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The Littlest Library
It's only the beginning of her story...
Jess Metcalf is perfectly happy with her quiet, predictable life - it's just the way she likes it. But when her beloved grandmother passes away and she loses her job at the local library, her life is turned upside-down.
Packing up her grandmother's books, she moves to a tiny cottage in a charming country village. To her surprise, Jess finds herself the owner of an old red telephone box, too - and she soon turns it into the littlest library around!
It's not long before the books are borrowed and begin to work their magic - somehow, they seem to be bringing the villagers together once more...
Maybe it's finally time for Jess to follow her heart and find a place to call home?
Jess Metcalf is perfectly happy with her quiet, predictable life - it's just the way she likes it. But when her beloved grandmother passes away and she loses her job at the local library, her life is turned upside-down.
Packing up her grandmother's books, she moves to a tiny cottage in a charming country village. To her surprise, Jess finds herself the owner of an old red telephone box, too - and she soon turns it into the littlest library around!
It's not long before the books are borrowed and begin to work their magic - somehow, they seem to be bringing the villagers together once more...
Maybe it's finally time for Jess to follow her heart and find a place to call home?
336 pages, Paperback
First published March 18, 2021
582 people are currently reading
25445 people want to read
About the author
Poppy Alexander
8 books531 followersPoppy's first published book - the bestselling 25 Days 'Til Christmas - has been translated into several languages and optioned for TV.
Poppy Alexander wrote her first book when she was five. There was a long gap in her writing career while she was at school, and after studying classical music at university, she decided the world of music was better off without her and returned to writing instead. She takes an anthropological interest in family, friends and life in her West Sussex village (think, The Archers crossed with Twin Peaks) where she lives with her husband, children and various other pets.
She is generally lurking on social media as @PoppyAlexanderBooks on Instagram and Facebook.
Poppy also writes as Rosie Howard.
Poppy Alexander wrote her first book when she was five. There was a long gap in her writing career while she was at school, and after studying classical music at university, she decided the world of music was better off without her and returned to writing instead. She takes an anthropological interest in family, friends and life in her West Sussex village (think, The Archers crossed with Twin Peaks) where she lives with her husband, children and various other pets.
She is generally lurking on social media as @PoppyAlexanderBooks on Instagram and Facebook.
Poppy also writes as Rosie Howard.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,983 reviews
July 27, 2022
Orphaned at a young age, our protagonist, thirty-two-year-old Jessica “Jess” Metcalfe was raised by her maternal grandmother, her loving “Mimi”, who instilled in her a love for books and reading. Having encountered tragedy at such a young age, Jess prefers her life to be predictable and safe. However, when tragedy strikes and Mimi passes away from a terminal illness and a few months later Jess loses her job as a librarian at the local library where she had been working for the past eleven years, Jess is forced to rethink her life and start over. A series of events has Jess moving to the village of Middlemass, purchasing the quaint but rundown Ivy Cottage which comes with an abandoned red telephone box on the property. With the support of her immediate neighbors, among whom is single father Aidan Foxworthy, the phone box is transformed into a little lending library stocked with books from Jess and Mimi’s personal collection. As the story progresses, we see how the “littlest library” brings a community closer and how Jess forges new friendships and finds her place in the community, and entertains the possibility of a new romance, gradually opening up to new experiences. But as her savings start to dwindle and her little library faces opposition from a local group, her need to secure her future and find a new job becomes more urgent, she is forced to make some difficult choices – to leave her new home and the people who have become like family or to retreat into the predictable, safe (and boring) life to which she has been accustomed.
“The only answer to the fear of losing everything is to open up to the possibility of happiness and the possibility of loss. Two sides of the same coin, isn’t it? Better that, than refusing to be happy just in case.”
With a promising premise and a quirky cast of characters, Poppy Alexander’s The Littlest Library is a sweet story about friendship, kindness, community and of course the transformative power of books. The romance between Aidan and Jess was more of a secondary thread (at times, it felt like an afterthought) that did not feel integral to the central plot. Therefore I would not categorize this as a “romance” novel. I loved the idea of a little library in an abandoned phone box and enjoyed reading about how the “book-starved” community embraces not only the “littlest library” but also the newcomer who manages it into their fold. I also adored the literary references and how Mimi’s personal notes/ words of wisdom in the library books have a positive impact on the lives of others. There are many characters and quite a few sub-plots woven into the narrative. Though parts of the narrative were quite engaging, it was hard to plod through the repetition and slow pace in some segments. Stories such as these are almost always predictable (no complaints about that!) so it's important how we get to end and that's where this book falls short. I love books about books and libraries and while that particular angle was well-executed, a few of the other threads in the story felt rushed and resolved without much happening in between (a lot happens behind the scenes and the outcomes are simply conveyed to the reader). Overall, though a nice story , it was just an average read!
“The only answer to the fear of losing everything is to open up to the possibility of happiness and the possibility of loss. Two sides of the same coin, isn’t it? Better that, than refusing to be happy just in case.”
With a promising premise and a quirky cast of characters, Poppy Alexander’s The Littlest Library is a sweet story about friendship, kindness, community and of course the transformative power of books. The romance between Aidan and Jess was more of a secondary thread (at times, it felt like an afterthought) that did not feel integral to the central plot. Therefore I would not categorize this as a “romance” novel. I loved the idea of a little library in an abandoned phone box and enjoyed reading about how the “book-starved” community embraces not only the “littlest library” but also the newcomer who manages it into their fold. I also adored the literary references and how Mimi’s personal notes/ words of wisdom in the library books have a positive impact on the lives of others. There are many characters and quite a few sub-plots woven into the narrative. Though parts of the narrative were quite engaging, it was hard to plod through the repetition and slow pace in some segments. Stories such as these are almost always predictable (no complaints about that!) so it's important how we get to end and that's where this book falls short. I love books about books and libraries and while that particular angle was well-executed, a few of the other threads in the story felt rushed and resolved without much happening in between (a lot happens behind the scenes and the outcomes are simply conveyed to the reader). Overall, though a nice story , it was just an average read!
September 2, 2022
It must be me. I love books about books, libraries, librarians, etc but the pace was way too slow for me.
I was hoping there was more purposeful intention regarding the 10 boxes of books that had been saved by Jess's grandmother. I thought The Littlest Library would go into depth about why those books were chosen, other than typical popular books that the local community loved borrowing.
The very detailed descriptions about the cottage, garden, paint colors and potentially budding romance with Aiden didn't hold my attention.
I was hoping there was more purposeful intention regarding the 10 boxes of books that had been saved by Jess's grandmother. I thought The Littlest Library would go into depth about why those books were chosen, other than typical popular books that the local community loved borrowing.
The very detailed descriptions about the cottage, garden, paint colors and potentially budding romance with Aiden didn't hold my attention.
July 16, 2022
If this doesn't put a smile on your face, I don't know what will.
Seriously, this book was a heartwarming book about community, family, books, and love.
Jess Metcalf has had her life turned upside down when her grandmother passes away and she loses her job. She purchases a small cottage in a small close-knit community. Her house even comes with an old red phone box. Who doesn't love them?
