This is the literary equivalent of that perfect conversation you have when you find out that someone loves reading as much as you do. Thinking of a Halloween party circa 2018 when a New Yorker I’d just met and I whiled away about 4 hours discussing our favourite reads - so many aligned and we knew that we had to be friends.

I felt thrilled (and I’m ashamed to say) validated when many of my favourites got a name-check in this book in much the same way.

What most stood out to me was how perceptive the author is in understanding quite why and how books are such a joy, comfort and a constant.

I will admit that I did fear in the beginning that it was all a bit rose-tinted and whimsical, all interspersed with brief book reviews ..... might this get tiresome? Thankfully that was a fear happily unfounded.

Now, on finishing, my only criticism is that my “TBR” pile has grown even larger off the back of an urgent need to read some books not yet read that were detailed so perfectly and spoke to me. Alongside the affirmation that we shared so many favourites alongside these.

Very well done! I was worried about the concept; but this was just lovely. Like a warm hug and a feeling of belonging.

I received an E-book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn’t sure what I expected this book to be when I started reading it but within the opening chapter Cathy managed to describe exactly how I felt about reading. This book explores the authors life through the key events and the books that marked those periods, part memoir and part book recommendations each chapter ends with a list of recommendations on a set subject e.g. books about pubs.

I struggled with the recommendations at first and felt they were getting in the way of the main text then I realised I could just skip them but will definitely be revisiting them now I’ve finished.

This book is perfect for any reader wanting to learn more about why we read and how books connect with our lives. I finished this book thinking about all of the ways books have played meaningful roles in my life and am inspired to reread some of the books that have helped me through the years.


“When you hold a book in your hand, you access not only the contents of that
book but the fragments of the previous selves that you
were when you read it.” (Dear Reader, Cathy Rentzenbrink).

Reading, for me, is one of life’s greatest pleasures. In fact, I have begun to think of it as more than just a pleasure but as a necessity. It provides education, nourishment and escapism. It introduces you to people, places and ideas you may not otherwise have encountered or thought about. It changes you. No where is that better articulated than in this book. Cathy Rentzenbrink discusses her relationship with books from childhood through to the present; how books have gotten her through the darkest times but also how they have shaped the very person she is now.
I devoured this book in one sitting. It felt very much like we were sat together over a cup of tea having a chat about the books we have read and loved. In fact, I loved it so much as soon as I finished I felt so bereft I had to turn back to the beginning and start all over again. The ease with which I was able to digest this was testament to the skill of the author as a writer there were so many poignant and relatable moments within this text that it made me want to read all of the books she wrote about, not least her own.
I feel this is a book I will return to time and time again, as well as buying it as a gift for all my friends. It is a perfect companion in this current climate when so many people are turning to Literature for solace.

A love letter to books- I can think of nothing nicer to read on a dreary afternoon. While I didn't glean many recommendations (not that I need more, as my TBR is already scandalously bloated) I did manage to feel the absolute love that the author has for books and reading. The warmth in this book was palpable, and I felt an instant kinship with the writer as it was so wonderfully parallel to the way so many of us find books. The way that she managed to deal with the vicissitudes of life by turning to well-loved and well-worn pages is such a common thread for so many of us, and I don't doubt that any constant reader will find absolute delight in this book.

I have two very small complaints- one is that I wish it were longer, the second that perhaps a list of all recommended titles appear at the end (maybe with a few more put in there for good measure- I'm always on the lookout for more to add!). With that being said, this book is something I am sure any reader will find a lot of love in it and love it for that reason alone.

‘Dear Reader’: A Nostalgic Echo of an Introvert’s Love Of Books
Cathy Rentzenbrink’s Dear Reader had me inset with nostalgia from the first chapter. She takes us, the dear reader, on a somewhat whistle-stop tour of her life simultaneously going both from memory to memory whilst taking us from book to book. We feel her confidence bloom from page to page as she goes from being the bookworm, introvert that cannot give an ounce of eye contact during a job interview, to fulfilling all of her (and maybe even my own) dreams of spending her career sharing, discussing and promoting a positive relationship between book and reader. The confidence she has to share every sheer detail of a character’s life slowly and surely seeps into her opening up about her own, as she falls in love with writing and stops fear from ruling her.

