23 Books About Books – Must Reads for Book Lovers

by Sarah Jio

When Valentia was a teenager, her mother, Eloise, abandoned her and her father to start a new life in London. Now in her 30s, Val is a librarian and recently divorced. As she reevaluates her life, she realizes that the lack of closure with her mother is still nagging at her. But in a bittersweet twist of fate, Val learns that her mother has passed away before they've had a chance to reconcile.

Val is surprised to discover that Eloise left her a Primrose Hill apartment and the deed to a bookshop that Val never knew her mom owned. Determined to piece together a better understanding of Eloise's life, Val decides to leave Seattle for a fresh start in London. It doesn't take long for her to fall in love with the pastel-colored flat in a cozy neighborhood, not to mention the quaint bookstore. Unfortunately, she soon learns that The Book Garden is in financial trouble.

Told from a dual-timeline perspective, this book explores Valentia's new life in London, as well as her mother's past and what happened when she left her daughter behind.

The Book Girls Say… Although the cover of this 2022 release says "sweet rom-com," this is actually more of a feel-good story about mothers and daughters.

Another Sarah Jio book, Goodnight June, is also perfect for book lovers as it tells the fictionalized origin story of a best-selling work of children's literature.

by Bella Osborne

Teenager Tom and pensioner Maggie are unlikely friends who have an unlikely encounter at their local library. While Tom dreads his future, partly because his mom is gone, Maggie is dwelling on her past, partly because her son is gone.

As the duo works together to save the library, they prove that libraries are about more than just books.

The Book Girls Say...Reviewers say that while this book addresses some heavy topics, it's also a very sweet story full of heart.

This book is included with Kindle Unlimited as of 7/13/2022.

by Natalie Jenner

Set in post-war London, The Bloomsbury Girls focuses on an old-fashioned bookstore, which has been run by men for a hundred years. However, by 1950, the world is changing in many ways.

Three of the shop girls, Vivien, Grace, and Evie have their own big dreams that are intersected by fascinating interactions with famous literary figures. As they work in the shop, they plot out a future bigger than 1950 society generally allows.

by Kelly Harms

Amy Byler is a school librarian and a single mom. When her ex reappears and wants to take the kids for the summer, she decides to head to a conference in New York City.

When her friend gets involved, her NYC trip takes an unexpected turn! Full of laugh-out-loud moments and adventures in blind dating, Amy finally focuses on herself rather than the children her life normally revolves around.

The Book Girls Say...We both rated this one five stars as a fun, light novel.

This book is included with Kindle Unlimited as of 7/13/2022.

by Sara Nisha Adams

When teenage library worker Aleisha finds a list of little-known novels in the back of To Kill a Mockingbird, she decides to read every book on the list. Each story is magical to her for different reasons.

Widower Mukesh worries about his bookworm granddaughter, Priya. To connect with her, he visits the library and meets Aleisha. When she shares the found list with him, they begin to form an unexpected friendship and discover the healing that is desperately needed for each of them.

by Emily Henry

Book Lovers is about a literary agent named Nora. When Nora's younger sister, Libby, begs her to take a month-long summer trip to a small town in North Carolina, she envisions all the possible romance novel tropes that could happen in her own life. Why couldn't she run into a handsome country doctor and find her happily ever after?

Instead, Nora runs into Charlie, a brooding editor she has encountered several times back in the city. While neither of them is the ideal heroine or hero, they kept being thrown together in unlikely situations and must confront the stories they'd told themselves about who they are.

The Book Girls Say... Despite having threads of romance, all of Emily Henry's books have characters with real-life baggage and flaws. Book Lovers gives us a strong sister relationship and insight into Nora's work, making her a well-rounded lead.

Book Lovers made our list of Best Books of 2022.

by Janet Skeslien Charles

Based on a true story, this novel will transport you to two vastly different time periods and locations. In 1939 Paris, Odile worked for the American Library. When Nazis arrive in Paris and threaten the library, Odile and her fellow brave librarians join the resistance.

Forty-three years later, in Montana, teenager Lily becomes interested in her widowed neighbor. As they begin to form a bond, Lily tries to learn more about how her French neighbor ended up in Montana. They have no idea that a dark secret connects them.

by Phaedra Patrick

Maid and mother-of-two Liv barely makes enough to cover expenses, so books are the perfect way for her to escape her struggles temporarily. She dreams of being a writer, but more practical matters always trump her wishes.

When she gets a new housekeeping job, she can't believe it's for one of her heroes, bestselling author Essie Starling. Essie is reclusive, and Liv becomes her only friend. But, when Essie suddenly dies, she's left a directive for Liv to finish her final novel. As Liv writes, unexpected secrets from the past connecting the two women are revealed.

by Abbi Waxman

Nina Hill adores her life as an introvert. She was an only child, raised by a nanny, and finds comfort in life with a good book and her cat. She works at a bookshop, leads several book clubs, and is devoted to her trivia league. Life is good.

Then, she finds out about her complicated family on her father's side, the book shop she works at has financial struggles, and she develops a crush on a trivia competitor.

Should she take the safe route and continue relying on her books, or is exploring her new family and potential relationship worth the risk?

We have both read and loved this one too!

by Susan Mallery

If you love a good beach read, you'll love this story of three strangers who co-leased a space right on the California coast. Part bookstore, part bakery, and part gift shop, the Boardwalk Bookshop is a dream come true for Bree, Mikki, and Ashley.

