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    The Library of Lost and Found
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    The Library of Lost and Found
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    The Library of Lost and Found
    Audiobook10 hours

    The Library of Lost and Found

    Written by Phaedra Patrick

    Narrated by Sarah Borges

    3.5/5

    ()

    Unavailable in your country

    Unavailable in your country

    About this audiobook

    A librarian’s discovery of a mysterious book sparks the journey of a lifetime in the delightful novel from the author of The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper.

    'A gem of a book. I loved it.' Sarah Morgan, author of The Christmas Book Club

    'A lovely, heart-warming story.' B A Paris, author of Behind Closed Doors

    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 notebook. And yet, sometimes it feels like she’s invisible.

    All of that changes when a mysterious book arrives on her doorstep. Inside, Martha finds a dedication written to her by 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 heart-warming reminder that even the quietest life has the potential to be extraordinary.

    Perfect for fans of The Memory Library, 59 Memory Lane and The Lost Book Shop.

    Praise for Phaedra Patrick:

    'The perfect book to read when you want to give your heart a holiday.' Sally Page, author of The Keeper of Stories

    'A wonderfully hope-filled story.' Sarah Haywood, author of The Cactus

    'Completely lovely.' Clare Pooley, author of The Authenticity Project

    'Charming and compelling… a beautiful book, wise, heartfelt and full of hope.' Hazel Prior, author of Away with the Penguins

    'A feel-good story with oodles of charm.' Daily Mail

    Readers love The Library of Lost and Found:

    ‘You will laugh and quite possibly cry…I certainly did!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    'Lose yourself and find yourself in the library' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    'Brought a smile to my face and more than one tear was shed. A lovely read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    ‘ A poignant, warm-hearted story’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    ‘The most beautiful book I’ve ever read’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    ‘A delightful novel about finding meaning in your life.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins Publishers
    Release dateMar 26, 2019
    ISBN9780008237660
    Unavailable
    The Library of Lost and Found

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    Reviews for The Library of Lost and Found

