Another fabulous historical fiction read—thoroughly enjoy Madeline’s books! The setting of the book in Boots’ Booklover’s Library was captivating and the reason I wanted to read the book. She vividly described the time period and what the characters endured. I found the mother daughter relationship a more emotional bond than in previous works which made the story more endearing. She mentions the underpinnings of this in her author’s note as well which brought even more life to the story!

Thank you Madeline Martin, Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC opportunity!

Anyone familiar with major details of WWII will know that families in larger cities in Britain had to make the difficult decision of whether they would send their children away to the countryside during the war. That conflict is really at the heart of this bookish wartime novel about a single mother and her young daughter in England in the late 1930s. I enjoyed that aspect of this book because I felt like I learned a little bit about this element of the war, and it was also emotional being inside Emma’s head as she was forced to make these decisions regarding her daughter.
There was also another plotline with Emma starting work at a lending library—this was another opportunity to learn a little bit, as I knew nothing about lending libraries nor about the unfair restrictions preventing widowed women with children from working outside of the home.
Those parts of the plot were fairly strong, but I found the other B and C plots really underdeveloped, and the side characters lacking much personality aside from a few exceptions like Margaret and Mrs. Pickering. I also thought the writing was a little weak—pretty repetitive and leaning a little too much on telling over showing.
That being said, it was a pleasant read—nothing too taxing and a sweet story overall. I would recommend to fans of bookish novels or wartime novels.

Thank you to Harlequin and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Out now!

Had a great time reading this book. It was enjoyable, I read it in 2 sittings.
Highly recommend reading this if you like this genre.

Madeline Martin’s The Booklover’s Library drops us into Nottingham during WWII, where widow Emma Taylor faces an impossible choice: risk keeping her daughter Olivia in a bombing zone or send her off to live with strangers in the countryside.

With little hope and even fewer job options—married and widowed women were barred from most work—Emma persuades Boots’ lending library to hire her. There she finds unlikely friendships, quirky patrons, and a reminder that books can keep people afloat when the world is sinking.

What caught me most wasn’t the “library angle” (frankly, I’m getting a little worn out on book-about-books stories), but the history tucked inside. I had never heard of the SS City of Benares, a British ship carrying ninety evacuee children bound for Canada. In September 1940, it was torpedoed by a German submarine—over 250 people died, including seventy-seven children. The tragedy ended the overseas evacuation program and hangs heavy over Emma’s own fears for Olivia.

The novel lingers a bit too long on daily routines, and I found myself wishing for more action as the Blitz pressed in. Still, the emotional core—community, courage, and a mother’s love—makes this a rewarding wartime read.

** Thanks to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for a comp. Opinions are my own.

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

Set in the early years of WWII England, The Booklover’s Library perfectly captures the daily joys and struggles of Emma Taylor, a widow and mother to her timid daughter, Olivia. This beautifully written book takes the historically accurate experiences of women and children of the time and weaves it into a story about books and their ability to bring people together and impart a sense of joy and hope when reality seems so dark. Madeline Martin has written a story that is so much more than a fictional account of a widely written about time period; her story brings to life the real life experiences of the time while affirming the timeless truths about family, friends, and the joy that comes from reading.

One of the things I enjoy about reading historical fiction is the independent search it sends me on to either find or expand on the historical facts in the story. Having traveled to the UK multiple times I was familiar with the Boots drug store but had no idea that it had a lending library at one time. It was just one of many small revelations about day to day life in this time period that Madeline deftly wove throughout the book. Another major component of the story was the policy to send the children from the cities out to sponsors in rural areas. This was never an easy decision for parents and was not without its abuses. Madeline uses Emma and her daughter, Olivia’s experiences to present this occurrences in an unbiased way that allowed me to wrestle with my own thoughts on how I would have handled being in that situation. I love a book that challenges me to contemplate things even after I’ve put the story down for the day.

“She always admired readers who ventured outside of their natural genres. Those were often the people who had the greatest empathy, the most understanding of others around them, and the broadest appreciation for the world.”

The Booklover’s Library is also full of so many wonderful nuggets of wisdom to ponder! “Emma’s father had been right – every person just needed the right book to make them into a reader.” Madeline Martin has written characters that live out these revelations in profound ways. Emma’s backstory as a child whose father died saving her from their bookstore’s fire and her journey back into the world of books and reading was inspirational to someone who loves books. Her relationship with her daughter as a single mother and the struggles their situation opened them to resulted in Emma having to open herself to other people which made her life richer and fuller because of it. These side stories became the icing on the cake of an already great novel. So, even if you are not regularly a historical fiction reader, I highly encourage you to read The Booklover’s Library as it will enrich your reading journey.

The Booklover's Library by Madeline Martin is a delightful and heartwarming read that feels like a cozy hug in book form. If you're looking for a story that celebrates the magic of books and the power of found family, this is it.

