Tag: Libby Page

This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I have been so excited about the release of this book and I knew it had to be a book I bought on my Bath bookish adventure at the end of January. I love Libby Page’s books and she is another author I was introduced to thanks to The Book Taster community, as she was the authors at one of the live events.

There are so many reasons before I even opened this book that I knew I would love it; it is about books, it has a bookshop in it and it is from the pen of Libby Page – and have you seen the cover?! ‘This Book Made Me Think of You’ is a book for every bookworm and beyond.

We meet Tilly (full name Matilda) as she is dealing with grief after the death of her husband, Joe. However, Joe has done something amazing: starting on her birthday, he has left her a book per month for a year, a book he has especially picked for her and there is a note to go with each one. These books create a year of adventure for Tilly and help her navigate a year without her husband – and the possible changes to the course of her life.

Now, I can’t say more than that as we would enter spoilers territory, but all I will say is that you will laugh and you will cry, but you will also remember the importance of books. A beautiful touch as you start each month of this story is that there are a list of books recommended by Libby that may do for you what Joe’s recommendation does for Tilly. I have to be honest, I have added pretty much every single one to my wishlist (although I do possibly draw the line at wild camping).

I think this book will teach every one to remember to embrace life, plan that adventure, try that new hobby and don’t be scared to do the things that will make you happy. It will also remind you why you love books and bookshops. I am so glad that I managed to pick this book up in Mr B’s in Bath because that just makes it that little bit special. It is definitely a book that will be on my shelves forever – especially as it is so pretty.

I would also recommending listening to the BBC Radio 2 Book Club episode about ‘This Book Made Me Think of You’ because I think it makes the book even more special. I waited until I had read the book and it certainly made me appreciate the book even more – and I definitely need to plan a trip to Paris to visit Shakespeare and Company and the cafe next door. It all sounds like a perfect bookish adventure, just like this book.

The Vintage Shop of Second Chances by Libby Page

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

Libby Page is an author that has only come to my attention this year – when I read ‘The Lido‘ and loved it just as much as everyone else I know in the Bookstagram world. So, as a treat, I dedicated some reading time to ‘The Vintage Shop of Second Chances’ to kick start the summer break – and I am so glad that I did. This book is just beautiful, and I even shed a little tear.

Lou decides to finally follow her dream and start a vintage clothes shop back in her home town. In this shop hangs a beautiful yellow dress that belonged to her mother, but little does she know that the beautiful yellow dress is going to take her on a whole adventure. (And that is all that I am going to give you on the plot, as I really believe that you need to read this book). But, alongside her, Maggy and Donna also embark on adventures that they were not expecting and, together with Lou, learn something about themselves that they were probably not expecting. In fact, everyone has a second chance – but you will have to read it to find out what they may be.

Something that Libby Page does brilliantly is not just give us strong female characters, but also beautiful friendships across the generation gap. I love that the characters do not ever seem to be just friends with peers, but it demonstrates that friendship can blossom between all sorts of people and for all sorts of different reasons. This makes the story even more special.

This is a fabulous read about family, friendship, community and self-discovery. It proves that you are never too old to learn something new or make a fresh start – and that you should never be scared to do either.

If you are a fan of Libby Page, I would love to know what your favourite book is.

The Lido by Libby Page

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

Sometimes a book just leaves you wanting more – and stays with you long after you finish it – making it a very difficult job to pick up another read. I believe that this describes a ‘book hangover’ – and that was what ‘The Lido’ gave me.

‘The Lido’ has been sitting on my shelf since the start of the year, and I just had not picked it up, not for any particular reason, other than the fact that I am a mood reader. However, I should have realised that this book would actually have been a perfect read to boost my mood (until the ‘book hangover’ bit at the end).

I could really relate to Kate and the loneliness that she feels at the start of the book; it really reflected how I found some of my experience of living in Italy for a year. It was very easy once you were home to close a door and retreat back into your own company and avoid socialising. Until, for me, I met the family that treated me as though I had always been part of their family. And, for Kate, it is the moment that she meets Rosemary, an 86-year-old widow, who wants to save the lido in Brixton. For Rosemary, the lido is the place that keeps her connected to her husband George and, for Kate, the lido becomes the place that allows her to feel as though she belongs in her new home town. So, the unlikely pair, along with many other fantastic characters, campaign to save the lido and preserve it for future generations.

This is a fantastic, uplifting story that reminds you of the importance of friendship, and that friendship can be found anywhere – but it also reminds you of the importance of community spirit.

I really liked the way that memories of George held by Rosemary were seamlessly entwined into the narrative (and, trust me, they pull at your heartstrings). You move between past and present (for both Kate and Rosemary) without fully realising it’s happening and with no interruption to the story being told.

I honestly cannot rave about this book enough. I felt truly connected to the stories and the characters. I cannot fault anything, and I will be recommending it to everybody who feels that they need an uplifting and positive read – and to be reminded of the beautiful side of human nature.

So, if you only pick up one book I have reviewed this first half of 2023, then make it this one.