The Library of the Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick follows the story of Martha, a woman who is now approaching middle age and whose entire existence has devolved into doing anything and everything for others. She measures her worth by the number of tasks she can take on, even as they begin to weigh her down and overwhelm her life.
Into this chaos, a book surfaces that contains stories, some she made up and told her grandmother and others her grandmother made up with her. The curious thing? The book has a note in it from her grandmother, advising Martha it is for her in the hopes it will be of benefit, but the note is dated three years after Martha’s grandmother was said to have died.
Martha’s obsession with the book initiates a change regarding how she feels about putting others ahead of herself and sets her on a course of searching for answers. Martha’s search leads her to encounter a group of people who expand and challenge her to take a look at her life, It also leads to some changes within Martha regarding how she values herself.
There is also a bit of a mystery in the book. Martha’s sister is aware that Zelda didn’t die when Martha was told she did, and begs Martha to stop investigating. She advises Martha that the knowledge will be destructive, and that Zelda will turn out to be less than the person Martha idolizes in her mind.
Parts of the book might be cathartic for people who grew up in dysfunctional households. Specifically Martha’s father is shown to be a bully and emotional abuser of his family. His emotional abuse has had a profound effect on how Martha feels about herself and how she lives her life. If someone has experienced this type of abuse in their own life, they may find it comforting to see, at least in the world of fiction, that they are not alone.
The pacing of the book is a bit erratic, with flashback chapters that highlight the activities of Martha or others of her family back when Martha was a child. In addition, some of Martha’s “stories” are peppered throughout this book and then brought forward to the current day’s action and shared either with other individuals or groups. The shifts are sudden and, although the story makes sense in terms of the point trying to be made, they serve to slow the reading of the book and make movement through the novel somewhat jerky.
There is a strong underlying agenda to this book that seems to have t deal with overcoming an abusive upbringing. This may give encouragement to people who are trying to heal their own wounds from growing up in more or less dysfunctional households. Unfortunately, the uneven pacing of the book limits the positivity that might be derived for some readers.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a delightful and unexpected story. The main character, Martha is introduced as a somewhat dotty, long-suffering do-gooder, who is easy to take for granted. Indeed, her boss neglects to tell her that the library event she was to host was called off. She finds out only when she arrives with the refreshments to see the word, CANCELLED written across the flyer hanging on the door. She returns home and we learn Martha is practically a hoarder, living in the house where she grew up, and later spent much of her early adult life caring for her ailing parents. Martha’s life seemed so sad, I didn’t think I wanted to continue reading. Ms. Patrick does little in the early pages to reveal Martha’s past nor foreshadow or future, but slowly, layer by layer, her captivating story unfolds. An absorbing read!

Patrick’s latest features the transformation of Martha Storm from the village doormat to free thinking creative after someone leaves a book at her library for her with a puzzling and intriguing inscription. The story exaggerates the awful habit of trying to please everyone else first painfully but it’s a heartwarming story including a nifty mystery of family secrets. 3.5 stars.

A charming story of a young women finding herself through the unraveling of family mysteries. Martha Storm volunteers at the local library, she helps people. She offers to do all sorts of tasks for people - laundry, fish feeding ,plant tending, sewing, cleaning all to keep herself busy. One day when she arrives at the library with fresh baked goods to do an author presentation she finds the library locked and cancelled written across the author's poster but nobody told her.While she is standing there flummoxed she sees a gentlemen set a package by the door and move away quickly. Curious, Martha picks up the package and sees it is address to her. Inside is a book, a cover-less ragged book of stories that will change Martha's entire life.Follow the wonderful adventure. This was an enchanting read.

This book was a lovely little surprise. It was a sweet and charming story of a quirky "volunteer librarian" who has a difficult time saying no to the many favors that people ask of her --- from laundry, to mending clothes, to taking care of their fish. Martha is a proverbial doormat, but a mysterious book changes the course of her life. This book does a great job showing how a character can grow and change in the course of a novel.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Phaedra Patrick's new novel is a delightful (if at times emotional) story of a family changed and torn by secrets and lies. Martha Storm volunteers at a library where she hopes to eventually be employed after years of caring for her parents who have recently died. The realities of her isolation are beginning to become more obvious to Martha. Aside from being a person everyone can rely on to help out (and be a doormat), no one really knows Martha. Even Martha's sister Lillian takes advantage of her sister's kindness, using her family as an excuse for being busy (and after all, Martha is single with no children.)

Flashback chapters reveal the close relationship Martha had with her grandmother Zelda, the controlling nature of her father Thomas, and the challenges her mother, Betty, faced with Thomas.

Martha's life takes a turn when a book is left for her at the library- inscribed to Martha from Zelda and dated three years after Zelda died. Even more surprising, the book is filled with stories Martha wrote as a child along with stories Zelda and Betty told Martha and Lillian when they were children. The book leads Martha to surprising discoveries about the past and a whole new outlook on life.

