23 Greatest Books about Libraries and Librarians

The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis

August 2020 Good Morning America Book Club Pick

This historical fiction novel about the New York public library is a dual timeline mystery about rare books going missing from the library’s collection. Fiona Davis’s signature style had me basking in the vivid descriptions, making me feel as if I were standing inside the famed library.

I adored the Gilded Age book sections but found myself less enthralled by the present-day timeline. Still, the story was a great one for books about books.

The Library Book by Susan Orleans

January 2019 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick

I really enjoyed this non-fiction book about the LA library fire, but I could have used less of the general library stats. It focused too little on the library fire and too much on the library itself.

I think it could have been cut down by about 50 pages because towards the end I had an “alright, I get it, enough already” moment. Still, it was interesting to learn about the struggles the library faced after the fire with clean-up, the investigation, and the lasting security measures that came about because of what happened.

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles

WWII books felt a little been-there, done-that to me recently but this book has me back to loving the sub-genre. And even with so many books set in Paris, this book still felt fresh.

What makes this story different is the setting – The American Library in Paris.⁣ I loved hearing about the librarians and how they tried to help their Jewish subscribers. ⁣

The story sucked me and had me thinking about the war in a new light. I need to add it to our best books about WW2 list for sure.

The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick

When librarian Martha Storm finds a book of fairytales on her doorstep she is intrigued.  When she reads the dedication written to her by her grandmother who had died three years before the inscription, she is inspired to find answers. Martha uncovers secrets in her past that will change her life as she knows it.

The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentil

There are so many things that I loved about this book, I do not even know where to start. This is a book within a book- a mystery inside a mystery. This book needs to be in your list of books for summer.

There is a scream and the Boston Public Library that pulls four strangers into a crazy adventure full of twists and turn. All of them have different reasons for being in that room and one of them is a murderer.

This is the book that is being written by an Australian author and mailed chapter by chapter to Leo, in the United States. He is giving feedback on each chapter. And as you watch both stories unfold, you will never anticipate the next step.

This thriller is one of the best books on our list of ultimate beach reads 2023.

A Kind of Paradise by Amy Rebecca Tan

This is a best children’s book of 2019 for a reason. I read this as a read-aloud with both of my children (boys 6-8) even though it’s technically a middle grade book.

The story revolves around Jaime who, after doing something bad at school, is doing community service hours at the library for the summer. Jaime is reluctant to volunteer at first but quickly grows to love the staff and regulars at the library. I adored this charming tale and so did my kids. This is one of the books for 11-year-olds that adults will love too!

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein

Mr. Lemoncello’s library is one of a kind. It’s full of holograms, logic puzzles, and hidden games. To officially open the new library, a few lucky kids get to spend the night inside as they try to win Mr. Lemoncello’s game and be the first team to escape.

Why We Love This Book: If you are looking for great bedtime stories for kids, this series will hit the mark. It will get your kids engaged with one-of-a-kid puzzles and delightful twists and turns.
Appropriate for ages 9-11
Find this book in Audiobooks for Kids / Netflix Book Adaptations / Middle Grade Mysteries / Books for 11-year-olds / Read Aloud Books / Best Puzzle Books

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

To say that I was excited about Erin Morgenstern‘s new book might be the understatement of the year.  How to describe this book that is an ode to storytelling…..it’s a love story to books, a fantasy within a love story within a fairy tale.

The writing is beautiful- Erin’s signature style of vivid imagery left me completely captivated. I truly loved every minute of this book. It was pointless to predict the story. So, I let it take me away with the lyrical prose.

Find this book in Books Like The Night Circus / Full Cast Audiobooks / Magical Realism Books / Books About Librarians

The Librarian by Christy Sloat

This is perfect for a list of books like Outlander! When Emme’s grandmother dies, she agrees to take over Gram’s library despite plans to head to college abroad.

When she opens a book from Gra’s special collection, she finds herself face to face with Jack Ridgewell in  1892 England.  Emme is part of an elite group of women who can travel to the past through books.  This brings a whole new meaning to book boyfriend. You’ll love this fantasy book about books.

Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles

Here’s an unlikely beach read recommendation – a story that takes place during the Great War. We don’t normally recommend historical fiction set during a war for the beach, but Charles crafted a story that was as hopeful as it was interesting. It touched on the darkness while highlighting the helpers of one of the darkest periods of world history.

Unlike The Women (which we do NOT recommend for a summer beach read) this story never got so bogged down in wartime sadness. Instead, we are treated to a front-row seat of the grit and determination of the women working near the front lines of France to bring normalcy and hope to innocent civilians.

Specifically in the form of books – children’s books.

Based on the true story of pioneering children’s librarian, Jessie Carson, it’s a testament to women being innovators and hope-makers. Jessie works tirelessly to train the first French female librarians, turns ambulances into bookmobiles, and uses all the resources she can muster to bring joy to the victims of war.

