The Library at Wagtail Ridge (Wagtail Ridge, #1) in Aussie Readers

Nov 18, 2022 Brenda rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: aussie-authors, 2022-release, net-galley, contemporary-fiction, 3500-2022, read-on-kindle, arc, own-read, rural

When Lou Taylor arrived home one afternoon to see her parents sitting at the kitchen table, concern on their faces, she immediately felt something was wrong. The letter waiting for her was from a solicitor, and it was to tell her she'd inherited property from her birth mother, a woman Lou didn't remember, and didn't really want to know about. Lou had always known she was adopted, but the love she held for her parents was such that she didn't feel the need to find her birth parents. Now though, i When Lou Taylor arrived home one afternoon to see her parents sitting at the kitchen table, concern on their faces, she immediately felt something was wrong. The letter waiting for her was from a solicitor, and it was to tell her she'd inherited property from her birth mother, a woman Lou didn't remember, and didn't really want to know about. Lou had always known she was adopted, but the love she held for her parents was such that she didn't feel the need to find her birth parents. Now though, it seemed her birth mother had died, leaving a mystery for Lou - but was it one she was ready to solve?

With the encouragement and support of her parents back in Sydney, Lou headed to the small town of Wagtail Ridge in the Hunter Valley and the cottage she'd inherited. What she discovered was a town of friendly folk who all knew and loved Luca Bonnet, Lou's mother, and who wanted to talk to Lou about her. But Lou wasn't ready, and confusion saw her hiding away, unsure whether to leave it all in the hands of the local real estate, or work through what she had to do. The letter she discovered was the beginning of a trail which would lead her to answers - but would they help? Jake Barnes, a neighbour and the person who'd been looking after the cottage grounds, and his retriever Ollie, were there if she needed them, as was Luca's best friend Deb. But were they enough? And what could she possibly do with the mobile library in the shed?

The Library at Wagtail Ridge is another wonderfully written novel by Aussie author Janet Gover, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Wagtail Ridge is a small fictional country town just like many throughout Australia, filled with caring, friendly people (along with the occasional busybody!) who took Lou under their wing, giving her space when she needed it, and wrapping her in their embrace when she needed that. I'm really loving Ms Gover's work, and look forward to her next. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Jul 21, 2023 Helen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: review-copy-from-netgalley

This is such a beautiful story, wonderful characters, fabulous setting and filled with emotion, I did shed a few tears reading this one as I got to know Lou, Jake and the lovely people from Wagtail Ridge and the surrounding communities. What can I say who doesn’t love a library?

Lou Taylor has grown up very happy in the suburbs of Sydney with her adoptive parents, she has just finished her degree and has been working at the university till she finds that special job, arriving home one day there i ...more

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Jul 11, 2025 Catsalive rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2025, tower

A very pleasant, easy read. I love the Wagtail Ridge Mobile Library & it's peregrinations around all those tiny towns in the Hunter Region, it's such a lovely way to keep the communities connected, as is the fundraising to keep it operational. I would have liked more travels in the library.

Lou Taylor is a nice enough girl, she did come across as closer to 13 than 23 on occasion which was irritating, but I can understand how frustrating it might have been for her to get Luca's story in dribs and ...more

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Jun 29, 2024 Rhoda rated it really liked it · review of another edition

4.5 stars

Thank you to @harlequinaus for sending me a copy of this book to review!

Lou has always known she was adopted, however when she unexpectedly inherits a cottage in the country and a mobile library full of books from the birth mother she never knew, she sets off to the small town of Wagtail Ridge to discover a bit about her birth mother and sell the cottage.

Lou’s birth mother had her own ideas though which included her daughter learning about her life in a rather unconventional way.

After ...more

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