Review: This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page

 

This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page

Publication Date: February 3rd 2026 by Berkley

Pages: 411

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Matilda “Tilly” Nightingale receives a gift from her husband, Joe, something that seems impossible, because he died six months earlier. Waiting for her at the local bookshop is a year-long surprise: twelve books, one to be given to her each month, exactly as Joe arranged before he passed.

Tilly hasn’t read for pleasure since Joe first got sick. Opening that first book feels like reopening a wound, especially when Alfie, the bookshop owner, insists on honoring Joe’s instructions and releasing each title only at the start of a new month.

 

As Tilly revisits the story of how she met and fell in love with Joe, my heart ached for her. Losing someone so young, someone you expected to build a lifetime with, is especially devastating. But Joe’s carefully chosen books slowly begin to lift her from the weight of her grief. Each one nudges her back into the world, encouraging her to try new things, reconnect with herself, and rediscover joy. Alfie becomes an unexpected anchor in this journey, offering quiet support and a gentle push forward.

 

Alfie carries his own burdens: a struggling bookstore, unresolved grief, and a growing affection for a woman still mourning her husband. The romance here isn’t the center of the story, but it was a gift for these characters I grew to love!

 

This Book Made Me Think of You blends sorrow, hope, and humor in a way that feels both honest and uplifting. It tugged at my heartstrings, made me tear up, and filled me with joy!

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

Twelve stories. Twelve months. Once chance to heal her heart...

When Tilly Nightingale receives a call telling her there’s a birthday gift from her fiancé waiting for her at her local bookshop, it couldn’t come as more of a shock. Partly because she can’t remember the last time she read a book for pleasure. Mainly because Joe died five months ago…
The gift is simple – twelve carefully-chosen books from Joe, one for each month, to help her turn the page on her first year without him.

Tilly sets out on a series of reading-inspired adventures that take her around the world. But as she begins to vlog her journey, her story becomes more than her own. With help from Alfie, the bookshop owner, her budding new following and her friends and family, can Tilly’s year of books show her how to love again?