When she first stopped to look at the cottage, she met a grumpy man who had ties to the house....
Jess, a librarian, decides to give back to her new community by turning the red phone box into the littlest library which she fills with her grandmother's books. It's a hit with some but there is one who would rather see the red phone box be used for something else.
Jess has soon charmed the town, but will she charm her grumpy neighbor?
This was a heartwarming and sweet book. I loved the characters and the community in this book. The book touches on so many marvelous things such as community, friendship, books and the love of books, family, and love in many forms.
From beginning to end, this book was a pleasure!
#TheLittlestLibrary #NetGalley.
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager, Avon and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Seriously, this book was a heartwarming book about community, family, books, and love.
Jess Metcalf has had her life turned upside down when her grandmother passes away and she loses her job. She purchases a small cottage in a small close-knit community. Her house even comes with an old red phone box. Who doesn't love them?
When she first stopped to look at the cottage, she met a grumpy man who had ties to the house....
Jess, a librarian, decides to give back to her new community by turning the red phone box into the littlest library which she fills with her grandmother's books. It's a hit with some but there is one who would rather see the red phone box be used for something else.
Jess has soon charmed the town, but will she charm her grumpy neighbor?
This was a heartwarming and sweet book. I loved the characters and the community in this book. The book touches on so many marvelous things such as community, friendship, books and the love of books, family, and love in many forms.
From beginning to end, this book was a pleasure!
#TheLittlestLibrary #NetGalley.
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager, Avon and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
April 27, 2022
Let me tell you this book was so cute!! The Littlest Library by Poppy Alexander did NOT leave me dry eyed!! The cover was absolutely adorable!! After reading this book, I wanted to travel to England and find this cute telephone library box. At the beginning it was a little bit of a slow burn, but as the story went on it was just amazing!! I was hooked from the very first page, and it does NOT disappoint. As Jess was telling the story of her grandmother, Mimi I had tears running down my face. Let me just say there's nothing better than reading a book that makes you sob and have your tears spilling onto the page. I thought this book would be a light, fluffy read, but boy was I wrong, this story tugged on my heart strings so much!!!
This was one heck of a roller coaster ride!!!
"A little red telephone box full of stories, a chance to change her life....".
In The Littlest Library we follow the journey of Jess Metcalf. Jess is perfectly content with her quiet, predictable life. But when her grandmother, Mimi passes away, and Jess loses her job at the local library in Bourton-on-the-Marsh, Jess's life is turned completely upside down. Jess is grieving the loss of Mimi but she's determined to pick up the pieces and make her life better. Jess decides it's time for a new beginning. One day Jess is taking a road trip when her car stalls and she leaves it in the middle of the road, Jess notices a little bit across the street there's a house for sale. Jess decides to sell her house in Bourton and move to Ivy Cottage in Middlemass. When Jess was very young she lost both of her parents due to a car accident, that's when Mimi decided to take Jess under her wings.
Unable to part with her grandmother's cherished books, Jess packs them all up and moves to Ivy Cottage in the English Countryside. To Jess's surprise, she discovers that she's now the owner of an old red phone box that was left on the property of Ivy Cottage. Jess learns that the cottage she now owns was her neighbor's grandfather's cottage. When Jess's car stalls, that's when she meets her grumpy neighbor, Aidan. Missing her job at the local library, Jess decides to give back to her new community, using her grandmother's collection to turn the ordinary phone box into the littlest library in England. As the littlest library starts to earn attention, Jess starts making new friends that she's come to love.
It's not long before the books are being borrowed and begin to work their literary magic- bringing the villagers together and managing to draw Jess's grumpy but handsome neighbor out of his shell. Jess learns that Aidan is going through a divorce with his ex-wife, his ex-wife wants custody of their daughter Maisie, who Jess has also formed a bond with. Maybe it's finally time for Jess to follow her heart, let go of her old life, and make the village her home. With Jess's savings account running out of money she knows it's time to find a job, but Middlemass has no job offerings available, or nothing that Jess wants to do. I highly recommend this book, but have a box of tissues close by because it does get emotional. The telephone box library was just so cute and makes me want to start my own! Who knows maybe I will!
But will Jess be able to take the leap and call the village her home?
This was one heck of a roller coaster ride!!!
"A little red telephone box full of stories, a chance to change her life....".
In The Littlest Library we follow the journey of Jess Metcalf. Jess is perfectly content with her quiet, predictable life. But when her grandmother, Mimi passes away, and Jess loses her job at the local library in Bourton-on-the-Marsh, Jess's life is turned completely upside down. Jess is grieving the loss of Mimi but she's determined to pick up the pieces and make her life better. Jess decides it's time for a new beginning. One day Jess is taking a road trip when her car stalls and she leaves it in the middle of the road, Jess notices a little bit across the street there's a house for sale. Jess decides to sell her house in Bourton and move to Ivy Cottage in Middlemass. When Jess was very young she lost both of her parents due to a car accident, that's when Mimi decided to take Jess under her wings.
Unable to part with her grandmother's cherished books, Jess packs them all up and moves to Ivy Cottage in the English Countryside. To Jess's surprise, she discovers that she's now the owner of an old red phone box that was left on the property of Ivy Cottage. Jess learns that the cottage she now owns was her neighbor's grandfather's cottage. When Jess's car stalls, that's when she meets her grumpy neighbor, Aidan. Missing her job at the local library, Jess decides to give back to her new community, using her grandmother's collection to turn the ordinary phone box into the littlest library in England. As the littlest library starts to earn attention, Jess starts making new friends that she's come to love.
It's not long before the books are being borrowed and begin to work their literary magic- bringing the villagers together and managing to draw Jess's grumpy but handsome neighbor out of his shell. Jess learns that Aidan is going through a divorce with his ex-wife, his ex-wife wants custody of their daughter Maisie, who Jess has also formed a bond with. Maybe it's finally time for Jess to follow her heart, let go of her old life, and make the village her home. With Jess's savings account running out of money she knows it's time to find a job, but Middlemass has no job offerings available, or nothing that Jess wants to do. I highly recommend this book, but have a box of tissues close by because it does get emotional. The telephone box library was just so cute and makes me want to start my own! Who knows maybe I will!
But will Jess be able to take the leap and call the village her home?
June 19, 2022
Such a sweet book! I picked this up because of the cover and because the title tells be it's about books. I also thought it was probably one of those cozy mystery stories because the last three I've read with bookshop or library in the title have been just that. I was surprised when there was no mystery, but truly enjoyed this book with themes of grief, loss, finding yourself, and taking chances. And yes, there's a romance as well.
Jess Metcalf's grandmother died, and then she lost her job. She doesn't know what to do now, but decides on a new beginning. She moves to a cottage in the little town of Middlemass, a picturesque community in the English countryside. Much to her surprise, she finds out her home purchase include an old red phone box that has some strings attched. Jess decides to turn the phone box into a small library and stock it with her grandmother's books, to give something back to the community.
