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Release date: March 26, 2019

Publisher: Park Row

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Blurb:

Librarian Martha Storm has always found it easier to connect with books than people—though not for lack of trying. She keeps careful lists of how to help others in her superhero-themed notebook. And yet, sometimes it feels like she’s invisible.

All of that changes when a book of fairy tales arrives on her doorstep. Inside, Martha finds a dedication written to her by her best friend—her grandmother Zelda—who died under mysterious circumstances years earlier. When Martha discovers a clue within the book that her grandmother may still be alive, she becomes determined to discover the truth. As she delves deeper into Zelda’s past, she unwittingly reveals a family secret that will change her life forever.

Filled with Phaedra Patrick’s signature charm and vivid characters, The Library of Lost and Found is a heartwarming and poignant tale of how one woman must take control of her destiny to write her own happy ending.

Review:

Based on the title alone I had a feeling I would like this one, who doesn’t adore books about books and libraries after all?! They’re such fun and with a main character who’s a librarian with an interesting personality and strange family history, I was totally enthralled.

This was such a charming and quirky read, really unusual in the best possible way, I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like it before. The only book I can even compare it to is Eleanor Oliphant and I liked this one better, it had the same sort of unique protagonist that just steals your heart by the end. Martha lives a simple life, she loves working at the library and she loves helping others. But it’s clear right away that’s she’s been taken advantage of, her kindness and willingness to help people do the kinds of things they don’t want to do themselves leaves her very little time to do what she likes. What sort of librarian doesn’t even make time to read?! 😱 But I just loved her, she grows and changes over the course of the story and finds her backbone again, it was sweet and inspiring.

Besides Martha there are so many kooky secondary characters throughout the book that I loved almost as much as I loved her. There’s also a light family mystery that kept me engaged and added some intrigue to the plot. You slowly learn about Martha’s families past through a handful of chapters told from her mothers point of view back when Martha was a child and I always like a dual timeline, especially when it adds value to the story and it most certainly did here. There was a feeling of magic in this one, the authors style was charming and so was this entire book!

The Library of Lost and Found in three words: Quirky, Lovely and Bewitching

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.