Bookstore romances combine two of my favorite subjects in one fun-to-read novel. Sarah Chamberlain’s Love Walked In follows the story of Mari Cole, a friendly American book “whisperer” with a knack for helping struggling independent booksellers on the brink to recapture business and thrive once again. When she arrives in London to assist a prestigious bookseller recapture lost business, she finds herself facing off with Leo, the grumpy co-owner resisting any changes she suggests.
Told from both of their points of view, the readers enjoy deeper insight into the characters’ motivations and reasoning. A significant amount of the story deals with growth for both main characters with pretty deep topics including abandonment, death of a loved one, infidelity, eating disorders, and emotional abuse. The romance plot of this book follows the established tropes (grumpy/sunshine, enemies/lovers, opposites attract) and makes for some enjoyable reading. After a lot of personality clashes and misunderstandings, things heat up between Mari and Leo, and the book includes some spicy scenes. The side characters are also enjoyable and make important contributions to the plot. I loved the banter between Mari and Leo, as well as the interactions with his family and staff members.
Lovers of independent bookstores will especially enjoy Love Walked In as the cozy setting places the reader amidst the stacks and behind the scenes. Bibliophiles with wanderlust will adore the prominence of London and the surrounding area throughout the novel. I enjoyed the dual audiobook narration of this book by Kate Hanson and Stewart Crank.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press (St. Martin’s Griffin) for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
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