The London Bookshop Affair
Louise Fein
A new historical drama from Daughter of the Reich bestselling author Louise Fein, about a London bookshop involved in an espionage network, set against the backdrop of the Cuban Missile Crisis, perfect for fans of Kate Quinn and Pam Jenoff. In nuclear war, there can be no winners. It’s 1962, and the world is teetering on the brink of nuclear war. more
416 pages, Paperback
First published William Morrow Paperbacks
3.84
Rating
769
Ratings
171
Reviews
Louise Fein
8 books 686 followers
Louise 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.
Community reviews
London 1962. Celia Duchesne works in a bookshop, she dreams of getting a better job, maybe as a secretary and leaving Southwark. The shop has recently been sold to Mrs. Denton, her new employer is busy settling in and Celia is left to her own devices. One day Septimus Nelson walks into the bookshop, he’s from America and his visits makes Celia’s job less boring. more
Great read. Dual timeline, featuring Anya and Celia. The setting is London. There’s drama, intrigue and history. There were several times this story surprised me, which made it so captivating. more
By the author of The Hidden Child, which I throughly enjoyed. When I read a historical book I always expect to learn something. With this one I learned quite a bit. It's the first book I've read about The Cold War/The Cuban Missile Crisis. No that it goes into great detail about nuclear war or threats of war but about the prospect of it possibly happening. more
This was a breathtaking historical drama that deserves every bit of it's 5-star rating. This novel is a masterful blend of intrigue, love and courage set against the backdrop of the Cuban Missile Crisis, making it an absolute must-read for fans of Kate Quinn and Pam Jenoff. In 1962 London, we meet Celia Duchesne, a young woman yearning for a purpose beyond her job at a dusty bookshop. When a dashing American walks into her life, it seems her dreams might finally be within reach. However, a devastating secret soon pulls her into the world of espionage, adding a thrilling layer of complexity to her new romance. more
Fein deftly weaves a story of Cold War espionage through the eyes of Celia Duchesne with the tragic tale of WW2 undercover agent, Anya Moreau. As the plot unravels, the reader is swept up by a story of love and betrayal, the consequences of which ripples back through the years. With twists and unexpected angles, Fein paints a gripping portrayal of the Cuban Crisis based on real life events and figures that kept me hooked and guessing until the very last page. As someone interested in history, I highly recommend this book - it would make an excellent book club read, especially for those looking to learn more about the Cuban Crisis and the politics surrounding it. The characters are well drawn and the research outstanding. more
A moving dual timeline historical fiction mystery involving a young woman who discovers she was adopted and searches to find out more about her birth mother and the reasons why she gave her away. If you enjoy WWII stories, espionage, Cold War ties, books about strong women working for their country, the British SOE and books like Looking for Jane, this one will be right up your alley. Good on audio and definitely worth a listen/read. . more
Set during the height of the Cold War, new owners take over the bookshop Celia works at and her whole life changes. This had a lot of really great twists. I’m into Cold War historical fiction so always excited to see it being done well. Stayed up later than I planned so I could finish it. Full review in feed next week. more
This gripping novel is set during 1942-43 and 1962. On the one hand, we follow Jeannie's courageous story (from 1942 London until 1944 France) and how her story is connected to the present (1962 London). On the other hand, we learn about Celia. She's 19 years old and works at an antique bookstore in London. She's seen as naive by most people, but she's a smart and brave young woman. more
Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow Paperbacks for the opportunity to read this ARC of The London Bookshop Affair. This is a story about love, betrayal, secrets, espionage, courage, and loss. It takes place in a dual timeline with Celia who works in a bookshop in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis and Jeannie in the 1940's during WWII. It is told from the three different perspectives of Celia, Jeannie, and Septimus. I like the way the characters were developed throughout the book. more
"The London Bookshop Affair" by Louise Fein is a captivating historical drama that delves into the world of espionage during the height of the Cold War, set against the backdrop of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The book skillfully weaves together the stories of two courageous women, Celia Duchesne and Anya Moreau, whose lives are intertwined by a secret that could change the course of history. Fein's meticulous research shines through in the rich historical details and settings, immersing the reader in a turbulent London of 1962 and a wartime France of 1942. The narrative unfolds through three distinct points of view, including Celia, Anya, and Celia's love interest, providing a multifaceted view of the unfolding events. The book is divided into five parts, each commencing with a chapter from Anya's (Jeannie's) perspective. more
This was delightfully charming. When I saw the title, I had to get it - I barely even skimmed the blurb lol. It ended up being AMAZING though, and I finished it rather quickly due to a sort of not really long plane ride. P. S. more
This novel takes place in two time eras of 1942 and in the early 1960's. In the beginning, it is about a young woman named Jeannie. She gets involved with a young American solider. She revels to her mother she is going to have his baby. Her mother guides her to get help, in this time era it is not a good thing. more
Review to follow for blog tour but just fabulous. I loved it. more
Fein has hit another book platform, one that envelops both WWII SOE and Cold War spies. It’s all centered around a dusty bookshop in London that time forget or did it. Celia learns a lot about her hidden past that sends her well structured world into a tailspin. I thought Fein connected the different timelines very well. I didn’t like two of the male characters and when more about their stories was revealed, my lips curdled in a sneer. more
It's 1962, and young London book-shopgirl Celia is hoping to break free. She has ambitions beyond those of her her chilly older parents, so when the book shop gets a new owner –– a glamorous American business woman –– Celia takes the opportunity to make some changes. She hides her new, inflated salary from her parents and signs up for night school. She follows a madcap friend into political action as the Cuban missile crisis looms. And she meets someone tall dark and handsome –– so unlike the boy next door that her parents have selected for her. more
