Spanning a few decades, this story starts with our protagonists as children and follows them through young adulthood and into their prime. We experience both World War I and World War II through the eyes of Amos and Charlotte, two people from very different worlds who both adore books and struggle to break the bonds of an economic caste system. These two face so many heartaches as they live during the memorable eras and have to behave within certain societal rules, keeping them apart....yet very much together. The author has definitely done her research and includes many details that bring both the setting and the era to life for the reader...and will keep you guessing what will happen next untl the end.

"The British Booksellers" was a beautiful work of historical fiction. The idea of warring bookstore owners was appealing itself, but to combine it with lost love, the horrors of war, secrets from the past, new love, and resilience was even better. The cast of characters is great -- Amos, Charlotte (Charlie), Eden, Ginny, Jacob, Flo, Dale, etc. I liked the way the author alternated between the past and present, giving the readers little pieces of the history of Amos and Charlie and how they came to find themselves in their current circumstances. How Jacob was connected to the Holt family (Charlie, Eden) was quite creative. His intrusion into their lives served well as a partial catalyst to unlocking years of hurt and pain between Amos and Charlie. The book has its fair share of twists, none more surprising than the actions of Will. Book lovers will enjoy the banter between Amos and Charlie over the merits of certain authors and categories of books.

"The British Booksellers" by Kristy Cambron skillfully weaves together the threads of love, loss, and resilience against the backdrop of historical events, drawing inspiration from the real accounts of the Forgotten Blitz bombings. The narrative unfolds through the lives of Amos Darby and Charlotte Terrington, whose paths diverge during the Great War, only to intertwine again decades later in the aftermath of World War II. Amos, scarred by the brutalities of the trenches, finds solace in opening a bookshop, while Charlotte, a war widow, manages a quaint Coventry bookshop named Eden Books. Their parallel lives become the focal point of the story as they face a common threat—an American solicitor threatening to destroy their hard-earned legacy.

The novel skillfully captures the essence of time and place, from the Great War trenches to the storied English countryside, and finally to the devastating Coventry Blitz of WWII. Through the lens of the bookshops, the author explores the enduring power of literature to provide solace and the unbreakable bonds forged through love, loss, and shared struggles. "The British Booksellers" is a poignant tale that resonates with the courage of those whose lives were forever changed by war, celebrating the stories that bind us together in the fight for what matters most.

I was captivated by teenage Amos Darby and Charlotte Terrington who are having a great time as they made plans that included their love of music and books. Their connection began as young people, fueled by their mutual love of reading, and blossomed into a romantic journey that took them through two world wars. It was a beautiful, heartbreaking, and bittersweet love story filled with music, their shared love of books, sadness, and forgiveness.

I found it intriguing how the author alternated between the two timelines—the current one, in which fighting is ongoing, and Charlotte Terrington's and Amos Darby's teenage years. Amos (the farm boy) is a little older than Lady Charlotte. The author expertly utilizes flashbacks from the past to help readers understand what happened to this couple and the reasons behind their conflict. Over time, Amos and Charlotte drifted apart, and became enemies, but they would band together to fight Hitler at any cost. Conflict is never easy, but in the end, hope, love, and healing win.

This is a gripping story you won’t soon forget. This is a great escape and one that you’re book club will enjoy.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book by the publisher and NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog https://psalm516.blogspot.com/

A wonderful immersion into the lives of childhood friends who are challenged by social barriers, family expectations and even by war. Charlotte and Amos are kindred spirits, but of differing social classes. They are bound by an undeniable love and admiration for one another, but separated by circumstances over which they either have no control or have an incomplete understanding. Also factored into their choices is a sense of honor that prohibits them from crossing boundaries that they see as possibly harmful to the other. The author brings forward the horrors as well as the heroics of war.The beauty and heartbreak of sacrificial love is woven into both personal relationships as well as into love and duty toward ones country. A lovely read and highly recommended.

The British Booksellers
3.5 Stars

Historical fiction has always been my genre of choice. I love books about books, about bookstores and how books can change a life, a person’s perspective. I enjoyed Kristy Cameron’s The Paris Dressmaker and looked forward to reading The British Booksellers.

