This is another heartfelt historical fiction book. I loved the characters and how books and a library can bring diverse people together especially in difficult times.

This was such a beautiful story that tugged at my heartstrings. Set against the backdrop of Nottingham, England during the war, we follow the emotional journey of widow Emma Taylor and her daughter, Olivia, as they are to navigate the challenges of the war and the power of books to bring the community together.

The book does a fantastic job of capturing the hardships of the time, especially as Emma struggles to provide for her daughter in a world full of legal restrictions and fear of the unknown. It’s heartbreaking to read about the impact of war on families. How the separation between Emma and Olivia, even fictional, carries so much weight and emotion. The way the story intertwines their lives with the bookstore Emma works at, and the relationships she builds, gives a sense of community and hope amidst the chaos of the Blitz.

I absolutely love historical fiction books that pull at the heartstrings and makes you truly feel like you're back in that time, living along side the characters. There were so many lessons to be learned from this book., the biggest being resilience. Emma and Olivia endured so much hardship during their time apart, but Emma had to do what is best for her daughter.

I loved the way the author brought everyone together over their love for books. It truly shows that no matter what our backgrounds or our way of life, we can all come together over something we love.

The Booklover's Library by Madeline Martin is a beautifully poignant historical novel that weaves together themes of resilience, community, and the healing power of books. Set in Nottingham, England, during the early days of World War II, the story follows Emma Taylor, a widow who struggles to find a job due to the societal restrictions placed on women with children. In a desperate bid to support herself and her daughter, Olivia, Emma seeks employment at Boots' Booklover’s Library, hoping for a second chance.

The novel masterfully explores Emma’s journey as she navigates the challenges of wartime Britain. As Olivia is evacuated to the countryside for safety, Emma is left to face the war on her own. Through the friendships she forms with her neighbors and coworkers, and her passion for recommending books to the library’s eclectic clientele, Emma begins to rediscover her sense of purpose and the strength to move forward. But as mysterious occurrences unfold at the library—books being misplaced and even disappearing—Emma is forced to confront painful memories of her late father and their shared love for bookselling.

Martin’s rich storytelling transports readers into a world of uncertainty and heartache, yet there is an underlying thread of hope throughout the novel. The characters, particularly Emma, are beautifully developed, and their personal growth is deeply satisfying. The backdrop of the Blitz, with its ever-looming threat of danger, adds an emotional layer that highlights the importance of community and the solace we can find in stories during the darkest of times.

The Booklover's Library is a captivating tribute to the role literature plays in our lives, providing comfort, escape, and a sense of belonging. Fans of historical fiction, particularly those with a love for books and strong, resilient characters, will find this novel both moving and inspiring.

I wanted so hard to like this book but I’m sorry to say it was quite boring. I originally requested this book for the WWII home front and library setting but very little actually happened here. After hearing the author’s backstory on writing this book, the plot made more sense but the synopsis is very misleading. Most of the book felt repetitive and made me feel little emotion. However, some of the scenes with her daughter pulled at my heart strings. As a parent, I couldn’t imagine being in Emma’s shoes. The book did have some memorable characters, I just wish there was more of a story than the constant back and forth.

Thank you to NetGalley and its publishers for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved the story of Emma, a widow and her daughter Olivia that takes place in England during WWII. The struggles Emma goes thru to keep a job at the Boots Lending Library while trying to decide if she should send her daughter away to her in-laws to keep her safe from the bombings in the area. I had never heard of the Boots Lending Library and was amazed at what it accomplished. A good variety of some unique patrons visit the library. Strong characters in this historic story. A good book club selection. 4.5 stars

I absolutely loved The Booklover’s Library!

This beautifully written novel is a heartfelt tribute to the power of books, community, and resilience in the face of war. Emma’s journey is both inspiring and deeply emotional, as she finds strength through literature and unexpected friendships while longing to reunite with her daughter. The historical detail is rich and immersive, bringing 1940s Nottingham to life, and the mystery within the library adds an extra layer of intrigue. With unforgettable characters and a story that tugs at the heartstrings, this book is a must-read for historical fiction lovers and anyone who believes in the magic of stories.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

I sooo loved this book that I didn’t want it to end. I couldn’t wait to get back reading it but I also dragged it out to make it last.

I had never heard about the Boots lending library and so I did my own further research on it and found another book called Lipstick and library books that was written about the library.

I fell in love with the characters and when Emma went for a walk while working at another Boots branch in London, a smile slowly spread across my face as she came across Primrose Hill books and those inside. I recently finished Last Bookshop in London so seeing characters mentioned and things related to them made me so happy

This book will transport you to WWII London. As a reader and a history nerd, this book scratched the itch I didn’t know I needed! Mother and daughter face trials and struggles in the age where women weren’t able to work or provide for themselves in the way we are familiar with. This story transports you and also keeps you hooked, invested in Emma and Olivia’s family and story.

