Battle of the Bookstores by Ali Brady is a rom-com feat. Josie, our literary snob with kinda soft touch, and Ryan, a cardigan-wearing romance king. One day a mail come and havoc…!
Well let’s jump into it. but if you are fan of Contemporary Romance, and want a similar read you can checkout story at Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry.
“Despite handling bookstores on the Boston street, Josie and Ryan have never talked much—Josie’s store mostly sells on serious kind of literature, and Ryan’s sells more or less romance only. But when the new owner of both stores decides to merge them, the two are pushed into direct competition.”
Book Review: Battle of the Bookstores by Ali Brady
Now, Josie and Ryan go from bookstore rivals to anonymous online soulmates à la You’ve Got Mail. Was it predictable? Sure. But did I eat it up like the last cookie in the jar? Also yes.
The opening had me walking through acronyms and dialogue that made me question if I’d accidentally joined a corporate channel. But I powered through (as all good readers do), and honestly? I’m kinda glad I did.
Now, some things had me side-eyeing (maybe normal for others)- for ex. Why is Josie the only employee at her store? How is Ryan both a giant and a cardigan model and somehow not cheesy? And why… is there a human named Cinderella? ( just for fun )
Still, there’s something so sweet about watching these two slowly realize they’re made for each other’s —online and off.
Similar Read: Daydream by Hannah Grace
| Genre | Romance |
| Number of Pages | 432 pages |
| My Rating | 3.5⭐⭐️⭐️ |
| Release Date | June 3, 2025 |
Battle of the Bookstores Summary (Spoilers)
Josie Klein and Ryan Lawson are both bookstore managers on the same block in Somerville—except Josie’s bookstore is all brooding literary fiction and dusty vibes, while Ryan’s shop, Happy Endings, is pure pink and fab romance energy.
Naturally, Josie looks down her nose at Ryan’s genre (ugh, romance), while Ryan side-eyes Josie’s highbrow attitude. Sparks? Flying. But mostly angry ones.
“Loving you isn’t a genre. It’s the whole damn library.”
Now: the villain. Xander (if you want to make it extra evil), a hotshot developer who owns both stores now. His solution to budget cuts? Merge the two stores into one—and let Josie and Ryan battle it out all summer. The manager with the most sales keeps the job. The loser? Pack up your bookmarks and go.
Also Read: Reviewed: Brutal Birthright Series (Family Tree, Order, Couples)
But here’s the kicker—they’ve ALSO been anonymously bonding on an online book forum. (Yes, it’s very You’ve Got Mail, and yes, you’ll be screaming at your book when they start flirting online without knowing they’re already enemies IRL.)
Spoiler alert: The moment Josie finds out who her online book BFF really is? It’s as messy and emotional as you hope. There are tears. There’s groveling. There’s banter. There’s also one scene with a bookstore ladder and some very spicy behavior.
Oh, and Ryan? Turns out he’s a big softie who grew up thinking he wasn’t smart because of undiagnosed dyslexia. But he found books—and eventually romance novels—and now he’s the cardigan-wearing king of heart-melting lines. We swoon.
Ending Explained
The ending? Josie and Ryan co-manage the new store (because duh), turn it into a dream hybrid of both their styles, and finally let themselves fall in love—on and offline. It’s messy, heartfelt, bookish, and oh-so-satisfying.
Also… Cinderella is a cute person in this book. Just trust me.
Quotes:
“A good book doesn’t just tell a story—it holds your hand through your own.”
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Final Verdict?
So now what? There’s spice & swoon just enough to keep things interesting.
Would I reread? Probably not. But would I recommend to a romance book lover looking for a cozy rom-com? Yes.
Who should read it:
- If you are Rom-com fans craving a You’ve Got Mail update.
- Readers who want to read books about books. 📚
- Fans of cinnamon roll heroes in cardigans.
- Readers who like stories about childhood trauma & growth.
- If you want of cozy read with a pinch of realism.
Books like Battle of the Bookstores by Ali Brady:
- The Secret Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams
- Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson
- It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan
About the Author:
Ali Brady is the pen name of authors – Alison Hammer and Bradeigh Godfrey. Some of the notable works of theirs are The Comeback Summer, The Beach Trap, Until Next Summer.
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