The main character is wonderfully relatable, and the charming library setting is a character in itself. Martin perfectly captures the feeling of getting lost in a good book and finding solace in a community of fellow bookworms. It’s a gentle, lovely story that will leave you with a big smile on your face.

A perfect escape for anyone who believes that a good book can be a true friend.

I DNFed this book as I did not feel a connection to our main character. It felt surface level and underdeveloped.

As a historical fiction lover, The Booklover’s Library by Madeline Martin was everything I could have hoped for, rich in detail, full of heart, and a beautiful tribute to the power of books in the darkest of times. Martin has a gift for breathing life into history, and in this novel, she captures both the quiet bravery and deep resilience of ordinary people with extraordinary grace.

I was completely swept up in the story’s setting and its poignant atmosphere. The characters felt so real, their love for books so genuine, that I found myself cherishing every moment spent in their world. There’s something incredibly comforting, and inspiring, about seeing literature used not just as escape, but as survival.

This is the kind of novel that reminds me why I love historical fiction: it teaches, it moves, and it lingers. A must-read for anyone who believes in the enduring power of stories.

ohhh this book! I read this while I was 4 months pregnant, and I really enjoyed the ride. I am just getting around to posting this review, since I am a bit behind having a 5 month old son! but I just adored this book. set in Nottingham, England, widow Emma Taylor finds herself in desperate need of a job to provide for herself and her beloved daughter, Olivia. I loved the WWII setting, as I love historical fiction novels and reading fiction set during this time period. Martin's writing is vivid and makes you immersed in the story, and made me feel like I was Emma and watching her own story play out. I really enjoyed reading about her as a single parent, because back during that time period, it wasn't celebrated to be a single parent, and felt was more frowned upon. but oh how I loved the relationship between Emma and her daughter. the theme of motherhood in this book is so prominent and I just loved reading this story. thank you so much to the author and netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really liked all the connections to books and how important they were to people. War is always a sad time but it felt a little frantic. I had a hard time really connecting to the characters and their emotions. I’m glad there was a happy ending and the cameo from her other book.

This book deserved to be a nominee for Goodread’s Readers’ Favorite Historical Fiction of 2024.

I love books about books. And add into it being set in WWII and I’m in reader heaven. Emma is a librarian pre war. When war strikes, her role changes. She ends up being in charge of a lending library. Her connections with other people in the area really make the story. I love how books hold people together, whether it’s relationships among them, or simply to help them escape from the nastiness of the war.

Madeline does a great job researching and telling an engaging story. And having Saskia Maarleveld narrate the story makes it that much better. She’s an amazing narrator and I love how lost I get in the story when she’s reading it.

Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and The Hive for my copy of this book.

Madeline Martin has delivered another amazing story, in my opinion. This is the story of a widow and her daughter during the time of the war, living in Nottingham, London. Emma is in need of a decent paying job, and women with children is in a sense, banned. She secures a job at a prominent book shop and must now navigate how to keep Olivia safe when arriving home from school, to an empty apartment.

In my opinion, this is the heart of the story. Emma and Olivia form relationships with others in the community during the time war, and here is where we can understand the phrase "it takes a village." I really enjoyed this story as I am a fan of not only books and reading, but also of relationships among family, friends and strangers. I highly recommend this book to anyone that loves heartwarming stories.

Thank you for allowing me to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Hanover Square Press for allowing me to review this book.

Martin writes such beautiful and emotional historical fiction. I always feel drawn right to the place in time she's setting the story in. Her characters are always flawed and real, even when the plot sometimes ventures into the overly-fanciful. Still, if you can suspend your disbelief of that and you love the setting, this book is a winner.

The Booklover's Library follows Emma, a widow, and her daughter Olivia as they navigate life in wartime England. The story takes place in a time when women, even widows, were not typically allowed to be employed, yet Emma MUST find a job in order to support herself and her daugter. She finally lands a job at The Booklover's Library, an early members-only club for books (who knew?). The book navigates the challenging times, with children being sent away from England for their safety and growing up with any sort of family that would take them.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was heartfelt and moving and I really wanted to know more about the characters. I especially loved that something as tragic as the war was set against something so magical as books to provide an escape from reality. Overall if you enjoy historical fiction, women's stories, or books, I think you will enjoy this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for the advanced copy for review.

Madeline Martin is a talented author of historical fiction as she ably demonstrates in this title. She evokes the time period when WW2 was beginning with characters and settings that come to life.

Emma is the protagonist. She lost her mother too soon and faced further loss with the death of her father. The war also threatens loss as Emma has to make decisions about whether to keep her daughter Olivia home or send her to the country for safety.

