This book just happened to be in the “newly arrived” section of the library where my husband snagged it, read it, and passed it on to me saying, “It’s about an antisocial girl who prefers books to people. You’ll like it.” I may classify myself as introverted (not antisocial) and would pick a book over people about half the time (people are just exhausting to be around in large quantities), but I did feel empathy for the main character Loveday Cardew.
Loveday works at the Lost for Words Bookshop, where the owner Archie hired her when she was fifteen. Now twenty-five, Loveday prefers to keep her past to herself, until one day a book shows up that she swears was in her family’s home growing up. This opens up some memories she would prefer to keep clamped down. Around the same time, Nathan shows up at the bookstore to retrieve a lost book. Between Nathan and Archie, they may be able to get Loveday to open up and live her life, but it’s not easy dealing with a misanthrope.
The book is told not in chronological order but in genres based on what’s happening during that time. Each genre tells the story of that particular time in Loveday’s life, from poetry to history to crime to biography. The storytelling itself is more like a stream of consciousness from Loveday’s point of view, and she even breaks the fourth wall a few time just to keep it personal, like she’s telling you this story herself. Even though I was able to predict her background story, the last 100 pages will give you a run for your money, with multiple shocks along the way.
This book would be a great read for someone who enjoys quirky characters and a little bit of mystery.
**Looking for another similar book? Try The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend!
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