Review: The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick

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☆☆➹⁀☆ 4 stars ☆➹⁀☆☆

What It’s About:

A librarian’s discovery of a mysterious book sparks the journey of a lifetime in the delightful new novel from the bestselling author of The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper. Librarian Martha Storm has always found it easier to connect with books than people–though not for lack of trying. She keeps careful lists of how to help others in her superhero-themed notebook. And yet, sometimes it feels like she’s invisible.All of that changes when a book of fairy tales arrives on her doorstep. Inside, Martha finds a dedication written to her by her best friend–her grandmother Zelda–who died under mysterious circumstances years earlier. When Martha discovers a clue within the book that her grandmother may still be alive, she becomes determined to discover the truth. As she delves deeper into Zelda’s past, she unwittingly reveals a family secret that will change her life forever.Filled with Phaedra Patrick’s signature charm and vivid characters, The Library of Lost and Found is a heartwarming and poignant tale of how one woman must take control of her destiny to write her own happy ending.

My Thoughts:

I love books about libraries, bookstores, and books, so the title The Library of Lost and Found called to me. Having read Phaedra Patrick’s work previously I was anticipating a delightfully charming book.

The start of The Library of Lost and Found is a slow plod through Martha Storm’s dreary life. She goes out of her way to be helpful to friends and family, but no matter how much she does, she remains underappreciated and taken for granted. You can’t help but feel as downtrodden and used as you read of Martha’s daily life.

“I have to find way to move on because there is no other way” –Martha

However, into this drab life a little excitement and sunshine falls when a mysterious package is left for Martha at the library where she works. Similar to the events in Ms. Patrick’s The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper, this package leads Martha on a bit of a quest that changes her life. For Martha, the change comes in the way of reuniting with a lost loved one, discovering some dark family secrets, and eventually discovering that she is worthy. She is worthy of love, appreciation, acknowledgment, and a full life where she explores her creativity as well as takes advantage of her incredible organizational skills.

Martha is the sort of character with whom you can’t help but empathize. She is kind, thoughtful and unassuming. Her coworker, Suki, and her grandmother Zelda are delightfully quirky and colorful characters who nudge Martha out of her comfort zone. Suki is a standout character. She is absolutely charming with her misuse of the English language and her heart of gold.

Through Martha’s mid-life-coming-of-age journey, readers learn of her dysfunctional family and emotionally abusive father, and oddly, her backstory comes from her late mother’s point of view as well as from the stories in the book that was left for Martha.

Martha’s blossoming is delightful, however, the story arc was a bit too close to the author’s prior book, The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper, without being quite as endearing. The Library of Lost and Found is a well-written, worthy read that is filled with great characters and a hopefully ending.

The audio book is fabulously narrated by Imogen Church.