The Librarian of Burned Books by Brianna Labuskes

 

The Librarian of Burned Books by Brianna Labuskes-516 pages

This book is inspired by the true story of the Council of Books in Wartime.  For anyone who loves books and the freedom to read what we want just reading about the book burnings in Germany made me furious.

This book is about three women who are woven together by their love of the written word and preserving it for the future.  It was a slow start for me, so many characters and plots taking place on different continents.  I stuck with it though and I'm glad I did.  The author put a lot of research into this book and I learned things that I was not aware of.  It is well worth your time.

The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore

The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore, 352 p.

"Sloane Parker lives a small, contained life as a librarian in her small, contained town. She never thinks of herself as lonely...but still she looks forward to that time every day when old curmudgeon Arthur McLachlan comes to browse the shelves and cheerfully insult her. Their sparring is such a highlight of Sloane's day that when Arthur doesn't show up one morning, she's instantly concerned. And then another day passes, and another.

Anxious, Sloane tracks the old man down only to discover him all but bedridden...and desperately struggling to hide how happy he is to see her. Wanting to bring more cheer into Arthur's gloomy life, Sloane creates an impromptu book club. Slowly, the lonely misfits of their sleepy town begin to find each other, and in their book club, find the joy of unlikely friendship. Because as it turns out, everyone has a special book in their heart—and a reason to get lost (and eventually found) within the pages."--Goodreads blurb

As a librarian myself, I knew I was going to love this book, and it didn't disappoint. One of the things I particularly enjoyed about this book was the way the author incorporated books and reading into the story. The characters are both charming and exasperating. Arthur in particular is one that, as a reader, you look forward to when his façade is going to break, because you know it will. I did find the second act of this book a little frustrating, as Arthur's attitude changes so quickly and with no buildup or fanfare. I feel like we deserved a little more of the story of him realizing how his actions had consequences. This was the only thing that dropped my star rating down a little. This was an easy 4.5. Highly recommend for a cozy, emotional, and triumphant read.

 

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams

 

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams, 373 p.

"Widower Mukesh lives a quiet life in the London Borough of Ealing after losing his beloved wife. He shops every Wednesday, goes to Temple, and worries about his granddaughter, Priya, who hides in her room reading while he spends his evenings watching nature documentaries.

Aleisha is a bright but anxious teenager working at the local library for the summer when she discovers a crumpled-up piece of paper in the back of To Kill a Mockingbird. It’s a list of novels that she’s never heard of before. Intrigued, and a little bored with her slow job at the checkout desk, she impulsively decides to read every book on the list, one after the other. As each story gives up its magic, the books transport Aleisha from the painful realities she’s facing at home.

When Mukesh arrives at the library, desperate to forge a connection with his bookworm granddaughter, Aleisha passes along the reading list… hoping that it will be a lifeline for him too. Slowly, the shared books create a connection between two lonely souls, as fiction helps them escape their grief and everyday troubles and find joy again. "--Goodreads blurb

Wow. This book came highly recommended, and I am so glad I read it. This is one I will recommend to anyone, though please check trigger warnings beforehand. The characters and emotional storyline sit in your heart and won't leave for quite a while! 

Thank You For Listening by Julia Whelan

Thank You For Listening by Julia Whelan, 432 p. 

"For Sewanee Chester, being an audiobook narrator is a long way from her old dreams, but the days of being a star on film sets are long behind her. She’s found success and satisfaction from the inside of a sound booth and it allows her to care for her beloved, ailing grandmother. When she arrives in Las Vegas last-minute for a book convention, Sewanee unexpectedly spends a whirlwind night with a charming stranger.

On her return home, Sewanee discovers one of the world’s most beloved romance novelists wanted her to perform her last book—with Brock McNight, the industry’s hottest, most secretive voice. Sewanee doesn’t buy what romance novels are selling—not after her own dreams were tragically cut short—and she stopped narrating them years ago. But her admiration of the late author, and the opportunity to get her grandmother more help, makes her decision for her.

As Sewanee begins work on the book, resurrecting her old romance pseudonym, she and Brock forge a real connection, hidden behind the comfort of anonymity. Soon, she is dreaming again, but secrets are revealed, and the realities of life come crashing down around her once more. If she can learn to risk everything for desires she has long buried, she will discover a world of intimacy and acceptance she never believed would be hers."--Goodreads blurb

As an avid audiobook lover, I loved the idea of this book being about an audiobook narrator. While I have listened to Whelan narrate several books, I've never read anything written by her, and I was pleasantly surprised. This was a fun and funny romance book about romance books. It was fairly easy to see what was coming from a mile away, but that didn't take me out f the story any and I really enjoyed this book. I will be reading Whelan more.