The charming and endearing story in The Library of the Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick, is a wonderful cozy story to get warm and cuddled up with along with a cup of tea. This is a sweet story of a woman who has lost her way, for herself, as she has been the kind, helpful giving friend and care giver for much too long. Martha needs to find herself, and as she strives for this she reconnects and meets new people along the way, building her confidence and determination coming into ones own self. Such a lovely story of unconditional love and sometimes the lack of it; and sadly from those whom you have always trusted. Martha faces a parents selfish betrayal and the unearthing of family secrets. She held my attention till the end! Loved it! Beautiful story. Thanks to #NetGalley #TheLibraryoftheLostand Found #ParkRow #PhaedraPatrick

Martha oh Martha. I loved that she was finding her strength throughout the story and how she realized that she hadn't been doing things for herself. I loved her kind heart and how much she loved to write and loved books. Suki was such a fun character and great for Martha to realize her worth. Zelda was such an exceptional character too and I was so glad that Martha got to reconnect with her. I really liked the setting and how everything took place throughout. It is a fun read with it's own little twists that keep you begging for more.

“The Library of Lost and Found” is sure to delight any bibliophile.

Martha is a middle-aged librarian who spends her days doing favors for the people around her while neglecting her own needs. When a mysterious book is left at the library for her, she’s shocked to discover the stories in it are familiar. This book will change Martha’s life forever.

Martha was an uptight, annoying character at first, but she does grow on one. Her grandmother, Zelda, was absolutely delightful. She was so vivacious and gutsy. My favorite character, however, was Martha’s younger friend Suki.

“The Library of Lost and Found” is about living life to the fullest, familial love, and second chances. It was a charming and heartwarming read from first page to last.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free galley in exchange for an honest review.

I received this from netgalley.com in exchange for a review.

Librarian Martha Storm has always found it easier to connect with books than people.

Chick Lit/Cozy Mysteries are not my favorite genres but this book was a quick and easy read. This book was just flat with no corners or edges to make the story interesting.

2☆

The Library of Lost and Found is a lovely story. The main character is quirky but lovable. The other characters in the book are equally unique! The setting of the book is idyllic and makes you want to visit it. The story had just the right amount of mystery and provides a satisfying resolution. I highly recommend this book.

I loved this author’s other books and enjoyed this one just as much! It’s the story of a 40-something woman named Martha whose mission in life is tot ale care of other people, but she does this to her own detriment.. things start to change for her after she says no in a big way to her friends at the library where she works.

There is much here of interest and pleasure for anyone who loves books and stories, bookstores and libraries. There is also a lot of wisdom here about taking care of ourselves, and about letting go of the past.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Full of heart! This was a charming book. Martha was ridiculously relatable and so caring. I seem to have a problem saying no to people, so seeing Martha in a similar position made my heart pull towards her and her story. I thought this was mysterious, magical and full of wonderful poignant thoughts. Completely original.

I love Phaedra Patrick's writing. This book was not a disappointment either. A family made of many personalities and secrets kept me from putting the book down. Humorous and sensitive parts make her writing credible. I related to parts and recollected similar feelings to times in my life as Martha, the main character had inI the book. Another good read.

I liked the synopsis of the book. However, when I started reading it, the story faltered for me. It just didn't hold my interest. I couldn't get interested in any of the characters. I liked that the plot included a lot of books, it the characters just didn't interest me .

I love most books set anywhere in Great Britain. The story was a bit slow, but the main character, Martha, was intriguing enough to keep my interest. A nice read.

The Library of the Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick follows the story of Martha, a woman who is now approaching middle age and whose entire existence has devolved into doing anything and everything for others. She measures her worth by the number of tasks she can take on, even as they begin to weigh her down and overwhelm her life.
Into this chaos, a book surfaces that contains stories, some she made up and told her grandmother and others her grandmother made up with her. The curious thing? The book has a note in it from her grandmother, advising Martha it is for her in the hopes it will be of benefit, but the note is dated three years after Martha’s grandmother was said to have died.
Martha’s obsession with the book initiates a change regarding how she feels about putting others ahead of herself and sets her on a course of searching for answers. Martha’s search leads her to encounter a group of people who expand and challenge her to take a look at her life, It also leads to some changes within Martha regarding how she values herself.
There is also a bit of a mystery in the book. Martha’s sister is aware that Zelda didn’t die when Martha was told she did, and begs Martha to stop investigating. She advises Martha that the knowledge will be destructive, and that Zelda will turn out to be less than the person Martha idolizes in her mind.
Parts of the book might be cathartic for people who grew up in dysfunctional households. Specifically Martha’s father is shown to be a bully and emotional abuser of his family. His emotional abuse has had a profound effect on how Martha feels about herself and how she lives her life. If someone has experienced this type of abuse in their own life, they may find it comforting to see, at least in the world of fiction, that they are not alone.
The pacing of the book is a bit erratic, with flashback chapters that highlight the activities of Martha or others of her family back when Martha was a child. In addition, some of Martha’s “stories” are peppered throughout this book and then brought forward to the current day’s action and shared either with other individuals or groups. The shifts are sudden and, although the story makes sense in terms of the point trying to be made, they serve to slow the reading of the book and make movement through the novel somewhat jerky.
There is a strong underlying agenda to this book that seems to have t deal with overcoming an abusive upbringing. This may give encouragement to people who are trying to heal their own wounds from growing up in more or less dysfunctional households. Unfortunately, the uneven pacing of the book limits the positivity that might be derived for some readers.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a delightful and unexpected story. The main character, Martha is introduced as a somewhat dotty, long-suffering do-gooder, who is easy to take for granted. Indeed, her boss neglects to tell her that the library event she was to host was called off. She finds out only when she arrives with the refreshments to see the word, CANCELLED written across the flyer hanging on the door. She returns home and we learn Martha is practically a hoarder, living in the house where she grew up, and later spent much of her early adult life caring for her ailing parents. Martha’s life seemed so sad, I didn’t think I wanted to continue reading. Ms. Patrick does little in the early pages to reveal Martha’s past nor foreshadow or future, but slowly, layer by layer, her captivating story unfolds. An absorbing read!

