Susan Mallery’s ‘The Boardwalk Bookshop’ Is a Triumphant Celebration of the Power of Friendship [REVIEW]

Three women. Three strangers. One unique business opportunity. When their dreams and lives collide, anything can happen. Find out how these enigmatic women navigate the ever-present twists and turns that come with small business ownership and learn to balance them with their complicated personal lives. You’ll love Susan Mallery’s latest beach read, The Boardwalk Bookshop.

Bree, Mikki, and Ashley all dream of opening their own business on the California coast. When they find the charming space for lease, they don’t know one another at all. But they soon realize that by joining forces, they can all see their dreams realized. That’s how the Boardwalk Bookshop is born, which is part bookstore, gift shop, and bakery. But no matter how successful their shop becomes, owning a business isn’t always as golden as they imagined it would be.

Despite their challenges, they make time every Friday night for a champagne toast to celebrate their success, reflect on where they were and help one another see the potential that still grows inside them. Bree, a widow, is always candid with her dates and tells them she isn’t interested in a long-term relationship. That is, until author Harding Burton, Ashley’s brother, breaks through her defenses.

Mikki is divorced and has been single for three years. Still, she can’t quite move on with her life and uses her relationship with her ex-husband as a comfortable safety net. If she’s ever going to find real happiness, she must leave the past behind her for good.

Finally, there’s Ashley, a self-made woman who wants to marry her boyfriend, Seth, and have babies. There’s just one fly in the ointment. Seth has made it quite clear that he never wants to get married. Crushed, she searches her heart for answers about what to do next and relies on her newfound friends for feedback.

In Mallery’s The Boardwalk Bookshop, these three compelling women find acceptance, contentment, and love in the most unlikely places. This is a delicious novel that packs an emotional wallop. It quite honestly took me by surprise and made me reflect on all the obstacles I have faced in my own life and reminded me why determination and a forgiving heart are important tools to implement to find lasting happiness.

Readers of Anne River Siddons, Nancy Thayer, and Iris Rainer Dart will cherish this heartfelt celebration of female friendship and the power of the human spirit. Watching these characters learn to thrive under adversity and fill their lives with hope and love is a true delight. You won’t be disappointed!

Susan Mallery is the number one New York Times bestselling author of novels about the relationships that define women’s lives—family, friendship and romance. Library Journal says, “Mallery is the master of blending emotionally believable characters in realistic situations,” and readers seem to agree—40 million copies of her books have been sold worldwide. Her warm, humorous stories make the world a happier place to live.

Susan grew up in California and now lives in Seattle with her husband. She’s passionate about animal welfare, especially that of the two ragdoll cats and adorable poodle who think of her as Mom. Visit Susan online at SusanMallery.com, like her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads, Instagram, BookBub, and Amazon.

THE BOARDWALK BOOKSHOP
By Susan Mallery
432 pp. Mira Books. $28.99

Purchase The Boardwalk Bookshop direct from Jathan & Heather Books or from one of these other fine online booksellers: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Half Price Books, Harlequin, Hudson Booksellers, IndieBound, Powell’s, Target, or Walmart.