During the second World War, English women were trapped by societal norms. They could only work if they were single. Even widows with families to support, were ineligible for employment. This places Emma, who lost her husband, in a desperate situation as the sole caretaker of her daughter Olivia. Luckily, someone who knew her father takes pity on the young mother, agreeing to hire her if she will work under the title “Miss.” Emma isn’t alone in dealing with the policies. Her co-worker and new friend Margaret, is delaying getting married because she doesn’t want to lose her job at the Booklovers’ Library.

This is not a public library where books are loaned out to patrons. Instead, it’s a subscription-based library where people pay to be a member with borrowing privileges. These members look to the employees for recommendations on reading materials. Emma becomes a respected source of solid referrals and enjoys her job. However, caring for her daughter when school is out becomes a major source of anxiety. They live in a highly industrialized area which is considered a prime target for German bombs. This leads Emma to seriously consider the government’s warnings and send her daughter to live in a safer area. Emma seems to be alone in her struggle, but luckily, she is befriended by some who initially seem standoffish. People will sometimes surprise her with their assistance. But her stress over her daughter’s care grows as the bombings and air raids increase.

Martin creates a fascinating tale of a different type of library that offers the same customer service as public libraries with perhaps, a more personalized approach. Still, the love of reading and the importance of books comes through loud and clear.

Wartime is fraught with difficulties beyond the front. Emma and her friend Margaret are caught up in the strange rules of female employment while little Olivia hates being separated from her mom. The bombings come ever closer, neighborhoods are demolished and the anxiety is heightened. These wartime realities and the need for a community to rally together, form the basis for this historical tale. The characters are relatable and one fears for their survival – both physically and emotionally. Once again, books and the community of readers shine and offer hope during such difficult times.

The Booklover's Library is set during WW2 where Emma, a widower, must find a way to provide for herself and her daughter. As a widower, Emma is limited in work opportunities and with not many options, she convinces The Boot's Booklover's Library manageress to take a chance on her. Emma must make the hard decision to send her daughter to the countryside to protect her.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved this story! Emma Taylor is a widow and a single mom in Nottingham, England looking for a job at the start of WWII. She used to run a bookstore with her father before the shop burned down and her Dad passed away. She ends up at the Boots Booklovers Library, where despite the rule against hiring married women and widows.

This was a great story about how reading helps people during the toughest times. Emma has to pretend she's single and she doesn't have a daughter. She also has to make the difficult decision to send her daughter out to the country to keep her safe from the bombing. All the while working and trying to make ends meet and keep food on the table while living through WWII. Also, for fans of Last Bookshop in London, there's a cameo by some of the characters. This is the 3rd story I've read by this writer and I've loved them all. I'm looking forward to more by this writer.

Thanks to @harlequintradepublishing, @netgalley, and the author of this ARC

I loved this book.

WW2 England is one of my favorite historical fictions eras to read, and this one grabbed my heart from the first page and didn’t let go. This book had it all - bookstores, lending libraries, love, loss, fear, hope, friendship, and so much more! The character development was absolutely superb, and I loved the wide variety of characters. For those who loved Madeline Martin’s book The Last Bookshop in London, there is an appearance from some of the main characters from that beautiful book, which was so much fun!

I definitely recommend this one to anyone who loves books, loves historical fiction, or just wants to learn more about what it was like to live in World War 2 England.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own.

This was a nice read that I enjoyed. I especially appreciated the relationships between the female characters.

The Booklover's Library shows a much different side of WWII historical fiction than most books. It focus on the dilemma parents of children in England faced of either keeping them at home in the cities or sending the children to country for their safety. This is my first book by Madeline Martin and cannot wait to read more by her.

Madeline Martin is fast becoming one of my new favorite authors! I love all the in-depth research she does to bring this book to life with such great historical detail. While I personally couldn't relate to Emma's relationship with her daughter, I very much enjoyed the menagerie of characters who graced these pages, and all the unique and refreshing perspectives they brought to light in an inundated genre like WWII fiction. Excited to read more from this wonderful author!

I am a huge fan of books written by Madeline Martin, and this one was no exception.

We meet Emma, a widow who is doing what she can to care for her daughter as war looms on the horizon. She has to care for her child somehow, and in doing so, has to fight the societal expectations in order to do so.

Martin does such a good job of weaving together amazing characters in a historical setting. While this book is historical fiction, I still felt like I learned a few things about the time period (something I always enjoy)!

And of course, Emma works in a library, which is the best sort of location for a book lover!

Definitely check this book out, you won't be sorry.

4.5 stars — so glad I stayed up late to finish this 💙
Another exceptional story by Madeline Martin! She blends a love of books with the harsh realities of war and personal struggles in such an emotional way that you’ll reflect on what truly matters in life.

I loved the main characters and connected with them deeply enough to eagerly continue reading (even when I should’ve been doing other things, like sleeping 🤭). I also appreciated the side characters and their stories.

Although this novel has some tragic elements, I was relieved that the overall story isn’t so utterly devastating. There are many moments of joy and love, which make the reader feel more hopeful. The extensive research Madeline Martin conducted makes this a beautifully written and enlightening story that’ll have you hugging your loved ones & your books.

I definitely recommend this (and other novels of hers) to all book lovers, history buffs, and anyone looking for a book that shows the many ways in which we are all connected and deserving of peace ☮️

🎧 Audiobook narrator, Saskia Maarleveld has a soothing voice and makes it easy to distinguish one character from another. I’ve enjoyed every audiobook that I’ve read with her narration ✨

I loved this book! It was such a charming cozy read about a widowed mother during WWII making ends meet by working at a lending library and just trying to do what was best for her young daughter.

