The London Bookshop Affair is a well-written and page-turning story of espionage set during the Cold War.
The London Bookshop Affair by Louise Fein
Genre/Categories/Setting: Historical Fiction (1960s), Espionage, The Cold War, Family Secrets, London
*This post contains Amazon affiliate links.
My Summary of The London Bookshop Affair:
Thanks #NetGalley @WmMorrowBooks @williammorrowbooks for a complimentary e ARC of #TheLondonBookshopAffair upon my request. All opinions are my own.
In 1962, the possibility of nuclear weapons/warfare is worrisome. Celia Duchesne dreams of a better future for herself but is grateful to have a stable job at a dusty, antiquarian bookshop. One day, a handsome young man wanders in and Celia is thrilled when he begins to notice her. Celia’s best friend persuades her to attend political rallies as they demonstrate for peace and a ban on nuclear weapons. Celia’s quiet life turns exciting as she begins to date the young man, Septimus, who coincidentally knows the new owner of the bookshop, signs up for typing classes in hopes of a better job, and attends political rallies. Suddenly, Celia discovers a family secret and is caught up in an espionage ring. The suspense escalates quickly as Celia’s quiet bookshop life takes a dangerous turn.
My Thoughts:
Espionage
If you’re looking for a side of suspense in your histfic, The London Bookshop Affair might be what you’re looking for. Although the story does include a past timeline around the time of WWII, the most compelling part of the story (for me) is the 1960s timeline. I have distinct memories of growing up in the Cold War era, and I can even remember having low-level anxiety about it as a youngster.
Early in the story, I started to suspect that there were more complicated layers to Septimus, Celia’s love interest, than first presented, and my intrigue grew as this quiet story quickly became a page-turner. The London Bookshop Affair is filled with intrigue, a family mystery, espionage, and danger…..and a side of romance.
Dual Timeline
The story begins in the past as we are introduced to Jeannie. We revisit this timeline as we are taken back to WWII and Jeannie’s role in French Resistance. In full disclosure, I skimmed through this timeline because I was always eager to return to the 1960s to find out what was happening to Celia. In the end, these two timelines are connected in a poignant way.
Three Perspectives
In addition to two timelines, the story is told from three perspectives: Jeannie’s (1940s); Celia’s and (more minimally) Septimus’ (1960s). Celia is the main protagonist and her perspective drives the story.
Author’s Notes
I always love reading author notes, and Louise Fein doesn’t disappoint as she describes her research in detail.
Themes
Thoughtful themes include striving for a better life, uncovering family secrets, political activism, political tensions, bravery, understanding, forgiveness, reconciliation, the boy next door, friendship, adoption, and the fear of nuclear war.
Content Consideration: WWII consequences for those caught in the resistance movement
Recommending The London Bookshop Affair
If you’re looking for sides of suspense and espionage in your histfic, I think you’ll appreciate The London Bookshop Affair. It’s well-written and brilliantly researched.
My Rating: 4 Stars
Meet the Author of The London Bookshop Affair, Louise Fein
Louise Fein writes historical fiction, focusing on unheard voices or from unusual perspectives. Her debut novel, Daughter of the Reich (entitled People Like Us in the UK edition) was published in 2020 into 13 territories and is set in 1930’s Leipzig. The book was shortlisted for the RSL Christopher Bland Prize 2021 and the RNA Historical Novel of the Year Award, 2021. Louise’s second novel, The Hidden Child, was published in 2021 and is centered around the eugenics movement in 1920’s England and America. It was a Globe & Mail bestseller in Canada. Her third novel, The London Bookshop Affair, about one woman’s journey to uncover secrets of her past, set against a backdrop of espionage and looming nuclear war in 1962 London, will be published in January 2024.
Louise, previously a lawyer and banker, holds an MA in Creative Writing from St Mary’s University and now writes full time. Equally passionate about historical research and writing, she loves to look for themes which have resonance with today’s world. Louise lives in the Surrey countryside, UK, with her family, and is a slave to the daily demands of her pets.
For more information, go to https://www.louisefein.com and sign up to Louise’s newsletter. She also posts regularly to her blog at
https://www.louisefein.com/blog-and-news, or follow her on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/louisefeinauthor; Twitter, https://twitter.com/FeinLouise; or Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/louisefeinauthor
QOTD:
Does this story set during the Cold War sound interesting?
Happy Reading Book Buddies!
“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.”
~Rainer Maria Rilke
“I love the world of words, where life and literature connect.”
~Denise J Hughes
“Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones.”
~Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
“I read because books are a form of transportation, of teaching, and of connection! Books take us to places we’ve never been, they teach us about our world, and they help us to understand human experience.”
~Madeleine Riley, Top Shelf Text
Let’s Get Social!
Thank you for visiting and reading today! I’d be honored and thrilled if you choose to enjoy and follow along (see subscribe or follow option), promote, and/or share my blog. Every share helps us grow.
Find me at:
Twitter/X
Blue Sky
Instagram (Threads link in bio)
Goodreads and StoryGraph
Pinterest
Reading Ladies Book Club on Facebook
***Blog posts may contain affiliate links. This means that at no extra cost to you, I can earn a small percentage of your purchase price.
I purchase or borrow from the library all books I review unless explicitly stated that the book is free (arc).
Amazon or an author’s (or publisher’s) website receives all credit for book covers and author photos.
© ReadingLadies.com
Love the sound of this Carol!
The 60s is interesting!
This one sounds really interesting. I don’t think I’ve actually read a novel set in the 60s apart from old books written at that time. It does sound interesting
It was a nice change!
Putting this on my list as it sounds like a book that I’d love. Thanks for the recommendation
I hope it’s a good read for you! 🙌📚
I wasn’t aware of this novel until I read your review. Like you, I was young in the early years of the 1960s but was aware of the cold war. I remember a few people in our area built bomb shelters at their homes, which I think heightened my anxiety. I don’t always enjoy books with alternating timelines, so I might read this book in the same way you did. I’m adding it to my TBR. Thank you, Carol!
It was an interesting change of pace from WWII 👍
[…] Welcome to #ThrowBackThursday where I highlight an older review or post a current review of a backlist title. This week, I’m featuring compelling historical fiction, The London Bookshop Affair by Louise Fein. […]