Not Quite by the Book is far from a debut in the traditional sense. Author Julie Hatcher writes under several other names in the mystery and romance genres. You may know her as Jacqueline Frost, Julie Chase, or Julie Anne Lindsey. As a long-time reader and fan, I eagerly accepted an ARC of this contemporary book club read from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing. Following are my honest opinions.

Bookshop manager Emma longs for the love she sees between her parents, sister, and brother-in-law. She grew up surrounded by romance books, drawing strength and inspiration from Emily Dickinson’s poetry. Emma works hard in all areas, prioritizing her family and work above everything else. It’s no wonder she feels taken for granted and needs a fresh start. When the opportunity presents itself to stay in a historic home in Amherst, Emma grabs on with both hands. Convinced she is destined to be alone, she uses her wedding savings to rent the estate for six weeks and retreats to reflect and restart.

I felt for Emma, who wants so badly to be and do everything for those she loves to the point of neglecting herself and her dreams. As she settles in for her retreat, Emma struggles with the solitude and simplicity in which Emily Dickinson lived. As if the cultural shift alone wasn’t enough, she also battles the historic property–cold water, a lack of heat, no cell service or WiFi, and spotty success with her goal of “embracing her inner Emily.”

I appreciated Emma’s determination, even when frustrated by her rigid dedication to a future she feels is set in stone. Her emotional, physical, and mental journey was my favorite part of Not Quite by the Book.

I didn’t quite feel the chemistry between Emma and historic architect Davis. Their romance emulates “You’ve Got Mail,” but the characters didn’t really click together for me. The story felt a little long in the telling, and there was perhaps one too many plot puzzles to piece together.

Overall, the story is sweet; it is a heart-warming book from a favorite author. No matter which name she is using, Julie always crafts detail-rice scenes with characters who feel like friends.