Publication Date: February 3, 2026
A woman receives an unexpected gift from the man she loved and lost—a year of books, one for every month—launching a reading-inspired journey to live, dream, and love again in this glimmering and heart-stopping novel.
Twelve books. Twelve months. One chance to heal her heart…
When Tilly Nightingale receives a call telling her there’s a birthday gift from her husband waiting for her at her local bookshop, it couldn’t come as more of a shock. Partly because she can’t remember the last time she read a book for pleasure. But mainly because Joe died five months ago….
When she goes to pick up the present, Alfie, the bookshop owner with kind eyes, explains the gift—twelve carefully chosen books with handwritten letters from Joe, one for each month, to help her turn the page on her first year without him.
At first Tilly can’t imagine sinking into a fictional world, but Joe’s tender words convince her to try, and something remarkable happens—Tilly becomes immersed in the pages, and a new chapter begins to unfold in her own life. Monthly trips to the bookstore—and heartfelt conversations with Alfie—give Tilly the comfort she craves and the courage to set out on a series of reading-inspired adventures that take her around the world. But as she begins to share her journey with others, her story—like a book—becomes more than her own.
Set in London, This Book Made Me Think Of You by Libby Page, takes place over one year, and the premise is charming. Each month leads off with a list of book recommendations with a theme from Alfie, the owner of Book Lane, a bookshop that even includes a neighborhood cat.
The bookshop is at the heart of the story because so much takes place there, especially since Tilly, a young widow, is set to pick up a book gift monthly. The thoughtful books her dead husband gifted her are to help her with her grief, but also to open her up to new things and adventures, or to remind her of things she used to enjoy. The books not only tie into the theme but also affect her life in many thoughtful and often emotional ways. We learn about the various characters a little at a time since Tilly is reinventing herself without her loving husband by her side.
Books are interwoven throughout, and I love that I not only recognize many of the titles, but I’ve also read some of them. Books are important to many of their lives and dreams, and open up new worlds to Tilly in significant ways. Tilly expands her circle of friends through her adventures and opens up in ways she could never have imagined. She also has an impact on others, especially Alfie.
Tilly’s world takes off in unexpected directions, especially when she gives up her job as an editor to find healing and opens herself up to the adventures her husband wanted her to participate in. The letters that accompanied the books were heartwarming, heartbreaking, and filled with love. There are surprises around every corner, a hint of romance, and lots of kindness and caring. The ending gave closure, was beautifully written, and was totally unexpected.
This Book Made Me Think Of You is filled with loss, but also memories, love, friendships, and so many books. Anyone who loves books won’t be able to resist Tilly’s story.
Libby Page is a Sunday Times bestselling author whose work has been published in over 20 territories around the world. Before becoming an author, she worked in journalism and marketing. She lives in Somerset, England, with her husband and young son.
