Poppy Alexander’s latest offering, “The Battle of the Bookshops,” transports readers to the windswept coastal town of Portneath, where century-old family feuds collide with modern romance in a story that feels both comfortingly familiar and surprisingly fresh. Jules Capelthorne’s desperate dash from London to save her great-aunt’s crumbling bookshop becomes the catalyst for a tale that weaves together themes of heritage, ambition, and the transformative power of love—though not always with the deft touch one might hope for.
The premise itself sparkles with potential: a young woman abandoning her publishing career to rescue a beloved family bookshop, only to face competition from the devastatingly handsome son of her family’s ancient rivals. Alexander captures the essence of small-town dynamics with remarkable authenticity, painting Portneath as a character in its own right—complete with gossiping locals, quaint tea shops, and the kind of community bonds that both nurture and suffocate.
Character Development: A Mixed Portrait of Love and Ambition
The Protagonists: Jules and Roman’s Complex Dance
Jules Capelthorne emerges as a relatable heroine whose journey from burned-out London publishing minion to passionate bookshop proprietor rings true. Alexander skillfully develops her character arc, showing how Jules discovers her own identity through the act of preserving her family’s legacy. Her fierce loyalty to Aunt Florence and her genuine love for the dusty, chaotic world of Capelthorne’s Books makes her instantly sympathetic.
Roman Montbeau proves to be a more complex creation than the typical romantic hero. Fresh from a successful career in New York, he returns home burdened by family expectations and the weight of privilege. Alexander deserves credit for avoiding the trap of making him merely an antagonist—Roman’s internal conflict between business acumen and genuine affection for Jules creates compelling tension. However, his characterization occasionally feels inconsistent, particularly when his motivations shift between chapters.
Supporting Cast: Where the Story Truly Shines
The novel’s greatest strength lies in its supporting characters, particularly Aunt Florence. Alexander has created a wonderfully vibrant octogenarian whose wit, wisdom, and romantic subplot with Graham the cookbook enthusiast provides some of the book’s most delightful moments. Their gentle courtship, conducted through discussions of hollandaise sauce and asparagus, offers a masterclass in subtle romantic writing.
Charlie, the earnest antiquarian book expert, brings both knowledge and enthusiasm to the story, though his obsession with the mysterious grimoire sometimes feels like a convenient plot device rather than organic character development.
Plot Structure: Familiar Beats with Unexpected Depths
The Central Conflict: More Than Just Business
Alexander constructs her plot around the classic David versus Goliath scenario, but adds layers that elevate it beyond simple commercial rivalry. The discovery of Bridget Capelthorne’s grimoire—a centuries-old book of remedies and spells—introduces elements of historical mystery that enrich the contemporary narrative. This device allows Alexander to explore themes of female empowerment across generations, though the execution occasionally feels forced.
The pacing maintains steady momentum through the first two-thirds of the book, with Jules’s increasingly creative promotional events for the centenary celebration providing both humor and heart. Alexander’s background in publishing shows in her detailed knowledge of bookshop operations, from inventory management to customer relations.
Where the Plot Falters
The final act, however, suffers from an overreliance on coincidence and melodrama. The dramatic fire that destroys Roman’s bookshop feels contrived, as does the convenient resolution of the lease dispute. While readers may appreciate the happy ending, the path there lacks the organic development that characterizes the stronger portions of the narrative.
Writing Style: Cozy Charm with Literary Aspirations
Alexander’s Narrative Voice
Alexander writes with a warm, conversational tone that perfectly suits the cozy contemporary romance genre. Her dialogue sparkles with wit, particularly in the exchanges between Jules and Roman, where years of family animosity create layers of tension beneath seemingly casual conversation. The author excels at capturing the rhythms of small-town life and the particular atmosphere of independent bookshops.
Her descriptive passages paint Portneath with genuine affection, from the crooked high street that stretches from castle to sea to the cramped quarters above Capelthorne’s Books. Readers can practically smell the musty pages and feel the uneven floorboards beneath their feet.
Technical Execution and Pacing
The writing occasionally suffers from uneven pacing, with some scenes—particularly those involving the grimoire research—feeling rushed while others linger too long on mundane details. Alexander’s handling of the romantic tension between Jules and Roman works well in the early chapters but becomes less convincing as the story progresses toward its climax.
