I grew up listening to my grandmother telling stories about troubled times in Spain before she immigrated to Brazil and A Bookseller in Madrid tells much of the feeling Spaniards had at the time. If you did not agree with government you were persecuted, could end in prison or dead and there was much poverty. The totalitarian governments that led to WWII were spreading throughout Europe and racial prejudice were a constant for many. The books mixes reality with fiction and gives a strong message regarding books and dreams because both are a way to keep us going and changing and hopefully bringing change around us. Barbara's dream of having her bookshop, being free to be herself and to be vocal about her beliefs is an up-to-date dream even after almost a hundred years between the timing of the story and nowadys. Beautifully written, this books is a must-read for history fiction lovers!
I thank Mr. Escobar, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

While parts of the story were ok, I had a hard time becoming invested in the characters. Also, there were a lot of names and events related to the Spanish Civil War and I didn't have much background context, so it bogged the story down for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. The opinions here stated are my own.
This was a hard read for me. As a historical fiction reader, I liked learning about Spain during one of the world's most turbulent times. As a librarian, I was tapped into the story about book shops and the sellers standing up for our freedom to read. As an American, a librarian, and a humanist, it was like watching a bullet train coming and feeling helpless to stop it. It was quite overwhelming actually, like a gut punch. I think I need an uplifter now.
4*

Mario Escobar managed to give us the turmoil feelings of that time. From the coming of power of the Nazi party bringing changes to daily live in Germany. For Barbara Spiel or main character, the realization came when her father a democrat socialist politician had to escape Germany to avoid arrest. Barbara is hoping that one day she gets to open her own bookstore, in the meanwhile, she is working in a bookstore owned by a Jewish couple and making friends with another Jewish woman also the owner of another bookstore. With the growing Fascism in Germany resulting in the destruction of books and the closure of all Jewish businesses. Leaving Barbara, the only choice is to flee to Madrid where an acquaintance has promised to help. This is where you learn about the situation during the Spanish civil war. The brutal actions taken on both sides. No matter how hard Barbara tries to do the right thing for family and friends, her actions sometimes backfire. This is a story you will have a tough time to put down. Do take the time to read the author’s notes at the end.

While the prologue and epilogue are set in the 2020s, the story of A Bookseller in Madrid is set from 1933 to 1946, including the Spanish Revolution of 1934, the Spanish Civil War, the Spanish Republican Insurgency, and the impact Germany had on the Spanish political scene. Mario Escobar uses his fiction set during some of history's most difficult and cruel times to examine and learn from those who perpetuated the horrors and those who survived them, building empathy for the latter. Based on the lives of two real booksellers of the times, Escobar's fictional bookseller, Barbara Spiel faces adversity with bravery, using books and her bookstore to provide a safe haven for souls and minds amongst the deprivation, chaos, and inhumanity, even while striving to keep her own family together. Escobar brings commonalities to the surface between social concerns of current times and those of the past as his characters seek stability and hope.

While creating a story that evokes compassion and empathy, Escobar also emphasizes the importance of books in reminding society of what it means to embrace humanity as well as the importance of the Christian church in truly embracing and demonstrating sacrificial love. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of A Bookseller in Madrid from Harper Muse via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

I was looking forward to reading The Bookseller in Madrid as it explored a genre of historical fiction not often explored in mainstream historical fiction—the Spanish Civil War. Unfortunately, this book didn’t work for me. While the Spanish civil war was a bloody and tumultuous part of Spanish history, I felt that the book failed to capture any sort of emotion or imagery of this period of history. I felt that the story was more a historical listing of the names of political parties, leaders, dates and government with a few characters thrown in to try and tell a story. At times, it read like a poorly written fictional spy story as the protagonist was bombarded by multiple members of every faction of the war to spy for them within moments of one another. And yet, despite this seemingly important part of the story, it also just felt like another sub-story that felt very underdeveloped. Any parts where any “action” was about to happen ended quickly with a swift resolution and barely any tension. I actually paused at one point to see if this book was classified as a young adult novel, because it read like YA fiction multiple times throughout the story.
The story bounced around from event to event without creating connection to the characters and their lives. As a result, I didn’t feel invested in the characters or their lives. The story didn’t feel believable, despite being based on a tumultuous period of actual history, and it also didn’t evoke any sort of emotion or feelings in me as I read it, despite knowing that this was a tragic and violent period of Spanish history.

