The Last Bookshop in London

 The Last Bookshop in London (2021) by Madeline Martin

Grace Bennett and her best friend Viv (Vivienne) head to London in 1939 when Britain is on the brink of war. Grace was forced out of her childhood home when her mother died and her uncle enforced his rights to the house. She tried to live with him and his family as well as to work in his shop for a while, but it just didn't work out. She's come to London hoping to find work. Fortunately, her mum's best friend Mrs. Weatherford has offered her and Viv a room for free while they look for work. Unfortunately, Grace's uncle refused to write her a reference for her good work at his shop (miffed that she "abandoned" him) and she doesn't know who would take on a girl without references.

Not to worry--Mrs. Weatherford has a way of managing things and soon convinces Mr. Evans, owner of Primrose Hill Books, to take Grace on as an assistant. He isn't particularly enthusiastic and seems, at best, very gruff. Both he and Grace are very set on the agreement that she will spend only six months with him--long enough to get experience and, hopefully, a glowing recommendation that will help her get a job at Harrod's (where Viv, with a forged reference--she did offer to do one for Grace, but was declined--now works). But over the coming months, Grace learns to love books--thanks initially to a handsome young man named George Anderson--and to love the bookshop as well. She helps Mr. Evans make several adjustments to the shop that bring in more customers and as the months go by she begins to dread the end of her six month stint. 

Meanwhile, Hitler's army invades Poland and Britain and France declare war on Germany. Colin, Mrs. Weatherford's gentle, animal-loving son, is called up to serve. George also joins up in the RAF. The Blitz begins over England and Viv signs up with the ATS, working in the radar rooms at first and later helping with the anti-aircraft guns which worked to protect London during the air raids. Grace divides her time between the bookshop and serving as an air raid warden. Eventually, her two jobs blend as she begins reading novels to those waiting out the air raids in the London underground in her district.

This is a story about love, friendship, hope, and resilience in the face of war, danger and loss. It was inspired by the few London bookstores which survived the relentless bombing during the Blitz. And Martin works her research into her writing, creating a very realistic look at life during the bombing of London. I love a good story that revolves around books. I love a good historical novel and World War II is one of my favorite time periods. The only thing that could have made the story better for me (being a mystery junkie) would have been a good mystery to solve in the middle of it all. But I enjoyed Martin's style and found her characters engaging an relatable. An outstanding read. ★★★★★

First line: Grace Bennett had always dreamed of someday living in London.

Last line: It was everything and everyone coming together as a community, drawn by the power of literature, that truly made her love of books complete and what put the heart into Evans & Bennett--or as some of her long-time patrons still referred to it, The Last Bookshop in London.