Thematic Depth: Beyond the Surface Romance
Legacy and Transformation
At its core, “The Battle of the Bookshops” explores how we honor the past while embracing necessary change. Jules’s journey involves not just saving her family’s bookshop but transforming it for a new generation. Alexander weaves this theme throughout the narrative, from Jules’s innovative social media campaigns to her subscription box service that capitalizes on Aunt Florence’s gift for matching readers with perfect books.
Women’s Stories Across Centuries
The parallel between contemporary Jules and her ancestor Bridget Capelthorne adds welcome depth to the narrative. Alexander uses the grimoire subplot to explore how women throughout history have fought to preserve knowledge and maintain independence against challenging circumstances. While this theme occasionally feels heavy-handed, it provides the story with greater resonance than typical genre fiction.
Comparison to Alexander’s Previous Works
Evolution of Style and Ambition
Readers familiar with Alexander’s previous novels—”Storybook Ending,” “The 12 Days of Christmas,” “The Littlest Library,” and “25 Days ’til Christmas”—will recognize her gift for creating warm, community-centered stories with strong romantic elements. “The Battle of the Bookshops” represents both a continuation of these themes and a slight departure in its more complex plotting and historical elements.
The grimoire storyline shows Alexander pushing beyond the boundaries of straightforward contemporary romance, though not always successfully. Her comfort with bookish settings remains evident, building on themes explored in “The Littlest Library” while expanding their scope.
Critical Assessment: Strengths and Weaknesses
What Works Well
Notable strengths include:
- Authentic bookshop atmosphere – Alexander’s publishing background shows in every detail
- Compelling supporting characters – Particularly Aunt Florence and Graham’s subplot
- Genuine sense of place – Portneath feels lived-in and real
- Historical depth – The grimoire storyline adds unexpected layers
- Realistic family dynamics – The Capelthorne-Montbeau feud feels rooted in genuine history
Areas for Improvement
The novel struggles with:
- Predictable plot progression – Experienced romance readers will see most twists coming
- Convenient resolutions – Several major conflicts resolve too easily
- Inconsistent character motivations – Particularly Roman’s business decisions
- Uneven pacing – Some sections drag while others feel rushed
- Heavy-handed symbolism – The grimoire metaphors occasionally overwhelm the narrative
Final Verdict: A Cozy Read with Genuine Heart
“The Battle of the Bookshops” succeeds as comfort reading while attempting something more ambitious than typical genre fare. Alexander’s genuine love for bookshops and small communities shines through every page, creating an atmosphere that will particularly appeal to readers who share her bibliophile tendencies.
While the novel doesn’t quite achieve the literary heights it aspires to, it offers enough charm, humor, and heart to satisfy fans of cozy contemporary romance. The relationship between Jules and Aunt Florence provides the story’s emotional core, proving more compelling than the central romance in many ways.
Readers seeking an escapist tale set in an idealized English seaside town will find much to enjoy, though those hoping for innovative plotting or profound character development may come away disappointed. Alexander has crafted a pleasant, if not particularly challenging, reading experience that serves as literary comfort food—satisfying in the moment but unlikely to linger long in memory.
For Readers Who Enjoyed
If “The Battle of the Bookshops” appeals to you, consider these similar titles:
- Jenny Colgan’s “The Bookshop on the Corner” – Another tale of literary entrepreneurship and small-town romance
- Katherine Center’s “The Bookish Life of Nina Hill” – For more book-loving heroines finding their way
- Beth O’Leary’s “The Switch” – Multi-generational storytelling with British charm
- Hazel Prior’s “The Beekeeper of Aleppo” – Though more serious, shares themes of preserving traditions
- Rachel Hore’s “The Memory Garden” – Historical mysteries intertwined with contemporary romance
Bottom Line
“The Battle of the Bookshops” delivers exactly what its cover promises: a warm, bookish romance set in an idyllic small town where love conquers longstanding feuds. While Alexander’s ambitions occasionally exceed her execution, the genuine affection she holds for her characters and setting creates a reading experience that’s both comforting and engaging. For fans of cozy contemporary fiction with literary leanings, this represents a solid, if not spectacular, addition to the genre.