Despite being disappointed in this book, I did enjoy a reoccurring theme that was discussed—the fact that books can be and have been used as weapons in society. Books open doors to critical thinking and can be used as an ideological influence responsible for shaping thoughts of a society. Reading is often considered a method of resistance, and I appreciate that theme in this story.

I found this book to be compelling and hard to put down.
A fascinating and gripping tale. A remarkable, well-written descriptive novel. I fell in love with the characters and the story. Full of rich and vibrant descriptions that suck you in and holds you captive.
The writing was very well-written and it was informative in ways that even I could understand... I am no history buff even though I love historical fiction.

I honestly did not know how horrible it had been in Spain before WW2. I have learned so much from A Bookseller in Madrid. My emotions have been put through the wringer. I still can't believe some of what was described in this historical fiction were so accurate. The author takes the reader on a journey when Barbara Spiel decides to join a friend in Madrid with hopes of opening a bookstore. Meeting Juan in a bookstore in Berlin as he stands up to the Nazis helped with her decision.

She wanted to leave the horrors occurring in Germany behind. She worked hard in Madrid to reach her dream. She met authors that would support her in the opening on her bookstore. It sounds so beautiful, but behind the scenes Spain was collapsing. Juan, now her husband, in deep in the Socialist government making enemies and risking everything. The Nazis are forcing her to spy. The British are bribing her to spy. All she wants it survive, care for her child and stand by Juan.

Dark times come to Barbara and Juan. The reader experiences the horrors of being considered an enemy. Treatment by those in power was inexcusable. It will take everything for them to survive. It will take the help of many people to help them survive.

Textbooks always seem to concentrate on those fleeing the Nazis from Germany, Poland and other occupied countries. I never knew that many had to flee Spain. Their journey was riddled with danger and challenges. Thankfully, there were people that risked all to help. Thank you Mario Escobar for teaching me what the education system neglected.

A Bookseller In Madrid is a historical novel about the occupation of Hitler, followed by the Spanish Civil War. It is a vivid reminder of the consequences, suffering, and turmoil that these wars brought on to the world. It follows Barbara Spiel, who fled Nazi Germany and landed right into the Spanish Civil War. She wants to open her own bookstore in order to preserve history through books. It is her own form of rebelling. She marries Juan, and we see her navigate these hard times. Barbara shows strength, resilience, and survival throughout her story.

Thank you, Netgalley and Harper Collins Focus/Harper Muse, for this ARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

****Many thanks to Netgalley and Harper Muse for an advanced eArc in exchange for my honest opinion****

There is a MASSIVE difference between storytelling and relaying facts and this book was definitely the latter..

The average person does not know the intricacies of which parties ran Spain, the parliament or how lower class citizens lived their lives. There was ample material to create a story but it was written so cut and dry I had a difficult time getting through a page let alone the entire book. The story is supposedly about Barbara? I had a hard time believing that... she was a secondary character to move the story (facts) along to the next scene. I was not captured whatsoever in this story.

If you want an intriguing story line and characters you will ACTUALLY care about and how Spain was in WWII I would definitely recommend Librarians of Lisbon.

The story follows a young German woman who flees her native country and follows her heart to Spain, a country also on the brink of unrest and war.

I cannot fault how much historical detail the author has included, in helping the reader understand the political mood of Spain of the 1930's & its residents fears and worries as the country teetered on a knife-edge; but unfortunately I felt the writing style felt a little flat and struggled to like any of the characters within the story. (I am willing to accept that this may be because the story was originally published in Spanish, and some of the prose may not have directly translated well into English)

The first part of the story seems well paced and managed to keep my attention, but last couple of chapters felt rushed and under developed which dropped my rating from 4 stars to 3


Thanks to Netgalley and Harpermuse for providing me with an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.

