The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks

THE BANNED BOOKSHOP OF MAGGIE BANKS by Shauna Robinson is a light, undemanding read that is a LibraryReads Selection for November. The title character is a young woman trying to find her true purpose (quite a bit of angst about this).  She takes over managing a bookstore for a friend on maternity leave and there are some fun references to book titles, characters, and varying genres. The tension comes from absurd rules about what types of books can be sold and Maggie’s efforts to circumvent those restrictions. Sadly, the costs associated with running a bookstore are not very realistic and this tends to spoil a cute story with an uplifting vibe about forming new friendships and “the sense of community a bookstore can create.” Fans of Robinson and of playful romance may be more than willing to overlook the business details and many readers are likely to enjoy the bookstore setting.