This is such a heart touching story. Lady Charlotte Terrington, "Charlie," has had a wonderful friend, Amos Darby, since childhood. He supports her interests to the point that he helps her reclaim a beloved item her mother got rid of. The problem, she is of nobility. He is not. This means nothing to children but is everything in society for young adults during the early 1900's.
It is hard for me to find words to honor the beauty of this story. I received this e-book from Thomas Nelson Publishing through NetGalley. This is my own unsolicited opinion. Kristy Cambron brings us a dual timeline with intense characters and plot. I love it.
The World War One story has information that I didn't know much about. I've read a lot on World War Two which is also a featured timeline for these characters and more. The writer switches smoothly back and forth between the two plot lines to give the reader the entire story of an enduring friendship that led to a deep and genuine love. This is an intense story of devotion, sacrifice and loss.
The addition of a set of characters which taught me about the "Land Girls" who kept the country going and fed is interesting to me. Women had a very important mission during the two wars as they not only assumed duties that men were expected to perform but they also began to break down the 'class system' in my opinion.
I'd rate this book a five plus out of five.
PTSD, War, Trauma, Land Girls

3.5 stars.

There's definitely a lot to love about this story. It's about booksellers, and books, and the written word--and I love how much of the read shares all the love for those! Add in name-dropping of some of my favorite authors (and authors I want to read), and I'm in.

Cambron obviously did her research, and brings to light (and life) lesser-known elements of both world wars. As ever with her books, she excels in this arena and creates a compelling read for the history alone. I also geeked out hard at the author's note at the end; I'd spent the entire book channeling "You've Got Mail" with Eden Books--turns out that, along with other book elements, was a legit nod to the movie! YAYYY.

The story sometimes struggled with the multiple timelines and narrators (two narrators during WWI, and three during WWII), but I got used to it as the book progressed.

I did feel the inheritance thread wasn't fleshed out enough--why did Jacob feel his inheritance was threatened to begin with, such that he needed to sue the Holts? That's still confusing to me (and I feel better that per other reviews, I wasn't the only one). And the "enemies to lovers" trope was a bit over-promised and under-delivered; we see from the get-go that the two characters in question still obviously have feelings for each other, and the "enemies" bit really was more just poor or minimal communication due to past events, rather than antagonism per se.

My last beef was a couple uses of "my truth"/"your truth"; obviously, truth-relativism has been around for eons under a variety of names/guises, but I was disappointed to read it here--trendy 21st-century phrasing in a historical setting (among other things).

BUT, that aside, still a very interesting and satisfying read. I always look forward to Cambron's books, and am already eager to see what's down the pike for her!

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

This was a historical fiction based on real accounts. There is a dual timeline set during WWI and WWII. Amos and Charlotte are from two different classes of life but that doesn't stop them from their friendship and falling in love. Unfortunately, society and circumstances have other plans. The present timeline is twenty-five years later showing the two have lived a different life than what was originally planned. Their shared dream of owning a bookstore together turned into separate businesses instead of the one. And they are no longer friends but instead "enemies." I enjoyed both the present and past timelines as I anxiously tried to fill in the gaps of how the two ended up where they are in the current day.

There is a second chance romance as well as a new romance. The war gives an intense foreboding on the pages as well as a glimmer of hope that everything will turn out right. There is great character development even from the "bad guy" who eventually has a redemptive arc and forgiveness given (though the tragedy of the lost years is still devastating!)

4 stars

Shifting between the changing dynamics in class at the outset of WWI and the drama of the Coventry Blitz in WWII is a love story that endures across time. Charlotte and Amos are star crossed lovers who can’t bridge the difference in class. And are thwarted by war and society. Decades later, as Charlottes daughter Eden grapples with responsibilities and the appearance of a stranger amidst the nightly air raids. Can their love sustain them as they deal with betrayal, secrets, and the bombings.

I adore historical fiction books ... especially if they are focused on WWII. This one actually covers WWI and WWII. The dual timeline was so well done and the characters richly developed. You will fall in love with Amos Darby and Lady Charlotte Holt. And getting to know second characters, Jacob and Eden adds to the story. You will experience multiple points of view and timelines and a wide variety of characters. That sometimes made it difficult for me to keep focused. But the end result is worth the effort. Traveling through the pages and the experiences of both World Wars will have you flipping the pages and devouring the story. While presented as Christian fiction, this is not in-your-face. The characters attend church and have Christian morals. However, I do not think it would offend someone who is not a fan of Christian fiction.

