The book opens with Michelle who just moved to Longhampton and will open a shop called Home Sweet Home. Her life collides with Anna’s when she’s drinking a cup of tea in town and meets Anna’s dog, Pongo. After some time Michelle sees an opportunity to expand her business even further by taking over an existing bookshop, located next door to her shop. Michelle doesn’t know anything about books but of course Anna does. The story is told in alternating POV’s of Michelle and Anna. They both have their own (not so little) problems. Anna for example wants to have a baby of her own after caring for her husband’s three children for a while now. And Michelle tries to keep everyone at arm’s length and is still suffering the ongoing attention of her (almost ex-)husband. Her parents would love to see them back together and blame her for their break-up but she has her reasons to keep very far away from him. I enjoyed most of this book, bookshops and dogs (Tavish seems such a great dog) are a wonderful combination in my books.. The plotlines were interesting to read. Only the ending was not wrapped up entirely according to my liking. I did not feel that one of the issues playing was totally resolved. ( )

After reading this book, which was littered with well know childrens books, which makes me want to read them, urgently, and write out 'to do lists' which were a big feature in this story, I thoroughly enjoyed this.
A warm cosy fairy tale type book. ( )

När Anna får arbeta i sin väninnas bokhandel i Longhampton går hennes dröm i uppfyllelse. Dessutom får hon annat att tänka på än maken Phil, de tre aviga bonusdöttrarna och deras hyperaktiva dalmatiner. Snart är butiken fylld av böcker med hisnande berättelser om kärlek, äventyr, hemliga trädgårdar och borttappade hundar. Ändå fattas något i Annas liv för att hon ska få den riktiga lyckokänslan.

Annas perfektionistiska väninna Michelle, med sin blomstrande inredningsaffär och ägarinna av bokhandeln, har stora planer för framtiden. Men när mörka hemligheter från det förflutna dyker upp och katastrofen hotar att slå sönder tillvaron, är det slut på alla romantiska drömmar. De två väninnorna kommer att tvingas att fatta livsavgörande beslut. ( )

I've never read one of Lucy Dillon's novels before, but I was swayed by the dreamy, fairytale-like quality of this front cover and the other great reviews for this book on here. I'm so glad I started with this book- and I will definitely be looking to read her others at some point soon because this was a fabulous read- full of characters you can care about and a really charming storyline.

Set in the small town of Longhampton (which has apparently featured in Dillon's books before), we meet Michelle- new to the town after her recent divorce and determined to set up a homeware/interiors shop in the abandoned fishmongers. Michelle is a character full of determination and organised beyond belief. She encounters Anna whilst the other woman is out walking her stepdaughters' dog, Pongo (he escapes into a café and snarfs up her carrot cake!) and the two of them click instantly. Anna by contrast, is struggling with her role as stepmother and is a bit of a downtrodden doormat. When Michelle takes on the lease for the abandoned bookshop next door to her own shop premises and hires Anna as the manager, that's when the real magic (and romance) begins to happen...

I have to say that at first I wasn't sure if I was going to like Anna very much. She did come across as a little bit `woe is me' and so completely lacklustre in the first few chapters particularly in contrast to assertive, independent Michelle who I liked instantly. I also wasn't particularly eager to read about Anna's husband Phil or her horrible sounding stepdaughters (especially Chloe)! Eventually I found myself warming to Anna though- after all, she loves books! She wants everyone to love books and reading (I can emphasise with that). The secondary characters are also very well drawn- I really liked geeky Rory and the interesting dynamics going on between he and Michelle. All in all, by the time I'd finished this book I wished I could go to Longhampton myself!

The writing of this story flows beautifully overall- the author cleverly references other books throughout and conjures up memories associated with characters own experiences of reading them- as well as bookish references at the top of every chapter from them too. I think I will be going back and re-reading some of my childhood favourites after this actually! A few things did irritate me though, which is what has stopped me from giving it the full five stars- basically I just don't understand how sometimes grown women can't stand up for themselves properly- Michelle with her mother and her ex-husband and Anna telling her bratty stepdaughter to shove it and telling her husband what she really wanted out of life! It annoyed me a bit and this happened a lot in the text.

I would recommend you give this story a go if you enjoy contemporary romantic fiction with characters who are believable and likeable. It was a really heart-warming, girly read. Definitely one I'll be passing on to my female friends.

*This review also appears on Amazon.co.uk* ( )

I have not yet read this book.