This Book Made Me Think of You

by Libby Page

The unforgettable new novel from Sunday Times bestseller Libby Page

Twelve stories. Twelve months. Once chance to heal her heart...

When Tilly Nightingale receives a call telling her there’s a birthday gift from her fiancé waiting for her at her local bookshop, it couldn’t come as more of a shock. Partly because she can’t remember the last time she read a book for pleasure. Mainly because Joe died five months ago…
The gift is simple – twelve carefully-chosen books from Joe, one for each month, to help her turn the page on her first year without him.
Tilly sets out on a series of reading-inspired adventures that take her around the world. But as she begins to vlog her journey, her story becomes more than her own. With help from Alfie, the bookshop owner, her budding new following and her friends and family, can Tilly’s year of books show her how to love again?

Praise for Libby

'Tender, thought-provoking and uplifting' Daily Mail

'Joyous . . . A testament to kindness and friendship' Sarah Winman

'This charming novel is full of heart' Lucy Diamond

'Libby Page is a literary burst of sunshine . . . Utterly delightful' Veronica Henry

'Feel-good fiction at its best' Daily Mirror

'A heart that shines from every page' AJ Pearce

'Moving and beautifully crafted' Mike Gayle

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Books About Books, Audiobook, Contemporary, Book Club, Grief

400 pages, Hardcover

First published February 3, 2026

Reviews

[Brady Lockerby · Rating 4 out of 5]

okay so not a 5 star romance, but a very strong 4! the ultimate book about books, a book lovers dream! so many bookish references, lists of books, just books all around. wanted to flag that there is a lot of grief talk in here; the FMC is grieving her husband and the MMC his father, but they work together to keep their legacies alive through their mutual love of books. very cute, a bittt repetitive for me (but you guys know me and my feelings about romance over 300 pages, just a me thing!) + fabulous on audio - loved the narrator!

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t you love that feeling when you close a book and think … wow, the author handled that topic so perfectly! I’ve read quite a number of books about characters navigating life after a significant loss, but I’m not sure any of them has felt as complete as this one by new-to-me author Libby Page. The bonus is that the story is also a love letter to books and reading with MANY bookish references that readers will enjoy!

Londoner Matilda “Tilly” Nightingale (take a moment to appreciate how awesome that name is) has lost her husband Joe, the love of her life, to cancer. In many ways the two were opposites: Joe, an American-born athletic extrovert to Tilly’s quirky bookish introvert, but their chance encounter in a bookstore one day began a love story that she’s now deeply grieving the loss of.

Tilly hasn’t felt like reading since Joe’s death five months ago, but on her birthday she receives an unexpected call from a man named Alfie Lane, the proprietor of local bookshop Book Lane. He informs her that she has a parcel waiting for her from Joe. What? How could this be?

In a final act of love for his wife, Joe arranged a year of books … one each month … specially cultivated for her to remind her to keep living and maybe even try new things. Accompanying each book is a handwritten letter from Joe to Tilly explaining the book choice. Over time, her visits to the bookstore lead to a sweet, supportive friendship with Alfie, and the books he gives her from Joe lead her on adventures and to new friends she might never have otherwise had. The places she goes and the people she meets in this book were amazing!

Can I stop for a minute and say … this may be the coolest, most thoughtful idea ever, and I kinda want a box of tissues right now just thinking about it. *sniff*

I won’t spell out the whole book, but here’s what I think Libby Page did SO brilliantly: she didn’t rush Tilly into the next phase of her life and sweep her past with Joe under the rug to be forgotten. I think when readers know that a book involves romance, it can create impatience to get to the next good part, so to speak. Instead, she lets the reader sit with Tilly through that year of processing her grief as she takes inspiration from Joe’s gifts to try new things and figure out what this new life should look like. Romance plays a role, but it doesn’t play the main role in the bulk of the story, and that felt so much more believable and relatable.

Having said that - for those looking for romance, you won’t be disappointed. The level of sweetness in how that aspect of the story develops darn near melted my heart! I don’t think Page could’ve written that romance arc any more believably and sensitively than she did, and it was the yummiest icing on a perfectly baked cake!

This was an immersion read with my Kindle and the audio narrated by Zadeiah Campbell-Davies, who did a lovely job with the voicing and regulating the emotion of the story. I highly recommend both formats. This will be on my year-end favorites list!

★★★★★❤️

Thanks to Berkley Publishing, NetGalley and author Libby Page for this digital ARC to honestly review, and to Libby/my library for the audio. This is out now.

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Book Made Me Think Of You written by Libby Page was beautiful, emotional, authentic pure, heart breaking, powerful, raw, inspiring and heart warming. When I first saw this beautifully detailed cover, I knew I had to get my hands on this book immediately, but little did I know that it would become my favorite book of 2026. Every book lover needs to read this beautiful book because this emotional story will speak directly to you and your precious heart of gold. I knew this book would be emotional, but I didn't expect my heart to be ripped into a million tiny pieces, my goodness, I was just a hot mess, I just know my messy bun has seen better days. The snot bubbles were bubbling and the tears were a waterfall. To whoever created waterproof mascara, thank YOU from the bottom of my heart because I couldn't hold back the tears that had a mind of their own. I loved every single minute of this book from the beginning all the way until the very last page that truly captured my tears, I just remember staring at the ceiling with tears rolling down my face when I finished this beautiful book. 🎀❣️This Book Made Me Think Of You was so poetically beautiful🎀❣️. I can't recommend this book enough, if you are a book lover looking for an emotional story, then please do yourselves a favor and have your calendars marked for February 3rd, 2026 for the publication of this lovely book, which is now available if you want your heart ripped out of your chest. I will forever be blessed and honored that I had the chance to read this book so early because it's now a favorite for me and it will forever remain close to my heart for years and years to come.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!!

