Historical fiction that was very well done and researched. This story follows the lives of three women in Montana with a love for people and their stories as well as for books. As you follow the creation and launch of the boxcar library, you learn about life during a very difficult time in America's history. The way this book was written really makes you love the people and want to hear their stories. The historical information was intriguing and will make you want to go to Montana to see the areas talked about.

If you love historical fiction, this is a must read.

Great story about survival during depression times. History about government programs and individuals making their way and trying to help out others. Liked the way the author told the stories of individuals trying to survive and gives a view of how difficult life was for many in America. Well done.

I received a copy of the book "The Boxcar Librarian" by Brianna Labuskes. This book is seen through the eyes of three female characters. Colette, whose story starts in 1914, Alice in 1924, and Millie around 1936. eventually the three characters come together in the story. Each woman loves to read so they end up working for the Boxcar library that is on a train and travels the rails to mining towns to loan out books. Actually when i had an interest in reading this book, I thought it was about travelling the rails from town to town. But really there is much more to the plot. There is at least one murder that leads Colette to track down the person who killed her father. this ties in with Alice and eventually Millie. There is a lot going on in the story. a bit hard going back and forth to the different years. but works out in the end. a pretty good story. Even though I had hoped there had been more about the boxcar library.

Ugh (good “ugh”). Where to start with this one!? Synopsis. Right - this is very much the coming of age story of three young women who are infinitely shaped by books and the rough landscape of Montana. Alice, Collette and Millie’s stories become intertwined by a Boxcar Library and the American Guide series. The story has it all, mystery, action, murder, love and best of all BOOKS!

I think my favorite part of the book is that every single character was written to love books. I loved the way literature brings everyone together. It becomes the invisible string that drives the story forward.

Great read. I would/have absolutely recommended this book to anyone who listens.

Thank you William Morrow & NetGalley for this ARC.

I always learn something with her books and this one was no exception. Loved learning about the boxcar library which I did not know was a thing until I read her book. Thank you to Netgalley and Harper collins for the ARC

Took a long time for all the characters’ lives to cross, and the pacing was slow at the end, but I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery and didn’t figure it out!

The Boxcar Librarian tells the true story of life in Montana in the 1920s. A place I know nothing about in 2024, let alone 100 years ago. What an interesting story that detailed life through the Great Depression. We had suspense, murder, tales of impossible love and a taste of union angst. Truly incredibly interesting characters that will stick with me.

The Boxcar Librarian by Brianna Labuskes tells the stories of three women in Montana. Alice wants to share her love of reading with people and she creates a boxcar library to deliver the books. She employs Colette, a tough miner’s daughter who always carries a shotgun, to be the librarian. Mille is an editor who has been sent to Montana to work on the American Guide series. Interestingly, these women’s stories intersect in an explosive way. The development of each character shows how courage, perseverance, and determination were the heart of making it through the Depression and challenging times of the American West.

I would recommend this book for historical fiction readers. The point of views(POVs) of three characters with different timelines is slow at the beginning but the story gains momentum to compel you to keep reading when the women’s lives converge. The stories are inspired by true events. There was a real Missoula Boxcar Library, the Works Progress Administration did employ writers and photographers to make travel books, and mining unions were dangerous business.

Thank you William Morrow and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

I'm sorry to say I wasn't into this. I found it confusing to have three storylines that took place so close together, yet it was also frustrating that it took so long to realize how they were connected. Although Millie's mystery was introduced pretty early on, it didn't really drive the book until about two-thirds of the way through.

Thanks netgalley for the arc😊


Wow…. this book was so good. I never wanted to put it down. I fully expect this book to become very popular! This is one of the best historical fiction books I have read in a long time.

3 women over the span of a few years in Montana involving a boxcar library. I just loved how each character overlapped with one another.

The writing style was incredible and I fully felt like I was there in Montana with them. So many moments had me holding my breath. I was also pleasantly surprised by how many twists this had!

Such a great read, highly recommend.

The Boxcar Librarian by Brianna Labuskes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC. It’s not very often I read historical fiction books about places that I visit frequently. As soon as I read the description and saw The Boxcar Librarian was inspired by the Lumberman’s Library at Fort Missoula I was so excited to give it a try. I live near Missoula and it was so fun to read about places I recognize and visit. I just saw the Lumberman's Library last week.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Boxcar Librarian. The three different POVs give the book a little bit of a slow start as the reader gets to know each of the three women and their stories. It does not take long for the story to pick up though. I really enjoyed how different Alice, Millie, and Collette are and how their stories finally come together in the end. I really appreciated the amount of research that it is evident the author did on the history that was covered in the book. I am excited to do more of my own research on the things I learned in this book.

The theme of books and stories bringing people together and being so important in our lives is one of my favorites. The Boxcar Librarian covers these themes well. This is the perfect story for people who love books about books, the history of the American West, and women’s history.

A must read for those who love historical fiction!

The Boxcar Librarian follows timelines for three main characters - Alice, Colette, and Millie during the 1920s -1930s.

Alice's father is well-connected, relatively wealthy, and she lives a good life during an otherwise challenging time in America. She finds joy in taking books to men and their families in nearby mining camps. In an effort to make more of an impact, she creates a boxcar library, allowing her to reach remote mining areas.

Colette's father is a miner that advocates for workers rights. She is exposed to the politics and unfair treatment towards mining workers. Her path crosses with Alice when she is hired as the first librarian for the Boxcar Library. Mysteriously, she never returns from the inaugural trip.

