A heartwarming story about a mother and daughter in wartime England and the power of the books that bring them together, by the bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in London.
In Nottingham, England, widow Emma Taylor finds herself in desperate need of a job. She and her beloved daughter, Olivia, have always managed just fine on their own, but with the legal restrictions prohibiting widows with children from most employment opportunities, she’s left with only one option: persuading the manageress at Boots’ Booklover’s Library to take a chance on her with a job.
When the threat of war in England becomes a reality, Olivia must be evacuated to the countryside. In the wake of being separated from her daughter, Emma seeks solace in the unlikely friendships she forms with her neighbors and coworkers, and a renewed sense of purpose through the recommendations she provides to the library’s quirky regulars. But the job doesn’t come without its difficulties. Books are mysteriously misshelved and disappearing, and the work at the lending library forces her to confront the memories of her late father and the bookstore they once owned together before a terrible accident.
As the Blitz intensifies in Nottingham and Emma fights to reunite with her daughter, she must learn to depend on her community and the power of literature more than ever to find hope in the darkest of times. "A spectacularly well-researched and well-plotted tale of World War II, motherhood, and the solace we find in books, The Booklover’s Library is filled with characters you'll root for, drama that will bring you to tears, and the kind of emotional journey that will earn this novel a permanent place in your own booklover's library. I loved every page." –Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Daughter
“The Booklover’s Library is an all-encompassing love story. Madeline Martin writes of mothers and daughters, men and women, young and old, and book lovers with enormous heart and empathy. Touching and uplifting.” —Erika Robuck, National Bestselling author of The Last Twelve Miles
“The Booklover’s Library beautifully illustrates how books and reading can carry us through difficult times and help us make long lasting connections. Anyone who has ever been touched by a novel or had a particular book help them through grief or troubles will love this story.” –Georgie Blalock, author of The Windsor Conspiracy
