Publication Date: September 10, 2024
A heartwarming story about a mother and daughter in wartime England and the power of books that bring them together, by the bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in London.
In Nottingham, England, widow Emma Taylor finds herself in desperate need of a job. She and her beloved daughter Olivia have always managed just fine on their own, but with the legal restrictions prohibiting widows with children from most employment opportunities, she’s left with only one option: persuading the manageress at Boots’ Booklover’s Library to take a chance on her with a job.
When the threat of war in England becomes a reality, Olivia must be evacuated to the countryside. In the wake of being separated from her daughter, Emma seeks solace in the unlikely friendships she forms with her neighbors and coworkers, and a renewed sense of purpose through the recommendations she provides to the library’s quirky regulars. But the job doesn’t come without its difficulties. Books are mysteriously misshelved and disappearing and the work at the lending library forces her to confront the memories of her late father and the bookstore they once owned together before a terrible accident.
As the Blitz intensifies in Nottingham and Emma fights to reunite with her daughter, she must learn to depend on her community and the power of literature more than ever to find hope in the darkest of times.
A fire destroys Emma Taylor’s family bookstore, changing the course of her life.
The Booklover’s Library by Madeline Martin details a second chance for Emma, now a widow. However, amid threats of an impending war, she must decide whether to send her young daughter away to the English countryside.
Meanwhile, Emma reconnects with her beloved books and makes new friends. It was fascinating to see how the lending library operated with its different tiers of patrons and how the librarians were trained to match book recommendations with readers.
This heartwarming tale highlights the sacrifices required during World War II while celebrating the therapeutic nature of books.
The Booklover’s Library delivers an interesting cast of well-developed characters full of resilience.
Madeline Martin is a New York Times, USA TODAY, and international bestselling author of historical fiction and historical romance with books that have been translated into over twenty different languages.
