The Bookstore by Deborah Myler

I enjoyed reading this book, the narrative prose really set the tone and the pace of the novel.  It was like watching those Woody Allen Films set in New York.  The Bookstore aka The Owl is like New York itself and all the unique personalities that passed thru its door seemed symbolic of what the city is all about.  This is about a young woman's self discovery, of what she can accomplish, of what her goals are and in the end the realization that dreams change.   The end game becomes something else but what remains is her own self worth and the people that truly support who she really is.

Overall the story is good, the writing is excellent and despite the many cliches and tropes you can truly feel Esme's struggle.  The only downside is the Mitchell character, there was too many pages devoted to him, his family his callousness and self centered personality. The way he manipulates Esme.  There was a lot about him but not really anything to make the reader understand what gained Esme's utter devotion.  If that part was left out the readers won't have missed anything.  The ending scene with him seems enough of an explanation for his character and Esme's realization of what type of a person he truly was.  The Bookstore releases on August 20, 2013.

*Thank you NetGalley and Gallery books  for providing the ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review*



Book Summary:

A witty, sharply observed debut novel about a young woman who finds unexpected salvation while working in a quirky used bookstore in Manhattan.Impressionable and idealistic, Esme Garland is a young British woman who finds herself studying art history in New York. She loves her apartment and is passionate about the city and her boyfriend; her future couldn’t look brighter. Until she finds out that she’s pregnant.

Esme’s boyfriend, Mitchell van Leuven, is old-money rich, handsome, successful, and irretrievably damaged. When he dumps Esme—just before she tries to tell him about the baby—she resolves to manage alone. She will keep the child and her scholarship, while finding a part-time job to make ends meet. But that is easier said than done, especially on a student visa.

The Owl is a shabby, second-hand bookstore on the Upper West Side, an all-day, all-night haven for a colorful crew of characters: handsome and taciturn guitar player Luke; Chester, who hyperventilates at the mention of Lolita; George, the owner, who lives on protein shakes and idealism; and a motley company of the timeless, the tactless, and the homeless. The Owl becomes a nexus of good in a difficult world for Esme—but will it be enough to sustain her? Even when Mitchell, repentant and charming, comes back on the scene?

A rousing celebration of books, of the shops where they are sold, and of the people who work, read, and live in them, The Bookstore is also a story about emotional discovery, the complex choices we all face, and the accidental inspirations that make a life worth the reading.

Title: The Bookstore

Author: Deborah Myler

Genre: Contemporary Adult Fiction, Women's Fiction

Expected Publishing Date: August 20,  2013

Publisher: Gallery Books

Rating: ♨♨♨ 3.5 of 5 (Full of memorable characters, narrative prose with great attention to details, it fully engages the reader into the story despite the familiar tropes.  Readers who love stories about self journey and New York will enjoy this.  Plus I love the bookcover)