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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
115 people are currently reading
11430 people want to read
About the author
Shelley Noble
29 books1,264 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 107 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
An intriguing part of New York City's history is a district known as "Book Row," which stretched for six city blocks along Fourth Avenue between Union Square and Astor Place. The area housed several dozen bookstores, mostly selling used books, such as the Arcadia Rare Bookshop, the fictional setting of this book.
After their father's death, the three Applebaum sisters inherited Arcadia and devoted themselves to its continuation. Olivia, the oldest sister, specialized in restoring rare manuscripts. Middle sister Daphne focused on improving sales and modernizing the store while dreaming of finding a husband. The youngest, Celia, secretly distributed printed materials educating women on pregnancy, birth control, and health issues, inspired by Margaret Sanger. However, in 1915, the Comstock laws posed a threat of fines and even arrest. Anthony Comstock, and his New York Society for the Suppression of Vice, had specifically targeted Book Row, seeking to catch stores selling anything he considered obscene and immoral. The discovery of a collection of ancient romantic poetry with themes of forbidden love heightened the risk of danger for the sisters.
The Sisters of Book Row by Shelley Noble is an engaging work of historical fiction centered on three women who love books, each pursuing their own hopes and dreams. This well-researched book places the reader in the heart of Book Row and the challenges of censorship and women's rights. After finishing the book, you'll be inspired to learn more about Book Row, Margaret Sanger, Anthony Comstock, and the Henry Street Settlement House. It's an enjoyable read for book lovers!
Many thanks to William Morrow Books for the advance. I alternated between reading the book and listening to the audio version, which was very well done.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
After their father's death, the three Applebaum sisters inherited Arcadia and devoted themselves to its continuation. Olivia, the oldest sister, specialized in restoring rare manuscripts. Middle sister Daphne focused on improving sales and modernizing the store while dreaming of finding a husband. The youngest, Celia, secretly distributed printed materials educating women on pregnancy, birth control, and health issues, inspired by Margaret Sanger. However, in 1915, the Comstock laws posed a threat of fines and even arrest. Anthony Comstock, and his New York Society for the Suppression of Vice, had specifically targeted Book Row, seeking to catch stores selling anything he considered obscene and immoral. The discovery of a collection of ancient romantic poetry with themes of forbidden love heightened the risk of danger for the sisters.
The Sisters of Book Row by Shelley Noble is an engaging work of historical fiction centered on three women who love books, each pursuing their own hopes and dreams. This well-researched book places the reader in the heart of Book Row and the challenges of censorship and women's rights. After finishing the book, you'll be inspired to learn more about Book Row, Margaret Sanger, Anthony Comstock, and the Henry Street Settlement House. It's an enjoyable read for book lovers!
Many thanks to William Morrow Books for the advance. I alternated between reading the book and listening to the audio version, which was very well done.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
December 29, 2025
I loved this book! Blending historical fiction with a touch of mystery and romance, its rich, intimate, and quietly suspenseful from the very first pages.
Set in 1915 Manhattan, the story follows the three Applebaum sisters, who run a rare and secondhand bookstore on Fourth Avenue’s famed Book Row—complete with a resident cat and a small apartment upstairs. Their daily lives are shadowed by constant anxiety over potential raids from real-life historical figure Anthony Comstock, notorious for censoring books, art, and information about birth control and reproductive health.
The sisters live a life at odds with the rigid expectations of their time, books were a man’s business. And still they dream of more. Olivia, the eldest, longs to return to her true passion: translating rare texts. Daphne’s wishes are simpler—she wants to leave behind the musty bookstore and find the security of marriage. Celia, the youngest, is already living dangerously as a clandestine activist working with another real historical figure, Margaret Sanger, helping fight laws that restrict access to contraception and women’s health information.
The novel alternates between the sisters’ perspectives, and each is fully realized and emotionally compelling. Daphne has my favorite glow-up of the book, I wish both she and Olivia had more narrative voice in the first half. Still, their arcs are deeply satisfying by the end.
One of the most endearing elements of the story is its portrayal of Book Row itself—not merely as a collection of shops, but as a tight-knit community of friends who protect one another and stand together during a tumultuous and dangerous period. That sense of solidarity, paired with the sisters’ quiet acts of defiance, makes this novel both moving and unforgettable.
Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the digital ARC. I loved this one so much I have preordered a physical copy for my personal library. Can’t wait to reread!
