📖 Blog Tour ~ A New Chapter at the Little Penguin Bookshop by Joanna Toye

Penguin
26 January 2025

thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book
and the invitation to the blog tour

 

Carrie Anderson’s business selling books at her local train station is thriving and, with her beloved Mike returned from war, everything feels as though it is falling into place. That is, until Mike is sent to Washington as a liaison between Britain and America.

When her twin brother, Johnnie, a fighter pilot, is injured, and her bookstall falls on hard times, Carrie misses the sage advice and comfort of Mike more than ever.

Bolstered by her supportive station community, can Carrie battle through this challenging new chapter and reach the happy ending she deserves?

📖 My Review..

Those who have read The Little Penguin Bookshop will be entirely familiar with Carrie Anderson and her little railway book shop and those who are new to the story will soon pick up the thread as it’s possible to read this as a standalone story. In this continuation we meet again with Carrie, and the rest of the characters, pretty much where the first book ended, with Carrie and her boyfriend Mike picking up their relationship, only for Mike to be posted to America.

It’s 1941 and Britain is finding that the pinch of war is biting hard. Food rationing is causing genuine hardship and with the devastation of the blitz in London, Carrie and her family and friends are finding it difficult but as ever their stoical nature shines through and Carrie finds, more than ever, that her bookshop with its colourful array of Penguin sixpenny titles is her refuge when the book shop experiences difficult times. As always the author brings time and place to life so perfectly that it is no hardship to spend time in the company of this lovely bunch of characters. 

The story flows beautifully, historically accurate, packed with emotion and at times, sadness, but there is always a sense of duty and flashes of humour. I have thoroughly enjoyed spending time at the little bookshop and relished reading about this new chapter in its existence. I hope it won’t be too long before we meet again with Carrie, Mike and the rest of the characters who make these lovely WW2 sagas so special.

About the Author

Jo wrote for many years as a writer and producer on saops ranging from Radio 4'ds The archers to TV's Doctors and EastEnders. She wrote several spin-off books and novelisations before inventing her own fictional world in six previous sagas: her World War Two 'Shop Girls' and 'Victory Girls' titles. She lives in the countryside near Bath - perfect for walking and plotting!

X @JoannaToye #ANewChpaterTheLittlePenguinBookShop

@centurybooksuk