🖤🎤Hey Alexa, play The Older You Get by Daniel Seavey🖤🎤

"📖🥰Bookshops aren't just book shops. They are places for book lovers to come together, like minded souls meeting among the stacks📖🥰".

"💔🥀People can just be crap at knowing how to deal with someone who is grieving💔🥀".

"⭐💫From one lone star to another, never forget that you are a part of a constellation⭐💫".

"❤️✨I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness the astonishing light of your own being❤️✨".

"♡ྀི🧸I think, maybe we don't get just one love of our lives. Maybe we all have room in our hearts for more than one story♡ྀི🧸".

"💘💤Sometimes life calls for a pillow fort. And sometimes you just have to build that fort yourself💘💤".

"ᥫ᭡♾️When you lose someone who is your entire universe, it hits you- all chances you didn't take, all the things you didn't say. Because the truth is that you think you have forever, but you don't. You never doᥫ᭡♾️".

Tilly Nightingale was married to Joe Carter, but Joe passed away six months ago, but died just nine months after their wedding- ugh I couldn't even imagine the heart break. Joe passed away months after being diagnosed with cancer, but his and Tilly's love story was oh so beautiful. Joe and Tilly met in a book shop and bonded over A Man Called Ove written by Fredrik Backman and ever since then they fell head over heels in love with each other. Even though he wasn't much of a reader himself, Joe always supported Tilly's love for books. Even though Tilly is a book lover at heart, she hasn't read a single book since Joe's diagnosis, Tilly would just sit by Joe's hospital bed for hours on end holding his hand and cherishing their last moments together. Tilly is a senior editor at Splash Books and she has a potential promotion to become the deputy publishing director. Before passing away, Joe left behind a birthday gift for his wife Tilly- this gift is so simple, but yet so beautiful and heart warming- twelve carefully chosen books from Joe, one for each month to help Tilly turn the page on her first year without her loving husband Joe. Tilly has twelve months, twelve books, and one chance to heal her heart. The first book Joe left behind is wrapped in brown paper and tied with a white ribbon- but the ribbons change color with each passing month. Joe also leaves a sweet note with every book telling Tilly why he chose that specific book. Tilly's waves of grief are so unexpected, but she just wants to let her hair down and be a big sister to her little sister Harper. At times it seemed like the books that Joe chose were a guide through life, but halfway through her year of books, Tilly's gifts on the first of the month have become like book marks keeping her place in the year. Each book that Joe picked holds a personal significance and a special meaning. I just wanted to reach into my kindle and give Tilly the biggest hug, this poor girl deserves the world. 🖤⃝🦋I love you, Tilly girl🖤⃝🦋.

Alfie Lane is a book seller and owner at Book Lane which is a book store that his dad built from scratch. Alfie believes the right book in the hands of the right person at exactly the right moment can change their life forever. Alfie also has a cat named Georgette, but she's a neighborhood stray cat that just loves spending time at Book Lane, oh Georgette was just the sweetest fur baby. Alfie knows all about grief because his dad died from a heart attack right after Alfie finished college. Alfie wants his book store to feel like a safe place for people to just decompress while they navigate life dealing with grief. Alfie made a promise to Joe that he will call Tilly on January fifth which is also Tilly's birthday to let her know about her year of books that Joe left behind- all of these hand picked books from Joe are books that made him think of Tilly. That one unexpected call from Alfie on January fifth changed everything for Tilly. Alfie is actually the one that carefully wraps every book for Tilly with a cutesy colored ribbon for each month. Alfie's vulnerability was so beautiful, his story was so heart breaking, but I just wanted to reach into my kindle and give him the biggest hug as he navigated grief over the death of his dad. Alfie was so supportive, gentle, and patient with Tilly as she navigates this new life without her husband. I absolutely love that Tilly and Alfie had each other to lean on through this new life without their loved ones. After reading this beautiful book, I now want to go to London and visit this book shop and meet my new friends Rachel, Prudence, and Blue who also work at Book Lane And of course, I loved my favorite people, Alfie Lane and Tilly Nightingale. I absolutely adore Alfie for keeping his promise to Joe and gifting these books to Tilly. Ugh, I'm going to miss all of you, but don't worry, y'all will live rent free in my heart because how could I forget you? I can never imagine the pain you two beautiful souls have gone through. 🖤⃝🦋Alfie, you precious beautiful soul, I love you🖤⃝🦋.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | A love letter to books and second chances

Could this possibly be my favorite book of 2026? Let’s see…

“The right book in the hands of the right person at exactly the right moment can change their life forever.”

Isn’t that the truth? And, what a perfect way to begin this story. That opening line alone feels like a promise—and a beautiful reminder of how books find us exactly when we need them most.

Like this one.

“Welcome, Book Lover, You are Among Friends.”

And that’s exactly how this novel reads—like stepping into a warm, inviting space where we instantly know we belong.

There is something irresistible about a story centered around books and a bookstore—but this one goes so much deeper. (And for fellow readers, the author thoughtfully provides a full list of the books mentioned throughout the novel on her website. See link below.)

At its heart is Matilda “Tilly” Nightingale, a widow paralyzed by grief after losing her husband, Joe—and, the quiet, steady presence of Alfie, the bookstore’s proprietor.

Because they met in a bookstore, Joe understood better than anyone how deeply Tilly loved books. That’s why, before he died, he chose to give her the gift of a year in books.

But…Books—once Tilly’s greatest comfort—have become something she can no longer bear to read.

What Joe couldn’t have foreseen was how her profound grief from losing him would turn her away from books, the very thing that brought her the most comfort. Not even to read as an escape—leaving her to engage with books only out of obligation in her now joyless job as a Senior Editor working with spoiled celebrities.

So how will Joe’s final gift impact Tilly—and Alfie?

Twelve books.
One each month.
Each with a letter from Joe.

