Title: The Booklover’s Library
Author: Madeline Martin
Length: 432 pages
Format: ebook arc
Pub Date: September 10, 2024
Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Historical Fiction | Women's Fiction
Rating Out of 5: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Summary:
In Nottingham, widow Emma Taylor struggles to find work due to legal restrictions and persuades the manageress of Boots’ Booklover’s Library to hire her. As war threatens England, Emma's daughter Olivia is evacuated, leaving Emma to find comfort in new friendships and her role at the library. However, mysterious issues with the books and painful memories of her late father’s bookstore add to her challenges. Amid the Blitz, Emma must rely on her community and the power of books to navigate hope and reunite with her daughter.

Thoughts:
I first read (and absolutely adored) The Last Bookshop in London when it came out in 2021, and I have read and loved every Historical Fiction of Madeline’s since then. The Booklover’s Library was no exception. Madeline manages to make a WWII historical fiction a cozy read without diminishing the horrors that many had to endure during this war. This time she places focus on the evacuation of the children in the cities of England to the safer countryside and the families that are left behind which I found very unique. Lots of WWII historical fiction books I’ve read have our main characters on the frontlines. I loved reading about those that were left behind and how they were contributing to the war efforts. I love how much research Madeline puts into her books and how accurately she retells these events while also creating a wonderful story around it. Because I’ve read her books, I’ve learned so much that I never would’ve even thought to look up. I’d recommend this book to anyone! It’s heartwarming and uplifting despite all the terrible things that happen and highlights the best of people during a time of crisis. It’s a perfect historical fiction book for any book lover!

Special thanks to the @netgalley and @hanoversquarepress for the arc in exchange for my honest review!

The Booklover's Library, where Emma worked, provided subscribers with wonderful distractions from the looming war sweeping across Europe. Set in Nottingham, England, it was inspired by an actual library. Like all of Madeline Martin's historical fiction novels, it's well-researched and informative, and filled with intriguing characters. The characters have so much to cope with, including the evacuation of children from the city to the country, and the constant threat of bombing by the Nazis. The library is one thing that helps, and banding together as a community is also a heartwarming aspect of the book. I really enjoyed both the characters, and what I learned from this book. I highly recommend it to fans of historical fiction.

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Hanover Square Press. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Historical Fiction, WWII Fiction, Historical Romance
Spice Level: Nothing on the page
Language: I don't remember any profanity

THE BOOKLOVER'S LIBRARY is such a great window into a terrible time in history.

It's interesting to see how women were treated—and recognize how far things have come (in some countries) and how far we still have to go.

I found the characters sympathetic and interesting. I kept wondering about Emma's decisions with Olive. How heartbreaking to send your child to the country to protect them! But also so hard to know if that is the right thing to do when a child is miserable.

The themes of family come through in this book. Both found family and biological family.

I truly enjoyed this book and hope you do too!

Happy reading!

What's not to love about a book about books, specifically the lending libraries popular in England during WW II. This was such a unique piece of history that I've never learned before. Located above Boots' chemists (pharmacies) in London and many other towns, these libraries offered a paid subscription for readers to borrow books. And this is the world we're dropped into when widowed mother Emma realizes she needs some kind of job to keep her and her precious daughter Olivia afloat. The catch? At the time in England, married and widowed women were not allowed to work.

Emma finds employment at the Booklover's Library, but when the bombing threats escalate in her corner of Nottingham, Emma realizes that she must evacuate Olivia to the safety of the countryside. In her daughter’s absence, Emma forges unlikely friendships with her neighbors and coworkers.

I thoroughly enjoyed the themes of found family, books as comfort, and how reading can foster community. The way Emma converts her daughter to a reader through the likes of Anne of Green Gables just warmed my little book loving heart. As always with historical fiction, the author’s notes at the end were interesting and enlightening and added greatly to the book.

This was such an in depth book about lending libraries and saving your family during the war. I really enjoyed reading about the library and everything that goes on there.
The family has strong characters and even though they have to be apart, they are still close.

