REVIEW: The Bookshop on Rosemary Lane by Ellen Berry

The Bookshop on Rosemary Lane by Ellen Berry: With her daughter and only child leaving for college and a husband that doesn’t seem to care about bringing their bored marriage back to life, Della decides she’s finally going to chase after something she wants. After her mom’s death, Della takes in the 900-plus cookbooks her mother collected over the years and becomes inspired to open a cookbook bookshop.

Although her husband and other’s think her idea is silly, Della’s found a passion and is delving into her plans with the support of friends and acquaintances. Through her perusal of the cookbooks, ones she loved and knew from her childhood cooking with her mom – the one activity her mom actually enjoyed – Della discovers family secrets and the strength to escape a life that has become routine.

Although this is not at all my type of story, I definitely recognize it as a good one. It’s one woman’s journey into self-discovery after losing all that made up her life for the past twenty years. Very slow and properly British, Berry focuses on building Della’s character and life, less so on pushing forward an active story.

It especially picks up in the second half with some interesting discoveries. The first half is too slow as the author sets up the story for Della. However, all throughout, I really liked seeing Della grow into herself and dreams. Quitting a passionless shop job and creating her vision is always something I can admire and appreciate. Perhaps not the most interesting character I’ve ever read, but likable and one I root for.

But I do really wish I got to see more of the bookshop. Instead, we read the creation of it, and even that wasn’t particularly big in the story. It truly is focused on her emotional development. For those who like a slower, developed women’s fiction story, I definitely recommend The Bookshop on Rosemary Lane.
 

Book Info:

Publication: July 14, 2016 | Avon UK |

In the beginning…

Kitty Cartwright has always solved her problems in the kitchen. Her cookbooks are her life, and there isn’t an issue that ‘Cooking with Aspic’ can’t fix. Her only wish is that she had a book entitled ‘Rustling Up Dinner When Your Husband Has Left You’.

Forty years later…

On Rosemary Lane, Della Cartwright plans to open a very special little bookshop. Not knowing what to do with the hundreds of cookbooks her mother left her, she now wants to share their recipes with the world – and no amount of aspic will stand in her way.

But with her family convinced it’s a hare-brained scheme, Della starts to wonder if she’s made a terrible decision. One thing’s for sure: she’s about to find out…

Lose yourself in Della’s world of food, family and friends. The perfect read for fans of Trisha Ashley and Carole Matthews.