A great historical fiction set in World War 2 England. Emma is a widow with a young daughter and she finds a job in the Boots booklovers lending library. Great characters and writing style.

Madeline Martin’s The Booklover’s Library is a poignant and heartwarming tale of resilience, community, and the transformative power of literature set against the backdrop of WWII-era England. The story follows Emma Taylor, a widowed mother in Nottingham struggling to make ends meet as wartime restrictions leave her with few opportunities. When she secures a job at Boots’ Booklover’s Library, Emma not only finds purpose but also healing through the connections she fosters with coworkers, neighbors, and the patrons who rely on her book recommendations.

Martin masterfully captures the era’s challenges, from the harrowing separation of families during evacuations to the uncertainty brought by the Blitz. Emma’s journey is filled with touching moments of vulnerability and strength as she grapples with her grief, navigates mysterious happenings in the library, and holds onto hope of reuniting with her daughter, Olivia.

What sets this novel apart is its celebration of literature as a source of comfort and connection. Emma’s love of books and her growing community remind readers of the enduring power of stories to illuminate even the darkest times. With richly drawn characters, an evocative setting, and a narrative brimming with heart, The Booklover’s Library is a tribute to the courage of ordinary people and the magic of books.

Perfect for fans of historical fiction and book-centered stories, Martin delivers an uplifting and immersive read that lingers long after the final page.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to review.

4.5 stars rounded up. I really enjoy stories set during the war when we see what is happening on the home front. Emma Taylor is a widow with a daughter, Olivia. She needs a job to provide for herself and her daughter, but there are legal restrictions prohibiting widows with children from most employment opportunities. She has one option left, persuading the manageress of the Boots' Booklover's Library to hire her. As the threat of war becomes real, Emma makes the difficult choice to send Emma out of the city to live in the country to live with strangers and wait out the war. To survive emotionally, Emma becomes friends with her neighbours and coworkers, who know about Olivia, and support her. She gets to know the patrons and works well with them, making recommendations. When books begin disappearing and being misshelved, she is blamed, and possibly in danger of losing her job? Eventually the threat feels unreal, and Emma wants to bring her daughter home. Olivia doesn't wait for her mom to come and get her, but takes matters into her own hands. As the blitz heats up, will Olivia and Emma survive?

The more I read about the home front during the war, I am shocked that widows with children were prohibited from working. How were they supposed to survive? Emma is resilient, doing what she had to do to support herself and keep her daughter safe. She is personable and easily becomes a favourite at the Booklover's Library. I felt for her and Olivia being separated, but that was what happened to keep the children safe. It is heartbreaking nonetheless. I liked the addition of the Library. Although there was a membership fee, borrowing books was better than having to buy them. I didn't like the class structure though. Themes of friendship, women supporting one another, motherhood, and survival all come into play. This was an enjoyable story that kept my interest from start to finish. Although it is set during WW2, it centers on those at home, not the fighting or the holocaust. I recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction, homefront stories during wartime and stories of family.

I found this book to be very boring. I actually found that there was not much about books, or libraries. It was mainly about ww2. I thought after reading it would be about a mother and daughter and their undying love for their child. I guess I was just expecting a different book.

This book was by far my favorite book of 2024 and my most recommended. I cannot stop thinking about it. Emma and Olivia's story is not one I will soon forget. The story of what a mother would do for the love and safety of her daughter is one that so many of us can identify with. Thank you for an excellent read. I'm looking forward to more from this authror.

What a fantastic read! Emma, a widow, and her daughter Olivia are living in England when Emma finds herself in the difficult position of needing to find a job to support herself and her daughter. But this is 1939, when it was not possible for a widowed mother to find work which would provide enough. Expected instead to re-marry for support and security, Emma finds herself in a difficult position, but we quickly learn she is a tenacious woman, fiercely motivated to protect her freedom and her daughter's well-being. Able to convince Boots Book-Lover's Library to hire her as a lending librarian, Emma believes this will be enough to provide for herself and her daughter. But her plan hits snags when WWII creeps ever closer to English borders, eventually forcing Emma to send Olivia away to the countryside, where countless other children have also been evacuated. The heartbreak of not having her daughter with her combined with a mysterious problem of books continuously being misshelved, casting suspicion on her, presents the serious problem of potentially losing her job.

