The Lost and Found Bookshop

I guess every women's fiction author has set at least one of their books in a bookstore - it's catnip for so many readers. This one is distinguished slightly by the fact that our heroine Natalie doesn't really want to be there (unlike so many of the other stories that portray owning a bookstore as the heroine's dream job), but after her mother's tragic death she has no choice but to come back to San Francisco, take care of her ailing grandfather and try to make the bookshop a success. Some interesting artifacts hidden in the store provide a glimpse of the city's history, including the 1906 earthquake/fire, and the prejudice faced by the Asian immigrants who were such an integral part of the city's culture. While they may not be the key to saving the bookshop, they help Natalie and her grandfather better understand the family's past, including the reason why so many of her ancestors were unlucky in love. Natalie, who believes she is incapable of truly loving someone, ends up with more than one suitor, and although it's obvious which one will provide her HEA (handsome, successful, rich author who may be good to be true, or ruggedly-good looking handyman with an encyclopedic knowledge of literature and history who comes equipped with adorable daughter? No contest!).The plot isn't as overly stuffed as Wiggs' 2019 release, [b:The Oysterville Sewing Circle 40535953 The Oysterville Sewing Circle Susan Wiggs https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1551313435l/40535953.SY75.jpg 62933434], and it's never a hardship to read about characters who love books. Nothing extraordinary, just a good solid summer women's fiction read.