I loved reading about the lives in Middlemass and how the little library connects the community. Aidan, the scowling neighbor, was a good character and I liked the banter between him and Jess. I also really liked his daughter, Maisie - she seems like a terrific child. This book will pull your heartstrings as Jess deals with her loss and Aidan's situation was difficult as well.
Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on July 29, 2022.
Jess Metcalf's grandmother died, and then she lost her job. She doesn't know what to do now, but decides on a new beginning. She moves to a cottage in the little town of Middlemass, a picturesque community in the English countryside. Much to her surprise, she finds out her home purchase include an old red phone box that has some strings attched. Jess decides to turn the phone box into a small library and stock it with her grandmother's books, to give something back to the community.
I loved reading about the lives in Middlemass and how the little library connects the community. Aidan, the scowling neighbor, was a good character and I liked the banter between him and Jess. I also really liked his daughter, Maisie - she seems like a terrific child. This book will pull your heartstrings as Jess deals with her loss and Aidan's situation was difficult as well.
Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on July 29, 2022.
June 22, 2022
3.5 Stars
The Littlest Library is the story of Jess, a librarian who finds herself moving to a quaint, old cottage in a tiny English village after experiencing some major life changes. It's a charming story filled with lovable side characters and the importance of libraries and books in a small community.
I would recommend this book to readers who love books about books and/or small-town dynamics. Thank you to the publisher for providing the advanced copy of this book.
The Littlest Library is the story of Jess, a librarian who finds herself moving to a quaint, old cottage in a tiny English village after experiencing some major life changes. It's a charming story filled with lovable side characters and the importance of libraries and books in a small community.
I would recommend this book to readers who love books about books and/or small-town dynamics. Thank you to the publisher for providing the advanced copy of this book.
July 18, 2022
This sounded like a really cute and light story and while it did hit those marks for the most part, unfortunately there was just something missing. I felt like the story was a little drawn out and at times could be overly descriptive to the point that I got a little bored. I'm going to chalk it up to a "it's-me-not-you" thing and I think the writing just wasn't a style I enjoy all that much.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
May 15, 2024
A darling book about community, friendship, courage, second chances, found family, and romance. And the world's cutest little free library house in an old telephone box in front of a charming English country cottage. Filled with tea, gardens, and lovely book references, this one will make warm your heart.
July 20, 2022
Jess lost her job at the local library and then her beloved grandmother passed away.
Jess decided she needed a change. She took a ride, saw an abandoned phone booth with a for sale sign on it and stopped. Well…she had no choice but to stop because her car konked out.
Was it fate that she stopped, went into the open house, and immediately bought the house in this quaint village?
She didn’t know what to think, but she loved it in Middlemass, loved her cottage named Ivy Cottage, and loved that she could open a little library in the phone booth.
The only thing that was not fun was her grumpy neighbor Aidan. Would he turn out to less grumpy as time went on?
THE LITTLEST LIBRARY is a very sweet, cozy, comfy read that will warm your heart.
There are great characters, a great setting, and of course the books will draw any reader in.
Don’t miss this adorable book. 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
Jess decided she needed a change. She took a ride, saw an abandoned phone booth with a for sale sign on it and stopped. Well…she had no choice but to stop because her car konked out.
Was it fate that she stopped, went into the open house, and immediately bought the house in this quaint village?
She didn’t know what to think, but she loved it in Middlemass, loved her cottage named Ivy Cottage, and loved that she could open a little library in the phone booth.
The only thing that was not fun was her grumpy neighbor Aidan. Would he turn out to less grumpy as time went on?
THE LITTLEST LIBRARY is a very sweet, cozy, comfy read that will warm your heart.
There are great characters, a great setting, and of course the books will draw any reader in.
Don’t miss this adorable book. 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
March 10, 2023
If you are looking for an uplifting story about how books become the center of a small village in England connecting everyone in the community, you'll want to read this! It's a beautiful and heartwarming tale of taking risks, starting over, giving to the community, family, friendships, small town politics, neighbors helping neighbors and love.
We all know how the power of reading can bring people together and it was fun reading the titles of much loved books mentioned in this amazing book 📚. Poppy Alexander poured out her heart in this book...it shows!! 💝I enjoyed every second of reading this! 😊It gets my vote for the feel good book of the year!
I very highly recommend this wonderful book! Enjoy and Happy Reading 💫🕊️
We all know how the power of reading can bring people together and it was fun reading the titles of much loved books mentioned in this amazing book 📚. Poppy Alexander poured out her heart in this book...it shows!! 💝I enjoyed every second of reading this! 😊It gets my vote for the feel good book of the year!
I very highly recommend this wonderful book! Enjoy and Happy Reading 💫🕊️
January 4, 2022
What a cute idea of converting a telephone box into a library. I came across someone running a tiny cafe from a telephone box in Birmingham once, so this is totally something I can imagine. And for Jess to honor the memory of her grandmother by starting a library in a tiny village, it’s just fantastic. Plus, the impact these books have on the locals is what the power of reading is all about. The Littlest Library is a joyful and light-hearted read.
March 1, 2021
Visit Middlemass in Devon where this book is set.
You really need to travel to Devon and find the Littlest Library!
What a joy this book is from start to finish. It starts quite poignantly with a woman who’s lived with her gran for some time and cared for her. When her gran dies, Jess wants a new start so she sets off on a road trip. She stumbles across a village and ends up moving there. Well, this really resonated with me as I felt I was Jess, needing a fresh start, having lost someone dear and in search of my own little Middlemass. But in Jess’s shoes or not, this novel will show you just what unexpected twists in the road can mean for anyone..
Jess finds a cottage with a red phone box outside it. Oh, and grumpy but single neighbour. Aidan – but we’ll come back to him later. For now, let’s concentrate on the RED TELEPHONE BOX. I’ve had this dream of buying one myself for years. I’ve also had the dream of having a little library like the one in the book. Poppy Alexander has got in to my head! Now, all I have to do is to meet my very own Aidan haha.
The setting of Middlemass was just glorious and I could picture the lake, the ducks and everything Poppy magicked with her words in to my mind’s eye. There was something very comforting about this book that I loved and that I really needed at this moment.
The library though – Oh my. Poppy you have single-handedly made me want to do this for real. The way the books brought people together, changed the community, made people smile and made Jess feel warm inside. What a book that can do all this and more.
I would have loved this book at any time but right now, in the middle of a pandemic, of a dark time, at a time where I need a hug more than anything else, this story was the light at the end of the tunnel. Does that sound dramatic? Well, it’s true. A hug in a book.
September 28, 2023
The Littlest Library by Poppy Alexander
Contemporary romance. Slow burn, closed door. Women’s contemporary fiction.
After her Grandmother’s death, and a job loss, Jess Metcalf decides on a new beginning, and purchases a tiny cottage in the English countryside. After she moves in, Jess finds bats in her attic that are protected and can’t be moved, the sound of mice in the kitchen cabinets and a phone booth in her yard that must be usable by the local community. Jess has quite a few boxes of books from her grandmother and since she was a librarian in the past, using the old phone booth as a community library is the perfect option
The story follows Jess and her new neighbors as she befriends them, opens the library and gets involved with the community. There are poignant memories from hand written notes in the unboxed books. There are community engagement moments that show generosity and there are blooming romance and family notes that lend depth to the story.
