Martha Storm is a yes person. If someone needs something she will agree to do it for them. A book is sent to her and it was written by her Grandmother but the date in the book is past when her Grandmother died. Martha's search for the answer about her Grandmother makes Martha do some soul searching and makes her look at her agreeing to everything.
A very interesting book about an older female in a world by herself.

A charming story of family secrets and a past that may not be as it seems. I enjoyed Martha as a character, even more after she learned to say NO! I liked the fairy tales/stories woven in to the main story, and I really enjoyed how it all connected.

I received an advance copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

I love books about books. Add a cutsy cover and I am IN! The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick was such a sweet spring read. Martha Storm is a volunteer at her local library and spends her days doing everything she can for others. Whether it is doing the laundry for someone whose washing machine is broken, baking cookies for an author event no one tells her is cancelled, or even repairing a paper mache dragon head, Martha’s sole focus is helping others, yet she often feels forgotten. One day, a book of fairy tales appears with a mysterious dedication written to her by her grandmother Zelda, who died when she was a child, yet the dedication was written years after her death. This results in Martha embarking on a mission to discover the truth about her family and learn about herself along the way.

Phaedra Patrick’s books are just so damn charming, you can’t help but become invested in her characters. Though I will say I found the plot to be very predictable, it is still a fun and quirky read and an enjoyable way to spend a few hours. This type of novel is perfect for when you just need something light and comforting to help you de-stress. Fans of Fredrik Backman, Maria Semple or Graeme Simsion will definitely enjoy curling up under a blanket with their cup of tea to read this delightful novel.

The Library of Lost and Found revolves around Martha Storm, a woman in her forties who can’t say no. After caring for her parents until their death, Martha is now living in her childhood home and volunteering at the local library. To feel useful and worthwhile, she constantly offers to help others with their problems and projects. From taking care of Horatio’s fish to washing Nora’s laundry, Martha is constantly ticking off the projects in her Wonder Woman notepad.

Then, one day, she receives a book that was obviously written by her deceased grandmother but written three years after her Nana supposedly passed away. This is when the real story begins, as Martha tries to determine the truth about what happened to her grandmother and, by extension, her family. Along the way to her own self-discovery she meets a variety of people who add dimension and richness to her life.

What a delightful book! I so enjoyed cheering on Martha as she made her discoveries, stood up for herself and realized just wonderful she could be. It’s a book of warm hugs, vibrant characters and a story that will be remembered. I thoroughly enjoyed The Library of Lost and Found and intend to pass it on to other readers who enjoy books, libraries and life!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Park Row Books, and Phaedra Patrick for the opportunity to read and review her latest novel. I'm a huge fan (you have read The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper, right?) - so I loved falling back into another book by this author.

Martha has lived her life helping others - she gave up her chance at happiness with boyfriend, Joe, to stay home and take care of her ailing parents. She keeps a book where she compiles all the "to-do" items she has to do for other people because she can't say no to them. She works at the library but can't get hired full time. Then a book appears at the library door for her - inscribed to her from her grandmother. Investigating the origins of this book take her on a journey of self-discovery that you must experience.

Full of little stories from this special book from her grandmother (think Aesop's Fables), plus so many lovingly quirky characters, plus a book about libraries and books! - definitely a highly recommended read! 5 glowing stars yet again for this author!

I want to thank Phaedra Patrick, Park Row and Netgalley for allowing me this advanced copy of this book. I went in with no idea what I was getting myself into. It seemed like a simple story. Martha Storm lives for others. She is meek and timid. Her home is a horde of projects for other people. She wasn't always this way, but years of taking care of her parents and giving up her own happiness have taught her to live for others. It's safer. She won't be hurt again if she just focuses on others. She use to write and laugh, fantastic stories she wrote with her grandmother, no long dead.

Then she gets the book. It's left at the library she volunteers her days to. A book full of her stories with an inscription from her grandmother from 1985, three years after she died. Martha follows the clues and finds her old self again. There are more copies of the book and following the trail leads her to find out about her own life and to make decisions that take it back. She becomes a more tolerable character to read. She is less doormat, meets people who support her instead of using her, and she lets people help her instead of always doing for others. In some ways she stays childlike and clueless.

