The Last Bookshop in London is one of the best books I’ve read in the fiction and historical fiction genres. This is my first time reading Madeline Martin, but it certainly will not be my last!

I have read wonderful stories about brave women in Europe during World War II, including the Nightingale and Lilac Girls and this book fits perfectly into the same category. It is an action-packed and emotional story. The book felt really well-researched in its references to actual events during World War II.

The charming story is about a girl who moves to London and begrudgingly accepts a position at a run-down bookstore called “Primrose Hill Books.” When I studied in London in 2018, I ran across a shop of the same name on my first day. This connection drew me immediately into the story.

When World War II begins in London, Grace takes on the role of an ARP warden. She sees horrifying sights yet stays calm to accomplish her duty. In many small ways, it’s clear that Grace has a huge impact on everyone around her. She gives Mrs. Weatherford a reason to live again, she helps a set of orphaned siblings, she gives Mr. Evans’ shop new life, and she reads books in the air raid shelters to help those taking shelter escape in their minds. All of these make her a memorable character in the category of WWII fiction.

I equate her character to that of George Bailey in It's A Wonderful Life by the influence he has in the community by dedicating his life and business to give others hope. That all culminates with the community eventually showing their appreciation for him in his time of need. When this happens to Grace, it brought me to tears, just like the last five minutes of that classic film always does. Although I like to use this word sparingly, Grace is the definition of a hero. Her sacrifice, courage, and strength bring together the community and literally save people’s lives. As Mr. Evans stated, “Out there, you save lives. In here, you save souls.”

Another thing to note, the subtle romance with George felt refreshing as so many romances today are filled with lustful words and actions. Also, the fact that he constantly gave her reading suggestions and books as presents really appealed to me as that would be my dream man.

This book is a great commentary on the love of reading and how it is a passion discovered within oneself but is inspired by multiple people throughout life. For me, it is multiple family members, teachers, librarians, and now through elementary school students who are discovering their love of reading for the first time.

Thank you to Hanover Square Press for the opportunity to read this galley!

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book in preview.
First, I am a heavy WWII historical fiction reader. WWII is the time period that is especially dense in the library right now, and patrons either gobble them up or are tired of them. This is a nicer book to read. Its not as gritty and shocking as some I have read. It relies more heavily on how literature sooths in times of trouble, than on the blood and gore of wartime. Its quite a lot more about the book sellers and the book stores of London, but during the time of the Blitz. Which is fine. In an ocean of WWII historical fiction, this is one I would recommend to patrons who prefer less language, sex, and gore and more sweet, happy ending stories.
I read it quickly and enjoyed the book. It was slightly predictable but enjoyable none-the-less.
I would give it 3.5 stars, rounded to 4.

Historical fiction and WWII Fiction readers will thoroughly enjoy this offering. This is a delightful read, one that I enjoyed thoroughly. I found Grace to be intuitive, innovative, and very relatable. I loved her character's willingness to learn and immerse herself in a world she wasn't familiar with in order to succeed. I loved her wherewithal and her drive to succeed. The determination makes her a character you root for, for sure.

I had not previously read a WWII fiction story where I got a closer look into the intimate experiences during the air raids, and what that was like before, during, and after those raids would happen. I thoroughly enjoyed the details of life in London during this event.

My criticism of the book is just that it fairly closely following the general formula for books in this genre, without much in terms of style, structure, character development or plot that truly sets it apart. But that is not necessarily a bad thing on its own. I think I just generally want something with a bit more depth that stands out from its peers in stories and genres like this, maybe something a bit more raw. But this did not stop me from enjoying the story. There are always readers for stories like this and I loved that this story contributed at least a slightly different focus to this genre than what readers are used to seeing.

Sincere thanks to Randy at Park Row Books for offering me a galley to read.

This is a nice WW2 read that was charming as well as a little exhausting. Grace Bennett moves to London at the onset of WW2 but lacks the necessary work recommendation to get a desired department store job. Her mother's friend, and her new landlady, arranges for her to work in neighborhood book store. Grace has never had time for books, so she gradually starts with dusting the shelves, and trying to find her place. A book is gifted to her and she begins to explore a whole new world. As the Blitz occurs, Grace is burning the candle on both ends as she works in the bookstore during the day and volunteers at night to put out fires and confirm safety after the bombings. I was worn out for her! Throughout this book, I could feel the charm of the bookstore and its customers and loved the environment it created.