Although I found myself frustrated at times with the choices Emma made, ultimately I could relate to that “I don’t know what I’m doing” feeling as a mother. I also adored the side cast of characters. And her love interest - swoon! Almost too good to be true!

If you love books about books and books set in England during WWII, definitely pick this one up!

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book.

"The Booklover's Library" shares the story of orphaned and widowed Emma Taylor. Most of it takes place at the start of World War II, as she tries to raise her young daughter on her own in England.

Little did I know prior to reading this story that married women and widows were not allowed to work outside the home at that time. However, the small pension Emma's husband left doesn't stretch very far, and she and her daughter Olivia are constantly on the brink of ruin. So, Emma takes a chance and gets a job anyway, on the condition that she hide that she's a widow and mother.

That job allows her to start providing for her daughter in ways she hadn't been able to previously, and all seems to be going well for them finally until England enters the war against Germany. Like many other parents throughout the country, Emma is faced with an unthinkable decision. Does she keep her daughter with her, knowing their town is at risk of being bombed, or does she send Olivia to the country to reside with unknown strangers?

What I loved about this story was the deep love conveyed in it for family, friends and books. Even though Emma felt at times like she was alone in this world, trying to raise her daughter, the community that rallied around her, not just in her time of need, but as part of her everyday life, was heartwarming.

Thank you to Madeline Martin, Harlequin Trade, and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

A moving and inspiring story, perfect for book lovers! The author's note has some wonderful information.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I don't normally read a lot of books in this genre, but I decided to branch out and I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed this book a lot!

This book was so hard to put down to even sleep, let alone do anything else I loved reading about these lending libraries. I had never heard of these before. Seeing how being a single parent during the time of World War II and trying to provide for you and your child as Emma did for Olivia was so heart rending. Especially trying to decide whether to keep your child with you or with some other family in a safer part of the country would have been a terrible predicament to be placed in. I could not even imagine having to face such atrocities.

The book lending service where Emma was able to gain employment seems like such an ideal place to work. Being a book lover this would have been a dream job for me.

I so completely enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it.

I want to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publications for this advanced reader copy. This is my honest opinion.

Emma, a widow with a child, desperately needs a job. For many years women with children were prohibited from working. Emma convinces the manager of a subscription book shop to hire her. The bookshop was located above the Boots' Chemists shops. With a lot of finagling and reliance on her neighbors, Emma goes to work and has child care for Olivia. With World War II coming on and the threat of evacuation of children a reality, Emma faces tough decisions. Opting to send her daughter away from London is the hardest thing she has ever had to do. As friendships are formed with others at the bookshop and her boarding house, she and others do what they can do to fight the war.

Based on true events, this is an excellent book that tells how the average Brit survived the war.

I loved The Booklover’s Library - Madeline Martin’s latest ode to the power of books and the strength of women during wartime. She has truly become a master storyteller, and this novel had it all = beautiful writing, expert pacing, an intriguing plot and well developed characters. Extra credit to Martin for discovering and educating us readers about the subscription libraries of old.

Highly recommended!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for the privilege of a complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.

What a sweet story. I found it cozy and fun, albeit melancholy at times with the main character's agonizing over her decisions to keep her daughter safe during bombing raids. Read if you love cozy British WWII stories of women who are trying to make the most of their situations.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. #sponsored

In this fascinating and enjoyable World War II historical fiction novel, Madeline Martin brings readers to wartorn Nottingham where widowed Emma Taylor and her daughter Olivia are struggling to cope with the war and the laws against widows working. After finding a job at the local lending library (and pretending to be an unmarried woman), Emma has managed to capture some of the magic from her father’s old bookstore before it burned down, though the job is not without its difficulties. As the war and the Blitz continue to escalate, Emma must evacuate Olivia to the countryside, but these evacuations will strain their relationship and Emma must fight to keep her relationship with her daughter alive. With a fantastic, strong, and kind narrator in Emma, readers will love her relationships with her coworkers, neighbors, daughter Olivia, and the patrons of the lending library as they forge bonds despite the bombs raining down on the city. The incredible characters in this novel are complex, with mysterious backstories slowly revealed over the course of the novel, and their relationships with the other characters are charming and heartwarming. With fantastic characters, a beautiful mother-daughter relationship, and some fascinating twists and turns, fans of World War II fiction and historical fiction about books and book lovers must read Martin’s newest book.

Thank you so much for allowing me to read this book! I absolutely loved it and couldn't put it down! I love this time period in history! The story brought me straight into the world! This book felt like such a love letter to books and helped me fall in with working around books all over again!

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing and Hanover Square Press for the digital galley. #TheBookloversLibrary #NetGalley
In Nottingham England widow Emma Taylor is struggling to provide for her daughter, Olivia as WWII is beginning. The laws at the time prohibited the employment of women with children, which left Emma in financial difficulty. As the daughter of a beloved bookshop owner, she was well versed in books and was astute in recommending the right book to each customer. For this reason, she is hired by the director of Boots' Booklover's Library, an actual lending library that operated out of the same buildings as the Boots' pharmacies. Major plot lines of literature, friendship, romance, family, the evacuation of children, the blitz, and The women's auxiliary bring to life the characters and the lives. Excellent author's notes. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys well researched WW II historical fiction.