The Last Bookshop in London: A Novel of World War II

Grace visits the other bookstores and finds that Mr. Pritchard’s is even more disorganized than Mr. Evans’s. Nesbitt’s Fine Reads, however, is beautiful and organized. Grace notes how Nesbitt’s Fine Reads directs readers and facilitates a warm shopping experience. She is confronted by Mrs. Nesbitt, who insults Mrs. Weatherford’s townhouse and accuses Grace of spying on her store to copy it for Mr. Evans. Grace tells Mrs. Nesbitt that she’s going to make Mr. Evans’s store even better than Nesbitt’s Fine Books. She returns home, eager to tell Viv about getting asked out on a date by George.

Viv is thrilled to hear about George, but she has a sobering reminder of the war for Grace. Viv has bought them both identification bracelets, which will help identify them if they get caught up in a bombing. Viv and Grace overhear Mrs. Weatherford on the phone with Colin’s boss, asking him if he’s been able to get Colin essential worker status, which he hasn’t. Grace wonders if Colin wants to go to war, since so many men seem to. Grace admires their courage and wishes she had more bravery of her own.

Grace goes to work, eager to start working on the bookshop.