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The Sisters of Book Row
A thrilling and timely historical novel of books, banning, and the women who helped save New York’s famed Book Row, from bestselling author Shelley Noble.
1915: Manhattan’s Book Row, an eclectic jumble of forty bookshops along Fourth Avenue, is the mecca for rare book buyers from around the world, and the haunt of locals looking for a bargain. It is also the target of the most vicious censor in American history—Anthony Comstock.
And home to three sisters who vow to stop him.
For the three Applebaum sisters, the narrow, four-storied Arcadia Rare Bookshop is the only home they’ve ever known. Olivia, the oldest, is an expert in restoring rare manuscripts. Daphne, the outgoing middle sister, oversees the retail shop and is a favorite with their customers. Celia, the youngest, is left to dust and catalogue, but often sneaks out to do heaven knows what. Little do her sisters know, Celia has joined a group of young people who secretly print and distribute articles on women’s health by hiding them within the pages of ordinary cookbooks, household hints, and sewing patterns, despite the personal risk.
Meanwhile, the Comstock Laws threaten anybody who owns or circulates “obscene, lewd, or lascivious” publications. Even classic literature or fine art could send a person to jail. In the face of such oppression, Celia and the booksellers of Book Row band together. But secrets and a mysterious stranger mean the fate of the famed Book Row is anything but secure.
1915: Manhattan’s Book Row, an eclectic jumble of forty bookshops along Fourth Avenue, is the mecca for rare book buyers from around the world, and the haunt of locals looking for a bargain. It is also the target of the most vicious censor in American history—Anthony Comstock.
And home to three sisters who vow to stop him.
For the three Applebaum sisters, the narrow, four-storied Arcadia Rare Bookshop is the only home they’ve ever known. Olivia, the oldest, is an expert in restoring rare manuscripts. Daphne, the outgoing middle sister, oversees the retail shop and is a favorite with their customers. Celia, the youngest, is left to dust and catalogue, but often sneaks out to do heaven knows what. Little do her sisters know, Celia has joined a group of young people who secretly print and distribute articles on women’s health by hiding them within the pages of ordinary cookbooks, household hints, and sewing patterns, despite the personal risk.
Meanwhile, the Comstock Laws threaten anybody who owns or circulates “obscene, lewd, or lascivious” publications. Even classic literature or fine art could send a person to jail. In the face of such oppression, Celia and the booksellers of Book Row band together. But secrets and a mysterious stranger mean the fate of the famed Book Row is anything but secure.
384 pages, Paperback
First published March 3, 2026
156 people are currently reading
13082 people want to read
About the author
Shelley Noble
29 books1,273 followersShelley Noble is a multi published fiction author whose books have been translated into seven languages. She writes women’s fiction as Shelley Noble and is also the author of several amateur sleuth mystery series, written as Shelley Freydont.
A former professional dancer and choreographer, she most recently worked on the films, Mona Lisa Smile and The Game Plan. She also consults on various dance and theatre projects, most recently the world premiere of a full length Tom Sawyer ballet commissioned by Kansas City Ballet.
Shelley is a member of Sisters-in-Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, and Liberty States Fiction Writers.
She lives near the New Jersey shore. In her spare time she loves to discover new beaches and indulge her passion for lighthouses and boardwalks with vintage carousels.
A former professional dancer and choreographer, she most recently worked on the films, Mona Lisa Smile and The Game Plan. She also consults on various dance and theatre projects, most recently the world premiere of a full length Tom Sawyer ballet commissioned by Kansas City Ballet.
Shelley is a member of Sisters-in-Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, and Liberty States Fiction Writers.
She lives near the New Jersey shore. In her spare time she loves to discover new beaches and indulge her passion for lighthouses and boardwalks with vintage carousels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
January 22, 2026
The banning of books, men trying to control what women do with their bodies from birth control to vitamins for pregnant women in New York City in 1915 by the Society for the Suppression of Vice is portrayed in this novel. In 2026 it’s eerily relevant as we still see books being banned and women being told what they can and cannot do with their own bodies, being prevented from life saving medical treatment. Sad to know that we haven’t come as long a way as we thought.
Events of the time brought to life by story of three sisters as different as could be - one desire to keep family business going with a passion for rare books, one concerned with the possibilities for finding a husband and one determined and dedicated women’s health advocate involved in the clandestine printing and distribution of pamphlets and articles of Margaret Sanger and others . An excellent piece of historical fiction depicting the time and events in the once famous Book Row.
I received a copy of this book from HarperCollins through Edelweiss.
Events of the time brought to life by story of three sisters as different as could be - one desire to keep family business going with a passion for rare books, one concerned with the possibilities for finding a husband and one determined and dedicated women’s health advocate involved in the clandestine printing and distribution of pamphlets and articles of Margaret Sanger and others . An excellent piece of historical fiction depicting the time and events in the once famous Book Row.
I received a copy of this book from HarperCollins through Edelweiss.
September 22, 2025
The Sisters of Book Row is a timely novel that brings the book world of 1915 Manhattan to life with striking historical detail. At its core are the unforgettable Applebaum sisters, whose love of books, resilience, and quiet defiance stand against censorship and oppression. Shelley Noble has expertly blended rich historical detail with the enduring power of the written word for a beautiful story that will touch reader’s hearts.
March 22, 2026
I loved this story and the way each of the sisters grew as people. There was quite a bit of new history to me and that was intriguing. The dynamics between the three sisters had its ups and downs. True to life. Plus the bookshop and a cat. Highly recommend.
I was blessed with an ARC. Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow Paperbacks. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
I was blessed with an ARC. Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow Paperbacks. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
February 26, 2026
Thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for this advanced readers copy. Publication date 3/03/2026
I have enjoyed Shelley Noble’s novels in the past. I looked forward to reading this book.
This book is about the banning of books from the famous Book Row in Manhattan 1915.
Book Row was a district in New York City from 1890’s -1960. It was composed of six city blocks which contained over three dozen bookstores.
In 1915 Manhattan three sisters lived and worked in the family owned book store Arcadia Rare Bookshop.
Olivia the oldest was an expert in restoring rare manuscripts. Daphne took care of the shop and its customers.
The youngest sister Celia was very mysterious and joins a group that distributes publications about women’s health and the Margaret Sanger’s birth control policies. Unknown to her sisters.
Anthony Comstock is on the hunt for anyone circulating obscene, lewd or unscrupulous publications.
The sisters all have their secrets from one another.
There is a lot of history in this book about books including Sappho and Decameron.
This story was slow to start but finally got interesting when Cecilia got more involved with her secret meetings.
I really enjoyed this book.
I have enjoyed Shelley Noble’s novels in the past. I looked forward to reading this book.
This book is about the banning of books from the famous Book Row in Manhattan 1915.
Book Row was a district in New York City from 1890’s -1960. It was composed of six city blocks which contained over three dozen bookstores.
In 1915 Manhattan three sisters lived and worked in the family owned book store Arcadia Rare Bookshop.
Olivia the oldest was an expert in restoring rare manuscripts. Daphne took care of the shop and its customers.
The youngest sister Celia was very mysterious and joins a group that distributes publications about women’s health and the Margaret Sanger’s birth control policies. Unknown to her sisters.
Anthony Comstock is on the hunt for anyone circulating obscene, lewd or unscrupulous publications.
The sisters all have their secrets from one another.
There is a lot of history in this book about books including Sappho and Decameron.
This story was slow to start but finally got interesting when Cecilia got more involved with her secret meetings.
