As World War One brings women unexpected new freedoms, bookbinder Peggy has the chance at a new future. 'Vivid and moving ... I absolutely loved it!' Ruth Hogan, author of The Keeper of Lost Things 'Charming, original and beautifully researched' Rachel Hore, author of A Beautiful Spy 'When the men leave for the Western Front, Peggy and her friends must shoulder the burden at home. As she moves between her narrowboat full of memories and the demands of the bookbindery where she works, Peggy's dreams of escaping for a new life feel ever more remote. But the war brings people together in unexpected ways. New friends and lovers offer new opportunities but also present difficult choices - and Peggy must write her own story. 'A fresh, exciting new voice in historical fiction' Paula McLain, author of The Paris Wife 'A compelling homage to the transformational power of books' Daisy Wood, author of The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris Dictionary of Lost Words, Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick, May 2022