Publication Date: June 3, 2025
Rivalry and romance spark when two bookstore managers who are opposites in every way find themselves competing for the same promotion.
Despite managing bookstores on the same Boston street, Josie Klein and Ryan Lawson have never interacted much—Josie’s store focuses on serious literature, and Ryan’s sells romance only. But when the new owner of both stores decides to combine them, the two are thrust into direct competition. Only one manager will be left standing, decided by who turns the most profit over the summer.
Efficient and detail-oriented Josie instantly clashes with easygoing and disorganized Ryan. Their competing events and contrasting styles lead to more than just frustration—the sparks between them might just set the whole store on fire. Their only solace during this chaos is the friendship they’ve each struck up with an anonymous friend in an online book forum. Little do they know they’re actually chatting with each other.
As their rivalry heats up in real life, their online relationship grows, and when the walls between their stores come tumbling down, Josie and Ryan realize not all’s fair in love and war. And maybe, if they’re lucky, happily ever afters aren’t just for the books.
Managers of two independent bookstores separated by a coffee shop are competing against each other to run the whole shebang in Battle of the Bookstores by Ali Brady.
The eccentric landlord of both bookstores decides to knock down the walls and create one bigger space. The problem is that one bookseller only sells romance, while the other focuses on more literary works. The story is told through the alternating chapters of each protagonist.
Ryan and Josie are the respective managers, and when they meet, things could have gone a whole lot better. Josie seems to have a chip on her shoulder and does better alone. Ryan is never happy after their contentious interactions and always strives to do better. He also has a secret, and it could further alienate Josie when she finds out, especially since they have a truce to work together to convince the landlord that he’d be better off keeping both of them. They are forever talking about books, and I enjoyed some of their insights and banter.
The story has twists and turns, with multiple narratives unfolding. There’s also family drama, some steam, and snarky words. Josie and Ryan seem to take one step forward and many more back. Their online friendship on a book site started innocently, but Ryan figured out who he was talking to. She, however, doesn’t have a clue, and he’s slipped a few times in their interactions. The back-and-forth messages were an interesting addition to the story, adding the needed details and information. But what will happen when the truth is revealed?
Ryan’s grand gestures are a nice touch and over-the-top romantic. I love how they sometimes compare their lives to romance books and their tropes. There’s nice closure with a twist and a happily ever in the epilogue one year later.
Battle of the Bookstores is filled with romance, books, and characters who belong together, even if it takes them a while to realize it. Â 
Ali Brady is the pen name of writing BFFs Alison Hammer and Bradeigh Godfrey. The Beach Trap is their first book together. Alison lives in Chicago and works as a VP and creative director at an advertising agency. She’s the author of You and Me and Us and Little Pieces of Me. Bradeigh lives with her family in Utah, where she works as a physician. She’s the author of the psychological thriller Imposter.
