Madeline Martin has written a very compelling story! I like how she incorporated some true historical events and happenings throughout the novel. Bravo to the great research!

The story literally begins with a bang! A young Emma is caught in a bookstore fire that ends in tragedy for her family. Some years later she is living in Nottingham and is now a widow with a 7 year old daughter and Britain is on the brink of war. This essentially is a story about a single mother trying to keep her child safe during WW II.

I enjoyed reading about the Boots Chemist Lending Library that Emma begins to work at. I did not know anything about this Lending Library that was a sort of up-scale place usually on the top floor of a Boots Chemist/Pharmacy. It differed from a normal library as it was a paid subscription service for more up-to-date books. Britain had what was called a, "Marriage Bar" that barred married or widowed women to work in most places. So, Emma had to say she was single to get the job (although her supervisor knew the truth.)

The story touches on many events during this era. Dunkirk, children's evacuation to the countryside to keep them safe, the Mass Observation by the public of recording their thoughts and actions down, and the SS Benares ship carrying children to safety in Canada being struck by a German u-boat and killing almost all of them.

I like how this book promoted the love of reading especially with Emma and her daughter Olivia. Books brought them closer together. It's always wonderful to read about how comforting books were to people during wartime. This one was a bit predictable but very enjoyable. Don't miss the author's note at the end of the book.

Get an inside look at life as a widow in WW II Nottingham in this latest release from Madeline Martin. This was a buddy read with the Terrific Tina. Be sure to check out her review.

Emma Taylor is a widow and a mother. Her ability to generate income is restricted by the Marriage Bar. Fortunately, the manageress at Boots Booklover's Library decides to give her a chance. It is a dream job for Emma, but she still struggles with child care decisions and then whether or not to have her daughter Olivia evacuate. The accounts Emma's struggles as a mother include historical facts and emotions Madeline has also experienced firsthand.

Along with the slice-of-life feel to the narrative, many historical events like Dunkirk and the children's ship tragedy are woven in. There is even a brief cameo appearance from the folks at Primrose Hill Books from The Last Bookshop in London. Emma's neighbors and coworkers are well developed and remind us of the need for empathy. There is even a bit of a mystery at the lending library as titles keep coming up misshelved (a huge "no no"). I simply must mention Tubby, Emma's neighbor's dog, and Pip, the little dog who comes into the library in a basked carried by his owner Mrs. Chatsworth. And there is a rabbit called Nameless who is originally purchased for Christmas dinner. Charming additions like these are so engaging and relatable. This is the way I like my historical fiction and why I keep reading Madeline Martin's books.

Many noteworthy books are featured in this story including Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, Little House in the Big Woods, Caddie Woodlawn, Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, The Count of Monte Cristo, Gone With the Wind, Murder On the Orient Express, Jewel of the Nile, The Nine Tailors, and more. . . This is really a bookish book!

A big thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a good book! I liked everything about it. The characters, the story, the setting, the writing. This was a quick read for me because once I started reading I couldn't stop. I was quickly invested in the lives of the characters and wanted to know what happened to them.

An added bonus was all the books mentioned in the story. Some I had heard of and some I hadn't. Of course one of my all-time favorite books was mentioned several times and I just loved it.

Fans of historical fiction, WWII fiction, and libraries are sure to love this well written story!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion which I have given.

I loved this book. The story takes us to Nottingham, England in 1931 through the end of WWII. It follows Emma, a widowed mother, who finds a job in the Booklover's Lending Library. We are introduced to her friends and daughter and the challenges she faces as a single mother. Emma makes the impossible decision to send her daughter to the country to avoid the bombings from war. She volunteers to help with the women's group. She surrounds herself with books and uses her knowledge to help everyone escape during the war. I found this book to be heartbreaking, but also heartwarming. The eclectic group of characters are incredible. Supportive, real and wonderful. The research and time put into the historical aspect of this book was apparent from page 1. Just a book that sucks you in and keeps you turning the pages until the very end.

Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

I've loved Madeline Martin's novel ever since reading the Last Bookshop in London. The Booklover's Library is a another fantastic read. The characters are well developed and the reader can do nothing but be engrossed in the story and follow along every twist and turn. As a mom now I sympathize with Emma and the limited choices she had during the blitz and wartime. It is a beautifully written novel and I look forward to reading it again. I also adore how Martin uses books in all her novels. It truly shows how novels and books play a vital role in life!

I was given a complimentary copy by the author and publisher. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this amazing ARC.
Beautiful story about a widow, single mom during WWII. This book stole my heart, as a mother and reading the struggles that mothers went through during this time was heartbreaking. As well I really enjoyed the booklover’s library interaction with the readers and the mention of so many amazing classic books. It really transported my imagination to understand how a lending library work and how much people enjoyed them during those hard times. The beautiful friendships and community in this book was the cherry on top.