The dual timeline, which should flow from one chapter to another, works well in The British Booksellers. The main characters, Amos Darby, Charlotte Holt and the charming Land Girls Flo Abbott, Ainsley Chapman and Dale Kramer, are well described and easy to like. The other characters, Charlotte’s husband Will Holt, their daughter Eden and the American lawyer Jacob Cole took up a lot of space without adding much depth. The mystery surrounding Jacob’s motive for being there seemed contrived and took too long to clarify.

What lost it for me was the focus on the romances. Most historical fiction novels have a romantic aspect used to enrich the historical perspective of the story being told. The British Booksellers is more of a romance novel with WWI and WWII history as background to the romances.

I knew very little about the Blitz that almost destroyed Coventry and found the WWII chapters interesting and engaging. Learning how people survived the Blitz spending every night in bomb shelters, how they banded together to rebuild their town and how they overcame hardship after hardship is why I read historical fiction. Cameron’s dedication to extensive research in fleshing out the horrors of fighting in WWI and surviving the Blitz is greatly appreciated. Had the romances been secondary to the story of the Blitz my rating would have been higher.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for an advanced copy of The British Booksellers. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

It's been a while since I've read a Kristy Cambron book. I've almost forgotten how satisfying her stories are. The newest offering from this masterful author once again proves why she's a favorite in the historical fiction world. Set in Coventry, England during the early days of WWII, the history of the blitz of this area is seamlessly woven into a tale of regret, misunderstanding, bravery, sacrifice, and redemption between star-crossed lovers. The flashbacks to what happened between Amos and Charlotte during the years of WWI flow beautifully into how they work together during WWII preparing for an inevitable blitz of their beloved city.
I loved Amos and his loyal, tender heart beneath his gruffness. He was so real - complete with scars, hurts, secrets, and shame. Charlotte and her strong, steady spirit was admirable. I liked Charlotte's daughter Eden and her independent attitude and outlook. And Jacob, the American solicitor, rounded out the fabulous main character set and added a heaping dash of charm, fun, and intrigue.
It's a beautifully written historical fiction that probes at the meaning of community, humanity amidst war, forgiveness, and sacrificial love.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Thomas Nelson via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

I've read all of Cambron's books, and this, sadly, wasn't one of my favorites. As I expected, the characters are well written, flawed, and realistic. However, there were a few too many characters/POVs which, with the dual timeline, made it a bit confusing at times. The religious elements were quite minimal, especially compared to other books by this author. That could possibly make this book appeal to a larger audience, but those expecting Christian fiction may find it lacking. I did love the bookshop setting.

Young Charlotte Terrington loves playing her cello and reading books. Her parents only approve of one of those activities. After all, heiresses in England must adhere to strict propriety guidelines in all they do. Even if those guidelines go against their nature. Amos Darby, son of a tenant farmer, becomes her conspirator in music—he reads while she plays. Together, they have an idyllic childhood, and as they mature, both acknowledge their friendship has blossomed into something deeper.

But as the world careens toward the Great War, each has a choice. Choose each other or choose duty. Charlotte’s parents want her to marry the heir to their neighbor’s estate, the future Earl of Harcourt. If she chooses duty, Charlotte will forego love. Duty wins when Amos fails to meet her at the blacksmith shop in Gretna Green.

Twenty-five years later, war looms again. Charlotte, a war widow within a year of marriage, spends her time raising their daughter, running a quaint bookshop in nearby Coventry, and scheming ways to keep her husband’s estate solvent.

Her first love has opened a rival bookshop across the street and spends his time as a recluse, eager to hide his horrific battle scars from curious friends and neighbors. Although they work in the same village and live near each other, Charlotte and Amos haven’t exchanged a kind word since the Great War.

Lady Eden, Charlotte’s daughter, schemes to save her inheritance with her mother. When a young, handsome, brash American lawyer shows up on her doorstep questioning her right to receive part of his inheritance, Eden doesn’t know what to think.

When Hitler decides to drop bombs on Coventry, everyone must put the past aside to survive the present.