Engaging and pleasurable.
Contemporary romance. Slow burn, closed door. Women’s contemporary fiction.
After her Grandmother’s death, and a job loss, Jess Metcalf decides on a new beginning, and purchases a tiny cottage in the English countryside. After she moves in, Jess finds bats in her attic that are protected and can’t be moved, the sound of mice in the kitchen cabinets and a phone booth in her yard that must be usable by the local community. Jess has quite a few boxes of books from her grandmother and since she was a librarian in the past, using the old phone booth as a community library is the perfect option
The story follows Jess and her new neighbors as she befriends them, opens the library and gets involved with the community. There are poignant memories from hand written notes in the unboxed books. There are community engagement moments that show generosity and there are blooming romance and family notes that lend depth to the story.
Engaging and pleasurable.
September 29, 2022
3.25⭐
Featuring ~ single 3rd person POV, starting over, grief, library, books, community, small town, slow burn
This was a sad, turned nice, story following Jess as she helps bring a little library to a town that needs a pick me up. While I see the potential for this to be heartwarming, it was more heartlukewarming for me. I did enjoy the descriptiveness throughout, but it was slow moving. The cover is cute and the plot interesting. Little Libraries are very popular these days and I even have one in my neighborhood. I definitely see the potential for many of my friends to like this one.
I was able to listen to the final version as well, so I went back and forth reading and listening.
Karen Cass did a lovely job narrating for 9 hours and 16 minutes, easy to follow at 2-2.5x.
*Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager ~ Avon, the author and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
Featuring ~ single 3rd person POV, starting over, grief, library, books, community, small town, slow burn
This was a sad, turned nice, story following Jess as she helps bring a little library to a town that needs a pick me up. While I see the potential for this to be heartwarming, it was more heartlukewarming for me. I did enjoy the descriptiveness throughout, but it was slow moving. The cover is cute and the plot interesting. Little Libraries are very popular these days and I even have one in my neighborhood. I definitely see the potential for many of my friends to like this one.
I was able to listen to the final version as well, so I went back and forth reading and listening.
Karen Cass did a lovely job narrating for 9 hours and 16 minutes, easy to follow at 2-2.5x.
*Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager ~ Avon, the author and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
January 22, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for sharing this story with me!
Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me. I couldn't connect with the writing style and this impacted any enjoyment I had of the story. For lack of better words, this was dull. I was really excited about the concept of the book because it's so wholesome and a book lover's dream but, it fell very flat.
Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me. I couldn't connect with the writing style and this impacted any enjoyment I had of the story. For lack of better words, this was dull. I was really excited about the concept of the book because it's so wholesome and a book lover's dream but, it fell very flat.
April 20, 2022
Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.
A really solid book. The only reason that I didn't give this 5 stars is that things started getting a wee bit repetitive regarding Jess's need to get a job and her ongoing thoughts surrounding Aiden. And I thought that some things about Jess's personality were not 100 percent consistent throughout. We know that she has a hard time maintaining friendships and getting out of her comfort zone, so it felt a bit off that she decided to start buttng in on people's lives. What was lovely though is that Jess finds a place she can call home in Middlemass and finds herself some other friends outside of her long-term friendship with her best friend Hannah. I loved the discussion about books. And I really wanted a library in my backyard that is installed in an old telephone box.
"The Littlest Library" follows Jess Metcalf. Jess is reeling from losing her job at a library and the loss of her grandmother Mimi, months earlier. Jess is at a crossroads when she decides to take a car trip to get out of Bourton-on-the-Marsh and ends up in the village of Middlemass. She gets stranded and comes across a cottage for sale with a telephone box in front. Before she knows it, Jess puts down an offer and moves out of her grandmother's old home to start anew in Middlemass. Jess starts trying to fix up her new home but keeps running across her neighbor (who irks her) Aiden and his daughter. But she also meets some of the other villagers like Diana, Mungo, Paddy, and Becky who start to fill in some of the spaces she has let go empty for so many years. When Jess somehow ends up agreeing to run a library out of the telephone box in front of her house, she finds herself more fulfilled than she has been in years.
All in all a lovely story. I liked Jess a lot. She loves books, and turns her head to building up her beautiful garden. The book follows her over several months and you get to see her changing and her yearning for something more with Aiden though it looks like that may be out of the cards.
The book's main tension is that some in the village don't want the library and Jess has to decide what she is going to do about it, and what is she going to do about finding a job.
The other characters are delightful and I loved all of the goings on with everyone. I did say above that Jess sticking her nose in and being judgmental of some people does creep up now and again, but she's quick to realize she's doing it.
The writing was great. Alexander really does make you feel like you are in the middle of an English village living in a cute cottage. This book did make me miss summer, but also the month of September.
I loved the ending. It's a quiet thing and you can guess at what happens next.
A really solid book. The only reason that I didn't give this 5 stars is that things started getting a wee bit repetitive regarding Jess's need to get a job and her ongoing thoughts surrounding Aiden. And I thought that some things about Jess's personality were not 100 percent consistent throughout. We know that she has a hard time maintaining friendships and getting out of her comfort zone, so it felt a bit off that she decided to start buttng in on people's lives. What was lovely though is that Jess finds a place she can call home in Middlemass and finds herself some other friends outside of her long-term friendship with her best friend Hannah. I loved the discussion about books. And I really wanted a library in my backyard that is installed in an old telephone box.
"The Littlest Library" follows Jess Metcalf. Jess is reeling from losing her job at a library and the loss of her grandmother Mimi, months earlier. Jess is at a crossroads when she decides to take a car trip to get out of Bourton-on-the-Marsh and ends up in the village of Middlemass. She gets stranded and comes across a cottage for sale with a telephone box in front. Before she knows it, Jess puts down an offer and moves out of her grandmother's old home to start anew in Middlemass. Jess starts trying to fix up her new home but keeps running across her neighbor (who irks her) Aiden and his daughter. But she also meets some of the other villagers like Diana, Mungo, Paddy, and Becky who start to fill in some of the spaces she has let go empty for so many years. When Jess somehow ends up agreeing to run a library out of the telephone box in front of her house, she finds herself more fulfilled than she has been in years.
All in all a lovely story. I liked Jess a lot. She loves books, and turns her head to building up her beautiful garden. The book follows her over several months and you get to see her changing and her yearning for something more with Aiden though it looks like that may be out of the cards.
The book's main tension is that some in the village don't want the library and Jess has to decide what she is going to do about it, and what is she going to do about finding a job.
The other characters are delightful and I loved all of the goings on with everyone. I did say above that Jess sticking her nose in and being judgmental of some people does creep up now and again, but she's quick to realize she's doing it.
The writing was great. Alexander really does make you feel like you are in the middle of an English village living in a cute cottage. This book did make me miss summer, but also the month of September.
