The Booklover's Library by Madeline Martin is a story about a young, widowed mother trying to support her daughter and stay alive during World War 2 in England. It is an interesting, easy to read story about how the war impacted everyday life in tiny communities throughout England. This is an enjoyable read, especially if you are interested in the details of small town life during this time.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. My opinions are my own.

A captivating historical novel about a mother regaining her independence though books and friends as WWII ravages England, threatening the ones she loves most.

I adored Emma and her quest to find joy again through books which had been her whole world until tragedy struck her as a young woman. I love the way Martin explores what it means to be a devoted mother, especially during a war where the wrong choice meant death. I can’t imagine being in Emma’s shoes as she made a decision on where her daughter would be safest during the war. Plus the worry over having to live with the judgment of others was another added stress.

I loved learning more about life in an English town outside of London during the Blitz. Martin does a fantastic job at making the reader feel the rumble of the bombs and the smell of the smoke as the Battle of Britain comes to Nottingham. My heart was racing several times as Emma and the other characters ran for their lives. I also loved all of the historical details about the lending libraries and now want to visit one myself on my next trip! Plus the romance in the story was pitch-perfect and refreshing.

Exploring motherhood during wartime is one of my favorite subjects in historical fiction, and this book will be added to my list of top reads! I thoroughly enjoyed it and couldn’t put it down! Thanks to Cindy at Thoughts from a Page for the opportunity to meet with the author and to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

Thank you to Net Galley and Harlequin Publishing for an early copy of The Booklover's Library by Madeline Martin

Author Madeline Martin has once again placed readers in the terrifying theater of World War II England as everyday people struggle with food shortages, bombings by Nazi aircraft and the agonizing dilemma of whether to send one's children away from London and to strangers in the countryside.

One such parent is widow Emma Taylor. Raised by her father who perishes in their bookshop fire, Emma must hide the fact that she has been married and has a child as the attitudes in England of the time demand that married women and mothers do not work. She gains employment at the Booklover's Library, a private lending library in London as she struggles with how to keep her young daughter Olivia safe.

The novel digs deep into the heartbreak of separated families who worry constantly about their children's welfare and the effect that the war has on the young. While Emma has moments of joy among newfound friends and members of the lending library, Olivia is never far from her thoughts.

Strong character development, the importance of relationships in trying times and newfound love will keep readers engaged in author Martin's latest writing and at the conclusion will be looking forward to more.

Emma is a widowed mother living in Nottingham, England when war begins. She is struggling to support her daughter since it is illegal for her to work due to the Marriage Ban. When an opportunity arises at Boots’ Lending Library, she introduces herself as “Miss” Taylor and lands a job. When the government decides that the children should be evacuated from the large cities for their safety, Emma has to decide whether she can let her daughter go. She is the only family she has left. What follows is a testament to a mother’s love and the impossible choices one makes to keep a child safe.

This is purely a Homefront novel. It will appeal to readers who prefer their WWII fiction on the lighter side, including a bit of romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

A pull-at-your-heartstrings story of a widow balancing motherhood, both a need and a desire for employment, and the consequences of a country at war.

Emma, a bibliophile with a gift for reader’s advisory, both desperately needs employment to support herself and her daughter, but also desires to carve something out for herself in an era that often doesn’t allow widows and married women to work. Emma must hide her identity to secure a position at an esteemed lending library, and meets other women like herself struggling with policies of the marriage bar. I especially sympathized with Emma’s coworker and friend, struggling with the decision to marry her fiancé before he left for war, but prolonging their engagement meant that she would remain employed- a necessity should her fiancé not return. The story sets itself apart from other WW2-era fiction by focusing on the impact of the marriage bar during wartime, and I consider any historical fiction that prompts me to do my own research and learn something new, a big win.

The book also centers around the gut-wrenching choice that parents had to make regarding the evacuation of their children during wartime. It depicts the complexity of this decision well, because it wasn’t always as black-and-white as history can make it out to be. Sending your children out of a major city could protect them from air raids, but it could also put them at risk for abuse or mistreatment, as you had limited to no control of their placement. As a mother myself, the passages of Emma grappling with this impossible choice were heartbreaking.

I enjoyed Emma’s strength and determination to take care of her daughter and herself. There are some well-developed friendships that added to the depth of Emma’s character, but I did not think that the romantic subplot was needed. It felt forced, and in a way, it detracted from the women’s battles against the marriage bar that solely identified them by their marital status. This would have a been a stronger story for me if it had fully leaned into Emma making her own way for herself and her daughter, but it was still an impactful read that book lovers, historical fiction fans, and women’s fiction readers will enjoy.

