Alice Mattison Libri

Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression in 1936, two lifelong friends, Artie Saltzman and Harold Abramovitz, find their lives altered during a fateful day at an Adirondack lake. Their carefree moment is interrupted by the arrival of two women, sparking a mix of uncertainty about their futures, including their careers and relationships, while the world around them faces growing turmoil. This pivotal experience in the mountains marks a turning point for both men as they navigate the complexities of adulthood and societal changes.

Frances, an only child in 1950s Brooklyn, starts to uncover the complexities of her family's history as anti-Communist sentiments threaten her father's teaching job. Her seemingly close mother, Hilda, and aunt Pearl harbor secrets that prompt Frances to question her identity and family dynamics. Intriguing mysteries arise, including references to a "first pregnancy" and hidden baby shoes, revealing underlying tensions during Pearl's visits. As Frances learns more, she confronts the shadows of the past that shape her family's present.

Toby Ruben and Deborah Laidlaw are friends who share many things: new motherhood, ideas, and a book, The Trolley Girl. A memoir about a trolley strike in a Massachusetts town in 1921, this book serves as the heart of this engrossing novel. When Deborah dies suddenly, Toby is grief-stricken for her friend and reaches once again for the book, which she never returned to Deborah, and which, almost magically, becomes a source of solace and consolation. An evocative novel of extraordinary power, The Book Borrower will delight readers in its truth and honesty about both the joys and complexities of friendship and the power of books to save and help guide us.