This will be a great book club book.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

I loved this book! It is an absolutely marvelous, beautifully written, well researched historical fiction! Madeline Martin has written a story that is both heartwarming and heart wrenching. It kept me turning pages late into the night, and often brought tears to my eyes. I felt completely immersed in the time and the lives of the characters. The author is a master at creating characters that are realistic, evolve with the story and make you feel as if they are friends. The book is set in Nottingham, England during World War II, centered on the young widow Emma, and her daughter Olivia. As the threat of war becomes a reality, Emma is faced with choices that are beyond difficult. She must find a way to support herself and her daughter, despite the marriage bar that prevented both married women and widows with children from working. She was fortunate to find employment at the Booklover's Library (The Boots Booklover's Library did actually exist in Nottingham England) only by not disclosing her true status. As the war and the bombing of England intensified, she had also to decide if evacuating her daughter to the countryside to live with strangers would keep her safe. What a heartbreaking decision that must have been for so many, especially in a time when letters were the only common means of communication. The author's notes at the end of the book are a must read. Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my advance copy. The opinions of my review are my own.

What a dream of a book to read! It was perfect in every way!
It’s set during WWII and involves books galore. I loved the description of the smell and feel of a bookstore, one of the sensations ever!
I didn’t know much about lending libraries or their restrictive policies so this was a learning experience.
My heart broke every time Emma sent Olivia away and I wished she hadn’t.
My favorite characters were Mrs. Pickering and Mr. Sanderson, diamonds in the rough and each had unplumbed depths that I Adore when discovered.
Pluck this one off the shelf immediately!

Despite my limited experience with historical fiction World War II books, this particular novel immediately captivated me with its intricate storytelling and emotional depth. As I delved into the pages, I found myself enveloped in the tender yet resilient bond between a mother and daughter, feeling their unwavering love and support even in the face of unimaginable challenges. The palpable heartache of losing family members and being separated from loved ones during wartime resonated deeply within me, evoking a sense of profound empathy and sorrow.

However, amidst the backdrop of war and destruction, the author masterfully weaved a narrative of hope and love, showcasing the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of connection. Despite the hardships, there were moments of joy and happiness, as characters found solace in the simple pleasures of life and the enduring power of love.

The portrayal of the role of books as a source of solace and escape for those caught in the turmoil of war was especially poignant, highlighting the transformative power of literature in providing a sense of comfort and refuge in times of uncertainty.

But what truly stood out to me was the remarkable character development throughout the story, as each individual grew and evolved in the face of adversity, demonstrating the strength and courage that can be found even in the darkest of times. Overall, I was utterly captivated by this book and found myself deeply moved by its poignant portrayal of love, loss, and resilience during one of the most tumultuous periods in history.

For more reviews and bookish posts visit: https://www.ManOfLaBook.

The Book Lover’s Library by Madeline Martin takes place during World War II, in England, and tells of a single widow trying to make a living in a book-borrowing library, while protecting her daughter. Ms. Maring is a New York Times best-selling author.

Emma Taylor of Nottingham finds herself in need of a job to support her only daughter, Olivia. The problem is that it’s difficult to get a job if you’re a woman with kids, and single to boot.

Emma is forced to lie and get a job at Boots’ Booklover’s Library, where she recommends books to members. She also has to worry about Olivia, who is evacuated due to the threat of bombardments.

I really enjoy historical fiction books which teach me thing or two about history. In all my reading about World War II, I don’t remember encountering lending libraries, and I was fascinated to read about them.
And who doesn’t like books about books anyway?

As it turns out Boot’s Booklovers’ Libraries were the biggest lending libraries in England. They lent out millions of books a year. It all started with Florence Boots, who noticed the poor literacy of the working class who came into her husband’s store “Boots” (today we’d call it a department store). She installed a revolving bookcase in the store and soon followed it up with a book department.

As mentioned in The Book Lover’s Library by Madeline Martin, work in the lending library was desirable. After reading about the lending libraries, I feel that the author did justice to them. Ms. Martin describes how they work, the hierarchy, jobs done by the new employees, as well as the veterans. Eventually, the invention of affordable books was the end of the lending library, but luckily, we still have our public libraries.

The protagonist, Emma Taylor, grew up in her father’s bookstore, so she’s familiar with books and can recommend many to the library’s subscribers. I think that all of us bibliophiles know the joy of being able to recommend a beloved book or a book we’d think someone we like. Ms. Martin captured that feeling very nicely.