I really enjoyed this book.
March 31, 2026
I found this book just OK. I love reading books about books, bookstores and librarians, but this one missed the mark for me. The historical context of Anthony Comstock and his New York Society for the Suppression of Vice was interesting to learn about, and mirrors similar events occurring in libraries and schools around the US today. However, the first half of the book was extremely tedious and slow as we follow the Applebaum sisters in their daily lives opening and closing the bookstore. We don't even learn much about them as individuals until the 2nd half, which felt like too much new information in the end. The pace picks up a bit in the 2nd half, and finally everything is tied up predictably and nicely in the end. The writing was clunky and this felt more like a YA novel that needed an editor. Dialogue was often unrealistic and words like "inexorably" and "academician" were used numerous times and just felt forced. Overall I enjoyed the historical context, which led me to do more research into Comstock, but the overall execution fell flat.
Thank you NetGalley for an advanced audiobook, all opinions are my own.
Thank you NetGalley for an advanced audiobook, all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I used to read a lot of historical fiction, but I have found myself staying away from it lately. This book made me remember why historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and why I fell in love with it years ago. Especially historical fiction about women who stood up for their rights and paved the way for generations to come.
One of my favorite things about this book was the three sisters. Each has its own distinct personality, and it made the book fun to read. I liked each of the sisters for different reasons. I also loved the idea of them running a bookstore. Putting them in a man's job and in New York City nonetheless made this book interesting and entertaining. I also liked the sense of community among the booksellers. That added a sense of coziness to the story, making it fun to read.
This was the second book I've read by this author, and I love her writing style and the way she tells a story. This book was effortless to read and kept my attention from beginning to end. I feel like she really captures the time period she is writing about and transports me to that time and place. I also feel like I am part of the story she is telling.
I recommend this book to fans of historical fiction or fans of this author. A book about a bookstore is sure to be a delight for readers!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.
One of my favorite things about this book was the three sisters. Each has its own distinct personality, and it made the book fun to read. I liked each of the sisters for different reasons. I also loved the idea of them running a bookstore. Putting them in a man's job and in New York City nonetheless made this book interesting and entertaining. I also liked the sense of community among the booksellers. That added a sense of coziness to the story, making it fun to read.
This was the second book I've read by this author, and I love her writing style and the way she tells a story. This book was effortless to read and kept my attention from beginning to end. I feel like she really captures the time period she is writing about and transports me to that time and place. I also feel like I am part of the story she is telling.
I recommend this book to fans of historical fiction or fans of this author. A book about a bookstore is sure to be a delight for readers!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.
July 28, 2025
The Sisters of Book Row is a rich, atmospheric tribute to the power of books, sisterhood, and quiet rebellion.
Set in 1915 Manhattan, the story follows the Applebaum sisters—Olivia, Daphne, and Celia—who run a rare bookshop on the famed Book Row. Each sister brings something different to the table: preservation, charm, and quiet defiance. Celia’s secret involvement in an underground movement to spread information on women’s health—hidden within everyday books—is especially compelling and timely.
Shelley Noble brings the tension of the Comstock Laws to life, highlighting how even classic literature could be deemed “obscene.” I loved the sense of place—the dusty bookshop, the shadowy alleys, the quiet bravery of ordinary people standing up to censorship.
While the pacing dragged slightly in parts and I wanted a bit more emotional depth from a few characters, the historical detail and bookish backdrop more than made up for it. It’s a quieter kind of historical fiction—no big battle scenes or dramatic love triangles—just smart, strong women fighting for the freedom to read and learn.
If you’re drawn to stories about banned books, secret resistance, and found family tucked between the shelves, this one belongs on your TBR.
Set in 1915 Manhattan, the story follows the Applebaum sisters—Olivia, Daphne, and Celia—who run a rare bookshop on the famed Book Row. Each sister brings something different to the table: preservation, charm, and quiet defiance. Celia’s secret involvement in an underground movement to spread information on women’s health—hidden within everyday books—is especially compelling and timely.
Shelley Noble brings the tension of the Comstock Laws to life, highlighting how even classic literature could be deemed “obscene.” I loved the sense of place—the dusty bookshop, the shadowy alleys, the quiet bravery of ordinary people standing up to censorship.
While the pacing dragged slightly in parts and I wanted a bit more emotional depth from a few characters, the historical detail and bookish backdrop more than made up for it. It’s a quieter kind of historical fiction—no big battle scenes or dramatic love triangles—just smart, strong women fighting for the freedom to read and learn.
If you’re drawn to stories about banned books, secret resistance, and found family tucked between the shelves, this one belongs on your TBR.
February 3, 2026
A story about sisters owning and operating a bookstore in a time when " morality men " were trying to police the book industry.
I needed more of the sisters and a connection to each as a reader. This book is an interesting topic but I needed more story. I also think out of three capable women that one of them should have learned how to cook. The poor sisters ate eggs morning, noon and night. I thank the author for finally feeding them in the end because I was getting concerned.
I needed more of the sisters and a connection to each as a reader. This book is an interesting topic but I needed more story. I also think out of three capable women that one of them should have learned how to cook. The poor sisters ate eggs morning, noon and night. I thank the author for finally feeding them in the end because I was getting concerned.
January 29, 2026
I loved this book! Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, and this is truly a must-read. The three Applebaum sisters were wonderfully written, each with a distinct personality, and I loved seeing them co-own the family bookstore after their father’s death. Watching each sister find her own path during a time when women had so little power was both compelling and inspiring—and sadly, many of the themes still feel relevant today.
This was my first book by this author, but it definitely won’t be my last. The story kept me engaged from beginning to end while also shedding light on a fascinating period in New York history, including the villain Anthony Comstock and his unjust laws.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advance copy to read and review.
This was my first book by this author, but it definitely won’t be my last. The story kept me engaged from beginning to end while also shedding light on a fascinating period in New York history, including the villain Anthony Comstock and his unjust laws.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advance copy to read and review.
February 28, 2026
The Sisters of Book Row by Shelley Noble is a historical fiction novel with feminist and anti-censorship themes. It features the 3 Applebaum sisters who own a rare bookshop on Book Row in NYC in 1915. The sisters, Olivia, Daphne, and Celia, hold individual secrets and have each sacrificed their personal happiness for the good of the family business. During this time a group of over zealous men, led by Anthony Comstock, are attempting to ban any material deemed promiscuous. Mr. Comstock was a real life “anti-vice” activist and namesake of a set of federal laws aimed at enforcing “moral” standards. The laws are currently being used to outlaw the mailing of contraception and abortion-related medication.
This novel is timely and well written, but different from what I expected. I have two sisters and was drawn to this story as both a book lover and sister. I would have liked deeper character development and more time spent on their relationships with each other. But the subject matter is interesting and I was impressed by the extensive research involved. Overall this academically written, timely historical novel is definitely worth a read. 3.5/5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an advanced reader copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
This novel is timely and well written, but different from what I expected. I have two sisters and was drawn to this story as both a book lover and sister. I would have liked deeper character development and more time spent on their relationships with each other. But the subject matter is interesting and I was impressed by the extensive research involved. Overall this academically written, timely historical novel is definitely worth a read. 3.5/5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an advanced reader copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 22, 2026
Thank you to Harper Collins and William Morrow Books for sending me a physical arc for review. .
The Sisters Of Book Row by Shelley Noble
This is an adult historical fiction novel.
In this we follow the Applebaum sisters in 1915. Working at a bookshop on book row, one of the sisters secretly hides articles on women’s health in rare books and other things in a time period where if discovered, could land them in jail.
