The Mayfair Bookshop

by Eliza Knight

Review

I’m a complete sucker for a dual timeline and any story centered around authors, so this book had me hooked right from the start. We follow Lucy, a book curator from the United States, who’s sent to London to curate a private library for a new client. While she’s knee-deep in rare books and beautiful collections, she’s also pulled into a mystery tied to her own family. Her family owns a book written by Nancy Mitford, complete with an inscription to someone no one can identify—and Lucy becomes determined to uncover who it was meant for. Watching her balance the professional challenge of curating the library with her personal quest added such a fun layer to the story.

Running alongside Lucy’s timeline, we also get to experience Nancy Mitford’s life in 1938 London. We see her as an author and socialite, struggling with self-doubt about her writing while navigating her complicated family, friendships, marriage, and life during the World War II era. I loved getting a glimpse into Nancy’s growth as a writer and the emotional weight of her personal life during such a turbulent time. The dual timelines complemented each other beautifully, and the whole story felt immersive and thoughtful. This was such a fun and satisfying read—I highly recommend it.