I loved the ending. It's a quiet thing and you can guess at what happens next.
September 16, 2022
This book is like a nice warm hug!
December 29, 2023
3,0✨✨✨
(Audiobook)
(Audiobook)
April 26, 2021
The Littlest Library follows Jess Metcalf who loses her nana, Mimi and her job as a librarian in Bourton-on-the-Marsh within months of each other. She decides to buy a cottage with a red telephone box outside in another village which she turns into a small library, using her gran's books. The reader lives in the pockets of Jess as she settles into her new home, Ivy Cottage in Middlemass in the West Country.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Littlest Library and found it very appealing. Protagonist Jess is a warm character and the story was wonderfully uplifting, keeping me turning the pages. Jess was supported by a good bunch and I especially liked her close friend, Hannah. The setting of Middlemass sounded glorious and I could easily picture the duck pond, the snowdrops, daffodils and everything Poppy Alexander whipped up with her great writing in my mind. The character development of Jess was gradual but realistic as she begins to enjoy being a huge part of her new community after setting up the little library. She makes new friends and is integral to the positive changes for some of the villagers. Very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Orion Publishing via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Littlest Library and found it very appealing. Protagonist Jess is a warm character and the story was wonderfully uplifting, keeping me turning the pages. Jess was supported by a good bunch and I especially liked her close friend, Hannah. The setting of Middlemass sounded glorious and I could easily picture the duck pond, the snowdrops, daffodils and everything Poppy Alexander whipped up with her great writing in my mind. The character development of Jess was gradual but realistic as she begins to enjoy being a huge part of her new community after setting up the little library. She makes new friends and is integral to the positive changes for some of the villagers. Very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Orion Publishing via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
July 27, 2022
What a lovely surprise this little novel turned out to be! Warm escapist fiction with enough literary references to satisfy anyone who appreciates the written word. Those who follow my blog will know that romance is not my usual genre of choice, but I found this book ticked all the boxes for me just now. It made me escape into the charming Devon village of Middlemass for a time.
Though as with most romance fiction, I knew from the onset that things would end on a positive note, the journey was an enjoyable one with characters that were easily imagined and extremely sympathetic. Jess Metcalfe was a woman whom I would like to meet, so living her life for a few hours was indeed a pleasure. Her charming picture-postcard cottage, her new friends, her handsome neighbour Aidan, and even her two kittens made for a welcome escapist read. The author even references one of my childhood favourite books "Tom's Midnight Garden" and my favourite classic "Jane Eyre".
This romance novel contains themes of starting over, overcoming insecurities, forging friendships, community spirit, and of course the healing power of books.
Highly recommended to those readers who want to get away from real life for awhile, especially those who are ardent book lovers.
Though as with most romance fiction, I knew from the onset that things would end on a positive note, the journey was an enjoyable one with characters that were easily imagined and extremely sympathetic. Jess Metcalfe was a woman whom I would like to meet, so living her life for a few hours was indeed a pleasure. Her charming picture-postcard cottage, her new friends, her handsome neighbour Aidan, and even her two kittens made for a welcome escapist read. The author even references one of my childhood favourite books "Tom's Midnight Garden" and my favourite classic "Jane Eyre".
This romance novel contains themes of starting over, overcoming insecurities, forging friendships, community spirit, and of course the healing power of books.
Highly recommended to those readers who want to get away from real life for awhile, especially those who are ardent book lovers.
June 30, 2022
2.5/5
I absolutely love the cover and concept of The Littlest Library. The cover first grabbed my attention, and I knew I had to read this book. Especially since I had opened my own little library this year. I was excited and couldn't wait to read this one.
Unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. The story was slow and very description driven (which I hate and find boring). The concept of the story was underdeveloped. The details of the conflict between Aidan and Lucie were overdeveloped. There were a few subplots that were completely unnecessary and contributed to my dissatisfaction with the book. The book also felt quite heavy. Jess was negative in quite a few parts and it just got old. I found it hard to connect with any of the characters.
I did enjoy Jess opening the library and her care of it every day. I also enjoyed the way it changed the village and wished mine had the same results, bringing people closer together. I also appreciated the way the library gave Jess back a sense of purpose.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to provide a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I absolutely love the cover and concept of The Littlest Library. The cover first grabbed my attention, and I knew I had to read this book. Especially since I had opened my own little library this year. I was excited and couldn't wait to read this one.
Unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. The story was slow and very description driven (which I hate and find boring). The concept of the story was underdeveloped. The details of the conflict between Aidan and Lucie were overdeveloped. There were a few subplots that were completely unnecessary and contributed to my dissatisfaction with the book. The book also felt quite heavy. Jess was negative in quite a few parts and it just got old. I found it hard to connect with any of the characters.
I did enjoy Jess opening the library and her care of it every day. I also enjoyed the way it changed the village and wished mine had the same results, bringing people closer together. I also appreciated the way the library gave Jess back a sense of purpose.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to provide a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 20, 2022
This was an entertaining, feel-good British romance set in small town England that I had a hard time putting down! The story revolves around the lives of one community after former librarian Jess Metcalf moves into a small cottage with a defunct telephone box that she turns into a Little Free Library.
Perfect for fans of Freya Sampson's Last chance library, this book will warm your heart and make you want to install your own LFL! I loved Jess and the way she shared her love of stories with the townspeople, getting to know a number of them who were struggling.
There's also a gruff single father across the road who has a dyslexic daughter and he and Jess have a sweet romance. Great on audio narrated by Karen Cass. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
🔥Steam level: kissing only
Perfect for fans of Freya Sampson's Last chance library, this book will warm your heart and make you want to install your own LFL! I loved Jess and the way she shared her love of stories with the townspeople, getting to know a number of them who were struggling.
There's also a gruff single father across the road who has a dyslexic daughter and he and Jess have a sweet romance. Great on audio narrated by Karen Cass. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
🔥Steam level: kissing only
July 21, 2022
I’ll admit the cover and they synopsis for The Littlest Library caught my eye and from the description I could tell this book was more women’s fiction than romance, so I wasn’t too disappointed that the “romance” in this book didn’t come to fruition until the very, very end, but honestly I think the book would have been stronger if that part of the story had been left out because it was flipping frustrating.
Jess is a young 30 something woman who lived with the grandmother who raised her since age 4 and worked as a librarian until it recently closed, now at a loss as to what to do with her life she makes a decision to sell the only home she remembers and change her life something her Mimi (grandmother) had always talked about. One a drive she stumbles across a run-down cottage for sale and without even really looking at it puts in an offer. I personally felt Jess was having a bit of a breakdown making rash decisions without thinking but she ends up moving into the cottage in Middlemass, a very small and dying town and finds that she is responsible for doing something with the abandoned red telephone call box that sits on the edge of her property.
We find as this story meanders on that Jess has never maintained close friendships other than her best friend who lives out of the country and who she speaks to about once a week via Facetime. Her friend seems to think Jess needs to take risks and chances and maybe she does, but for someone who has been extremely careful all her life selling her home, buying one she barely looked at, and moving without even thinking about the job market this was big, huge even.