This was a charming, easy-to-read, lovely story. I read it quickly and enjoyed the story even though I thought most of it was quite predictable.

The Booklover's Library by @madelinemmartin is an emotional journey that catapults the reader into World War II as a single mom, showcasing a mother's love for her daughter, the things she will do in an attempt to ensure her safety, all the while she rediscovers her love for reading and features strong FMCs and their relationships with one another. It's a story about the powers of literature, of finding strength when all seems unbearably hopeless, finding friendship and trust within your community when you need it most, and the ever-enduring power of unconditional love and acceptance. It's both heartwarming and heartwrenching, in the best of ways.

📖 I thought the plot was great. I was fully engrossed, to the point the world around me ceased to exist while I was reading. The scenes that Miller sets as beautifully detailed and include all of your senses, placing you firmly into a war-torn, 1940s Nottingham England.

✍️🏼 I found the prose to be beautiful. Descriptive without going into purple,

⏳️I quite enjoyed the pacing. I couldn't put it down, I couldn't wait to find out what happened next and how it ended - but also really didn't want it to end.

👥️ The characters are well developed, full of nuance and personality. I want to know these people in real life and be their friend. Beyond the MCs, the character development continues and I really appreciate that they aren't just cardboard cutouts.

I love learning, in general, and besides learning a couple new words I learned some things about this time period.

It's clear to me that Miller does excellent research and applies it in her novels beautifully. It shows in the setting and scenes, as well as the day-to-day lives of her characters.

This is my first book by this author. I've had The Last Bookshop in London on my TBR since it was released, I've yet to get to it (but will be rectifying that asap 😄).

🪟 For transparency: Being that I'm a mom, who recently lost her mom, and had the childhood I did, I'm aware those things likely impact my rating of this book moreso than some others. Even still, I think it's a great book but may not hit others with quite the same gut punch of visceral emotions that it did me.

If you're looking for a book that will make you feel all the emotions, this is the book for you. I didn't bother counting the number of times I teared up or cried (probably a good idea to have tissues at the ready).

📚 If you enjoy historical fiction, stories with strong FMCs and their friendships, or books taking place during WWII, I think you would enjoy this. If you liked: All The Light We Cannot See, Lilac Girls: A Novel, The Keeper of Hidden Books, or The Last Bookshop in London.

If you're looking for a book that goes into detail about battles that occurred during WWII, I don't think this is the book for you.

Thank you to @madelinemmartin @htpbooks and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this eARC. All opinions I'm choosing to leave are my own.

The Booklover’s Library is a heartwarming and engaging story that pays tribute to the power of books and the communities they create. Set in Nottingham, England, widowed Emma struggles to find a job as a single mother. She manages to persuade the manageress of Boots’ Booklover’s Library to hire her under strict conditions of secrecy. As the war moves closer to them, Emma sends her daughter Olivia to the country to live with her grandparents, who may as well be strangers.

As Emma struggles with her decision and missing her daughter, she begins to make unlikely friendships with her coworkers and patrons of the library. The story focuses on the building of connections and friendships, particularly through the lens of books and libraries.

The Booklover’s Library is a touching and uplifting novel that will appeal to book lovers and fans of historical fiction. Its exploration of loss, recovery, and the redemptive power of books makes it a compelling and emotional read. The well-crafted characters and immersive setting ensure that this book will resonate with readers long after they’ve turned the last page.

This is a story that celebrates the quiet yet profound impact of libraries and literature, reminding us all of the ways in which books can transform lives and bring people together.

I loved everything about this book. I also truly love this trend where authors are writing about the everyday people during World War II and not just focusing on the soldiers but the people who lived through the war. Their stories are so valid and beautiful, and I love that they are finally being told. This book is stunning in its depiction of Emma a mother who is struggling not only emotionally but just trying to figure out what is best for her daughter. It is a timeless story that will resonate with any mother. I truly can not say enough good things about this book, but I don’t want to ruin it for any readers. I will be highly recommending this book.
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

Enjoyed reading about the lending libraries of the time and the titles that were lend out. Was surprised of the roles that women and children played out at that time. A very interesting read with a bit of romance thrown in.
Thank you to Madeline Martin for showing another side of the war, as well as a thanks to NetGalley for providing the advanced readers copy and glad that the publisher gave me the chance also.

