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The Bookseller's Secret
The Bookseller's Secret: A Novel of Nancy Mitford and WWII | Michelle Gable
The Bookseller's Secret is a delight from start to finish, a literary feast any booklover will savor! Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Rose Code ARISTOCRAT, AUTHOR, BOOKSELLER, WWII SPYA THRILLING NOVEL ABOUT REAL-LIFE LITERARY ICON NANCY MITFORD In 1942, London, Nancy Mitford is worried about more than air raids and German spies. Still recovering from a devastating loss, the once sparkling Bright Young Thing is estranged from her husband, her allowance has been cut, and shes given up her writing career. On top of this, her five beautiful but infamous sisters continue making headlines with their controversial politics. Eager for distraction and desperate for income, Nancy jumps at the chance to manage the Heywood Hill bookshop while the owner is away at war. Between the shops brisk business and the literary salons she hosts for her eccentric friends, Nancys life seems on the upswing. But when a mysterious French officer insists that she has a story to tell, Nancy must decide if picking up the pen again and revealing all is worth the price she might be forced to pay. Eighty years later, Heywood Hill is abuzz with the hunt for a lost wartime manuscript written by Nancy Mitford. For one woman desperately in need of a change, the search will reveal not only a new side to Nancy, but an even more surprising link between the past and present With a vivid cast of unforgettable characters, Gable expertly and cleverly delivers wit, humor, and intrigue on every page. What a delightful escape. Susan Meissner, bestselling author of The Nature of Fragile Things A triumphant tale that highlights the magic of bookshops and literature to carry people through even the darkest days of war. Kristina McMorris, New York Times bestselling author of Sold on a Monday
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KathyWheeler
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I just got in a short walk today. Someone in this book called someone a “hobbit,” so then I had to look up the publication date for The Hobbit to see if that was even a possibility that someone would say that during Nancy Mitford‘s time. It was since The Hobbit was first published in 1937. #audiowalk

Reggie I totally get this way. Especially in historical horror. I start getting-was that around then, and then I go look it up. Lol 2y
KathyWheeler @Reggie It felt so out of place, calling someone a hobbit. I just had to know if it was even a possibility!😄 (edited) 2y
20 likes2 comments
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KathyWheeler
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Another book with a Mitford as a character — Nancy again. We have dual timelines here: one with Nancy Mitford and another one, 80 years later with Katie Cabot — also a writer who has come to visit a friend and goes to the bookshop Mitford worked at and hears a rumor that Nancy Mitford had left an unpublished memoir there. Katie is experiencing problems finding ideas for a new novel, and this rumor sparks her interest. #audiowalk

megnews I always look forward to your audio walk posts. 2y
KathyWheeler @megnews Thank you! 2y
24 likes2 comments
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mcctrish
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Pickpick

Not having to be at school ( no jobs booked) in what feels like forever! So I‘m taking it easy and finishing books and having a day! This was a lovely book to read while listening to the biography about the Mitford family. The Nancy Mitford story within this book is quite factual and plays very well against the modern story line set in the same bookstore NM worked at during the war

Erinreadsthebooks LOVE your plate, bowl, and cup! I've picked up a few plates like that at a thrift store, and they're my favorite. 😍 2y
mcctrish @Erinreadsthebooks that‘s where mine are from ❤️ I need to find more 2y
TheBookHippie The mug 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 2y
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mcctrish @TheBookHippie back to substitute teaching ( I was doing a long term post for 2 months and no job today) so it‘s think of 1000 things I‘d like to do, start 20, finish none #backonmybullshit 2y
TheBookHippie @mcctrish I‘m home too- it‘s testing week 😵‍💫 my little readers, all the tests 🙄😅😝. So I‘m project starting too 😅🤣. 2y
mcctrish @TheBookHippie I wish you better luck than I have with the jobs. Or a mug 2y
51 likes1 stack add6 comments
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mcctrish
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It‘s raining so I‘m reading ( truthfully if it was sunny I‘d be reading too but maybe feeling slightly bad for not doing all the things )

Soubhiville You‘re about to have gorgeous cactus blooms! I hope you‘ll post a photo when they start to open. 💜 Enjoy your rainy day. 🙂 2y
mcctrish My secret @Soubhiville is total neglect and watering on Mondays 🤣🤣 this cactus LOVES my front window. I have another one directly across the house in my back window which is on a different bloom schedule ( both bloom twice a year - thanksgiving -ish and Easter-ish ) this one is in 4 stages of bloom right now 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2y
Soubhiville I love it! It‘s funny how slight changes can make them have different schedules. 2y
ShelleyBooksie You take the best pics ♡ 2y
mcctrish Oh @ShelleyBooksie thank you ☺️ 2y
49 likes5 comments
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mcctrish
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I love a good literary list within a book! She‘s mentioned a Lily King I haven‘t read 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 and some authors to add to my crushing TBR pile

RowReads1 I like Evelyn Waugh😁 2y
mcctrish I‘ve only ever read Brideshead Revisited @RowReads1 but I wouldn‘t discount him like Kate does 2y
TheBookHippie Good beach read 👀🤫 2y
mcctrish @TheBookHippie I loved Writers and Lovers 2y
47 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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mcctrish
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Continuing down my Mitford rabbit hole

Tamra You always have my kinda Friday break 😄 2y
mcctrish @Tamra 👯‍♀️ 2y
48 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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NatalieR
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Pickpick

This is a great historical fiction story about the writer, Nancy Mitford. Set in London, during the war, Nancy Mitford takes a job as a bookseller/manager at the Heywood Hill bookshop while the owner is serving in the war. Nancy is estranged from her husband and struggling with her writing career. She begins an affair with a French military officer who encourages her to write an autobiography.