A story of hope, social hierarchy, betrayal, resilience, death, hope, loss, and redemption, you will find this a tale that you will appreciate. A different view from most WWII historical fiction books that I read, this will demonstrate the endurance and dedication of those caught in the crossfires of war.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

"The British Booksellers" is the first book I've read by Kristy Cambron. I was drawn into the historical setting, which evokes a "Downton Abbey" vibe, with Charlotte being the daughter of a Lord and Amos being a farmer's son. I like the dynamic sparks between Amos and Charlotte. Will becomes the third character, and I can sense the wedge between Amos and Charlotte forming. It was a slow burn getting into the story itself, especially the dual timelines of 1913 and 1940s. I will say this: Cambron did well in keeping track of the events unfolding between the characters, and the drama became interesting. Ultimately, I had the last 175 pages left to read and devoured it in two days. I don't know what else to say if that doesn't show how gripping the story becomes. Please read the Author's Notes. Her story led me to read about "The Forgotten Blitz," and it was indeed an eye-opener in revealing the purpose of this story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for giving me the opportunity to read this story.

Amidst the bombing raids in Coventry during WWII, secrets long buried are beginning to emerge from the rubble. It starts with a cello and a deep and abiding love of books and ends with a romance not meant to be before the outbreak of WWI.
The story is told in different points of view and timelines, effectively moving back and forth between the wars. Lady Charlotte loves the music of the cello, but it’s not a very ladylike instrument, and her path is already laid out for her. She shares a love of books with Amos, who works on her family’s estate, and they daydream about owning a bookshop together one day.
In the story’s present, there are two bookstores across the street from one another. The young shopkeepers are fiercely loyal to Lady Charlotte and want to protect her from the dastardly bookseller across the road. Scarred and grumpy Amos is about to close his shop for the night when a stranger walks in. His presence stirs the pot and everything changes—as the bombs fall around them, the past catches up with the present.
Highly recommended emotional historical fiction, so well researched reading feels like inhabiting the place and time.

I’m torn about this book. I love WW2 books and have read many of them. I enjoyed parts of this story. It was a bit slow at times and other times really rushed. I’m not a huge fan of split timeline books, so that’s may be why I didn’t enjoy this book as much. I did like that Amos and Charlie got their second chance, but the reasoning as to why they weren’t together in the first place didn’t make sense. Charlie ignored her parent’s wishes for most of the book and then didn’t fight them on her marriage to Will. It didn’t align with the character we had gotten to know. I did like seeing Will and Amos during the war, but again, Will’s sudden selflessness was a shock and didn’t make sense for his character. He was willing to have Will arrested so he could marry Charlie, but then was willing to take a bullet for Amos so he could return to Charlie. Maybe the war gave him perspective, but it wasn’t shown. The reason why Eden was left the inheritance from Jacob’s father was never made clear. It was alluded to, a bit, but I was still confused by that.

A historical fiction page-turner is just what I needed. Having never read a Kristy Cambron novel, I wasn't sure what to expect, but when you throw in a bookshop in war time, I'm all in. The British Booksellers is set in Coventry, England, during the Great War and WWII. A tenant farmer's son (Amos) and the earl's daughter (Charlotte) strike up an unlikely friendship around music and books. They vow to have a bookstore together when they grow up, but societal pressures and trauma from the Great War thwart those plans. Instead, they have competing bookstores on opposing sides of the street (with Charlotte running hers with her daughter Eden). With WWII in full swing, can they put aside their differences to help their community?

The British Booksellers is everything I look for in a war novel. There is history, romance, and conflict. I connected with Amos, Charlotte, and the Great War timeline more than Eden storyline, but it was still worth reading all the parts because the two timelines are woven together masterfully. Just be sure you have big chunks of time! I really wasn't planning on reading the last 100 pages in one sitting, but I couldn't put it down!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The British Booksellers by Kristy Cambron, 384 pages. Thomas Nelson, 2024. $17.
Language: PG (7 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: ADULTS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Charlotte and Amos loved each other and dreamed of opening a bookshop as co-owners someday, despite the fact that they had wildly different social standings. Decades later, Charlotte and Amos have rival bookshops across the street from one another, and Charlotte’s daughter, Eden, is being sued by a random American who has come in the midst of war to serve her the papers.
At first, the constantly changing settings, time periods, and points of view were off putting, but I came to enjoy the stories being told. By watching the story unfold through time, Charlotte and Amos’s story becomes more powerful—and some antagonists turn out to be more of heroes than I wanted to give them credit for. I love that a story that starts to look like a tragedy can still end happily given enough time.
Most of the characters are English; Jacob is American. The mature content rating is for alcohol use and innuendo. The violence rating is for blood, death, bomb use, gun use, and descriptions of war.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

This beautiful story seamlessly travels from the time leading up to WW1, WW1, and WW2 and is full of well-researched history and charming characters.