To receive them, she must return to the Book Lane Bookstore—and to a world she’s been trying to avoid.

And when she finally opens that first book…

“…inside her a door that she thought was locked nudges open, letting in a shaft of light.”

From there, something begins to shift.

What unfolds is tender, thoughtful, and quietly transformative. Watching Tilly slowly reopen herself to stories—and to life—felt incredibly real. Each book, each letter, each kind interaction nudges her forward, reminding readers that healing doesn’t mean forgetting—it means learning how to carry love differently.

Is this what Joe was hoping for Tilly?
Or could it be something more?

Who knew that his gift would become the catalyst for an entirely new chapter—one of life and living?

“What would you do if you weren’t afraid?”

It’s a question that lingers—gently challenging both Tilly and the reader.

This book thoughtfully explores community, connection, friendship, family, grief, forgiveness, and healing—and what it truly takes to move forward without losing the memories we hold dear.

It’s a tender, transformative journey that celebrates not only books, but life itself, vividly portrayed through moments of exploration and adventures and, a richly drawn and deeply endearing cast of characters. Including Georgette—lovingly known as Georgie—the charming tabby bookstore cat, whose gentle purrs and cozy lap cuddles practically leap off the page and into the reader’s heart. 🐾

My own reading experience with this story, was marked by several colorful Post-it notes throughout—highlighting books I’m now eager to discover or revisit, and quotes that sparked meaningful reflection. (Because something was broken with the Goodreads ‘quotes’ section, I have included some here.)

This is more than just a story—it’s a journey. An adventure. One that reminds us why we read, why we feel what we do when we connect with characters, and why we keep turning the pages.

“I hope this…will inspire you to read. But more than that, I hope it will inspire you to live. Then choose a book. Hold it close. Your own adventures are waiting for you. It’s time to turn the page.”

And that is exactly why this is—without a doubt—in the running to be my favorite book of the year.

A truly special reading experience—that I won’t soon forget.

List of books mentioned in this story: https://libbypage.co.uk/your-guide-to...

Other notable quotes:

“The real magic of books is when turning the final page doesn't mean an ending but a beginning - a beginning that only you can write. When a book sends you to a place you've never been or encourages you to do something new or simply to live with a little more empathy or curiosity because of the characters you have met.”

“Tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it yet. We’ve still got tomorrow.” – Anne of Green Gables by Anne Shirley

“Bookshops aren’t just bookshops. They’re places for book lovers to come together, like-minded souls meeting among the stacks.”

“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” – T.S. Eliot

“I didn’t want to hide it, because hiding my grief felt like hiding the most important thing of all – my love for ‘this person.’”

[Jaime Fok · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't decide if this is a 3.75 or a 4, so it's really a 3.9 for me... (I know that's annoying haha)

This was such a gentle, tender, wholesome story that reminded me of "PS I Love You" and "Eat, Pray, Love". Written for the book lover (and cat lover), many moments of this story felt like a warm hug. It's simply written, and the story is also quite simplistic - like one of those stories that just unfolds in perfect harmony. But works well as an overall vibe!

I found myself tearing up quite early on in the book, but I will say the middle portion started feeling a bit repetitive and I was hoping for some more variety amongst the letters so it didn't feel as rinse and repeat month to month.

The ending wasn't as heartwrenching as I expected, more heartwarming. All in all, this was really enjoyable and easy to read!

[꧁ ༺Minne༻ ꧂ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mentioned before that my Valentine’s reading list had become a reading list from hell, each book more disappointing than the one before. This book, however, felt like a breath of fresh air. The one good thing in a Valentine’s bag full of literary heartbreak.

As funny as it seems, this is not quite a romance novel, but it is very much a story about love.

Joe Carter leaves his wife a final gift: a year of books, one for every month. Through this, he gives her back a part of herself she has lost, offering her not just memories, but a life after him and something to look forward to.

I thought this book would break me, but it did not. Not really. Surprisingly, it is not a sad book. It feels…hopeful. Despite its themes of grief and death, it is safe to call this a cozy and easy read. The writing is simple and does not strain to charm. Given the nature of this story, anything else would’ve felt superfluous.

I think many readers will see themselves in Tilly’s story, grief or not. It speaks to grief, yes, but also to that strange, familiar experience of losing your connection to books and slowly finding your way back. Anyone who has ever drifted away from reading, struggled to return to it, or recently fallen back in love with books may find something quietly comforting here. I know I did.

We follow Matilda, aka Tilly, as she rediscovers her love for books and begins to re-engage with life beyond her grief. The stories she reads gently push her toward experiences she might never have chosen for herself. Along the way, she forms new connections and repairs relationships that had worn thin under the weight of loss.

I was genuinely excited to see the books chosen for Tilly’s year of reading, and I wish I could share some of my favorites without spoiling the story. Instead, I’ll focus on sharing some of the things I loved most about this book.

❤️☕ Love and the beauty of community ❤️☕

I love that Tilly finds a safe haven in The Book Lane bookshop and experiences love again with the bookshop owner, Alfie, even though this isn’t the central theme of the novel. I was a little scared when she started having feelings for Alfie because I wondered if it wasn't too soon for her to feel that way. But how soon is soon, and who decides that?

I also love the friendships she forms with the staff. My only regret is that I could not fully connect with the other characters. I usually adore family drama in novels, and while there was some here, I simply could not bring myself to care. I have tried to figure out why, but the answer is uncomplicated: they just did not feel real to me. Tilly and Alfie, on the other hand, felt like people you could actually meet in a bookshop or pass on the street.

​❤️‍🩹​📚 Emotional healing through reading ​❤️‍🩹​📚

Another thing I loved about this story was the destinations the books carried Tilly to. I practically screamed when she went to Montmartre in Paris. I generally dislike Paris and live happily in a smaller city in the southeast, but Montmartre is the one part of Paris I find undeniably charming.

