Book Review - The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks

Disclaimer: Spoilers

This month is going to be a little different. Things are feeling a little too structured with the monthly Jane Austen character analysis, and it’s starting to feel like a chore. It won’t be long before my brain says no more. So I’m hoping that switching it up will help.

I recently finished reading The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks by Shauna Robinson. It’s not a genre I usually read, but I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It was light-hearted and fun. I did get a little annoyed by a couple of decisions that Maggie made, such as hiding the removal of Bell’s books from the store from Rochelle and using Malcolm’s key card to break in to Ralph’s office and find the Bell letters. But these actions were within Maggie’s character, so it only momentarily gave me pause. It’s not what I would have done, but Maggie and I are definitely not the same person.

Maggie was such a fun character to follow. I would love to have her as a friend. Her ideas and the way she so easily and quickly made an army were inspiring. I loved the speakeasy way she sold modern books out of the store that forbid selling anything, but the classics. And I wish one of my local bookstores would have similar special events. The idea of having authors rewrite classics with a twist is endlessly fascinating to me.

It had a sweet ending and felt like everyone was better off for having Maggie in their lives. It’s refreshing to read an ending where even the “bad guy” really isn’t that bad and actually wins as well.

Although, I didn’t want to fully analyze the story with one of Jane Austen characters in Maggie’s shoes. I couldn’t help, but do it a little. I didn’t really settle on any particular character. With Emma, things would probably stay the same—almost exactly the same. Both Elizabeth and Lydia Bennet have tendencies toward spontaneity, so things could have gotten to the same point. Possibly. Lydia is definitely more self-centered than Maggie, which means she might have sold the books and come up with the special nights but never feel the need to fix the problems her decisions made. Elizabeth would feel the need to fix the problems her decisions made, but there is a possibility she wouldn’t decide to sell the contraband books or have the classic twist nights.

Highly recommend The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks if you’re looking for a fun, light-hearted read.