Book Review: Bookshop Cinderella by Laura Lee Guhrke

Evie Harlow runs a quaint little bookshop in London, which is the biggest adventure an unmarried woman with no prospects could hope for. Until Maximillian Shaw, Duke of Westbourne, saunters into her shop with a proposition: to win a bet with his friends, he’ll turn her into the diamond of the season. The duke might be devilishly attractive, but Evie has no intention of accepting his ludicrous offer. When disaster strikes her shop, however, she’s left with little choice but to let herself be whisked into his high-society world.
Always happy to help a lady in distress, Max thinks he’s saving Evie from her dull spinster’s life. He’ll help her find a husband and congratulate himself on a job well done. But as shy Evie becomes the shining star he always knew she could be, she somehow steals his heart. And when her reputation is threatened, can Max convince her to choose a glittering, aristocratic life with him over the cozy comfort of her bookshop?

I bought this book very obviously for the title from Something Novel Booksellers. I find it kind of on the nose (they couldn't come up with something more creative?) but it worked on me, so. After reading this book, however, I regret to inform you that the title is a lie. This book is almost nothing like Cinderella and much more like My Fair Lady, only with the h0rny straight duke instead of two gay guys. With historical romance novels you kind of always know how it's going to go; for instance, if a guy is to help a girl find a husband, you just know they're going to fall in love. Also, he has to give her dancing lessons so she can fit into society 👀 This book, despite the duke's lusting, has more plot than spice. I liked how Evie is no-nonsense and sensible and has no patience for annoying men.

Overall I enjoyed this, although the bookshop didn't come into the story much and a huge jerk who does an awful thing towards the end doesn't get a comeuppance. In my head Evie told the duke about it and he forks the jerk up. I leave you with this meme I made to share when talking about the book on my IG:

Score: ★★★½ out of 5 stars
Spice score: 🌶🌶🌶🌶 out of 5 chilies (spicy)
Read in: May 31
From: Something Novel Booksellers 

Trigger warnings: period-typical misogyny/sexism and classism, jerk seduces a young woman & uses her to get information etc., sex shaming, sex negativity (also period-typical)