The pros
- love the positivity surrounding women’s health.
- a book about books always hits with book lovers.
- The sisters each have their place in the story.
The cons
- a little slow moving in pace and didn’t always flow.
- Not something I was truly in the mood for and didn’t keep me interested the way I was hoping.
Overall
- if you enjoy historical fiction and are interested in banned books and enjoy a book about books, I believe you would enjoy this.
The Sisters Of Book Row by Shelley Noble
This is an adult historical fiction novel.
In this we follow the Applebaum sisters in 1915. Working at a bookshop on book row, one of the sisters secretly hides articles on women’s health in rare books and other things in a time period where if discovered, could land them in jail.
The pros
- love the positivity surrounding women’s health.
- a book about books always hits with book lovers.
- The sisters each have their place in the story.
The cons
- a little slow moving in pace and didn’t always flow.
- Not something I was truly in the mood for and didn’t keep me interested the way I was hoping.
Overall
- if you enjoy historical fiction and are interested in banned books and enjoy a book about books, I believe you would enjoy this.
March 2, 2026
3.5/5 ☆
Though set in 1915 during the time of the Comstock Act, it is still relevant to today’s times where the topics of women’s health and book banning had never been more relevant.
This was more of a character-driven historical fiction and followed Celia mostly, then added Olivia and Daphne for a bit in the middle towards the end. It was a bit slower to start. Given the split focus and plot, it felt like the storylines were not as developed as they could have been. I almost wished we focused on just one of the plots so that we could focus on it more.
This was an interesting glimpse into Book Row and the politics of the time.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC.
Though set in 1915 during the time of the Comstock Act, it is still relevant to today’s times where the topics of women’s health and book banning had never been more relevant.
This was more of a character-driven historical fiction and followed Celia mostly, then added Olivia and Daphne for a bit in the middle towards the end. It was a bit slower to start. Given the split focus and plot, it felt like the storylines were not as developed as they could have been. I almost wished we focused on just one of the plots so that we could focus on it more.
This was an interesting glimpse into Book Row and the politics of the time.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC.
April 17, 2026
The story was pleasant. I thought some historical aspects of it were interesting and there were mysterious things happening. However, I had a hard time connecting with the characters which made this a story that was easy to put down and come back to later.
February 26, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
I really enjoyed the book because I enjoy historical fiction and anything about books. I would recommend it to people who don’t necessarily need a plot to drive a narrative. It took a long time to come to any type of conflict that needed resolution, though the book is well-written. I feel like I really got to know the sisters and learned a bit about the history of the time as well.
I really enjoyed the book because I enjoy historical fiction and anything about books. I would recommend it to people who don’t necessarily need a plot to drive a narrative. It took a long time to come to any type of conflict that needed resolution, though the book is well-written. I feel like I really got to know the sisters and learned a bit about the history of the time as well.
April 1, 2026
I wanted to love this book given the synopsis and especially when page 4 gave me this quote “his power is waning, but like all powerful men, he will do anything to maintain it. He’s acting more and more reckless, making more outrageous claims…but this is his most dangerous time”, but ultimately this book fell flat and had some sloppy editing.
March 6, 2026
Thank you to the publisher for a gifted copy; all thoughts are my own.
📖 Book Review 📖 I am so excited to talk about this one for Book Club later this year but my excitement got the better of me and I could not wait to read this one! As the world may be crashing down around us right now in 2026, there is no better time to escape back to New York in 1915. What a time to be alive- walking the streets of Manhattan with bookshops lining the streets of Fourth Avenue when Anne of the Island was a new release - and Shelley Noble brings it all so vividly to life through the lens of three sisters in her latest novel. Knowledge is power and Anthony Comstock will go to great lengths to keep the wealth of wisdom from spreading. The Sisters of Book Row is a poignant novel with a message that transcends time.
📖 Book Review 📖 I am so excited to talk about this one for Book Club later this year but my excitement got the better of me and I could not wait to read this one! As the world may be crashing down around us right now in 2026, there is no better time to escape back to New York in 1915. What a time to be alive- walking the streets of Manhattan with bookshops lining the streets of Fourth Avenue when Anne of the Island was a new release - and Shelley Noble brings it all so vividly to life through the lens of three sisters in her latest novel. Knowledge is power and Anthony Comstock will go to great lengths to keep the wealth of wisdom from spreading. The Sisters of Book Row is a poignant novel with a message that transcends time.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The year is 1915 and the place is the Book Row district of Manhattan. The Arcadia Rare Book Shop on Fourth Avenue is run by three sisters, Olivia, Daphne and Celia Applebaum. Their father had died three years previously, and their mother three years prior to that, weakened and run down trying to give birth to a son her husband felt he must have to continue the business. (His father, Henry, had founded the business.) Consequently she had suffered multiple miscarriages.
Olivia, the oldest daughter specializes in antiquarian books and auctions. She is fluent in French, German and Italian. She translates and can decipher several other languages. She learned at an early age, then honed her skills at Barnard where she studied the classics. She has taken over the logistics of the business. Her offices are on the third floor of the building. The sisters have managed to get by financially, but Olivia knows they are on shaky ground as her vision is failing her. She feels it is only a matter of time before she will go blind. Daphne and Celia run the shop on the first two floors which carry new and used books. The two girls are quite different in temperament, with Daphne, the middle sister, into buying the latest fashions, reading romance novels and worrying that they will all end up spinsters working in a musty book store. Celia is caught up in Margaret Sanger’s movement to liberate women, and educate them about birth control. She was profoundly affected by her mother’s death and her father’s selfishness. She has been operating clandestinely, unbeknownst to her sisters, serving as a messenger for Sanger to the printer, Yannis Teller, who operates a business next door to the Arcadia. He prints material at cost for Sanger and other organizations. The sisters’ living quarters are on the fourth floor.
Anthony Comstock, the United States Postal Inspector, and secretary of the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice (NYSSV), is dedicated to upholding Christian morality. He opposes obscene literature, abortion, contraception, masturbation, gambling, prostitution, and patent medicine. His agents and hired thugs seemingly operate without constraints terrorizing the book sellers enforcing Comstock’s extremist views. Sanger flees the country fearing she will be arrested yet again on the publication of a pamphlet she authored which details several contraceptive methods.
The action really takes off when a carefully wrapped package lands in the throwaway box of the Applebaums’ Arcadia during the melee following one of Comstock’s raids.
The story is well paced and researched. It was an easy read with occasional pauses to look up the links below for a deeper dive into some of the topics touched upon by the author. She gives us a good portrayal of this New York City neighborhood and what life was like at that time.
Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres. I especially enjoyed learning about this time and place, which I knew little about. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book to preview prior to publication.
Anthony Comstock
https://www.history.com/articles/coms...
Comstock Act
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comstoc...
Margaret Sanger
https://guides.loc.gov/chronicling-am...
https://www.womenshistory.org/educati...
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Family...
Black Mariah
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_van
Book Row
https://www.villagepreservation.org/2...
https://www.6sqft.com/a-history-of-bo...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_Row
Sappho
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=95SDtZd...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sappho
The Decameron
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dec...
https://webhelper.brown.edu/decameron/
https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/gio...
Jane Addams
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Ad...
Jane Eyre
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Eyre
Jane Austin
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Au...
Wanamaker’s
https://www.untappedcities.com/10-los...
https://ephemeralnewyork.wordpress.co...
