The Echo of Old Books: A Novel

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There is of course a dual time line with Ashlyn in 1984 and the two mysterious books from the 1940’s. These two books are obviously meant to go together and the more she reads the more she finds a love story full of betrayal, regrets, misunderstandings, greed, jealousy and family secrets.

Belle and Hemi go to his apartment the following day to talk. Hemi admits he is working on a story about her father and was initially interested in her for information. Belle asks how he could do that to her knowing she loved him. Hemi confesses that he loves her, too, and they kiss.Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. The timeframe the historical parts of the book take place in was the period leading up to WWII, one of my favorite periods to read about in historical fiction. As Ashlyn and Ethan tried to parse what happened with Belle and Hemi, she confessed her ability to feel the books’ echoes. Ethan, touched at her confession, kissed her. Zachary then called to tell Ethan that Marian lives in New England, not far from Ashlyn and Ethan. She is drawn into the sorrowful hearts of Hemi and Belle, wherever they may be, whoever they were. Driven by her determination to unravel the truth behind their ill-fated love story, Ashlyn delves deeper into their words, following a trail of shattered promises and seemingly unforgivable betrayals. She also has a rare but special feeling about books. When she touches certain books, she can feel what the person who last held the book was feeling. She wasn’t sure if it was a detriment or a blessing.

Ashlyn obtained copies of news articles about Hemi’s editor, Goldie. Goldie had a relationship with journalist Steven Schwab, prompting Ashlyn to wonder if he was Hemi. Considering this is a book about a bookshop owner, you'd think at least some of the action would take place in a bookshop. You would be wrong. Well, the two main characters (did I mention this is a romance?) do go into a Waldenbooks for a few minutes. She refers to herself as a Yankee, turned Southerner, turned Yankee! When she’s not writing she’s an avid reader, foodie, and lover of music, a football fan, and a devoted Florida Gator. Rare book dealer Ashlyn Greer has a deep love for books that goes well beyond the mere smell of aged paper and leather. There’s something magical about them that only she can sense—the lingering emotions left by their previous owners. It’s as if these books possess an emotional fingerprint that she alone can decipher. I LOVED Hemi and Belle’s story!! The 1940’s… a forbidden love… 🤫…OH but it’s just a story… or is it more?😬🤭🤔

If you enjoy a bookish angle in your stories, you are in for a treat here. Not only is part of the story set in a book store, but the main character is also a rare-book dealer who restores books and has a special bookish talent. On top of this, we have the two mystery bound volumes, and I do love a good historical mystery to mix things up. This is not all though… Because The Echo Of Old Books uses a very unusual plot structure. Not only do we have Ashlyn and Marian’s POVs, but the plot actually includes the full stories of both bound volumes as well. Yes, you read that right: you get three books for the price of one here! Being able to read the volumes yourself and in time with the developments in the present timeline really took this story to the next level for me. The authorial device of using two books to recount an old story didn’t feel clunky, and the modern day narrative wound itself around them well. While you could perceive the ending as somewhat predictable, or even contrived, I felt it was well and sensitively handled and added depth to the characters’ portrayal.

Ethan and Ashlyn met Marian for dinner, as well as her daughter and granddaughters, before she received a lifetime achievement award. After Ethan left to help get the children to bed, Marian asked Ashlyn how much she knew about Zachary’s parentage, realizing that she had learned the truth. Her search takes her to an intrepid librarian who ferrets out much of the historical data with a twinkle in her eye and a spring in her step. But the real treasure trove of information comes from Ethan Manning, who brought the books – along with many other considerably more mundane works – from his late father’s library to the used bookstore where Ashlyn first encountered Remembering Belle and Belle’s response in Forever, and Other Stories. I enjoyed the present-day chapters as Ashlyn was unraveling the mystery and enjoyed the past stories as we learn how the books told actual stories of real people's lives.I always love a story with a bookish angle, so of course I was intrigued as soon as I saw The Echo Of Old Books first mentioned. Then I read the blurb, and I knew I HAD to add it to my shelves. Between the main character being able to feel echoes of the previous owners when touching books, the bound volumes and the mystery around the identity of their authors, the premise has so much potential, and I’ve been looking forward to read it. And it turned out to be an excellent read! At Marian’s house, Hemi admits he still loves her. They kiss, but Marian tells him about Zachary. Hemi leaves, heartbroken.

It all begins with Hemi and Belle and the two seemingly anonymous, most likely privately published books that hold their separate perspectives on their clearly doomed, inevitably tragic WW2-era romance. But those little books are only the beginning of the web that has been woven. The author’s ability to present two different, but related, heartbreaking stories inside her own novel and keep all the voices distinct is so impressive. The fascinating characters and the beauty of the writing pull the reader in…Highly recommended.” — Historical Novels ReviewLanguage: Yes, there are a handful of words that I personally don't care to hear/read. But you know what? That's why it's so well done. Those words meant something in this book. They weren't thrown around like commas and Valley Girl "likes." They were well-placed and had punch because of it. Ethan and Ashlyn returned home. The next day, they looked for Hugh Garret’s novels. Ashlyn saw Hugh’s photograph in a book and realized that he was almost identical to Zachary, making him Zachary’s father. If you are reading this, you already know about the magical lure of books, but perhaps you need reminding that rewriting your own story is possible with a little bit of courage. This book will help you summon the courage needed. Just in case you prefer to “listen” to your books rather than read them, here’s a nice opportunity to try Audible free for 30 Days (plus a few other things). Is this on your list? Do you have a favorite @bdavisauthor book? Do tell so I can add it!! What are you reading today?? ❤️