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A review by beautifulordinary
The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin
5.0
If I could give this book 6 stars, I would.
War books are difficult. They're either unbearably heartbreaking (I'm looking at you, Ruta Sepetys), boringly technical, or unrealistically romantic. This one, however, struck a perfect balance. It brought me to tears nearly every time I picked it up as it did not avoid some of the most awful aspects of war. Yet, it was so infused with hope and goodness that one cannot walk away from it in despair. Rather, I leave this book with the determined joy that only a perfect story can bring.
Furthermore, it is an ode to all that books are and all that they can accomplish. Escape, joy, connection, empathy, delight, adventure, and security are all found within the pages we read. Books won't win a war, but they may just teach us how to survive one.
In summary: READ THIS ONE. You won't regret it.
War books are difficult. They're either unbearably heartbreaking (I'm looking at you, Ruta Sepetys), boringly technical, or unrealistically romantic. This one, however, struck a perfect balance. It brought me to tears nearly every time I picked it up as it did not avoid some of the most awful aspects of war. Yet, it was so infused with hope and goodness that one cannot walk away from it in despair. Rather, I leave this book with the determined joy that only a perfect story can bring.
Furthermore, it is an ode to all that books are and all that they can accomplish. Escape, joy, connection, empathy, delight, adventure, and security are all found within the pages we read. Books won't win a war, but they may just teach us how to survive one.
In summary: READ THIS ONE. You won't regret it.