    3.5/5

    286 ratings36 reviews

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 4/5
      Wow, I just discovered I listened to a Harlequin Romance! I liked it too.
    • 3/5
      In The Library of Lost and Found, Librarian Martha Storm was once a vivacious girl who loved nothing more than spending her days writing stories and playing make-believe with her best friend and grandmother, Zelda. When her grandmother passed away, Martha, lost in grief, also lost herself. Since then, Martha’s life had become quite predictable and mundane with very little cheer until one day when Martha received a book. The dedication in this book was a conundrum because it opened up the possibility that parts of Martha’s past were a lie and this was a mystery that Martha was unwilling to let go. As Martha follows the clues to unraveling her past, she makes new acquaintances along the way and soon she finds that life can be unpredictable in all the best of ways.I did like the main character, Martha, but with a name like Martha Storm I had expected more. I was looking forward to a quirky character because of this: “her superhero-themed notebook” from the synopsis. I was imagining a character who may had been socially awkward but took it in stride and embraced her uniqueness. Martha was not what I had hoped for, she was more akin to a doormat, initially, and worse was that she enabled that treatment. I had a hard time with that but I was happy to see that Martha did develop over time and was on a road to discovering who the inner Martha really was. I also really enjoyed the supporting characters in this story.The Library of Lost and Found was a cute story, definitely a nice way to spend an afternoon. There was a strong family dynamics element woven throughout this book and a little bit of a love interest as well. The biggest take away from this story will be that secrets, even with the best of intentions, can have long lasting negative effects. Martha uncovers one secret after another and it shakes everything up for her. Though, even with some of the painful reveals, it frees her from the shackles that she had placed on herself and allows her to start to finally live. Overall, The Library of Lost and Found was an emotionally pleasing cozy read that took me on a journey!This review is based on a complimentary book I received from NetGalley. It is an honest and voluntary review. The complimentary receipt of it in no way affected my review or rating.
    • 4/5
      Whilst easy to read and enjoyable there was nothing that really stood out about either the characters or the story.
    • 5/5
      4.5 stars. Not quite as engaging as "The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper," but a charming read.
    • 5/5
      Lovely book. Great characters and interesting situations.
    • 4/5
      Cute, heartwarming story about a librarian in a small town who finds love in unexpected places.
    • 3/5
      An entertaining story about a woman who stops living her life for other people and starts living for herself. Reminded me a little of Major Pettigrew's Last Stand.
    • 3/5
      Digital audio performed by Imogen ChurchMartha Storm volunteers at the local library and would love to have a permanent paid position there. She has a degree in English literature and has applied several times, but the man in charge prefers “younger apprentices.” She’s clearly unappreciated, but soldiers on. And then one day a book of fairy tales is left for her, and she discovers that it is dedicated to HER by her late grandmother. As she tries to puzzle out where the book came from and how it came to be in her possession, she uncovers family secrets. Patrick writes quirky characters with hidden secrets very well. These are nearly broken people who keep their heads down and try to exist without much support or joy in their lives. And yet … My heart broke for Martha … especially for the Martha who was a child clearly on the outs with her parents and sister. When she finally uncovers the full truth behind the book of fairy tales, and her life, she gains a new sense of herself and the possibilities she’s longed for are finally in her reach. This is the second book by Patrick that I’ve read. Both were heart-warming and enjoyable. Imogen Church does a find job of voicing the audiobook. She sets a good pace and has clear diction that is easily understood even when listening at increased speed.
    • 3/5
      Meh. It's not bad, just average in the statistical sense. The story wasn't what I expected from the blurb; not because it was misleading, but rather because my inference of it was of a story altogether different. The story was never bad enough (or really, bad, though the writing wasn't strong enough to follow on the heels of Dorothy Sayers) to DNF it, but I didn't really care much about the main character, or anyone in her orbit. I suspect this is supposed to be a tear jerker, but at no point did I feel even the slightest tug; my tear ducts remained unmoved and indifferent from beginning to end. I also suspect it's plot twist is supposed to have packed an emotional punch, but honestly, this particular plot twist is practically a cliche at this point. The MC's 85 year old grandmother is gay. Whoopty doo. As I said, it's not a bad book; it just wasn't really my jam. It did, however, have a large number of scenes that take place in a library, and the MC volunteers at said library, so I got a monopoly square out of it, and of course another book off my TBR.
    • 4/5
