Firstly I've got to say what a great cast this film has, from Bill Nighy as the curmudgeonly old bookworm, to Emily Mortimer as the ever hopeful would-be bookshop owner.
The story though, is an absolute letdown. From the moment it begins you know exactly how it's going to end. It's also flat, without tempo or any semblance of cadence. It's like watching Waiting for Godot when somebody has already told you that (spoiler alert) Godot's not coming. It is both unoriginal and uneventful, with an ending that left most of the audience in the cinema murmuring 'oh' and 'is that it?'
I really can't recommend it.