I have no idea where I heard of this book, but I'm so glad I found it because I thoroughly enjoyed it! Maggie has been kind of floating through life, I have no idea where I heard of this book, but I'm so glad I found it because I thoroughly enjoyed it! Maggie has been kind of floating through life, trying to figure out what she wants to do, when her college friend asks if she wants to manage her bookshop while she's on maternity leave. Maggie isn't much of a reader but she needs a job, so she moves across the country for this. The town, Bell River, is famous because it's where the author Edward Bell used to live, and everything in town is geared to bring in tourists who are interested in Bell himself. Even the bookshop is prohibited from selling books that were published after Bell's death. Unfortunately, those are the books people want to buy, and the bookshop isn't doing too well. In an effort to bring in more business, Maggie decides to start secretly selling contemporary books, host literary events, and befriends almost everyone in town in the meantime.
This was such a fun book to read! I loved the description of the town and all the people who lived there. It felt like such a tourist attraction but shown from the perspective of those who live there. Maggie was so intrepid, and I absolutely loved her idea for secret literary events to bring in business. It made all the attendees (and me, as the reader!) feel like they were in on a secret. I totally want these literary events to be held near me because they were absolutely brilliant! The characters in here felt so real, and the romance that develops between Maggie and one of the men in town was believable and sweet. I also really enjoyed reading about the rivalry (for lack of a better word) between Maggie and one of Bell's descendants, who was committed to preserving Bell's legacy at all costs. This storyline added a hint of mystery and intrigue to the book as well, rounding it out even further.
I am so surprised this book doesn't only have rave reviews because I thought it was just so fun! I would heartily recommend this to anyone looking for a very fun and entertaining story that feels grounded but also makes you feel like you're going away on vacation to a small town somewhere with a really lovable set of characters. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author!...more
This was a surprisingly good book! I started this off knowing only a little of what it was about: the author believes that we have gotten too used to This was a surprisingly good book! I started this off knowing only a little of what it was about: the author believes that we have gotten too used to being comfortable, which is ultimately detrimental to our health and happiness. The author includes a narrative throughout the pages of a month-long trip to the Arctic, during which he was forced to brave the elements and hunt for his own food; this is interspersed with tales of various experts he met and information he's gathered about various tools and information designed to make humans healthier and happier.
I really enjoyed this! The time the author spent in the Arctic was really interesting and definitely a unique experience. I appreciated the conversations he had with his companions about ethical hunting and the questions of whether any human had ever stepped on the land they were exploring. What a different world they occupied while there, completely removed from comforts and truly alone in a world where typically you can connect to anyone/anything in a matter of seconds. I feel like the lessons he learned in the wild were ones that can be applied to everyone, even if you're not embarking on a similar trip. There were simply some good takeaways and realizations, and it was also interesting to read his own recollections of the trip.
The experts he spoke with throughout the book were also quite fascinating. Some of it seemed a bit obvious (for example: getting out in nature is good for you), but I appreciated the fact that he also included notes about how even having indoor plants can reduce stress levels. There were a lot of things in here that seemed obvious but were broken down in a way that was new to me. One person he spoke with helped people lose weight, and one of the things he shared is the fact that everyone (overweight and not) has a tendency to underestimate their caloric intake and portion sizes. The book goes into this in a lot more detail. He also explained hunger in a way that made it seem like a benefit at times instead of something that needs to be addressed immediately. Discomfort, he claims, is necessary at times in order to be happier and healthier overall.
I think anyone interested in mental and/or physical health, especially someone who appreciates nature, would enjoy this book. I found this truly fascinating overall and thought a lot about various parts in this book outside of my reading time, which is certainly a sign that the content resonated with me! ...more
Anastasia is part of the figure skating team at her college, hoping for an eventual shot at the Olympics with her pairs partner. After she meets one oAnastasia is part of the figure skating team at her college, hoping for an eventual shot at the Olympics with her pairs partner. After she meets one of the guys on the school's hockey team, she finds herself falling for him despite all the reasons why she doesn't want to get involved with a hockey player.
I kept seeing this book being hyped, so finally I had to check it out and see what all the fuss was about. I think I expected this to be mostly a lighthearted romance but it was definitely a bit more spicy than I anticipated! The plot was pretty basic and you already know how it'll end (this is a romance, after all), but the author did a good job creating believable and actually somewhat complex characters overall, which is the main reason I kept reading the book despite having to continually suspend my disbelief. Even the premise is unbelievable, but this isn't about reality here, this is about entertainment!
I felt like the book was longer than it needed to be, but I was impressed by the author's ability to keep the story moving along despite it being fairly straightforward. Some of the phrases in here made me cringe a bit (like Anastasia constantly being called a "good girl" or "baby") and the plot occasionally seemed contrived or just ridiculous (what college has a competitive figure skating team where the participants have a legitimate chance at going to the Olympics?), but it was pretty entertaining overall. ...more