The Last Bookshop in London

A Novel of World War II

By: Madeline Martin

Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld

Inspired by the true World War II history of the few bookshops to survive the Blitz, The Last Bookshop in London is a timeless story of wartime loss, love, and the enduring power of literature.

August 1939: London is dismal under the weight of impending war with Germany as Hitler’s forces continue to sweep across Europe. Into this uncertain maelstrom steps Grace Bennett, young and ready for a fresh start in the bustling city streets she’s always dreamed of - and miles away from her troubled past in the countryside.

With aspirations of working at a department store, Grace never imagined she’d wind up employed at Primrose Hill, an offbeat bookshop nestled in the heart of the city - after all, she’s never been much of a reader. Overwhelmed with organizing the cluttered store, she doesn’t have time to read the books she sells. But when one is gifted to her, what starts as an obligation becomes a passion that draws her into the incredible world of literature.

As the Blitz rains down bombs on the city night after night, a devastating attack leaves the libraries and shops of London’s literary center in ruins. Miraculously, Grace’s bookshop survives the firestorm. Through blackouts and air raids, Grace continues running the shop, discovering a newfound comfort in the power of words and storytelling that unites her community in ways she never imagined - a force that triumphs over even the darkest nights of war-torn London.

©2021 Madeline Martin (P)2021 Harlequin Enterprises, Limited

Excellent WWII historical fiction

This book is on my list of favorites very close to Dear Mrs. Bird. It is realistic without being too harsh in its details so that I could even share it with my Mom, who lived through WWII as a child.

A highlight of my year!

“You’ll change this war yet. One book at a time.” — Chapter 13

Madeline Martin uses the backdrop of World War II to offer a tribute to the power of books in The Last Bookshop in London. The year is 1939. No longer welcome by her relatives, Grace Bennett has moved to London, where she gets a job at Primrose Hill Books, a shop that has been neglected. Being good at running a business, Grace gradually organizes the store and turns it into a success. However, she has never actually read any of the books she sells. Then one day someone gives Grace The Count of Monte Cristo, which eventually Grace picks up to read. Thus begins her journey into the world of books, into which she dives with fervor. In the process, she takes her customers with her, sharing her new excitement of books with everyone.

As things prepare to shift from the earliest phase of the “Bore War” to the Blitz, Grace volunteers to become an ARP warden, helping people amid the bombing. When she is not on duty, Grace joins her fellow citizens in bomb shelters and the Tube station near Primrose Hill, bringing along a book for company. Before she knows it, Grace finds herself reading aloud to the increasing numbers of people who need hope and discover it within the pages of Grace’s books. Soon Grace starts holding daily reading sessions in the bookshop when not in the Tube station. She continues this throughout the war, keeping up the morale of those around her with the blessing of books.

The Last Bookshop in London demonstrates the influence that books have in changing people’s lives. Lately I have listened to a lot of historical novels set during World War II, but this book has an extra element of something special. All highlight the inner strength that humans have drawn upon during times of severe need, but none holds as much hope as The Last Bookshop in London offers. This is something that the world especially needs today.

I have recently been frequently encountering Saskia Maarleveld as the audiobook narrator of historical novels. Her performances are always well-fitted to each book, and The Last Bookshop in London is no exception. When the bombs drop on London during the Blitz, listeners experience the terror, yet we also feel the strength of Grace and the other characters running through the story. We see the redemption offered by books of all kinds through the eyes of the characters, each of whom has a distinct voice and nature through the narration of Maarleveld.

The Last Bookshop in London surprised me by how inspiring this book turned out to be. It proves to be a fitting tribute to both books and humanity. This book would make an excellent selection for a book club or, even better, a One City, One Book program. In a time when we are all struggling to return to life as normal after having hunkered down from COVID-19 for the last year and a half, this book serves as an inspiration from a time when the world suffered together tremendously but emerged from the ashes in a testament to the strength of humanity.

“Out there you save lives. In here you save souls.” — Chapter 19

One of the best books I have listened to

I’ve listened to hundreds of audiobooks and this is one of the top 10, maybe even top 5.

Excellent narration and the story kept my attention. I looked forward to driving so I could continue listening.

Highly recommend.

Beautiful Imagery and Beautifully Written

This novel was beautifully written but hard to start. I had to restart it several times before moving forward. That being said, the imagery is lovely. It was a gorgeous listen. Heart-warming and not over dramatized. Nothing was over the top. Just another pleasant piece of WWII historical fiction.

Delightful and touching story.

This is a feel good story mixed in with the horrors of living in London during WWII. Grace learned so much about human compassion and selfless caring for others. As a former bookseller and lover of reading myself, I enjoyed her introduction into books and stories while helping others learn to read. How wonderful it would be if people gathered in groups to sit and listen to someone read aloud!

Excellent story. Excellent reader.

Love this book! The reader’s annunciation was superb. It took me back to when I discovered reading.

The Last Book Shop in London

While this story was somewhat predictable, it was lovely & paid homage to the power of literature & good books. I recommend it. It' s a warm, friendly story.

Enchanting story

I thoughly enjoyed this story of wartime London and the happiness that books can bring to people suffering under the worst of conditions.

Outstanding story and performance

I could hardly put this down. I knew London had a hard time of it during the war, but I didn’t realise how hard. This author shows all of it and also the great courage and perseverance the British showed while enduring so much tragedy and loss. I loved the story of cemented relationships and how much influence one extraordinary person can have on so many. I highly recommend this book!

Thoroughly enjoyable!

This novel deals with the hardships of war by the average city dweller in London. It’s a good story without the horrors of the holocaust. For those who like WWII books, this is an enjoyable story.