The Bookstore Diaries *DNF*

The Bookstore Diaries by Susan Mallery *DNF*

G👀dreads

Jax has a slight issue with control—as in, she needs it. Always. Too bad she has power only over the Painted Lady Bookstore, the Victorian mansion turned bookshop she inherited. No one else listens to a word she says. Her ex gets engaged for questionable reasons. Her beloved sister, Ryleigh, wants to move away to find a husband. And the handsome contractor Jax has chosen to convince Ryleigh to stay is only interested in Jax.

Still, she’s living the bookworm dream—until an unhappy accident erases the names from the bookshop lockboxes where the town keeps their diaries. Which means the only way to find a diary’s owner is…to read it.

As secrets spill and scandals surface, life at the Painted Lady Bookstore gets a lot more colorful and chaotic. But for a woman who’s always had to take charge, Jax will see that losing control—especially with the right wrong guy—can set you free.

Genre: Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Books About Books, Chick Lit

The How/Why: 🤷It was just released March 6, 2026 so probably SM ads. 

,-*' ^ '~*-.,_,.-*~ ĎｉĐ.,_,. ŇⓄ𝕋.,_,.ŦƗη𝓘ⓢħ ~*-.,_,.-*~' ^ '*-,

I don't rate books that I don't finish, but I will say WHY when I've gone past the 20% mark.

💻 Tidbits ~ Out at 39% and still no SNAFU with the diaries. 

Am I the only one disappointed in the bait and switch?
The title says "bookstore diaries". The About says "an unhappy accident erases the names from the bookshop lockboxes where the town keeps their diaries. Which means the only way to find a diary’s owner is…to read it. As secrets spill and scandals surface...etc. etc."
This book is about sisterhood and romance, co-parenting and dealing with an ex's engagement, and a parrot. If that is what you're looking for, by all means this book covers those life's events.

Before I decided to DNF, I consulted Librarian Google. Reportedly, the diaries come into play at approximately three quarters of the way through. The subplot of the diaries? The last 10-20% of the novel. AND the scandal, not very scandalous. ~sigh.
If you promise me a quaint bookstore with diaries and secrets and scandals I want the dirt, not dating and co-parenting advise.

🎧 Narrator: Tanya Eby 😐👎I hate to say her voice is annoying, but her voice is annoying. SorryNotSorry

🎧11.08 hours 🕮 384 pages

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