The Booklover’s Library by Madeline Martin is not your average WWII novel. She brings in new pieces of history. Without any spoilers, there are so many nuggets and nuances of history that many WWII novels miss.

Books save and heal; any book lover needs to read this novel. Strong communities were also portrayed. Emma, the main character, ended up surrounding herself around other fellow book lovers and it got her through the war.

Emma had so much grief to endure, and had life altering decisions no woman or mother wants to face.

The author highlighted the marriage bar which was a new historical detail I was not familiar with. No matter where Emma was at in her life, she and other women were at a disadvantage to obtain employment or maintain their employment.

The characters and the novel have so much depth; you felt you really knew the characters and the setting. (Be sure to read the author’s note as the author adds her own personal touches which made the novel so immersive).

This novel teaches us that books are everything. It’s a way to learn, laugh, cry, heal, conversate, and escape amidst the difficulties of the world, which still rings true to present day.

Read this if you love:
-all things books/libraries/bookstores
-want to read about loving characters who feel like friends
-loved the Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan

4.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you to Cindy Burnett with the Thoughts From a Page podcast / Page Turners Patreon group for arranging ARC copies. Thank you to the publisher Hanover Square Press; the author; and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a review.

The main characters, Emma Taylor and her daughter Olivia, immediately pulled me in. The events tug at your heartstrings as the author portrays the hardship of having to choose between endangering her daughter and sending her away to live with strangers.

I like the author's insights into this historical period, especially since it was based on genuine incidents from when children were evacuated in WWII. This account is unlike anything I've ever read on the subject. This is a must-read for those who appreciate WWII stories and love books. It was exciting to learn that the Book Lover's Library was real! This is a fascinating and heartbreaking read that would be ideal for your next book club pick. This is the first book I’ve read by Madeline Martin; it won’t be the last.


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/

This book has me torn. I did like and appreciate the story line. It centered around what books can do for a person during times of extreme emotion. Notably during Hitler’s reign in World War II and the turmoil that followed. In those times, married women and widowed women were not allowed to work. As the war waged on, this would change. The parts of this book that were written around the lending library and picking out books for certain people based on their tastes were what saved this book.

I had trouble with the back and forth of sending the main characters daughter away. She’d be gone and then she’d be back. I found this back and forth unnecessary. Plus, without spoilers, there was a little something added into the end that maybe could have been useful earlier in the book, but I feel like it added nothing at the end.

Overall, a pretty solid read.

Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I grew up reading because of my parents, but the books I love to read are because of my mother. So reading about a mother daughter duo who love books and it brings them together warms my heart.

This is a cozy feel good novel, perfect if you are in a reading slump or if you want to cry about your relationship with your mother.

I absolutely loved this book. I'm not huge on historical fiction but this book grabbed me and pulled me in for days. It's longer than most books I read so it took me a bit longer to finish but that doesn't mean I enjoyed it any less.

Emma and Olivia (Emma's daughter) is one of the most adorable and amazing relationships between mother and daughter. I just absolutely loved their connection and how Emma had to make so many difficult decisions.

The house they lived in had a bunch of fun characters and they all become very important in Emma and Olivia's lives.

Beautifully written and feel good novel set in the midst of WWII

The Booklover's Library, by Madeline Martin, is an intimate look at one woman's life in England during World War II. I've read a bunch of WWII fiction and non-fiction and sometimes get bored of the topic, but this book stands on its own. More than being about WWII, it is about the love of a mother for her daughter and the lengths she will go to protect her. It is also about the community that can be built around a love of books. The author's note at the end reminded me that these are universal experiences, which is why I believe the book touched me so deeply.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC; all opinions are my own.

The premise and the overall plot is decent, but the writing was a little disappointing. It’s also possible I’m not the target demographic for this. I think I would’ve enjoyed this more if I were older.

We hear over and over again about how much Emma misses Olivia and how sweet she is, but I would’ve liked it to be shown rather than stated. I also disliked the romance in the book. There was no buildup, no chemistry- it’s merely stated that he’s extremely handsome, and they run into each other, and then he wants to take her out to dinner. It didn’t make much sense to me so I didn’t care to read about it.

There are lots of moments that I think I would’ve really liked - the rabbit, Mr. Sanderson, etc. There are also lots of important topics in here - how women weren’t able to work if they were married, widowed, etc, but I feel like they weren’t discussed enough? Or at least weren’t very impactful? I think adding a love interest in general was disappointing for me. I would’ve liked to see more about how Emma (and other widowed women with children at the time) overcame the obstacles to make a life for their family. Instead, she and Margaret and literally everybody ended up marrying a man to find happiness.

Thank you to Hanover Square Press and NetGalley for an advance readers copy of this book.

