Book Review: The Bookshop Below, A Magical Ode to Book Lovers Everywhere, and the Consequences of Messing with Fate
Her debut novel was very divisive, and once again, I think Georgia Summer’s new release, The Bookshop Below is going to be a book that people either love or loathe. I happened to thoroughly enjoy it, even if it left me wanting a bit more from the magic. Her writing style really works for me, and she somehow unravels the story by pulling on strings, one at a time (does that make sense?!). You don’t really know what’s going on, and everything is slowly revealed. I love that kind of story. It keeps you turning the page because you HAVE to find out what’s happening and why. I will say, this book had me from the first sentence of the prologue, “It is not an easy thing to slip a knife between a man’s ribs.” Are you kidding me?! Possibly one of the best opening lines I’ve read in years. With an opening like that, it’s hard to not immediately get sucked in. This book’s story and magic felt a bit like a combo of The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown and Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs. There are magical bookshops and fae-like bargains for magical books, murder plots, heists, love…it packed full of it all. And if anything I do wish it would have been a bit longer to dig deeper into the magic system (because it’s so cool?!), as well as some of the characters. You might like this if you’re looking for a standalone that will keep you guessing.
Things to Know:
Magical Realism
Magic books and bookshops
Romantic subplot
Rivals to lovers
Murder mystery
Cassandra Fairfax (great name, btw) is ALSO Cass Holt, notorious magical book thief and Reader (you’ll sortof learn what that means). We know something happened to cause a rift between her and her mentor, and when she finds out he’s left his magical bookshop to her, she returns to her previous life. But her own might now be in danger. The twists were fantastic. And no, I won’t give any spoilers here.
I absolutely adored the romantic subplot in this story. Honestly, I wish we would have had even more time with Lowell—he was such a great, complex character. Definitely grumpy. Protective. I loved him.
Roth makes a rather predictable villain, but you really do loathe him. I just wish we could have had more backstory on some of these characters because at times if felt like we were just scratching the surface. I felt the same about the magic system. It wasn’t ever explained fully (at least to my satisfaction), and I think if we had both of these things expanded, it would have pushed it up to that five star feeling. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and it cements Georgia Summers as an automatic read author for me.
I really loved the audiobook, and would definitely recommend it, if you want to do an immersive read. You can find the audiobook on Audible or Libro.fm (ProTips: Audible is 99 cents/mo for three months right now AND you can get two free audiobooks on Libro.fm with the code SWITCH right now).
Favorite Quotes:
“A less discernible admirer might call him a golden retriever of a man, but Cassandra knows a shark when she sees one.”
—
“She knows it’s real because it’s cold. Because the rain spattering her face is unpleasant, and the bitter wind is rifling through her clothes like she owes it money…”
—
*P.S. If you end up getting a copy of any books through an Affiliate link above, you’ll be helping me keep this site and newsletter going for you and fellow book lovers. Thanks in advance for supporting your fellow bibliophiles! BTW, I will always disclose affiliate links when they’re present. :) Happy reading!