A dark look at the Spanish Revolution that happened as the world was trying to recover from WWI an looking towards WWII. The world just watched at Spain tried to destroy itself.
Barbara Spiel uses the unrest in Germany as the Nazi party becomes more powerful, to move to Spain where she believes she will be safer. She has always dreamed of owning a bookstore and plans on importing and sharing with her Spanish neighbors German and French books. Along with her new husband, Barbara steps into a hot bed of the revolution, Madrid.
This is not an easy read. For those of us that love to learn from history, it is a powerful story. It will remind all readers about man's inhumanity to man. It is a very real book about what it is like to be on a losing side during a war. I have to admit, some of it was hard to listen to, but it made the story so believable and again, we need to learn from this, not just pretend it didn't happen.
Mario Escobar brings us stories of little known parts of history. How people were strong in the face of wrong. How people helped those that they might not agree with, but they were fellow humans and needed help. Escobar with his stories restores some of my hope for the survival of us humans.

I’m always drawn to stories about books and bookstores, so A Bookseller in Madrid was an easy pick for me. Set during the Spanish Civil War, it follows a young bookseller whose life is upended as history unfolds around her. I loved how Mario Escobar wove real events into the narrative without it ever feeling weighed down — it gave me a new perspective on a period I didn’t know as much about, and experiencing it through the eyes of someone surrounded by books made it even more compelling.
The pacing felt smooth, and the emotional moments landed without ever tipping into melodrama. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Lauren Ezzo, whose performance was excellent — she captured the intensity of the historical moments and the more intimate, personal beats with equal skill.
If you’re drawn to historical fiction that celebrates the power of books — especially during turbulent times — this one is well worth adding to your list. It’s immersive, heartfelt, and left me thinking about the characters long after I finished.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for the opportunity to listen and review this audiobook.

Publication Date: July 1st, 2025

Barbara Spiel, a german young woman, moves to Madrid looking for a safe place far from Nazi Germany and willing to open her dream bookshop. Aside from finding book repositories and a husband, she finds a country facing changes due to political views. Leaders are taking sides, turning Spain into a mess leading to a civil war.

The novel covers the Spanish Civil War and the situation in Europe during the 1930s and WWII and it portrays the book banning, the threats and deaths the Spanish population suffered by the Francois army and the control by checas

Reading about war is always sad and makes me connect it to the situation in the present. All wars are full of violence and chaos, and how sad it is to think about the same nation divided and people fighting against people of the same kind. This kind of novel made me think about innocent people living in countries at war trying to survive.

I enjoyed learning about El Palacio de la novela and other bookish places in Madrid during the 1930s, and it was interesting to learn about the Spanish Civil War. One impactful moment that struck me was to learn about a bomb that killed so many children. Tough events are hard to read, but I think the author made great work presenting accurate historical information in this realistic novel.

There are some words in Spanish, and the narrator did a good job. It's very noticeable that it isn't her first language, but still, it was easy to understand, and she was able to transmit a lot of feelings with her voice.

Thank you, Harper Muse Audiobooks, for the advanced audiobook.

First I want to thank NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for allowing me to get an ALC of this book to give my honest opinion.

I recently started getting into historical fiction, and I was really excited to listen to this book. The setting and premise had so much potential, post-Civil War Spain, in the midst of WW2, a bookstore, hidden manuscripts… it all sounded like something I’d absolutely love.

While I did enjoy learning more about that period in history, I found myself wanting more depth from the characters and their relationships. The story moved quickly, which kept me engaged, but it also meant some emotional moments didn’t fully land for me. I liked the themes of resistance and the power of literature, but overall, I didn’t connect as much as I hoped I would.

Still, it was an interesting glimpse into a time and place I don’t often read about, and I appreciated the historical details woven throughout. If you’re a fan of historical fiction with a literary twist, this might be worth checking out!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2⭐️

The audiobook version of this story was fantastic. The narrator was exceptional and enhanced my experience with the story.

Thank you, Harper Muse Audiobooks and NetGalley, for the opportunity to listen to this ALC.

Whenever this author releases a new book, I eagerly anticipate it. This is my first time listening to an audiobook by them, as I typically read on e-books. Like many other books, this one didn’t disappoint at all. Historical fiction is always my favorite genre, and this one offered a fresh perspective. I had no idea that war had reached Madrid, which made me even more intrigued by reading. It’s fascinating how much we learn from books. Reading this book reminded me of the challenges faced by authors and readers during war times. Barbra, the protagonist, is a remarkable woman who left her home in Berlin to open a bookstore in Madrid, seeking refuge from the war. However, her German heritage made her a target, and she was forced to confront her past and reconnect with her friend. Barbra’s strength and determination shine through as she perseveres despite the obstacles. The epilogue, which reveals that the entire story is based on a true event, deepens the emotional impact of the book. It’s a poignant reminder of the hardships endured during war. I want to express my gratitude to Netgalley and the author for providing me with the opportunity to read this incredible book. It’s currently available, and I highly recommend it, as well as his other books.

