*Spoiler-free review
| Format: | Hardback |
| Author: | Stephanie Butland |
| Series: | No |
| Genre: | Women’s Friendship, Romance |
| Publication Date: | June 19, 2018 |
| Pages: | 368 |
You can trust a book to keep your secret . . .
Loveday Cardew prefers books to people. If you look closely, you might glimpse the first lines of the novels she loves most tattooed on her skin. But there are things she’ll never show you.
Fifteen years ago Loveday lost all she knew and loved in one unspeakable night. Now, she finds refuge in the unique little York bookshop where she works.
Everything is about to change for Loveday. Someone knows about her past. Someone is trying to send her a message. And she can’t hide any longer.
Lost for Words is a compelling, irresistible and heart-rending novel, with the emotional intensity of The Shock of the Fall and all the charm of The Little Paris Bookshop and 84 Charing Cross Road.
Goodreads
What to expect: Loveday Cardew may be incredibly stubborn, but she softens whenever it comes to books. She works at a secondhand bookshop and can talk about books all day — what a dream she’s living! — yet when it comes to her personal life, she remains a mysterious gal.
Also, she doesn’t believe love is for her, but she gives it try a few times anyway. The book flips between her past and the present to piece together a traumatic event that changed everything for her whenever she was 9 years old. Books are her best friends, and she has her favorite first lines tattooed on her body.
Books from her past start appearing and a budding romance forms, but she’s crippled with fear that the truth will come out after being so reserved with people.
I’ve never heard of this author before, but I’ll definitely be reading more from her!
Likes
I absolutely adore this book, and I read it in less than a day because I couldn’t put it down! Learning about Loveday’s heartbreaking past and why she’s so cautious with people made me so sad, but it hooked my attention. Also, I love her name.
The flow of the book worked well, and I loved seeing the full picture after reading about her past events. There were so many quotes worth saving in this novel, as well as inspiring ones, whenever our world feels like it’s on the verge of crumbling.
I like how the author had Loveday involved in two different romantic relationships to have one represent a life that could be similar to her past if she stayed in it, and the other to show her that she really could find love and truly confide in someone — one that’s filled with truth and companionship.
Another neat thing I loved about Loveday’s character was that she would get the first lines of books that meant something to her tattooed on her. It was even sweeter whenever one of her love interests wanted to figure out which books the quotes were from. He wanted to get to know her and the things that were important to her, which wasn’t something she was used to.
Nathan was the kindest person, and he complemented Loveday’s personality so well! Plus, he’s a poet, so that adds some brownie points. I really enjoyed his poems that he would read on Wednesday nights.
Rob though, absolutely not. I thought he was just an annoying, stalkerish guy that wouldn’t take no for an answer, but he’s way more than that.
Overall, Loveday and Nathan both seemed like a nice couple, and I wanted more from them!
Dislikes
I really can’t think of many.
One is I know it’s her character, but she was so guarded and stubborn! Given how her past was, and it’s one that I don’t have the perspective of or the experience in, it’s understandable why she kept to herself. Still, I wanted to scream at her for being so closed-off with Annabel, her foster mom. Annabel seemed like an absolute angel, and she understood, but how heartbreaking and lonely it must’ve been for her as well as she took care of Loveday.
Whenever I finished the book, I looked over the guided questions and one question was: Do you have any sympathy for Rob?
I wonder how other people answered this question. From only knowing who he is from Loveday’s perspective, I don’t have as much sympathy for him. He was controlling and his actions were unforgivable. I can’t remember if he was properly diagnosed in the book, but I think Loveday mentioned him being bipolar. Him not owning up to his actions or showing remorse is what got me, and also how he obsessed over Loveday was quite concerning. I would’ve worried more if I were her.
I wish he would’ve gotten the proper help he needed, but he didn’t seem like he was trying to be better. Like I mentioned, this was all from Loveday’s perspective and she kept her distance from her after what happened between them, rightfully so. I think it’s kind of difficult to have sympathy for him since I don’t know his full story and I don’t think it would be completely fair to make a decision based on partial knowledge.
Final Thoughts
This is easily a new favorite book of mine. Though Loveday grew up in a different environment, I’m glad she was able to have a life beyond her family’s tragedy, and she seemed happy overall. She still had a few things to work through, but I’m glad that her past didn’t control her future.
The one major bummer with stand-alone books is that they end. I want to know what happens after everything is revealed! Now that Nathan and everyone knows the truth and Loveday has reconnected with people from her past, what does life look for Loveday now?
Questions for you:
- Have you read this book before? If so, what did you think of it?
- Any book recs by this author?
- Have you ever gotten a line from a book tattooed on your body?
- I haven’t. I’m too afraid of needles and the permanence of tattoos.
“Archie says books are our best loves and our most provoking friends. He’s right, but I’m right, too. Books can really hurt you.”
Loveday | page 3
“It’s good to be reminded that the world is full of stories that are, potentially. at least as painful as yours.”
Loveday | page 11
“This is why I don’t like talking to people. I never think of anything interesting to say. I need time to find words, and that’s hard when people are looking at me. Also, I don’t like people much. Well, some are okay. But not enough to make it a given.”
Loveday | page 15
“God, I don’t love much but I love words.”
Loveday | page 24
“Anyone who’s worked in a bookshop for longer than an afternoon will tell you that people buy books for all sorts of reasons. There’s the simple love of books, of course: the knowledge that here is an escape, a chance to learn, a place for your heart and mind to romp and play.”
Loveday | page 26
“I suppose it’s the fact that these small memories come from the kind of tiny reminders that you simply can’t predict, and so you can’t protect yourself from, and they catch you, paper cuts across the heart.”
Loveday | page 82
“I reminded myself that a beginning and an ending are two different places and, in real life, you might be able to make your own ending, whatever had gone before.”
Loveday | page 144
“… first lines did not define last pages in real life the way they did in books.”
Loveday | page 160
“And be brave, Loveday. Ask the questions you want to ask. Seek out the people you want in your life. It might not be as hard as you think.”
Archie (Archiebald Brodie) | page 204
“A bookshop is not magic, but it can steal away your heart.”
A Bookshop | page 342