Full review https://abookandadog.com

tpixie Great review. I recently finished this. Soon I hope to do a mini - Mitford immersion & read The Mayfair Bookshop & the just-released- yesterday Marie Benedict‘s version (edited) 2y
NatalieR @tpixie Thank you! 😊 I need to look into The Mayfair Bookshop. Thanks for putting it on my radar. I definitely plan to Marie Benedict‘s new book. I hope you enjoy your immersion read! 🤓 2y
tpixie @NatalieR 🌺☺️🌺 yes! Happy reading 📖 2y
76 likes1 stack add3 comments
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katy4peas
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Bailedbailed

Intertwined stories between a modern writer looking for a new idea for her next book and the life story of her favorite author. When Katie goes to a bookstore while on vacation for research she gets pulled into a mystery around her favorite author. It also involves the help of a handsome stranger.

I bailed on this one. I didn‘t find the characters likable. Ehh🤷‍♀️

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Mshookquilts
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Pickpick

We get a peek into a modern author‘s life as well as Nancy Mitford‘s during WWII. A good read and I love, love the ending (2nd to last chapter). I felt the book missed some of the magic from the previous books of Ms. Gable, but I wouldn‘t have missed it if this were my 1st experience with her writing.

FeatherV It‘s not my favorite of hers, but I will religiously read every single thing she writes haha 3y
FeatherV Though I did also stay up all night reading this one 🤣😂 3y
Mshookquilts @FeatherV Oh I enjoyed it! And, I will still read her next one. It was good; it just didn‘t hit the magical level I felt the previous 2 did. Though, she says in her acknowledgment that she gave it her all. 3y
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FeatherV @Mshookquilts my sentiments exactly 3y
tpixie I‘m reading it now and I‘m looking forward to this coming out soon @FeatherV @Mshookquilts (edited) 2y
Mshookquilts @tpixie I‘ll have to look into it. 2y
7 likes6 comments
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Danay
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22 #11 I hated this book. I barely finished it. The current day story line held my attention a tiny bit more than the war time story. But it fell flat in the end. It was all just awful.

1 like1 stack add
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kspenmoll
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Mehso-so

I have mixed feelings about this book.Granted, it was a clever idea to novelize Nancy Mitford‘s war years at the Heywood Hill Bookshop in London and her romance with a French colonel. But the present storyline didn‘t do it for me. Yes,there are parallels drawn to both Nancy and Kate‘s writers block,& the bookshop,but Kate seemed rather immature to me for someone 40 years old.I was not sympathetic to her character. #fabulousfebruary #readathon

Suet624 Great review. 💕 3y
kspenmoll @Suet624 Thanks my friend! 3y
Andrew65 Well done 👏👏👏 3y
kspenmoll @Andrew65 Thanks for all your positive cheerleading!!! 3y
71 likes1 stack add4 comments
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kspenmoll
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#weeklyforcast #historicalfiction #NancyMitford #ShetlandIslandsMysteries #JaneAusten #Philosophy #MartinHagglund #ThisLife #AdventuresinPhilosophy #BooksAboutBooks
I plan to finish The Booksellers Secret this week.Listened 3 hours today while cooking for the Super Bowl.Read 3 chapters in Arsenic with Austen,which I should also finish. Read just a few pages in This Life,a buddy read with designated pages per week.#fabulousFebruary #readathon

Cinfhen Enjoy 💕 3y
Andrew65 Doing well. Enjoy Blue Lightning, a key book in the series. (edited) 3y
64 likes2 comments
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kspenmoll
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kspenmoll
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#audio
Listening while cooking dinner.

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SilverShanica
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Mehso-so

While the book seems to have been well written, I found the contemporary characters difficult to relate to. I enjoyed the historical parts with Nancy Mitford, but as I‘m not familiar with her book or the story of her infamous family, I felt I missed some of the nuances. Overall it was an ok story.

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BookBosomed1
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I live in an unincorporated tiny country town. Besides the beautiful countryside, like the river that runs behind my house, the best thing about living here is the library bookmobile that makes a stop across from my house every 2 weeks. If I‘m not home, the bookmobile librarians drop off the books I have on hold at my front door. This was today‘s haul. 1/2 of the holds became available at the same time. Decisions, decisions. 😬 🎉

Mitch Fight Night - looking forward to this one 3y
BookBosomed1 @Mitch I hadn‘t heard of it until I saw it on another person‘s TBR list. I only have it for 14 days so, hopefully, I‘ll be able to read & finish it! 3y
EvieBee What a wonderful perk! 3y
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wanderinglynn How fun! Looks like a great selection! 3y
candority Hey there! I just tried to email you, but it bounced back. Could you please confirm your email address? Or better yet, send me an email at brooke.giles.ghss@hotmail.com so I can send you your #Bestof2021Swap match! 3y
SamanthaMarie That sounds so dreamy!! 3y
BookBosomed1 @candority Aha! I‘ll email you. 3y
BookBosomed1 @SamanthaMarie It is! I‘ll try to get a pic one of these days. 3y
BookBosomed1 @wanderinglynn Yes! Where to start… 3y
candority @BookBosomed1 I just sent your match to the email you provided on my post! 🤞 3y
SamanthaMarie Yes please do! I would love to see it!! 3y
19 likes12 comments
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SilversReviews
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“a dual-narrative set at the famed Heywood Hill Bookshop in London.”

FULL POST: https://tinyurl.com/3u6yffsp

@mgablewriter
@harpercollins
@parkrowbooks

31 likes2 stack adds
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SilverShanica
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I am posting one book per day from my to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new - don‘t judge me I have a lot of books.
Join the fun if you want. This is day 196.
#bookstoread
#tbrpile
#bookstagram

3 likes1 stack add