      When librarian Martha is left a book with an inscription appearing to be from her grandmother - who died three years before that inscription! - she must find out what is going on. Her parents had told her that her grandmother, Zelda (who never got along with Martha’s father, but she and Martha were two peas in a pod) had died. Not only that, the book consists of many stories that Martha herself had written when she younger; Martha hasn’t written since her grandmother died. This leads to the uncovering of many family secrets. I really enjoyed this. I listened to the audio, and I thought it was done well. I did lose a bit of interest in the stories that Martha had written (but “stories within stories” tend to do that with me… not usually interested, I skim). I did find the rest of it – the family relationships and secrets interesting, though I did guess at one of them, but that didn’t take away my enjoyment of the book.
    • 4/5
      This was a quite an interesting book as a woman looks back over her life and that of her family and friends. Not a lot happens so if you are looking for a plot driven book this isn't for you. But if you want to discover a family mystery and watch the characters grow along the way this might be the book for you.
    • 3/5
      Just not a book I devoured. At times it was difficult to keep reading as Martha was not an exciting character.
    • 4/5
      Although the story moved rather slowly, it pulled you in because you needed to find out WHAT was happening and how a conclusion could be reached. Nicely told and the stories within the story fit the complete book perfectly...cleverly done. Hmmmm...I think it really needed a better title but after all, I did pick it up.
    • 3/5
      A quick read; however, the characters are not compelling and the plot was not all that interesting. All plots are, in a way, contrived; however they are not as obvious as this one was contrived. It could have been an interesting story line if it was not so clumsily handled. On the other hand there were a few good quotes and lines in the book
    • 3/5
      "The Library of Lost and Found" had some sweet moments but overall it was a fairly mediocre read. I was frustrated with Martha and her mother, neither were strong women, and disgusted with her father's manipulation. Martha did come into her own and found some happiness at the end but there were too many times where I wanted to shake her for the choices she made. Sadly, I never found her an inspiring protagonist.
    • 4/5
      Librarian Martha Storm has spent much of her life trying to prove to herself that she's useful, of value to others. One expression of this is the Wonder Woman notebook in which she records all the tasks, errands, and ordinary housekeeping she's taken on for others. Repair jobs. Mending. Laundry. She never says no.And no one ever says thank you; they just complain she's not getting it done fast enough.Her exploiters include coworkers at the library, library users, neighbors, and her own younger sister, Lillian, who sees no reason why she should hem her son Will's trousers, when elder sister Martha can do it instead.Then one day Martha finds a book left at the library entrance--old, battered, worn, and with a dedication to her. Its contents? Fairy tales--but not just any fairy tales. These are stories her grandmother, Zelda, told her when she was a young child, and stories she made up and told Zelda.Finding the book is going to change her life. It's going to unearth unsettling family secrets, and change Martha's perception of herself, her family, and her place in her family.This is a story of family relationships, self-respect, mutual respect, and honesty. The secrets in this family include what happened to Zelda--the girls are told, when Martha is fifteen and Lillian is twelve, that Zelda has died, but not how. Nor are they allowed to attend the funeral. There's the question of why the girls' father, Thomas Storm, is so much harsher with Martha than with Lillian. Yet even with Lillian, and the girls' mother, Betty, Thomas insists that everything has to be his way, exactly his way.Lillian is very much the favored child, and grows up to be just about as rigid and controlling as Thomas. Martha can never quite measure up, is never quite good enough, and learns that she has to, basically, justify her existence by being useful. The creative child who wrote her own fairy tales grows up to be a woman who can connect with other people only through books and by doing tasks for them that they should be doing for themselves.In books featuring sisters, usually the relationship between the sisters is unrecognizable to me. In this book, that relationship is very, very familiar to me. Both my parents were damaged people in their own ways, but in our family, it was my dad who whatever his flaws, knew he was flawed and damaged by a toxic relationship with his own father. He worked hard to not be the man his father was--a choice the other surviving siblings agreed was a good one. He talked to me about his flaws, said he was doing his best, but that I should be aware that he wasn't always right.It was my mom who was always sure that her way was the right way. And my younger sister really took after our mother.The conflict between Martha and her younger sister feels very familiar to me, very much like my conflict with my younger sister. Although, in fairness, I think Lillian is worse.There are reasons, of course, why Thomas understands and likes Lillian better, reasons why Zelda disappeared, and why Martha was the odd person out in the family. Reasons why Betty lets Thomas make all her decisions for her. But in the end, I couldn't agree with the judgment of a character I won't name, because it would be a spoiler, that Thomas was a good man trying to do what was best for the whole family. No. He was controlling and emotionally abusive, and in some respects the damage to Lillian, the daughter he favored, was even greater than the damage to Martha.Aside from not being willing to agree to excuse Thomas, though, I found this to be a very humane, emotionally satisfying story. Recommended.I bought this audiobook.
    • 3/5
      A nice story. It was a bit melodramatic in places, but overall enjoyable. Would make a great Hallmark movie.
    • 4/5
      Whimsy and fairytales

