The Booklover's Library

De: Madeline Martin

Narrado por: Saskia Maarleveld

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.

©2024 Madeline Martin (P)2024 Harlequin Enterprises, Limited

Reseñas de la Crítica

“A must-read for booklovers.” —Chanel Cleeton, New York Times bestselling author of Next Year in Havana

Excellent story telling!

Excellent book by an author who can communicate they joys and sorrows of WW2 England among ordinary people within the context of libraries and those who love books. I always find a list of books new to read through the pages of her stories.

A touching story of love and community

Another delightful Madeline Martin story of resilience and love during difficult days. I enjoyed learning about the lending libraries and the societal challenges of married and widowed mothers in that era. I also really enjoyed the relationships between the characters and how everyone chipped in to build community during the difficult WW2 years. I will enjoy listening to this one again.

The love and care for each other in times of war

What can I say I did enjoy book lovers library so very much I am going to purchase a hard copy..the love of books and those around the community was special. Read for yourself

excellent & historically accurate.

Awesome read. Enjoyed storyline and vivid characters. Would recommend this book and author. very enjoyable.

Sobering

The book seemed to run on and on without much progress. It could have progressed though some of the bombings a little faster. Although sobering of what the people went through and I admit it was hard but for a novel I would liked more stories about the happenings in the library.

Beautiful and Heartfelt

The Booklover’s Library by Madeline Martin was a beautifully written testament to a mother’s love for her child/children and how a single book can turn a person into a lifelong reader!

This is by far my absolute favorite book of 2024! It has all of the feels, the highs and lows, the heartbreak and the happiness of life. Martin’s extensive research into the history surrounding wartime life in England comes shining through in the details of the story. And her characters portray real life experiences in a way that I know to be true, as I’ve seen or experienced them myself. Emma, a single mom, struggles with the choices she has to make for the safety of her daughter, and breaking the rules in order to have a career to provide for her daughter. I’ve watched friends struggle with those same decisions. Watching Olivia find the one book that changes her life, and turns her into a lifelong reader, the same book that also made me a lifelong reader. Another thing I love about Martin’s books are the secondary characters that make them so unique. Mrs. Pickering and Mr. Sanderson at the boarding house. Her co-workers at the Booklover’s library, Mrs. Bainbridge, Margaret and even Miss Crane, as well as the quirky customers, Mr. Beard, Mrs. Chatsworth and Pip, and of course Charles Fisk. I also love that when Emma went to London she found the bookshop on Primrose Hill, and we got to see Grace Bennett and Mr Evans.

All in all it’s just a fabulous book, and the marvelous Saskia Maarleveld, does a magnificent job in narrating the story.

Wonderful

My second listen from this author and both were perfect. Love the history, characters, and narrator.

One for the read

Absolutely loved this book ❤️ Great story couldn’t stop listening. It is fabulous. So happy I have it in my audio collection ❤️

A testament to community

I really loved this POV of what daily life could have been like for a single mother during WWII in England. It’s a story more about how the war is happening around a group of people instead of them being directly involved in the war in some way. It’s a testament of regardless of time or space, parenting is extremely difficult and a community or “village” is absolutely necessary. It’s also a harsh reminder about how our world judges single mothers, even while single fathers are given miles of grace. Love this book. Highly recommend.

Lovely Listen

Such a sweet story. This author keeps you so interested in the story. I really enjoyed this listen.