The Last Bookshop in London

I loved this book because Grace, the young woman in the story, was able to find meaning even in the face of war. She discovered the power of storytelling and used it to raise morale when bombs were falling on London. I found the book easy to read, and I felt sympathy for Grace and other ordinary people whose lives were upended by the war.  

A love letter to books. And a nod to classic literature.

August, 1939, London prepares for war, as Hitler’s forces sweep across Europe. Primrose Hill is a dusty old bookshop in the heart of London. Grace Bennett, the main character, finds herself working there and discovers community through the hardships of war. Again, impeccable research.

Martin and I shared the same agent for many years, which is how I came across this novel. It’s set in London and has the most divine main character whom I immediately fell in love with. I find that most readers don’t want too much heavy historical information when they read for pleasure, and Martin has just the right balance of history with her fiction. Also, who wouldn’t love reading about a bookstore that is desperately trying to survive the war!

A charming novel that brings the London Blitz to life—both the terrors and the famous British all-in-it-together spirit. Despite never having been a reader, a young woman lands a job at a bookshop. She’s determined to learn about the books she’s selling and immerses herself in the stories. When she begins reading out loud in the Underground station during air raids, something beautiful happens in her community, showing the beauty of giving to others even when you feel you have nothing to offer.