Thanks to Lake Union Publishing & NetGalley for an advance digital reader’s copy. All comments and opinions are my own. I loved the cover, the title, and considered the premise irresistibly intriguing. Rare-book dealer Ashlyn Greer owns An Unlikely Story, a rare bookshop and bindery in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Ashlyn’s “affinity for books extends beyond the intoxicating scent of old paper, ink, and leather. She can feel the echoes of the books’ previous owners—an emotional fingerprint only she can read. When Ashlyn discovers a pair of beautifully bound volumes that appear to have never been published, her gift quickly becomes an obsession. Not only is each inscribed with a startling incrimination, but the authors, Hemi and Belle, tell conflicting sides of a tragic romance.” (Goodreads’ description). This dual-timeline novel (1941 and 1984) is really three books in one as it includes Hemi’s book, Regretting Belle and Belle’s response, Forever, and Other Lies. Their stories are woven together, like an argument taking place across the pages. But they’re completely (and deliberately) anonymous. The mystery of the authors as well as why they wrote and published these works propels Ashlyn to search for the authors, the origins of their story, and its outcome – where are these people today? In addition to solving this mystery, and managing her rare bookstore, Ashlyn works as a book restorer. Author Barbara Davis explains the symbolism of this craft, with “each restoration a labor of love, like a kind of resurrection, a broken and discarded thing given new life.” This is a story of second chances, healing, trust, and family. It’s also a romance. I appreciated the well-written descriptions, articulate phrases and evocative observations throughout. I particularly enjoyed the book’s dedication: “This book is dedicated to the librarians and the booksellers…custodians of imagination, feeders of hungry hearts, matchmakers of the written word. Where would we be without your labors of love?” Each chapter begins with a quote, often from Ashlyn’s (fictional) book The Care and Feeding of Old Books. The novel concludes with discussion questions, making this perfect for book groups or anyone who wants to spend more time considering the many thought-provoking themes.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing & NetGalley for an advance digital reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

I loved the cover, the title, and considered the premise irresistibly intriguing. Rare-book dealer Ashlyn Greer owns An Unlikely Story, a rare bookshop and bindery in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Ashlyn's "affinity for books extends beyond the intoxicating scent of old paper, ink, and leather. She can feel the echoes of the books' previous owners-an emotional fingerprint only she can read. When Ashlyn discovers a pair of beautifully bound volumes that appear to have never been published, her gift quickly becomes an obsession. Not only is each inscribed with a startling incrimination, but the authors, Hemi and Belle, tell conflicting sides of a tragic romance." (Goodreads' description).

This dual-timeline novel (1941 and 1984) is really three books in one as it includes Hemi's book, Regretting Belle and Belle's response, Forever, and Other Lies. Their stories are woven together, like an argument taking place across the pages. But they're completely (and deliberately) anonymous.

The mystery of the authors as well as why they wrote and published these works propels Ashlyn to search for the authors, the origins of their story, and its outcome - where are these people today? In addition to solving this mystery, and managing her rare bookstore, Ashlyn works as a book restorer. Author Barbara Davis explains the symbolism of this craft, with "each restoration a labor of love, like a kind of resurrection, a broken and discarded thing given new life."

This is a story of second chances, healing, trust, and family. It's also a romance. I appreciated the well-written descriptions, articulate phrases and evocative observations throughout.

This book pulls you in immediately. It is a wonderful story and I love Barbara Davis' writing style. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good love story w/o all of the sexual content. This story is so well-written. I loved it.

A very good book. I would definitely recommend it for readers who enjoy literary fiction