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/theymadeamer...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanamak...
https://www.nycago.org/Organs/NYC/htm...
Settlement House
https://www.tenement.org/blog/america...
https://www.mcny.org/exhibition/settl...
https://www.pbs.org/video/treasures-n...
Pessary
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pessary
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health...
Piecrust table
https://roomai.com/interior-design-gl...
Gibson Girl
https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/gibson-g...
British Museum
https://www.britishmuseum.org/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British...
Quotes
“Did you know that doctors are not even allowed to discuss contraception or abortion, even if the woman will die giving birth? What are doctors for? To let their patients succumb because of some man’s stupidity, or to save lives?”
Olivia, the oldest daughter specializes in antiquarian books and auctions. She is fluent in French, German and Italian. She translates and can decipher several other languages. She learned at an early age, then honed her skills at Barnard where she studied the classics. She has taken over the logistics of the business. Her offices are on the third floor of the building. The sisters have managed to get by financially, but Olivia knows they are on shaky ground as her vision is failing her. She feels it is only a matter of time before she will go blind. Daphne and Celia run the shop on the first two floors which carry new and used books. The two girls are quite different in temperament, with Daphne, the middle sister, into buying the latest fashions, reading romance novels and worrying that they will all end up spinsters working in a musty book store. Celia is caught up in Margaret Sanger’s movement to liberate women, and educate them about birth control. She was profoundly affected by her mother’s death and her father’s selfishness. She has been operating clandestinely, unbeknownst to her sisters, serving as a messenger for Sanger to the printer, Yannis Teller, who operates a business next door to the Arcadia. He prints material at cost for Sanger and other organizations. The sisters’ living quarters are on the fourth floor.
Anthony Comstock, the United States Postal Inspector, and secretary of the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice (NYSSV), is dedicated to upholding Christian morality. He opposes obscene literature, abortion, contraception, masturbation, gambling, prostitution, and patent medicine. His agents and hired thugs seemingly operate without constraints terrorizing the book sellers enforcing Comstock’s extremist views. Sanger flees the country fearing she will be arrested yet again on the publication of a pamphlet she authored which details several contraceptive methods.
The action really takes off when a carefully wrapped package lands in the throwaway box of the Applebaums’ Arcadia during the melee following one of Comstock’s raids.
The story is well paced and researched. It was an easy read with occasional pauses to look up the links below for a deeper dive into some of the topics touched upon by the author. She gives us a good portrayal of this New York City neighborhood and what life was like at that time.
Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres. I especially enjoyed learning about this time and place, which I knew little about. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book to preview prior to publication.
Anthony Comstock
https://www.history.com/articles/coms...
Comstock Act
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comstoc...
Margaret Sanger
https://guides.loc.gov/chronicling-am...
https://www.womenshistory.org/educati...
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Family...
Black Mariah
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_van
Book Row
https://www.villagepreservation.org/2...
https://www.6sqft.com/a-history-of-bo...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_Row
Sappho
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=95SDtZd...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sappho
The Decameron
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dec...
https://webhelper.brown.edu/decameron/
https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/gio...
Jane Addams
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Ad...
Jane Eyre
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Eyre
Jane Austin
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Au...
Wanamaker’s
https://www.untappedcities.com/10-los...
https://ephemeralnewyork.wordpress.co...
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/theymadeamer...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanamak...
https://www.nycago.org/Organs/NYC/htm...
Settlement House
https://www.tenement.org/blog/america...
https://www.mcny.org/exhibition/settl...
https://www.pbs.org/video/treasures-n...
Pessary
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pessary
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health...
Piecrust table
https://roomai.com/interior-design-gl...
Gibson Girl
https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/gibson-g...
British Museum
https://www.britishmuseum.org/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British...
Quotes
“Did you know that doctors are not even allowed to discuss contraception or abortion, even if the woman will die giving birth? What are doctors for? To let their patients succumb because of some man’s stupidity, or to save lives?”
March 6, 2026
I felt like I read this book previously although it's new. I enjoyed reading about Olivia, Daphne and Celia as well as the neighbors as they work through banning of books, trying to run bookstores and printing documents that were forbidden during the time period. It all flows well together and had a good ending.
March 11, 2026
The author wove several plots that occurred in New York around 1914 together which made for an interesting read.
March 31, 2026
Banning books was as heinous in 1915 as it is today. The Comstock Laws were used to promote the bizarre puritanical ideas of one man.
December 8, 2025
My favorite books usually have “bookstore” “librarian” “book” in the title as most of these books fall into the “historical fiction” genre. Given that, I thank Harper Collins Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Sisters of Book Row by Shelly Noble.
The Sisters of Book Row started out slow and it took me a bit of time to get into the story. The three sisters - Olivia, Daphne and Celia - live above the Manhattan book store left to them by their father. The year is 1915 and Book Row is home to rare book sellers who look out for one another. Three sisters with such different personalities can be a challenge to the reader unless their personalities are well defined. Noble does a good job in establishing each sister’s role in the book shop hierarchy and their individuality in the first half of the book, but I found the writing repetitious and tedious.
One of the most interesting parts of The Sisters of Book Row was the story of Anthony Comstock, ‘America’s most vicious censor”. I had never heard of Comstock and his methods of censorship were repulsive. Comstock found pornography in the most respected and cherished books regardless of genre. His actions, and those of his enforcers, wreaked havoc on Manhattan’s Book Row, as shop owners were attacked and their stocks destroyed. It reminded me of the banned book frenzy experienced recently in America; a frenzy that emptied books shelves in libraries, schools, universities and stores of a variety of the classics, books on subjects deemed “unfitting” for children, books on truth and life.
The sisters relationships with each other was complicated. That they loved each other was not in question. They felt resentment and angst at not being able to realize their dreams, even though they didn’t share their dreams with each other. Noble brought in the resistance movement through Margaret Sanger’s mission to gain equality for women, and Celia as the sister who wanted to help women chart their own course via pregnancy. Daphne, who appears shallow at first, is anything but that. And Olivia, the oldest, had her own problems to deal with almost to the point of obsession.
The pace picks up in the second half of the book as the story line evolves and the sisters find their own footing. There is a mystery to be solved, several men appear in the sister’s lives and the ending, although predictable, tied things up nicely.
The Sisters of Book Row started out slow and it took me a bit of time to get into the story. The three sisters - Olivia, Daphne and Celia - live above the Manhattan book store left to them by their father. The year is 1915 and Book Row is home to rare book sellers who look out for one another. Three sisters with such different personalities can be a challenge to the reader unless their personalities are well defined. Noble does a good job in establishing each sister’s role in the book shop hierarchy and their individuality in the first half of the book, but I found the writing repetitious and tedious.
One of the most interesting parts of The Sisters of Book Row was the story of Anthony Comstock, ‘America’s most vicious censor”. I had never heard of Comstock and his methods of censorship were repulsive. Comstock found pornography in the most respected and cherished books regardless of genre. His actions, and those of his enforcers, wreaked havoc on Manhattan’s Book Row, as shop owners were attacked and their stocks destroyed. It reminded me of the banned book frenzy experienced recently in America; a frenzy that emptied books shelves in libraries, schools, universities and stores of a variety of the classics, books on subjects deemed “unfitting” for children, books on truth and life.
The sisters relationships with each other was complicated. That they loved each other was not in question. They felt resentment and angst at not being able to realize their dreams, even though they didn’t share their dreams with each other. Noble brought in the resistance movement through Margaret Sanger’s mission to gain equality for women, and Celia as the sister who wanted to help women chart their own course via pregnancy. Daphne, who appears shallow at first, is anything but that. And Olivia, the oldest, had her own problems to deal with almost to the point of obsession.