While she’s there, Tilly also visits a bookshop named Shakespeare and Company. It has long been my dream to “tumbleweed” there. Tumbleweeding is a program that allows readers to stay at the bookshop in exchange for helping out and leaving behind a one-page autobiography or piece of writing. It used to be more informal (you simply show up at the bookshop and if they have space, they take you), but now appears to require an application. I doubt that makes it any easier to get in.

Now, I need to get this off my chest because this absolutely felt like rage bait. Matilda dog-ears her books. DOG-EARS. If any of my friends do this, please keep that information from me. I’m kidding. I love you, regardless.

Overall, this was a wholesome reading experience thanks to Tilly’s journey. I would have loved, truly loved, to give this five stars. But aside from Tilly and her books, I did not find enough to anchor me emotionally. I guess that will have to be enough.

If you love books about books, books about love, books about finding yourself again, and books that quietly remind you why reading matters, this might be your kind of story.

Updates while reading ༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･

My Valentine’s reading list has turned into a list from hell. Created by yours truly. Every book has been disappointing so far. I was supposed to be reading Lightning in Her Hands, but I couldn't get into the story, so I switched to this. BEST DECISION SO FAR. This is so good and I knew it would because look at the title! Then the blurb, beautiful ​💔​❤️‍🩹​ I know it'll hurt, but I'm ready




💘 Valentine’s reading list 💘
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
𑣲 Tourist Season
𑣲 A Portrait of a Scotsman
𑣲 An Academic Affair
𑣲 This Book Made Me Think of You
𑣲 Bull Moon Rising
𑣲 Gloves Off

[Melissa (Always Behind) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story, kind of like P.S. I Love You but with books.

Five months after Tilly's husband dies, she receives a phone call from a bookstore. Her husband had ordered a book for her to pick up. When she arrives, she finds out that he had arranged with Alfie, the bookstore owner, to give Tilly a book each month for a year, each with a letter enclosed. Tilly is reeling and doesn't really want to read these books, but she reluctantly reads the first one and then bit by bit is able to read each one and take steps towards moving back into life again.

This is such a heartfelt tale. It's not completely feel-good, Tilly's grief is real and raw and her lifelong love of reading is stifled by that grief. I loved how it wasn't a quick fix, her journey of grief had numerous setbacks and stumbling steps forward. I also appreciated Alfie's own grief story--it wasn't the same as Tilly's but it was real as well.

The books chosen for Tilly to read were ones I was mostly familiar with but they weren't the ones readers will be expecting. That was very refreshing as it made me interested in revisiting some of them. It takes a real book lover to come up with this eclectic list of books.

Beautiful book about books and grief and the power books have to help with healing.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

[Sandysbookaday (on indefinite hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCERPT: Just as he is about to open up, his attention falls on the Book Lover's Calendar that was a Christmas gift from a customer and is pinned to the shop noticeboard, open on the new year and illustrated with an image of a woman reading in a pool of lamplight. Today's date is circled in red, the words 'PHONE NIGHTINGALE' written in capital letters. He glances at the shelf reserved for books awaiting collection. For once it is empty apart from one solitary book wrapped in brown paper and tied with ribbon. It has sat there for a long time, unmoving as a rotation of titles came and went around it.
'What a way to start the year.'
Sweeping a scattering of paperwork to one side on his desk unearths a leatherbound book the size of a particularly comprehensive dictionary. Alfie flicks through the crinkled pages until he finds the number he needs. As he picks up the phone he thinks back to the promise he made over a year ago. He had almost forgotten that this day would eventually arrive. That he'd have to make this call.
He pauses for a moment, his finger hovering over the dial button. Because he's worked as a bookseller long enough to know how transformational books can be. But he also knows from personal experience that some people don't want their lives to suddenly change. And he has the feeling that the call he is about to make will turn this customer's life upside down.

ABOUT 'THIS BOOK MADE ME THINK OF YOU': Twelve stories. Twelve months. Once chance to heal her heart . . .

When Tilly Nightingale receives a call telling her there’s a birthday gift from her fiancé waiting for her at her local bookshop, it couldn’t come as more of a shock. Partly because she can’t remember the last time she read a book for pleasure. Mainly because Joe died five months ago . . .

The gift is simple – twelve carefully-chosen books from Joe, one for each month, to help her turn the page on her first year without him.
Tilly sets out on a series of reading-inspired adventures that take her around the world. But as she begins to vlog her journey, her story becomes more than her own. With help from Alfie, the bookshop owner, her budding new following and her friends and family, can Tilly’s year of books show her how to love again?

MY THOUGHTS: OMG! I am completely blown away by this love story. I have laughed. I have cried, and cried some more. This Book Made Me Think of You is now on my 'FOREVER' shelf. I love it. How have I never read Libby Page before?

Written with grace and sincerity, This Book Made Me Think of You is about love, loss, grief and learning to live and love again. It is about the healing power of books and their stories. In addition to the book Tilly receives from Joe each month, there is a list of "Books of the month" following the same theme.

I'm going to quote another paragraph from This Book Made Me Think of You: You know the characters are going to end up together from the beginning, and yet somehow I still can't stop reading to find out what happens . . . Only, not once did I even contemplate stopping reading. I couldn't have stopped if you'd paid me. I was totally immersed in the storyline and totally in love with it. I still am.

Full of wisdom and comfort. A book for booklovers and lovers of love.

At the end of the book, there is another list of recommendations listing Libby's favorite books and books about grief.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

#ThisBookMadeMeThinkofYou #NetGalley

MEET THE AUTHOR: LIBBY PAGE As well as being a best-selling author, she is also a writing coach, mentoring writers through the process of writing their own novels.