Set in 1915 Manhattan, the story follows the three Applebaum sisters, who run a rare and secondhand bookstore on Fourth Avenue’s famed Book Row—complete with a resident cat and a small apartment upstairs. Their daily lives are shadowed by constant anxiety over potential raids from real-life historical figure Anthony Comstock, notorious for censoring books, art, and information about birth control and reproductive health.
The sisters live a life at odds with the rigid expectations of their time, books were a man’s business. And still they dream of more. Olivia, the eldest, longs to return to her true passion: translating rare texts. Daphne’s wishes are simpler—she wants to leave behind the musty bookstore and find the security of marriage. Celia, the youngest, is already living dangerously as a clandestine activist working with another real historical figure, Margaret Sanger, helping fight laws that restrict access to contraception and women’s health information.
The novel alternates between the sisters’ perspectives, and each is fully realized and emotionally compelling. Daphne has my favorite glow-up of the book, I wish both she and Olivia had more narrative voice in the first half. Still, their arcs are deeply satisfying by the end.
One of the most endearing elements of the story is its portrayal of Book Row itself—not merely as a collection of shops, but as a tight-knit community of friends who protect one another and stand together during a tumultuous and dangerous period. That sense of solidarity, paired with the sisters’ quiet acts of defiance, makes this novel both moving and unforgettable.
Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the digital ARC. I loved this one so much I have preordered a physical copy for my personal library. Can’t wait to reread!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Books about books are one of my favorite things to read. This book was particularly tempting because it takes place in NYC’s Book Row neighborhood.- a real place I’m familiar with. Readers will benefit from reading the Author’s Note prior to starting the novel which is based on actual events.
Good news first - the parts of the story about books, restoration, procurement and Comstock Law impact on booksellers is extremely interesting and well researched. I worked in the book business during the late 70’s thru the mid 90’s, doing everything from hustling paperbacks at mom & pop shops to a VP at B&N. These descriptions are realistic and bibliophiles will enjoy this part of the story.
Less engaging were the ancillary stories about the three sisters. Each one had a tiny romantic arc or wanted one but they were woefully underdeveloped. Relationships between the three sisters were better written but became burdensome and repetitive. More activity and less repeat mental angst would have told the story better.
Each sister had a storyline that was political in nature: dealing with priceless, ancient poetry that was banned, supporting Margaret Sanger and her agenda, printing flyers for a clandestine women’s clinic. All of these could get the sisters incarcerated and could have received more attention from the author.
Book Row is a neighborhood with many interesting characters. Author, Shelley Noble, missed an opportunity for enriching this story by not spending time providing a backstory to some of them. Aside from banding together to fight the injustices perpetrated by Comstock, what motivates these folks to watch out for the sisters? I wanted much more than just assuming it’s their orphan status.
Overall, I enjoyed the actual “book” parts of the story but found the remainder to be scattered - too many threads without any actual production. The pacing was uneven; plodding, at times. Kudos to the author for language and sexual content that are clean and a low level of violence that’s appropriate for the story.
Recommended for diehard bibliophiles and early 20th century, Historical Fiction fans📚
I received a copy for review purposes. All opinions are honest and mine alone.
Read and Reviewed from a NetGalley eARC via Kindle with thanks to the author and publisher
Good news first - the parts of the story about books, restoration, procurement and Comstock Law impact on booksellers is extremely interesting and well researched. I worked in the book business during the late 70’s thru the mid 90’s, doing everything from hustling paperbacks at mom & pop shops to a VP at B&N. These descriptions are realistic and bibliophiles will enjoy this part of the story.
Less engaging were the ancillary stories about the three sisters. Each one had a tiny romantic arc or wanted one but they were woefully underdeveloped. Relationships between the three sisters were better written but became burdensome and repetitive. More activity and less repeat mental angst would have told the story better.
Each sister had a storyline that was political in nature: dealing with priceless, ancient poetry that was banned, supporting Margaret Sanger and her agenda, printing flyers for a clandestine women’s clinic. All of these could get the sisters incarcerated and could have received more attention from the author.
Book Row is a neighborhood with many interesting characters. Author, Shelley Noble, missed an opportunity for enriching this story by not spending time providing a backstory to some of them. Aside from banding together to fight the injustices perpetrated by Comstock, what motivates these folks to watch out for the sisters? I wanted much more than just assuming it’s their orphan status.
Overall, I enjoyed the actual “book” parts of the story but found the remainder to be scattered - too many threads without any actual production. The pacing was uneven; plodding, at times. Kudos to the author for language and sexual content that are clean and a low level of violence that’s appropriate for the story.