A lovely, powerful and touching WWII-era story that was well-written with loveable characters. I was captivated by the storyline of Grace, and her daily trials of living in war-torn London. Highly recommend.

This book was a pleasant surprise, a light, yet substantial and satisfying story of friendship, love, and a young woman’s personal growth during the Blitz. I had expected something too “light” when I started the book, but the character development and the descriptions of both the personal interactions and life in London during the Blitz resulted in a good read. Overall, a rewarding book for those who enjoy people stories with a historical backdrop.

Grace Bennett, newly arrived in London from the English countryside, finds herself taken on as an assistant to a curmudgeonly old bookstore owner, Mr. Evans. As Grace, not a book reader, begins to make improvements to the shop, with her employer’s reluctant approval, customers increase. Then war is declared against Germany, and life takes many unexpected turns. Fans of World War 2 historical fiction will be drawn to this book’s themes of hope, resiliency, and the power of books to bring people together. It would be an excellent addition to any historical fiction collection.

This was an enjoyable book written about World War II and the power of books. The author portrays the need for support through trying times by using the written word as a distraction from the atrocities of war and devastation. The growth of the characters is evident as the story progresses however I was not fully engaged with their lives.
This is a gentle read about the war that will give book groups lots to discuss. #TheLastBookshopInLondon #MadelineMartin #NetGalley

As a book lover and devourer of historical fiction I couldn’t put this book down. Grace and her best friend Viv leave their homes in the country to move to London just before the war. Grace takes a job in a local bookshop, even though she is not much of a reader and knows nothing about books. It is supposed to be a six-month position, but she learns to love it. On her first day on the job, she meets George, who loves books more than anything. Just before he heads off to war he gives Grace a copy of The Count of Monte Cristo, his favorite book. She reads it and her love of literature begins. This is a fascinating tale of war, loss, devastation and how literature helps us through even the most horrible times. Highly recommended.

#TheLastBookshopinLondon #NetGalley

Thank you to the author and publishing company for allowing NetGallery to give me the chance to read this ARC.
This book is centered about World War ll and the Blitz. This story is actually based off a true story. It is sad, but heartwarming at the same time,

The last Bookshop in London is a story of friendship, perseverance and the love of reading set in London during the blitz of World War ll. Grace comes to London after the death of her mother. In need of a job, she takes a temporary position at a bookstore owned by a gruff, older man. Madeline Martin takes us on a journey through Graces experiences - good and bad - as Grace begins to understand and come to love the power of a good book.

Grace and her best friend Viv arrive in London expecting to enjoy the excitement and glamor of the city. Viv gets a job working at Harrods, and Grace finds herself working at a dusty, crowded, disorganized bookshop owned by a man who really does not want an employee, but who has been coerced into hiring her by her sweet landlady. In order to keep busy, Grace decides to take on the challenge of cleaning and organizing the bookshop with the owner’s begrudging assent. Her organization of the shop is hampered by her lack of knowledge of books and literature. At the suggestion of a handsome customer, Grace begins to read The Count of Monte Cristo and immediately is immersed in this faraway world. She begins to devour books one by one and shares her passion for reading with the bookstore customers.
The girls’ enjoyment of London is soon clouded by the encroachment of Hitler’s aggressions and the entry of England into the war. As the young men begin enlisting for service and the city’s children are shipped to the country in an effort to keep them safe from the bombing that is expected in London, tension mounts in Grace’s world. London is placed on blackout orders. Makeshift bomb shelters are dug into back gardens, and public shelters are appointed. The people of London prepare for war.
When bombing begins, Viv and Grace each take on a role in the war effort. Viv is assigned away from London, but Grace remains so that she can keep Mrs. Weatherford, her landlady, from being alone. As a volunteer ARP warden, Grace experiences horrors of devastation, the terrors of being exposed to incoming bombs, and the tragedy of death during her night shifts. During the day, she begins reading to a growing audience of people who come for temporary escape into fictitious worlds of books. The bookshop becomes a daily interlude for many.
The author describes the experiences of living through the horrible bombings of London in vivid moving pictures. The reader lives the emotions of the characters and can picture the devastation. Her writing sweeps the reader into and through the nightmare as though participating.
The action of the book includes heartbreaking horror, interpersonal drama, and a love story, but the author avoids resorting to gore or titillation. The book is a gripping war story, a tender love story, and a foray into human sorrow and fortitude, all told with dignity and grace.

