Set in a delightful sounding second hand bookshop and in York (one of my favourite places), this book explores the character of Loveday and how stories from our past shape us, and can continue to affect our current narrative. I wanted to enjoy this more than I did; I love reading, bookshops and 'quirky' characters, but I finished it with a mental shrug of "well it was ok I guess".
What I enjoyed: The bookshop owner is amazing and felt very real, the idea of literary tattoos and why the power of words and stories mean so much to Loveday is apparent and well used, that this was not 'just' a love story but also a recognition of the love of family and friends.
What didn't work as well for me: the character of Melodie, I felt she was underused and more just there to help a few plot points fall into place, the incident near the end at the Bookshop seemed quite a drastic step up from that character's previous actions (trying hard not to be spoilery!), Loveday's defensive speech pattern "I like this...so what?" I struggled with too. She certainly has good reason to be distant from people but I felt it alienating me too at times.
What I enjoyed: The bookshop owner is amazing and felt very real, the idea of literary tattoos and why the power of words and stories mean so much to Loveday is apparent and well used, that this was not 'just' a love story but also a recognition of the love of family and friends.
What didn't work as well for me: the character of Melodie, I felt she was underused and more just there to help a few plot points fall into place, the incident near the end at the Bookshop seemed quite a drastic step up from that character's previous actions (trying hard not to be spoilery!), Loveday's defensive speech pattern "I like this...so what?" I struggled with too. She certainly has good reason to be distant from people but I felt it alienating me too at times.