Mario Escobar’s A Bookseller in Madrid offers a distinctive take on historical fiction by anchoring a fictional protagonist—Barbara Spiel—within a carefully researched historical framework. The novel begins with a modern-day editor stumbling upon an old manuscript in a New York City trash can, a device that pulls the reader into Barbara’s world. From 1933 Berlin to Franco-era Spain, the narrative traces Barbara’s journey as a German bookseller who builds relationships with real historical figures, such as Françoise Frenkel, and becomes deeply entangled in the political and cultural upheavals of her time.

The first half of the novel leans heavily into historical context, particularly the Spanish Civil War, supported by a helpful timeline included at the back of the book. While this portion can feel dense, especially for readers unfamiliar with the political landscape of 1930s Spain, Escobar keeps the reader grounded through Barbara’s relationships and convictions. Her identity as a German Christian, a bookseller, and later the wife of a Spanish Socialist Party member gives her a unique vantage point on the events unfolding around her.

In the latter half, the book becomes more character-driven, focusing on Barbara’s efforts to protect her family and her dream of opening a foreign-language bookstore in Madrid. Though readers expecting a bookstore-centered plot may find this element less prominent than hoped, Escobar emphasizes the deeper theme of books as tools of resistance and solace. The violence and trauma of war are present but handled with restraint, underscoring the real human cost of the era without sensationalism. Ultimately, A Bookseller in Madrid is a thoughtful, if sometimes sobering, story about literature, loyalty, and survival in the face of tyranny.

I received a free a free copy of this title from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

A different sort of WWII novel. Barbara leaves Germany for Madrid hoping to open a bookstore and live life in peace. Yes, she accomplishes the first but unfortunately, she arrives in Spain as the Civil War begins to roil. Escobar does a fine job with the atmospherics and politics of the period and there are real people interspersed with the fictional characters, making this an opportunity to learn. And of course there's her romance with Juan, which is emotional. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

Barbara Spiel is a bookseller in 1933 Berlin. She and her bookseller friends are experiencing the political realities of the early days Naziism. When she meets Juan, her future husband, she decides she wants to move to and open a book store in Madrid. She arrives there just in time for the Spanish Civil War to erupt. Her story is followed through the civil war and into the early years of WWII. The book moves from the brutality of so many factions in Spain culminating in the rise of the dictator, Francisco Franco. The story underlines the hardships and uncertainties facing the country. And then the story follows the experiences of Barbara and Juan, who was a member of the Socialist Workers Party - from arrests to trials and the taking of their young boy.

Where do I begin to describe the emotional impact of this story which interweaves actual historical figures with the fictional main characters as they struggle to survive the brutal regime of Franco and eventually look to escape to a safe place. I have had the pleasure to read several historical fiction books by Escobar. Each has been eyeopening, delving into subjects that I really did not have any depth of knowledge about. This novel was no different - the Spanish Civil War, and in particular, the rise of Francisco Franco, appeared in my history classes but I did not have the depth of knowledge of what the citizens of Spain had to endure during the war. My thanks to Harper, Muse and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel.

Late 1930’s Madrid

Mario Escobar knows how to pull us into moments in history and has a way to mesmerise us with his rich and active narrative. His favourite topics bring us to Spain usually when the world is upside down. His latest is factional but the story is woven against a background of real people, places and events.

“The Bookseller in Madrid” pulls us into the world of Barbara Spiel, a German woman who fled Nazi Germany after witnessing the chilling Nazi book burnings events. She ended up in Madrid smack in the middle of political chaos to open a bookshop, a haven for free thinkers. She soon gets caught up in the politics between Franco’s fascists, Stalinist, republicans, communists and others fighting to maintain or gain political control. She also married Juan, a mid-level government official in the Second Spanish Republic at the time.

Just as Germany seems to be leading Europe toward a Second World War, Spain appears to be headed toward a brutal Civil War.