After a parish council meeting it is decided that Jess will make the telephone call box a little library and she sets out to do this with the help of her neighbor Aidan who is volunteered to build the shelves. Jess sees this as a perfect use since she was told she can’t remove it and she has 10 boxes of her grandmother’s books that she wants to share with the town. I loved this part of the story how she makes the library a place for her neighbors and the townspeople to discover old favorites again, find new books, and gather as they wait their turn. Jess begins to mingle with the people, she makes friends, and she begins to fall in love with her new town. I loved watching the changes in her as she tends the overgrown garden, begins to restore her cottage, finds ways to help people she’s met, and gives back to the community by offering to help with solutions to problems. What didn’t work for me was the weird supposed romance between Jess and Aidan whose ex-wife visits frequently and stays in his home with him and their daughter albeit in the guest room and has made it known she doesn’t like seeing Aidan around Jess. Honestly it was uncomfortable reading there was nothing in their interactions that made me think they were really into one another, then there was an almost kiss interrupted by the ex-wife, then a real kiss that was awkward, not to mention half the town trying to throw them together and it felt forced and uncomfortable. I rather liked both Jess and Aidan and I think had the ex-wife not been in so much of this book that maybe a slow burn romance between them would have been nice, but instead it fell flat throughout the majority of the book and then boom right at the end a bit of hope that it will happen. Two big thumbs down because I then felt cheated instead of happy.
Parts of this story worked well, other parts not so much and while I’m not sorry I read it I was disappointed in the way it ended because it felt unfinished.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
Jess is a young 30 something woman who lived with the grandmother who raised her since age 4 and worked as a librarian until it recently closed, now at a loss as to what to do with her life she makes a decision to sell the only home she remembers and change her life something her Mimi (grandmother) had always talked about. One a drive she stumbles across a run-down cottage for sale and without even really looking at it puts in an offer. I personally felt Jess was having a bit of a breakdown making rash decisions without thinking but she ends up moving into the cottage in Middlemass, a very small and dying town and finds that she is responsible for doing something with the abandoned red telephone call box that sits on the edge of her property.
We find as this story meanders on that Jess has never maintained close friendships other than her best friend who lives out of the country and who she speaks to about once a week via Facetime. Her friend seems to think Jess needs to take risks and chances and maybe she does, but for someone who has been extremely careful all her life selling her home, buying one she barely looked at, and moving without even thinking about the job market this was big, huge even.
After a parish council meeting it is decided that Jess will make the telephone call box a little library and she sets out to do this with the help of her neighbor Aidan who is volunteered to build the shelves. Jess sees this as a perfect use since she was told she can’t remove it and she has 10 boxes of her grandmother’s books that she wants to share with the town. I loved this part of the story how she makes the library a place for her neighbors and the townspeople to discover old favorites again, find new books, and gather as they wait their turn. Jess begins to mingle with the people, she makes friends, and she begins to fall in love with her new town. I loved watching the changes in her as she tends the overgrown garden, begins to restore her cottage, finds ways to help people she’s met, and gives back to the community by offering to help with solutions to problems. What didn’t work for me was the weird supposed romance between Jess and Aidan whose ex-wife visits frequently and stays in his home with him and their daughter albeit in the guest room and has made it known she doesn’t like seeing Aidan around Jess. Honestly it was uncomfortable reading there was nothing in their interactions that made me think they were really into one another, then there was an almost kiss interrupted by the ex-wife, then a real kiss that was awkward, not to mention half the town trying to throw them together and it felt forced and uncomfortable. I rather liked both Jess and Aidan and I think had the ex-wife not been in so much of this book that maybe a slow burn romance between them would have been nice, but instead it fell flat throughout the majority of the book and then boom right at the end a bit of hope that it will happen. Two big thumbs down because I then felt cheated instead of happy.
Parts of this story worked well, other parts not so much and while I’m not sorry I read it I was disappointed in the way it ended because it felt unfinished.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
May 7, 2023
This was a lovely feel good story overall, some endearing characters , and reconciliation events sprinkled throughout:) It was easy to be engrossed while reading as relatable situations. No violence or crudeness with this book which was impressive although they certainly enjoyed their liquor! ;) It referenced Michelle Obama several times, someone I'm not fond (nor am I of Hilary Clinton, our prime minister etc for that matter so not racial) either. Sadly, church was described as a "God bothering thing" even though we aren't bothering him, he loves to have us pray:) I loved how the theme ( to me anyway) was one of how an individual can certainly make a difference through kindness which warmed my heart reading how the villagers came to know one another more, relationships mended, new romances developed and ended with a feel good/satisfying conclusion:) This author "passed my one chance read" as well as I won't mind at all reading more by her!
July 14, 2022
The Littlest Library by Poppy Alexander is a sweet story of self-discovery and community spirit. I enjoyed this book very much and loved the charming village and its inhabitants.
Jess Metcalf leads a quiet peaceful life with her grandmother. When her grandmother passes away, Jess is left feeling lost and a bit lonely, but when she loses her job at the library, she decides it’s time for a change. She finds a small cottage in a small village in the English countryside. She decides to purchase the cottage and later finds out that an old phone box is on her property. She works with the town council and they decide to turn it into a library.
Jess decides to use her Grandmother’s old books to start the library, and as the library becomes more popular, Jess becomes more at home in her new little village. She befriends many of the quirky villagers, and especially the somewhat grumpy Aiden, who sold her the cottage.
I enjoyed this small town story. The story is mostly about Jess and how she moves through her grief of losing her grandmother and how she makes a new life in the village. The romance with Aidan was a slow burn, but there was some great banter between the two. And I adored Aidens daughter Maisey, she was a fun addition to the story.
I recommend The Littlest Library to anyone who enjoys Women’s fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The Littlest Library by Poppy Alexander is a sweet story of self-discovery and community spirit. I enjoyed this book very much and loved the charming village and its inhabitants.
Jess Metcalf leads a quiet peaceful life with her grandmother. When her grandmother passes away, Jess is left feeling lost and a bit lonely, but when she loses her job at the library, she decides it’s time for a change. She finds a small cottage in a small village in the English countryside. She decides to purchase the cottage and later finds out that an old phone box is on her property. She works with the town council and they decide to turn it into a library.
Jess decides to use her Grandmother’s old books to start the library, and as the library becomes more popular, Jess becomes more at home in her new little village. She befriends many of the quirky villagers, and especially the somewhat grumpy Aiden, who sold her the cottage.
I enjoyed this small town story. The story is mostly about Jess and how she moves through her grief of losing her grandmother and how she makes a new life in the village. The romance with Aidan was a slow burn, but there was some great banter between the two. And I adored Aidens daughter Maisey, she was a fun addition to the story.