What I Loved About This Book

Cambron has mastered the time-shift novel and knows exactly when to leave storylines hanging and readers wondering what will happen next. Each story unfolds seamlessly, revealing secrets at just the right time. The historical details help readers understand the pathos of the period and the deprivations faced by ordinary citizens who must step up in extraordinary ways during times of war or disaster.

Fans of Roseanna M. White will enjoy this latest beauty from Kristy Cambron.

I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley.

This is a soulmate story about two starcrossed young people who can't overcome their difficulties to come together until much later in life. It has some good tie-ins to WWII for those who like historical fiction. I enjoyed the bookstore parts as well as the mysterious stranger from America who livened up the story quite a bit as well. An enjoyable read.

“The British Booksellers” is a historical fiction book by Kristy Cambron. Let me first say - that cover - wowzers. Whoever designed it did a great job - it’s a striking cover. This book follows, mainly, two people in multiple timelines. There’s Amos, who is a solid working class bloke, who falls in love with Charlotte (Charlie) his childhood friend, whose family is higher class and very class conscious. The two kids bond over books, something they both enjoy both reading and discussing. Charlotte is pressured by her family to “marry well” opposed to following her heart. This book bounces between the time when Amos and Charlie are kids, to the present (WWII - 1940s) and a bit during the time around WWI. There’s a lot of flitting through the timelines and sometimes keeping track of the timelines was difficult. Additionally, Eden, Charlotte’s daughter, has her own timeline during WWII, and her plot line took up a bit of information, taking away from the story of Amos and Charlotte. I did appreciate the bits about Coventry during the Blitz and how they coped and helped one another. I think the historical research was fantastic. However, at times I found the grammatical structure of this book clunky, for lack of a better word. I don’t know if words were missing from the digital version I read or if the editor needs another round, but at times sections didn’t read smoothly. I so wanted this book to be better than it was, though I strongly believe that the story is a well thought out one, it just wasn’t presented as clearly as I would’ve preferred.

I always love how Kristy Cambron brings the reader so fully into the story world. THE BRITISH BOOKSELLERS provides another wonderful example. This is a beautiful, heartfelt story that brings WWI to life through the characters of Amos and Charlotte. There is another timeline the focuses on the onset of WWII. In this jump forward we see that Charlotte is now a widow with a teenaged daughter. She is faced with the task of protecting her father's legacy in the face of a contentious lawsuit.

The emphasis on bookstores and the love of books adds another delightful and relatable layer to the story.

There is a large cast of characters to keep up with; however, the author does a good job of keeping the reader's attention.

I received a complimentary e-galley of this title; all opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

This is a beautiful and heart-rending novel based on the true events of the bombings in Coventry. The novel covers both world wars from the views of two families from the aristocracy and a tenant farmer. I could not put this down as the story was so compelling. Definitely recommend.

A captivating tale of the complexity of humanity told through the stories of so many individuals, I finished this book in a day. Cambron weaves together the stories of multiple family members over time with incredible fluidity. Set in Coventry, England during World War II, with references back to pre-WW1, these are the stories of strong women on a mission, complemented by men seeking to understand the complexity of the human experience through various parts of their lives. There are elements of mystery, a bit of romance, and quite a bit of vivid and powerful imagery of the what the people of Coventry experienced during the war.

The book begins with an early introduction to the young characters whose stories will be told throughout the book, grounding you with a firm understanding of their long withstanding affections for each other. The powerful imagery of what transpires next helps you see the characters, as they are now, and what experiences have shaped the personalities that help them come off the pages. You can easily imagine the haughty expressions of Lady Eden as she handles Jacob and the perceived silliness of the Land Girls, the tenderness of Charlotte, and the gruff exterior of Amos, and the brash audacity of Will. The characters in this book are as complex as their experience, and the backdrop of both Holt Manor and Coventry highlights the beauty of their characters in contrast to very difficult circumstances.

Make no mistake, this is a story about humans, not merely about war-torn experiences. It highlights the choices we all make and the importance of love, forgiveness, and redemption.

