The Bookshop on the Corner: A Cozy Bookstore Romance Filled with Festive Cheer and Heartwarming Love, Discover This Charming Scottish Highlands Town (Scottish Village of Kirrenfief, 1)

If you talk to Nina for a little bit, she can choose the right book for you. And she is always right. She is a literary matchmaker. Nina is a librarian in the public system in Birmingham England. The system is turning over a new leaf. At one point in time, we find that the system wants to find ways to serve the non-readers in society – people who hate to read. But, that same system wants to rid itself of experienced librarians in order to high young people who will need much less money and have no knowledge about books. After trying to survive the interview process for a new position, Nina decides to follow her true dream. She wants to own a bookstore. She realizes that she would never be able to get an actual building. But, she has a brilliant idea, she can create a bookstore in a van. She can travel around and sell the perfect books to people. The van she finds is in Scotland. So, she gets on a bus and travels to see the van. After the man who owns the van gets a look at her, he refuses to sell to her. She is only a “wee lass” and would never be able to handle the van. But, the owner of the pub and two elderly men who spend a lot of time there offer to buy the van for her and then she can buy it from them. So, this shy young woman picks up her life and moves to Scotland. She starts out with boxes of books which have been abandoned by the library system. Later on she finds books from other public libraries which are closing and some personal libraries. Her life has gone in a completely new direction. She is welcomed in small towns all around her area of Scotland. It appears everyone is anxious for books which will provide exactly what they need. She finds a place to live on a farm. The farm owner has a cottage to rent and he is charging very little. He is trying to rebuild his life after he wife has left him. He also has found that though she left because she hated the farm, she intends to take it from him in order to sell it. He sees no reason for anyone to read. His life is complete as long as he has his farmer's magazines. This is a story about relationships and their ups and downs. Nina puts her faith in the wrong man. He is just a man that is as lonely as she is. Nina also finds that within her village there are people who have interesting life stories. The air is clean and fresh. At times the sun barely sets. The hills are green and beautiful. And lambs are absolutely beautiful when they are born. Nina is a terrific main character. She is interesting and her inner thoughts are at times both humorous as well as soul baring. She has a generous spirit which serves her well in her chosen life. The secondary characters add texture and depth to the story. They let the reader share not only the beauty of Scotland but also the beauty of the Scottish people. The plot is an interesting one. There are few dramatic surprises, but the story provides a great deal of satisfaction for the reader. I love Ms Colgan's writing. She has given the reader a sparkling book to read. There are a few things which disappointed me. I would have liked a little more descriptions of the books which were perfect for her readers. I would have liked a little more realism about Nina's new ability to become an outgoing and strong woman after being so introverted for all her life. But, this is a remarkably good book. I wanted to move to Scotland and breath in that special air and see all those very special people who populate the entire country. Thank you Ms Colgan.

Series Info/Source: This is the first book in the Scottish Bookshop series. Right now there are three books in this series, each book features a different main character but ties in characters from previous books. I bought this book for my Kindle. Story (4/5): This was an adorably fun read that those who enjoy books about characters who love books will love. Nina is a librarian who has been laid off and decides to start a book van in Scotland to try and make ends meet. The story is cute and fun and heartwarming. I love that Colgan kept things fairly realistic (Nina isn’t going to become a millionaire doing what she decides to do). Colgan did a great job of showing how making a big life change can gain you happiness and reward but can also come with some restrictions. This is a story about taking a big risk to find a happier way or life, about loving books and spreading that love, and about finding love yourself. Characters (4/5): This book is 100% about the characters. Nina is an amazing character and I loved her. I love the farmer she rents from and I love her best friend. You meet just a ton of amazing characters and even the random character that stops to buy a book from Nina has some depth to them. Just really excellent characterization throughout. There are so many fun and quirky characters here. Setting (4/5): This book alternates between the city of Birmingham and the sleepy Scottish village that Nina buys her van in. The description of both is amazing and you can really taste, hear and see the settings. Writing Style (4/5): I enjoyed the writing style. This is an easy read and it was a hard book to put down. There were some spots that felt a bit awkward but the humor and witty dialogue throughout more than made up for that. I love how real the places and people feel in this book. I also enjoyed that this has a happy upbeat vibe to it. I loved that the “happily ever after” storyline was tampered by some reality and was realistic about where our characters life choices lead them. There is a definite theme of choice and lifestyle here; Nina sacrifices a lot to be happy in her day to day life but gains happiness in return….her friends choose their city life which leads to day to day frustration at times but also gives them the different kinds of happiness they are seeking. It was a nice balance that just shows that it’s okay to live life in different ways. My Summary (4/5): Overall I really loved this book and plan on continuing the series. This was just such a fun and heartfelt read, it left me feeling so positive. The characters and locations really came alive for me and I enjoyed them all. I would recommend this if you are looking for a fun book about a character who leaves everything behind to find a new life and finds unexpected belonging and romance on her journey.

Novel.la perfecte per llegir ràpid i a qualsevol lloc, per evadir-se de la realitat mundana i somiar una mica amb altres llocs.

die autorin kann sehr gut die beziehung von nina zu büchern und deren lesern darstellen - wohl, weil sie selber gerne und viel liest. im vorwort fragt sie die leser ihres buchs nach deren liebsten oder ungewöhnlichsten lese-orten. [jenny, bei mir ist es der zahnarztstuhl. im wartezimmer gibt es ja noch zeitungen, aber im behandlungszimmer sitzen und warten, während das neueste buch dringend weitergelesen werden muss, war mir zu doof: mein kindle geht mit und wenn der doktor dann tatsächlich an mir arbeitet, ruht die geschichte auf meinem schoß, bis zur nächsten pause in der behandlung.] nina ist so beschrieben, daß ich mich in vielem wiederfinden und das andere, mir fremde, trotzdem nachfühlen kann. sehr gut gemacht! die geschichte an sich ist oft vorhersehbar, aber eben auch nicht immer. es geht nicht nur um herzschmerz , neue liebe und einen neustart in einer anderen welt, sondern um viel mehr. vor allem die beschreibungen schottlands haben meine sehnsucht geweckt, dort endlich mal hinzufahren (natürlich mit ausreichend lesestoff im gepäck)

Un libro “relajante”, entretenido.

Like all Jenny Colgan's books, this novel is a warm, escapist read. Her Scotland is a wonderful place to escape to and features romances between large, stereotypical Scots and small vulnerable but feisty English girls which end in happy marriages. Jenny Colgan's writing is amusing and ideal for lifting the mood of anyone who is finding reality hard to deal with.

One of those rare, wonderful, precious books that make you feel less alone as you read them and also afterwards. “It’s not only me, then!” this is what you wonder from the very first pages. I like to think this story is what would have happened to Francie Nolan (A tree grows in Brooklyn) as a grown-up had she lived in the UK in our time. Moving, heart-warming and comforting. It makes a bookworm feel less alone in this complicated and too loud world. Extremely well written, a pleasure to read.