I recommend The Littlest Library to anyone who enjoys Women’s fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Jess Metcalf leads a quiet peaceful life with her grandmother. When her grandmother passes away, Jess is left feeling lost and a bit lonely, but when she loses her job at the library, she decides it’s time for a change. She finds a small cottage in a small village in the English countryside. She decides to purchase the cottage and later finds out that an old phone box is on her property. She works with the town council and they decide to turn it into a library.
Jess decides to use her Grandmother’s old books to start the library, and as the library becomes more popular, Jess becomes more at home in her new little village. She befriends many of the quirky villagers, and especially the somewhat grumpy Aiden, who sold her the cottage.
I enjoyed this small town story. The story is mostly about Jess and how she moves through her grief of losing her grandmother and how she makes a new life in the village. The romance with Aidan was a slow burn, but there was some great banter between the two. And I adored Aidens daughter Maisey, she was a fun addition to the story.
I recommend The Littlest Library to anyone who enjoys Women’s fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The Littlest Library by Poppy Alexander is a sweet story of self-discovery and community spirit. I enjoyed this book very much and loved the charming village and its inhabitants.
Jess Metcalf leads a quiet peaceful life with her grandmother. When her grandmother passes away, Jess is left feeling lost and a bit lonely, but when she loses her job at the library, she decides it’s time for a change. She finds a small cottage in a small village in the English countryside. She decides to purchase the cottage and later finds out that an old phone box is on her property. She works with the town council and they decide to turn it into a library.
Jess decides to use her Grandmother’s old books to start the library, and as the library becomes more popular, Jess becomes more at home in her new little village. She befriends many of the quirky villagers, and especially the somewhat grumpy Aiden, who sold her the cottage.
I enjoyed this small town story. The story is mostly about Jess and how she moves through her grief of losing her grandmother and how she makes a new life in the village. The romance with Aidan was a slow burn, but there was some great banter between the two. And I adored Aidens daughter Maisey, she was a fun addition to the story.
I recommend The Littlest Library to anyone who enjoys Women’s fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
August 8, 2022
3-1/2*
Jess is in the dumps having just lost her beloved grandmother AND her job as librarian when the library is closed.
Encouraged by her best (and only) friend who lives abroad she finds the courage to pack up, sell the house where she lived with her grandmother and buy a rundown cottage in a tiny village.
To her surprise the cottage includes an unused phone box on the property and after some suggestions she turns the phone box into a small library with all the books she brought with her, books that go back to the days when her grandmother would read to her and encouraged her love of books and stories.
Jess has made friends with many of the village residents and the phone box library is a hit but someone in the village wants it gone AND Jess eventually needs to get a paying job which will not be possible in this tiny community. Jess is facing a really hard decision!
Jess is a likable character and her interactions with the people in the village seem to be bringing the village people together which is nice, but I think the book went on just a bit too long and honestly it seems that every little thing brings Jess to tears.
No matter, I enjoyed this book about books and small village life. It was a charming and delightful read that made me smile along the way. It’s a book about taking chances and getting out of your comfort zone to possibly have a different, more enriching life.
Jess is in the dumps having just lost her beloved grandmother AND her job as librarian when the library is closed.
Encouraged by her best (and only) friend who lives abroad she finds the courage to pack up, sell the house where she lived with her grandmother and buy a rundown cottage in a tiny village.
To her surprise the cottage includes an unused phone box on the property and after some suggestions she turns the phone box into a small library with all the books she brought with her, books that go back to the days when her grandmother would read to her and encouraged her love of books and stories.
Jess has made friends with many of the village residents and the phone box library is a hit but someone in the village wants it gone AND Jess eventually needs to get a paying job which will not be possible in this tiny community. Jess is facing a really hard decision!
Jess is a likable character and her interactions with the people in the village seem to be bringing the village people together which is nice, but I think the book went on just a bit too long and honestly it seems that every little thing brings Jess to tears.
No matter, I enjoyed this book about books and small village life. It was a charming and delightful read that made me smile along the way. It’s a book about taking chances and getting out of your comfort zone to possibly have a different, more enriching life.
September 5, 2022
I suppose if I were on a deserted island and The Littlest Library by Poppy Alexander was the only book I had to read, I would be happy to have it. That doesn’t mean I would enjoy it, or the number of times I roll my eyes or mutter “oh my GOD” would change. I’d just be happy to have a book. Even if it’s bland and uninteresting and written as if all the characters are stuck in the 1950s. The cover, which shows a charming and conventional image of a typical English cottage, is well chosen: that’s exactly what the book is like—charming (well, many readers will think so) and conventional. And safe.
Jess Metcalfe has lived her entire life in a small village with her grandmother, Mimi, who raised her from an early age after her parents died in a car crash. After Mimi dies and Jess loses her safe job as a librarian, she decides to take Mimi’s advice and start over somewhere new. An aimless drive in the West Country causes her to stumble into Middlemass, a small village. While there, she discovers a slightly rundown cottage, falls in love with it, and impulsively purchases it. One hitch—the cottage comes with an abandoned phone booth and even though it sits on her land, the village council has the ultimate say in what to do with it. They decide to turn it into a small lending library and Jess jumps at the opportunity to fill it with all of her and Mimi’s treasured books. She hopes this will help bring her out of her shell and introduce her to her neighbors—even her cranky, but terribly handsome, next door neighbor. But will Jess have the courage to see her plans through?
Eye roll. Jess, as a character, is boring. She’s in her early 30s and has never done anything with her life. Nothing at all interesting or slightly crazy. She’s never had a romantic relationship. She has only one close friend and that woman lives in New Zealand. Even the books she reads are the classics (and I’m talking Swiss Family Robinson classics. Even Jane Austen seems a bit racy for her) and as a librarian I’d think she’d have a wider knowledge of all books, not just the comfy classics. She does help a young girl find more manga to read but I’m not convinced that Jess (despite her saying she read manga too) reads it either. She’s safe and conventional and so is this book.
Every complication or challenge or bit of discord in this book is cleared up painlessly and everything is hunky-dory in the end. Which is great if you like your emotions to be bubble-wrapped and your solutions gift-wrapped. I don’t. Jess, the thirty-year-old whose most daring moment in life (previous to her move) was interviewing for, and accepting a job as, a village librarian, is apparently the deus ex machina of the novel—village has no library, hey now she’s the librarian; neighbor having marital troubles, hey, Jess (having no relationship experience whatsoever) brings them together; grumpy (and it’s never explained why he’s so rude to her in the first few chapters) handsome neighbor fighting for child custody with his horrible ex-wife—well, not only does Jess solve this problem, but the awful ex-wife sees the light and retires gracefully from the scene as well. I mean, this Jess, she’s a miracle-worker!
A million eye-rolls. Jess is too boring and tame for me. She is scandalized when her neighbor mentions that her sex life with her husband is “sporadic.” She encourages another friend/neighbor to date a man who’s lived at home with his mother his entire life (in their 40s/50s) and has never had to work. Um, any woman with sense would have told her to run, run for her life! But not to worry, that turns out just fine too! The whole story is very tame with no authenticity to it. If that’s your thing, then you’ll love this. I prefer my people to be real and not bubble-wrapped mannequins living on a movie set (think: The Truman Show).