Emma, the heroine of The Booklover's Library was left alone after her father's bookstore burned down. She quickly married and had a child, only to be widowed shortly thereafter. A single mother, Emma needs a job to take care of herself and her daughter Olivia. She gets a job at Boots in their book department. She describes what most readers would deem as Book Lovers heaven : "the library transported its subscribers to a place of cozy comfort with large stained glass windows that overlooked the street below, plush rugs underfoot, and the lingering perfume of freshly cut flowers from the small bouquets in elegant glass vases through the open space. Then of course there were the books meet shelves perfectly arranged pristine from Emma's vantage point..."

But as much as the novel is about the love of books, it is more about the love of a mother and a daughter. Emma's daughter Olivia has been billeted to the English countryside twice. First the woman who took her in became unable to care for her, and then she stayed with an unkind couple. Emma faces the loss of her daughter bravely, while knowing that the brunt of the war can hit them any second. The Booklover's Library tells the story of what it was like for women to lose their children due to billiting, and for children to be away from their homes, which is not often discussed in World War II novels. Emma's bravery and love of her child is a story that resonates even today.

Title: The Booklover’s Library
By: Madeline Martin
Pub. Date: September 10, 2024
Genre: Fiction, Historical, WWII, Books about Books

Trigger Warnings: World War II, Death, Dying, Child running away, Trauma, Loss of parents

Favorite Quote: “Everyone has their reasons for what they do.”

Summary:
Emma and her father love working together in their bookshop, until a tragic accident happens leaving Emma traumatized and alone. Fast forward and nine years later, Emma finds herself alone once again, only this time she’s a widow with a child on the brink of wartime. With her funds dwindling, Emma needs a job, however, widows aren’t allowed to work. By happenstance, Emma hears about a job available at ‘The Booklover’s Library” where she soon becomes employed all while keeping a deep secret from her boss and colleagues. A secret that will jeopardize her employment, and everyone she loves, including her daughter.
Review:
Madeline Martin has a way to share pieces of obscure parts of history. Everytime I read one of her books, I become more knowledgeable! The Booklover’s library book is not different.I love reading World War II fiction and this book is very different. The plotline isn’t really about the war, but rather the effects the war had on women, specifically regarding employment and marriage status. The story is based on true places and events that have been well researched. I loved learning about the lending library during this part of history. I highly recommend reading the author notes on this book specifically. Martin added personal touches of her own life in this novel, which is felt by the reader through the emotional connection of love, loss, and sacrifice between Emma and her daughter Olivia. I highly recommend this read! You will come away with a greater wealth of knowledge and empathy for women's roles during WWII.

Thank you Madeline Martin, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#TheBookloversLibrary
#MadelineMartin
#HarlequinTradePublishing
#reluctantreaderreads
#advancedreadercopies
#NetGalley

A wonderful story about how books and reading helped people through the dark days of WWII. I enjoyed Emma's story, I can't imagine how hard it would be to send your child to "safety" in the country! It's always a good sign when a book leads me to do my own research and I enjoyed learning more about the Boot's Booklover's Library.

I had a hard time rating this book as I just didn’t connect to it incredibly well. I realize I ended up with too many WWII books all at once, and this one seemed to fall short of others I have read. I always hate to read about the children that were separated from their parents during the war, as they were sent to the country for their safety, as it makes me think about what an impossible decision this was for them and how I would have handled it in the same situation. This was the meat of the book - Olivia’s separation from Emma. I felt that the library portions were just sprinkled in. I wanted more of this story - more of the characters who came in and how they were handling the war.

This book was so darling! It had such a cozy and warm vibe and I wanted to be transported right into the story!

Martin is so talented when it comes to creating beautiful imagery through her writing. The whole times I really felt like I was in the book and who doesn't adore that feeling? The characters were so fun, I just wish we had gotten to know them a little bit more. Their relationship was really fleshed out from the beginning, but I just wish we had gotten to know more about each one on their own.

I loved the magical element that this book brought and how seamlessly it fit into the story.

This felt like the perfect cross between Gilmore Girls and The Nightingale!

Oh, another Madeline Martin hit for me! The Last Bookshop in London was a breath of fresh air after reading so many dark books, and this newest book gives me all the same vibes (Keeper of the Hidden Books was very hard for me to read.) I loved Emma because of her love for her daughter AND books. She was relatable, and I just wanted to hug her throughout the book. All of the characters realistically face hard times, but they also get a happily ever after, which I need in my WW2 books. The book names dropped throughout gave my heart a little happy dance, especially ones mentioned for Olivia like Anne of Green Gables. A quick mention that the romances are chaste, and I appreciate the clean language. A great book to enjoy and recommend!

Title:  The Booklover's Library
Author:  Madeline Martin        
Genre: Historical fiction        
Rating: 5 out of 5

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.