The London Bookshop Affair is a well-written and page-turning story of espionage set during the Cold War. 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. more
Louise Fein, autoarea bestsellerului Daughter of the Reich, îți oferă o poveste inspirată din evenimente și personaje reale, care îmbină istoria, dragostea și misterul. Cartea este povestită din perspectiva a două femei: Celia Duchesne, o tânără care lucrează la o librărie antică pe Strand, și care se îndrăgostește de un american misterios, care se dovedește a fi un agent sub acoperire; și Anya Moreau, o curajoasă spioană care a fost trimisă în Franța ocupată de naziști în 1942, pentru a ajuta rezistența, și care a fost trădată și torturată. Cele două femei au o legătură neașteptată, care va ieși la iveală pe măsură ce Celia descoperă secretele trecutului ei și ale lumii în care trăiește. “Nu știam nimic despre el, dar îmi plăcea. Îmi plăcea felul în care vorbea, felul în care mă privea, felul în care mă făcea să mă simt. more
3. 75 stars rounded upAs much as I liked this, there was way too much plot. Way too many odd strings hanging off of the main cord of the story. But, I couldn't bear a 3 star review. I picked because of the bookshop in the title, but it could've been a hat shop, for all the books came into it. more
3. 25. Reading about the Cuban missile crisis, brought back memories of me as a young girl who grew up, adoring JFK whether he was right or wrong. This is a spy/espionage novel. Perhaps I’ve just read way too many WWII novel of this ilk. more
I really liked this book. The details made me feel as if I were transported back in time. There were times where I would forget whose POV I was reading (but that was mostly a me mistake lol). Overall I loved this book and I think the plot was really cool. I also loveee Dual POV books . more
You know you can rely on Louise Fein for brilliant historical fiction. That’s why I was so keen to read the London Bookshop Affair and it certainly didn’t disappoint. It’s 1962 and Celia is trying to break free from the constraints of her strict parents and make something of herself. Taking secretarial classes while working in a small bookshop ,she soons finds herself caught up in the threat of impending nuclear war. Running alongside this is the story of Anya and the part she played as an undercover operative in WW2 France. more
Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, so I was delighted to have gotten this ARC through a Goodreads Giveaway. Initially (by the title) I thought it would be another World War II book on surviving in England during World War II, of which I've read countless titles. But no. This novel takes place in the very beginning of the 1960's. The start of the Cold War. more
Listened to the audiobook. I love history, I don’t know why I don’t read more of it. This was well done & gave me a new appreciation for the Cold War/Cuban missile crisis. Listening to the author speak at the end about her inspiration for characters has led me to want to learn more about the women of WW2 & their efforts. . more
Set against the backdrop of the Cuban Missile Crisis, Louise Fein's engrossing historical drama "The London Bookshop Affair" explores the world of espionage during the height of the Cold War. The book deftly interweaves the tales of two brave women, Anya Moreau and Celia Duchesne, whose lives are linked by a secret that has the power to alter the path of human history. Fein's painstaking study is evident in the rich historical settings and details that transport the reader to tumultuous 1942 wartime France and London in 1962. Three different points of view—those of Celia, Anya, and her love interest—are used in the story to provide the reader a complex understanding of the events as they happen. The book is structured into five sections, each of which opens with a chapter written from Anya's (Jeannie's) point of view. more
The cover and the title is what caught my eye and caused me to see what this book was all about. While I’ve always been a fan of historical fiction, this is my first book of Louise Fein’s so thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the eARC of this novel. I cannot recommend this book enough, the rest of this year’s reads have a lot to live up to. The London Bookshop Affair - is a novel that skillfully intertwines the stories of Celia Duchesne and Anya Moreau an undercover agent. As the store unfolds it paints a vivid picture of a society on the verge of war, drawing inspiration from true events and figures of the Cold War era. more
This historical fiction novel was gripping. This novel has love, courage, and even betrayal. A beautifully written novel throughout. Multiple POVs of intriguing characters through the book kept me completely hooked. I highly recommend this novel. more
The London Bookshop Affair is the story of Celia Duchesne, a shop girl at a London antiquarian bookshop in 1962, on the cusp of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Celia wants more out of life; she is involved in a group protesting nuclear arms, studying at night to be a secretary, and longing to learn more about her past. We see the past in 1942 of a young woman named Jeannie, who goes from London to dangerous government mission in France. These two stories intersect in this fascinating novel. I wanted to read this novel because I love historical fiction. more
Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @williammorrowbooks for THE LONDON BOOKSHOP AFFAIR by Louise Fein, published on January 16th. I was very much drawn to this historical fiction story by the cover. It is striking, and the woman is not walking away. Points for the art team. Then I read the description & that made me curious. more
The London Bookshop Affair is historical fiction set in two timelines, in 1940s during the war and in early 1960s during the Cuban Crisis and Cold War. The book explores themes of equality, political activism, differences between the classes, espionage, WWII and nuclear threat. There’s a bit of a romantic plot but it seems an afterthought, to be honest. Thank you, NetGalley, for the eARC. What I liked:📚 the story is well researched - many events and characters are based on real people and history📚 the book is well written, with neat and uncomplicated sentences and chapters written from points of view of three characters 📚 the ending offers a bit of a twist and the heroine finally seems to believe in herself and finds an interesting jobWhat I didn’t care for:🥲 Celia constantly talks about how she is “just an ordinary girl” and how she can’t have big dreams or possibly be interesting enough to catch an eye of a young man she meets at work 🥲 overall, the author just does not sell Celia as a very likable person or a well rounded character. more