this was a fine enough family drama set in a bookish setting. pretty low stakes, wasn't super invested.

Charming story with a tender main character Martha. Martha is the ultimate people-pleaser. As you become familiar with Martha and learn her background you’ll see her kindness is by no means weakness. She evolves and finds her authentic self while simultaneously handling several serious emotional issues. You find yourself rooting for her and find inspiration when she says NO along with her realization putting your needs first is a necessity and not secondary. Quick feel good read leaving you both tightly hugged and moved.

This book has mystery and intrigue, grabs your attention for the beginning. Having a story revolving around a library and books always gets my attention. I enjoyed Martha and her eagerness to follow the mystery of her grandmother. This book left a smile on my face.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. If you like a light mystery with a feel-good ending, The Library of Lost and Found is a great choice. I would also recommend this one to anyone who loves books and libraries.

Having recently finished the previously published “The Library of Lost and Found” by Phaedra Patrick, I am happy to have had the chance for the e-book preview; thank you NetGalley and Park Row Books!

This book was such a wonderful surprise! It was full of so many unfulfilled dreams and a past of sad memories, but as the story progressed it became one of discovery, change and freedom. All of the stories, inside this story, made it a magical book and one that I will remember... and recommend.

”Read me. I’m yours.”

Phaedra Patrick writes novels that readers want to read. They are warm and insightful, often featuring characters who are trying to find their way in the world. I think those who enjoy novels by Ruth Hogan will also enjoy titles by Phaedra Patrick.

This book is about Martha. She is a librarian who feels most comfortable when living amongst her books. I always enjoy books about books. This story has one that features pr0minently.

What will happen to Martha when she receives a legacy from her grandmother? Have fun finding out in this lovely book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

After reading another book by the author, The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper (which I loved), I couldn’t wait to read The Library of Lost and Found. The book setting is in a library and that was another positive aspect and appealed to me. Martha, the main character, is a unique individual. She connected better with books than people. It was entertaining to watch Martha come of age … even if she was middle age. I enjoyed traveling through the pages as she explores the mystery of her grandmother, Zelda. This book has great characters, a wonderful mystery, and provides a good feeling. You will close the book with a smile on your face.

Thank you to NetGalley and Park Row for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

I loved this book and I loved the characters. I wished there was more when I finished the book and my heart ached for the main character. I keep finding myself thinking about things that happened and they apply to my life. Highly recommend.

A sweet, charming, quick read, especially for those who have an air of romance around the idea of libraries, bookstores, and mysterious messages.

I thought Patrick nailed the beginning of the book! The Library volunteer getting everything ready and set up and bam!
But the book shows us the struggles of not being able to say no and to always stand up for yourself!

I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Martha is missing out. She missed out on a life of her own by taking care of her parents, and now she is lost. The only way that she feels worthy is by doing for others - their laundry, their errands, their endless minutia that has overwhelmed her. She volunteers at the library, but the director doesn't even like her enough to consider her application for a paying job. Her sister uses her for babysitting and mending, but doesn't listen to her.

When she comes across a book with an inscription to her from her long-dead grandmother that is dated two years after her grandmother died, she starts to doubt everything that she knows. What follows is her trying to find the truth and herself along the way.

Martha has been living her life in the service to others. She cared for her ailing parents until their deaths. Now, living in the same childhood home, Martha is surrounded by projects and tasks that she couldn't say no to. Consumed with making people happy, taking on all tasks, and being passed over for a full time position at the library, Martha really has lost herself.
Her whole outlook on life changes with just one book. Owen, an antique book salesmen in the next town, delivered a book that contained a note for Martha. The damaged book contains stories that she, her mother, and her nana told each other during Martha's childhood. The note from her nana Zelda is dated three years after her nana died.
Martha starts a journey to find the truth behind the book, her own family, and to find herself once again.
I really identified with Martha. I spent 4 years of my life trying to please another person and fitting into their mold of what they wanted me to be. I got a personal wake up call and realized that I did not want to be unhappy for the rest of my life. Loosing and finding yourself again is what I LOVED with this book.
What I didn't love is how people took advantage of Martha because she is a single individual with no husband or kids. The town's immediate assumption is that she has so much time on her hands with no commitments that Martha can commit to everything else. My heart breaks because this is very much the culture I live in. Because I'm unmarried and have no kids, people assume I can (and will) take on more responsibility.
We all need to do what Martha's journey shows us, take control of our own lives and do things for ourselves.

Martha has lived her life taking care of others- her late parents, neighbors, her sisters. When she discovers a book outside the library where she volunteers that is dedicated to her, she is mystified. This begins a search that leads her to family secrets, fairy tales, and a path to discovering herself. Although it was slow to start, I found myself intrigued by Martha, a woman who has let life pass her by while entrenched in allowing her life, both to physically and mentally, to be buried under other people's needs. I really enjoyed it!

I really loved this book in a new to me author. The characters and location really and to the story. I can't wait to read the next one. This book keeps you guessing until the end.

This book was delightful and empowering. It has a bit of a slow start so be patient. It's heartwarmingly worth it. It is a story I will read again.

Librarians and stories and families! I thought this book would be amazing but I just ended up not caring all that much. The main character, Martha, is a doormat who lets everyone walk all over including her family members until she suddenly finds a book that's a blast from her past. A book with stories that she came up with as a child, as well as stories that her supposedly deceased grandmother wrote. After a bit of time and exploring Martha finds that her family has been lying to her for years.

I just couldn't get over how Martha was portrayed. If I remember correctly she was in her 30s or 40s but she acted and thought like a 20 year old wallflower which was surprisingly annoying to read. Perhaps because of this, the book moved so slowly. It ended up being kind of cute but it wasn't as good as I had hoped.

I could definitely relate with the main character, Martha Storm the Librarian, as she can relate better to books than she can with people. I also love just about any book that takes place within a library as I find a library to be one of my most favorite places to while away the time. I found a lot of myself in the main character and at first, I truly enjoyed reading The Library of Lost and Found, however, I found some of the other characters to drone on and create unnecessary drama and I found my interest lacking.

A really cute, heartwarming story with a touch of mystery and lots of family drama. I thought it was well worth the read.

The main character here is Martha Storm, a library volunteer, single woman in her early 50s living in a small English seaside town. Martha was a bit of a rebellious child, not always giving in to her father's domineering ways, as her mother too often did. She felt that her father loved her younger sister Lilian better, Martha looked after her parents until they passed on, and has been a helpful person in her community most of her life. She volunteers to do things for a wide variety of people from the local schoolteacher, to business owners to her own sister, but never feels fulfilled by her own life. Several times she has applied for a job at the library she volunteers at, but even though the library manager Clive has her planning events, doing tours, ordering material, and manning the service desk, he always seems to have an excuse not to actually hire her. Martha gets on well with the staff at the library, particularly the newest library assistant Suki. Her sister Lilian has two children, and she is often called upon to mind them when Lilian has plans. One person that Martha still grieves for is her grandmother who died suddenly when she was just a child. Martha hadn't even been allowed to go to the funeral.
When she finds a book left at the library door for her, Martha is confused. The book is not new, but damaged, but it is dedicated to her and seems to be written by her grandmother, but the publication date is after her grandmother's death. As Martha takes the first steps toward her own independence and makes decisions in her life, she finds that there are things about her own past she didn't know, and things about her future she must make choices about.
An interesting read.

Martha finds a book on the doorstep of the library and learns about her family. Full of little stories. ARC from NetGalley.