I absolutely loved this set for three years and waited patiently until I saved enough for it. I was disappointed on many levels. As others have mentioned, it's a pretty "small" build because it's two halves and thus, the detail in both is incredibly lacking. Maybe I will construct a scene where the bookstore was robbed because it is lacking that many book. My other disappointment comes from the flimsiness of this build. Specifically on the teal side. I had to handle the Main floor and Top floor and both sections had areas that were crushed when I was applying things. The front door area is a bunch of 1x1 and I smoonched and had to rebuild that area when I was putting in the lights (which I love the build of) and the upper floor had a part where I dropped it (my fault, I am human) but it was splayed everywhere after that. After that slight rebuild, adding the back half onto the upper part caused me to crunch up that wall. I thought there were rules about stacking too many non-interlocking bricks on top of eachother. Many of the other modulars have what I feel are superior builds where more bricks interlock to provide that sturdiness. Mind you, my first whole Lego set arrived when I was 4, and I'm in my 40s-so I have some experience with these. It was kind of a let down overall.

I’ve been flirting with the Bookshop set for a while. Back when I bought my first Lego set as an adult, the Assembly Square in 2017, I thought that was it. I didn’t want Lego to overrun my apartment. I expected to customize here and there, add extra mini figures, add seasonal decor, but the plan was to stick to the footprint. But then, six years and two more sets later, I found myself checking out this bookshop.

I don’t need the townhouse, but the bookshop is so beautiful. It would fit perfectly on the same shelf as the Assembly Square. …and it’s going to be discontinued this year?! How can I not have a bookshop in my miniature Upper West Side?

I have the bookshop. And I love it. The lack of interior detail that people complain about became a feature. I enjoyed having the opportunity to customize it, creating furniture for it—you know, actually playing with it like Lego rather than hesitating to touch the already perfect set. I’ve adjusted the paving pattern, so that it blends better with the Assembly Square. I’ve learned how to order from Pick-a-Brick, and I’m having a ball. I’m a kid again, while still maintaining an adult apartment.

But also, the set itself, without customization, is beautiful. Architecturally, it has been the most interesting set to build—both the bookshop and the townhouse.

Yes, I built the townhouse. It’s upstairs (or uptown). I thought it might remain empty, as most of the fanciest homes tend to, but the owners of the A-frame log cabin have recently moved in.

I know that some modular fans think this set is a little lackluster, but I don't agree. I love it, and I think it fills a crucial need in the modular line-up.

I'm a huge, huge modular fan myself, but there's something a little off about a modular city: where's the housing?! Yes, I know almost all of the sets have living space in the upper floors, but it's always felt to me that it's a city of amenities where nobody can actually live.

The bookstore itself is cute. I don't love the tree (I do think Lego would be better off sticking to a single season for the entire modular line, or at least making sure every set comes with the pieces necessary to make the trees either summery or autumnal as the owner sees fit). But the bookstore itself is a lovely design.

But I LOVE the townhouse. The teal is a much-appreciated punch of color in the modular line-up, and it just makes me happy seeing that little stoop in my town.

As I said in the title of this review, this is the coziest modular set so far, and I love it for that.

This is my second lego modular building. I bought it because I like its classic historical European architeural style, the colours and I also like it features two buildings we can separate.

It is nice having 2 instruction booklets, in case we want to build it together with someone else. And it has no stickers, which I appreciate.

I like one building being a townhouse, love its front with the stairs and bay window, however it lacks a kitchen and/or bathroom.

The buildings are a little bit small. Maybe they could have been a few studs larger and having the balcony overhanging would allow more space for a bathroom or kitchen.

The bookshop could benefit with having a few more books.

Overall, it was an enjoyable building experience. It looks great.