I received this ebook as an ARC through NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, and the beautiful cover and bookish title immediately drew me in. After reading a lot of romance lately, I was excited to dive into something different, especially historical fiction set in wartime England.

This story follows Emma, a widowed mother trying to navigate the challenges of World War II while raising her young daughter, Olivia. Emma’s journey to find work at a time when widowed and married women were prohibited from employment is a central theme. Due to her love for books and her past experience running a bookstore with her father, she eventually lands a position at The Booklover's Library, a prestigious lending library. As war forces her to send Olivia away for safety, Emma must confront her fears and past traumas while finding solace in her community.

The book does a wonderful job of capturing the essence of this challenging time period. That said, I found myself unsure of the book’s direction as I was reading. It felt more like a snapshot of wartime life than a story building towards a clear resolution. It would have been helpful to know going in that this was more about providing a glimpse into what life was like for a single, widowed mother during WWII. Once I realized that, the story made more sense.

Overall, I’m giving The Booklover's Library 4 stars. Despite some initial uncertainty, I really enjoyed how the book wrapped up, and I appreciated the historical context that was so well portrayed. If you're a fan of books that immerse you in a specific time period and enjoy emotional journeys with a heartwarming ending, this is one you’ll want to pick up.

Thank you to NetGalley for this e-copy of The Booklover’s Library by Madeline Martin in exchange for a honest review.This is a very well written, easy to read historical fiction piece set in the Boots Booklover’s Library in Nottingham, England during WW2..The main character is Emma Taylor, a widow with a young daughter, Olivia, who finds employment at the library even though it is very hard for widows to find employment.While working at the library , Olivia is required to make reading suggestions to the subscribers.While working , her love of books and memories of working in her father’s bookstore as a child are reawakened and she finds a place where she is respected and admired.She undergoes many trials and tribulations when her daughter is sent to a myriad of different homes in the country to keep her safe, when the war comes to Nottingham and when she finally has a chance at true love.You feel like you are right there in the book as you read it. Highly recommend!

Thank you Netgalley & Hanover Square Press for an eARC♥️

I fell head over heels in love with Emma, the main character. She's a single mom trying to navigate the challenges of wartime England, and her story is just so relatable. I mean, who hasn't felt like they're just trying to keep their head above water sometimes? She's struggling to make ends meet, to keep her daughter safe, and to find some sense of purpose in a world that seems to be falling apart.

And the way Martin writes about the power of community and friendship? It's just beautiful. The characters in this book are like old friends - they're quirky, they're flawed, and they're totally lovable. There's Emma's coworkers at the library, who become like a surrogate family to her. There's the gruff but lovable library director, who has a soft spot for Emma and her daughter. And then there's the romance... oh my gosh, the romance is just swoony!

But what really gets me about this book is the way it explores the human condition. It's about resilience, hope, and the power of love to overcome even the darkest challenges. It's about finding joy in the everyday moments, even when the world around you is falling apart.♥️

Set during World War 2, “The Booklover’s Library” is a story of motherhood, found family and the power of books to bring people together.

Based on historical places, policies and events, this provides a unique perspective of women, mothers in particular, during this time period. It was well researched, the characters well developed, and the themes flushed out to truly pull on your heartstrings. I appreciated, or maybe was distressed, by the fact that the issues faced back then, such and being a single mom, managing work and a family, and living up to societal pressures while following your heart and intuition, were different but similar to what women face now. Because of this, despite being set in the 1940’s it felt somewhat contemporary. As an added bonus, this is set in a lending library and is filled with references to great books including Anne of Green Gables, which is my go to comfort read, this automatically added points to my rating. Unfortunately, this also added a few classics to my TBR.

Madeline Martin has done it again with “The Booklovers’ Library” —a moving story that blends the magic of books with the struggles of wartime England. This book had me hooked from the very beginning, following the journey of Emma, a widow in Nottingham, as she navigates the difficulties of finding work, sending her daughter to safety, and discovering the power of community in the darkest of times.

