“I think within all of us, there is a void, a gap waiting to be filled by something. For me, that something is books and all their proffered experiences.”

Best friends Viv and Grace move to London looking for the exciting big city life, but neither knows that war is just around the corner. The girls stay with Mrs. Weatherford, an old friend of Grace’s mother. Viv gets a job at Harrods and Grace works at Primrose Hill books. The spotlight is on the women who stay at home and support the war effort. Grace is not a reader and is not excited about working at the bookstore, but she gives it her best effort and turns the place from a shabby and dusty shop to an inviting place to browse books.

Inspired by WWll history of the bookshops to survive the blitz, this book is about loss, love, hope, and the power of community and reading to connect people. An enjoyable and informative read.