banks' life is a bit of a mess. Unemployed and homeless, she eagerly accepts her friend Rochelle's offer to come to Bell River and manage Cobblestone Books while Rochelle is on maternity leave. Bell River is a small town dominated by the legacy of the legendary author Edward Bell (think John Steinbeck) - everything from retail to dining and lodging are focused on Mr. Bell and his books, and all businesses must adhere to a strict set of rules to uphold his reputation. Maggie doesn't adapt well to the limitations placed on the bookstore, which include selling only classics written before Edward Bell's death in the 1960s, and puts its future in jeopardy when she tries to subvert the rules. To bring much-needed revenue to Cobblestone Books, Maggie hosts secret author events with a unique theme and sells recently-published books from cartons hidden in the back room. She quickly makes friends with Bell River residents and 'accidentally' creates a revolution against the Bell restrictions. There is much to like about this novel. The cast of characters is great - Maggie, Rochelle and her family, Maggie's new Bell River friends, the authors and attendees of the secret events, and Malcolm, who is torn between his job at the Edward Bell Society and his attraction to Maggie. It's full of bookish goodness with many titles and authors mentioned. And it has lots lovely small town charm and a thread of mystery. One storyline in particular requires some suspension of belief, but this didn't outweigh all of the positive aspects of the plot. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Imani Jade Powers who brought Maggie's big, reckless, passionate personality to life but also did well in conveying a large cast of other characters. Many thanks to OrangeSky Audio for the ALC of this delightful novel.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Loved the bookstore setting
The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks: The bookshop setting was divine; the storyline was such a delicious RomCom. Just enough twistiness to keep me turning the pages. Recommended.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A Fun Bookstore Read
Maggie had many jobs but cannot finds one that is for her and is currently unemployed. Her friend Rochelle offers her a job in her bookstore while she is on maternity leave. Maggie figures why not. The town of Bell River's claim to fame is a famous author and everything revolves around this. The bookstore cannot sell any book published after the author's death in 1968. In secret Maggie tries to save the bookstore. Can she do it? This book is an enjoyable read. Maggie is just trying to find her way in the world. She is trying to find a job that suits her abilities. Maybe this bookstore is just what she needs. It is a fun read and I would recommend reading this book. Thank you to #earlyreads, @ShaunaRobinson, #SourcebooksLandmark for a copy of this book.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Llight bookstore read
I really enjoyed Robinson’s writing style; she has a light touch that makes reading easy. The light style also means that things never get too deep while you are reading. I really liked the community that Maggie built, but the fact she’s keeping it a secret from everyone she cares about made it less of a community to me. It also took her way to long to track to the fact that was what she was doing. This is a pleasant read that is perfect for fans of bookstore books.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
amazing read to touch your heart
Since graduating from college, Maggie has never found the career she wanted. When her college bestie asks Maggie to come east and work in her family's bookshop while she's on maternity leave, Maggie takes her up on her offer. The bookshop has weird rules which make no sense. After meeting a romance author, Maggie comes up with a book event but has to plan it covertly. It's a rousing success, and Maggie finds a way to sell forbidden and banned books from the shop, covertly. The bookshop is doing well, but the secret is hard to keep, especially from the man who has piqued her interest, and the man who controls everything related to Bell River's literary icon. Finding a secret initially seems the answer, but making it public could ruin the town's tourism business which so many rely on. With help from others, Maggie finds a way to reveal the truth and save the town. A book rich with literary activism, community, and a bit of romance which will warm your book-loving heart.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com