Engaging and well constructed, The Library of Lost and Found is an easy and enjoyable read with interesting characters with faults and foibles that feel real and relatable.

Thanks to NetGalley for this free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the quirky main character, Martha Storm.  I also loved that she loved working in a library and helping others.  When Martha gets sent a book containing stories that she made up from her childhood a fabulous mystery unfolds.  The author did a great job of making her characters very like able or not like able.  This was a wonderful story about forgiveness and family and that is okay to sometimes put yourself first.

Martha Storm has spent her adult life serving others, from caring for her aging parents to helping the other members of her small town. Unfortunately, she does all these things at the expense of her own desires. When Martha receives a small book at the local library where she volunteers, she discovers that it contains familiar stories from her childhood, Martha's story is told with a combination of current day events and the fairy tales within the mysterious book. She embarks on a journey that uncovers families secrets and, eventually, the way forward. The Library of Lost and Found is cleverly written, poignant, and lovely,

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and Park Row Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

A British library volunteer has always felt rather apart from her family, the author does a good job of describing the feelings of all characters, and wraps up with a surprise ending

I wanted to like this book. I really did. But by the time I'd finished the first 60 pages it fell flat for me. Martha Storm is a librarian who begins the book as a doormat for others. She can't say no to anyone and everyone takes advantage of that fact. Learning about her childhood you understand why this had happened, but I was still frustrated with her. She does work it all out as the novel continues, and there is a nice little mystery for her to solve. Many people will like this book, it was just not for me. I would read this author again, I really like the way the story flowed. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me this copy to review.

A charming, easy to get into novel. I loved the main character Martha and her transformation. This book makes me want to do a read and leave! As a librarian I will suggest this book to many of my patrons.

I'm thrilled by the recent surge of books that describe a love of learning and love of books. While the family mystery initially intrigued me, I found my mind wandering while reading this one. This book will be a delight for many, but it just wasn't my taste.

Like her earlier book, The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper, where the talisman is the found bracelet, this story features stories, with the "found" book of stories leading the main character back to a beloved grandmother while explaining a tricky (and hidden) family situation. Martha's love of libraries, her grandmother's love of stories and sharing them, and the fairy tale-like stories wound through the book makes a lovely, comforting read. The overbearing (and let's admit it, abusive) father is a bit overdone, but if you want a long and pleasant read about a middle-aged woman who moves on in her life, give this a go.

Martha has a hard time saying no. She lives her life saying yes to anyone who asks her to do something, in saying yes she has left no room for herself in her days. A mystery book with a dedication to her written in it changes everything. Family secrets are revealed and Martha has to decide if she is ready to stop saying yes to others, and start living her own life.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

The premise of this book is what first drew me to this unknown author. A librarian who finds a mysterious book of fairy tales that could hold a secret to what happened to her grandmother? Count me in! This book was one that I enjoyed tremendously but never would have expected it. I am glad I did.

Another fabulous story from the marvellous mind of Phaedra Patrick. When volunteer librarian Martha Storm receives a mysterious book for Valentine's Day she begins to question long established truths from her past. This idyllic story weaves a narrative as soft and sweet as stands of cotton candy. Fans of Elinor Lipman will enjoy this book that makes you believe that it's never too late for second chances, and that letting go of the past is the only way to embrace the future.

I really enjoyed this book. The main character was a push-over who spent most of her life doing for others while neglecting her own professional, social, and personal needs. One day, a book arrives with puzzling information included and it sets her on a journey of both personal and familial discovery. The book was told from the perspective of the past and the present, a device I enjoy and the book had a wonderful cast of supporting characters. I don't want to go into too much detail as this story unfolds in a lovely way and is as much a discovery for the readers as it is for the main character. I highly recommend this book. It was a wonderful story about storytelling.

Martha Storm leads a lonely existence tending to everyone else's needs but ignoring her own needs and wishes. After giving up the love of her life to care for her aging parents, she has devoted her days to working at a library, apparently as a volunteer, and solving others' problems. Thanks to serendipity, she is given a book inscribed by her beloved grandmother, but mysteriously the inscription is dated after her grandmother died and the stories contained are ones that she and her grandmother made up. While undertaking to find the origins of this book Martha develops new relationships at the same time that family secrets are disclosed. Although perhaps predictable, the resolution of this book is satisfying and the characters enjoyable.

Another charming character study from Phaedra Patrick. I was rooting for Martha from the start and it was great to see her grow from someone who does everything for everyone to someone who found her own voice and happiness.

The book was ok, it wasn’t what I expected. However it wasn’t bad either. The plot was ok and kind of predictable. Overall it was ok.