An ode to people who work in the world of books. The brief stories are interesting but there is no commentary or thread that ties them together or explains how the selections on who to include were made. It also took a while to get used to the use of the present tense when describing things that happened in the past. There are a few really powerful stories about people fighting censorship or truly helping others but mostly the stories are fairly mundane.

Being a librarian myself, I was very excited to read this combination of two of my loves: libraries and James Patterson books. It is always interesting to see how others started in the profession, and the impact that books have on others.

The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians by James Patterson and Matt Eversmann could have been my story. It brought back so many fond memories and truths about library work. Even though I loved it too much to ever call it work. Great book!

Do you know a bookseller of a librarian? Are you interested in learning about what booksellers or librarians do all day? No, they do not get to sit and read all day - that is just a myth, unfortunately! World famous author James Patterson has a great love of reading and spends a lot of time at and in bookstores and libraries. So he and two collaborators decided to gather and share stories from booksellers and librarians.

The first section has booksellers and librarians discuss being book detective. This involves either trying to figure out what book a patron/customer is trying to find based on what little information they have (it was a red book on birds or it had vampires and airplanes and World War I) or trying to find a book that meets the needs/tastes/desires of the patron (I want a cozy romance set in Rome that involves baking).

The second section interviews librarians and booksellers on books. All sorts of stories about books - their favorites, the first books they read, what books they tend to recommend, etc.

The third section dives into booksellers and librarians reminiscing on the role that books and reading plays in their lives. One librarian talks about how she learned about interlibrary loan when she was seventeen and working on an art project. Another has a plan for world domination via children's literature.

Section four is all about reading! Booksellers and librarians are more interested in getting people hooked on reading and less worried about what they are reading. Because, as one bookseller states, "a kid who reads is a kid who thinks." Not to mention that adults who read tend to think as well.

The fifth and final section is talking about everything that librarians and booksellers do behinds the scenes so that the books and other items/services are easily found by the customers/patrons. Did you know that some libraries have tools you could check out? Or job resume services? How about tax forms? The list of services just grows and grows!

Okay, the title is a bit misleading. Not all librarians and booksellers are super heroes or keeping rare and strange artifacts safe from evil doers (see The Librarians for a fun watch). But if you enjoy reading about why people enjoy their jobs, The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians is a good place to start!

It's safe to say that I'm a voracious reader; every year for the past half-dozen or so, I've read more than 100 (mostly mysteries and thrillers, if anyone cares to know). During the years our children were, well, children, and I had little free time to read for my own pleasure, I read to them - until they learned to read and took matters into their own hands. The point is, I've more than paid my dues at libraries and bookstores, and I have nothing but respect and admiration (and a little bit of envy) for those who own, manage or work in them. This book, then, was fun to read - listening in, as it were, to insights and inspiration from those who are being there, doing that and telling us why they think what they do is important - which, in fact, it is.

Several spoke of the special satisfaction that comes from interacting with children (an issue near and dear to my own heart). As Mary Terry of a Barnes & Noble in Beaumont, Texas, noted, "A kid who reads is a kid who thinks."

At the Cleveland Public Library, Erica Marks says she's always on the lookout for books written by and speakers who are people of color - to better serve her community. Meg Wasmer, owner of Copper Dog Books in Beverly, Massachusetts, sees herself as a "detective" as much as a bookseller; she once located a book primarily based on the customer's report that the book she wanted had a blue cover. I can relate; I've lost count of the times over the years that I've advised people who need questions answered to check with the reference librarian at their local library (hint: they're s-m-a-r-t, and they know things).

More than one respondent spoke of another issue that has reared its ugly head again of late - attempts to ban books. The book professionals maintain, and I couldn't agree more, that parents can choose what their own children read; but they absolutely, positively do not have the right to choose the books anyone else's kids do.

The bottom line? If nothing else, this relatively short book is a nice tribute to some hard-working, dedicated and often under-appreciated professionals - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

This book is like a very long love letter to Librarians and Booksellers, the people who try to get books into the hands of everyone. I work in a library and used to long to own a bookstore, so this book is very much something I should love. It did help me understand a little more on what it takes to run a bookstore, and maybe that’s what this book is really about – helping people who love to read if a job as a bookstore owner or a librarian is for them.

Readers may find some interesting bits here, but more likely this is a book for those who work in those jobs, or are curious about it.

While every person has their own unique story, there are striking similarities, unfortunately, after a while it became a little repetitive. It’s understandable not wanting to cut any one of these stories. And yet…it would be a better book being shorter.

