Book Review
The Booklover’s Library by Madeline Martin
Historical Fiction | WWII | Books about Books
After reading Madeline Martin’s debut novel, The Last Bookshop in London, this author became an instant favorite. Her WWII novels are full of heart, history, sweet romance, and (often) books! So when I saw that The BookLover’s Library was about all that and more, I couldn’t start reading soon enough. I grabbed a copy of this newest novel from Netgalley as soon as I saw it was available, and fairly inhaled this beautiful story.
Reader’s Thoughts:
The Booklover’s Library is a charming and heartfelt novel about a young, widowed mother during the start of WWII. But with the legal restrictions prohibiting widows with children from most employment opportunities, she’s desperate to find something to keep her and her daughter afloat. Applying for a job at The Booklover’s Library (a lending library for subscribers) Emma agrees to keep quiet about her daughter in exchange for work. But her daughter is still her main concern. With blackouts and air raids, how can she keep Olivia safe while she’s away?
This book hooked me right from its emotionally charged prologue. Madeline’s writing always draws me in with both its simplicity and beauty — leaving lasting details like rubber soles melting against fire-scorched metal staircases lingering against my brain — and I loved everything about this read.
During the air attacks in England during WWII, many families had to make the difficult decision to send their children away for safety. This topic makes for such a heartwrenching read, and it was no exception here in The Booklover’s Library. But while it was a moving story that tugged on the heartstrings, it had an overall lightness that left you feeling good. The emphasis is on a mother’s love and the relationship between Emma, Olivia, and those around them, as they walk through both regular life and the extreme difficulties and heartbreak of war.
One of the other things that really brought this book home for me was the secondary characters. There were so many quirky and unique individuals who each came with their own backstories, hurts, and endearing qualities. I love stories about unexpected friendships and connections with unlikely individuals, and this book provided all of that. There is such healing in friendship and in truly taking the time to stop and see someone, and I loved this theme throughout the story. And, as someone who prefers romance to be a secondary storyline within historical novels, I appreciated how the romance here was sweet and lovely and added to the story without taking over the plot.
I also loved the cross-over to Martin’s previous work and how we got a quick cameo from some beloved past characters. In many ways, this story felt reminiscent of The Last Bookshop in London — which gave me all the nostalgia for that read, while still feeling fresh and new here — so it was fun to check in on those characters too.
Overall, this was a lovable and lighter-feeling WWII novel that absolutely tugged at the heart and was such a joy to read. Martin easily earned her place on my shelf amongst my favorite authors, and this book simply cements that fact. In fact, the most difficult part I had with this book was simply deciding whether or not it’s my new favorite by Martin. It is. Until she releases her next book, of course.
Recommended for:
Readers looking for a lighter WWII novel full of friendship, heart, and family.
This post contains affiliate links; as an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Advance e-copy of the book provided courtesy of the publisher, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
About the book:
(From the publisher) In Nottingham, England, widow Emma Taylor finds herself in desperate need of a job to provide for herself and her beloved daughter, Olivia. But with the legal restrictions prohibiting widows with children from most employment opportunities, she’s left with only one persuading the manageress at Boots’ Booklover’s Library to take a chance on her.
When the threat of war becomes a reality, Olivia must be evacuated to the countryside. In her daughter’s absence, Emma seeks solace in the unlikely friendships she forms with her neighbors and coworkers, as well as 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 her work 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.