The Last Bookshop in London: A Novel of World War II

Madeline Martin

Apr 2021 · Sold by Harlequin

About this ebook

The New York Times bestseller—for fans of All the Light We Cannot See and The Tattooist of Auschwitz!

“An irresistible tale which showcases the transformative power of literacy, reminding us of the hope and sanctuary our neighborhood bookstores offer during the perilous trials of war and unrest.”—KIM MICHELE RICHARDSON, author of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

August 1939: London prepares for war as Hitler’s forces sweep across Europe. Grace Bennett has always dreamed of moving to the city, but the bunkers and drawn curtains that she finds on her arrival are not what she expected. And she certainly never imagined she’d wind up working at Primrose Hill, a dusty old bookshop nestled in the heart of London.

Through blackouts and air raids as the Blitz intensifies, Grace discovers the power of storytelling to unite her community in ways she never dreamed—a force that triumphs over even the darkest nights of the war.

“A gorgeously written story of love, friendship, and survival set against the backdrop of WWII-era London.”—JILLIAN CANTOR, author of In Another Time and Half Life

“A love letter to the power of books to unite us, to hold the world together when it’s falling apart around our ears. This fresh take on what London endured during WWII should catapult Madeline Martin to the top tier of historical fiction novelists.”—KAREN ROBARDS, author of The Black Swan of Paris

Don't miss Madeline Martin's next heartwarming historical novel, The Booklover's Library!

Also by Madeline Martin:

• The Librarian Spy
• The Keeper of Hidden Books

Ratings and reviews

A profound journey that takes the heroine, Grace, to London, on the eve of WWII, with her friend Viv. With no true home of her own, Grace hopes to find a job, but with no true references, ends up at Primrose Hill Books, a dusty bookstore owned by a Mr. Percival Evans. Having never had an interest in books, Grace is a great organizer and gets to work cleaning up the shop to pull in more customers. But as fate would have it, a handsome gentleman one days gives her a book to read, and although it takes her a bit to get started, it literally changes the direction of her future! With everyone going off to war, she gets involved as an ARP-Air Raid Precaution, volunteer. As she patrols London, she shares her new love of reading with the people she comes in contact with and helps protect her area. An outstanding historical fiction story, by an amazing author, who continues to stretch her writing abilities to the point there is no end to her creativity. Emotional at times, with characters not soon forgotten, brings joy and sorrow with the highlighting of books that we as readers understand their power. Perfect.

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the electronic copy of The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin. An absorbing novel that takes place in war-torn London. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this book prior to publication. My opinions are my own and nothing influenced my rating. The Last Bookshop in London is a well written historical fiction story, and the descriptive writing is so vivid. I could feel the tension when the bombing started. The fear pulsated as I read, making me feel like I was right there experiencing what with the characters were going through. I loved the aspect of the book where Grace starts working at the bookshop with no love of reading, and she finds that books open the world to in a way she never expected. Grace Bennett is the main protagonist, and I quickly became vested in her. Her character development is incredible. She goes from a scared eighteen-year-old to a mature young woman refusing to let the devastation of the war dampen her perspective of the world. I loved everything about her. While this book is not a romance, it does have a lovely romantic element, and I enjoyed how that played out. I really wanted Grace to find happiness after so much sadness. This is a real tribute to the Londoners who lived through WWII. As an American, our country only saw the war from a far. The Londoners lived through the brutality of it every day for years. In 2016, I visited England, and while in Plymouth, the touring coach past a shelled-out church. I asked why the church had never been torn down, and the guide explained it was left that way so they would never forget the horrors of that terrible war. If you enjoy historical fiction novels with compelling characters and an intriguing plot, then you will love The Last Bookshop in London as much as I did. I didn’t want it to end! If it were possible to give this amazing book more than 5 stars I would. This is the best book I’ve read in quite some time, and it will go on my list of books I will reread. Happy reading!

This story started a bit slow for me but, once it ramped up, it became an emotional roller coaster. Grace wanted independence and to help with the war efforts. Her love for books grew as she worked in the bookshop and helped her assist the people of her community. It was interesting to see how the books related to the moment. Through her efforts to protect the neighborhood, Grace saw the worst of the war, yet she again guided her community to survive. I am pretty sure that I cried for the last 20 pages as I read to the last page. I recommend this story, rich with historical details and flavor. I received an ARC through Netgalley, and this is my unsolicited review.

About the author

Madeline Martin is a New York Times, USA TODAY, and international bestselling author of historical fiction and historical romance with books that have been translated into over twenty different languages.