The way Martin weaves historical detail with rich characters is simply masterful. Emma’s story, from her heartbreaking decision to send her daughter Olivia to the countryside during the Blitz, to her finding solace in the quirky friendships at Boots' Booklover's Library, is both poignant and uplifting. The background of a lending library, with its unique system of charging patrons and only allowing one book at a time, added a fascinating layer to the story.

This book is more than just a tale of survival—it's a celebration of literature, motherhood, and the strength that comes from the people around us. Whether you're a fan of historical fiction or just love a good book about books, “The Booklovers' Library” is a must-read. Martin’s meticulous research and emotional storytelling make this one a 5-star read for sure! Grab some tissues and enjoy this heartfelt journey. Happy reading!

I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Madeline Martin’s new book is an ode to book lovers and family. This novel reminds us of the power of books to enrich our lives and the importance of family and friends during troubled times.

Emma Taylor is a single mother to Olivia. As World War II looms, Emma desperately needs a job. The Boots' Booklovers Library hires her as a librarian, taking a risk on a single mother. When the war breaks out, Olivia is evacuated to the countryside, and Emma must lean on her friends and books to survive.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for an early read in exchange for a fair review. I loved the book and highly recommend it. This is a lovely story.

An excellent historical fiction that made me cry buckets, smile, a love this life affirming story.
Well plotted, poignant, compelling
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I enjoy reading historical fiction because I always learn something new! The Booklover's Library by Madeline Martin is on my shelf of favorites now, this time bringing to light the Boots' Booklovers Library. Highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Such an interesting story about war time in England and the fact that a married woman,mother or widow can’t have a job.Emma a widow with a child finds herself desperately needing to find work to care for herself and Olivia. Emma just happens to be in the right place at the right time and begs the manager at Booklovers Library to take a chance on hiring her. Emma learns to depend on her community and her love of literature to find hope.
Thank you to NetGalley for copy of ARC on this historic book.

In a time when married and widowed women in England were forbidden to take a job outside the home, widow Emma Taylor is desperate to provide for her young daughter Olivia. She hides her identity to get a job at Boots Booklover's Library and this place would become her comfort and support with war looming when she's forced to send Olivia to the country for her safety.
This is a wonderful book about books and the people that love them. While these characters were struggling with the realities of a country at war, they came together as a community to support each other and, of course, use their love of books as an escape. The book was beautifully written, highly emotional and heartbreaking at times, but also filled with hope, community, and friendship. I highly recommend this book, but make sure you have the tissues handy!

As World War II is becoming a threat. Emma Taylor finds herself in desperate need of a job, but she is a mom and a widow. There are laws that prohibit widows with children from most jobs. Boots’ Booklover’s Library to take a chance. (Yes Boot’s…the pharmacy they had a subscription lending library until the mid 1960s!) Emma has lost her parents, and husband so she’s isolated herself. She suddenly forms friendsships with people at the lending library and and her neighbors.

I abosulutly loved this book. If you had read Madeline Martin’s “The Last Bookshop in London”…there is a easter egg in this book for us! If you have not read Madeline Martin’s book…go …go pick one up!

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Hanover Square Press for an advanced copy! #TheBookloversLibrary #NetGalley

This book was INCREDIBLE. I am a new mother of twin girls and her descriptions about her relationship with her daughter and her fears, heartache, and anxiety literally had me crying as they napped. I usually read more of a thriller/mystery type book, but this intrigued me and I’m so glad I read it. I was so engrossed by the depth of the characters, the interesting historical aspects, and the writers quality prose. This book somehow manages to be cozy, heartwrenching, and light all at once. The characters are quirky but still have depth, and are quite charming and endearing. There is a love story but it’s not the focus of the book (which I’m a huge fan of). Overall, just incredible emotion and storytelling. A truly impactful story.

This book was so touching! Set during WW2, single mother Emma must figure out how to work a job as well as decide that is best for her daughter. This time in England was so heartbreaking

There are quite a lot of books that center on this general theme... a young woman works in a library during WWII. The things that I liked about it were that it showed how difficult it was to be a widowed single parent in a time when women were kept from respectable jobs when they were either married or mothers. The setting is not London, which I appreciated, though there is a part of the book that takes place there. It also shows what it must have been like to have to send your children away (for their own safety) and to not know what their status was from day to day during a very tumultuous time.

