It’s far too long since I ‘stayed in’ with Joanna Toye to chat about her book Wartime for the Shop Girls in a post you’ll find here. Consequently, my enormous thanks go to Aoifke McGuire-France at Penguin Random House for sending me a copy of Joanna’s latest book The Little Penguin Bookshop in return for an honest review. It’s my pleasure to share that review today.

Published by Penguin on 11th April 2024, The Little Penguin Bookshop is Available for purchase through the links here.

The Little Penguin Bookshop

Books can change lives, even in wartime. . .

When World War II breaks out, Carrie Anderson sets up a bookstall at her local train station in the hope of providing a sense of escapism for travellers, troops and evacuees.

Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit and armed with a colourful array of Penguin paperbacks, Carrie’s business soon booms. And when she gifts a book to a dashing officer, an act of kindness becomes the beginning of Carrie’s very own love story.

But as war rages on, and Mike is posted abroad, Carrie’s world is turned upside-down.

With the help of her station community, and the power of her paperbacks, can Carrie find the strength to battle through?

My Review of The Little Penguin Bookshop

Twins Carrie and Johnnie are about to face war.

What an absolutely super book. In The Little Penguin Bookshop Joanna Toye has produced what might be termed a proper story. It’s filled with vivid characters, a sense of history and a wonderful love of books. What could be better? Just reading about the books sold by Carrie, or discussed by her, brings glorious memories flooding back to the reader, making The Little Penguin Bookshop a smashing read. 

The Little Penguin Bookshop is alive with historical detail woven into the story giving it interest, authenticity and texture, bringing the era to vivid life, but never imposing or detracting from the narrative. The plot simply romps along as Carrie opens her railway platform stand including the little Penguin bookshop. I found it impossible to tear myself away from finding out what was going to happen next. Through Carrie and Johnnie in particular we get a real insight into the Second World War. We all know about it through historical fact, but Joanna Toye really brings it alive through the brother and sister, as she illustrates the impact on everyday life for ordinary people to the extent that I worried about them and wondered how they were faring when I wasn’t reading the book. 

Indeed, the characters here are warm, varied, and totally believable. The odious Mr Bayliss is balanced by the pragmatic, hard working Norman. The handsome Mike and heroic Johnnie are enhanced by the more ordinary Eric. However, it is the women in the story, especially Carrie who feel so relatable and realistic. Joanna Toye made me care about her completely. Many of the women here are in traditional roles of catering staff and housewives and yet there’s a strong feminist streak too that I found very appealing.

I think what makes The Little Penguin Bookshop so compelling and entertaining is that, along with that sense of history that feels so pertinent to today’s world, there’s romance and a little bit of mystery, particularly attached to Penny, so that there’s something for every reader in this wonderful story.

 Alongside the themes of war are others that add depth and warmth to the story. There’s a super message, particularly through Ruby, of not judging someone based on your assumptions about them. Both Ruby and Penny illustrate that we don’t always know what is really happening in another person’s life. I thought the impact of kindness was incredibly deftly handled. 

I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed The Little Penguin Bookshop. I found it absorbing, entertaining and surprisingly powerful. The Little Penguin Bookshop is a story I recommend completely.

About Joanna Toye

After a career in radio and TV, producing and writing for programmes ranging from The Archers to EastEnders, Joanna turned to historical novels to create her very own fictional world. Her bestselling Shop Girls and Victory Girls series, following three shop girls in a department store in World War Two, their families and friends, have been called ‘a cross between Mr Selfridge and Call the Midwife for their warm sense of family and community in an authentic period setting. The Little Penguin Bookshop is the first novel in a brand new series.

Formerly a confirmed city girl, Joanna has recently relocated to the Somerset countryside to be closer to her daughter and small granddaughters, and is loving every minute of her new life.

For further information, follow Joanna on Twitter/X @JoannaToye and find her on Instagram and Facebook.