#AmReading - The Library Loan Edition

---

The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs (Bella Vista Chronicles #3)
Published by William Morrow on July 7, 2020
Age/Genres: Contemporary, Fiction

Goodreads

There is a book for everything . . .

Somewhere in the vast Library of the Universe, as Natalie thought of it, there was a book that embodied exactly the things she was worrying about.

In the wake of a shocking tragedy, Natalie Harper inherits her mother’s charming but financially strapped bookshop in San Francisco. She also becomes caretaker for her ailing grandfather Andrew, her only living relative—not counting her scoundrel father.

But the gruff, deeply kind Andrew has begun displaying signs of decline. Natalie thinks it’s best to move him to an assisted living facility to ensure the care he needs. To pay for it, she plans to close the bookstore and sell the derelict but valuable building on historic Perdita Street, which is in need of constant fixing. There’s only one problem–Grandpa Andrew owns the building and refuses to sell. Natalie adores her grandfather; she’ll do whatever it takes to make his final years happy. Besides, she loves the store and its books provide welcome solace for her overwhelming grief.

After she moves into the small studio apartment above the shop, Natalie carries out her grandfather’s request and hires contractor Peach Gallagher to do the necessary and ongoing repairs. His young daughter, Dorothy, also becomes a regular at the store, and she and Natalie begin reading together while Peach works.

To Natalie’s surprise, her sorrow begins to dissipate as her life becomes an unexpected journey of new connections, discoveries and revelations, from unearthing artifacts hidden in the bookshop’s walls, to discovering the truth about her family, her future, and her own heart.

I found and added this book to my TBR not that long ago when I was preparing a Top Ten Tuesday post featuring books set in bookshops. I think most of us avid readers delight in that setting, but when I saw that this book was multigenerational with a dose of grief, I was all in. Needless to say, this was the right book at the right time for me and did wonders for my mood.

The story started off with a celebration (of sorts) that turned tragic. Those first few chapters had me sobbing. So, kudos to Susan Wiggs for being able to make feel the pain of loss these characters were experiencing. I also felt the immense stress of Natalie’s new responsibilities. The bookshop’s financial and physical health were not great, nor was her grandfather’s. Enter Peach who really was a Peach. These three provide the narration for the story, and I adored the way their lives became intertwined.

Amid the save-the-shop and heal-the-heart threads was not only a bit of romance, but also some mystery. The building that housed the bookshop was a historic landmark with LOTS of history. Family lore told of hidden treasures, and as the renovations continued, bits of the past were uncovered. What a fun way to incorporate some history, and they were rather interesting tidbits as well.

Overall, a very sweet and uplifting story. The epilogue was done in a newsreel story style that took me through the post story years and revealed so much of what happened after. It was wonderful, and there are happy tears in my eyes as I think about it. This charming story has me determined to go back to earlier books in this series.

---

Before I Do by Sophie Cousens
Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons on October 11, 2022
Age/Genres: Contemporary, Fiction

Goodreads

What would you do if 'the one that got away' turned up the night before your wedding?

Head-in-the-stars Audrey is about to marry down-to-earth Josh. Though they are polar opposites, they have a healthy, stable relationship; Josh is just what Audrey needs. But romance should be unpredictable and full of fireworks, and as the big day approaches, Audrey's found herself wondering if Josh really is The One.

So, when Josh's sister shows up to the rehearsal dinner with Fred, Audrey's What If? guy--the man she met six years ago and had one amazing day with--Audrey finds herself torn. Surely Fred's appearance the night before she is due to get married can't be a coincidence. And when everything that could go wrong with the wedding starts to go wrong, Audrey has to ask herself: Is fate trying to stop her from making a huge mistake? Or does destiny just have a really twisty sense of humour?

I am developing a strong affection for Cousens’ books. I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect from the synopsis, but what I got was a story about love and the experiences that shape our ideas about relationships.

The story began after SOMETHING happened during the wedding ceremony. I instantly wanted to know what happened. As things began going wrong for for poor Audrey, I had some high level disaster stories playing in my mind. It was a long while until that question was answered for me, as the story jumped between the I Do and pivotal moments in Audrey’s life before the I Do. If you are not a fan of non-linear timelines, I think you would struggle with this, but I loved the way Cousens let the story play out. The connections between the more recent events and past were important and gave me a full picture of how Audrey got to this point.

And what was this point? It was Audrey getting cold feet. Between the “bad omens” and the-one-that-got-away turning up as a guest at her wedding, Audrey was struggling with some major doubts about her impending marriage. I also learned that her mother’s infidelities and Audrey’s guilt surrounding the demise of several of her mother’s relationships played a role as well. All the while, Audrey grew so much, and there was this scene towards the end of the book where I felt she made that choice to move her life in the forward direction.

Overall, this was a lighthearted tale packed with humor. The love story between Audrey and Josh was central to the story, but made even better with additional focus on friendship and family. It had quite a bit of emotional depth and struck the perfect balance for me. This was a solid 4-star read, but let me tell you, that epilogue earned it another half star. It was so unexpected and utterly beautiful. That’s the stuff my reader dreams are made of.

With respect to vacations – are you a planner or a pantser?
Let us know in the comments!