I absolutely LOVED this author’s previous novel The Last Bookshop in London, and was thrilled to receive an advanced copy of The Booklover’s Library. This well researched novel is about the power of motherhood, love, friendship, and the distraction of books during WW2. I enjoyed learning about the Booklover’s Library, an actual high end lending library with branches inside the Boots’ stores in England in the 1800 to early 1900’s. The book also touched on the difficulties and stigma of single parenthood during this time. I didn’t know about the “marriage bar” in which women could not work once they were married or if they were widowed.
I have read many novels set in WW2 and I’m always struck by the sacrifice and loss during this time. Reading about the FMC, Emma, wrestling with sending her young daughter, Olivia, to the country (repeatedly) to stay with strangers for her safety was heart wrenching.
I couldn’t help but compare this book to The Last Bookshop in London (5⭐️!!). I loved the crossover between Emma in this novel and the beloved Grace and Mr. Evans from The Last Bookshop in London. This latest novel may be a tad too similar to her last novel for me, and my expectations may have been unfairly high, but overall it’s a well written and entertaining WW2 story. 4⭐️/5

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own. Available 9/10/24

Although the story started off slow for me, by the halfway point this was a great escape. It is emotional and heartbreaking. This story is truly a love letter to literature.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC of this book. This work of WWII historical fiction was very enlightening. For one, I had never heard of the notion of parents sending their children away to keep them safe from German air raids. This book tells the story of Emma, a single mother and widow, who sends her seven-year-old daughter, Olivia, away. Martin does a wonderful job of portraying her heartache and feelings of guilt surrounding this. I liked most the of characters, especially the neighbors and co-workers who Emma develops friendships with throughout the book.

I had also never heard of Booth Chemist’s Book Lenders Libraries, which were a subscription-based lending library service within Booths chemist shops. The Booklover's Library, one such lending library, served as the backdrop of this book. I loved this setting. The story tells of how books served as such a comfort to people during that time and how Emma and Olivia bonded through books. Finally, another thing I learned from this book was that during this time women weren’t allowed to work if they were married or widowed.

These elements all made the book interesting. However, I felt like it moved very slowly for the first 3/4 of the book, with very little happening and I was disappointed in the love story aspect. It all felt a little too quick and underwhelming. Additionally, I felt the writing was a bit amateurish. Perhaps this is because I have read so many other books on the same subject matter and much of it was redundant to me.

I liked the ending and although I felt it wrapped everything up nicely, it all seemed a bit rushed. Overall, this was a good book which combined historical fiction, wtih a lovely story of friendship, motherhood and hope.

The Booklover's Library by Madeline Martin.
This was a very good read. I loved the cover. I did like Emma,Olive and Mrs Pickering and tubby. I loved Margaret in the book library. Miss Bainbridge I found to be sharp and to the point. I wasn't sure how I felt about her. I did like how Mr Beard and Emma were about the book death across the nile. I did like how nice Emma was to Mr Sanderson. I also liked Francis and Charles. I really didn't like Mrs Motts at all. Emotional in places too. Overall I did enjoy it.

Blurb.
In Nottingham, England, widow Emma Taylor finds herself in desperate need of a job. She and her beloved daughter Olivia have always managed just fine on their own, but with the legal restrictions prohibiting widows with children from most employment opportunities, she’s left with only one option: persuading the manageress at Boots’ Booklover’s Library to take a chance on her with a job.

When the threat of war in England becomes a reality, Olivia must be evacuated to the countryside. In the wake of being separated from her daughter, Emma seeks solace in the unlikely friendships she forms with her neighbors and coworkers, and a renewed sense of purpose through the recommendations she provides to the library’s quirky regulars. But the job doesn’t come without its difficulties. Books are mysteriously misshelved and disappearing and the work at the lending library forces her to confront the memories of her late father and the bookstore they once owned together before a terrible accident.

As the Blitz intensifies in Nottingham and Emma fights to reunite with her daughter, she must learn to depend on her community and the power of literature more than ever to find hope in the darkest of times.

