This was a super short audio, just under two hours, so I finished it in one afternoon. I absolutely adored this audiobook. What a wonderful hidden gem. It was so sweet and charming. I even got a bit emotional and cried a little, not because it was that sad, which is was around the end, but because it’s so incredibly touching how this relationship between this American woman and a bookstore staff in England evolved over time and how much they cared for and respected each other. It literally moved me to tears.

I loved how their correspondence went from business to personal. Helene was such a fun, sassy, funny, and witty lady from New York. She cracked me up with how bold and straightforward she was in her letters. She knew exactly what she wanted. I have to admit, though, that most of the books and material that she requested were not literature or authors I’ve ever heard of. So I felt a little lost with those references and book titles. I couldn’t appreciate any of the rare books and novels because I didn’t know what they were or their value. 

As for Frank and the staff from the bookstore, they were so helpful in sending her the books she was looking for. Frank was a soft-spoken and charming man. Everyone at the store was really gracious and thankful for the gifts and treats Helene sent them. I was surprised by how personal it got between Helene and everyone, especially Frank, and how sweet Helene was to send them food that was hard for English people to get right after WWII. 

There were so many touching moments and a few heartbreaking moments. I don’t want to spoil anything for someone who hasn’t read or heard of this book yet, so I won’t say what those are or, ultimately, what happens to everyone. But I do advise having the tissues nearby with this one. 

It was so interesting to listen to this correspondence that started almost 75 years ago – before the internet, before online shopping, before social media, and before Smartphones and mobile devices.

As I was working on the review for this book, I watched another book reviewer whom I follow on YouTube create a spotlight video about this author and her books. As I watched that video, she mentioned that there was a movie adaptation. I didn’t know there was a movie based on the book, so I rented it on Amazon and watched it. It was made back in 1987, starring Anthony Hopkins, who plays Frank, and Ann Bancroft, who plays Helene. Judi Dench was also part of the cast, and she played Nora, the wife of Frank. 

It was a good movie and very closely followed the book, but I thought it was rather boring. There’s not much to the book itself, so I wondered how it would translate visually. I thought it would show more of Frank and Helene in their daily lives, which they do, but there’s not a lot of action or drama. It was a decent movie, but a little bland and boring. I even wondered why they felt the need to make a movie based on the book. I don’t feel like it elevated the story anymore, and it’s not too memorable of a movie. It’s a sweet story, and the actors did a fine job, but I feel like I was missing the charm I felt from listening to this audiobook. If you have never read the book, you may enjoy the movie if you like historical dramas. But if you have read or listened to the book, then watching this movie would just be a companion watch to see how things play out visually. 

Overall, I loved this book and liked the book more than the movie. It felt like a warm hug to my heart. Highly, highly recommend the book!! The movie isn’t bad either, but I don’t feel like you need to watch the movie to appreciate the book anymore. The book stands firmly on its own.