by Emily Henry
First published 2022
The bookstore war in this seaside community has raged for months. Two determined owners refuse to back down, each convinced their vision will save the struggling main street. Sharp words fly across the narrow lane separating their shops. Every customer becomes a prize to win. Every successful sale feels like victory. But proximity breeds more than contempt. Late night restocking sessions reveal glimpses of vulnerability. Shared struggles with demanding landlords and dwindling foot traffic create unexpected common ground. The line between rivalry and attraction blurs with each heated exchange. Summer tourists arrive, bringing hope for profit and complications for hearts already in turmoil. Business competition transforms into something deeper and more dangerous. The search for genuine connection challenges everything both believed about love and success. Finding the courage to open up means risking everything they've built.
Genres: fiction, romance, literary-fiction, contemporary-romance
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Seaside Community
Period: Summer
Paperback · Berkley