In Nottingham, England, widow Emma Taylor finds herself in desperate need of a job to provide for herself and her daughter, Olivia. But with the legal restrictions prohibiting widows with children from most employment opportunities, she’s left with only one persuading the manageress at Boots’ Booklover’s Library to take a chance on her. When the threat of war becomes a reality, Olivia must be evacuated to the countryside. In her daughter’s absence, Emma seeks solace in the unlikely friendships she forms with her neighbours and coworkers, Books are mysteriously misshelved and disappearing, and her work forces her to confront the memories of her late father and the bookstore they once owned together before a terrible accident.
Another well written page turner, the characters have lovely depth & the pace is very good. I was drawn in from the start & read this nearly 400 page novel in two sittings as I found it hard to put down. I loved Emma & Olivia & was totally engrossed in their story. An emotional book which took me on a plethora of emotions.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

**Features:**
- Book about books
- Historical Fiction focused on Nottingham, England during The Blitz and Operation Pied Piper
- Explores single motherhood where/when there is a marriage bar
- Found family and community

**Summary**

Single mother Emma Taylor is desperate. The money left to her after the death of her husband is quickly running out. With laws blocking widowed women with children from holding most jobs, employment has been nearly impossible to find. However, when luck lands Emma the office of the Boots’ Booklover’s Library manageress for a job, things seem to finally be looking up. That is, until England declares war and danger looms on the horizon. Hoping to protect her daughter, Emma sends Olivia to the countryside, leaving Emma alone to face both the war and the trauma of her past alone. Thankfully, she is surrounded by a host of new friends and the escape only books can provide.

**Thoughts**

This book manages to contain both cozy vibes and the dark, tense setting of a warzone. Emma is a strong, capable character whose struggle to do right by her daughter Olivia is immediately relatable. I have read many books that follow children who are part of Operation Pied Piper, but I think this is one of the first that shows a parent grappling with the choice of sending their child away and I applaud it for that. Even before Olivia leaves, Emma feels very isolated and seeing her gradually open up and form a true community with a cast of interesting characters makes this story extremely heartwarming despite the chaos and tragedy that is bringing them together. Of course, as the title promises, this story is riddled with literary references and celebrates books and the people for whom reading brings joy, connection, comfort, and a chance to escape.

Though they are very different stories, this book reminded me of Lessons in Chemistry in a lot of ways. If you like how Lessons in Chemistry depicts a widowed mother forging her own path and don’t mind something a little less quirky, then you will probably enjoy this read as well. That being said, I feel that this book has a much stronger sense of time and place, so those who really like to immerse in an historical time period will still find plenty to enjoy. The main thing that keeps this from being a five star read for me is that there are moments that feel too rushed. Martin has a lot of great descriptions and powerful moments between characters, so it is extremely noticeable when that level of attention suddenly isn’t there. This ultimately made it harder for all of the pieces to fall into place and for the story to find its rhythm. It is a wonderful story once it does, it just has to fight a little to get there.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Harlequin Trade Publishing/Hanover Square Press, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own *

When I saw the cover for The Booklover's Library, I knew I needed to read this book. I was intrigued by the book's cover and even more so by its story. I had a strong feeling that I'd fall in love with the story, and I did, but it wasn't the only thing I loved. The emotions in this book were very vivid; I felt every single emotion Emma felt. My heart broke for Emma multiple times because of everything she had gone through to keep herself and her daughter, Olivia, safe. You can't help but fall in love with the characters, especially Olivia and Emma. Even if they didn't realize it, Olivia and Emma wanted to protect one another during the war. I loved their relationship and hoped it would always be this strong.

The Booklover's Library is based on a true story, which I learned more about after finishing the book, and I love that. I loved how most of the employees carried themselves and how much they seemed to love what they did. I have a feeling that it would be a job that I would love. It was astounding how many rules there were for lending libraries back then. I would struggle to check out just one book at a time because I usually get at least five when I go to the library. I was intrigued about the missing and shelved books and couldn’t help but wonder who was behind them. Was it one of the employees or perhaps a subscriber? I loved that the mystery was added to the story.

The book began slowly, and I took a few chapters to get into the story. After that, I couldn't put the book down; I needed to know what happened to Emma and Olivia next. The Booklover's Library was the first book I read by Madeline Martin, but she has been on my reading list for a while now. I'm so glad I got to read this amazing book, and I can't wait to read the rest of her books!