Patrick’s latest features the transformation of Martha Storm from the village doormat to free thinking creative after someone leaves a book at her library for her with a puzzling and intriguing inscription. The story exaggerates the awful habit of trying to please everyone else first painfully but it’s a heartwarming story including a nifty mystery of family secrets. 3.5 stars.

A charming story of a young women finding herself through the unraveling of family mysteries. Martha Storm volunteers at the local library, she helps people. She offers to do all sorts of tasks for people - laundry, fish feeding ,plant tending, sewing, cleaning all to keep herself busy. One day when she arrives at the library with fresh baked goods to do an author presentation she finds the library locked and cancelled written across the author's poster but nobody told her.While she is standing there flummoxed she sees a gentlemen set a package by the door and move away quickly. Curious, Martha picks up the package and sees it is address to her. Inside is a book, a cover-less ragged book of stories that will change Martha's entire life.Follow the wonderful adventure. This was an enchanting read.

This book was a lovely little surprise. It was a sweet and charming story of a quirky "volunteer librarian" who has a difficult time saying no to the many favors that people ask of her --- from laundry, to mending clothes, to taking care of their fish. Martha is a proverbial doormat, but a mysterious book changes the course of her life. This book does a great job showing how a character can grow and change in the course of a novel.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Phaedra Patrick's new novel is a delightful (if at times emotional) story of a family changed and torn by secrets and lies. Martha Storm volunteers at a library where she hopes to eventually be employed after years of caring for her parents who have recently died. The realities of her isolation are beginning to become more obvious to Martha. Aside from being a person everyone can rely on to help out (and be a doormat), no one really knows Martha. Even Martha's sister Lillian takes advantage of her sister's kindness, using her family as an excuse for being busy (and after all, Martha is single with no children.)

Flashback chapters reveal the close relationship Martha had with her grandmother Zelda, the controlling nature of her father Thomas, and the challenges her mother, Betty, faced with Thomas.

Martha's life takes a turn when a book is left for her at the library- inscribed to Martha from Zelda and dated three years after Zelda died. Even more surprising, the book is filled with stories Martha wrote as a child along with stories Zelda and Betty told Martha and Lillian when they were children. The book leads Martha to surprising discoveries about the past and a whole new outlook on life.

Engaging and well constructed, The Library of Lost and Found is an easy and enjoyable read with interesting characters with faults and foibles that feel real and relatable.

Thanks to NetGalley for this free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the quirky main character, Martha Storm.  I also loved that she loved working in a library and helping others.  When Martha gets sent a book containing stories that she made up from her childhood a fabulous mystery unfolds.  The author did a great job of making her characters very like able or not like able.  This was a wonderful story about forgiveness and family and that is okay to sometimes put yourself first.

Martha Storm has spent her adult life serving others, from caring for her aging parents to helping the other members of her small town. Unfortunately, she does all these things at the expense of her own desires. When Martha receives a small book at the local library where she volunteers, she discovers that it contains familiar stories from her childhood, Martha's story is told with a combination of current day events and the fairy tales within the mysterious book. She embarks on a journey that uncovers families secrets and, eventually, the way forward. The Library of Lost and Found is cleverly written, poignant, and lovely,

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and Park Row Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

A British library volunteer has always felt rather apart from her family, the author does a good job of describing the feelings of all characters, and wraps up with a surprise ending

I wanted to like this book. I really did. But by the time I'd finished the first 60 pages it fell flat for me. Martha Storm is a librarian who begins the book as a doormat for others. She can't say no to anyone and everyone takes advantage of that fact. Learning about her childhood you understand why this had happened, but I was still frustrated with her. She does work it all out as the novel continues, and there is a nice little mystery for her to solve. Many people will like this book, it was just not for me. I would read this author again, I really like the way the story flowed. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me this copy to review.