I loved learning more about the Land Girls and the forgotten blitz and really fell in love with the characters in this story. I loved the bit of mystery and the second-chance romance. Not to mention the rival bookstores!

This was my first Kristy Cambron book and I’m excited to go read from her backlist now!

Highly recommend!

When you think about the Blitz, it's normal to immediately think about London and the destruction it faced during the worst days of WW2. But THE BRITISH BOOKSELLERS put the spotlight on Coventry and its little known Blitz, while still weaving on a decades long love affair between two unlikely book-loving people.

The British Booksellers will grab your attention and leave you turning pages into the night. This is a sweeping romance, spanning more than three decades and two world wars.

This lovely book reads like an epic love story. Amos and Charlotte are kept apart by class, expectation and, ultimately, war. Amos is a tenant farmer’s son who falls head over heels for an earl’s daughter, at a time when such a union was unthinkable. Nevertheless, Charlotte returned his feelings with her whole heart, until she’s forced to marry a neighboring earl, knowing that the union will not be a love match.

Then the onset of World War One changes everything, with Charlotte’s husband and Amos sent to the front. Amos returns horribly wounded outside and in and shuts himself away. But fast forwarding a couple of decades and World War Two pulls him from relative safety and back into Charlotte’s life.

This was a beautiful book, the later story against the Coventry blitz, designed to cripple the British munitions effort. The city itself was decimated in places, but the resilient residents held strong and prevailed. This is an event I know well as my own Mum was a little girl during this season, and lived in Coventry. Cambron is deft in weaving real history with two distinct love stories. About 75% of the way through I realize quite how clever this writer is with a truly stunning detail that seemed small until I grasped the significance. All I can say is ‘bravo.’

I received a copy of The British Booksellers from the publisher via NetGalley, I also grabbed the audiobook. The views are my own.

Thank you Thomas Nelson for the copy of this book.
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Read if you like: multiple perspectives, dual timelines
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In this book we get to read about Amos and Charlotte, childhood friends despite being from different social backgrounds. After experiencing WW1 and being in the midst of WW2, the two seem to be rival booksellers. The story tells us what happened and if they two can ever reconnect.
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I really enjoyed the dual timelines and Charlotte and Amos. I quickly became invested in these two and wanted to keep reading to see what would happen. If you enjoy wartime stories then then this would be a good one to check out!

Giving this book a neutral rating. I was not able to get through it. It just didn’t grab my attention, but I also only got about 10% of the way in before giving up. I may try again in the future, but did not start off interesting enough for me to continue at this time.

I am going to leave my original review above, but continue here with an update. I am a mood reader, and the first time I picked up this book, I just wasn't feeling it. However, I was given an audio ARC a few weeks later, and upon listening to the book in full, I can happily update that I give this book 5 stars. The story is absolutely heart warming and once I started listening, I couldn't stop - I finished this book in one day. My heart hurt at so many places, especially for Will of all characters, but in the end, I was happily surprised with how everything worked out. The author wove the perfect threads of connection from the very beginning. I highly recommend this book if you like historical romances that are suspenseful in light ways.

Honest truth: I was surprised to find that this author has multiple published works. I felt that my advanced reader copy felt much like an early draft. There were odd sentence constructions, weird word choices, and sentences that kind of went nowhere. Also, “thrice” and “trice” are not the same word. I hope all this was cleared up for the final publication.
On to the story. The dual timeline mostly worked, although the jump in years in the past section (when Charlotte and Amos are barely in their teens to when they are young adults) was a bit jarring. The exposition of why Amos never showed up at Gretna Green was anticlimactic. I’d have liked to actually see it, rather than just mention it later. It’s never really explained why William sets up a trust fund for Amos.