While this isn't the best book I have read set in this time period, I am giving it an additional star for the reasons detailed above. I would definitely recommend this to anyone that likes historical fiction set during WWII.

I have been on a WWII "kick" reading stories set in the UK. As a book lover (obviously since being on NetGalley ;-) ). the title intrigued me. The story includes inequities for women, a love story, air raids and the like. Having literally returned from London where there was a Boots pharmacy, the setting transported me to that time with having current day settings out my front door. The Booklover's Library was a pleasant read. I did not realize that there were lending libraries during that time that curated to the various clientele. I would give the book a 5 star if it did not have a sappy ending, which was not necessary. Good read for those who love books set in this era.

Thank you NetGalley.

I love books about books! This story is a warm hug. Emma is a widow with a young daughter in wartime England. She was raised by her father, a bookseller, and her earliest memories were sharing a love of books with him. After a tragic fire that destroyed her family's bookstore as well as killed her father, Emma was adrift. She married and had a daughter but also suffered tragedy after her husband died. Adrift, Emma found herself working in a library where she bonded with others who had a love of books. They helped her navigate through difficult times, especially trying to keep her daughter safe, and she, in turn, helped them. This is a lovely story about friendship, perseverance, and hope. Easy to read, it is just the right antidote when you need a happy, heartwarming book. Thank you, NetGalley, for the advanced copy.

The Booklover's Library takes you to London during WWII where a widowed mother is trying to support herself and her daughter. She finds a job with The Booklover's Library against the odds of married and widowed women not being allowed to work outside the home. The story of these women and the trials they faced during the war will pull at your heartstrings.

I absolutely loved this story of Emma and her daughter Olivia. I loved how this book centers on the thought that books can make even the darkest and hardest times better. This is an uplifting historical fiction that focuses on friendships and relationships. I loved learning more about the lending libraries that were around during that time period, especially learning that The Booklover's Library was real and how it was a bright spot on so many lives during the war. This is the perfect read for any book lover!

While The Booklover's Library didn't seem to flow quite as well as Madeline Martin's previous novels, I enjoyed the story very much. Martin's brand of WWII books about books is going strong!

This was my first time reading a Madeline Martin book, and I was very impressed by her writing. Historical fiction is not my normal genre, but every now and then, a book catches my eye. I truly enjoyed The Booklovers' Library. The characters were so likable; hence, I didn't want to put it down since by that time I actually had begun to care about what happened to them. And besides, it combined my love of stories on books with my interest in learning something while being entertained.

Thank you to HTP (Harlequin Trade Publishing), and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

Thank you, Harlequin, for providing me with an ARC of this captivating book.

Emma Taylor’s life has been marked by a series of heart-wrenching losses. After losing her mother at a young age, she found solace in the bookshop her father owned—until a devastating fire took his life as well. Later, when Emma thought she had found stability in marriage, a freak accident claimed her husband’s life. Once again, Emma is on her own, now with her daughter Olivia by her side. Set against the backdrop of pre-war and wartime England, this historical fiction novel weaves Emma’s journey with the magic of books, hinting at the healing power of literature.

Reading this book felt like brewing the perfect cup of tea: you need patience as the water heats and the tea leaves steep, but the result is a rich and satisfying experience. The story unfolds slowly, inviting you to savor each detail, and it eventually blooms into a deeply intriguing narrative. I was drawn to the meticulous historical details and the unique inspiration behind the story. I’ve never read anything quite like this before. There’s something truly special about books that center around the love of books, and this one doesn’t disappoint. The depiction of wartime England, with its bombings and air raids, adds a layer of tension and authenticity that kept me turning the pages.

The characters are wonderfully diverse and vividly portrayed, each adding depth and color to the story. I particularly enjoyed the author’s insights into her creative process and where she drew inspiration from for this novel.

If you’re in the mood for a fast-paced thriller, this might not be your cup of tea. But if you love stories that unfold slowly, with rich historical context and a deep appreciation for literature, I highly recommend this book.

I can’t wait to read more from Madeline in the future!