This was such a lovely read! I do love World War II historical fiction, but Martin’s characters are always so well-done and vivid that I end up drawn into the story just because I’m so interested in the people. I loved the library, and I think being a book concierge would be a fun job! This is a great read, and I highly recommend it.

Madeline Martin is a bestselling author. The Booklover’s Library is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/Hanover Square Press in exchange for an honest review.)

Set in Nottingham, England in the 1930's as England enters WWII.

As usual, Martin has pulled us into a story of the heart, survival and the power or books, people and love all together.

Magical, heartwarming and even tearful at times, the journey with history woven in is so gripping you will not be able to put it down until the last page.

The Booklover’s Library is set in England during WWII and strongly focuses on the evacuation of the children during the war. Parts of the book were difficult for my mama heart, but it is a great story.

💚WWII England historical fiction
💚Single widowed mother
💚Motherhood
💚Community
💚Work challenges
💚Lots of book references
💚A dash of romance

I’ve always loved when a child discovers the love of reading. Maybe that‘s why one of my favorite quotes from the book is

“I do enjoy reading it myself,” Olivia said. “It’s like my brain drinking in something good, like warm chocolate milk.”

P.S. If you read The Last Bookshop in London, you’ll notice a little surprise 🤫

Thank you Net Galley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Booklover's Library is a heartwarming tale about a mother and daughter and the love of books. This book brought me to tears more than once. This book explores what a mother will do to keep her daughter safe during times of war. I think any book lover will fall in love with this book.

A heartfelt story of resilience and hope.

The Booklover's Library by Madeline Martin is a beautifully written, heartwarming tale that immerses you in the lives of its characters during WWII. Emma has already lost her Father and her husband, now; she must send her daughter Olivia away to the country during wartime. The bond between Emma and her daughter Olivia is both touching and powerful. The historical details are so true to life. The reality of what happens during war time is heart wrenching but the emotional journey is so well-crafted that I couldn't put it down. I am an American, married to an Englishman, and while visiting England last year, we visited New Haven Fort with some of his family, where we sat in a interactive bomb shelter, to experience what it would have felt like to be underground during an air raid. It was an absolute revelation, sitting there in the dark, with nothing but a candle, the sounds of bombs going off above, the noise, the shaking, and the uncertainty of what you would find when you returned above. It was truly and eye opener visiting this fort and learning so much about WWII, from the rationing of food, women working during wartime, children being sent off to the country, the men that fought, just all the aspects about the war and how it affected the English people during wartime. This story really hit home for me. Martin truly captured the redemptive power of books, community, and love in the darkest of times. A must-read for anyone who appreciates heartfelt stories of resilience and hope.

I did a post on Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, Books a Million, TikTok, Instagram and I will be posting another video, a review on TikTok and Instagram about this book as well.

Thank you again for allowing me to be an ARC reader for this book.
It was such a great read.

Sincerely, Robin

The Booklovers' Library by Madeline Martin is a book that is right up my alley. I have said this before but I love books that have elements of truth that make me want to delve deeper into the subject. In this case, I wanted to learn more about the lending libraries during World War II that this book centers around. I had no idea these existed and in this story, they were part of Boots' pharmacies in England.

Apparently, these were a huge deal and had members of high society as patrons. They were treated to exceptional, professional service at all times. In this story, Emma has experienced some tragedy in her life and is raising her daughter, Olivia, alone. Even though she is widowed, she is technically not allowed to work, since she is a mother. This was true back then! However, Miss Bainbridge decides to make an exception and allows Emma to be the newest employee of the library.

Emma quickly becomes efficient in her job and finds she really enjoys it. Furthermore, a load is off her shoulders now, as she was in need of money. Emma not only works in the library but also volunteers where she can helping those affected by the war, working alongside her friends. I feel that is the story of how community comes together during a catastrophic time in our history.

My two cents: I enjoyed these characters immensely. I was invested in what happened to Emma and her friends and interested in learning more about the real libraries at that time. The author does a fantastic job bringing these characters to life and making them seem real, a trait I love in any book.

Madeline Martin is now going to be an auto-read author for me. I loved this entire story. I thought it was sad. I thought it was upliftings. The story just pulled me in and I didn't want to put it down every time I picked it up. This was such an easy book to read, but brought out so many emotions. I loved the mother/daughter relationship as well as Emma sharing her love of reading with Olivia. I loved seeing the difficult decisions that Emma had to make, not only for herself, but as a single mother. The entire concept of the Booklover's Library was amazing to read about, especially with all the characters who visited the library. I highly recommend this one if you enjoy historical fiction WWII novels.

I'm usually a sucker for anything WWII historical fiction and when it involves books and libraries, doubly so. However, for whatever reason I really struggled to get into this latest from Madeline Martin. I went back and forth between print and audio and not ever the voice talents of Saskia Maarveld could save this one for me. Recommended for fans of authors like Kate Thompson this was likely a me thing or a wrong book wrong time thing. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!