      A lilting story, following Martha,the ultimate people pleaser , learns the power of No, uncovers a long lost relative, unearths family secrets and realises it's never too late to start again.
    • 3/5
      A common theme permeates the two Phaedra Patrick novels I have read so far: Physical objects open windows into the past that, in turn, open doors to the future.In “The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper,” it is a charm bracelet that belonged to his late wife that allows Arthur Pepper to discover the life she gave up to marry him, making it easier to face life without her. Now in “The Library of Lost and Found,” it is a mysterious book that allows its finder to understand her oppressive family history and begin living for herself.Martha Storm grew up with a dominating father, a mother who always yielded to his wishes and a younger sister, Lillian, who was always loved best. Her sister got married and had two children, while Martha broke off her engagement to become her parents' caretaker until their deaths. Now she volunteers at the local library. She regularly applies for full-time employment, but the head librarian prefers hiring younger women. Besides, if Martha is already the most productive member of the staff, why hire her?Everyone takes advantage of Martha, including her sister who appreciates her free babysitting services. Others count on Martha to do their laundry, their mending and whatever other chores they don't want to do themselves. Martha doesn't know how to say no.Then someone hands her a ragged book full of stories written by Martha herself in her youth and by her beloved grandmother, Zelda. She has never before seen the book, which was published by Zelda some years after she supposedly died. And so Martha begins using the book to track down her grandmother, now actually dying, and discover all the family secrets that had been hid from her for so many years.As with Arthur Pepper, there is a lot of contrivance here. It can be difficult believe that everyone she knows would take advantage of Martha as easily as they do and then suddenly change their behavior as dramatically as they do by the end of the story. But if one takes the novel as a magical fairy tale, much like the stories Martha wrote as a child and that ended up in her book, one will find much to enjoy.
    • 4/5
      What a wondrous tale. Every emotion you might expect to find in a tale of family, even this one that holds more than a few secrets.
    • 5/5
      I really enjoyed this book. Ms Patrick draws you into the story and keeps you involved all the way to the end.
    • 5/5
      Oh, this is a lovely, absolutely charming story of a woman who was lost and is now found. Or maybe more than one woman and in more ways than one.The Library of Lost and Found centres around Martha Storm. She works in a library but is also an unpaid skivvy for everyone, it seems. She takes in washing for someone from her reading group, she hems her nephew's trousers, she offers to help mend a Chinese dragon for the local school and so much more, and these jobs are cluttering up her house and her life. She thrives on being helpful and making lists, and yet underneath it all she knows that her life is severely lacking love, fun, friendship, family and cake!A book of fairy tales is what starts to change everything for Martha. It turns up unexpectedly, left for her on the library doorstep, and the message handwritten inside is for her from her beloved grandmother, Zelda. The message gives Martha food for thought and questions what she thought she knew: that Zelda had died more than thirty years ago. It also makes her look back over her childhood with her controlling father and a mother who let herself be controlled by him.I loved so much about this book. I thought Martha was a wonderful character and I really wanted her to stop people from walking all over her. I loved the detective work she carried out regarding Zelda (another fantastic character) and how it led to a transformation in not only the way Martha behaved towards others, but in how she felt about herself.The title is so apt. So much is lost and found in this book, not particularly physical items, but people, emotions, self-worth, friendship. In amongst the narrative are stories that Martha, her mother Betty, and Zelda, used to make up when Martha was younger. Martha had lost the ability to do this along with her confidence and her spark, but we are treated to some of the stories and I thought that was a lovely touch.Phaedra Patrick is a talented writer. I loved The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper and I loved The Library of Lost and Found. I suppose they might be termed feel-good fiction and I certainly closed this book with a satisfied sigh. The quirky and likeable characters and the unusual storyline with a mystery element really made this a winner for me.
    • 3/5
      Enjoyable read - strong characters - glad some of them got their act together.
    • 4/5
      This was a nice little story. Twice I have found myself trying to recall it though, and twice I had to return to the book to remember anything about it. I guess it wasn't very memorable for me, but I did enjoy it.It is a simple tale about a woman coming to grips with certain truths about her existence and life, which she formerly didn't know.
