Title: Battle of the BookstoresAuthor: Ali Brady
Pages: 432
Publication Date: June 3, 2025
Publisher: Berkley
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Contemporary
Synopsis:
Despite managing bookstores on the same Boston street, Josie Klein and Ryan Lawson have never interacted much—Josie’s store focuses on serious literature, and Ryan’s sells romance only. But when the new owner of both stores decides to combine them, the two are thrust into direct competition. Only one manager will be left standing, decided by who turns the most profit over the summer.
Efficient and detail-oriented Josie instantly clashes with easygoing and disorganized Ryan. Their competing events and contrasting styles lead to more than just frustration—the sparks between them might just set the whole store on fire. Their only solace during this chaos is the friendship they’ve each struck up with an anonymous friend in an online book forum. Little do they know they’re actually chatting with each other.
As their rivalry heats up in real life, their online relationship grows, and when the walls between their stores come tumbling down, Josie and Ryan realize not all’s fair in love and war. And maybe, if they’re lucky, happily ever afters aren’t just for the books.
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Battle of the Bookstores is a charming enemies-to-lovers romance with a strong found family feel and a setting that felt tailor-made for New England book lovers like me. Josie and Ryan might run very different kinds of bookstores in Boston, hers focused on literary fiction, his is a haven for romance, but their chemistry was undeniable from the start.
The story is told from both Ryan and Josie’s perspectives, and I really liked the dual points of view. Ryan was easy to root for from the beginning. His backstory, his genuine love of the genre he sells, and the way he cares deeply even when he doubts himself made him so lovable. I also adored how he treated his employees and the reasons for hiring each of them. The found family vibes are strong in his store, that’s for sure! Josie took me a bit longer to warm up to, but as she softened and opened up, I grew to really like her. I think as I learned more about her life and past, I connected with and understood her character more. She’s an intelligent, responsible, and good woman who has had some difficult times in her life.
Their competition to keep their jobs after their shops are forced into a summer-long sales battle brought so much entertaining tension to the story. I loved the contrast between Josie’s hyper-organized, tightly wound nature and Ryan’s relaxed, heartfelt approach. They have an opposites attract, rivals to lovers romance that starts off very rocky and turns into something quite profound. Watching them challenge each other, then gradually start to appreciate and even rely on one another, was fantastic.
The online chats Ryan and Josie unknowingly have with each other added a sweet layer to their love story and show how deep their connection is. It definitely had You’ve Got Mail vibes, and the bookish discussions in those chats, as well as the flirtatious banter, made their romance even better. Personally, I thought they said way too many mean things to each other, and I would have a hard time getting past that if I were them. And Josie is rude to some of his employees, too, which was cringeworthy. However, Ryan more than makes up for it with some of his swoon-worthy comments and an absolutely wonderful and touching gesture at the end.
I also got a real kick out of the setting. The references to Rhode Island were such a fun surprise and definitely a little thrill since I live there too! The Boston vibes, especially around Davis Square, were spot on and added so much atmosphere. I actually went to Boston last week, visited a bookstore during my visit, and thought of Josie and Ryan. So fun!
This book is a love letter to bookstores, to all types of readers, and to the idea that sometimes your biggest rival might just be your perfect match. The love of reading was woven into every part of this story, and there were so many thoughtful moments about what stories mean to people, how different genres offer different kinds of comfort or escape, and why every kind of reader is of value.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
“Of all the books I’ve ever read, none of them hold a candle to the reality of being with you. You are what I’ve been waiting for.”
“Please trust this: I will do whatever it takes to give you every single thing you have ever wanted.”
Maybe all stories are love stories at their core. The search for belonging, the ache of grief, our fumbling attempt to find purpose and connection in this big, confusing world.”
- opposites attract
- enemies to lovers
- workplace romance
- forced proximity
- found family
Ali Brady is the pen name of writing BFFs Alison Hammer and Bradeigh Godfrey. They are the USA TODAY Bestselling authors of romantic, heartwarming, funny novels including The Beach Trap, The Comeback Summer, Until Next Summer, and Battle of the Bookstores. Their books have been “best of summer” picks by The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Parade, and Katie Couric Media. Alison lives in Chicago and works as an advertising creative director. She’s also the Founder and Co-President of The Artists Against Antisemitism, and the author of You and Me and Us and Little Pieces of Me. Bradeigh lives in Utah with her husband, four children, and two dogs. She works as a doctor and is the author of psychological thrillers Imposter and The Followers.