The pace picks up in the second half of the book as the story line evolves and the sisters find their own footing. There is a mystery to be solved, several men appear in the sister’s lives and the ending, although predictable, tied things up nicely.
December 3, 2025
The Sisters of Book Row by Shelley Noble is a great historical fiction novel that takes place in Manhattan in 1915.
I love books. I love books about books , bookshops, and running bookshops. I also love a good HF with strong female characters venturing out, stealthily pushing the boundaries, and succeeding against the odds. This book has all of the above.
I enjoyed reading about these three sisters…their interests, fears, hopes, and dreams and how that was a lot of times at odds with what was expected of a woman in the early 20th century. Their development and the interplay between the sisters is what drives this novel. Definitely an interesting read.
4/5 stars
Thank you NG and William Morrow | William Morrow Paperbacks for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 3/3/2026.
I love books. I love books about books , bookshops, and running bookshops. I also love a good HF with strong female characters venturing out, stealthily pushing the boundaries, and succeeding against the odds. This book has all of the above.
I enjoyed reading about these three sisters…their interests, fears, hopes, and dreams and how that was a lot of times at odds with what was expected of a woman in the early 20th century. Their development and the interplay between the sisters is what drives this novel. Definitely an interesting read.
4/5 stars
Thank you NG and William Morrow | William Morrow Paperbacks for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 3/3/2026.
March 9, 2026
THE SISTERS OF BOOK ROW
BY: SHELLY NOBLE
SHELLY NOBLE is one of my FAVORITE AUTHORS of HISTORICAL FICTION and her latest historical fiction focuses on a relevant topic today more than ever. In her trademark heartwarming story that is one that lies at the heart of the story is the clandestine meetings that risked the terror of Comstock's discovery of the risks, if caught could be harshly punished that surely meant jail at the least. This historical novel brings to life so well New York City that in 1915 an underground movement for protecting women who were not allowed to choose whether they could make their own decisions about having forced to bear more children for various reasons. A hidden movement that advocated Women's health. Shelly Noble has brought to vivid life the famous Book Row in her heartwarming trademark narrative the community so vibrant with the three Sisters who are Olivia, Celia, and Daphne Applebaum who each are trying to keep their inherited bookstore called Arcadia Books afloat with her fantastic character development that she made them distinct as the book begins. There is so much warmth in the characters that are interacting in the wonderful Book Row that I loved about the charm with which goes into the descriptions of the Applebaum's bookstore as it involved within their store how Olivia handled the Rare Books section that reminded me of how I once visited so many different bookstores as a collector. I marvel at her research to have recreated an authentic rendering that I could envision the vast amount of realistic operations that I know are accurate. The novel should be successful among all who read since it involves such a multifaceted layered depiction of how the camaraderie of the community on Book Row, and especially now since the banned books, and Women's right to choose have never been more timely with how connected than in how censored from increasing upper echelons enforce setbacks from those in power. The novel has placed the middle sister Celia who carries a knitting bag as she makes excuses to take part in her disseminating pamphlets that are printed to from another Bookseller with the printing press concealing the gathered group within Margaret Sanger's ideas spreading the information to the population in raising awareness. The other ironic details that during my youth were how the Unions were stronger and helped workers in their trades have better wages, protected employees healthcare benefits, and their jobs. In the novel as the book explores these movements as it portrayed the struggles for ensuring life for those who participated in spreading awareness the Unions that were starting to assemble, just like Women's medical conditions regarding childbirth have greatly diminished. The combination of illuminating how a rise in banned books from those who are in power that reversed Women's rights all in using the Book Row as a setting. Also the bonds of sisters each with their own togetherness and different pursuits that bring to mind the independent bookstores among the glory of the written word and so much more captivated me from start to finish. Shelly Noble has brought multi themes that captures how genuine, and how using books and family within a Vibrant atmospheric highly appealing history that exceed my expectations in every possible way. I loved it and am impressed with how it is poignant and I can highly recommend this since anybody who reads will all agree that books and the power of information should pick this up since it should resonate with the widest possible audience.
Publication Date: March 3, 2026 AVAILABLE NOW TO PURCHASE THAT CELEBRATES BOOKS!
A Huge Thank you to Net Galley, Shelly Noble, and William Morrow/William Morrow Paperbacks who generously provided me with my SPECTACULAR ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own, as always.
#TheSistersofBookRow #ShellyNoble #WilliamMorrow #WilliamMorrowPaperbacks #NetGalley
BY: SHELLY NOBLE
SHELLY NOBLE is one of my FAVORITE AUTHORS of HISTORICAL FICTION and her latest historical fiction focuses on a relevant topic today more than ever. In her trademark heartwarming story that is one that lies at the heart of the story is the clandestine meetings that risked the terror of Comstock's discovery of the risks, if caught could be harshly punished that surely meant jail at the least. This historical novel brings to life so well New York City that in 1915 an underground movement for protecting women who were not allowed to choose whether they could make their own decisions about having forced to bear more children for various reasons. A hidden movement that advocated Women's health. Shelly Noble has brought to vivid life the famous Book Row in her heartwarming trademark narrative the community so vibrant with the three Sisters who are Olivia, Celia, and Daphne Applebaum who each are trying to keep their inherited bookstore called Arcadia Books afloat with her fantastic character development that she made them distinct as the book begins. There is so much warmth in the characters that are interacting in the wonderful Book Row that I loved about the charm with which goes into the descriptions of the Applebaum's bookstore as it involved within their store how Olivia handled the Rare Books section that reminded me of how I once visited so many different bookstores as a collector. I marvel at her research to have recreated an authentic rendering that I could envision the vast amount of realistic operations that I know are accurate. The novel should be successful among all who read since it involves such a multifaceted layered depiction of how the camaraderie of the community on Book Row, and especially now since the banned books, and Women's right to choose have never been more timely with how connected than in how censored from increasing upper echelons enforce setbacks from those in power. The novel has placed the middle sister Celia who carries a knitting bag as she makes excuses to take part in her disseminating pamphlets that are printed to from another Bookseller with the printing press concealing the gathered group within Margaret Sanger's ideas spreading the information to the population in raising awareness. The other ironic details that during my youth were how the Unions were stronger and helped workers in their trades have better wages, protected employees healthcare benefits, and their jobs. In the novel as the book explores these movements as it portrayed the struggles for ensuring life for those who participated in spreading awareness the Unions that were starting to assemble, just like Women's medical conditions regarding childbirth have greatly diminished. The combination of illuminating how a rise in banned books from those who are in power that reversed Women's rights all in using the Book Row as a setting. Also the bonds of sisters each with their own togetherness and different pursuits that bring to mind the independent bookstores among the glory of the written word and so much more captivated me from start to finish. Shelly Noble has brought multi themes that captures how genuine, and how using books and family within a Vibrant atmospheric highly appealing history that exceed my expectations in every possible way. I loved it and am impressed with how it is poignant and I can highly recommend this since anybody who reads will all agree that books and the power of information should pick this up since it should resonate with the widest possible audience.
Publication Date: March 3, 2026 AVAILABLE NOW TO PURCHASE THAT CELEBRATES BOOKS!
A Huge Thank you to Net Galley, Shelly Noble, and William Morrow/William Morrow Paperbacks who generously provided me with my SPECTACULAR ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own, as always.
