Found in a Bookshop: The perfect Autumn read - heart-warming and unforgettable

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This beautifully written novel is a tribute to all independent booksellers who have always been creatively bringing readers and books together to comfort, educate, transform, escape, remember, hope, and dream. Overall the feeling of being back in lockdown and if you suffered from separation from your family or a devastating loss then really this isn’t the book for you.

I loved the concept of the book pharmacy - so much so that I am trying to figure out if there might be a way of putting into practice something similar in our local library! George and Rosemary are a delightful couple and their lifelong love warms your heart Loveday is a fabulous quirky character and I enjoy the introduction of Kelly and Madison who are very likeable too.This lady Rosemary and her husband George are retired, reclusive now due to the circumstances of the world and reading to each other in their garden is a joy. I was surprised at the number of books I’d already read, but even more delighted with the number of books I haven’t even heard of. Kelly also comes up with the idea of a ‘book pharmacy’, prescribing books to help people as they deal with problems, whether or not related to the pandemic. I loved Lost For Words so I was looking forward to this but I’m afraid I found it very disappointing. I adored this novel but I cautiously recommend it, as I am aware that the Covid-19 pandemic is ongoing and a novel about it may be triggering for some people.

Personally I found it quite a cathartic read and it helped me process some of my lingering emotions around my own lockdown experience. As a book lover, nothing makes me happier than reading about people discovering books and finding joy and solace within the pages of books. However, the story thread of Rosemary and George as well as Loveday, Kelly and Maddison is weaved through the book as the main story arc. I also really enjoyed the use of letters within the narrative, finding that they pulled me into the individual stories and I was completely invested in even the most minor of characters. I loved the concept of getting books as part of mental health and how they can help us through rough times.I had a little smile when Flowers for Mrs Harris by Paul Gallico was mentioned, as I’m currently listening to that on audiobook.

Of course, this is the pandemic- we meet people who are struggling with COVID, with isolation, with abuse. But, these lockdowns were so different to the way my own country, New Zealand, experienced lockdowns that they didn't even seem like lockdowns. And I think there is still a lot of guilt around that, and a feeling that I should be grateful, rather than be able to mourn and grieve the difficulties I did face. I also loved the chapters that were interspersed from the author to the reader - very wise words in those too! In het boek lees je over de boekverkopers, maar leer je ook alle klanten met hun specifieke boekverzoeken kennen.They have decided to set out on their last journey together, without ever leaving the bench at the bottom of their garden in Whitby. She knows he would do great things, but would also expect her to look after her readers, and so she suggests opening a book pharmacy! As requests begin to pour in, what follows is a lovely and heartwarming story full of love, empathy, and the best of humanity.

I know I couldn’t have listened to it if it had been published earlier, so the timing has been perfect for me. This is a wonderful idea for a novel and the creation of a book pharmacy during the Covid pandemic works so well to introduce so many different characters, each with their stories and needs. At various points, I had to take a break from reading it because it brought back memories of lockdown and the sense of claustrophobia, frustration and fear I experienced and that was quite hard to deal with. As certain as I have always been that I can be alone without being lonely, opening the covers, turning the pages, I know that I will find comfort in reading a book. It was one of my favourites that year, so it was great to catch up with Loveday and Nathan again even though it’s been 5 years.

This is the first book that I have read which has featured the recent COVID pandemic in the forefront of the plot. These vignettes truly capture the tone of 2020 with loneliness, fear and grief being juxtaposed with community, joy and love. The idea about the book pharmacy and using books to fill the void whether we’re in a pandemic or just feeling a little lost in the world. Along the journey there is kindness and thoughtfulness, there are situations that arise that overcome preconceptions and finding commonality along with plenty of honesty. I didn't realise before I read it that there was a book that came before it, but I have now bought that to read as well, as I think it will fill in some of the gaps and Archie was talked about so much that I want to know more about him.