The Sisters of Book Row - three sisters, one bookstore, and the fight against censorship.

An intriguing part of New York City's history is a district known as "Book Row," which stretched for six city blocks along Fourth Avenue between Union Square and Astor Place. The area housed several dozen bookstores, mostly selling used books, such as the Arcadia Rare Bookshop, the fictional setting of this book.

After their father's death, the three Applebaum sisters inherited Arcadia and devoted themselves to its continuation. Olivia, the oldest sister, specialized in restoring rare manuscripts. Middle sister Daphne focused on improving sales and modernizing the store while dreaming of finding a husband. The youngest, Celia, secretly distributed printed materials educating women on pregnancy, birth control, and health issues, inspired by Margaret Sanger. However, in 1915, the Comstock laws posed a threat of fines and even arrest. Anthony Comstock, and his New York Society for the Suppression of Vice, had specifically targeted Book Row, seeking to catch stores selling anything he considered obscene and immoral. The discovery of a collection of ancient romantic poetry with themes of forbidden love heightened the risk of danger for the sisters. 

The Sisters of Book Row by Shelley Noble is an engaging work of historical fiction centered on three women who love books, each pursuing their own hopes and dreams. This well-researched book places the reader in the heart of Book Row and the challenges of censorship and women's rights. After finishing the book, you'll be inspired to learn more about Book Row, Margaret Sanger, Anthony Comstock, the Henry Street Settlement House, and more. It's an enjoyable read for book lovers!

Many thanks to William Morrow Books for the advance. I alternated between reading the book and listening to the audio version, which was very well done.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars.

Historical Fiction.

Publication Date: March 3, 2026.

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