It is easy for us to fall in love with Emma's character and to experience life in WWII England with her as she develops strong relationships and friendships with neighbors and co-workers. Her own love of books and reading is relatable to anyone who is a reader themselves, and it was fascinating for me to learn about Boots Book-Lover's Library, a lending library which I was unaware of until reading this novel. Up until the opening of these libraries, library patrons were unable to freely walk among the bookstacks to choose books for themselves, instead relying on librarians to find and retrieve books for them.

Many thanks to Madeline Martin, NetGalley, and the publisher Hanover Square Press for the opportunity to read an eARC of this novel.

This is more accurately a book about a woman finding her way in the midst of an extremely challenging time in history rather than a book just about WWII, which makes it a change from other WWII historical fiction novels one may read. We see the pain and anguish caused by sending children away in the mass evacuations, while also understanding why they seen as a necessary way to protect as many lives as possible. We see how citizens tried to carry on despite the difficulties of war, finding joy and simple pleasure in life's every day activities, like reading. But we also see the impacts the war would inevitably have on those who lived in the midst of it.

I enjoyed this book set in wartime England. It was interesting to learn about booklover’s libraries. I can’t even imagine the heartbreak that families of that time faced having to choose between keeping their children with them and putting them in danger or sending them away to the country to possibly keep them safer. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

In 1931, Emma lost her whole world- her dad, home, and their bookstore- to a fire. Shortly after she became engaged, married, a mother, and a widow. Her husband’s death left Emma to care for Olivia on her own. In 1939, Olivia is 7, and World War II is knocking on England’s door. Emma pretends to simply be unmarried (married nor widowed woman could have jobs in 1940 England) to gain employment at the Booklover’s Library.

As war comes to England, Emma must do the hard thing and send Olivia to the countryside for her safety. This story shares experiences these small towns had during bombings- the way they supported their community, troops, and one another during this unstable time. Emma and Olivia both grow during this time- finding strength and love in their friends, community, and the books they surround themselves with.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The characters in this story are vibrant and have so much depth. They invoke how it must have felt in these smaller towns just hours from England during the war. The detailed separation of parents and their children, along with the unfortunate placements these children faced, was heartbreaking. But the resilience of a nation and the true meaning of service are strong themes throughout @madelinemmartin entire book. If you’re a WWII reader this fictional story should be on your TBR list.

Doing my oops I’m late to this #advancedreaderscopy - thank you to @netgalley and @harlequinbooks - the pub date was 9/10/24

#2025bookchallenge2of100
#thebookloverslibrary
#worldwar2
#netgalley

I love the cover and was super excited to mix two of my favorite things: books and historical fiction. Can't get enough. This WW11 novel has endearing characters and tells the story of the bond between a widowed mother, Emma, and her daughter, Olivia, as well as the power of literature and community to get you through dark times. This book did a great job emotionally connecting the reader to the economic struggle widowed woman faced during ww11. I did not read The Last Bookshop in London but will put that on my TBR now. I wish I had to enjoy the little sneak that made into this book. I am very excited for Madaline Martin's next book about books coming out Sept 2025.
Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing | Hanover Square Press for the ARC.

Madeline Martin does it again. Her insightful and fantastic novel brings the past to life. I felt the triumphs and the despair deeply. I cried ugly tears, both happy and sad. The Booklover's Library was one of the best books I read in 2024.

WWII was a time of great fear and Martin captures this feeling in ways that make it all real for new generations. I felt Emma's pain profusely. However, her friendship with the lovely landlady and friends at the lending library gave readers light in an otherwise dreary era. Martin's extensive research shines brilliantly in every chapter.

I love how Emma found purpose at the lending library. The patrons who visit are written spectacularly. I enjoyed the cantankerous mystery lover and the talkative lady with her dog. I could see them so clearly and picture their conversations as if I were there with them.

The discrimination toward married women and widows with children during this era is appalling. Unfortunately, it is easy to imagine even today. That is why the ending was so satisfying.

Martin uses wit and despair flawlessly. Her ability to connect the two makes her a standout in the historical fiction realm and I am thrilled to award The Booklover's Library a full 5 out of 5 stars.

Madeline Martin deserves credit for a well-written story that explores common tropes (World War II and books/libraries) in a way that is engaging, well-researched, and introduces some lesser known aspects like the marriage bar and lending libraries in WWII England. While the pacing occasionally felt uneven and I didn't necessarily connect deeply with some of the characters, I would recommend this to those looking for historical fiction set during the era or lovers of historical fiction involving books, especially if they like writing that slips in literary references throughout the story.

I enjoyed this historical fiction novel set during world war 2 in London. I did feel that some of the things that happened in the story were a little too contrived. Some of the story line felt unbelievable as well. I wish that the main character Emma had been more honest with herself and others so that things would have worked themselves out more quickly. Overall, I liked the book.