I enjoyed this book set in wartime England. It was interesting to learn about booklover’s libraries. I can’t even imagine the heartbreak that families of that time faced having to choose between keeping their children with them and putting them in danger or sending them away to the country to possibly keep them safer. I look forward to reading more books by this author..

The Booklover’s Library is a love letter to readers about how books can bring you together, help heal your heart and take you on an adventure even in the most difficult of times. It also took you on a heartfelt journey of witnessing an unwavering mother’s love as Emma made the difficult decision time and time again to do what was necessary to keep her young daughter safe in a time of uncertainty and war.



Thank you publishers and netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

I’ve now read all of Madeline Martin’s historical fiction titles (though not her historical romances - yet) and I think The Booklover’s Library is now my favourite. I couldn’t get enough of this book and I devoured it over a weekend.

Here’s the book’s description:

In Nottingham, England, widow Emma Taylor finds herself in desperate need of a job to provide for herself and her beloved daughter, Olivia. 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.

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 neighbors and coworkers, as well as 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 her work 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.

Since Martin is an author I’ve been reading - and enjoying - for a number of years now, I knew I wanted to read her latest book without even knowing a thing about it. That meant I went into this story a little bit in the dark and I think I appreciated that, the unknown. I just settled into the book and went on a ride with Martin and the story she was telling.

It shouldn’t be a surprise that I appreciated the time setting of this book. You know I love my WWII historical fiction. Yes, I concede that the market might be getting a little oversaturated but there are still immensely talented authors telling stories in a way that feel fresh, not overdone. I found Martin’s novel to be a fresh take on a story you may think you know but will appreciate reading nonetheless.

Instead of covering the entirety of the war, Martin starts at the beginning, moves forward in time, and then skips to about a year after VE Day for the epilogue. I find too often a story is much longer than it needs to because the author feels compelled to fill space with unnecessary details that don’t add to the story. I was so thankful Martin didn’t do that. She packed a lot of drama and feelings in just a few years and I never felt like the plot was dragging or that she was skipping over too much of the characters’ stories.

There have been many bookish WWII novels in the last few years but this one? Oh, I felt all the book feels. It was glorious. I really enjoyed learning a little bit about lending libraries (and definitely want to learn more about their history). I adore the fact that the women who worked at the Booklover’s Library at Boots really did have extremely long engagements because they loved their jobs so much that they didn’t want to give it up (and, naturally, I was furious at the laws that forbade married women, or widowed women with children, to work). Emma grew up in a bookstore as her father owned a sweet little shop in Nottingham that, as we learn at the start of the novel, burned down in a terrible accident. She found her way back to books and even voracious readers who have never had a gap like that in their reading (even I didn’t read a ton while I was in university - so many textbooks), could identify how she was feeling as she rediscovered reading. And how Emma and the other librarians were able to find just the right book for their customers? I. Loved. It. I can’t wait for Martin to share the full list of all the books mentioned in the novel!

Finally, the emotions in this novel were off the charts. I’m not a mother - and have no plans to become one - but Martin wrote Emma so well that my heart was breaking as she tried to decide what was best for her daughter. Should she keep her in Nottingham with her and in danger of bombs? Or should she send her to the safety of the country but to be in the care of total strangers? I cannot imagine how difficult that was for parents, especially mothers who were left at home while their husbands were off fighting.

The Booklover’s Library is a must read for those historical fiction fans like me who love a good bookish storyline woven through their WWII novel. Madeline Martin is an author to continue to watch and I’m already looking forward to her next novel.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, HTP Books, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

“I find the best way to understand a woman’s mind is to delve into the books they love best.”

I loved this book.

I know I did because I had the ebook, the audio, and purchased the paperback to hold in my hands. I know I did because I read a chapter aloud to my baby as his little hands played with the pages.

This is the kind of book that makes you proud to be reader.

These days are full and rushed. My body and mind are weary and worn. There is so much to carry. There is so much that requires my attention and care. I tend to my own heart by reading and right now, I am reading slowly. This one book. A book the reminds me to treasure and savor the love of reading — and I’m so grateful for it.

I'm a huge fan of historical fiction and Madeline Martin's novels are everything I love about the genre! Unique characters plus new to me insights about the WWII era & what day to day life was like for folks in Europe at that time with a bookish plot line and I'm all in!

Emma Taylor is almost at her wit’s ends. She is a widow and has no real means to support herself and her daughter. It’s almost impossible to find a job since most won’t hire a woman who’s a widow and/or has a child. She finally gets a job with a lending library called the Booklover’s Library thanks to a kind employer. The library is part of a store that also houses a chemist with makeup and other items.

Emma’s training goes well and she comes to know many of the patrons. There is an upper level subscription group who get special privileges since they pay more. The British aren’t too concerned about the war Hitler has started in Europe to begin with. When bombing in England starts, the situation gets dire and scary. There are shelters at various areas of Nottingham, but Emma worries that her daughter Olivia may be in too much danger. She decides to send her to the country where it seems safer. Even then, there is a monthly fee for a family to take in your child. After Emma sees the conditions that Olivia has to live in she decides to bring her home.

The two of them are lucky to have support from the neighbors where they live. Mrs. Pickering is their landlady and often helps look after Olivia when Emma is working. Mr. Sanderson is an older man who lives above them. He seems a bit grumpy at times, but he has a kind, protective heart and is very helpful.
Mixed in with the trauma of war and its consequences, the author lifts up a slowly evolving romance between Emma and Charles Fisk. Charles is a firefighter who has been through a lot, but is still basically optimistic.

