Battle of the Bookstores by Ali Brady is a charming, modern Rom‑Com.
Battle of the Bookstores is a delightfully apt novel for fans of bookstore romances and classic “found love in unexpected places” plots. If you’re into lighthearted rivals‑to‑lovers, The Battle of the Bookstores would definitely make it to the top of your must-read summer favorite!
The novel revolves around two bookstore managers, Josie Klein and Ryan Lawson, on the same Boston Street, who are complete opposites. Rivalry and romance sparks up between the two while they compete for the same promotion.
Josie is efficient and detail-oriented. Her book store in Boston, Tabula Inscripta, focuses on serious and refined literary‑fiction, whereas, Ryan’s store, Happy Endings, focuses on selling romance. Ryan is easy-going and disorganized.
A twist of events, a developer buys both stores and the adjoining café. The new owner of both the stores decided to combine both stores, leaving the two into direct competition for the role of the new book store manager. He merges the spaces—and pits Josie and Ryan against one another. Determined by the criteria that, from either of them, whoever turns the most profit over the summer would be made the manager.
Instant clashes, their competing events and contrasting styles are predominant. It sets the sparks between them that might just set the whole store on fire.
During this chaos, the friendship they’ve each struck up with an anonymous friend in an online book forum, is their only comfort; not knowing that it was to each other that they were talking to!
About The Author:
Ali Brady is the pen name of writing BFFs Alison Hammer and Bradeigh Godfrey. They are the Bestselling authors of romantic, heartwarming and funny novels. The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Parade, and Katie Couric Media have classified their books as “best of summer” picks. “The Beach Trap” is their first book together.
Alison works as a VP and lives in Chicago. She is a creative director at an advertising agency. Her other works include, “You and Me and Us” and “Little Pieces of Me”.
Bradeigh works as a physician and lives with her family in Utah. Her famous work is the psychological thriller, “Imposter“.
Let’s look into some of the Book Reviews!
1. Beefaith : 4.0 out of 5 stars Love story with great character growth
Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2025
Format: Kindle Verified Purchase
You Got Mail vibes ☑️
Witty banter ☑️
Emotional vulnerability ☑️
I came for the romance about two bookstore managers vying to save their position and stayed for the character development, which is so well done.
Josie and Ryan avoid romantic relationships at all costs due to past trauma. Josie is stoic and loves literary works while Ryan is an easy-going romance book lover. Can opposites work together for the greater good? Can they find love with each other?
First as BookshopGirl, and RJ.Reads, and then as themselves, they learn to open up, heal old wounds, and connect on a deeper level. I couldn’t help but cheer them on, and when they finally allowed each other in, my heart swooned.
And that epilogue … ALL. THE. FEELS.
• Rivals to lovers
• Dual POV
• He falls first
• Slow burn
• Forced proximity
• Opposites attract
2. Sam : 5.0 out of 5 stars i couldn’t put it down
Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2025
Format: Kindle Verified Purchase
It’s 2 in the morning and I’ve just finished reading this. I haven’t had a book make me stay up late reading in bed since I was in high school. Sure I have books that I can’t put down but the draw to this one was so enticing. Every time I tried to go to sleep or do something else I kept reaching for my kindle wanting more.
I loved Josie and her character growth. I’ve felt how she feels, being guarded, feeling like you can’t show your true self, & what if when you are you people don’t like you or understand you. Seeing her let in chaos into her life was a simple reminder we all need that not everything has to be perfect.
Ryan or Rj was the picture perfect boyfriend and the ending had me in tears 😭 we all need a good listener in our life who will be there when it matters most. The way he’s painted in Josie’s eyes to the sweetheart he is inside was so nice. Also, the nerdy but cute vibes he gives off. & can I just say reading about a reader who has dyslexia made me so giddy because I work with kids like that.
I loved all of the lines about what reading was to them and why they got into reading. It made me feel so connected to the story line and reminded me why I read books. I loved the enemies to friends to lovers plot line. The story of them falling in love and how it happens differently for everyone.
The story has its cutesy romance moments which I thought I’d hate but came to love. Plus, it has some real emotional conversations that had a knot in my throat. I enjoyed the depth that the characters brought to the story.
The pacing was just perfect for me. A slow burn for the love to come in but I enjoyed their banter throughout. Plus all of their cute DMs back and forth were my favorite. One of my favorite things about the book is how it recognized the different types of readers there are and that it’s okay.
I will be thinking about this book all throughout the day and recommending it to everyone.
Read if you love:
💕 enemies to lovers
💕forced proximity
💕 slow burn
💕books about books
💕dual POV
3. smitty : 5.0 out of 5 stars A fun, steamy, feel-good romance you don’t want to miss!
Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2025
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
“The Battle of the Bookstores” by Ali Brady is so freakin’ cute! I seriously couldn’t put it down. I was hooked from the very first page, and it kept me smiling all the way to the end. I started reading it on an airplane and my friend sitting next to me kept asking what I was laughing about. Yes, I actually laughed out loud…many times. I enjoyed the enemies to lovers troupe and this one totally delivered, with a little bit of “You’ve Got Mail” twist thrown in for good measure.
I loved the premise: Ryan runs a cozy romance bookstore (yes, a guy…I loved the reverse stereotype), and Josie runs a serious literary fiction bookstore. I loved their dynamic. Ryan is basically a human teddy bear, but Josie doesn’t see it at first. She thinks he’s out to run her out of business when the owner of their building makes them battle it out to see which one of them will run the combined bookstore he’s planning. Josie is strong and determined and trying to carve out her own path. She’s fed up with people thinking women aren’t tough enough to succeed in business.
There are fireworks between Josie and Ryan from the beginning, and who’d want anything less? And their character growth? Very satisfying. Add in a hilarious, heartwarming supporting cast (I loved the Happy Endings Bookstore crew and their “dirty” and “nice’ badges). The whole reading experience was delightful.
Thank you, Ali Brady, for creating another fun, steamy, and feel-good romance. I already want to read it again.
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