Hi y’all!
I hope your April is beginning with sunshine and warmth. We had typical mixed March weather. Hoping that April proves to be sunnier and more like spring!
Today I am thrilled to share my review of The British Booksellers by Kristy Cambron. I have been a big fan of Kristy’s work for years ever since I first read The Butterfly and the Violin. Kristy is a truly remarkable writer who brings distinct historical moments to life with vivid imagery, captivating characters and truly lovely prose. She is unmatched in historical fiction storytelling!
I knew I wanted to read this story as soon as I heard Kristy was writing it. A book set in WWII in England about a pair of booksellers? Yes, please. And this novel lived up to my lofty expectations.!
I received an ARC of this novel from the author/publisher. All opinions are my own.
This book releases today — April 9, 2024
Book Summary: “Inspired by real accounts of the Forgotten Blitz bombings, The British Booksellers highlights the courage of those whose lives were forever changed by war—and the stories that bind us in the fight for what matters most.
A tenant farmer’s son had no business daring to dream of a future with an earl’s daughter, but that couldn’t keep Amos Darby from his secret friendship with Charlotte Terrington . . . until the reality of the Great War sobered youthful dreams. Now decades later, he bears the brutal scars of battles fought in the trenches and their futures that were stolen away. His return home doesn’t come with tender reunions, but with the hollow fulfillment of opening a bookshop on his own and retreating as a recluse within its walls.
When the future Earl of Harcourt chose Charlotte to be his wife, she knew she was destined for a loveless match. Though her heart had chosen another long ago, she pledges her future even as her husband goes to war. Twenty-five years later, Charlotte remains a war widow who divides her days between her late husband’s declining estate and operating a quaint Coventry bookshop—Eden Books, lovingly named after her grown daughter. And Amos is nothing more than the rival bookseller across the lane.
As war with Hitler looms, Eden is determined to preserve her father’s legacy. So when an American solicitor arrives threatening a lawsuit that could destroy everything they’ve worked so hard to preserve, mother and daughter prepare to fight back. But with devastation wrought by the Luftwaffe’s local blitz terrorizing the skies, battling bookshops—and lost loves, Amos and Charlotte—must put aside their differences and fight together to help Coventry survive.
From deep in the trenches of the Great War to the storied English countryside and the devastating Coventry Blitz of WWII, The British Booksellers explores the unbreakable bonds that unite us through love, loss, and the enduring solace that can be found between the pages of a book.”
The characters are complex & engaging and offer compelling new aspects of themselves as we get to know them through the story. Getting to know Charlotte and Amos through the years was a privilege. I loved experiencing their journeys both separate and together. They come from different social classes at a time in history when class was shifting. I enjoyed their childhood friendship and bonding over books. I enjoyed their “war” as adults who have experienced both the joys and deep hardships of life. I loved when they opened up to each other and realized how much they mean together each other even years later. They are surrounded by a lovely cast of characters that I became deeply invested in. From Eden Holt, Charlottes independent and strong daughter determined to save their estate. To Jacob, the American who comes asking questions and keeping secrets. To Will Holt who is a surprising mix of respect, force and loyalty. And the girls who come to work in Coventry. The Eden Books staff and even an appearance from King George VI. These characters shape this beautiful story.
I love the story is told in multiple timelines. We piece together Charlotte and Amos’ history through experiences over many years and two world wars. They start as innocent children. And then war changes everything. Their road is not straight. They hurt each other. They take risks and make mistakes. They falter and deal with grief, loss, addiction and pain. But I love the forgiveness, healing and redemption woven throughout this story. I really appreciated the insights into life during WWI both in the at times horrific trenches and at home. There are so many books set during WWII that showcase the hope, healing, and power of the human spirit. But there are not nearly as many about WWI. And I am always captivated by the stories I do read set during The Great War. The Christmas truce and Amos’ experiences with the Germans were so vividly described and I appreciated the many details of that time. That contrasts with his experiences at home during WWII and how he and his fellow townspeople band together during the Coventry Blitz. Through all these timelines, we piece together the full story of Amos and Charlotte while also seeing the power of love, hope, and books to get you through the worst of circumstances.
As usual, Kristy offers a compelling story during a lesser known pocket in history. Certainly WWII is well documented in history books and fiction. But this particular time in Coventry was new to me. The way these people had to endure bombings just as fatal and intense as in London astounded me. I couldn’t believe how much destruction and death occurred in this one city. The details about hiding RAF planes and the tea lines after bombings were such beautiful examples of the resilience and hope of people who endured this war. I was impressed to learn how much of those details are based on historical facts. Kristy always includes helpful notes about her research and how she weaves history into her stories (which she does so well!). This is another compelling story within a well known historical time but with a unique lens to see that time.
A truly beautiful story about the power of love, hope and healing in the face of war and loss. I was captivated by the characters, the varying timelines and the beautiful ways books help these characters heal and connect. One of my favorites from Kristy!
What are some of your favorite historical novels?
Which historical settings are most interesting to you?
KRISTY CAMBRON is a vintage-inspired storyteller writing from the space where beauty, art, and history intersect. She’s a Christy Award-winning author of historical fiction, including her bestselling novels, THE BUTTERFLY AND THE VIOLIN and THE PARIS DRESSMAKER, as well as nonfiction titles. She also serves as Vice President and literary agent with Gardner Literary.
Her work has been named to Cosmopolitan Best Historical Fiction Novels, Publishers Weekly Religion & Spirituality TOP 10, Library Journal’s Best Books, and she received a Christy Award for her novel THE PAINTED CASTLE. Her work has been featured at Once Upon a Book Club Box, Frolic, Book Club Girl, BookBub, Country Woman magazine, and (in)Courage.
A self-proclaimed history nerd, Kristy loves to chase all things research, going behind the scenes at a Ringling Bros. Sarasota mansion, touring a former TB sanitarium, making bee friends at a working honey farm, or embarking on a back-roads jaunt across Ireland being a few. She holds a degree in art history/research writing and spent fifteen years in education and leadership development for a Fortune 100 corporation, partnering with such companies as the Disney Institute, IBM/Kenexa, and Gallup before stepping away to pursue her passion for storytelling.
Kristy lives in Indiana with her husband and three basketball-loving sons, where she can probably be bribed with a peppermint mocha latte and a good read.
greenish bookshelf 