This book is an interesting read, however it was just not memorable. The plot and setting of the story are similar to several WWII books that are currently available. As a librarian I would recommend this book for our adult book club, due its ease of reading and potential for a great discussion. This downside of this book is that it is just like all the other WWII books within the last two years. This topic has been ran into the ground, this coming from someone who is a history major and a huge fan of historical fiction. The book was okay, just not great.

An uplifting read set in WWII London about the power of literature. It focused more on the beginning of the war (1940-1941) and the Blitz, and skipped through the rest of it with an epilogue, but I enjoyed the glimpse into the daily lives of Londoners who survived a horrific time in history. If you like Rhys Bowen's WWII-era stories, you will like this! It would make a good read-alike with the upcoming Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

The Last Bookshop in London
by Madeline Martin
Powerful...Gut Wrenching...Emotional Whirlwind, with a fantastic ending that will touch your heart and renew your faith in humanity. This is a novel to watch for on the 2021 award winning bestseller’s list!
This story is beautifully written with vibrant and lovable characters (yes, especially the crotchety old stoggies.) who I’d love to sit and have tea with. The story follows a young woman who moves to a small community in London England, at the brink of WWII. We follow her through her new beginnings in the community as they prepare for war. She finds work in a little old bookshop although she’s had no experience or previous desire to read books. After she accepts book recommendations from a handsome customer, she becomes enthralled in the many stories she reads. She comes to understand and appreciate the power books have to transport readers to other worlds, places, and times, while leaving their world and troubles behind, if even for a moment.
One of the many things that makes this story extraordinary is the masterful attention to detail used in creating this vivid world including the different war settings. I was fascinated with the war preparation details, rationed goods and food, curfews, residents with larger yards were required to build bomb shelters, replace flower beds to grow assigned vegetables, and volunteers during the raids taking roll call of who was present at what shelter location which helped recovery teams inspecting bombed sites to know if the homeowners were accounted for or not. The amazing descriptions made the story so vivid and real that I found myself standing on the street, holding my breath, carefully listening to what sounds the bombs were making so I’d know what kind of bombs they were and if we needed to run like the wind or to take cover and hide!
I highly recommend this emotional and endearing read. Happy Reading ♥️

Read if you: Want an inspiring story of courage, war, and books.

Librarians/booksellers: World War II historical fiction continues to be very popular with readers; the added element of a bookstore setting will add even more appeal.

Many thanks to Hanover Square Press and NetGalley for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for sending me this title. What a absolutely delightful book. As a bookseller myself I love a good bookshop but this book captured the community feel that the store had. Every person you felt connected to. I felt every emotion that they went through. Truly transported me to that time and place.

An absolutely amazing story about living in London during World War II and the Blitz. This is the first time I've read anything in this genre. It is Heart warming and heart breaking at the same time. I couldn't put it down. Madeline Martin did an amazing job in creating this story. I received an Advanced copy in exchange of an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I've never read anything by Martin, but I love WWII-era stories--and books!--so I had to give this one a read. I'm glad I did.

The story is based on real events, and it's a testament to the incredible power of books and how they can shine a light, no matter what is going on around us. Readers can't help but be drawn in to this book. The resilience of the British during the war is inspiring. Characters are well developed and realistic. They're easy to connect with and root for. The realities of war are clearly displayed, but so is hope.

While 2021 has just started, this could very well end up being one of my favorite books of the year.

The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin is an amazing book filled with characters we would all love to spend time with. The bond between books and readers can never be overstated and Ms. Martin describes that bond with love and realism. I adore this book.