#TheSistersofBookRow #ShellyNoble #WilliamMorrow #WilliamMorrowPaperbacks #NetGalley
March 22, 2026
Three years before women in New York could legally vote in 1918, a war in Europe entered its second year. The Applebaum sisters had inherited Arcadia Rare Bookshop from their widowed father before the Titanic’s voyage to the bottom of the sea. Olivia, the eldest at “nearly the wrong side of 24,” takes charge of her younger siblings: 20-year-old Daphne and 18-year-old Celia. In this period piece, Arcadia is located near Astor Place on Manhattan’s 4th Avenue, the historic Book Row.
The poorly worded 1873 Comstock Act prohibited mailing “obscene” materials, leaving the definition open to interpretation by Anthony Comstock and his henchmen. Once empowered, Comstock took this to mean distributing what he considered obscene. A 50% financial incentive of fines collected spurs him to arrest countless citizens as he sets eyes on the booksellers and printers of Book Row. The “odious fool” earned the respect of none and ire from all.
When a Comstock-led raid strikes a print shop adjoining Arcadia, a mysterious package is stashed into the throwaway box, a crate at the Arcadia entrance for customers to donate or skim used books of little value. As an antiquarian restorer, Olivia recognizes the velum-bound volume as a collection of papyrus fragments written in ancient Greek. Had Comstock’s goons been searching for the manuscript believed to be the poetry of Sappho, whom Plato dubbed the 10th muse, thinking that her Words More Naked Than Flesh was pornography?
Meanwhile, Celia is a devout follower of Margaret Sanger, a Comstock nemesis who had been arrested. Celia distributes brochures about women’s health and family limitation, a euphemism for birth control, which makes her a criminal defined by the Comstock Act. She uses the throwaway box as a receptacle for illicit messages and believes the manuscript may be from Sanger, who is set to flee America to avoid imprisonment.
The mystery thread in this tapestry volleys readers’ attention between two scenarios for Comstock’s focus on Arcadia. Olivia and Celia each believe she is the cause of Arcadia being in Comstock’s crosshairs.
Shelley Noble’s enlightening historical novels remind readers that freedoms readily available now were not availed to most a mere century ago. The unapologetic feminist undertone in THE SISTERS OF BOOK ROW belts a proud anthem of gender equality and women’s rights in an era when there were none, boldly challenging patriarchy.
Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy
The poorly worded 1873 Comstock Act prohibited mailing “obscene” materials, leaving the definition open to interpretation by Anthony Comstock and his henchmen. Once empowered, Comstock took this to mean distributing what he considered obscene. A 50% financial incentive of fines collected spurs him to arrest countless citizens as he sets eyes on the booksellers and printers of Book Row. The “odious fool” earned the respect of none and ire from all.
When a Comstock-led raid strikes a print shop adjoining Arcadia, a mysterious package is stashed into the throwaway box, a crate at the Arcadia entrance for customers to donate or skim used books of little value. As an antiquarian restorer, Olivia recognizes the velum-bound volume as a collection of papyrus fragments written in ancient Greek. Had Comstock’s goons been searching for the manuscript believed to be the poetry of Sappho, whom Plato dubbed the 10th muse, thinking that her Words More Naked Than Flesh was pornography?
Meanwhile, Celia is a devout follower of Margaret Sanger, a Comstock nemesis who had been arrested. Celia distributes brochures about women’s health and family limitation, a euphemism for birth control, which makes her a criminal defined by the Comstock Act. She uses the throwaway box as a receptacle for illicit messages and believes the manuscript may be from Sanger, who is set to flee America to avoid imprisonment.
The mystery thread in this tapestry volleys readers’ attention between two scenarios for Comstock’s focus on Arcadia. Olivia and Celia each believe she is the cause of Arcadia being in Comstock’s crosshairs.
Shelley Noble’s enlightening historical novels remind readers that freedoms readily available now were not availed to most a mere century ago. The unapologetic feminist undertone in THE SISTERS OF BOOK ROW belts a proud anthem of gender equality and women’s rights in an era when there were none, boldly challenging patriarchy.
Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Sisters of Book Row are Olivia, Daphne, and Celia Applebaum. The three young women struggle to run the used bookshop they inherited from their father. Olivia, the eldest, is an expert in restoration and rare books. College-educated so that she can take over the business and support her sisters, she has two secret sorrows - having to give up a job she loved at the Metropolitan Museum and advancing cataracts that are robbing her of her sight. Daphne is pretty, vain, and shallow. She loves romance novels and longs for a handsome man who will take her away from a life she finds dreary. Celia, the youngest, has dedicated herself to distributing illegal information about birth control. The three live in fear that the dreaded Anthony Comstock and his agents of the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice will endanger their livelihood.
The historical background of this novel is fascinating. I knew nothing of Comstock's reign of terror over the shopkeepers of New York. A petty tyrant with a very broad and personal definition of pornography, he sent his hired thugs to raid stores, confiscate books, and arrest anyone he suspected of illicit behavior. He had a particular obsession with Margaret Sanger and anyone connected with her campaign to provide women with information about birth control.
Unfortunately, the book, itself, was less than riveting. I expected the Applebaum sisters to be similar to Amy Stewart's wonderful Kopp sisters, but they were not. Celia was the most clearly defined character, but until the last few chapters, all I really knew about her sisters was that Daphne curled her hair by tying it up with socks and Olivia wore glasses. I grew very tired of the endless repetitions of the tedious details of the Applebaums opening and closing the store every day. Okay, I got it that their lives were dull and limited; did the book have to focus on that more than anything else? The subplot about papyrus fragments of a poem by Sappho seemed extraneous and added for the purpose of bringing two love interests into the story. Everything felt pulled together at the end. Too much of the dialog consisted of speeches about censorship and freedom of information.
I would like to thank NetGalley and William Morrow for granting me access to a free advance reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The historical background of this novel is fascinating. I knew nothing of Comstock's reign of terror over the shopkeepers of New York. A petty tyrant with a very broad and personal definition of pornography, he sent his hired thugs to raid stores, confiscate books, and arrest anyone he suspected of illicit behavior. He had a particular obsession with Margaret Sanger and anyone connected with her campaign to provide women with information about birth control.
Unfortunately, the book, itself, was less than riveting. I expected the Applebaum sisters to be similar to Amy Stewart's wonderful Kopp sisters, but they were not. Celia was the most clearly defined character, but until the last few chapters, all I really knew about her sisters was that Daphne curled her hair by tying it up with socks and Olivia wore glasses. I grew very tired of the endless repetitions of the tedious details of the Applebaums opening and closing the store every day. Okay, I got it that their lives were dull and limited; did the book have to focus on that more than anything else? The subplot about papyrus fragments of a poem by Sappho seemed extraneous and added for the purpose of bringing two love interests into the story. Everything felt pulled together at the end. Too much of the dialog consisted of speeches about censorship and freedom of information.
I would like to thank NetGalley and William Morrow for granting me access to a free advance reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Sisters of Book Rowmby Shelley Noble
While the Comstock Act may have sounded vaguely familiar, I did not realize what it was really about, nor did I realize the impact it had upon publishers, booksellers, and women in the 19th and early 20th centuries, including prostitution, birth control, abortion, pornography or anything deemed lewd or overtly sexual, and this was not explicitly defined but left to the judgment of the investigators.
