# Book Review #The Hopes and Dreams of Libby Quinn by Freya Kennedy @ rararesources

Book Synopsis:

A gorgeous new romantic comedy about taking chances and realising your dreams.

Libby Quinn is sick and tired of being sensible.

After years of slogging her guts out for nothing at a PR company, she finds herself redundant and about to plough every last penny of her savings into refurbishing a ramshackle shop and making her dream of owning her own bookshop become a reality.

She hopes opening ‘Once Upon A Book‘ on Ivy Lane will be the perfect tribute to her beloved grandfather who instilled a love of reading and books in her from an early age.

When her love life and friendships become even more complicated – will Libby have the courage to follow her dreams? Or has she bitten off more than she can chew?

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Title: The Dreams and Hopes of Libby Quinn

Author: Freya Kennedy

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: May 5th, 2020

Genre: Romantic comedy

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A huge thank you to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for my place on the blog tour for this sweet and heart-warming book.

The Hopes and Dreams of Libby Quinn is a lovely story about family and friendships, following your dreams and building a community of like-minded people who care about each other and help when there is need.

Libby’s love of everything bookish was instilled in her by her grandfather Ernie who was a wonderful storyteller and used to buy a book every month to help Libby start her first library. When Libby loses her dead-end job at a PR agency, she decides it’s a sign to do something different with her life. At the same time an old draper’s shop is put on an auction at a reasonable price and Libby knows the best tribute to her late grandfather will be using her redundancy money and her inheritance to open a bookshop. Never mind the terrible state in which she found the place which had been abandoned for ten years, Libby isn’t scared of hard work as long as she can open her dream shop by Grandfather Ernie’s birthday date.
In a sense, I found Libby quite a flawed character. Libby is so determined to realise her ambition that she neglects her best friend Jess. She also needs to think hard why spending time with her boyfriend Ant doesn’t seem to make her happy and fulfiled any more. Or maybe it never did and Libby just needs to redefine what she wants from and hopes for in a romantic realtionship. It might not be the right time for it or Ant might not be the right man for her.

On the plus side, her charming neighbours from Ivy Lane Jo, Noah, Harry, Mrs Doherty, and countless other people are helping her shop turn into a cozy and creative space for book lovers and aspiring writers. Libby is working hard to build a business, but also new important relationships in life, without forgetting and ever grateful for her old support network.

There is romance in this book and it’s my favourite slow-slow-burn. I liked the way you feel that it takes time to build (re-build) a shop and it takes time to get to know somebody if you want a lasting relationship and a happily ever after. Libby doesn’t run away from the problems in her life, she works on them, and this takes courage and good solid character.

The book is very easy to read and leaves you with a warm feeling of having met somebody who is an optimist by choice. I really liked this one and can’t wait to see what Freya Kennedy is going to write about next time.

Goodreads / Amazon

About the author:

Freya Kennedy lives in Derry, Northern Ireland, with her husband, two children, two cats and a mad dog called Izzy. She worked as a journalist for eighteen years before deciding to write full time. When not writing, she can be found reading, hanging out with her nieces and nephews, cleaning up after her children (a lot) and telling her dog that she loves her.

She has met Michael Buble and even kissed him. It was one of her best ever moments.

She believes in happy ever afters.

Freya Kennedy is a pen name for Claire Allan, who also writes psychological thrillers.

website / twitter / facebook / instagram / bookbub

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Thank you for stopping by and I hope you’re going to add The Hopes and Dreams of Libby Quinn to your tbr and enjoy reading it as much as I did!