Before writing full time she worked as a journalist and in marketing. She lives in Somerset with her husband and young son.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Penguin via NetGalley for providing a DRC of This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page for review. all opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

[Krickette · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK! I am absolutely in love with this book! It’s incredibly enchanting and magical in the most peculiar of ways. Libby Page’s This Book Made me Think of You is about LOVE and about loss, but mostly, it’s a story about Tilly’s indelible heartwarming journey in healing. A book my heart will remember forever.❤️

Matilda (Tilly) Nightingale is our main girl! She is Beautiful and ginger and brave and heartbroken and perfectly imperfect in many ways. Tilly works in publishing and is a lover of books …yet she doesn’t read much anymore. Tilly is heartbroken and feeling very alone in her grief. It’s only been six months since Joe died and living alone in their flat in London is not what she had pictured her first year of marriage to be like. Burying herself in her work, Tilly is merely surviving.

Until today…her birthday….Today Tilly receives a phone call that changes everything!📞 The owner of a local bookstore in London, Alfie Lane from Book Lane has phoned to tell Tilly she has a parcel that needs to be picked up. Of all days…Tilly wonders ….

When she arrives she is handed a wrapped book with a bow and is informed that she has been gifted a book a month for a year from her husband Joe. Her world is completely shook. When she gets home, his letter falls from the book….💌

❤️What happens next? Literally, there are no words! I could actually feel Tully’s heart! The letters…. The books…. The adventures… The actual bravery. What an incredible gift of love and knowing! ❤️

This Book Made me Think of You by Libby Paige pens a beautiful story full of remarkable happenings that encompass love, grief, new adventures, bold travels, friendships, bravery and reminding yourself remembering is good, but it’s also okay to live again. I literally cried in most chapters, especially ones with the letters from Joe and the ones with remarkable connections-not kidding this book overwhelmed me🥰 AND I absolutely loved it!

An absolute MUST read!❤️

[❀ Tia ❀ · Rating 4 out of 5]

| ARC REVIEW | COMING: 29TH JANUARY 2026

★ 4.5 ★

⚠️ Trigger Warnings ⚠️
~ Death (most prominently of a husband, and father)
~ Bereavement
~ Cancer
~ Grief

📚 Summary 📚
Five months ago, Tilly Nightingale lost two of her biggest loves: her husband Joe, and as a result, also her passion for reading. However, five months after Joe's death, deep in grief and with her birthday fast approaching, Tilly receives a call from the local bookseller Alfie Lane, explaining that there is a gift from her late husband waiting for her at his bookshop. The gift being twelve books carefully selected by Joe, one for each month of the year, designed to help Tilly navigate her new life without him, cope with the weight of her grief, support her in ever so gradually piecing herself back together again, and maybe even give her the strength to take a chance on love again.

💭 My Thoughts 💭
I thought this was a wonderfully sweet and emotional read, written in such a warm and tender way, perfectly fitted for the themes mentioned. I found myself tearing up before I was even 10% into the book! I particularly loved the flashbacks showing us glimpses of Tilly and Joe's life together. They made me want to hug my loved ones a little tighter.

The plot was a little bit predictable, but I think that there's something comforting about predictability in these types of books, almost as if it's like a bit of solace amongst the emotional themes and tear-jerking moments.

This book is written in third person perspective, which worked fine. However, I often find this can take a degree of emotional depth away from the characters. Therefore, as this book was so emotive, I did wonder whether it would've better suited being written in first person perspective as this may have potentially portrayed the depth of Tilly and Alfie's emotions more effectively.

The pacing felt a bit inconsistent; sometimes a slow burn and other times a bit too rushed. At several points, I really wanted things to slow down so I could really savour Tilly's shifting mental state and better appreciate her journey of healing. For example, I would've loved to have read more about Tilly's adventures around Paris with the "grief gang".

Sprinkled with numerous book recommendations throughout, I think that this is a great book for anyone who loves reading and uses books as a form of escapism. From the beautifully poetic descriptions of how much a book in the right hands can truly change someone's life, to the level of commitment it must've taken to collate so many appropriate book recommendations to scatter throughout the story, it is apparent that Libby Page is incredibly passionate about literature. This also meant that each characters' love of books also read very authentically.

💫 Overall 💫
I really enjoyed this book. It was emotional, heart-warming and brimming with hope amongst heartbreak. Libby Page handled the themes with such care and sensitivity, and gave all the characters their own little personalities and quirks, making them feel so real and well-rounded. Even with the inconsistent pacing, I found this book fantastic and would recommend it to anyone who likes their romances with a side of sobbing.

Thank you to NetGalley, Libby Page and Penguin General UK | Viking for gifting this eBook in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

[Wendy Darling · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of a woman who receives a phone call out of the blue from her local bookshop in London, saying that her book is ready for her. She thinks there is a mistake, since she didn’t order anything. No, the bookseller tells her. Your husband arranged a gift of a year of books for you before he passed away.

I approached this with some caution, because there are three subjects that are hard to write about sincerely and with feeling (without turning maudlin): death, romance, and a love of books. I needn’t have worried since this one handles all of them well, with quiet poignancy, humor, and steady bursts of surprise and joy. Bonuses: complex family/in-law relationships, building communities, travel, endlessly thoughtful and varied book recommendations, and a bookstore cat named Georgette.

Particularly strongly recommended if you love the true story of the bittersweet, deeply romantic relationship between American Helene Hanff and the British bookstore she corresponds with for years in 84, Charing Cross Road or if you have ever walked into a bookshop and thought I'm home.

This is such a hug of a book and I'm so happy to have spent time in this world. I freaking love everyone in it.

4.5 stars

Audio Notes: Perfectly narrated by Zadeiah Campbell-Davies. Though I completely misunderstood the way she pronounced "Bali" and kept wondering where this vacation was, until the FMC ate some dadar gulung (Indonesian pancakes), haha.