Recommended for diehard bibliophiles and early 20th century, Historical Fiction fans📚
I received a copy for review purposes. All opinions are honest and mine alone.
Read and Reviewed from a NetGalley eARC via Kindle with thanks to the author and publisher
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
How ironic that the problems women have with men trying to control their lives in 1915 still exits in 2026!! Book Row is a place of shops in Manhattan. Three sisters try to keep their father's antique book store a float. It's called Arcadia. The three sisters are so different. The eldest is the one who knows the most about the old books and loves them. The middle sister, is a romantic and loves to read romance and is very creative. The youngest is the one who is into women's rights to use birth control, take vitamins and have control of their own lives. They have a cat named Jane Austin who lives in the bookstore. She was one of my favorite characters! The girls all go their separate ways but do come together to open and close the store, eat dinner together. The eldest feels that the younger two should have more of a life but she can't seem to let them go. While the youngest gets into more & more underground activities, the oldest comes in contact with a very old book by a poetress. She is trying to translate it. There are people out there who want that book and will do anything to get it. There is also a politician who made the Comstock Law that threatens anyone who owns or circulates obscene, lascivious or lewd publications. So I guess flyers about vitamins and birth control fit into that category. The book is interesting in it's historical value of 1915. It has some twists and turns and romance along with some adventure. I wish I would have read the Author's note before reading the book because she goes into the history of Book Row and other things in the book that are of historical interest.
Thanks to #netgalley, #williammorrow and @shelleynobleauthor for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Thanks to #netgalley, #williammorrow and @shelleynobleauthor for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
November 19, 2025
The publisher was kind enough to provide me an eARC. The review is my own.
Three sisters inherited their father's bookshop in early 1900's Book Row, New York. A profession that was under attack at that time from a man named Comstock who was put in charge of protecting the public from things considered against public decency. A war was brewing in Europe and immigrants in New York were growing restless, with many still having families and sympathies across the seas. Women were fighting to be heard above the turmoils happening as well for the vote and freedoms such as the right to be able to choose whether to have children or not. Against this backdrop, we meet our sisters, loosely based on an actual famous New York book family. And from there the author gives us the story of how each sister in her own way is fighting for her own identity in these times and in her home.
The relationships between the sisters though loving is strained by secrets both their own and those of others. There are ghosts of their parents, obligations handed down, duties that cannot be avoided, opportunities shunned out of fear, love denied, frustration born out of misunderstanding, sacrifice, but there is also courage. Social growth and acceptance. Neighborhood friendships and associations that historically helped Book Row develop into what it became. There's a wonderful book mystery thrown in to pepper the parts of the book that let you into the side of the book trade, see what a book store was like back in the day. Over all this was a satisfying read as each sister is given a chance to flex and grow.
Three sisters inherited their father's bookshop in early 1900's Book Row, New York. A profession that was under attack at that time from a man named Comstock who was put in charge of protecting the public from things considered against public decency. A war was brewing in Europe and immigrants in New York were growing restless, with many still having families and sympathies across the seas. Women were fighting to be heard above the turmoils happening as well for the vote and freedoms such as the right to be able to choose whether to have children or not. Against this backdrop, we meet our sisters, loosely based on an actual famous New York book family. And from there the author gives us the story of how each sister in her own way is fighting for her own identity in these times and in her home.
The relationships between the sisters though loving is strained by secrets both their own and those of others. There are ghosts of their parents, obligations handed down, duties that cannot be avoided, opportunities shunned out of fear, love denied, frustration born out of misunderstanding, sacrifice, but there is also courage. Social growth and acceptance. Neighborhood friendships and associations that historically helped Book Row develop into what it became. There's a wonderful book mystery thrown in to pepper the parts of the book that let you into the side of the book trade, see what a book store was like back in the day. Over all this was a satisfying read as each sister is given a chance to flex and grow.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was initially drawn to this novel because it promises two of my favorite themes: "books about books" and the fight for women’s rights. I was also excited to learn more about an era of history (early 1900s) that is often overlooked in historical fiction. Unfortunately, the execution didn't quite live up to the premise.
The primary issue was the pacing; the narrative felt incredibly slow and weighed down by dense prose that didn't always serve the plot. I found myself wanting much more "showing" and less "telling". I was eager to learn about the logistics of Margaret Sanger’s movement and the specifics of Celia’s clandestine printing work, but these fascinating elements were often overshadowed by Celia’s repetitive internal monologues and misplaced self-blame.
