The Sisters of Book Row is a rich, atmospheric tribute to the power of books, sisterhood, and quiet rebellion.

Set in 1915 Manhattan, the story follows the Applebaum sisters—Olivia, Daphne, and Celia—who run a rare bookshop on the famed Book Row. Each sister brings something different to the table: preservation, charm, and quiet defiance. Celia’s secret involvement in an underground movement to spread information on women’s health—hidden within everyday books—is especially compelling and timely.

Shelley Noble brings the tension of the Comstock Laws to life, highlighting how even classic literature could be deemed “obscene.” I loved the sense of place—the dusty bookshop, the shadowy alleys, the quiet bravery of ordinary people standing up to censorship.

While the pacing dragged slightly in parts and I wanted a bit more emotional depth from a few characters, the historical detail and bookish backdrop more than made up for it. It’s a quieter kind of historical fiction—no big battle scenes or dramatic love triangles—just smart, strong women fighting for the freedom to read and learn.

If you’re drawn to stories about banned books, secret resistance, and found family tucked between the shelves, this one belongs on your TBR.

I really connected with The Sisters of Book Row. It’s a fictional take on real women running rare bookstores in 1915 Manhattan, standing up to censorship laws that threatened to ban literature wholesale. You’ve got three sisters Olivia, Daphne, and Celia each carving their own path in the family shop. When Celia starts sneaking women’s health articles into cookbooks to bypass censorship, the tension goes from quiet book stacks to full on resistance. I appreciated that it’s grounded in real history Comstock Laws, Book Row’s legacy and layered with personal courage and creative rebellion. The pacing early on felt deliberate and gentle as we get to know each sister. I would have liked a little more urgency in the middle, but the stakes ramp up nicely once the censorship threats hit and a mysterious stranger enters the mix. The writing felt warm, with a strong sense of place and sisterly bonds. Some threads like Celia’s underground group or the love interest felt underdeveloped, but the emotional and thematic backbone carried me through.