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MNHQ

Ebook and Paperback Book Giveaway: The Bookstore by Deborah Meyler

62 replies

TinaMumsnet · 15/12/2014 10:20

Esme Garland arrived in Manhattan with a scholarship to study art history at Columbia University. When she falls in love with New York blue-blood Mitchell van Leuven, with his penchant for all things erotic, life seems to be clear sailing, until a thin blue line signals stormy times ahead.

Before she has a chance to tell Mitchell about her pregnancy, he abruptly declares their sex life is as exciting as a cup of tea, and ends it all. Stubbornly determined to master everything from Degas to diapers, Esme starts work at a small West Side bookstore to make ends meet.

This week we're giving away 50 paperback copies and 50 ebook copies of The Bookstore by Deborah Meylor. Click here to find out more and apply for a free copy.

Don't forget, if you're lucky enough to receive a free copy, we do ask that you tell us what you think about it in the thread below, or write a review here.

This giveaway is sponsored by Bloomsbury reader.

OP posts:

thelittlebooktroll · 31/01/2015 08:39

I only got a few chapters into this book. Too much chic lit for me and like others have already mentioned it feels as if the author has tried to make it more high brow by throwing in all the arty bookish references.

I might be too old for this book as I used to read more chic lit books when I was in my 20s so perhaps 10 years ago I would have enjoyed this book more.

I only got as far as to the masturbation with the electric toothbrush. This scene made me put the book down I'm afraid.

Spockster · 03/02/2015 22:08

This book was mildly entertaining, fine for a short flight I took recently. I had no trouble putting it down. How any intelligent woman could keep going back to Mitchell is beyond me, and the ending was unsatisfactory without making me care enough to be frustrated. Chick lit, and not a great example. On the upside the style was ok and it was well written enough.

starlight36 · 07/02/2015 14:05

As others have said the book is quite light reading and therefore some of the serious issues raised such as the plight of the homeless were glossed over a little. I enjoyed the descriptions of the Owl and the depiction of Manhattan life seen through Esme's eyes. As a main protagonist I didn't feel much empathy with Esme. Whilst she was able to stand up to Mitchell's father at the party she was quite willing to repeatedly let Mitchell treat her appallingly. I liked the open-ending - I think having her skip off into the sunset with Luke would have been out of tone with her indecision throughout the book and would have seemed a bit false. As a quick read I enjoyed the book and would certainly read others from this author.

Givemecoffeeplease · 10/03/2015 17:14

Loved it. Light hearted but layered with literary allusions, soft-subjected but with some tough subject themes (emotional abuse much Mitchell?!)

Apparently this is her first. Look forward to more of her books.

HollyJollyDillydolly · 10/03/2015 17:21

Thanks for the ebook.
I'm still undecided on this book after finishing it. I usually enjoy some chick lit type books but not sure on this one. Esme was wet and I kept wanting to shake her, Mitchell was awful but she kept going back for more. I liked the ending however and would liked on think she finally got shot of Mitchell and lived happily ever after...

Barretthl · 10/03/2015 17:22

I think that the author brought to life a story about an English art history student in New York with their written descriptions but the story wasn't very believable and by the end I was fed up of the art and book references as they didn't seem to relevant. I did finish the book and didn't mind it but wouldn't recommend it to a friend.

dewdneyk · 10/03/2015 17:30

Love bookshops, love New York, love reading. So should all have been a perfect fit but afraid it didn't work. The characters here are cardboard cut outs and I couldn't work up any enthusiasm for any of them - even Esme, who I think I was supposed to feel sorry for, just annoyed me by the middle of the book. The ending is obviously written with a sequel in mind and it's one I won't be reading.

aristocat · 10/03/2015 17:33

Well, I am another here who has mixed feelings on this book.

Esme was so naïve it was ridiculous. She was meant to be an intellectual woman and her weakness for M was just too much. I loved the Owl and its odd characters and felt it would be perfect to work there.

From the start we all knew that M was a loser and that he treats her like a doormat got me mad at times. how can she be in love with this guy?

The ending was fine, hopefully we may get Esme book#2

Thank you for the book!

hlc123 · 10/03/2015 17:34

I found this book ok but I wouldn't say I was gripped.

missorinoco · 10/03/2015 17:58

Thank you for the book. I couldn't get into this book. It felt contrived, and I lost interest fairly early on after the electric toothbrush incident. Just wrong, on so many levels. I have tried to get into it again but think it will be during a book drought.

