They’re falling for each other twice. They just don’t know it yet.
Reed, a sunny autistic man, takes a chance on his dreams by using his inheritance to open his own bookstore, all without telling his family. He enlists the help of Pearl, his best friend’s sister and the woman he’s been crushing on since high school, to get his dream off the ground.
Pearl is an alternative, plus-size gal who is currently strapped for cash and trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life. As the two begin working together at Reed’s bookstore, their Black Cat x Golden Retriever dynamic immediately has them clashing during the day, while, unbeknownst to them, they’re flirting at night.
@ImpossiblyBookish (read: Pearl) has been flirting online with @HemingwayCanSuckIt (read: Reed) for months. So, while Pearl and Reed are struggling not to fall for each other in person because they already care about someone in the digital world, they’re essentially trying not to cheat on each other... with each other. I promise, it’s not as confusing as it sounds!
This novel was such a fun read, and you can see Kenedy’s love for some of my favourite works, such as The Proposal and The Princess Bride. She wrote a really beautiful love story while also including thoughtful representation of autism and a plus-size heroine finding romance.
This is actually the fourth book in the Love in Fairwick Falls series, but it was my first Elise Kenedy novel. She made the story easy to follow even without having read the previous three books, while also making me want to go back and read them!
I definitely recommend Unexpectedly Bookish to anyone looking for a fun, bookish rom-com. It deserves all the praise, so be sure to add this one to your TBR!
Received for free on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. RATING: 5/5