Additionally, the story felt disjointed, almost as if two separate novels were stitched together. The subplot involving the Sappho poems felt random and disconnected from the central message of resistance against the Comstock Act. Because the book tried to cover so much ground to support the different lives of the sisters, the character development felt forced and ultimately lacked the depth needed to make me feel invested in their journeys. By the end, I was still left searching for a clear, cohesive message or a definitive "why" behind the story.
While the historical setting had immense potential, the lack of narrative focus and uneven explanation made this a difficult read for me. The story had promise, but it was just too slow and disjointed for my tast.
Thank you to William Morrow Books and NetGalley for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The primary issue was the pacing; the narrative felt incredibly slow and weighed down by dense prose that didn't always serve the plot. I found myself wanting much more "showing" and less "telling". I was eager to learn about the logistics of Margaret Sanger’s movement and the specifics of Celia’s clandestine printing work, but these fascinating elements were often overshadowed by Celia’s repetitive internal monologues and misplaced self-blame.
Additionally, the story felt disjointed, almost as if two separate novels were stitched together. The subplot involving the Sappho poems felt random and disconnected from the central message of resistance against the Comstock Act. Because the book tried to cover so much ground to support the different lives of the sisters, the character development felt forced and ultimately lacked the depth needed to make me feel invested in their journeys. By the end, I was still left searching for a clear, cohesive message or a definitive "why" behind the story.
While the historical setting had immense potential, the lack of narrative focus and uneven explanation made this a difficult read for me. The story had promise, but it was just too slow and disjointed for my tast.
Thank you to William Morrow Books and NetGalley for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
The Sisters of Book Row by Shelley Noble is a timely historical novel based on real life events.
In 1915, the Applebaum sisters are running the family bookstore. Olivia is the oldest and she works with rare books and book binding. Daphne is the middle sister and customers love her friendly personality. Youngest sister Celia is involved with women’s rights and she also fills in at the bookstore. Their store is on Manhattan’s Book Row where the owners are holding their breath as they hope they are not the next target of the bullies who work for Andrew Comstock.
After their father died, Celia gave up her beloved job to be there for her sisters. Her work with rare books is important to keeping their doors open. Celia is facing a health challenge so she works long hours.
Daphne is a friendly and outgoing. She loathes working at the bookstore and does not hesitate to repeatedly remind her sisters of this fact. She is a bit shallow and harbors dreams of a real-life romance that rivals the romance books she loves to read.
Celia is dedicated to her work with Margaret Sanger. She tries to keep her activities to before and after the bookstore hours, but she often annoys her sisters with her vague answers to their questions about what she is up to. Her clandestine work is important, but Celia is endangering the bookstore by her actions.
The Sisters of Book Row is a well-written and interesting historical novel. The characters are richly developed with relatable strengths and weaknesses. The bookstore and book row are a vibrantly developed and it is easy to visualize the various businesses. The storyline springs vividly to life but the pacing is little slow at first. After seamlessly weaving the sisters’ story arcs together, Shelley Noble brings this novel to a delightful conclusion.
In 1915, the Applebaum sisters are running the family bookstore. Olivia is the oldest and she works with rare books and book binding. Daphne is the middle sister and customers love her friendly personality. Youngest sister Celia is involved with women’s rights and she also fills in at the bookstore. Their store is on Manhattan’s Book Row where the owners are holding their breath as they hope they are not the next target of the bullies who work for Andrew Comstock.
After their father died, Celia gave up her beloved job to be there for her sisters. Her work with rare books is important to keeping their doors open. Celia is facing a health challenge so she works long hours.
Daphne is a friendly and outgoing. She loathes working at the bookstore and does not hesitate to repeatedly remind her sisters of this fact. She is a bit shallow and harbors dreams of a real-life romance that rivals the romance books she loves to read.
Celia is dedicated to her work with Margaret Sanger. She tries to keep her activities to before and after the bookstore hours, but she often annoys her sisters with her vague answers to their questions about what she is up to. Her clandestine work is important, but Celia is endangering the bookstore by her actions.
The Sisters of Book Row is a well-written and interesting historical novel. The characters are richly developed with relatable strengths and weaknesses. The bookstore and book row are a vibrantly developed and it is easy to visualize the various businesses. The storyline springs vividly to life but the pacing is little slow at first. After seamlessly weaving the sisters’ story arcs together, Shelley Noble brings this novel to a delightful conclusion.
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