This is her story…

This story grabbed me from the start although slow moving at first with lots of insights of political atmosphere at that time, all the information can be overwhelming but I urge you to be patient the time is worth it. The last half is a real page-turner. It provides the challenges those who flee their own countries to live in unfamiliar places had to face, it was even tougher when the environment is unsafe.

In his notes, the author state that he made every attempt to accurately portray the primary setting and the political reality of Madrid at the time, a Madrid controlled by the checas that terrorized a vast number of citizens. I think he achieved his goal…

Interesting and captivating at the same time. Excellent read: well said and well done.

This was my first book by this author. It follows Barbara who has a love of books and dreams of opening a bookstore who decides to leave her home and follow her man to Spain - and hopefully avoid the war - which of course doesn’t happen. It got quite political and was hard for me to read in places. I enjoyed the latter half of the book more and was surprised by a twist I didn’t see coming. Barbara and Juan get through the war but their lives are forever changed by everything they go through. Thank you to Harper Muse, NetGalley and Mario Escobar for the e-ARC of this book which I received for free in exchange for my review.

A Bookseller in Madrid is a story about the enduring power of words in a world unraveling. It is set against dual backdrops of Hitler’s rise in Germany and the Spanish Civil War, following Barbara Spiel—a German refugee who flees Berlin in 1933 to chase her dream of opening a bookstore. But, she finds herself caught in the crosshairs of political upheaval, fascism, and war.

Escobar’s writing brings Barbara’s quiet defiance to life as she turns her bookshop into a sanctuary for independent thinkers and rebels—a dangerous act in a world where ideologies can get you killed. The novel isn’t just about survival; it’s about carving out a space for those who need it when they are under threat. The pacing can drag at times, especially in the middle where historical detail overshadows the story's momentum (reads like a memoir or bio, i.e. nonfiction).

we are completely immersed in the booksellers life with this book. and im so glad i got to be so. this is the story of Barbara Spiel and begins in 1933 and people at risk are already coming under wary fire from the Germans. these are her friends and there is also a meeting of a working party member.
what i feel really grateful for is the details. but also the extra help with that for those of us who arent as up to date as we probably should be or certainly would like to be. because we were given a timeline for those times by the author.
the book includes a lot of political content too, so we learn so much from all sides of both events and our characters.
learning of what comes next was not an easy time but it was real. it never felt like it was over pushing it for us readers but was right to make sure it didn't just swerve the harsh realities.
i was really interested in so much more of this book because its a period i love reading about but also its a location and particular side to it that im not too sure of. and i indeed went on to look it up more after id read the book.

A Book Seller in Madrid by Mario Escobar is a beautifully written and emotionally compelling novel that explores the power of books and ideals amidst the chaos of war. The story of Barbara, a German refugee who opens a bookstore in Madrid during a turbulent era, is both inspiring and heartrending. Her determination to create a safe haven for thinkers and dreamers shines through against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War and the looming shadow of totalitarian regimes. Escobar masterfully captures the complexities of love, loyalty, and trust in times of upheaval. The depiction of Madrid's atmosphere during these dark days adds a visceral layer to the story, making it feel both intimate and historically rich. The characters are vividly drawn, especially Barbara’s resilience and her fight to protect her sanctuary amid threats from various extremist factions. While some plot points are predictable, the emotional depth and historical detail make this a worthwhile read. It’s a testament to the enduring strength of hope and courage in the face of overwhelming adversity. I highly recommend this novel for anyone interested in history, human resilience, and the universal power of books to inspire change.

3.5 stars

This book was much like the Spanish Civil War that it describes: confusing, brutal, sad, and heartbreaking. The main character is a German woman who leaves Germany due to the political situation and Hitler. She falls in love with a Spaniard and dreams of opening a foreign language bookstore in Madrid.

But the 30s were perilous in Europe, particularly in Spain and Germany . Spain was torn apart by civil war and Barbara's husband is right in the middle. The novel describes in human terms the cost and carnage of that war through the prism of one woman and her family and friends. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.