Tigerlily13 · 10/03/2015 19:18

Thanks for the book. I enjoyed the story but wish she'd just got rid of Mitchell in the first place, he was just an idiot. Some bits were a bit boring, it wasn't as easy to read as I expected, ok but put down able. I probably wouldn't read this author again.

shelaghh · 10/03/2015 19:40

I found the book rather "slow going". It needed a bit more "whoomph".

There was too much reference to art and literature, which detracted from reading the story.

cococandyfloss · 10/03/2015 19:44

I am the same- was looking forward to the book as from the blurb it sounded just the type of book I would enjoy. It was fine -an easy read (which is pretty much all I am up for at the mo!) but I wasn't hooked and I just got annoyed with Esme putting up with Mitchell.

pennwood · 10/03/2015 19:57

I couldn't get my head around an intelligent young lady being so dilatory. Esme was totally naïve about Mitchell, & I disliked his character. & I wanted to shake sense into her. All the references to art did nothing to endear me to the storyline, or the literature either. It was readable, but not as enjoyable as I anticipated from the resume. Not my favourite read, but I persevered until the end!

fanmum · 10/03/2015 20:27

Thank you for the book.

Although I enjoyed it in parts. I really couldnt sympathise with the main character. It felt a bit like teen lit. If I wasnt a 30+ mum I'd probably enjoyed it more.

But since I love to read. Thank you for the story.

HungryDam · 10/03/2015 20:47

I found the book too long winded and it really dragged on. I liked the PhD and pregnancy context but I found I didn't really like the characters. It didn't make me want to read on more.

ponygirlcurtis · 10/03/2015 20:55

I liked the premise of the book, and it was easy and quick to read, but found myself skimming a lot of the text. Maybe because I didn't like the present tense approach.

I agree with a lot of the posters that I didn't really find myself gelling with Esme. Mitchell felt a little too contrived as the tortured bad boy that we all knew wasn't right for her, with the posh upbringing. (Anyone else get a bit of a 50 Shades vibe off him? I haven't read it but it made me think of it. Plus another Anastasia character whose name is almost Anastasia Steel but not quite.)

If there was another book, maybe more on the quirky characters and seeing Esme becoming a stronger person rather than on her non relationship with Mitchell. Would quite happily never read anything about him again. spoiled Mitchell from Being Human for me now, grrrrrr

slev · 10/03/2015 21:16

I was one of the lucky e-book winners, but I'm afraid I didn't really enjoy this. I couldn't warm to Esme at all - for someone supposedly intelligent, she seemed very naive. Mitchell was obviously an arse but it wasn't as though he hid it and yet she went along with it? I just wanted to give her a good shake!

I don't know if I just misunderstood what to expect from this - I was expecting something chick-lit-esque, but this just felt a bit too heavy-going at times. It wasn't light enough to be easy reading, but then didn't have the depth of plot of a more serious novel.

So thanks for the copy - always good to read something new - but I won't be in a rush to read any more by this author. And thanks to Stephanie at Bloomsbury who was very patient with my inability to get the book to download to my kindle!

Jenlilat · 10/03/2015 21:23

I didn't read much of this book. The first chapter was ok but after that it went quickly downhill and got to the stage where I deleted the book from my kindle. Not my taste at all.

mehadi · 11/03/2015 09:58

Thank you for the free book. I am afraid I didn't really like this book and struggled to finish it. The story line was quite interesting and some of the characters well portrayed (George & Luke). However Mitchell was a cad..
The kinky sex was too much at my age!

IreadthereforeIam · 11/03/2015 16:22

Thankyou for my ebook! I really enjoyed it, and I've posted my review of the book (at last!).

mimolette · 11/03/2015 20:53

Thank you very much for the book, but I am afraid I have to agree with FiveShelties and Thislittlekitten and some of the others. I had expected to like this, as I love bookshops and enjoy the odd well-written chick lit. But I found Esme very annoying, and struggled to empathise with her and get into the book. It may be an age thing (my university days are long over), but, as others have said, the plot felt contrived and the writing didn't really capture my attention.

Mandybelle · 13/03/2015 10:26

Thank you for the book Mumsnet, I found Esme to be quite a naive person who always wants to please everyone and mainly lives in the now, doesn't think of the future. I enjoyed reading this book though wasn't totally gripped with it.

katiebasey · 13/03/2015 11:13

Thank you for the book, I found it Okish , I wanted to shake Esme, but I felt there were a lot of gaps and questions I would have liked answered too. Have passed the book onto my mum... who has really enjoyed it.

cavylover · 14/03/2015 15:50

Found the book alright but it was difficult for me to relate to the main characters and I wasn't too intrigued to read on at a fast pace like I am with other books.

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