Set in 1934 Madrid during Spain’s Second Republic, this historical novel follows Barbara Spiel, a German bookseller fleeing the rise of Nazism. With a deep love for literature and a desire to build something meaningful, Barbara sets out to open a bookshop in the heart of Spain; a sanctuary for young idealists and free thinkers.

Narrator Lauren Ezzo brings the story to life with gusto. A seasoned voice artist with many audiobooks under her belt, she takes creative risks here with a range of accents and vocal tones. Some may feel a little on the nose, but given the wide cast of characters and the emotional demands of the narrative, it’s an impressive balancing act. Ezzo juggles it all with mastery; an absolutely stellar performance.

What struck me most is how this story resonates with our present. Despite the specific historical setting, A Bookseller in Madrid echoes the same struggles we face today: rising authoritarianism, censorship, forced migration, and the fragility of peace. It’s hard not to draw parallels between the lead-up to the Second World War and our current era of global instability. With over fifty armed conflicts now raging worldwide and more than ninety countries involved directly or indirectly, it can feel like humanity is condemned to repeat itself—a Sisyphus curse that never lifts.

The novel underscores a fundamental truth: life is political. Barbara’s dream of establishing a bookshop and bringing more German titles to Spanish readers is noble, yet she’s warned she may face censorship or struggle to find an audience. Books are being banned left, right, and centre; a sobering reminder of what’s at stake when ideas are suppressed.

Barbara’s journey from Germany to Spain and out of it into France feels hauntingly familiar. The issues she faces—immigration, austerity, education, birth rates, climate anxiety, over tourism, class and generational divides is still shaping our world, if not more so today. The novel holds up a mirror to our time, asking us to think, reflect, and act.

Originally published in Spanish as La librera de Madrid in the summer of 2024, A Bookseller in Madrid is compelling, heartfelt, and rich with historical depth. It’s a novel, and an audiobook, that I hope reaches readers in as many countries as possible. This is the kind of historical fiction that reminds us why our stories matter.

Thanks to Harper Muse Audiobooks and Netgalley for the advance listening copy

I dnfed this book at 35%
I Just could not get into it. I think a lot of People Will love it though.

I really wanted to like this book. I picked it up because I know very little about Franco's rise to power, and I prefer to get a feel for a historical period via fiction before diving into nonfiction for further information. In this particular case, I think I might have been better off going straight to a history book because the fictional aspects of the story felt forced while the facts were much more intriguing.

The titular bookseller is Barbara, a young woman who wants to move from Germany to Spain to open a bookstore selling French and German books to the Spaniards there. She does this by moving in with a friend and teaching at a school in Madrid while researching how and where to set up her shop. She gets engaged, then married, then opens her store as chaos descends. The whole plot felt like it was presented as "and then this happened to me, and then another thing happened to me, and then this horrible thing happened to me, and then that happened. to me." Much of it felt anticlimactic despite the seemingly high stakes, in part because it was told in first person.

On the plus side, the descriptions of setting, the explanations of political maneuvering, and all the historical bits were fascinating. Also, the narrator did a really nice job juggling so many different voices and accents.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publishers, for the opportunity to listen to this book.

It was alright—nothing great. A Bookseller in Madrid had the potential to be powerful given the setting, but it ended up feeling quite unidimensional. The characters could’ve used more depth, and the story didn’t quite leave a lasting impression. Still, an easy read for those interested in historical fiction.

https://www.goodreadsA Bookseller in Madrid by Mario Escobar tells the story of Barbara Spiel, who flees her country to open a book store in Madrid, Spain. In the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War, and under the eye of the Stalinist Chekas, Francoist Fascists, and the German Gestapo, Barbara fights to keep her bookstore open in these unsure times.

For Historical Fiction lovers, Escobar weaves in the historical elements with ease while keeping the reader thoroughly engaged. The narration by Lauren Ezzo was excellently done and keeps the reader engaged throughout. Because of this narration, I was able to complete this book in one day.

Thankyou, Harper Muse Audiobooks, HarperCollins Focus | Harper Muse, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this ALC and read the eARC.

Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: Jul 01 2025

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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.

The narrator of the audio production was pleasant to listen to during the narration of the story, however, her multiple shifts into accents or gender roles of the characters were unbelievable or inaccurate.

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'm a huge lover of historical fiction, but I believe this is the first time I've read anything historical based in Spain. That's one of the main reasons I chose this book - to learn something new. Mario Escobar did a wonderful job weaving this story together, and I enjoyed listening to the narrator's flawless accents. The first half of the story kept my attention more than the last half, especially the last couple of chapters, which felt rushed, in my opinion. Overall, though, I really enjoyed A Bookseller in Madrid, and I would recommend it to everyone.

