The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks

The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks

I, Maggie Banks, solemnly swear to uphold the rules of Cobblestone Books. If only, I, Maggie Banks, believed in following the rules.

When Maggie Banks arrives in Bell River to run her best friend’s struggling bookstore, she expects to sell bestsellers to her small-town clientele. But running a bookstore in a town with a famously bookish history isn’t easy. Bell River’s literary society insists on keeping the bookstore stuck in the past, and Maggie is banned from selling anything written this century. So, when a series of mishaps suddenly tip the bookstore toward ruin, Maggie will have to get creative to keep the shop afloat.

And in Maggie’s world, book rules are made to be broken.

To help save the store, Maggie starts an underground book club, running a series of events celebrating the books readers actually love. But keeping the club quiet, selling forbidden books, and dodging the literary society is nearly impossible. Especially when Maggie unearths a town secret that could upend everything.

Maggie will have to decide what’s more important: the books that formed a small town’s history, or the stories poised to change it all.

“Charming, uplifting, and funny.”

Booklist

Review by 1000 Libraries

Shauna Robinson’s The Hidden Bookshop of Maggie Banks is a wonderfully charming and heartwarming novel that masterfully blends the best elements of a cozy mystery, a sweet romance, and a journey of self-discovery. The novel’s true strength lies in its ability to create a world that is both inviting and full of character. Robinson’s writing draws the reader in with its warm, witty, and genuine tone. She masterfully crafts a vivid sense of place, making the small town and the hidden bookshop itself feel like characters in their own right. The atmosphere is one of comfort and wonder, inviting you to get lost in its pages. The background of the bookshop—a secret literary haven tucked away from the world—adds a layer of enchantment that will appeal to any book lover.

“There must, undoubtedly, be an endless supply of unique and bizarre books to suit every reader’s interests.”

Additionally, the book explores themes of identity, belonging, and the unexpected connections we make in life. The narrative is a clear love letter to the magic of literature and the power of community, celebrating the idea that the greatest adventures and discoveries are often found in the most unexpected of places. It is a perfect read for anyone seeking a comforting escape with a touch of magic and a lot of heart.

“Consider me an official member of the Maggie army! I found myself rooting for every character in this warm, welcoming tale of a woman coming into her own. If you've ever found comfort in a book--or a bookstore--then you'll enjoy watching Maggie discover how powerful the right story in the right hands can be.”

“Shauna writes for the girls without dream jobs, the pandemic babies who moved back in with their parents and are just trying to figure it out, and the extroverts who find purpose in bringing people together. This novel is a book lover's dream, with subtle social commentary to boot.”

“This richly-plotted romance from Robinson (Must Love Books) is full of charming characters and will appeal to fans of Jenny Colgan, Abbi Waxman, and Katarina Bivald.”

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