#BookReview ~ The Book Lover's Bucket List by Hannah Claire ~ @rararesources #Romance #CozyRomance #RomCom

The Book Lover’s Bucket List

A bucket list to change her life.

Gabriella Brookes has spent years quietly loving Zach Osborne, knowing he only sees her as his best friend’s bookish little sister. He’s charming, successful, and only back in their Derbyshire village for the summer before his next big move.

When Gabby stumbles across her long-forgotten teenage bucket list, Zach proposes a deal: together, they’ll tick off her book-inspired challenges, if she helps him complete a few fun tasks of his own.

What starts as a perfectly sensible plan quickly turns into something far more complicated, when real life refuses to stay neatly tucked between the pages.

But as Zach’s past resurfaces and his future pulls him away, Gabby is forced to face a harder truth: dreams don’t come true if you only ever read about them.

Ticking off the challenges was meant to be easy.

Admitting what your heart wants is the real risk.

A cosy, small-town romantic comedy about courage, love, and rewriting your own ending.

My Review:

The Book Lover's Book List is such a sweet romance. I love unrequited love stories with longing, misunderstandings, and sibling's best friend tropes. 

Gabby has been trying to get over the crush on her brother's best friend, Zach, her entire life. He doesn't see her as a woman, just a little sister. He's used to glitz and glamour and Gabby is bookish and quiet. When he strolls back into town unexpectedly, the feelings she's been trying to bury, flare back up with a vengeance. 

Zach is back home while he's in between jobs and enlists Gabby's help with a project. As they work through the logistics, Gabby finds a bucket list from her teen years. Zach strikes deal to work with Gabby to complete the list before her birthday, and before he leaves the country.

Unforced proximity plays a dangerous game with Gabby's feelings as she and Zach work through the list. 

I loved this book so much. Gabby has low self-esteem, self-doubt, and tends to push people away to prevent her from getting hurt. Zach re-entering her life when he does is a breath of fresh air for Gabby. She engages with him and agrees to the bucket list completion as a mechanism to remain close to him before things go back to the way they were. 

This story is emotional, funny, and sweet.  Gabby and Zach's story made me tear up, laugh out loud, and saw awww. The author wrote a book filled with emotions that can be felt by the reader. I felt Gabby's uncertainties, her fears, her anger, and her triumphs. 

The author created wonderful and likable characters. The world-build was well done and the setting perfect for this story. Vivid imagery, flowing conversations (easy one and hard ones, alike), and strong relationships really brought The Book Lover's Bucket list to life. I was pulled in and engaged from the very beginning. 

I was provided with a copy of this book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

My Rating:

Purchase Links:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Meet the Author:

Hannah has always been a bookworm, loving nothing more than escaping into fictional worlds, and can't walk past a bookshop without adding to her already-overflowing To Be Read shelves. She writes contemporary romantic novels set against the beautiful landscape of the Peak District in Derbyshire, close to where she lives.

A firm believer in the power of love stories to offer comfort and escape, Hannah writes books that celebrate connection, hope, and the magic of second chances — stories designed to bring a little joy into busy lives.

She lives with her husband, their three children, two cats, and one very bouncy dog who still hasn't worked out that squirrels generally don't want to be her friends.

Hannah loves long sunny days spent outdoors and rainy afternoons spent indoors — ideally under a cosy blanket with a good book. Her favourite things include sparkly nail varnish, candles, bubble baths, and chocolate, and she remains convinced that there is no such thing as too many notebooks.

Social Media Links:

@hannahclairewriter

Facebook and Instagram

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