Bookish People

By: Susan Coll

Narrated by: Alexa Morden

A perfect storm of comedic proportions erupts in a DC bookstore over the course of one soggy summer week—narrated by two very different women and punctuated by political turmoil, a celestial event, and a perpetually broken vacuum cleaner.

Independent bookstore owner Sophie Bernstein is burned out on books. Mourning the death of her husband, the loss of her favorite manager, her only child’s lack of aspiration, and the grim state of the world, she fantasizes about going into hiding in the secret back room of her store.

Meanwhile, renowned poet Raymond Chaucer has published a new collection, and rumors that he’s to blame for his wife’s suicide have led to national cancellations of his publicity tour. He intends to set the record straight—with an ultra-fine-point Sharpie—but only one shop still plans to host him: Sophie’s.

Fearful of potential repercussions from angry customers, Sophie asks Clemi—bookstore events coordinator, aspiring novelist, and daughter of a famed literary agent—to cancel Raymond’s appearance. But Clemi suspects Raymond might be her biological father, and she can’t say no to the chance of finding out for sure.

This big-hearted screwball comedy features an intergenerational cast of oblivious authors and over-qualified booksellers—as well as a Russian tortoise named Kurt Vonnegut Jr.—and captures the endearing quirks of some of the best kinds of people: the ones who love good books.

Praise for Bookish People:

“A smart, original, laugh-out-loud novel . . . If you sell, buy, or simply love books, Bookish People is for you. I wholeheartedly recommend this quirky gem.”—Sarah Pekkanen, New York Times bestselling co-author of The Golden Couple

• Witty, hilarious, and heartwarming contemporary book about books
• Stand-alone novel
• Book length: approximately 84,000 words
• Also by the author: The Stager, Beach Week, Acceptance, Rockville Pike

©2022 Susan J. Coll (P)2022 Harper Muse

Sadly disappointed 😞

I loved this book cover. It is so cute and caught my eye. The premise seemed very interesting so I used my audible credit and got it the same night I saw it. Sadly, I am very disappointed. Though it is interesting at times it became rambling. I went to lunch at work and half way through the hour I realized she was going on, and on, and on about vacums. I sadly am throwing in the towel and am going to DNF.

meh

Only got a couple of chapters, but couldn't get interested in the story or the characters. I would characterize it as dark "comedy" or maybe just dark.

fluffy

comedic read. maybe not funny enough and not serious enough for me. though lots of references to interesting authors.

Not

I really could not get into this book. I made it to chapter 4 and just quit.

Did not meet my expectations

I generally love all books about bookstores and book collectors, in fact I collect them but this one just did not grab me . I tried to identify what it was that did not meet my expectations without much success. The plot was a bit sketchy but life in a bookstore can be that way... some of the characters were a bit strange as were some of the readers. I did finish it but it doesn't have a strong finish.

No real plot

Interesting but no real plot just many subplots. If I had to choose a plot out of the subplots it would be over coming fear but that is not right