Marcia reading past dark's Reviews > Bookish People

How I needed this book. Bookish People by Susan Coll is a humorous novel that takes place in an independent bookstore in Washington, D.C. The writing is so smooth and clear that I felt like I was sitting in a comfortable corner of the shop watching the unique and somewhat eccentric characters. They’re all book people, my kind of people.
Sophie Bernstein, owner of the bookstore, is still mourning her husband’s death, is about to lose her best employee, and is regularly frustrated with her young adult son. She yearns to hide away in a secret space behind a bookcase in the store.
The story is narrated by Sophie and by Clemi, the bookstore’s event coordinator.
I loved watching the inner-workings of a bookstore, including customers searching for books and authors hoping for a venue willing to host a reading or book signing. One of my favorite parts was reading the end-of-the-day reports. So funny.
With a variety of subplots and rare characters, this fun read holds something for everyone. Believable vacuum cleaner problems occur throughout the book, 50ish Sophie tests on-line dating, and each character has his or her own life complications. Bookish People was a much-needed change and a satisfying, momentary escape.