I give 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 for this well-written and well-researched book. The characters were complex and compelling, and the plot was interesting. In places, the book was predictable, but in others, it pleasantly surprised me. There are some unanswered questions throughout the book, but they are resolved nicely by the end, except for one red herring. I didn't care all that much about the secondary romance, but this is still a great read. Other readers who are willing to trust in Cambron's narrative gifts through a back-and-forth timeline with different perspectives will be happy with the payoff. This was another excellent read from Kristy Cambron.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. This review will also be published on Amazon and Goodreads closer to the book's publication date.

An inspirational WWII story based on true events; a tribute to the bravery of the men and women of Coventry, England.
The dual timeline format is effectively used to build the back story of Charlotte and Amos. Bouncing between their youth in the WW1 era, to the next world war, around 1940, the full picture is revealed piece by piece. A classic tale of an unrequited romance--one with class and social barriers--this pair sure went through a lot. Amos in particular suffered physically and mentally in the aftermath of the war. The topic of PTSD is underlined in a period when little was known about it. The author's careful research of the actual history is woven into the story and well documented in the index. The people showed such courage and stalwart efforts to 'soldier on' in difficult circumstances. I love how the author also featured characters from the Women's Land Army. They were a colorful bunch.
Readers who enjoy an in depth WWII story based on real events, with some clean romance and inspirational moments, should enjoy this one. 4.5 stars

Any book that has to do with book shops automatically grabs my attention! The book shops were a minor part of this split0-time story that went back and forth between WWI and WWII. It did a nice job of slowly unveiling pieces of the characters' backstories.

I have mixed feelings about this book. Overall very positive- gotta love a book about booksellers, but also saddened that it didn’t get the kind of ending I had hoped for.

This book is set in two timelines- WWI and WWII. We mostly get to follow Charlotte and Amos through both timelines.

Amos and Charlotte were childhood friends, but their stations in life made their match seem impossible. When they try to defy the odds, it mysteriously falls apart and Charlotte’s heart is broken. It’s as the story fleshes out that we finally understand what happened so many years before. We also get to see what it was like to have the Land Girls come help as well as a mysterious American come help in the war-torn country. There was a lot going on and a lot of secondary characters, but the author did a great job keeping them clear and relevant to the story. Overall and enjoyable read.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The British Booksellers by Kristy Cambron is a story about love and war during World War 1 and World War 2. A tenant farmer’s son, Amos Darby, has a secret friendship with Charlotte Terrington until the reality of the Great War sobered youthful dreams. Decades later, he bears the brutal scars of battles fought in the trenches and their futures that were stolen away.

When the future Earl of Harcourt chose Charlotte to be his wife, she knew she was destined for a loveless match. Twenty-five years later, Charlotte is a war widow who spends her days between her late husband’s declining estate and operating a bookshop. Amos is nothing more than the rival bookseller across the street.

During the World War II , Eden is determined to preserve her father’s legacy. However, an American solicitor arrives threatening a lawsuit that could destroy everything. But with devastation wrought by the Luftwaffe terrorizing the skies, battling bookshops—and lost loves, Amos and Charlotte—must put aside their differences and work together to help Coventry survive.

Cambron does a wonderful job creating an inspirational story of love and friendship during war. The British Booksellers had me turning the pages to the very end. This book is a 4 star rating. I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves historical fiction and romance.

I received a free advanced copy and all opinions are my own. I would like to offer my sincerest gratitude to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

The British Booksellers by Kristy Cambron is throughly researched and crafted with deeply wounded characters. From the first page, Cambron entices the readers with a friend to lover type story. I love these type of stories, so place the romance in a World War II setting with the London Blitz, and I couldn't wait to dive into the story. I enjoy how the story is a time slip novel from World War I to World War II. The similarities are there. Plus the hurt from both time periods play out before the readers. I have been fascinated with the London Blitz since I started personally researching World War II history. Cambron does a wonderful job at showcasing and highlighting the hurt and demise that the Germans had done on London. As for t0eh characters, she dives deep into who each character is and what they have overcome to the misunderstood happenings that occurred in the past. Overall, The British Booksellers by Kristy Cambron was a deeply engrossing tale that I enjoyed spending time with.

I received a complimentary copy of The British Booksellers by Kristy Cambron from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.