I found Eden, for all her bravery and single-mindedness to save the estate, to be kind of a secondary character. The blurb makes it sound like she’s much more prominent than she is. This story is really about Charlotte and Amos, how the must overcome past actions to move forward. The descriptions of bombing and its aftermath are harrowing. I knew a little bit about the bombing of Coventry—mostly the cathedral there—but didn’t realize it had been so heavily hit, and I appreciated the notes at the end of the book.

Possible objectionable material:
Descriptions of war, both WWI and WWII. People are injured and die. One character is an alcoholic. Characters smoke and drink. Minor cursing. Kissing.

Who Might Like This Book:
Those who like stories set during war, those who love books, those who like second chance stories.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book is also reviewed at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2024/04/wwii-books-about-books.html

This is a story inspired by real events from the London Blitz and how war affected the lives of so many and how it still affects them today.
This is a dual Timeline story that reads well and is easy to follow. This is the story of Amos Darby and Charlotte Terrington and how war tore them apart and how their two book stores, so close together, are now rival stores. And then there is Eden (Charlotte's daughter), struggling in war and with a lawsuit.

How will all these stories come together and what will happen to all our characters? This is a book you must read to find out. As you read through the pages you come to know the characters, you feel for them and what they have been through and understand the way their lives have unfolded.

A truly intense and strong read which I enjoyed and found intriguing and genuine. A book I highly recommend and I would have to give it 4 1/2 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson--FICTION for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I found #thebritishbooksellers to be a delightful historical fiction novel about a little known period in WW II England that also has a touch of romance. Kristy Cambron has given us fully developed characters that we grow to know and enjoy through the course of the story. This book feels very well researched and is intertwined into its history so seamlessly that you’ll believe it’s all about real people. I definitely enjoyed this and thank #netgalley and the publisher #thomasnelson for the ebook to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Such a great story! I loved the historical time frame and the flashbacks between the current settings and years before. The romance was perfect and I felt their chemistry throughout the whole book. I found myself rooting for them the entire book and couldn't wait to see how everything played out. Loved the side romance of the daughter of the main character as well. Very well done book. Will definitely read more books by Kristy Cambron.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Do you like to read books about bookstores or libraries? I love to visit both, and I enjoy reading books about them.

The British Booksellers is a dual timeline novel set during WWI and WWII. In the pre-WWI timeline, there is a love triangle. Amos Darby is a farmer’s son and is in love with Charlotte Terrington, an heiress. Will Holt is the Earl’s son and also in love with Charlotte. Charlotte has been promised in marriage to Will, but what happened to her relationship with Amos? What happened to Will? In the WWII era, Charlotte and her daughter Eden ran a bookshop in Coventry. Across the street is their bitter rival, Amos Darby and his bookshop. When a mysterious American comes to town with a legal case against Eden, will all the secrets of the past come out?

My thoughts on this novel:
• I really enjoyed the dual timeline and how they perfectly went together. The events of the past were finally revealed at the end of the WWII era to explain what was happening at the time.

• The story was told through multiple points of view.

• It was interesting how the trauma of WWI (the Great War) had ripple effects that impacted the next generation that were then at the forefront of WWII. It’s always said to me that there was not any help for soldiers who suffered from PTSD.

• The Coventry blitz was devastating. Afterwards, the Germans termed a new term in modern warfare: Coventrieren which means “to devastate or raze a city to the ground.”

• The build-up to the blitz was also nail-biting as bombs started to fall, the finding of hidden German paratrooper gear, and questions on whether the American lawyer is really an American or a German spy.

• I liked the addition of the land girls to the story and how they came to town to help run the Holt estate.

• I really enjoyed the characters in this novel. I particularly enjoyed that when I thought a character was not a good person like WWII era Amos, or WWI era Will, the story grew deeper, and more complex as you learned more about each person and that there was more to them than met the eye.

• This story was also about forgiveness, second chances, and moving forward with life after a devastating occurrence.

• It was interesting how the differences between classes was strict before WWI, but had eased by the time of WWII.

• I enjoyed that this novel had both a second chance romance as well as an enemies to lovers romance.

• This novel was a clean read.

• Author Kristy Cambron included a great author’s note that explained her inspirations and the real history behind this novel.

Overall, The British Booksellers by Kristy Cambron is a compelling historical fiction novel with engaging characters and a great dual timeline plot. I highly recommend it.