[Dee (in the Desert) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 solid stars - very nice read about a recent widow & the books her late hubs left behind for her. A bit predictable but still a very nice, like warm hug of a book

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars


This Book Made Me Think About You was emotional, sweet, and so very hopeful. It had some heavy topics, mainly centered around grief, but it was represented beautifully. It was my first book by Libby Page, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Tilly’s husband passed away in the summer, and it is now the first of the year. She gets a call from her local bookshop that she has a package there. It’s a book. From her husband. It is, in fact, 12 books. One, she gets on the first of each month from Joe. A gift she never saw coming.

Alfie is the bookseller and is dealing with grief of his own after losing his dad and inheriting his bookstore. Though his father has been gone longer than Tilly’s dad, it’s still challenging for him to navigate all his feelings. I loved both Alfie and Tilly and rooted for them to be together. Though the focus of this book is not on romance, I enjoyed it nonetheless.

This is one of those books that brought a few tears, but ultimately left me with the biggest smile on my face. I hurt for these characters, but also cheered for them. This book was a win for me!

[Keri Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the middle of grief, what things can help change your trajectory? Sometimes it’s just a small spark, a spark can lead to big changes. Tilly Nightingale’s husband Joe died recently, after a long illness. She’s been stuck, she’s isolated herself and thrown herself into work. Then she receives a call on her birthday letting her know there’s a gift from Joe at a local bookstore. How can that be, when he’s been gone five months? When she arrives, the store owner Alfie explains that Joe left her a year of books as a gift. Each month he’ll have a book for her to pick up.

A lifetime reader, she hasn’t been able to read since Joe’s diagnosis. And when she picks up the first book, she can’t bring herself to read it. But slowly she opens up and rediscovers her love of reading and is enjoying life… but partly because of the nature of the books she receives. At first comforting, but then encouraging her to explore and enjoy life again. And each month Alfie is there to encourage her.

But that’s not everything… the book explores relationships in its many forms. A beloved sister who wants to protect and help her, but is keeping a secret. In-laws she never thought liked her or approved of her marriage to Joe. A friend who abandoned her when Joe became sick. And her relationship to work, to life.

I thought a book dealing with death and grief would be sad, and yes, Tilly was sad. But it was mostly encouraging and life affirming. A reminder to keep the best of our memories with us, but keep living. The book starts with a belief of Alfie’s - “The right book in the hands of the right person at the exactly the right moment can change their life forever”.

Lovely book!

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of love, loss, and the bumpy road to healing. The irresistible cover drew me in, but the emotional growth kept me glued to the pages. My favorite aspect was that the author kept the characters real and that isn't always pretty. Hurting people react, many choose to shut the world out for a time, the fact that the author dug into those moments lent dimension.

Tilly Nightingale (what a great name😉) receives an unexpected phone call from her local bookstore informing her that she has a gift from her late husband, Joe. Convinced it's a mistake she arrives to clear things up. It's no mistake, Joe left her a total of twelve books each accompanied by a letter from him in hopes of reigniting Tilly's love of reading that Joe watched dwindle alongside his own health. She is to receive one book per month each one selected with a unique purpose in mind. These books opened Tilly's life to adventures great and small. The bookstore owner Alfie was supportive of Joe's vision and becomes invested in Tilly's journey of healing. Joe and Alfie were both amazing men with depth and kindness. Alfie's bookstore stole my heart I longed to wander the stacks alongside Georgette the stray cat Alfie opened its door to. She seemed like an employee or boss if CATTITUDE 😺counts.

This Book Made Me Think of You is a love letter to books chock full of recommendations showing the power that a book can conjure. We see Tilly's life change one step at a time it's not a magic immediate blink and you miss it transformation. She struggles, she falls, but Tilly gets back up and is willing to take another step then another until she finds herself in a life that is headed toward mending her shattered heart. I loved that all of her adventures weren't a shining success in the typical way, but by leaving her comfort zone her eyes were opening not only to a world of possibilities but also to her own capabilities.

There was plenty of grief in these pages, but love filtered through warming my heart.


*Now Available*

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for providing an ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Brooke 𝜗𝜚 · Rating 5 out of 5]

╰┈➤ 𝟻 ✰ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ

❝𝙸 𝚊𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝙸 𝚊𝚖 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚜 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍.
𝙼𝚢 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚒𝚜 𝚊 𝚖𝚊𝚙 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚠𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚝𝚑 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚢 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎.❞

📚⋮ 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐌𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐲 𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐛𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞
📜⋮ 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬: 𝟺𝟷𝟷
🏷️⋮ 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝚆𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗’𝚜 𝙵𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗
📖⋮ 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭: 𝙺𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚕𝚎
📆⋮ 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝: 𝟺/𝟺/𝟸𝟼-𝟺/𝟷𝟺/𝟸𝟼
💬⋮ 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
「 ”Twelve stories. Twelve months. Once chance to heal her heart. When Tilly Nightingale receives a call telling her there's a birthday gift from her husband waiting for her at her local bookshop, it couldn't come as more of a shock. Partly because she can't remember the last time she read a book for pleasure. Mainly because Joe died five months ago. The gift is simple— twelve carefully chosen books from Joe, one for each month, to help her turn the page on her first year without him. Tilly sets out on a series of reading inspired adventures that take her around the world. But as she begins to vlog her journey, her story becomes more than her own. With help from Alfie, the bookshop owner, her budding new following and her friends and family, can Tilly's year of books show her how to love again?”」

⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹ ⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹

❝𝚄𝚙 𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚕 𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚃𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚐𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚏 𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚊 𝚘𝚏 𝚒𝚝 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚊𝚍— 𝚊 𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚜𝚙𝚘𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚢 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚍 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚊𝚛.❞

ᴍʏ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★★★
ɢᴏᴏᴅʀᴇᴀᴅꜱ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 𝟺.𝟹𝟽 ☆ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ
ᴘᴀɪʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ: ᴘᴇꜱᴛᴏ ᴘᴀꜱᴛᴀ
ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ɪ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ?: 👍🏼
ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: ᴅᴇᴀʀ ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ — ᴛᴀʏʟᴏʀ ꜱᴡɪꜰᴛ
0:14 ———♡——— 3:57

⇄ ◃◃ ⅠⅠ ▹▹ ↻

╭───
┆
╰⪼ dear reader, get out your map, pick somewhere and just run. dear reader, burn all the files, desert all your past lives and if you don't recognize yourself that means you did it right.