The story focuses on the Arcadia Rare Bookshop, which is run by Olivia Applebaum and her sisters Daphne and Celia. After their father died, Olivia took over, having given up her dream job because, much to their father’s dismay, there was no male offspring to carry on the family business. While Olivia ran the store, her younger sisters did their best to follow her wishes, despite having dreams of lives of their own. Daphne, the middle sister, has an eye for design, while Celia is secretly participating in weekly activist group meetings to distribute pamphlets to a women’s clinic. For the women, there is a sense of sameness to their lives. Work, trudge upstairs to their living quarters for a simple meal, retire for the evening, repeat.
When a mysterious stranger begins hovering around the shop, the sisters grow nervous – Celia most of all, - but neither of her sisters is aware of her activities, although they suspect she is not really in a “knitting” group. They wonder if she may have secret trysts with a beau.
The story takes a dramatic turn when a rare package turns up in the throwaway box in front of the store. It changes Olivia’s entire outlook and the whole thrust of the family’s future. Will this lead down the road to turmoil, ruin, perhaps legal peril, or will it open the door to better understanding and freedom for them all?
After a bit of a slow start, I found this to be a quite enjoyable read, quite different from recent historical fiction reads. I received an ARC copy of The Sisters of Book Row in exchange for my honest review. Thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow Publishing, and the author.
4 stars
While the Comstock Act may have sounded vaguely familiar, I did not realize what it was really about, nor did I realize the impact it had upon publishers, booksellers, and women in the 19th and early 20th centuries, including prostitution, birth control, abortion, pornography or anything deemed lewd or overtly sexual, and this was not explicitly defined but left to the judgment of the investigators.
The story focuses on the Arcadia Rare Bookshop, which is run by Olivia Applebaum and her sisters Daphne and Celia. After their father died, Olivia took over, having given up her dream job because, much to their father’s dismay, there was no male offspring to carry on the family business. While Olivia ran the store, her younger sisters did their best to follow her wishes, despite having dreams of lives of their own. Daphne, the middle sister, has an eye for design, while Celia is secretly participating in weekly activist group meetings to distribute pamphlets to a women’s clinic. For the women, there is a sense of sameness to their lives. Work, trudge upstairs to their living quarters for a simple meal, retire for the evening, repeat.
When a mysterious stranger begins hovering around the shop, the sisters grow nervous – Celia most of all, - but neither of her sisters is aware of her activities, although they suspect she is not really in a “knitting” group. They wonder if she may have secret trysts with a beau.
The story takes a dramatic turn when a rare package turns up in the throwaway box in front of the store. It changes Olivia’s entire outlook and the whole thrust of the family’s future. Will this lead down the road to turmoil, ruin, perhaps legal peril, or will it open the door to better understanding and freedom for them all?
After a bit of a slow start, I found this to be a quite enjoyable read, quite different from recent historical fiction reads. I received an ARC copy of The Sisters of Book Row in exchange for my honest review. Thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow Publishing, and the author.
4 stars
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you, William Morrow, for the Advance Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Sisters of Book Row is historical fiction inspired by actual people and events featuring courageous booksellers fighting censorship and oppression. This story, told in two converging story lines, captures a fierce love for the written word and boots on the ground display of civil disobedience and resilience.
Anthony Comstock was commissioned as special agent for the New York US Post Office to prevent pornography from being sent through the mail. He became a zealot, appointing himself the “Christian morality man”, dedicated to censoring “obscene, lewd, or lascivious” publications. In 1915, he created the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice to enforce his anti-obscenity campaign by dispatching agents to raid bookstores and apprehend civilians accused of violating his laws.
At the same time, Margaret Stanger was an advocate at the forefront of protecting women’s right to healthcare and fought to distribute family planning information. Stanger insisted women and girls should have autonomy over their lives, making her one of Comstock’s main targets.
The Applebaum sister’s storyline links these two characters into a cohesive plot. The three sisters do their part to keep the family bookstore open after inheriting the Arcadia Rare Bookshop from their father, three years after their mother died during childbirth. Olivia, the oldest, is an expert in restoring rare manuscripts. She is hiding a secret from her sisters that will affect all their futures. Daphne, the outgoing middle sister, wants to have a family, but working in a bookstore limits her prospects, sending her into constant melancholy. Ceclia, the youngest, is secretly aiding the cause to educate women about contraception while obsessing over her sisters finding out. Two of the sisters cross the line of the Comstock morality codes, placing their business and personal lives in jeopardy. Will their secret lives advance their mission to defy the laws, or will the sin of omission irrevocably unravel their lives?
Shelley Noble has created a fascinating, meticulously researched story that introduces readers to larger-than-life figures that played key roles in shaping American history.
The Sisters of Book Row is historical fiction inspired by actual people and events featuring courageous booksellers fighting censorship and oppression. This story, told in two converging story lines, captures a fierce love for the written word and boots on the ground display of civil disobedience and resilience.
Anthony Comstock was commissioned as special agent for the New York US Post Office to prevent pornography from being sent through the mail. He became a zealot, appointing himself the “Christian morality man”, dedicated to censoring “obscene, lewd, or lascivious” publications. In 1915, he created the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice to enforce his anti-obscenity campaign by dispatching agents to raid bookstores and apprehend civilians accused of violating his laws.
At the same time, Margaret Stanger was an advocate at the forefront of protecting women’s right to healthcare and fought to distribute family planning information. Stanger insisted women and girls should have autonomy over their lives, making her one of Comstock’s main targets.
The Applebaum sister’s storyline links these two characters into a cohesive plot. The three sisters do their part to keep the family bookstore open after inheriting the Arcadia Rare Bookshop from their father, three years after their mother died during childbirth. Olivia, the oldest, is an expert in restoring rare manuscripts. She is hiding a secret from her sisters that will affect all their futures. Daphne, the outgoing middle sister, wants to have a family, but working in a bookstore limits her prospects, sending her into constant melancholy. Ceclia, the youngest, is secretly aiding the cause to educate women about contraception while obsessing over her sisters finding out. Two of the sisters cross the line of the Comstock morality codes, placing their business and personal lives in jeopardy. Will their secret lives advance their mission to defy the laws, or will the sin of omission irrevocably unravel their lives?
Shelley Noble has created a fascinating, meticulously researched story that introduces readers to larger-than-life figures that played key roles in shaping American history.
April 6, 2026
This is my 2nd book by Shelly Noble and the premise of book banning in the US, with sisters working together in a book store hooked me in.
The story line is slower to unwind in the beginning, with more of the day to day bookstores operations and the building the background of the book banning in 1915 Manhattan’s Book Row by Anthony Comstock, the worst book banner of that era. Not only are books banned, art, pamphlets and any material related to birth control/women's health was destroyed and those suspected of being involved in creating or distributing are arrested.
The main characters are the three Applebaum sisters, Olivia, Daphne and Cecilia, who own the four-storied Arcadia Rare Bookshop which is also their home. Other interesting characters are their fellow book store owners in Book Row, fellow resisters, a government agent and a Met employee. The author clearly did her research as she described not only the physical aspects of Manhattan, but a building suspense in an atmosphere of fear and resistance to the unwarranted searches and seizures which you could feel.
I was left wanting more sister camaraderie seen and a bit more fleshing out about some of the relationships which developed along the way and the ending seemed to wrap up quickly. It was these elements that made it a solid 3.5-3.75 for me.
There is intrigue, suspense, developing romance, and the love and loyalty not only in families but with the neighborhood of colleagues shines brightly. It is a clean read with some minimal language in a couple settings and some non-graphic violence appropriate historically.