It’s a dual timeline narrative that also focuses on Wendy, a librarian in 1980’s New York working for the same library where Jessie got her start. She uses her research on Jessie and the American Committee for Devasted France as inspiration in her writing class, and is surprised at how similar she is to her muse.

Why I Loved It: While there were sad moments within the story, this book ultimately left me with warmth in my heart. The narrators do an excellent job bringing this story to life. #Gifted by Simon & Schuster Books

Find this book in WWI Novels / Librarian Books / Beach Reads 2024 / Best Historical Fiction 2024

The War Librarian by Addison Armstrong

This dual-timeline story is about both a librarian during WWI and a female cadet in the first class of women at the U.S. Naval Academy. There are so many strong women in our list of books like the Alice Network.

Both women in this story are connected in multiple ways, including being females in a trailblazing role customarily reserved for men.

While I found Librarian, Emmaline’s story to be more engrossing, I found Kathleen Carre’s struggles in the male-dominated school fascinating too. I wouldn’t mind reading a book just about the first few classes of women in various military academies.

The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murphy

July 2021 Good Morning America Book Club Pick

This fictionalized version of Belle de Costa Greene was wonderful, I’m so glad it was a GMA pick and a Gilded Age book to boot!

Greene was J.P. Morgan’s personal librarian and later the librarian for his heir. She was also a black woman passing as white. She had to keep her roots hidden in order to hold her job, but I’m glad her real truth is being told now.

Find This Book in: Books set in Libraries

The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth

The good sister is a psychological thriller that will keep you on your toes until the very end. Fern and Rose are twins who have always had each other. Rose is the responsible one who has always looked out for Fern.

Fern has trouble reading social situations, doesn’t like loud noises, and makes dangerous mistakes all the time.

Rose’s most important job was protecting Fern from their crazy mother. When Fern decides to have a baby for Rose, secrets start to come out. This is one of the books about sisters that will keep you guessing until the end and even then, you’ll be thinking about this book.

What You Wish For by Katherine Center

Another addition to this list that features a librarian as the main character! In simple terms, Samantha is a school librarian who joins with the other teachers to try to save their beautiful, creative school from a strict new principal.

Throughout the pages, it also turns into a story about dealing with grief and fear and opening your heart to new ways to love. This novel is ultimately the complete embodiment of joy. I honestly adored it and when I ranked my Top 10 books of 2020, this came in at #2! 

With Love from London by Sarah Jio

I loved this book about a librarian who inherits a bookshop from her estranged mother. When Valentina was a teenager, her beloved mother left her to return home to her native London and never returned. Val was left heartbroken with her father.

Now, Val has returned to London to her mothers apartment and bookshop to try and understand her mother, her life and why she would leave. The change could not have come at a better time for Valentina who is going through a divorce of her own. This book was such an easy and wonderful read.

You can check out our other amazing books about bookstores!

Lucy’s Little Village Book Club by Emma Davies

This cute story in a one-sitting read. The story revolves around the six members of a local library book club. Strangers become friends, lovers, and family — and everyone gets a happy ending! This book is a great palate cleanser.

The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonia Itrube

It’s hard not to mention this story in a round-up of books about librarians, even if the librarian in this story is a unique case. This is based on the story of Dita Kraus who was a 14-year-old girl when she went to Auschwitz.  She worked as the “librarian” in the children’s block.

The book gives an in-depth look at the day-to-day survival of people in the camp.  The book is difficult to read but is ultimately a book about bravery and real-life heroes.

The Littlest Library by Poppy Alexander

Jess loses her library job and her grandmother who raised her around the same time. She decides she needs a change. She buys a little cottage in a new town that also comes with an old telephone booth.

Soon, she is making friends with her neighbors and turning her phone booth into a cute community library! I loved watching Jess learn to manage her grief and create a network of people around her. It was such a lovely one-sitting read.

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

November 2019 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick

I’m not usually a Jojo Moyes reader, but this story about a mobile library was one that caught my eye. I’m so glad I ended up reading it because it was wonderful!

I had no idea that women used to travel by horseback to deliver books in the Appalachian mountains. These librarians were utterly badass as they thumbed their noses at societal norms for the betterment of their community.

Each woman’s story was woven together in a tapestry of love, friendship, and sisterhood. I couldn’t put down this book about books!

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

I can’t mention The Giver of Stars without also including The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. There was a bit of drama surrounding these two books since they feature two very similar stories, were released around the same time, and one is written by an already famous author. 

Read this novel as well to compare and contrast how these two writers tell the story of rural librarians of Kentucky! 

The Library at the Edge of the World by Felicity Hayes-McCoy

Escape to the western coast of Ireland in this novel about a woman fighting to save her community’s traveling library and find herself along the way.

Hanna is back in her tiny hometown after leaving behind her city lifestyle and cheating husband. As she tries to save her job as the local librarian and restore an old cottage, she comes to realize these people she was happy to leave behind mean more to her than she ever expected.