Emma is in financial straits. She manages to get a job at the Boot's subscriber's library. This makes sense as, in the past, Emma and her father ran a bookshop. I very much enjoyed all of the scenes that took place in the library as well as the many mentions of books by title. Readers will learn about how the library was run, the categories of patrons and more. They will also wonder, along with Emma, why someone is shelving books in the wrong places.

There are many characters alongside Emma in these pages whom readers will get to know. They will root for those for whom Emma cares. They will also experience a vivid evocation of British life in the time period.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

I really loved this story. The connection of books, and the connections they provide for people, was very nicely presented with characters you'll enjoy getting to know.

I read The Booklover’s Library by Madeline Martin last summer. Life happened and I didn’t get my review for this book written. I want to share now! It earned 4.25 stars from me because I enjoyed it very much! The first half of this book did not grab me the way The Last Bookshop in London, but the second half of this book was wonderful. There were so many bookish quotes and references to how books impact our lives, which I always love. The end of this read like a thriller! There was a scene where my heart was in my throat, it was so well written! I loved the ending so much!
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I recommend to Historical Fiction lovers. Yes, it’s WW2, but there were things in here I had never heard about before and was glad to know.
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Thanks to @Netgalley and @HarlequinTradePublishing
#TheBooklovesLibrary #Netgalley

The Booklover's Library is a wartime slice-of-life historical novel by Madeline Martin. Released 10th Sept 2024 by HarperCollins on their Hanover Square imprint, it's 432 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

Almost entirely character driven, the story has a sedate pace, and centers around Emma, her daughter Olivia, and her found family and friends. Despite the marriage working ban for women and widows in England (in place up to the 1970s!!! in some cases), she manages to be gain employment at Boots' lending library. The book is filled with literary references and ruminations on the importance of literature, especially in the uncertainty of wartime.

It's not derivative at all, but fans of Chris Bohjalian, Anthony Doerr, and Jennifer Ryan will likely enjoy this standalone novel.

Four stars. It would be a good choice for public or home library acquisition, for a buddy read, or book club discussion.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

This is the sweet story of a young widow and her daughter during WWII in England. Emma grew up with her father in her father’s bookstore until it burned down and she lost everything, her father as well. She married her father’s solicitor which proved to be an unhappy marriage with one bright spot, their daughter, Olivia. After her husband’s death Emma needs to find work to support herself and her daughter. After yet another rejection for work, Emma happens to go into the pharmacy for some tea and wanders into The Booklover’s Library. This leads not only to a job but new friends and a refound love of books. But Emma is faced with the gut wrenching decision to send her daughter away for safety from German bombs.
I love reading books about history plus the added bonus of a library made this perfect in my book. I fell in love with Emma and her daughter. Ill be picking up more by the author.

Two of my favorite subjects come together in Madeline Martin's 2024 book, The Booklover's Library: WWII and books!

A couple of years ago, I read Martin's The Library Spy and thoroughly enjoyed it. The Booklover's Library is set on the home front in a factory town in England.

I've read a few home front books lately, but I still learned something new about the war and the lives of people living during that time. Since they aren't in London, there isn't quite level of danger from bombing. Nottingham is a major factory town and therefore a target. This book was much more of a slice-of-life type novel.

Emma is a window with a young child. While windows could work, they were not allowed to if they had children. Yet, she has no one to support her, and the life insurance and government supplement are just enough to eek by. By chance, she seizes on the opportunity to become a librarian at the subscription-based lending library attached to Boots drug store. This is a job she is uniquely qualified for as she and her father lived above her father's bookshop until a horrific fire destroyed the bookstore and killed her father (yes, Emma has known a lot of tragedy).

Before reading this book, I had never heard of The Booklover's Library. It was a chain of libraries across England run by the Boots drug store. You paid a subscription fee, and then you could check out and return books to any of its locations. You could also request books from other locations to be sent to your location. Librarians served as concierges of sorts, providing personal recommendations to the subscribers.

Having read other library stories set during WWII, I knew that libraries served as a place of respite as well as a source of entertainment and could bring the community together. Since this isn't a public library like the one in Bethnal Green, there aren't programs drawing in the public, and due to the fee, only a certain type of person is a subscriber. Yet, Emma makes friends who are as close to family as she's ever known.

Emma is forced to send her daughter to the country for her safety. We get to understand the turmoil that parents (particularly mothers) had about evacuating their children.

The boarding house Emma resides in is also a source of comfort and family during the war years. Giving the reader yet another way neighbors came together during this difficult time.

Again, Martin creates wonderful characters that you could be friends with. The day after I finished the book, I kept thinking about Emma and Olivia and what would happen next in their lives, only to remember that I finished the book and I would not be part of their lives any longer.

If you love books about books and WWII fiction, then you should pick up this book.

My review will be published at Gril Who Reqaqds on Friday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2025/05/the-booklovers-library-by-madeline.html