THE BOOKLOVER'S LIBRARY

A young mother and daughter who are struggling to survive the horrors of WWII London find solace in books in this novel, smoothly narrated by Saskia Maarleveld. With a pleasing accent and a mostly straightforward delivery, Maarleveld describes the community of a subscription library. Called booklovers' libraries, these staples of early-twentieth-century England provided curated lending recommendations for patrons and were typically connected with Boots pharmacies. Maarleveld depicts the angst suffered by young widow Emma when she decides to send her daughter to the countryside to avoid London's bombing raids. As Emma leans more heavily on the support of her neighbors and community, she also opens her heart to a handsome library client with a shared love of literature. N.M.C. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2024]