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This Book Made Me Think of You
This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page Review: A Widow's Year of Books
Libby Page's novel follows widowed editor Tilly Nightingale through twelve books her late husband Joe left her at a London bookshop, one for each month. Kirkus calls it a cozy read for book lovers; Barlinsbooks found the ending too tidy and the book forgettable.
LuvemBooks Verdict
Best for
Readers who want a gentle, bookish grief story set around a London bookshop, with a steady stream of reading recommendations and a comforting arc rather than a raw one.
Worth it if
Worth reading if you want comfort and warmth alongside the grief and can accept a predictable, tidily resolved plot in exchange.
Skip if
Skip it if you want an unflinching portrait of grief, a love story with real heat, or surprises, since Barlin's Books found some of Joe's guidance from beyond the grave a little cringy.
Where reviewers agree and split
Readers rate it 4.5 on Amazon. The reviews we read that discuss it in depth split on some points:
- Positive
Kirkus Reviews · Press review: perfect cozy read for book lovers about grief, healing and love
- Positive · 5-STAR REVIEW
Novels Alive · Book blog: heartwarming tale of grief and healing through books, beautifully written
- Mixed · ★★★¼
Barlin's Books · Book blog: sweet but uneven, with an overly tidy ending and lacking lasting impression
- Positive
Fictionophile · Book blog: heartwarming and poignant tale about grief, books and new beginnings
- Positive
That Happy Reader · Book blog: moving and compassionate journey of healing through books and kindness
- Positive
Portobello Book Blog · Book blog: adored this tender love letter to books and bookshops as best yet
- Positive
Lesa's Book Critiques · Book blog: beautiful treasure exploring grief, growth, friendship and books
What readers & critics say
Reception leans warm: Kirkus Reviews calls it "the perfect cozy read for book lovers, sure to break and heal hearts," and Fictionophile says it rises above a predictable plot. The main dissent comes from Barlinsbooks, a single book blogger, who found it fine but forgettable.
“Page creates a cozy world that shimmers with whimsy even as she delicately explores grief.”
— kirkusreviews.comAsk LuvemBooks
Was this helpful?
- Is it worth reading?
- It delivers comfort and a long run of reading suggestions, and Kirkus recommends it. The caveat is depth. Barlinsbooks found it sad, sappy and sweet but not distinctive or lasting, and Fictionophile concedes the plot is predictable even while arguing the characters lift it above that. If you can trade surprise for warmth, it pays off.
- Similar books
- For another warm, book-centred story where community does the healing, try Katherine Reay's The Printed Letter Bookshop. Libby Page's own The Lido pairs a similar gentle, communal tone with an outdoor swimming setting, and Josie Silver's One Day in December suits readers who want more romance in the mix. These are comparisons of tone and mood, not claims from named reviews.
- Who should read this?
- It suits readers who love bookshop settings, want a steady supply of titles to add to a reading list, and prefer grief handled with humor and friendship. Lesa's Book Critiques added many books to a list, and some reviewers counted over 50 mentioned. It suits less well anyone after an unflinching grief portrait or an ending with an edge.
- What age is it for?
- The main content is grief after a husband's death, including the memory of his illness. No review we found flags sexual content or violence, and Novels Alive describes only "a hint of romance".
- About Libby Page
- Libby Page is an internationally bestselling author of six novels, with work published in over 20 territories. She graduated from the London College of Fashion with a BA in fashion journalism and went on to work as a journalist at The Guardian. Her second passion, after writing, is outdoor swimming.
- How much romance is in it?
- Very little as a driving force. Novels Alive describes "a hint of romance" alongside kindness and caring, and BookBrowse's Jordan Lynch lists romance as one strand in a blend of grief, humor and self-discovery. Barlinsbooks says the novel lets Tilly begin to love again.
- What do reviewers say about the ending?
- Two bloggers split. Novels Alive said it was beautifully written. No other review we found spells out the resolution.
Summarize this book
Follow up
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Our Review
We review the evidence: book bloggers and reader verdicts, gathered and weighed with AI assistance and edited by LuvemBooks, rather than one reader's first-hand take.
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Sources & Further Reading
The key facts and claims in this review are grounded in the retrieved, verified sources listed below.
- Cited in this review
- 1
publishersweekly.com
- 2
- Further reading
- 3
- 4
- 5
barlinsbooks.com
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
bookofthemonth.com
- 10
kirkusreviews.com
- 11
portobellobookblog.com
- 12
lesasbookcritiques.com
Age & Reading Level
Our age band
Adult
Our age band groups books for browsing; it isn't an age a review gave.
2 content notes · who it suits
Content to know about
Skip if you want an unflinching portrait of grief, a love story with real heat, or a plot that surprises
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