Emma Taylor has not had it easy. She tragically lost her father and the bookstore that was both their livelihood and home. A marriage of convenience, more or less, left her a widow with a young daughter, Olivia. With her funds running low, Emma needs to find work, but England's draconian laws prohibit widows with young children from being hired for most jobs. When she stumbled upon an open position at Boots' Booklover's Library, her life changed. Because of her position and the building she and Olivia live in her community widens. But England is on the cusp of WW II and the Blitz comes to her home of Nottingham. Can Emma do what she thinks will keep Olivia safe?
THE BOOKLOVER'S LIBRARY, a novel by Madeline Martin, brings to life a protagonist who, despite constantly struggling, tries to be a good mother. She tries to share her love of books with her daughter and with the often quirky members of the Boots' Booklover's Library. War wreaks havoc on everyone's lives and Emma is faced with making heartbreaking decisions. Even with the best of intentions, things continue to go wrong and then the unimaginable happens.
THE BOOKLOVER'S LIBRARY is a beautifully told story that is set in the worst of times. Even so, it highlights the powers and strengths of the community and family one makes. Under horrific circumstances, compassion and kindness shine through.
Engrossing and heartwarming, this novel is well worth reading. Highly recommended.
A heartwarming story about a mother and daughter in wartime England and the power of 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.
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