Finally! Harper Lee's 'Go Set a Watchman' hits bookstores around the globe - Los Angeles Times

Finally! Harper Lee's 'Go Set a Watchman' hits bookstores around the globe - Los Angeles Times

Harper Lee's hotly anticipated book, "Go Set a Watchman" hit bookstores Tuesday.

From Los Angeles to New York to London to Mumbai, fans of Lee's beloved first book, "To Kill a Mockingbird," were snapping up copies. And many then took to social media to show off their purchases. (Because it doesn't count unless it's been Instagrammed.)

Sean Moor, owner of the Long Beach independent bookstore Gatsby Books, kept his Spring Street business open late Monday night for a party and a screening of the film version of "To Kill A Mockingbird" that wrapped up shortly after midnight. He then began doling out copies of the new books to those who waited up, and hosted an impromptu round-robin reading of the first chapter with those in attendance.

All except two copies were gone as of Tuesday morning, he told the Los Angeles Times. "For a small bookstore our size, that's a big deal," he said.

So, will it -- can it -- live up to the hype?

We'll know in a few hours or so, when fans of and newcomers to the world of Scout and Atticus Finch finally have a chance to dig in and read it for themselves. (Read our review here.)

Moor said those who purchased the book early Tuesday morning were enthusiastic -- but also nervous.

"There are a lot of people who say 'To Kill a Mockingbird' is their favorite book of all time. There's a lot riding on this for those people." But after reading the first chapter aloud, together, the crowd seemed unanimous: "The first chapter seemed to do the trick," he said.

Here's a look at some of the excitement on social media:

Copy right © 2015, Los Angeles Times

Finally! Harper Lee's 'Go Set a Watchman' hits bookstores around the globe - Los Angeles Times
Rating: 100% based on 975 ratings. 91 user reviews.