    • 2/5
      Ugh, this was overwrought and over the top. I despised pretty much every character, the main protagonist was unbelievably .... pathetic. Martha Storm has bent over backwards for years taking care of everyone but herself, sacrificing her happiness, her fiance, and slowly her sanity. She cared for her ailing parents for fifteen years, she does odds and ends for everyone all over town, and she is so agreeable to helping with whatever that none ever feels bad for taking advantage of her (which is often). When a mysterious book shows up on the library's steps she realize her past and future are about to get more complicated. It's an old book with a dedication to her from her grandma Zelda, but the humdinger is that it's dated a few years after Zelda apparently died. As Martha starts to try and unravel this mystery she starts to realize that maybe she needs to start caring for herself before running herself dry catering everyone else's needs. Along the way she starts to reconnect with family, get more assertive at work, and squeeze in time for romance. UUUGHHH. I hated Martha. Read and make your own judgement.
    • 4/5
      This is a sweet book. The protagonist has lived for years trying to gain some enjoyment in ice by being helpfu to others. She finds that people aren’t terribly appreciative and they rarely express gratitude. The arrival of an unusual package changes everything for her. The book is charming, funny, and really sweet. I enjoyed it.
    • 4/5
      The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra PatrickSource: NetGalley and Park RowRating: 4/5 starsMartha Storm’s life isn’t exciting nor is it all enviable. In fact, most of the people in Martha’s life do one of two things, use her or pity her; worst of all are those who both use and pity Martha. While some of the circumstances of Martha’s life are not of her own making or choosing, she has left other circumstances get out of hand which has led her to a most unhappy and unenviable place. As a child, Martha was keenly aware of her ultra-controlling feelings towards her and they were, at best, tolerant. Martha was also keenly aware of her mother’s absolute inability to stand up to her father, think, and/or live for herself. Finally, Martha was keenly aware that the only member of her family who truly appreciated, loved, and encouraged her was her beloved grandmother, Zelda. Unlike everyone else in her life, Zelda fosters Martha’s creativity, she supports her imagination, and encourages her general zest for life. Right up until Zelda suddenly dies, Martha is certain she will make it through her childhood and her life. From the moment Zelda exited Martha’s life, nothing seems to go to plan. Though Martha works towards her goals, there always seems to be an impediment. For example, just as her love life appeared settled and set, Martha’s parents took a turn for the worse and her mother begged Martha to care for them . . . . 10 long years later, Martha has essentially given up on every dream and goal she ever felt dear. She has no love life, her parents are gone, her job at the library, though she loves it isn’t going anywhere, and she has a serious need to please others at her own expense. And then, one day, a book from her childhood comes back into her life and changes absolutely everything in Martha’s life. From the moment Martha discovers the book her life takes a path she never could have conceived of. In the process, Martha doesn’t just discover the truth of her past, but also of her present and her future. Martha begins her adventure by learning to stand up for herself, asserting herself, and slowly but surely discovering she indeed matters and what she wants and needs from her life is just as important as what everyone else wants and needs from their own lives. The discoveries Martha makes on her journey are often painful, but once she is able to see beyond the pain, she is able to see her life from an entirely new perspective and in a far more positive light. The Bottom Line: I can’t say I loved this book, but I think, based on the Goodreads rating, I enjoyed it far more than most. In large part, I enjoyed the total transformation Martha Storm goes through; in fact, this is one of the best character evolution books I’ve read in quite some time. In the beginning, Martha is a thoroughly disagreeable character and then that book comes into her possession and the switch flips! Martha taking control of her life, overcoming her insecurities, and finding the person she had so much promise of becoming as a child is truly entertaining. The cherry on top of the character evolution had to be the change in the others around Martha following her own transformation. The moment Martha begins to respect herself the pity and the using stop and that is a beautiful thing. Though I think this book may be a bit of a rough read for some, I found it to be totally worth the time and effort especially if you are particularly interested in total character transformation.
    • 4/5