⊱ ────── {⋆ ‧₊˚♪𝄞 ⋆} ────── ⊰

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
📖 ʙᴏᴏᴋꜱ
💌 ꜱᴇʟꜰ ᴅɪꜱᴄᴏᴠᴇʀʏ
📖 ʟᴏɴᴅᴏɴ ꜱᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ
💌 ᴛʜɪʀᴅ ᴘᴇʀꜱᴏɴ ᴘᴏᴠ
📖 ᴀ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ꜱᴜʙ ᴘʟᴏᴛ
💌 ʜᴇᴀʀᴛᴡᴀʀᴍɪɴɢ ʀᴇᴀᴅꜱ
⚠️ TW: death of a loved one, cancer, grief

❝ “𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚜𝚗’𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗?” 𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚢𝚜. “𝙸𝚝’𝚜 𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚙𝚎. 𝚂𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚘 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎.” ❞

⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹ ⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹

💭⋮ 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
• If you’re a book lover, this book is for you. ♥️

• Usually I’m hesitant about books that have to deal with grief because it’s a sore topic for me, but this author handled grief in such a beautiful way. To be thought of not as a darkness that surrounds you, but as a light. That’s something I need to remember; to let the grief shine through me, not darken me. & that’s exactly what Tilly did. I loved her character so much & could relate to her in so many ways. You should see how many highlights my Kindle has from this book.

⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹ ⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹ ⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹

❝𝙻𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚊𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞. 𝚃𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜, 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚟𝚎𝚜. 𝙸𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕 𝚊 𝚋𝚒𝚝 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚝, 𝚊𝚜𝚔 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚐𝚞𝚒𝚍𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎. 𝙸’𝚖 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞’𝚕𝚕 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚒𝚜𝚑 𝚜𝚘𝚞𝚕 𝚎𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚘𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚠𝚊𝚢. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚊 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔. 𝙷𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎.
𝚈𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚊𝚍𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞.
𝙸𝚝’𝚜 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚐𝚎.❞

[twinreadsandreds-Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a beautiful story 😍

[Mikayla Noel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beyond beautiful book that handles grief and loss with such care.

[Adi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a heartfelt story! I loved both the bookshop setting and the jet-setting around the world and the bookish vibes. I thought it did a great job exploring grief, and the romance was cute (a little cheesy for me TBH) but the star of the show to me was the plot and the structure of the story. The 400 pages flew by! Also loved the found family, audiobook was fab, and I can see why people love it! I wouldn’t say this was a stand-out read for me, and I didn’t personally cry… BUT I do think it’s a book anyone, of any age, would enjoy (your sister, your coworker, your grandma, your mother-in-law!!!) which is rare!!!

[Lauren (thebookscript) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book felt like the warm hug I needed.

This Book Made Me Think of You is a love letter to readers, and to indie bookshops that give us refuge in the storms of life. It's an ode to remembering those we have lost, and forging new paths in their memory. It's also a book about finding love again when you least expect it, and grabbing hold of it while you still can.

I adored the concept of this story, it's what made me pick it up in the first place. Before he passes, Tilly's husband leaves her 12 books...one book a month for a whole year. Each book includes a special message to help her get back on her feet after he is gone. The main rule: she has to pick them up one month at a time from a bookshop.

From the very first chapter I was invested in Tilly and her journey after losing her dear husband. I loved the back and forth timelines that gave us a peek into their marriage, which was heartfelt and sentimental. Yes this book made me teary eyed on multiple occasions. Alfie the bookshop owner is boyish, sweet and charming. The romance elements were so naturally woven into the book, and while they weren't front and center...they still made a huge impact in the story.

This book was one of those special stories that reminded me of why we read books. Not to get through them, but to have them go through us. For them to impact us, and remind us of the magic of truly living and seeing the special in the ordinary. I will be thinking about this book for a while, and it's easily a favorite of the year.

CONTENT:
Heat: Kissing Only
Language: none (at least none I remember)

[Meagan (Meagansbookclub) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5- Rounding up to 4.

Sweet story but definitely a bit too cutsie and cliche for me (our FMC has red hair, of course she does!). If you can suspend reality, I think you'll enjoy it. I do think the plot just wasn't enough which feels wild to say since it was about a widow getting books from her dead husband! --but the writing was lacking to keep tension and interest chapter to chapter. This will be a sweet story to read cuddled under a blanket.

[Kelsey reviews•books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried. I laughed. I fell in love with two men (not strictly a love triangle). My heart broke for Tilly. No notes.

