A review by niffler_for_words
The British Booksellers by Kristy L. Cambron

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

“Books are an escape that beckons the reader from the heavy burden of this world. They can challenge as well as comfort, they can train and educate and save us in ways we'd never expect.”

I listened to the audio version of this book. With only one narrator, the many characters and the dual timeline, it took me a bit of time to adapt and not feel lost. I loved the narrator’s voice and her acting, that was very well balanced, with an effort made on the accents without turning them into a caricature. 

I loved the beginning of the story, when Amos and Charly were young, then adults and tenants of rival bookshops. That characters’ background was particularly moving and resonated deeply in me. I loved them both at this point. 

The story, though, falls a bit short after that. Quickly, they unite their efforts to help the city of Coventry and its people –and Charlotte’s estate. I wish the “book aspect” would have lasted more, and wasn’t reduced to the token of that book that seals Charly and Amos’ fate more than once (even if, like the watch, it was a nice red thread). Indeed, promptly, the story focuses on the War effort and the complex story between the older MCs. In the end, the only question articulates around Eden, her lineage and why that mysterious solicitor comes from America. I have to admit it wasn’t exactly what I expected, I wished it had been turned a bit more about the bookshops’ storyline than the Estate’s. 

That being said, I loved how both timelines interlaced WW1 and WW2, making them mirroring each other, showing the repercussions the Great War had on the survivors. It was particularly well documented and even if I had trouble investing in the characters’ stories I liked how the historical part was dealt with and how the writing (and the narration) made it very immersive. 

Rate 3.5/5

Thank you NetGalley,Kristy Cambron and Thomas Nelson Fiction for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.