Not Quite by the Book: A Novel

4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars | 6,618 ratings

Price: 4.99

Last update: 03-09-2025


About this item

A bookstore owner discovers that life as a recluse isn’t for everyone in this sharp yet sweet novel about how sometimes you need to abandon the quest for love to find your true passion.

Emma Rini is in a rut so deep she could shelve books there. While her sister awaits her first baby, and her parents kick off retirement with vow renewals and travel, Emma stays put among the stacks of the family bookshop.

In fact, she can’t remember the last time she took a vacation. Or had a romance that hovered above disappointing. When her parents assume she’ll take over the shop for them without a break, she realizes she needs to get away—back to the nineteenth century. Channeling her favorite poet recluse, Emily Dickinson, Emma rents a crumbling manor house outside Amherst where she can learn how to be quietly, blissfully alone.

But becoming a world-weary spinster isn’t easy. She can’t start a fire or reason with the bunnies that are destroying the garden. She finds herself sparring constantly with the grumpy-hot architect who is renovating the manor. And then there’s the secret admirer who keeps sending her complicated floral messages…

No matter what she does, the outside world keeps knocking, and Emma starts to dream about the future. Will she forgo love for the family legacy? And will she shrink away or become the sort of bold person fortune favors?


From the Publisher

Best-laid plans often go berserk.

Top reviews from the United States

  • Meg Calverley
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful story.
    Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2025
    Loved this book. It was a first read and they’re usually not great. But this was excellent. Dryly funny and poignant. Intriguing and uplifting. I loved the main character of Emma who had some great insightful moments about herself. And her journey back to herself was just lovely. Loved the letter writing group. And her attempts to be Emily. Funny and great pacing. Highly recommend.
  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Delightful
    Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2025
    This is a delightful romance with some history and Emily Dickenson woven in. I enjoyed the characters and the setting, Amherst, Mass. This is a lot of fun,with some cooking and gardening adventures too.
  • Margaret S
    3.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable, Light, Fun
    Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2025
    This book was enjoyable-- I'd give it 3.5 stars. The personal growth she had was fun, getting a glimpse at the behind the scenes life of a bookshop owner is cute, I LOVED the setting, and I liked the romance. But, the romance parts were skipped over SO quickly-- it was almost like the author felt she had to tuck them in and the move on as quick as possible. The book ended very abruptly, and I was left a bit dissatisfied with the resolution. It was also a little hard to read at times, given that the big reveal was made very obvious to the reader, but the main character struggled to guess it for most of the book. Worth reading, and I'll look out for this author's next book.
  • TMS
    5.0 out of 5 stars great story
    Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2025
    This book was really good, well written and enjoyable. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys books, love, and animals!
  • Sagereader2
    4.0 out of 5 stars I loved it!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2025
    Well written, Not Quite By the Book, is full of mystery and romance. The plot is quite original and creates a healing atmosphere while paying tribute to Emily Dickerson. Read it; you’ll enjoy it..
  • D. C. McMurtry
    5.0 out of 5 stars Little bit of joy and fun
    Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2025
    I liked the characters. The quotes and letters made me smile. The situations and commentary had me laughing out loud. It was sweet, funny, honestly human and made me reflect on life and feel better about it than I had in a while. Some of the best things ever.
  • Julie B.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2025
    Old fashioned romance. Letter writing. Emily Dickinson! It was thoroughly delightful! It ended too soon and I need a book 2.
  • jomitch
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2025
    I loved the characters and the storyline. Would have given five stars if not for the over obsession with Emily Dickenson.

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