While the business and the new friendships are going well, personal lives behind the scenes are a mess. But together, the women challenge each other to be their best in this summer novel full of friendship and love.

by Katherine Reay

Sometimes twists and turns of life make childhood dreams disappear. Madeline loved working in her aunt's bookshop as a kid, but by the time she inherits it 20 years later, she's up for partnership at a law firm, and her heart is hardened. She's ready to sell.

Will the long-time bookshop employees and her experiences in the small town change her mind?

The Book Girls Say...Melissa loved both the story and all the references to other books that are included throughout. The characters learn some life lessons through book quotes, so there's no mistaking it as a book perfect for book lovers. If you love reading and Hallmark Christmas movies, this is an ideal book for you!

by Veronica Henry

In any small bookshop, the shoppers are as varied as the books on the shelves.

After her father's death, Emilia Nightgale is tempted to sell her shop to developers. However, her customers, like Manor owner Sarah, shy Thomasina, and separated father Jackson, need her advice and her book recommendations. As the relationships develop, you'll find romance and long-held secrets among Emilia's regular customers.

by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

This recommendation is a bit of a crossover with our 1940s book list from the decades challenge!

Set in 1946 with London emerging from years of WWII, writer Juliet is looking for a great subject for her next book. She receives an unexpected letter from a stranger who found her name written in a book.

As their friendship develops through letters, she learns about his eclectic friends and their life on the island of Guernsey.

by Helen Hanff

Written in 1970, this classic love story is a collection of letters between the author, Helen Hanff, at the time a freelance writer living in New York City, and a used-book dealer in London at 84, Charing Cross Road.

The letters take place over 20 years from 1949-1969 and they include both heart-warming moments and humor. You'll finish with insight into the evolving world over two decades.

by Kim Michele Richardson

This book is based on the true story of Roosevelt's Kentucky Pack Horse Library Project AND the true story of the blue-skinned people of Kentucky.

Cussy Mary Carter is a traveling librarian, bringing books to the Appalachians. Being both blue-skinned and an outsider means she faces prejudice and acquisitions anytime there is a problem.

This wonderful book will take you through a range of emotions as you ride with Cussy on her book delivery route.

The Book Girls Say...If you've already read this one, pick up the 2022 sequel, The Book Woman's Daughter.

This book is included with Kindle Unlimited as of 7/13/2022.

by Jenny Colgan

Nina loves her life as a librarian at a small neighborhood library. So when it's downsized from the system, she's devastated.

Should she give in and work for the large branch that is mainly a tech center helping people on computers versus being surrounded by books? Or is it time to stop playing things safe and follow her dreams?

The Book Girls Say... Melissa really liked this story as a pleasant light read about a fellow book lover. The following quote almost mirrored our conversation as we excitedly had the initial idea for Book Girls Guide.

"What do you want to do? Forever. What is your dream?

Nina sat up. "Well," she said. "I suppose... I want to be with books, have them all around me. And recommend them to other people: books for the broken-hearted and the happy, and people excited to be going on vacation, and people who need to know they aren't alone in the universe, and books for children who really like monkeys, and, well, everything really."

This book also has an alternate UK title - The Bookshop on the Shore.

by Freya Sampson

Shy librarian June is more comfortable with books than the idea of leaving her small English village. However, she's forced outside her comfort zone when her library is targeted for closure.

Thirty-year-old June's campaign to save the library means opening up to others for the first time since her mother's death. One of her new allies is lawyer Alex, who she hasn't seen since high school. Maybe June's fight for the library will save more than the books.

by Matthew Sullivan

While many books on this list are lighter reads, this one will hit the mark if you're looking for a darker, mysterious book.

This highly-rated debut novel follows Lydia's investigation into the suicide of one of her bookshop regulars. Throughout her search into his past, she uncovers a buried memory from her own violent childhood.

By Phaedra Patrick

Like many of the other main characters on this list, Librarian Martha Storm has always found it easier to connect with books than people.

Her story is both charming and a mystery. When she finds a dedication written to her in a book from her grandmother, she realizes it's a clue that her grandma may still be alive.

Follow along as she uncovers a family secret while interacting with charming and vivid characters.

This book is included with Kindle Unlimited as of 7/13/2022.

by Alan Gratz

When the classic book From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler is banned from a school library, a fourth grader boldly fights back. Amy is normally shy, but this is her favorite book ever. She isn't going to let it disappear without a fight.

You'll laugh and cheer as she assembles a group of students that rally together to keep their access to books and make a positive difference in their school.

The Book Girls Say...While this book is classified as middle grade, it's an excellent read for any age.

by Amy Meyerson

Do you love scavenger hunts or escape rooms? If so, grab this book ASAP! Miranda Brook's grew up spending hours in her uncle's bookstore solving the scavenger hunts he created just for her.

When she inherits the shop decades later, she discovers one final scavenger hunt that takes her through not only the store, but her family's history.

by Markus Zusak

Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living in Nazi Germany in 1939. While trying to avoid all the death around her, she learns to read and begins stealing books. Soon, she's sharing the books with neighbors and the Jewish man hidden in their basement.

It's a heartbreaking historical fiction novel like so many others that cover this subject, but the Book Thief also underscores the vast power of books to help you through a terrible time.

by Karen Hawkins

This is a great read if you love a little magic or mystical qualities in your books! Librarian Sarah can hear books whispering to her from the shelves.

They alert her to a town newcomer, Grace, in need of friendship. The only problem is that Grace is resistant to the town and residents, especially Sarah.

The books reiterate that Grace is exactly what the town needs. Sarah has to figure out a way to bring everyone together.

The Book Girls Say...This is the first book in the Dove Pond series. The sequel, A Cup of Silver Linings, was published in 2021.

This book and its sequel are included with Kindle Unlimited as of 7/13/22.