The romance between Aidan (grumpy neighbor) and Jess is unconvincing and also (sorry for overuse of this word but) boring. He has no sense of humor and no personality, which is fine because he goes along with Jess who also has no sense of humor or whimsy and no personality. He’s in the story and she’s in the story and sometimes they talk but I see nothing even mildly resembling chemistry, biology or even astronomy. Their romance is like early morning high school detention—you’re tired, you’ve got nothing to do and you keep falling asleep.
I read to page 129 then began to skim. I consider this book as read because I stopped long enough to read chunks but skipped the unnecessary stuff (Jess’s garden and the ever-so-lively debate about scones: jam first or clotted cream) (when I was in England, I did clotted cream first, then jam). This book is a bore unless you like safe, predictable, happy-ending-assured novels. I don’t.
Jess Metcalfe has lived her entire life in a small village with her grandmother, Mimi, who raised her from an early age after her parents died in a car crash. After Mimi dies and Jess loses her safe job as a librarian, she decides to take Mimi’s advice and start over somewhere new. An aimless drive in the West Country causes her to stumble into Middlemass, a small village. While there, she discovers a slightly rundown cottage, falls in love with it, and impulsively purchases it. One hitch—the cottage comes with an abandoned phone booth and even though it sits on her land, the village council has the ultimate say in what to do with it. They decide to turn it into a small lending library and Jess jumps at the opportunity to fill it with all of her and Mimi’s treasured books. She hopes this will help bring her out of her shell and introduce her to her neighbors—even her cranky, but terribly handsome, next door neighbor. But will Jess have the courage to see her plans through?
Eye roll. Jess, as a character, is boring. She’s in her early 30s and has never done anything with her life. Nothing at all interesting or slightly crazy. She’s never had a romantic relationship. She has only one close friend and that woman lives in New Zealand. Even the books she reads are the classics (and I’m talking Swiss Family Robinson classics. Even Jane Austen seems a bit racy for her) and as a librarian I’d think she’d have a wider knowledge of all books, not just the comfy classics. She does help a young girl find more manga to read but I’m not convinced that Jess (despite her saying she read manga too) reads it either. She’s safe and conventional and so is this book.
Every complication or challenge or bit of discord in this book is cleared up painlessly and everything is hunky-dory in the end. Which is great if you like your emotions to be bubble-wrapped and your solutions gift-wrapped. I don’t. Jess, the thirty-year-old whose most daring moment in life (previous to her move) was interviewing for, and accepting a job as, a village librarian, is apparently the deus ex machina of the novel—village has no library, hey now she’s the librarian; neighbor having marital troubles, hey, Jess (having no relationship experience whatsoever) brings them together; grumpy (and it’s never explained why he’s so rude to her in the first few chapters) handsome neighbor fighting for child custody with his horrible ex-wife—well, not only does Jess solve this problem, but the awful ex-wife sees the light and retires gracefully from the scene as well. I mean, this Jess, she’s a miracle-worker!
A million eye-rolls. Jess is too boring and tame for me. She is scandalized when her neighbor mentions that her sex life with her husband is “sporadic.” She encourages another friend/neighbor to date a man who’s lived at home with his mother his entire life (in their 40s/50s) and has never had to work. Um, any woman with sense would have told her to run, run for her life! But not to worry, that turns out just fine too! The whole story is very tame with no authenticity to it. If that’s your thing, then you’ll love this. I prefer my people to be real and not bubble-wrapped mannequins living on a movie set (think: The Truman Show).
The romance between Aidan (grumpy neighbor) and Jess is unconvincing and also (sorry for overuse of this word but) boring. He has no sense of humor and no personality, which is fine because he goes along with Jess who also has no sense of humor or whimsy and no personality. He’s in the story and she’s in the story and sometimes they talk but I see nothing even mildly resembling chemistry, biology or even astronomy. Their romance is like early morning high school detention—you’re tired, you’ve got nothing to do and you keep falling asleep.
I read to page 129 then began to skim. I consider this book as read because I stopped long enough to read chunks but skipped the unnecessary stuff (Jess’s garden and the ever-so-lively debate about scones: jam first or clotted cream) (when I was in England, I did clotted cream first, then jam). This book is a bore unless you like safe, predictable, happy-ending-assured novels. I don’t.
March 4, 2022
I only got a very short way into this book before being so badly turned off I quit. On the very first page, the protagonist and her bestie are celebrating protagonist's "freedom" from a decade spent "buried alive" working at a public library. Wow. Ok, so, fine, you're not happy with your workplace, fair enough. But a few pages later up pops this sentence: "Being a librarian...was no longer an option and being a librarian anywhere else was a doubtful ambition; council funding cuts and the digital age were making traditional librarian skills increasingly obsolete." This is just straight up shitty information. The writer clearly loves books, otherwise they wouldn't be writing a book?? And this is their impression of libraries??? Forget it. ARC courtesy of NetGalley.
November 29, 2022
This is definitely a love story, but not in the usual sense. It is about book-love, and about how a life filled with books and reading can lead to contentment. Not only that, it is a proclamation of the fact that book lovers cannot keep their “wealth” from spilling into the lives of others, in a pay-it-forward way.
A must-read for those that understand what wonderful friends books can be.
A must-read for those that understand what wonderful friends books can be.
March 24, 2025
this book had all the makings of a heartwarming and charming read, but unfortunately, it fell a bit short of its potential.
the premise of a small, quirky library and its impact on the lives of the characters is delightful and is what actually made me decide to pick it up in the first place (because I love books about books). there are moments that genuinely tug at the heartstrings, but the pacing is a big issue, especially in the beginning. the story takes a long time to pick up momentum, which was quite frustrating, as I was hoping to dive into the charm of the plot right away.
while the setting is lovely and the characters have promise, the slow start makes it difficult to fully engage with them in the early chapters. there's a lot of build-up, but not much happens in the first half, which made the reading experience feel like a slog rather than an enjoyable escape. that said, the later parts of the book do offer some redemption, with the story eventually finding its rhythm and offering the heartwarming moments I hoped for.
overall, I would say that it's a pleasant read, but its slow pacing and lack of early excitement kept it from being the truly charming, comforting and heartwarming novel it could have been.
the premise of a small, quirky library and its impact on the lives of the characters is delightful and is what actually made me decide to pick it up in the first place (because I love books about books). there are moments that genuinely tug at the heartstrings, but the pacing is a big issue, especially in the beginning. the story takes a long time to pick up momentum, which was quite frustrating, as I was hoping to dive into the charm of the plot right away.
while the setting is lovely and the characters have promise, the slow start makes it difficult to fully engage with them in the early chapters. there's a lot of build-up, but not much happens in the first half, which made the reading experience feel like a slog rather than an enjoyable escape. that said, the later parts of the book do offer some redemption, with the story eventually finding its rhythm and offering the heartwarming moments I hoped for.
overall, I would say that it's a pleasant read, but its slow pacing and lack of early excitement kept it from being the truly charming, comforting and heartwarming novel it could have been.
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