The story manages to be touching without being sappy. Saying more would ruin the story for future readers, so I'll just leave it with the feeling of hope that I had as I finished reading. We still have a lot of questions about Martha's future and her relationships with family, friends, and those who use to use her. But I am hopeful for Martha.

I recently finished 'The Library of Lost and Found' by Phaedra Patrick and really loved it. The story is about a librarian named Martha Storm and a mysterious gift she receives. When a book of stories that she had written with her deceased grandmother surfaces, Martha sets off to figure out who left it, who wrote it, and why the dedication to her, from her grandmother, is dated after she was already dead.



Martha Storm spends her life trying to help others, while her own life falls to shambles around her. Yet, she keeps going. At times, I cringed at how hard she tries to please the people in her life. I suppose we all have those moments, whether we care to admit them or not. As the story goes along, Martha discovers who she really is and what she should be doing with her life. She does this all while finding the missing pieces of her past that she sometimes didn't even know were there. The cast of characters in this book is so fun. Eccentric co-workers, domineering sister, care free grandmother, and an overly confident bookseller to name a few. I feel like a lot of people can relate to at least one of the characters in this book. They are all quirky in their own ways and it was the perfect mix of personalities. The story is funny, heartwarming, and a bit sad. There are a few pretty emotional topics that Phaedra touches on, but they are an absolute must in order to know Martha's full story.





The story goes back and forth between Martha's childhood and present day and I felt like the transitions were really easy. Sometimes, flash back stories feel disconnected but it wasn't in this case.



I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I can safely say I would recommend this book to my friends. I will also be looking for other books by Phaedra Patrick to read since I enjoyed this one so much. If you are in the mood for something light and fun to read, I highly suggest you try this one out! This book is available for purchase on March 26, 2019.



Happy reading!

Thank you Harlequin and NetGalley for this free review copy! This little gem was a delight to read ☺️ Our protagonist, Martha, wants nothing more from life than doing things for, and caring for others. She is a librarian who has a lifelong connection to books and the fairy tales penned by her own hand. I loved the literary references sprinkled throughout. Growing up with a tyrannical, passive/aggressive father, she has conditioned herself to accept the mundane life which hers has become.

But then a mysterious book finds its way into her hands, making Martha question her family history surrounding her beloved grandmother, Zelda. The ensuing family secret that shaped Martha’s choices and life is something all readers can relate to on some level.

I found myself cheering Martha on; the underdog, who was finally stepping out from underneath the doormat she had always been for everyone else.

This novel exemplifies the power of storytelling. It shows how the written word is cathartic, both by the act of writing and reading. It can bring generations together and provide healing power.
Perfect for fans of Fredrik Backman and Rachel Joyce.
My review will also be posted on my Instagram account today.

I really enjoyed this story of past regrets, family secrets and hope lost and found. We go along with Martha on her unexpected journey, experiencing her sorrows, hopes and dreams as she looks through the past to find her future. This is a thoughtful, heartwarming story that will appeal to readers who enjoyed A Man Called Ove and of course The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper. Thanks for Harlequin and Netgalley for the advance reader's copy!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.

The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick is a contemporary novel about the theme of family. The protagonist Martha is in a rut, when a bit of her past takes her on an adventure forcing her to exam the events of her past, present and future. Along the way we met some quirky and entertaining characters, whose tales and memories add to the adventure.

I think what I appreciated most about this book is how much I could relate to the main character - doing things for others without expecting anything in return. I loved the idea of solving a mystery from her grandmother. I feel like this is a book that every bookworm needs to read. It's fun...not my favorite, but a quirky read.

I enjoyed this book. Martha is the local librarian and spends her time doing things for others, even though they don't return the favors. When she discovers a book with a dedication from her long dead grandmother, she is off to solve a mystery.

This was an easy, quick read for me. It didn't require a lot of thing, just allowed me to unwind and enjoy. I enjoyed it quite a bit!

**I received a copy of this book from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review**

unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me. i normally love books about books but i just couldn't get into this one. could be a case of wrong book at the wrong time, i wanted to finish it before the published date so it did feel a bit like a chore at times, which sucks. i am sure other people will like this one, a cozy comfy kind of read, but it just wasn't for me.

Martha has spent her entire life setting aside her own needs. One day, adventure comes along in the form of an old book with a connection to her late grandmother. A simple enough story, but I had a hard time relating to Martha. If you enjoy relationship (not romantic) fiction this may be worth a look for you.

Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for a complimentary digital review copy of this title.

The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick is a contemporary novel about a librarian that will pull at your heart strings. The strong theme of family and the stories they tell make for an interesting read. Also, the main character, Martha, transforms throughout the book, and is one that is easy to root for.

Any book about libraries and librarians will instantly grab my attention. This is one setting that really seems to draw a reader in. Phaedra Patrick weaves Martha’s love of stories and her strong connection to her local library in a magical way. It is so heartwarming to read about Martha reminiscing about spending time with her grandmother at a seaside library.

❀ INTERESTING CHARACTERS

Martha’s grandmother, Zelda, is a character that is easy to fall in love with. She is quirky, fun, and quite eccentric. Her love for her family and her carefree attitude gives the book some laugh out loud moments. The confidence that Zelda exudes rubs off on Martha and really helps her to come out of her shell.

Martha is an interesting character when the book begins, as she has quite a lot of backstory. She is quite a push-over and really doesn’t take many risks at all. As the plot thickens, the reader learns that this wasn’t always the way for Martha. The book takes Martha on a journey of self-discovery through the past and a collection of stories in such a wonderful way.

❀ HEARTWARMING CONTEMPORARY

If you are in the mood for a feel-good contemporary, this is one to try. The Library of Lost and Found is a heartwarming novel that has a wonderful cast of characters and a lovely setting. Perfect for a spring TBR.

Do you know those books about a quirky individual, maybe someone very set in their ways who undergoes a life-changing transition for the better? They’re usually supported by a sweet gang of characters who follow them on this soul-searching journey, and maybe in the end, they all have a party? Well, this is one of those.
There’s nothing wrong with this formula. In fact, I love it. A Man Called Ove? Put me in starry-eyed wonder. Britt-Marie Was Here? I was here for it. Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine? Yes, please. Even Phaedra Patrick’s previous novel, The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper follows this heart-warming formula.
The Library of Lost and Found is about a middle-aged woman who thinks of everyone before herself and learns to strike a healthy balance between caring for others and being a little selfish when needed. I can’t say too much more, because honestly, since I already laid out what formula it follows, you can kind of guess.
But again, I love a light-hearted story that inspires the reader to be a better person. There are serious notes blended in with the sweetness of the story, but it’s the perfect mix. Near the end, I even shed a tear, the kind you find yourself wiping away at the end of a rom-com.
Plus, who can say no to a book with books as a theme? I can’t.

This book started a little slowly for me, but once I got into it, I was hooked. The story is about Martha Storm, a middle-aged woman who has spent her adult life taking care of other people and making herself indispensable but not respected or appreciated. Everybody in her life takes her for granted and lets her know her time and life isn't as important as theirs. Then a stranger sends her a book that unravels the family secrets and reveals old resentments she's been carrying around for decades. Solving the mystery behind the book isn't the main point of the story, but it does give Martha the push she needs to start living for herself and learning to say no.
I really ended up liking this story of Martha taking back her time and her life. Maybe I'm grading on a curve because I don't find many good stories about middle-aged and older women, but I genuinely liked this story. I was expecting a romance, but it's not that. It's a story of self-discovery that doesn't require a big trip to Bali or a yoga retreat. Very sweet.

This is a story about Martha, a middle-aged library volunteer who spends so much time taking care of others that she has lost herself both physically and mentally. Her house is full of chores for other people and she does nothing for herself. Thankfully this begins to change with the arrival of a damaged book with an inscription from her deceased grandmother to her. This find sets off an adventure for Martha and she begins to find herself, both physically and mentally. While I thoroughly enjoyed the story, I found the writing a bit simplistic. Good thing I was distracted by being upset at the people taking advantage of Martha!

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin/Park Row Publishing for allowing me to read this book for a review. I wanted to read this book based on the title alone. It wasn't what I was expecting it was a whole lot more! Martha Storm volunteers at her local library, hoping to one day work there. She spends her days agreeing to do favours for everyone around her, forgetting to live her own life. As a child, Martha used to write stories, and one day a mysterious book shows up that shakes up her whole life....I LOVED this story! It struck a chord with me, and Martha was a character I wanted to read about. All the characters came alive for me while I was reading. The only small disappointment was I thought it ended abruptly.

A heartwarming and charming story! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.