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This genre, I have been told, is apparently fairly common in Korea, where the purpose of reading it is to relax and read, and not to join some characters on their adventures where stuff happens.

Very little happens over the course of 320 pages; not much plot, not much exposition, not much character development, not much of anything except the passing of time while you tag along. So this genre might not be for everyone. In fact, if it wasn't couched in the day-to-day running of a bookshop, I don't think I would've finished it.

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Honestly, there's not much more to say. I still enjoyed it, to be clear. Even though this review might suggest ambivalence or even otherwise. It was a relaxing read.

I read the original last year; it was excellent, timely and I think everyone should read it. I was very excited to see a children's version was being released, and even moreso when I saw it at my local library.

@Tak@reading.taks.garden @picklish@books.theunseen.city I've also found this really frustrating for comics/graphic novels.

What about a separate/first entry for "primary author", and then the normal, multiple author entries?

@futzle huh... I never thought about that, but you're right.

A little bit like if The Restaurant At the End of the Universe were a hotel instead (but less fantastical/absurd), and with just a touch of The Communist Manifesto thrown in.

I really enjoyed the style of writing, where each chapter is from a different character's point of view. It meant it read a little bit like a collection of short stories, which I felt made it easier to read.

Really nice and wholesome. A wonderful read.

But I didn't enjoy it. Though I can understand why people might like it, I won't be recommending it to anyone.

Overall I think I just found Sam and Sadie unlikeable as characters. I feel like they were pretty jerky to everyone around them, and each other, and themselves, for pretty much of the time.

I also didn't like how some elements of the story were "ret-con'd" in several chapters later: "oh hey, I never mentioned he's had a dog this whole time, well he has, and now I'll detail those past events, even though we're five chapters beyond that point." And on a similar point, there are several plotlines and characters that get introduced that seemingly go nowhere, or just outright get left undeveloped after they serve their singular purpose of introducing "blank". Like, for example, the dog.

Finally, I found the ending completely unsatisfying. I know this is a subjective point, but the last page kind of just happened and then I realised that the next bit of text was acknowledgements and not another chapter.