It’s a book about people who love books!! What more does a book lover need? Great stories about book lovers and book sellers. Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for read and review

A love letter to librarians and booksellers, this book will hit hard in this cultural moment. It reminds of why libraries and bookstores still matter and that connection and community and a third place are only more significant in a world that seems both constantly connected and full of isolation.

I’m disappointed. I was expecting more than the stories of how various librarians and booksellers got into the business.

Little, Brown and Company provided an early galley for review.

As a librarian who loves to wander the stacks in the library and bookstores, this was an instant draw for me. By hearing the words and approaches of others with similar inclinations, my hope was to get further insight into my own self.

The book is broken into five parts, each with a general theme to it. Within each of those parts are then many profiles of booksellers and librarians. Each profile is short (mostly two to three pages apiece), taking no time at all to read. so, they can be consumed in short moments between other tasks if need be.

But, when taken together, they paint a picture of the world of reader services that are offered by these two professions. For someone who has chosen to work in that world, it resonates with my own views and experiences. For those not in the mix, perhaps this book will give insights into the professions.

This is a wonderful book of several librarians and bookseller’s stories. The job we do is one most people always think of grandmothers doing as they sit and read books behind the counter looking up occasionally to shhh people. This book shows how very wrong that is. With 75 toddlers at a toddler time, to fending off book challenges, and keeping up on the new books and the popular ones. It is a sneak peek into this job we have chosen.

Definitely worth the read. The stories are told by book sellers, bookstore owners, librarians and such. They tell stories of their experiences in their jobs, talking about the good, the bad, and everything in between. It was great to be able to read something that could be put down without being afraid that you're going to miss a point because you stopped reading. Each chapter is it's own story, or set of stories.
I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I received a free copy of, The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians, by James Patterson: Matt Eversman, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I love books, I also love libraries and book shops. I still read books, I prefer old school books to reading on a kindle, phone, or computer. This is a really good book about people who love books too.

As a lifelong avid reader, past library volunteer and former bookseller, I love books about books - fiction and non! Especially because I miss working in a bookstore. Even though that was long before I became disabled, and it was a short lived employment, it's one of my most memorable. The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians shows us that despite our different backgrounds and circumstances, books bring so many of us together!

James Patterson and Matt Eversmann did a great job in this book, i enjoyed getting to read these stories about booksellers and libraries. It had a great overall feel and I was hooked from the first page.

As an avid reader, I love books about books and bookish things. "Secret lives of booksellers and librarians"? Sign me up!
While I do not read his fiction, I was excited for this title. And, wow, was I ever let down.
The chapters have bookish titles but the content throughout the book does not flow with their assigned spot in any way.
And although I found some of the pieces interested, such as the prison librarian at Rikers Island, most of the content was describing how or why various booksellers and librarians got their job or opened their store and/or examples of customer/patron interactions that are common in the job. So common that I started skimming halfway through the book.
Every bookseller and librarian in the book is American, which was disappointing. But also, other than author-turned-bookseller Judy Blume, the remainder are names I don't recognize. Was that intentional?
The book starts and ends abruptly with the first and last entries. The description of the book is taken from entries in the book or is a vague idea of the content.
I think this would have been a much better book if there had been some sort of introduction with an explanation from Patterson about the people included in the book. How did this book come about? How were the submissions chosen?
And finally, who is the target audience for this book? As a library worker, I was disappointed. As an avid reader, I was disappointed. Will this title appeal to reluctant readers? This may be described as a "celebration of the world of books" but it doesn't successfully come off that way to me. But that's just my opinion.
2.5 stars

An extremely pleasant read about booksellers and librarians and the joys of handing the right book to the right person along with humorous and sad stories about working in bookstores and libraries.

Nothing better than books about books, right? I love reading about people who love books and I found this collection of stories about booksellers and librarians to be extremely readable. I learned about new things, the Seattle athenaeum, as well as read stories about our own local book store here in the bay area, Book Passage. The variety in the stories and love of books made it fun to pick up this book.

I don’t know what it is, but books about books just bring me joy. I started my career as a librarian a year ago, so I knew that this would be right up my alley. Admittedly, this is my first James Patterson, and I enjoyed his writing style. I loved the variety of voices included in the collection, and their stories about sharing their love of reading with others.

This love letter to librarians and booksellers was highly enjoyable. I loved the variety of voices and back stories and found each to be enjoyable. Highly recommend!