This book was amazing such an eye opener on how Spain dealt with the war and the effects on one women trying to make it in Spain with her bookshop

A Bookseller in Madrid tells the story of the struggles of a privileged couple - Barbara, the daughter of a former Berlin Socialist ,who was living in exile, who falls in love with a Spanish politician, and moves to Madrid, where they marry and have a son. Barbara fulfills her lifelong dream of owning a bookshop while her husband finds himself on the wrong side of the struggle with the impending invasion by Franco's troops. The first part of the novel is interesting and paced well; the second part rushes by so quickly that the struggles the couple endure before and while trying to flee the country, do not seem nearly harrowing enough. Regrettably, the main characters, especially Barbara, who narrates the story, were not particularly likable or sympathetic. I enjoyed Lauren Ezzo's narration when she read Barbara's narrative, but I found it jarring to hear Barbara's voice with a German accent. Ezzo's ability to distinguish among Polish, German, French, and Spanish accents was admirable but diverting. All in all, A Bookseller in Madrid fell short for me. Other readers may find it more satisfying.

I really wanted to like this based on the premise. Unfortunately, this book fell short. Barbara was not a likeable protagonist, many parts of her story felt very rushed, very naive. In that sense, I found myself feeling unable to connect with the story.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for an advance copy to review.

Mario Escobar is a respected scholar whose many works, non-fiction and fiction, deal with the major international crises of the 20th century, especially regarding his homeland, Spain. Although fictional, this book is richly steeped in historical fact. It is set in Spain as the Fascist forces led by Francisco Franco and backed by Germany and Italy clash with the ruling Republicans. While the Civil War engulfs the nation, and the many disparate government factions are pitted against each other as much as the fascist enemies, life in Madrid is fraught with tension and chaos. In many ways, Spain was a test case for the Second World War that followed as the 2nd Spanish Republic collapsed.

Much of what Escobar relates is historically-based, and many of the main characters were real people. The on-going suffering of the Spanish people, at the hands of both armies and their many splinters is also sadly true. Although the war is really the subject, the main character in a very large cast is the bookseller of the title, German-born Barbara Spiel. The daughter of a German Socialist leader, the university-educated Barbara dreams of opening a bookstore of the kind that served as an intellectual meeting place for writers and intellectuals as well as readers, open to ideas of all kinds. But the mid 1930s was a terrible time for those who ran this kind of ‘subversive’ bookstore, especially if they were Jews or socialists, or simply not Hitlerites. When she meets and instantly falls in love with a Spanish visitor, Juan Delgado, a young socialist government official, at Berlin’s most important French bookstore, she quickly decides to join him in Spain. Always impetuous, she is jumping out of the proverbial frying pan into the fire.

With family money and connections, especially her mother’s, she sets up her bookstore in the capital, where, along with the city’s writers and sellers, she strives to keep alive the dream of reading as a life-giving and spiritually enhancing force. Her early days in Spain introduce the history of the Protestant church, which has German roots, in the Catholic-dominated nation. Ironically, though a Protestant who is indifferent to religion, Barbara finds a certain sense of home there, for a while supporting herself by teaching English. Later, as Protestants are persecuted by the vehemently anti-Protestant Franco, as well as the Nazis, it is the church’s people who frequently come to her aid. Despite her very busy life, she soon weds Juan and their son is born not long after.

It’s impossible to summarize all the crises Barbara faces throughout these events, many of them putting her, Juan and their son at true risk, all of them undermining their health, family and work. They are often saved by unlikely allies, usually at the last minute. This makes for a very suspenseful plot, especially since friends quickly turn out to be enemies, and enemies sometimes offer sanctuary and salvation.

Barbara is admirable in her refusal to stop fighting for those she loves and respects, and we see how much she grows under adversity. Juan, at times, is impatient with her, preferring to wait, as politicians do, for the right moment—a particularly risky approach considering the circumstances. I found myself annoyed with his brand of socialism more than once, especially since he is often condescending toward her as a mere woman.

Despite the fascinating glimpses into European book culture, especially in Spain, much of the book is about the complicated politics and ideologies of the time. There are so many characters, German, Spanish, English, French, fascist, socialist, that it is a challenge to keep them straight. The last part of the story, the war years, flash by quickly, but that is not surprising since the focus is the Madrid years.

This is a didactic novel—if you knew little about the Spanish Civil War, you will be learn much. If you already have some knowledge, you will be amazed at how much you didn’t know. Lauren Ezzo is an excellent narrator, but I think this book might be easier to follow in written form.

I enjoyed the Journey this story took us through the reality of the time was well constructed and the narrator was able to bring you into the story.

I listened to this as a Audiobook and I felt like I was right beside Barbara along her Journey. This was a story of resilience and hope along with so many more things to keep the characters going throughout the pages of this book! The Narrator did a fantastic job throughout the book to keep you engaged with the story. At one point I was thinking there was to much explanation of political Rulings for the time period but all in all I think it was necessary to understand and build the background to the trials and tribulations Barbara and her Family faced. The ending was a wonderful relief of Peace

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.

The narrator does an excellent job reading the audiobook version, providing many different accents without sounding cliched or over the top & 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.

This book was centered in the 1930's when the Hitler and the Nazi Regime was gaining speed. I usually love this type of book. But this one did not hold my interest very well. 3 stars

Many thanks to Net Galley and HarperMuse for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.