I highly recommended this engaging book full of wonderful historical context unfolded in the lives of these quietly courageous sisters in an era full of tyrannical censorship. The author's notes add to the story as well. It will leave you inspired, grateful and proud of the unlikely hero's preserving the liberty of art and our ability to read beloved books.
A huge note of gratitude to William Morrow Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC, it was a privilege and pleasure to read. All opinions expressed are my own.
The story line is slower to unwind in the beginning, with more of the day to day bookstores operations and the building the background of the book banning in 1915 Manhattan’s Book Row by Anthony Comstock, the worst book banner of that era. Not only are books banned, art, pamphlets and any material related to birth control/women's health was destroyed and those suspected of being involved in creating or distributing are arrested.
The main characters are the three Applebaum sisters, Olivia, Daphne and Cecilia, who own the four-storied Arcadia Rare Bookshop which is also their home. Other interesting characters are their fellow book store owners in Book Row, fellow resisters, a government agent and a Met employee. The author clearly did her research as she described not only the physical aspects of Manhattan, but a building suspense in an atmosphere of fear and resistance to the unwarranted searches and seizures which you could feel.
I was left wanting more sister camaraderie seen and a bit more fleshing out about some of the relationships which developed along the way and the ending seemed to wrap up quickly. It was these elements that made it a solid 3.5-3.75 for me.
There is intrigue, suspense, developing romance, and the love and loyalty not only in families but with the neighborhood of colleagues shines brightly. It is a clean read with some minimal language in a couple settings and some non-graphic violence appropriate historically.
I highly recommended this engaging book full of wonderful historical context unfolded in the lives of these quietly courageous sisters in an era full of tyrannical censorship. The author's notes add to the story as well. It will leave you inspired, grateful and proud of the unlikely hero's preserving the liberty of art and our ability to read beloved books.
A huge note of gratitude to William Morrow Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC, it was a privilege and pleasure to read. All opinions expressed are my own.
February 1, 2026
Books about books always catch my eye, and I am happy that I chose to read this historical fiction novel that brought to light the early banning of books and the women's rights movement.
It's 1915 and the Applebaum sisters (Olivia, Daphne, and Celia) of Manhattan are struggling to keep their late father's antique book store afloat following his death three years ago. The store is located on the 4th Avenue "Book Row," where many book and art sellers have shops.
The story is a beautiful blend of women secretly working to help women, the power of books, the power of family, and efforts to stop a ruthless censor, Anthony Comstock. The book was obviously well-researched and the author does a beautiful job weaving verified history with fiction to create a novel that accurately reflects real people and situations of the time period.
Reading the author's notes was fascinating. I had never heard of Anthony Comstock, who advocated for "Christian morality," by creating the "Society for the Suppression of Vice." The NY legislature gave Comstock power to begin a campaign against obscenity, which grew to include contraception, abortion, and pornography. Sadly, the definition of what was considered"pornography" was subjective, and Comstock burned tons and tons of classic texts, art pieces, and more. His acts were well-illustrated in this story, the surprise raiding of bookstores, print shops, and art galleries was greatly feared by store owners on "Book Row." Another central figure in the story is Margaret Stanger, who was an early leader in advocating for the rights of women to have access to family planning information and healthcare.
It was a real eye-opener to realize that it's 2026 and women are still being told what they can or can't do with their bodies, and books are still being banned. The Comstock Law was invalidated in 1957, but many similar laws exist today throughout the United States.
Thank you NetGalley, William Morrow Publishers, and the author for the advanced reading copy.
It's 1915 and the Applebaum sisters (Olivia, Daphne, and Celia) of Manhattan are struggling to keep their late father's antique book store afloat following his death three years ago. The store is located on the 4th Avenue "Book Row," where many book and art sellers have shops.
The story is a beautiful blend of women secretly working to help women, the power of books, the power of family, and efforts to stop a ruthless censor, Anthony Comstock. The book was obviously well-researched and the author does a beautiful job weaving verified history with fiction to create a novel that accurately reflects real people and situations of the time period.
Reading the author's notes was fascinating. I had never heard of Anthony Comstock, who advocated for "Christian morality," by creating the "Society for the Suppression of Vice." The NY legislature gave Comstock power to begin a campaign against obscenity, which grew to include contraception, abortion, and pornography. Sadly, the definition of what was considered"pornography" was subjective, and Comstock burned tons and tons of classic texts, art pieces, and more. His acts were well-illustrated in this story, the surprise raiding of bookstores, print shops, and art galleries was greatly feared by store owners on "Book Row." Another central figure in the story is Margaret Stanger, who was an early leader in advocating for the rights of women to have access to family planning information and healthcare.
It was a real eye-opener to realize that it's 2026 and women are still being told what they can or can't do with their bodies, and books are still being banned. The Comstock Law was invalidated in 1957, but many similar laws exist today throughout the United States.
Thank you NetGalley, William Morrow Publishers, and the author for the advanced reading copy.
March 25, 2026
The Sisters of Book Row is set in 1915 on Manhattan's Book Row, an area lined with bookstores. The Applebaum sisters have inherited the Arcadia Bookstore from their father, and they run it together. Olivia is the oldest sister, a former antiquarian book researcher from the Met. Daphne, the middle sister, is outgoing and full of ideas to modernize the bookstore and bring in more customers. Celia, the youngest sister, is a crusader working secretly for Margaret Sanger's organization to help women's causes, especially birth control. The bookstores are all under siege by Anthony Comstock, who wants to censor literature. Two things happen that change the sisters' lives: they find a rare, untranslated manuscript by Sappho (which would be banned) and Celia's social crusading lands her in serious trouble.
I wanted to read this novel because I love historical fiction, am interested in the 1910's, and found the Book Row setting so intriguing. I will admit that I spent a lot of time opening my phone to look up details about Book Row (fascinating reading!) and book banner Anthony Comstock. This is the kind of book that encourages such meandering.
I absolutely loved this novel. It is sure to be a top 10 of the year for me. I've already recommended it to several friends. It's a timely read, with the topics of censorship and threats to women's most basic rights.
This is such a well written book combining history, a literary mystery, and stories of the sisters together as a family and pursuing their own challenges and dreams. The author does a wonderful job with characterization. For instance, the sisters have a cat named Jane. Olivia says she is named for Jane Eyre. Daphne says she is named for Jane Austen. Celia insists she is actually named for Jane Addams.
I enthusiastically recommend this book to other historical fiction fans, and especially to anyone interested in rare books and some American bookselling (and censorship) history. Just be warned that you will stay up reading long after your bedtime with this one. It is truly that good!
I wanted to read this novel because I love historical fiction, am interested in the 1910's, and found the Book Row setting so intriguing. I will admit that I spent a lot of time opening my phone to look up details about Book Row (fascinating reading!) and book banner Anthony Comstock. This is the kind of book that encourages such meandering.
I absolutely loved this novel. It is sure to be a top 10 of the year for me. I've already recommended it to several friends. It's a timely read, with the topics of censorship and threats to women's most basic rights.
This is such a well written book combining history, a literary mystery, and stories of the sisters together as a family and pursuing their own challenges and dreams. The author does a wonderful job with characterization. For instance, the sisters have a cat named Jane. Olivia says she is named for Jane Eyre. Daphne says she is named for Jane Austen. Celia insists she is actually named for Jane Addams.
I enthusiastically recommend this book to other historical fiction fans, and especially to anyone interested in rare books and some American bookselling (and censorship) history. Just be warned that you will stay up reading long after your bedtime with this one. It is truly that good!
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