Published by MIRA on August 19, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads
Edith has Alzheimer’s. The idea that she will someday forget her son, her life, even her self, plagues her constantly. So there is something important she must do she has to find Sven, the love of her life she was supposed to meet on a bus bench twenty-seven years ago and run away with.
Her son, Blade, is struggling to keep an eye on her. His mother’s full-time caregiver, he resents the fact that he gave up most of his life to look after her. But what wouldn’t he do for his mother? Track down her decades-old flame before her mind fails her? Sure, he can do that.
Sophia is fiercely working to keep her business afloat. Her uncle left his flower shop to her and her brothers after he died, and she needs to show her family that the business is worth saving. So when an opportunity comes along that takes her all over Sweden, she can’t say no.
While Edith is desperately trying to hold on to her memories, she discovers friendship as she sits daily at the bus stop. While Blade is out looking for Sven, he learns to embrace his relationship with his mother more fully. While Sophia is fighting to keep her dream alive, she comes to terms with the therapies that were forced upon her in response to her autism diagnosis. Life is happening all around them, and like in life, there’s always still good to be found.
Edith was losing her memories, so she sent her son, Blade, on a mission to find the love of her life. His trip to Sweden brought Sophia, who needed a way to travel from market to market in order to raise the funds to buy her brothers out of the business, into his life. What seemed like a bad idea turned into a wonderful adventure which helped all parties involved come to terms with their past and make some decisions about their futures.
This was a lovely and feel-good story about second chances, love, family and friendship. It was about being yourself and finding your people, the people who won't try to change you. It's about building a "village" and seizing the path to happiness.
Edith's storyline was heartbreaking, naturally, but it was handled with so much care. Zetterberg didn't shy away from how difficult Alzheimer’s can be for everyone involved, but she also let Edith shine in her own way. She was a woman, a mother, a friend. She had a bright personality and a big heart, and it was obvious throughout this tale.
Blade had been a full-time caregiver for his mother for the past three years. He lost his job, life, and girlfriend due to this commitment, but only wanted what was best for his mother whom he loved dearly. This mission to find her Sven was eye-opening, showing him things he didn't know about his mother and himself.
It was kismet that he met Sophia, and I loved how they clicked with each other. Sophia was definitely someone you could root for. Being neurodivergent, she was often bullied and misunderstood. She was subjected to therapy that left scars, but Sophia found comfort in flowers and her shop. What was special about her and Blade was the way he accepted her, how he took cues from her, and genuinely liked her just as she was. Sophia's story arc was one that really touched me, and I suppose the second chance part applied to her family as much as to Edith's search for Sven.
I was wholly captivated by this tale and terribly invested in the outcome for everyone involved - Edith, Blade, Sophia, and all the people who made up their community. This was a sweet and tender story that emphasized community and memories, and it really touched my heart.
Published by Avon on August 19, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads
A charming literary-themed novel about a young woman determined to save her great-aunt’s beloved bookshop from extinction by the shiny new competition—which also happens to be run by the handsome son of her family’s rivals.
The cute, seaside town of Portneath has been the home of Capelthorne’s Books for nearly a hundred years…
The shop, in the heart of a high street that stretches crookedly down the hill from the castle to the sea, may be a tad run-down these days, but to Jules Capelthorne, the wonky, dusty world of literary treasures is full of precious childhood memories. When her great-aunt Florence gets too frail to run it alone, Jules ditches her junior publishing job in London and comes home to make the bookshop’s hundredth birthday a celebration to remember.
Jules quickly discovers things are worse than she ever The bookshop is close to bankruptcy, unlikely to make it to its own centenary celebration, and the lease on the building is up for renewal. With a six-figure sum needed, the future looks bleak.
To make matters worse, the owner of the property is the insufferable Roman Montbeau, from the posh, local family who owns half of Portneath. The Montbeaus and Capelthornes have feuded for years, and Roman has clearly not improved since he tormented Jules as a child. Fresh from a high-flying career in New York, he is on a mission to shake things up, and—unforgivably—proves his point about Capelthorne’s being a relic of the past by opening a new bookshop directly opposite—a shiny, plate-glass-windowed emporium of books.
Jules may not be able to splash the cash on promotions and marketing like the Montbeaus, but she’s got some ideas of her own, plus she has a tenacity that may just win the hardest of hearts and the most hopeless of conflicts.
Let the battle of the bookshops commence…
When great-aunt Flo suffered an accident, Jules returned to the hometown she fled to help her aunt as she heals. Jules didn't expect the family's 100 year-old bookshop to face new competition from none other than their arch rivals, the Montbeaus. But now Jules was determined to win the battle of the bookshops!
This is my third trip to Middlemass, and once again, I had a delightful time. I liked having an opportunity to catch up with old friends while getting to know Jules and Roman. Jules had crushed on Roman back in her teens, but she was never part of his circle of friends. One reason may have been the longstanding feud between their families, but they were grown up now. They were different people with different goals, and though there were many reasons why they should NOT embark on a romantic relationship, they followed their hearts.
I must say, Roman quickly won me over even if he was a threat to the Capelthorne's business. He did all these sweet things for Jules, and gosh darn it, I am all about the small gestures that mean a lot. The verbal sparring between these two was a delight, but the tenderness was even better.
Middlemass had always been inhabited by colorful characters, and I whole-heartedly approve of all the new additions. I loved meeting them and seeing how they fit into this world. And, let's be honest, could I not love a bookstore setting? The answer is no, and I was here for that and all the accompanying bookish delights. There was also an interesting side plot with a manuscript that took an unexpected turn.
Overall, it was a fun return trip to Middlemass.
*ARCS PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER
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