As of right now, Libby Page’s novel, This Book Made Me Think of You, will go on my Favorites list for 2026, even if it’s only on the January-June list. There were book suggestions to add to my TBR list, a London setting, a marvelous independent bookstore, and lovable characters. It’s a story of grief, growth, friendship, and books.

Alfie Lane, owner of Book Lane, has a difficult call to make to Tilly Nightingale. Six months earlier, Tilly’s husband, Joe Carter, worked with Alfie to come up with twelve books, one per month, for Tilly to receive after Joe dies. It comes as a shock to Tilly. She’s an editor of celebrity memoirs, but she hasn’t found joy in books since Joe died. Now, Joe has a list o books for her, with a letter explaining why he picked each book. She’s still angry and grieving, and wants all the books at once, but Alfie refuses. That’s not the arrangement that Joe made.

“Since losing Joe, she’s lost the ability to lsoe herself in a book.” However, when she finally settles in to read Matilda by Roald Dahl, she rediscovers her love for books, especially children’s books. Each month, there’s a carefully curated book from Joe to help Tilly move on with her life.

That year is a year of change for Tilly in so many ways, but grief will rise up and slap her in the face at times. A trip to Paris where Joe left her a gift at Shakespeare & Company helps her find friends who are dealing with their own grief. Hearing an author talk about her own grief, and finding those friends are a big step for Tilly, helping her to see there might be a future life. There are all kinds of little moments and big moments, unexpected trials that continue to upset Tilly. There are trips to Bali and Tuscany, arguments with her sister, Harper, and a reluctant trip to visit her in-laws in the United States. There’s also a half-marathon and a roller-skating fiasco that goes viral on social media. There’s a reunion with an old friend that unexpectedly reveals the past. And, each month, Tilly returns to Book Lane, sometimes reluctantly, sometimes eagerly, where Alfie and the two clerks are waiting to hear about Tilly’s adventures.

This book is also Alfie’s story. Over time, he reveals to Tilly why he owns the bookstore, his own grief and loss, and how he ended up reaching people with his book suggestions. He’s a warm, lovable character with his own quirks. It takes time for Tilly to discover the real Alfie, but it might be too late.

While this is a love story to books and booksellers, it’s also a personal love story, a story of Tilly’s past and a possible future. But, oh, that love story about books. I added so many books to my TBR list. Each month, Book Lane has a theme, and a short list, just four or five titles, to suggest for that theme. There are travel books and epistolary novels, books about Paris, and poetry. It’s obvious that Tilly and Alfie share a passion for books, and the author must share that same passion.

I loved all the characters in the book, and the changes made in the lives of even some minor characters. It’s a beautiful book, filled with doubt and loss and the courage to move on with life, despite that loss and grief. There might be a special book or a moment in this book for so many readers. It reminded me of favorite moments doing readers’ advisory when I found library patrons excited about books. This book is a treasure for readers.

Libby Page’s website is https://libbypage.co.uk/

This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page. Berkley, 2026. 416p.

FTC Full Disclosure – I read a galley from the publisher, through NetGalley, with no agreement for a positive review.