Not only do we see which books enrich her whole life, she allows a secondary, underlying conversation take place of her own father’s relationship with reading; reiterating that ‘reading’ isn’t something you must be good at to enjoy. You don’t get to an older age in life, having never read for enjoyment to be told that it’s too late. Books are a reliable constant, they’re a choice you get to make; they’re forgiving, entrusting and are there to be the accompanying hand in any part of your journey. Cathy’s connection with words and literature is reflective of not only my own but, undeniably, many other’s. It’s like a connection between a childhood friend; it changes and alters, the priorities differ, agreements change, dislikes grow but, distance never prevails and you always have each other. No matter what.

For Cathy, books went from being the comfort blanket she hid behind as an anxious, young girl, to becoming the purpose for her confidence to grow. Her love for books allowed her to reap more out of life, out of the relationships with her family, her son and gave her meaning to each aspect of her life. No matter what position she was in: from being shop assistant finding time to read The Bookseller, to being a member of the Bookseller’s team, Cathy never forgets where she comes from, what she’s been through and how she got there. She shares a multi-dimensional story that can be taken figuratively or literally, mapping out a beautiful string of memories and a sense of what the real world could be if you allow it to be showered in literary magic. Her story puts into words the journey of every book-loving introvert that has took the leap of going with the flow of life, even when they’d much rather find solace in hearing about the lives of others from a third person narrative.

If you’re looking for a starting place to finally delve into a book, not one that’s ‘good’ but instead one that is good for you, then choose this one. Let Cathy openly and honestly share with you just what a love of books can do for your life and take on her real-world recommendations. I for one know I’ve added all of her Books about Bookshops list to my to-buy list, to accompany me until I can leave the house and treat myself to that comforting, old book smell of an independent book shop.

Dear Reader is out in September of this year, with it’s delicately beautiful book cover it is definitely one you won’t miss.

Having heard so much about this in the world of twitter, I was so pleased to have been approved to read it via netgalley.

It is a fascinating and reflective book about how reading has shaped Cathy Rentzenbrink’s life. Momentous moments are remembered by particular books and other books are remembered by momentous moments. In between sharing snippets of her book life, and book work, she shares amazing mini reviews of classics, adult fiction, and children’s literature.

I was amazed by the level of detail and history of the books shared...I can remember a few pivotal book moments in my life but this is more than that. This is written by a true bibliophile, someone who lives and breathes books- not just reads for pleasure. It is more than that.

I cam away with a great long list of books to re-read, try out and research for myself. Thank goodness for libraries and audio books, else I would have no money or time for all the books on my list.

It was wonderful to see the impact and influence of Anne Shirley. The entire LM Montgomery series sat on my bookshelves my entire childhood and I still dip back in now and again for the home comforts.

An inspiring book, that prompted my deeper thinking into how books have shaped my own life and which ones would be part of those pivotal moments in my life.....food for thought!

This is a book to recommend to everyone you know!

‘Dear Reader’ is a perfect book for anyone who loves reading, for anyone for whom reading is a relatively new way of life, and for anyone who is interested in other people’s stories. Cathy Rentzenbrink is a bookseller, campaigner, teacher and a wonderfully accessible writer. Whether or not you have read the majority of her references and recommendations is neither here nor there. What she does, through her own story, is to give everyone permission to read whatever they want, be it mainstream, niche or classic, stating, ‘Don’t let anyone tell you that what you like isn’t proper, that what brings comfort and ease to your soul isn’t good enough.’
Throughout the book, there are lists of novels that have brought her joy. The synopses are recorded under customary titles such as ‘Crime’ or less traditional such as ‘Cornwall’ or ‘Orphans’. They are long enough to give us a sense of the narrative, an amuse-bouche which tempts us to reach for the main course. Just as fascinating are her tales of the bookselling world, the behind-the -scenes details of literary festivals, chain and independent bookstores and face-to-face meetings with authors.
At the end of her book she quotes Hilary Mantel’s ‘Bring Up the Bodies’: ‘There are no endings. If you think so you are deceived as to their nature. They are all beginnings. Here is one.’ Not only does this proclamation nudge the reader to seek out one of Rentzenbrink’s recommendations but it also reinforces her point that re-reading can be a wonderful experience. She reminds us that when we revisit a story, we are different people from when we first opened those pages. So, once more, discoveries await us.
My thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.