      This was a sweet story of Martha, a meek, mild mannered, volunteer librarian who was always eager to help others with their "needs" and wants with little to no consideration for her own. Over the course of the story, glimpses of Martha's past are revealed which help us understand how Martha became the woman she is. Beginning with the discovery of a published book of stories, which she and her nana had written, we begin to see a transformation of Martha's character and shift in her focus. That is until she reaches a major personal crisis which nearly does her in.The book reads a bit like a cozy mystery as the mysteries surrounding the found storybook and Martha's backstory are revealed. This was a sweet read and helped to cleanse the reading palette after an epic adventure series. Synopsis: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.
    • 4/5
      I loved Phaedra Patrick's previous book, The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper. I knew I was in for another wonderful read when I picked picked up her latest, The Library of Lost and Found. You had me at library!Martha Storm volunteers at her local library - she does so much to ensure the patrons find what they need. But she does more than that - she'll help anyone with anything they ask of her. Her lists keep her on top of things. But sometimes she feels, well, a little invisible.And then......a mysterious book of fairy tales lands on her doorstep and her carefully ordered life is turned upside down....Oh, there's so much to love in this book. First is Martha herself. She's a character the reader will be inevitably drawn to - but you'll want more for her than she seems to want for herself. And when she does consider other possibilities for herself, you'll be urging her forward. "The thought of doing something out of character again gave her a small buzz."Such a change might include love. Patrick's 'love story' is wonderfully subtle and slow burning.The supporting cast of characters is just as well drawn. In the beginning I was quite sure of who I liked and who I disliked. But Patrick manipulates the reader, providing some turns in the story that I didn't predict - but they perfectly suited to this tale. I loved the quirky patrons of the library - and speaking from experience, some of them are not too far-fetched at all. Patrick's own love of libraries shines through in her descriptions and setting.A heartwarming tale of coming to terms with the past and finding yourself - and happiness - at last. Loved it!
    • 4/5
      Martha Storm, the main character in Phaedra Patrick's The Library of Lost and Found, describes herself as "a guardian of books". As a volunteer at her local library, she is "an event organizer, tour guide, buyer, filer, job adviser, talking clock, housekeeper, walking encyclopedia, stationery provider, recommender of somewhere nice to eat lunch and a shoulder to cry on- all rolled into one."Martha takes on projects for people- laundering and mending clothes, reparing a tapestry for the church, caring for a friend's fish and plants that he has no room for, and so much more that her home verges on looking like a hoarder's house. People take advantage of Martha- her boss asks her to work holidays since she doesn't have a family, people at the library ask her to run errands for them.She lives in her parents' home, where she cared for her them until they both passed away. When her boyfriend moved to America, Martha gave up her chance at love and happiness to stay behind and care for them.One day a man who owns a nearby used bookstore leaves a book for Martha at the library. Inside the book is an inscription-"June 1985, To my darling Martha Storm, Be glorious always, Zelda". Zelda was Martha's grandmother who passed away in 1982, according to Martha's parents. How could this be? And the book is filled with stories that Martha wrote as a child with her grandmother. Martha sets out to learn where this book came from, much to the consternation of her younger sister Lilian (who doesn't treat Martha any better than everyone else).Lilian tells her not to look any further, but Martha must find out if her beloved grandmother is still alive. As the story progresses we learn more about Martha and Lilian's childhood. Lilian was close to their father, who was harder on Martha (even unkind), discouraging her from writing her stories.Patrick's story is sweetly moving, with characters who have many shades to them. It would be easy to make people villains (Martha's dad) or heroes (her grandmother Zelda), but each character does good things and not-so-good things. I found them to be realistic, especially the familial relationships.I enjoyed seeing Martha learn to stand up for herself and not let people continue to take advantage of her. She decides to ask for things that she feels she deserves- like a a paying job at the library- and she grows as a person. Many readers will identify with Martha.If you like Elizabeth Berg's The Story of Arthur Trulov and Night of Miracles, and Patrick's first novel, The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper, put the lovely The Library of Lost and Found on your list. (And the cover is so beautiful!)