The Echo of Old Books

 By- Barbara Davis

    I found this book while scrolling through the Goodreads app, it took a while for my local library to get it but once it came in I added it to my list of books to read. I love novels about books and book store owners.

    Ashlyn Greer is a book store and bindery owner, not a chain store but a local store with used books. Ashlyn has had a tragic childhood her mom died when she was young, after refusing treatment of her cancer diagnosis. Shortly after her mothers death, her father took his own life in their attic. She was raised by family however, her favorite place to be was a local bookstore and the owner was a surrogate father. The owner had no children or family so after his death he left the store to Ashlyn. Ashlyn has a rare gift that she can sense the echo of previous owners of books. She can feel the feelings of the previous owner whether it be joy, betrayal, or depression. Out of fear of judgment, she keeps this gift to herself only sharing with her surrogate father.  Ashlyn was invited to sort through the effects of a local man that died. While going through the belongings she found a book with no author named or publication page. She felt strong feelings from the previous owner and she suspects it was the author, himself. Faced with a mystery she is compelled to find out more, she tracked down who donated it. Ethan was the son of the deceased man who owned the book, however the story was not about him. Together they find another book that was written by the lover of the first book. This pair of books are the same story written in the perspective of the authors. A love story that is inevitably leading to a bad ending that is based in the 1940's before the second World War. Ethan and Ashlyn read through the stories and track down the real people from the story all the while having complicated feelings for each other.

    The book was well written by the author and in a unique format. A love story and mystery written within a love story, filled with tragedy and betrayal. Your find yourself feeling just as the characters in the story knowing the story will end badly but you still want to know what happens and hope it turns out better. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who loves a good love story and mystery. I especially recommend this to book lovers that enjoy stories about books.