Book Review: The Bookshop Below by Georgia Summers

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

The Bookshop Below by Georgia Summers

Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Redhook (November 18, 2025)

Length: 374 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

I can never say no to a book about books, especially when its concept involves a magical bookstore complete with dangerous bargains and secret societies. The Bookshop Below by Georgia Summers boasts all the right ingredients on paper, so it was no surprise it drew me in. That said, it also moved more slowly than I would have preferred, which is probably why it failed to fully click despite its lovely atmosphere and gorgeously written prose.

The story follows Cassandra Fairfax, a former protégé of Chiron, the enigmatic owner of a magical bookshop hidden below the city. Some years ago, however, a rift formed between them, and she was cast out from the only home she ever knew. Left to fend for herself, Cass became a book thief to survive, using her intimate knowledge of powerful ink magic to earn money through less-than-legal means. But when word reaches her that Chiron has died under suspicious circumstances, leaving the bookshop in her name, she is pulled back into the world she thought she’d left behind.

At first, our protagonist is content to settle back into the honest life, selling books legitimately as the new owner of her mentor’s old shop. Soon, though, she realizes she may be in way over her head, especially when unpleasant surprises like rivals start showing up on her doorstep. One of them is Lowell Sharpe, an infuriatingly polished and arrogant (but also very handsome) fellow bookseller who seems determined to force Cass out and seize her bookshop for himself. As Cass struggles to reestablish herself, she finds support from Byron, her own protégé, even as secrets from their uneasy history threaten to surface. Still, with signs that the magical river powering the entire network of hidden bookshops is starting to fail, they may all have bigger problems on their hands.

First, the positives. For me, the writing is easily where The Bookshop Below shines the brightest. Summers tells this story with a soft, almost delicate touch that is a perfect match for the novel’s magical realism themes. From the hidden river of magic to the idea of ink having the immense (and sometimes deadly) power to change someone’s life, there’s a subtle darkness underlying the whole premise which I found appealing. Yet, there’s a caveat. Magical realism as a genre has always been a bit hit-or-miss for me, and the world-building here goes all in on the whimsical elements without really going into the details. Readers who prefer a little more explanation into the ins-and-outs will likely feel starved for more answers.

Still, another area in which the book excelled was character development and dynamics. Cass herself is a solid and interesting lead whose complex personally meshes convincingly with her morally iffy past. She’s strong and independent, and even though she has every reason to wallow in self-pity, she refuses to let her past mistreatment drag her down. By the time Lowell Sharpe enters her life, their enemies-to-lovers relationship is all but expected, but nevertheless I found their developing romance engaging. Lowell’s lovable pomposity ultimately grew on me, and watching his back-and-forth banter with Cass had to be some of my more enjoyable moments.

But now, we go into why I found myself a bit frustrated with this book, and as you can probably guess, it had a lot to do with the pacing. Granted, I get that the story unfolds at a leisurely pace by design, letting the atmosphere do all the heavy lifting, but this sometimes left me feeling disconnected with the world, scattering my focus as a result. I also really wish there had been more emphasis on the idea of the bookshop, but because we’re in Cass’s head so much, and because she commands such a dominant presence, it’s like we’re expected to just shut up and go along with it all without asking too many questions, so don’t get your hopes up about receiving more clarity or having any vagueness dispelled.

In the end, The Bookshop Below is a well-written, thoughtfully constructed fantasy novel that had a lot of great ideas but didn’t quite live up to its full potential for me. Of course, your mileage may vary, since I admittedly struggle with slower-paced and more abstract magical realism. I can see it working better for other readers who don’t have that difficulty, and especially if atmospheric vibes and strong characters are important for you, this one may be worth checking out.