This novel is a well-researched depiction of women’s lives in World War II Britain. Focusing on fictitious Emma Taylor, a widow with a little girl, it brings to light the legal “marriage bars” from the 19th century that were still in effect until the 1970s. These rules made it almost impossible for married women to work, and that included widows with children.

The premise is engaging and thoughtful, also exploring the issue of separating parents and children by evacuating them from larger cities likely to be bombed as WWII progressed.

However, the melodramatic writing and too-long episodes made it difficult for me to get through it. Some of the dialog is stiff, and certain word choices, used repeatedly and inaccurately, such as “tenement” for the house with three flats in which Emma lives, were off-putting.

There definitely is drama and romance, if rather predictable. A lighter and perhaps tighter touch could have provided a better vehicle for the distressing dilemmas the characters face.

I learned so much about wartime London in this new book from Madeline Martin. I did not know how many children where sent out of cities, away from their parents, during wartime, but that's the choice facing single mother & widow Emma Taylor. I also didn't realize that married women/ widowed women couldn't work during this time. These poor women! The book never plays Emma and her daughter Olivia as victims, though. They're both wonderfully developed characters, and I found myself enjoying their story-- and that's before we went to the Booklover's Library! It was enjoyable to spend so much of the story in a place that must have brought so much joy and comfort to wartime London. I recommend!

Thoroughly enjoyed this slice of life yet somehow hard-hitting piece of historical fiction that didn't shy away from aspects of war on the home front that I hadn't thought about before, not being a mother myself. It was easy to follow and possibly to predict, but sometimes you really want that comfort from a book with interesting and sympathetic characters.

The Booklover's Library by Madeline Martin is a thrilling novel set during World War II. In England, widow Emma Taylor finds herself in dire need of a job. She and her 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. With the threat of war in England, 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. But the job doesn’t come without its hardships as books are mysteriously misshelved and disappearing and the work

Martin does a wonderful job creating an inspirational story of bravery and courage during World War II. The Keeper of Hidden Books had me turning the pages to the very end. This book is an easy 4 stars. I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves historical fiction.

I received a free advanced copy and all opinions are my own. I would like to offer my sincerest gratitude to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Another 5-star read by Madeline Martin! <u>The Booklover's Library</u> tells the story of Emma, whose mother died at her birth and whose father runs a bookshop. The very first chapter tells of Emma losing her beloved father in a fire that destroyed both their home and bookshop. Emma marries young and has a daughter - but unfortunately her husband is killed in a car accident. This story takes place as WWII is just beginning, and Emma is struggling to support her daughter with just a small pension. I learned something I had not known before - the UK had a law in place where married women had to give up their jobs and companies were not allowed to hire widows with children either. Luckily, Emma stumbles upon The Booklover's Library, and they are willing to bend the rules and hire her. No spoilers, but it did give me the happy, satisfying ending that I love so much in a novel. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

The Booklover's Library is a lovely addition to the genre of WWII women's fiction. What makes Martin's latest work unique is the focus on the rules regarding a woman's right to work during that time; married women weren't allowed to hold a job, nor were widows with children, leaving Emma, the book's female lead who is both a widow and a mother, in a precarious position. Luckily, her background as the daughter of a bookstore owner allows her the opportunity to work for the Boots’ Booklover’s Library. The workings of a circulating library were interesting to learn about, and it was fun to see Emma interact with the various patrons as well as her coworkers.

Martin also places a focus on the children who were evacuated to the English countryside to avoid the danger of German bombs. Emma struggles with sending her daughter Olivia away and must accept both her and Olivia's heartache in order to keep Olivia safe. Martin does a wonderful job of showing how emotionally painful the separation is for both mother and daughter and also of showing that not all children were lucky enough to be evacuated to a loving home.

Overall, The Booklover's Library is a slower-paced read with interesting historical circumstances, plucky characters, a sweet mother-daughter relationship, and a light romance that will appeal to fans of WWII fiction and women's fiction.

Do you know those books that, after savoring that last wonderful page, you sigh and smile and hug them to your heart? This is one of those books.
Utterly charming, with characters I cheered for and hoped for, laughed with and cried with . . . characters who have now become a part of my mind’s library.
If you love books—the crisp, sharp scent of new ones and the softened pages of old ones—read this book. If you love stories of life and love and all that happens in the pursuit of them both, read this book. Just read this book . . . you won’t regret it!

*Thank you to NetGalley and HTPBooks for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I liked this book; it was a realistic and yet lovely exploration of a mother's life and feelings in WWII. The characters felt well-rounded and likeable, and being a book lover myself, the scenes depicting the library the MFC works at were fun to read. It was a bit slow paced and I wasn't sure where the plot was going at points, but overall light and enjoyable.