❝From one lone star to another—never forget that you are part of a constellation.❞

▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
▹Format: 📱 eReader and 🎧Audiobook (Narrated by Zadeiah Campbell-Davies; rating: 5/5)
─────────────────────────

○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○

– About: Matilda “Tilly” Nightingale is still grieving the loss of her husband when she gets a call from local bookstore owner, Alfie Lane, saying that she has a book waiting for her at his store. For the next 12 months, Tilly will receive a book from her deceased husband, but she has to keep coming back to the storee each month to receive them. Alfie, who is also grieving, is just trying to keep his store afloat while also not falling for the widow with soft eyes and a sunshine spirit.
– Location: London, England
– POV: Dual third-person
– Spice: Kissing (and some non-explicit mentions of intimacy)
– Tropes: second chance at love, strangers to lovers (x2), book lovers, complex sibling dynamics, grief/healing journey, opposites attract (kind of)
– Content warning: grief (and the guilt that sometimes comes with it), becoming a young widow, unsupportive in-laws, strained friendships
– Representation: American/English relationship

─────────────────────────

↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺ 1:00 ──ㅇ────── 4:12

Now Playing: Two of Us by The Beatles

╰┈➤ ❝Two of us wearing raincoats, Standing solo in the sun; You and me chasing paper, Getting nowhere on our way back home; We're on our way home.❞

─────────────────────────

★○ If You Like the Following, You Might Like This Book ○★

➼ P.S. I Love You Cecelia Ahren meets The Storied Life of AJ Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin meets A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston
➼ Stories that are first and foremost about human experience and secondly about romance

─────────────────────────

⍟»This or That«⍟

Character Driven———✧————————Plot Driven
Fast Burn—————————✧——Slow Burn
Sweet—✧——————————Spicy
Light/Fluffy————————✧———Heavy/Emotional

─────────────────────────

🎯 My Thoughts:

This book was STUNNING. It was sweet and emotional and so subtly romantic. It was everything I didn’t know I was looking for.

I do have some fictional beef with Tilly though. GIRL HOW DID YOU GET SO LUCKY? To have TWO men who are so kind and thoughtful and, even though it was awful to lose your husband so young, in love with you!? What exact prayer did you say? (yes, I know it’s crazy asking a fictional character this about fictional romance, but shhh. mind your own)

I loved Libby’s writing as well. It was lyrical without being verbose. It had me tearing up in the right spots and laughing in the right spots and that is a talent.

Would I Recommend?: YES!!!!!! This is a sweet romance about loss, starting over, and reclaiming your purpose. What’s not to love?

•♥Consider following me on Instagram @kelseyreviewsbooks for more visual content and bookish discussions.♥•

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise was promising. Young, sad, widow gets a call from a local bookshop that she has a book waiting. She didn't order any books, but apparently her late husband (not a reader!) purchased one book a month for his wife to read after he died. Sweet! A great romance book plot!

BUT this book was pretty dreadful. It was chock-full of every rom-com cliche, but the spin is that the MC is not doing ALL THE THINGS with her husband, because he's DEAD. Which is, you know, horrible. But this privileged, mourning, QUIRKY gal does ALL THE THINGS, and then finds what she needed all along, right there at home. GAH.

ALL THE THINGS include: honeymoon in Bali (with her sister), including drunken karaoke; three weeks in Paris where she meets other grieving people and becomes instant BFFs with all of them; "wild camping" in Scotland with hilariously awful results; running a marathon (excuse me, *half* marathon), again with sis.

She's QUIRKY because she has red hair! She wears a tweed coat with big mismatched buttons! And a rainbow scarf and orange bobble hat! A floaty dress with a denim jacket!

[Tracy Greer-Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars GR 4.48 rated
"I am the person I am because of the books I have read. My reading history is a map that shows the path of my life."
How many times have I read a book and thought..... "they will love this!"

When Matilda Nightingale's husband passes away, she is surprised to hear from a local bookstore owner. Her late husband, Joe, has left her 12 books for each month of the year ahead. While dealing with her grief, each book pushes her to new adventures and to confront challenges. Grief is tricky.
I loved travelling with her to London and New York, running a marathon (which I will not be doing), and wild camping. (also a big NO!) At the heart of the book, is finding who you are when someone close passes. I loved all the literary references within the book, from Fredrik Backman to Elizabeth Gilbert. I recently saw an Instagram showing this author in her natural element. You can tell both by watching and reading her work that she is a huge bookworm.
Perhaps this book was predictable- but oh so lovely. It was a balm for the soul in the current climate of life.

[Jan Agaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

truly a perfect book for me. my fiancé's name is Joe so this hit even harder. this book is absolutely a love letter to the power of books/indie bookshops. I loved all the characters, the letters from Joe made me sob til my head hurt, the story kept me up way later than I should've been awake, and the slow-burn romance made my heart swell. I loved seeing Tilly grow and accomplish everything she set her mind out to do, and I loved spending an entire year with her and everyone she met along the way.

This is absolutely going on my top 10 of the year and it's definitely a new favorite book of all time.

[Kennedy Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 - I probably would have rated this higher if I read it at a different time!

The ultimate, “to be loved is to be seen,” type of book. I’m not sure I would classify this as a romance book. It’s more of a lit fic with a sprinkle of romance. Very emotional and cute! I had a great time with this one.

[Olivia | Liv's Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

The perfect book for book lovers. 🥲🥹

[Susan Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

All I can say is, I cannot wait for the movie ❤️. I am manifesting this to happen.

This was a beautifully structured book. When her late husband leaves Tilly a book a month with an accompanying letter of why he chose that month's book for her, she goes on a bookish spiritual journey of experiences and healing that was so incredibly heartwarming and rewarding. It was an incredible journey to be with Tilly as she spent a year processing her grief. There is found family. There is incredible atmosphere throughout, not only in the bookstore but in all of Tilly's travels. I could visualize it all. Most importantly, there are books. And lots of them.

While there are romantic elements that are important to the story, I do not see this as a romance - more of a contemporary fiction. However you want to classify it, it was just really, really good. If you enjoyed Pack Up the Moon, this is in that same vein but more bookish. The end did get a little too Hallmark Channel for my liking, but I had a difficult time putting this book down. Not a 5⭐ feel, but it's close. 4.5⭐

[Janssen]

This was cute but maybe a bit longer than I was expecting

[♥︎ Heather ⚔ (Semi-Hiatus-attempting return) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn’t really get into this one. Full review soon . Idk it bored me in the same way Theo of Golden did.