Millie is a writer, sent to Montana, to work on the America's Guide travel series - a project designed to keep America's writers working during tough times. The staff in Montana is missing deadlines and she is sent to figure out why. What she discovers leads to a much bigger story than she could have ever imagined.

As their lives and stories intertwine, we learn about the hardships and secrets that each face, as well as the intrigue and mystery that surrounds the Boxcar Library.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Books for the opportunity to read an ARC of this fantastic novel.

I liked how this story was set in Montana during the 1920's & 1930's and told through three women's POVs with very different backgrounds. A few times while reading I wished I could have experienced riding in the boxcar library myself and help the various visitors pick out books while at the mining camps. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. I loved the story behind this book. I love how they brought a boxcar library around to others to spread the love of books. I would love to learn more about the true story behind this book.

The characters, setting, and prose, woven together with an intricately crafted plot, transformed this novel into a vivid cinematic experience unfurling before my eyes as I read. The characters leaped to life, drawing me into their tale and inviting me to accompany them on their unique journeys. The trio of female protagonists—Alice, Millie, and Colette—formed a remarkable alliance, each possessing distinct personalities, traits, and styles, yet united by their shared values of loyalty and love for those who nurtured their growth. They resonate with individuals facing daily tribulations and striving to rise above them, as well as with the books that connect souls beyond their expectations and beliefs, much like the bond shared by these three inspiring women.

The supporting characters played a pivotal role in the narrative, offering readers a window into the diverse lifestyles, occupations, perspectives, and realities of the 1930s and 1940s. Each character was well-developed, unique, and enchantingly magical, while also embodying the relatable and realistic aspects of humanity, allowing readers to not only connect with them but also feel as if they were stepping into their shoes. The book's atmosphere and settings were vividly portrayed, realistic, and meticulously crafted. The writing seamlessly blended realism with a touch of magic, making it feel as though I wasn't merely reading about the characters, but standing alongside them in their world. I experienced their dialogues, witnessed their struggles, and observed the formation of bonds that were truly extraordinary.

The plot began a bit slowly but captured my full attention during the last 200 pages, refusing to let go. The narrative was constructed in a manner that tricked me into thinking I could foresee the outcome, yet the author surprised me with beautifully executed plot twists that had me exclaiming, “wait a minute, what?” and “I love the connection that was just made.” This book masterfully intertwines reality and fiction, delving into themes of life, love, mystery, and dreams during the 1930s and 1940s. I thoroughly enjoyed discovering the various projects from that era, particularly how the author wove them into the narrative, from the Writer’s Project to the library initiative.

I appreciated the inclusion of the author's journal at the end, detailing her journey in uncovering the true story behind the novel, the individuals who aided her, the sources she relied upon, and her overall passion and experience in researching it. The Boxcar Librarian by Brianna Labuskes is more than just a historical fiction tale centered around a boxcar librarian; it explores the myriad ways in which people forge connections through struggles, hardships, grief, shared interests, hope, love, kindness, and even solitude. The novel beautifully underscores the power of literature and community. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone seeking an immersive reading experience, as well as those interested in understanding how literature connects us to both familiar faces and strangers.

I’m not sure why this is labeled under LGBTQ unless you count the one time mention of one of the women having sex with men and women over the years.

It started off slow but then got interesting. I think I would’ve enjoyed it more if I wasn’t waiting for the sapphic part of the book that never came.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Brianna Labuskes's The Boxcar Librarian was one of the best books I read this year.

This true story mesmerized and excited me from start to finish. I did not know this little-known piece of life in Montana in the early 1920s could produce such a rich and unusual history, the makings of a great novel. The author thoroughly researched the book and added a bonus at the end that detailed who all her fictional characters were based upon the history timeline. The book kept me up all night.

I empathized with every character as they meandered through the deprivation and difficulties of the Great Depression. Filled with suspense, murder, union angst, and tales of impossible love, this story has something for any book lover, librarian, or historian interested in stories based on real-life events.

Each character held a special place in my heart. The tale was fast-paced, with great descriptive settings, well-fleshed-out characters, and plenty of plot twists to keep me interested. I was sad when it ended.

I look forward to reading more from Brianna Labuskes, as I had not read any of her work before this tale. She has a permanent place on my virtual and bound bookshelves.

Make your favorite tea, sit back, relax, curl up in your favorite reading chair, and enjoy.

I want to thank Net Galley, the author and publisher, for the opportunity to read this free ARC. This review is voluntary and mine alone.

What a wonderful. book! The Boxcar Librarian follows three women over the years of 1923 to 1936. It is based on the true events of the Boxcar Library, which went from a mining camp to mining camp in Montana. I loved reading about each of the different women, their love for literature, and their desire to help others love reading as much as they did poured off the page. I loved following Millie, Alice, and Colette's story. This book has romance, mystery, and so much more. The author's goal was to demonstrate the capacity of books to provide connection and light to those who need it most and boy did this book do that!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am LEGIT in awe of Brianna's writing skills. And the fact that she seems to cover so many genres and eras seamlessly. She takes us back in time for a historical novel that manages to both educate and entertain me. The fact that she can write serial killer books and then pop back into a different genera with such ease is mind blowing. I will read anything with her name on it, no questions asked!

In a captivating blend of history and fiction, The Boxcar Librarian illuminates the lives of three women navigating the challenges of the 1920s and 30s in Montana. Millie Lang, sent to work on a travel guide, uncovers the mystery behind the Boxcar Library, which Alice Monroe established to deliver books to isolated mining towns. The narrative beautifully intertwines their stories, showcasing their resilience and the profound impact of literature during a tumultuous era. With rich historical details and compelling characters, the novel highlights the strength of female friendships and the transformative power of books.