BOOK REVIEW: Bookworm by Cookie O’Gorman

Bookworm by Cookie O'Gorman
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Bookworm (buk-werm): Someone who loves books, reading, and/or studying. For reference, see Charlotte Kent.

Seventeen-year-old Charlotte Kent likes happy endings. Not that she's looking for one herself. Awkward, never been kissed, and bookish to the core, Lottie would rather read about love than experience it.

But she enjoys helping others find their HEA in books.

Lottie loves working at the library…even if it means running into Bo Stryker.

Broody, athletic, and unfairly attractive when he frowns, Bo works at the flower shop across the street. Lottie is about to get rejected…when surprisingly, Bo steps in, pretends to be her boyfriend, and steals her first kiss.

One viral video later, everyone thinks they're together.

Bo wants to keep pretending. Lottie wants to make amends—long story short: she was on a ladder; he startled her; the book slap was an accident.

A fake relationship may be the solution. But as they grow closer, Lottie can't help falling for Bo—which is a disaster because grumpy sunshine only works in fiction…right?

This book features two opposites with undeniable chemistry, one lovable librarian, so many stolen kisses and answers the question:

What happens when a nerd falls for the grump-next-door?

Review:

Reading never failed me. Unlike people, books were reliable; they always provided a welcome escape. 
And I needed that now.

Bookworm was an adorable, feel good romance that will keep you smiling from that first page to the last!  With grumpy sunshine mixed with fake dating, it was impossible not to fall in love with this story.  The characters leapt from the pages, the storyline made it impossible to put down and this book easily landed on my favorites list!  This story was not only laugh out loud hilarious but it was filled with heart and so much charm too!  If you love young adult romance, you definitely need this book in your life!

“I make you nervous,” he said. 
“One hundred percent,” I said back. There was no use lying. My cheeks were starting to hurt I was smiling so hard. 
Bo, on the other hand, looked like he was gritting his teeth.

Bo Stryker worked at the flower shop across the street from the library where Charlotte Kent volunteered.  When Bo stepped in, and saved Charlotte from an embarrassing situation, he stole her first kiss.  And that kiss went viral.  That moment was swoon worthy, sigh worthy, and had me absolutely obsessed!  What followed was a beautiful journey filled with opposites attracts, friendship, first love, bookcussions and fabulous banter!  And I have to say that I didn’t read the synopsis close enough because when I got to their last names I was screaming out loud!  I couldn’t wait to see how this was tied to her other books.  But don’t worry, you don’t have to read any other story before jumping into this one.

Bo didn’t want to talk about The Kiss. 
He wanted to pretend as if it never happened. 
I could do that. 
I could. 
Even if he was my first. 
Even if I could still feel the press of his mouth against mine.

Charlotte cracked me up and is one of my favorite heroines!   I loved how honest and forthcoming she was.  Her thoughts made me feel connected to her.  And I loved how she helped others find happiness in a book and also had no qualms about spying on others.  But what I loved most of all, was how she could make Bo feel.  Charlotte could be such a ray of sunshine to Bo’s grumpy clouds.  And the moment she could get him to smile or react had me glued to the pages.  So while it was beautiful watching their friendship progress, I was shocked that Charlotte didn’t believe in HEAs….outside of a book.  That hurt my heart.  I kept my fingers crossed that Bo could get her to have a change of heart, even if they were only fake dating.

“I thought you hated having me around,” I admitted. 
“I don’t.” 
“You even told me how much you hate people.” 
“Not you,” he said. 
My heart skipped a beat. 
“I could never hate you, Kent.”

Bo was the star soccer player at his high school who had a perpetual frown on his face.  He was given the nickname iceman because of his stellar personality haha.  But when he was around Charlotte, we got tiny glimpses of who Bo was underneath it all.  We got to see that he was capable of feeling.  And if we paid close enough attention to his words, it seemed like he felt more towards Charlotte.  Bo is my favorite type of a character, where you have to look for hints and clues to figure out how they feel and who they truly are.  Because they guard their emotions and their thoughts with their whole body and soul.  So when Bo would mess with Charlotte, awww it was like the clouds parted from the skies.  And that led to the most delicious banter ever!

Taking my hand, he placed a kiss on my thumb, removing the leftover sugar with a brief but devastating brush of his tongue. I couldn’t have spoken then even if I’d wanted to.

The fake dating in this story unfolded so brilliantly, and there quite a few moments that made my toes curl while sighing out loud.  And besides Bo and Charlotte, my favorite side character was Charlotte’s sister, Scar.  I would love for Scar to get her own book *fingers crossed*!  Plus it was so much fun seeing characters from quite a few of Cookie’s previous books!  So with a list of suitors, flower deliveries, the cinnamon roll, soccer games, lunch moments, and kisses in a library, this book was so fabulous!  With a fun and flirty vibe, Bookworm was so easy to fall head over heels in love with!  And this is one of those stories where you just can’t stop smiling all the way through.  It’s happiness in a book!  And you definitely need this happiness in your life!

As a bookworm, I’d read tons of romance novels with countless happily-ever-afters. I would read a ton more. 
And I knew our book would always be my favorite.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Related Posts