The Bookstore Diaries (Deluxe Limited Edition) - by Susan Mallery (Hardcover)

I bought two books today one delivered and one is being shipped. today's special was BOGO 50% 0ff. I was charged full price on delivered book need a 5.62 credit issued to me for this book

I wish I could visit the Painted Lady bookstore! The cast of characters are relatable and this story was a nice little getaway. I love that Susan Mallery includes our companions fur or feathered as family. The painted edges are amazing!

First, I just have to say how GORGEOUS this book is!! The storyline was really good. Strong female characters, as always, which I love about the author's books. I could completely picture the bookstore itself as I read. I would have liked MORE diaries, though.

The Bookstore Diaries by Susan Mallery was such a sweet, feel-good read. I loved Jax and Ryleigh and how their sister bond carried them through all the ups and downs. Ramon the parrot made me laugh out loud. Both of their romance stories felt real with just the right mix of heart and humor. Susan Mallery has done it again. It had great characters, a cozy bookstore setting, and a story that leaves you smiling.

I was very excited about this book and it didn't disappoint. It was funny, heartwarming and full of drama in a good way. I had a hard time wanting to put the book down.

Nesting is such a great option for the kids, but I can never convince anyone that I’m right. It’s nice to see a family making it work, even if the family is fiction. (I’m definitely recommending this book as a co-parenting instruction guide.) I am always so enamored by the family dynamics in Mallery’s books that I can ignore the completely ridiculous and unrealistic plot. I simply can’t believe that no one took a photo of the wall. . .but I still couldn’t put it down.

This one surprised me a little. It had the romance and friendships I expected, but I found myself getting really frustrated at times, especially with the ex-husband. Jax, a divorced mother of two who owns The Painted Lady Bookstore, has a complicated living situation with her ex-husband, Harris. He makes a decision that creates even more stress for her, and the expectations he puts on her to help fix it just felt so unfair. I kept thinking… why is this her responsibility? (sir… respectfully, no.)Jax’s relationship with her younger sister, Ryleigh, was one of my favorite parts. They’re close in a very real way—supportive, but also honest—and you really see how they lean on each other when things get difficult. Ryleigh seems like she knows exactly what she wants, but her story shows it’s not always that simple. Watching both of them fall in love in their own ways added a lot to the story.That frustration I felt at times actually made everything feel more real. Not everything is wrapped up neatly, and the characters have to work through situations that are messy and uncomfortable. The growth is slow in places, but it makes sense for what they’re dealing with, which I appreciated (even if I wanted to shake a few characters just a little).I also really liked the sense of community. The bookstore itself feels like a place people can land when life isn’t going right, and it brings together relationships that go beyond just romance. The friendships, family dynamics, and support system all felt just as important as the love stories.There’s a lot of warmth in this book, but it doesn’t ignore the harder things—boundaries, accountability, and learning when something isn’t yours to carry....well, except for the ex. That balance is what stood out to me the most.Although I did appreciate the epilogue, I honestly wasn’t ready to be done with these characters. I would have loved to see this continue as a series, and I’m really hoping Susan gives us more of this world again....PLEASE!!!!

Having read Shari Lapena before I knew that I was page turne with a lot of twists and turns. This one did not disappointed. A young high school girl is found murdered. She was a well liked girl, popular and a high school track star. As police begin investigating her murder everyone in the town is giving them different leads about who they should question. They also discover that everyone in this town has a secret that they want to keep to themselves. This is a fast paced and was a page turner for me. Love it

OMG! I just finished this book and absolutely loved it! Ramon is such a hoot with his one liners and the relationship between him and Jax is absolutely adorable. Each and every character in this book grabs you. The dialogue between the characters leaves you laughing and crying. Such a special bond between all of them. An absolute must read.

Not only is the sprayed edges limited edition first print of this book gorgeous! It has a feel good story inside of it as well! Susan Mallery has the ability to write characters that you can relate to. Jax is the owner of The Painted Lady bookstore. She is divorced and afraid to trust anyone (I can relate!). Her and her ex-husband Harris have joint custody and the kids stay at the house and they switch off every other week. (Besides being able to write lovable and relatable characters she can also write characters you really dislike….aka Harris!). Jax also has a grey African parrot Roman that she has had since she was 12. He cracks me up with his shenanigans and his conversation! (Almost made me want to go get a parrot! lol). Then there is Ryleigh. Jax’s younger sister. She is upset because her boyfriend didn’t propose on a trip and when he does finally propose her answer surprises everyone! Jax and Ryleigh are not only sisters but also best friends and Jax doesn’t take it well when Ryleigh says she wants to move a few hours away for a new start. This book is about figuring out what you want, what’s stopping you from getting it, and learning how to open up and trust others. It will make you laugh, cheer on (most of) the characters, and shake your head at Harris and the stupidity he brings to the story! This is a great feel good read and will be an amazing pool or beach day read! As well as an amazing addition to your bookshelf after you read it!

Another superb book by Susan Mallery! The story just flowed and kept you engrossed from start to finish! The secrets that came out after a mishap with the wall in the bookstore where the diaries were held, were surprising! It wasn't just the secrets that made this book so good, but the happenings in Jax, the bookstore owner, and her sister, Ryleigh's lives! I highly recommend this book! You won't be sorry reading this excellent story!

