The Bookshop on the Shore: 09/18/24

The Bookshop on the Shore by Jenny Colgan (2019) is the second book in the Kirrinfief romance series. Although Nina's mobile bookshop is still a part of the book, the main characters this time are Zoe and her toddler son, Hari as she tries to make a better life for the two of them by being "Nanny Seven" to Ramsay Urquart's three impossible children.

Nina, facing an earlier and longer than expected maternity leave is forced to find someone to run her bookshop at least part time. Zoe answers the call although she knows nothing about books, certainly not the way that Nina does. To have a place for herself and her mute son to stay, she's also nannying at the run down Beeches manor. Nina, though, on bed rest, is kept out of the loop of most of what Zoe has to suffer through as she carves a new life for herself.

The Urquart drama happened in the background of the first book. Now though the truth behind the rumors will be revealed. This isn't a book for the faint of heart. Colgan pulls no punches. This is a book about grief, about struggle, about fears, about depression, about bullying. It's also about recovery, patience, love and acceptance.

The novel also is an interesting contrast to the much more upbeat Twelve Books of Christmas which is set in nearly the same spot in Scotland. Here though is a Scotland populated by people, rather than upbeat stereotypes and baddies.

Like the first novel, this one is set on the Road Narrative Spectrum. While the destination is still "home," the travelers this time are a family and the route there is the cornfield/tkaronto.

The third book in the series is 500 Miles from You (2020).

Five stars

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