
Member Reviews

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.

3.5 stars
It was refreshing to pick up a story that takes place during WW1. In Kristy Cambron fashion, this story covers two time lines – both world wars.
Charlotte and Amos are childhood friends who are forced apart because of class differences. It’s a typical trope, but done with emotional depth that it feels fresh. Set against the English countryside, readers are given insight to the Coventry blitz of WW2 and the efforts that British citizens took to protect their homes.
Charlotte and Amos’s backgrounds are woven together slowly in a seamless story where readers discover the tragedy of the past and how it affected their present circumstances. There are secondary characters to love and dislike, but each one has a vital role in how Charlotte and Amos’s story will unravel.
The connections between timelines and characters weren’t easy to figure out. At times, the story is heavy with description and detail that enhance the reader’s understanding of the time.
It was difficult to connect with either of the main characters. Both of them were stubborn in their own ways and made choices that didn’t bode well for either of them. When the sacrifice made for Amos during his time in France during WW1 was finally revealed (and readers were shown how much of a recluse Amos had become and the bitterness in his heart), I was less than pleased with Amos. A beautiful illustration of sacrifice, and yet, he kind of threw it away until the final chapters.
I loved the twist with the American. And there was a refreshing take on German soldiers during WW1.
I received a copy from the publisher through Net Galley. All opinions expressed are my own.

A compelling novel that weaves between WWI and WWII and a story of all that's lost and found between the two. It also highlights the secrets that can come between us and those we love. It is only in revealing those secrets and letting the light seep in that freedom in found. Kristy has again crafted characters you will enjoy spending time with and set the story firmly in an important part of WWII history. If you weren't aware of the history surrounding Coventry, you'll be gripped by all that the people living there endured. I thoroughly enjoyed this story.

I loved this book.
Very easy to read in a sitting. The second chance theme was beautiful. I loved how love won even after so many years.
My favorite was Eden's and Jacob's story. Love truly transcends culture.
The author did a beautiful job in writing a novel about war but still bringing out beauty.
I received a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.

I liked this book but didn’t love it. I enjoyed the characters and the history.
I received this book from the publisher via net galley in exchange for an honest review. Three and a half stars.

I have thoroughly enjoyed every Kristy Cambron book that I have read. She has a way with words and weaves them together into a beautiful story full of hope, romance, history, and interesting characters. This one was no exception.
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The British Booksellers was a fascinating read. It had a cast of interesting characters, sweet romance, lots of historical information, and a fun setting.
I was so excited when I started reading and discovered that it is set in Coventry, England. Coventry was the first place I visited when I started off my 2 months in England. My aunt and I stopped on a roadtrip to the Peak District and spent time wandering the streets, and exploring the ruins of the cathedral. It was so beautiful!
I loved reading a book set there! The British Booksellers was educational and inspiring.
I’m definitely excited to read even more by Kristy Cambron.
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*I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts expressed are strictly my own.*

It was actually a nice story to read but i did have a hard time getting into it unfortunately
While the premise of the story was good, it felt at times really slow to work with
But i did enjoyed it nonetheless
Thank you netgalley for the arc

It took me a little bit of time to get into this story. Dual timelines can be hard to keep going back and forth between. Once I was invested in the story I really enjoyed it.
I enjoyed how the author slowly gave bits of the story along the way and it kept me guessing until the end.
My favorite characters in the story were Charlotte and Eden. Their strength and resolve during these very difficult times was inspiring.
Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

Childhood friends Charlie and Amos bonded over books. When Charlie realizes that she needs to put aside her wishes for her family's station, the fine line between love and hate ensues.
Realizing he had to let Charlie go, Amos builds a metaphorical wall between them to block his feelings. While each move on to have a life of their own, when the past comes back to haunt them, they realize that love has been dormant rather than erased over time.
Fighting feelings and the war, the battling booksellers are determined to hang on to their shops. Will the next generation be able to escape society's expectation in order to embrace the future?
Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early edition of #TheBritishBooksellers in exchange for an honest review. Kristy Cambron's characters are full of life and have realistic flaws affording readers wanting them to succeed. To be transparent, this wasn't my favorite of Cambron's books as I found the dual-liner timelines confusing. After putting the book down, I found it hard to get back into the story.

This was an absolute treasure. I enjoyed it from start to finish. Kristy Cambron creates engaging characters and captivating settings, all with a background of the early years of World War II in England. There was so much that was enjoyable--the delayed romance, the moments of suspense, and the inclusion of competing bookshops. I can honestly say that it was one of the best historical romances I've read this year.

This is my first of Kristy's books, and it was wonderful. I really enjoyed her writing style and prose, and the storyline was attention grabbing. I enjoyed the love story woven throughout. I did not love the multiple POV's and did find that it muddled things a bit. Overall a pretty enjoyable read.

4.5 ⭐️
The British Booksellers is a tribute to both the horrors and beauty of war. It takes readers back in time to a place that's torn apart by bombs and death but united by love and hope.
This book was different than I was expecting from Cambron, especially after reading The Paris Dressmaker and The Italian Ballerina. The WW1 timeline felt more like reading a regency novel, while the WW2 timeline felt more in character with her previous novels. It threw me off for a bit as I adjusted to the WW1 timeline, but I grew to love the characters, their stories, and journeys.
As always, Cambron's prose is lovely. Her characters know how to grab onto your heart. Her storyline is compelling and full of relatable struggles and important truths.
While this novel wasn't my favorite of hers, it was still such a good read, and I would highly recommend it to any historical fiction lovers out there. Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an eARC of The British Booksellers. A positive review was not required, only my honest opinion. All thoughts are expressly my own.