[BWF] The Last Chance Library, by Freya Sampson (3 stars)

[KateNZ]

This was a surprise find at the library that quite a few people had thought was 5 stars. Well, it isn’t anywhere near my 5 stars, or even 4, but it was a sweet story. Plus I am always a sucker for stories about the community value of libraries.

Shy June has been stuck in a rut since her go-getter, ‘heart of the community’ mother died of cancer several years before. Her only real joys are her books and working as library assistant in the small town library that her mother used to run. But when the library is threatened with closure as part of council budget cuts, June discovers that she may have both more friends and more grit than she ever imagined she had.

The story has a small cast of characters who represent some key groups for whom libraries are so important - and particularly who show why libraries are not just about books. There’s also a gentle romance element. It’s all very predictable but I wanted a fast, pleasant read that I didn’t have to concentrate on for the plane and this fit the bill perfectly. I also liked how the other characters showed June that she was so much more than she thought she was to others. It’s a very optimistic book about human nature at a time when a little bit of optimism is so badly needed.

Team: Sassy Sisters. Spelling for S. Tagged 5 stars x 8

[NancyJ]

This sub-genre does get a little predictable (though for me The Reading List had extra depth). I think we all need a good dose of optimism from time to time, and I like the way you described the characters too. ( I wonder if there are many tags for optimism, when we need a dose.)

[KateNZ]

I don’t know Nancy, but I’m almost tempted to start an ‘optimism’ shelf!