This is a book about the dynamics between two sisters, Jax and Ryleigh. It was based more on how the sisters interacted and supported each other through life events. The romance in this story was slow moving and more or less took a back seat compared to the story line between the sisters themselves. Even though it is titled The Bookstore Diaries, there really wasn't much of a strong story line with regards to the diaries. I wish Susan weaved more of a story line with regards to the them in some way into the book. The bookstore seemed so warm and welcoming, enough that I wish it was real and I would love to visit it. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and really liked all the people in it. My favorite character was Ramon the African gray parrot. He was a hoot! I laughed out loud a number of times because he was so funny and even read a few sentences to my husband. I also loved Lucy the cat. This was a fun read and I was pleased with the way the story lines ended. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Susan Mallery for review purposes. This did not sway my opinion in any way.

The first book arrived damaged and Target immediately took care of the issue and sent a replacement.

I was given a copy of this book for an honest review. The story focuses on Jax, a divorcee, who by the way owns an African Gray Parrot that had me laughing out loud. Jax has control issues, but throughout the story she is honest and learns more about herself. This helps her in her relationships. There is a subplot that focuses on her sister Ryleigh who is determined to live in a place where she can find love and marry, even if it means moving away from those you love. This is one of Susan’s best. Just like me, you won’t be able to put it down. 5 stars!

Jax is the successful owner of The Painted Lady Bookstore. The bookstore hosts diary days where people write down their thoughts and secrets and then place their diaries in different slots behind the bricks of the building. The bookstore is going through some construction and an accident happens where no one knows exactly where the diaries are located, or who they belong to. Jax and her sister Ryleigh are best friends and tell each other everything. Jax and her ex-husband have a great co-parenting system so their kids don't have to keep moving around. I love Jax's parrot Ramon who is the smartest bird on the planet, and smarter than the humans. This is a heartwarming story that made me laugh and cry, and I highly recommend it!

I have been an avid Susan Mallery fan for years and this story definitely did not disappoint! I felt connected to Jax and Ryleigh and admired their character growth. For me, Ramon, the parrot, was definitely a star character. He was hilarious and so sweet. I read this in less than a day as I couldn't seem to put it down.

The Bookstore Diaries was a quick and easy read. I liked how Jax loved the bookstore and Ramon, the bird, since she was a young child. She inherited the store and Ramon. She does a great job running the store and is definitely in control. Her employee, Cheryl, is a bit slick, nosey and has a good heart. Ryleigh, her sister feels like spreading her wings and thinks about moving to a new area. She feels drawn to stay because of family and her friend Alex. Harris, Jax’s ex-husband has a messy personal life but is a good dad. I liked how the characters grew over time. I loved the bird Ramon and how he was woven in the story. I recommend reading this book.

What a treat it was to read The Bookstore Diaries by Susan Mallery! First of all you had me with the book title containing the word Bookstore! This story centers around Jax who owns The Painted Lady Bookstore and her lovable parrot Ramon! Can my favorite character in the book be a parrot? Absolutely LOVED him! Anyway, Jax and her sister Ryleigh have always been close. But Ryleigh thinks her love life needs a change of scenery and she is thinking about moving to San Diego. Jax has her own problems with her ex and his new fiance. Jax even tries to set Ryleigh up with her hot contractor Marcus but he only has eyes for Jax. A great story about family relationships, moving on and taking the time to find out what really makes you happy. Highly recommend this book!

This novel is more than a romance since it also includes some valuable life lessons and insights on what not to do if you want to have a successful relationship. It had me in stitches during the back-and-forth banter between the characters. It also included a favorite character who was not human but rather Ramon the parrot. I never knew what Ramon would do or say next, but suffice it to say that the author gave that bird some personality with a capital “P.” I think that this is one of the best books by this talented author that I have ever read, with a depth to it that drew me into the story quickly and a delightfully readable plot, switching between the main characters and their individual dilemmas. Jax is a control freak, so relationships with her are tough. That may be the reason that her closest friend seems to be Ramon, her parrot. Ryleigh is her younger sister, a teacher who doesn’t want to grow old alone so she is trying to decide whether to move or not in order to find love and start a family. The secondary characters are equally engaging, with Shawna as the fiancée of Jax’s ex-husband, a nice girl who has no idea what she is getting herself into when she accepts Harris’s proposal. I really liked the custody agreement that Jax and Harris have so that their children can stay in their home and the parents take turns living with them. Those scenes showed that divorce can be amicable if not totally agreeable. The entire book was fun to read, with appealing characters, a charming setting (who wouldn’t love a bookstore in a Victorian house) and a little tease of a mystery about the diaries that are kept in the bookstore, with some startling revelations that occur as a result of the renovation in the bookstore. This book is a slam dunk success with me, from beginning to end. I was invested in the lives of each believable character, even the ones I didn’t like much. I was absorbed by the threads of the dual storylines and loved how the author wove them together even as they seemed to be tearing apart. This book has a well-crafted and charming plot and was such an enjoyable read that I am enjoying just picking it up again and reading sections over and over, just to get another laugh from such a refreshing and warm-hearted novel. I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.