Battle of the Bookstores by Ali Brady (June 3, 2025) Many thanks to Berkley Romance and PRH Audio for the gifted advanced listening and reading copies! #berkley #berkleypartner #prhaudioinfluencer
Josie Klein and Ryan Lawson each manage a bookstore on either side of a cozy coffee shop. Josie’s store is all about literary fiction, while Ryan’s is a haven for romance readers. When the owner of the three businesses announces plans to combine the coffee shop and bookstores into a single, renovated space, only one of them will get to keep their job. The catch? Whoever has the best summer of sales wins. These two total opposites are officially rivals – GAME ON.
But while they’re butting heads in person, they’re also unknowingly falling for each other online through an anonymous bookstore employee forum. As their secret virtual connection deepens, the heat of their bookstore rivalry rises, leading to some seriously complicated feelings.
This book is FANTASTIC. I was hooked on the “inside baseball” debates about books, the “enemies-to-friends-to-lovers” dynamic, and the hidden identities that added such delicious tension. The banter and hijinks are pitch-perfect, and the third act was lovely. Watching Josie and Ryan discover each other’s truths was so lovely and satisfying. Much like Ali Brady’s 2024 release, Until Next Summer, the story is enriched by a wonderful cast of side characters. And this book does what I love most in romance novels: it gives both main characters complete arcs and opportunities for growth. Additional kudos for consent and discussions about women not feeling safe in a room full of men.
(Also, witnessing Josie wonder then discover what STFUATTDLAGG means was hilarious)
🎧 Audiobook Notes 🎧 Karissa Vacker and Brandon Francis deliver a stunning duet narration that absolutely elevates this story. Their voices are perfect for Josie and Ryan, making it one of those audiobooks you cannot stop listening to. (9 hrs 32 mins)
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Audio Performance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Book Smart Kate 