Imagine yourself facing a set of bookshelves — humour me here — imagine a set of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves stuffed full of books, most of them tatty, weather-beaten and dog-eared; some of them look like they’ve been dipped in water, so bloated are they.

You can tell that that each book possesses a special meaning to their owner — no, they aren’t yours, I forgot to mention — and you, dear reader, are itching to be introduced to them.

This is what DEAR READER by Cathy Rentzenbrink (out 17 Sep from Macmillan) basically is — it’s another book about books, yes, but it is exquisitely written in such a way that we are effortlessly carried through the years of the author’s life through the pages she has devoured with fervour as a binge reader, grieving sister, divorcee, bookseller, wife, and mother.

Fret not for those of you who aren’t familiar with the usual literary classics that these books predictably tend to spotlight: there are recent releases like Robert Galbraith’s Cormoran Strike novels and Sara Collins’ The Confessions of Frannie Langton mentioned in here as well, which I was happy about.

What I found delightful (less so my bulging TBR stack) were the little lists of book recommendations with a little note from the author after each one at what I think is the ends of chapters (my Kindle went a little nuts when it came to the formatting display, so I couldn’t tell!).

This book offered me a little virtual browse through a library in lockdown, and it was a welcome and enjoyable respite.

I love non-fiction books about reading; it’s the only ones of the topic that I prefer to read. I like the intimacy of the relationship the author has with books, and it makes me feel seen and envious at the same time. I could never really articulate well what books mean to me, and it is through their words that I am able to bring these feelings to life. With that said, I loved this book. I love how Cathy Rentzenbrink related the plethora of books she read to different parts of her life. I LOVE that she took time to recommend books from various genres. Some of the more recent titles have been sitting on my shelves, unread, and her short passages have reinvigorated my desire to read them.

As a librarian - I had to get my hands on this book! It is wonderful! If you are a reader, this book is a must-read! As a celebration of reading and books, it really is a delight!

I love books about books and dropped everything else I was reading when I got approved for this. I've loved Rentzenbrink's other books and this disappoint. Our reading and working lives seem to be very similar in many ways which led to a very cosy feeling as I was reading. I've still come away with a long list of new books to look for and like Mangan' Bookworm this will be a book I return to time & time again.

I love books and I love books about books! This one is partially a series of book recommendations, part autobiography of Rentzenbrink's life around books and part meditation on the function of books in our lives.

Rentzenbrink intersperses elements of her own life story with discussion of the books that helped her to get through or make sense of it all. Some of that life story is sad, especially the event of her brother's death which became the focus of her own book. However, it's also uplifting as she finds meaning and support and inspiration from the pages of the books she reads which, ultimately, sees her rising through the ranks at Waterstone's and into a writing career. The books she discusses are varied and interesting, from the childhood comfort of an Enid Blyton book to the Julian Barnes books that inspired her to take a new path in life.

Overall, if you love reading then there is much to enjoy here. Reminders of books that you have read and enjoyed. An interesting autobiography.
Recommendations on books by genre. Lots of bits that will make you nod in recognition. The sense that you have found one of your book tribe! Personally, I found this a comforting and engaging read that made me reflect on the books in my own life.

I received this book yesterday and couldn't put it down until I finished. All the while, I sat with a notebook and pen alongside me to write down all of the wonderful recommendations that form part of this beautiful homage to all things reading.

'Dear Reader' is such a treat for book-lovers like me, interweaving the author's poignant personal stories and experiences with thoughts on the wider significance that books and reading can play in our lives. I particularly loved the insights into her time working as a bookseller (especially the less glamorous parts of the job) and initiatives to widen access to reading for those who had few opportunities to fall in love with books in early life.

Reading this book is also like having a lovely conversation with a knowledgeable and intelligent bookseller. I shall be returning to it again and again to pick up some of the books mentioned and will be gifting / recommending it to all my bookish friends!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have enjoyed Cathy Rentzenbrink’s previous books so when I saw there was this new one available I jumped at the chance to read it. She explores what it means to be a reader, a bookseller, a writer and how books can help you navigate your way through life.