Review: Bookshop Girl | Chloe Coles

This review contains spoilers.

“Books are more than just a prop to pose around with when you’re trying to convince people you’ve got a bit of substance. Books are an escape route. A refuge.”

Published: 2018, by Hot Key Books.
Pages: 240
Format: Paperback
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Fiction
Contains: Mentions of Anxiety, Anger, Mentions of Nudity

‘Bookshop Girl’ follows sixteen-year-old Paige Turner, as she tries to prevent her workplace, Bennett’s Bookshop, from being shut down. In desperation to save it, Paige and her best friend, Holly, create a petition, but only have a few weeks to collect one thousand signatures for the local council to reconsider.

I won a copy of this book from Readers First, having immediately entered after noticing the beautiful cover, and I suspected already that I was going to love this book; I mean, the protagonist is called Paige Turner! However, I didn’t realise I was going to love it this much.

Protagonist Paige is a wonderful character. She’s funny, ambitious and an all-round joy to read about. Being told in her point of view gave readers the change to dive into the mind of Paige, and personally, I loved that. There were times that made me giggle to myself aloud, hum in agreement and frown when she was down. Personally, I think everyone should have a little Paige; she’s brilliant. Her relationship with her best friend, Holly, was also wonderful to read. Although, like many YA novels, they had their moment of disagreeing with another, but it was resolved only a few pages later and their lovely friendship returned. They had each others backs throughout the problems with Bennett’s and boy-trouble, and Holly’s excitement for crime literature made it impossible not to relate to her.

The writing itself was incredibly easy to read. With simple language and short chapters, this story is the perfect afternoon read and the comedic references to various popular culture made the story flow brilliantly. The ending of the story was a great happy ending, making the entire tone of the book light-hearted and empowering. Being a teenager didn’t matter to Paige, her being capable of influencing those in power to reconsider closing the store, while also putting wrong-doers in their place. It’s a great message to younger audiences to speak out and make change.

Overall, I loved this little book. It’s lightheartedness makes this the perfect summer read, and I can’t wait for the next instalment in Paige’s journey.