Do you love books? Do you love books about book lovers? How about book lovers who fall in love over books? There is something about the search for a book that calls to mind the search for all flavors of companionship. Some bookshops are so dedicated to the theme that they exclusively sell romance books and many others have adopted “Bookstore Romance Day” (this year it falls on Aug. 19). Endless variations on this literary meet-cute scenario make it clear that this idea is ingrained in our culture, despite the ubiquity of digital purchasing and reading options.

With this in mind, the GPL will be celebrating Valentine's Day with our patrons by offering cozy treats and activities throughout the day. If you like, you can even take a chance and go on a “blind date” with a book. Please stop in—we want to express our love and appreciation for all of you who help make our library such a special place!

For this month of demonstrated affection, I am listing some recent romance fiction set in a bookstore or library. Maybe one of these selections will warm your heart during these winter days!

The Lost for Words BookshopThe Lost for Words Bookshop by Erin Bartels

"Award-winning novelist Erin Bartels searches the heart with this lyrical exploration of how a friendship dies, how we can face the unforgiveable, and how even those who have been hurt can learn to love with abandon."

What You Wish ForWhat You Wish For by Katherine Center

Samantha Casey is a school librarian who loves her job, the kids, and her school family with passion and joy for living. But she wasn’t always that way."

The Little Paris BookshopThe Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George

"Using his intuitive feel for the exact book a reader needs, Perdu mends broken hearts and souls. The only person he can't seem to heal through literature is himself."

Book LoversBook Lovers by Emily Henry

"If Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he’s nobody’s hero, but as they are thrown together again and again—in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow—what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve written about themselves."

Morning Comes SoftlyMorning Comes Softly by Debbie Macomber

"A shy Louisiana librarian, Mary Warner fears she'll always be alone—so she answers a personals ad from a rancher in Montana… and she knows this may be her very last chance at happiness."

Better Than FictionBetter Than Fiction by Alexa Martin

"Love isn't always by the books in this charming romantic comedy about a bookseller discovering how to be the main character in her story."

The Library of Lost ThingsThe Library of Lost Things by Laura Taylor Namey

"When a new property manager becomes more active in the upkeep of their apartment complex, the only home Darcy has ever known outside of her books suddenly hangs in the balance."

The Little Village LibraryThe Little Village Library by Helen Rolfe

"Using his intuitive feel for the exact book a reader needs, Perdu mends broken hearts and souls. The only person he can't seem to heal through literature is himself. Internationally bestselling and filled with warmth and adventure, The Little Paris Bookshop is a love letter to books, meant for anyone who believes in the power of stories to shape people's lives."

The Last Chance LibraryThe Last Chance Library by Freya Sampson

"June Jones emerges from her shell to fight for her beloved local library, and through the efforts and support of an eclectic group of library patrons, she discovers life-changing friendships along the way."

The Bookish Life of Nina HillThe Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman

"The only child of a single mother, Nina has her life just as she wants it: a job in a bookstore, a kick-butt trivia team, a world-class planner and a cat named Phil. If she sometimes suspects there might be more to life than reading, she just shrugs and picks up a new book."

The Storied Life of A.J. FikryThe Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

"On the faded Island Books sign hanging over the porch of the Victorian cottage is the motto “No Man Is an Island; Every Book Is a World.” A. J. Fikry, the irascible owner, is about to discover just what that truly means."

Summaries sourced from publishers' marketing materials

February's Featured Reviews

YouYou by Caroline Kepnes
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour BookstoreMr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

Hop on the Holds List

1. The Bandit Queens – Parini Shroff (1/23)

2. Hang the Moon – Jeanette Walls (3/28)

3. Old Babes in the Wood – Margaret Atwood (3/7)

4. For You and Only You – Caroline Kepnes (4/4)

5. Small Mercies – Dennis Lehane (4/25)

Recent Readings

I have recently finished reading The Song of the Cell: An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human by Siddhartha Mukherjee and Sundial by Catriona Ward. I also just finished listening to Magic For Beginners by Kelly Link.

Right now, I am reading The Passenger by Cormac McCarthy and Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson. I am also currently enjoying the audiobook version of Just the Nicest Couple by Mary Kubica

Do you have your eye on an attractive future read? Let me know at jnmegan@gpl.org.

Until next time: Be safe, be well and be well-read!

Joelle


So, who am I, anyway? I am a resident of West Groton, with a husband, 3 children in college (and one at GDRHS) and a Samoyed that keeps my vacuum well-employed. I am currently working part time at the Groton Public Library and in a former life I was a Director or PR/Marketing at a high-tech consulting firm. My BA is in Psychology, but most of my time was spent in college earning a Concentration on the Novel. That is all to say that I make no claims at being an expert of any kind and my thoughts, opinions and mistakes are solely my own. I am just a person whose passion for books has continued to grow from the moment I was first able to grip and gnaw on them. I have been devouring them ever since.

Feb 01, 2023 / Joelle M Egan