The author’s notes at the end of the novel are well worth reading. She explains the history behind the story and how she only had to make a small fictional tweak. I have read Madeline Martin’s other historical novels. I always learn new things while being engaged in a well written book. Thanks to my local indie bookstore, I will be able to meet Ms. Martin in November. I look forward to hearing her speak about this book and upcoming ones.

Historical fiction set in Nottingham, England during WWII. I enjoyed the characters and the story line. I also learned a lot that was new to me about this time period--mostly about daily life things, not so much the war itself (plenty of that elsewhere). It was refreshing to not have it set in London and for the main character to be a widowed mother of a young girl. The obstacles to supporting herself and raising a child as a widow!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

I enjoyed this WWII English home front novel. I loved how the book highlighted how books helped civilian's keep up morale during the war.

Against the backdrop of the London Blitz, Emma is just trying to make a life for herself and her daughter but being a widow means she must take a position at the Booklovers Library and pretend Olivia doesn’t exist. As Emma begins to forge connections with her neighbors, coworkers and a handsome patron of the library she learns to open her heart again as the world crumbles around her

I really love historical fiction and r hot her writing. I loved the mother daughter connect with WW2 and the library available to people during hard times.

This book combined two of my favorite things: a love for books and historical fiction. As strange as it sounds to call a book based on WWII wholesome and all the good feelings but I can’t help but reflect on it with those words. This book doesn’t lack emotion and amidst dark times this book reminded me once again why I love to read.

Madeline Martin us through the impossible decisions parents were forced to make during WWII, grief journeys, Emma remembering why they once loved books, loving our neighbors well during trying times and finding love.

I hope you will check out this incredible new release! It’s available now so grab your copy or check out your library!

The Booklover’s Library by Madeline Martin is the third of the author’s novels I’ve read, and my favorite by far. I was completely engrossed in this World War II story based on new-to-me history.

I had no idea the famous Boots “chemist” (drugstores) operated upscale subscriber libraries in some of its stores. Boots Booklovers Libraries existed for 67 years and served 1 million subscribers in they peak of popularity.

Set in Nottingham, England, readers experience the challenges of widowhood and single motherhood through protagonist Emma as she struggles to support herself and her young daughter Olivia. As the Blitz intensifies, Emma must determine whether Olivia is safer being evacuated to the British countryside or remain with her at home. And along the way, we meet a wonderful cast of interesting characters.

I enjoyed so many aspects of this story:
- book about books
- found family
- WWII evacuation story from a parent’s POV
- mother-daughter bond
- small mystery subplot

Thank you to the Thoughts From a Page podcast patron perk of the pre-publication interview with the author and to Hanover Square Press for the advance digital copy.

Oh my gosh I loved this book! I mean I fell hard for this book! This book became one of my only 5 star reads this year. It reminded me how much I love historical fiction. The Booklover's Library is a book for book lovers, and for all that dream of working in bookstores, libraries and with books in general. I would recommend this for historical fiction lovers but I also think it's an easy read for those who are looking to get into the genre or maybe never read this genre before! One I will be gifting to my fellow friends.

Wonderful historical fiction about lending libraries during the 30's-40's. I didn't know that Boots' stores had libraries for subscribers above them. It was interesting to learn about the elite book borrowing new released titles. It was a wonderful story about a widow and single mother who was able to work at the library and raise her daughter. It talked about needing to send her daughter to the country with all of the other children for safety during the war. It also showed how neighbors and colleagues supported each other throughout. Highly enjoyed the read.

I am sorry I waited so long to read this ARC. Set during World War II, the Booklover’s Library showed me how what may seem unsurvivable can be endured with the help of love, family, friends, meaningful work, and of course books! I would highly recommend this to all readers of World War II fiction, and to everyone who loves and honors the role of books and reading in our lives.

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

I want to go to this library!! I loved these characters, but loved the library even more. I feel like I will spend so much of my life searching for this library!

Nice historical fiction, and slightly different from usual war time novel. Interesting look at a subscription library and brought to light a few facts I was unaware of, like women who were widows were ineligible for many jobs.

This is yet another fantastic read from Madeline Martin. She fully immerses the reader into the historical world and always finds something to showcase that I've never heard of. In this book, it was the lending libraries run by Boots chemists. Such a wonderful setting for this story. Martin's first historical novel made her an auto buy author for me and she has never steered me wrong.

What a great story about books, WWII and families trying to survive.

At the beginning of this wonderful story, we find out that having a man around is the best way to survive. Women on their own have a lot of issues to deal with. So our main character goes from living with her father to getting married quickly. We find out that married and widowed women cannot support themselves because very few will hire them to work. What! Books became very important to people to take them places that were far away from war and its many issues. Books also brought people together and gave them something fun to discuss.

England strongly encouraged families in cities to send their children to the country to keep them safer. Can you imagine sending your child to someone you did not know for care? I was not familiar with the details around this, but after reading this book I understand it so much better.. This is a great book to read to understand the issues around life in a country at war. People did their normal jobs and then supported the organized war effort in their time off. The characters in this book found ways to support each other during this very difficult time.

This was a comfort, feel-good read for me. It centers on the lives of characters on the home front in England as WWII begins. Emma is a widow with a young daughter, Olivia. She needs work to live independently with her daughter but during this time in history, married women and widows were barred from being employed. She stumbles on an opportunity at the Booklover's Library and lies to get the job. Her employer is sympathetic and when learning the truth still keeps Emma employed. Friendships with co-workers and eventually a romance with one of the customers develop as well as deeper relationships with Emma's landlady and the other man living in her tenement house. As war begins and moves to England, Emma must also deal with the heartbreaking choice of whether to send her daughter to the countryside to keep her safe from the bombing. The story revolves around these characters and how people left to cope with the war on the home front, whether women or men who could not join the war effort found ways to contribute and lift each other up.