Review: The Booklover's Library

Author: Madeline Martin

Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating: 4 / 5

Features:

• Book about books

• Historical Fiction focused on Nottingham, England during The Blitz and Operation Pied Piper

• Explores single motherhood where/when there is a marriage bar

• Found family and community 

Summary

Single mother Emma Taylor is desperate. The money left to her after the death of her husband is quickly running out. With laws blocking widowed women with children from holding most jobs, employment has been nearly impossible to find. However, when luck lands Emma the office of the Boots’ Booklover’s Library manageress for a job, things seem to finally be looking up. That is, until England declares war and danger looms on the horizon. Hoping to protect her daughter, Emma sends Olivia to the countryside, leaving Emma alone to face both the war and the trauma of her past alone. Thankfully, she is surrounded by a host of new friends and the escape only books can provide.

Thoughts

The Booklover's Library manages to contain both cozy vibes and the dark, tense setting of a warzone. Emma is a strong, capable character whose struggle to do right by her daughter Olivia is immediately relatable. I have read many books that follow children who are part of Operation Pied Piper, but I think this is one of the first that shows a parent grappling with the choice of sending their child away and I applaud it for that. Even before Olivia leaves, Emma feels very isolated and seeing her gradually open up and form a true community with a cast of interesting characters makes this story extremely heartwarming despite the chaos and tragedy that is bringing them together. Of course, as the title promises, this story is riddled with literary references and celebrates books and the people for whom reading brings joy, connection, comfort, and a chance to escape.

Though they are very different stories, this book reminded me of Lessons in Chemistry in a lot of ways. If you like how Lessons in Chemistry depicts a widowed mother forging her own path and don’t mind something a little less quirky, then you will probably enjoy this read as well. That being said, I feel that this book has a much stronger sense of time and place, so those who really like to immerse in an historical time period will still find plenty to enjoy. The main thing that keeps this from being a five star read for me is that there are moments that feel too rushed. Martin has a lot of great descriptions and powerful moments between characters, so it is extremely noticeable when that level of attention suddenly isn’t there. This ultimately made it harder for all of the pieces to fall into place and for the story to find its rhythm. It is a wonderful story once it does, it just has to fight a little to get there. 

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Special thanks to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!