This was such an unusual story but, very addictive. A bookshop which once it closes has characters from books in the shop talking. Are they ghosts? Or figments of someone's imagination. Read it to find out. I loved this one. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Fantasy/Sci-fi
Romance
Emotional Healing
Magical Book Recommendation Table
Book 1 in the Midnights on the Square series.

Aurelia inherits a bookshop that only sells books written before the 1900’s from her beloved Aunt Marigold. Every night at midnight characters from the books on the recommendation table, magically escape the book and Aurelia finds that she can converse with them and have fascinating conversations and ask as many questions that she possibly can.
She learns that the only character who has not had a happy ending is Count Vronsky from Anna Karenina by Tolstoy and so she comes up with an idea to write a sequel to give him a happy ending too.

When I was not reading the book I had it milling in my head. I loved this book with every fibre of my being and I think this will be just as good on screen as it is on page if done correctly. You get to meet characters from classic period novels and see them mingle with likeminded characters from other authors and form friendships. You get to see Aurelia work through the grief of losing her mother and her much loved aunt with the support of her friends and family and you get see her awkward stages of her own romantic journey while finally restarting her career as an author and running her wonderful bookshop.

I cannot recommend this book enough and it can be enjoyed by just about any type of reader except maybe horror or anything dark. I would describe this as Nick Hornby novel with a pinch of fantasy or Sci-fi and romance. I don’t read many classic novels and prefer the movie versions but this book makes me curious about what I am missing out on.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
A huge thank you to Netgalley for this e-arc.

The Midnight Book Club is a whimsical and heart-warming debut that feels like a love letter to literature and the readers who cherish it. Emily W. Andersen invites us into a magical London bookshop where classic characters—from Sense and Sensibility to Anna Karenina—step off the page and into the life of writer Aurelia Lyndham.

Aurelia is a wonderfully relatable protagonist—creative, a little lost, and quietly yearning for something more. Her journey through grief, inspiration, and unexpected romance is beautifully told, with just the right touch of fantasy to make it feel enchanting without losing emotional depth.

The concept is clever and comforting: what if the characters we’ve loved in books could help us rewrite our own stories? Andersen’s prose is warm and inviting, and the literary cameos are delightful—especially for anyone who’s ever wished they could chat with Jo March or take advice from Marmee.

This book is perfect for fans of The Jane Austen Society or The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry. It’s cozy, imaginative, and quietly uplifting—a celebration of second chances, storytelling, and the magic of books.

With thanks to Emily W Andersen, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Have you ever wanted to meet the characters of your favorite book? Well for Aurelia that is her life now that she runs the classic bookshop left to her by her aunt. While battling grief and managing a bookshop, Aurelia discovers that every night at midnight the characters in the books come to life. She quickly begins getting to work writing a new sequel for Count Vronsky from Tolstoy's Anna Kerenina. Writing Vronsky out of his grief she begins to move through her own. Through all of this romance is slowly blossoming in Aurelia's life in the form of Oliver, her publisher.
If you are a fan of cozy reads, slow romance, and happily ever afters, this book is absolutely perfect for you!

The Midnight Book Club is a cosy, magical story that feels like a love letter to readers and the connections we build with books. The premise is comforting: Aurelia inherits her aunt’s bookshop, and at midnight characters from classic novels step out of their pages and into the shop. It’s whimsical but also deeply emotional, and the magic has a soft, nostalgic quality rather than anything dramatic.

Aurelia is a character I connected with straight away. She’s grieving, a little lost, and unsure of what comes next, and the book handles that emotional heaviness in a thoughtful way. Her growth is subtle and very human, shaped by friendship, creativity and learning how to let herself hope again. I especially loved how the characters who come to life at night aren’t just charming additions, but part of her healing journey. They challenge her, comfort her and help her reconnect with her love for writing.

I liked that the romance with Oliver is subtle and slow, grounded in shared vulnerability rather than instant intensity, and that it doesn’t try to overshadow her grief or her personal journey. Their connection grows through shared experiences, hesitant trust and the kind of emotional understanding that comes with time. I also loved how Aurelia’s friendships (both real and fictional) felt steady and meaningful. They form a quiet support system around her, showing how community can anchor us even when we feel untethered by grief. The story also reminds us that while retreating into books can feel safe, allowing ourselves to reconnect with others is equally important.

The pacing is slow, especially in the beginning, but I think it works here. Grief is slow. Healing takes time. I really enjoyed the way the themes of rewriting your story, choosing your own ending and allowing yourself joy were woven throughout, especially through Aurelia’s decision to give Vronsky the chance at a different ending. It mirrors her own emotional journey in a way that felt honest rather than sentimental.

Overall, this is a cosy, bookish and emotionally gentle read, not dramatic or with high stakes, but something that sits with you quietly. A story about grief, community, the stories that stay with us, and the slow opening of our hearts after loss. Perfect to sit around the fireplace with a warm drink and a blanket. I’m giving this book 4.5 stars (rounded to 5).

Thank you to NetGalley and Emily W. Andersen for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.