The Littlest Library

I was really loving this book and I couldn’t put it down but I got worried the closer I got to the end because I saw how so much still needed to be addressed but there was only pages left. Turns out I was right to be concerned. I’m baffled as to how the author could’ve spun such an engrossing story full of rich characters to keep the reader fully engaged but then all of a sudden run out of a way to bring everyone’s arcs to a satisfying conclusion. Such a charming cute book and I loved the characters and the village but there was a lot the author left unresolved. She addressed Jess considering getting rescue hens for eggs (mentioned getting creosote a few times for the coop) only to never bring it up again. Jess also brought up keeping bees but never took that to a logical conclusion. Jess needed a job-she was a librarian, a cook, she made preserves and bread and she could garden and clean and do so many things that she could’ve turned into a profit. Instead she takes a job earning half of what she used to make - she has bats still living in her attic (she’s completely fine with that?!) the house needs major work done on it still and yet nope she’s gonna make it work somehow on barely any income?! She had an offer for a perfectly great job that pry could’ve allowed her to keep the cottage and get a tiny apt in the town where the job was. She could’ve come back on the weekends to tend to the house, garden and library. She could’ve worked that job for a year or so until she had some income built up and been developing a plan to go into business for herself by selling her jams, breads, honey and eggs. She was pretty independent and yet it ends with her having helped everyone else get what they wanted but she was just left with a part time job making nothing. Aidan was kind of a jerk who only committed to her once things in his life were the way he wanted them. Jess has this great friend Hannah who we are led to believe might come for a visit and yet the book ends and nothing happened with that. The town is painted out to be very small and yet they found 1,000 people to sign petitions?! Where were all those people?! Such a huge deal was made over the defibrillator and then they just come up with an obviously perfect solution at the last minute that could’ve been proposed from the getgo. Also I did not like the way the author painted Becky out to be this shrew who complained about everything leading you to believe that maybe she was gonna leave Rakesh at some point but then next thing you know they are all good! That was baffling. I do love that this is a sweet charming story but it seemed like the author just gave up at the end and didn’t try to put any effort into a satisfying conclusion. Horribly disappointing.

I read as many books based in the UK countryside that I can find and this book is definitely in my top 5. It has everything you could ask for heart love BOOKS💙wonderful characters heartbreak and romance. I’ve found a new author that I love. And can’t wait to read her next other books.

Love The Littlest Library by Poppy Alexander. I finished this book portraying the magic of books in a blink!!

Jess Metcalfe feels the loss of her glamorous grandmother who raised her like it was yesterday. She puts up her g-ma’s home for sale, goes on a drive, and traffic causes her to take a turn into her new life path. That path leads her to get stuck in the middle of the road, see a picturesque house for sale with a phone booth phone in front, and meet grumpy yet helpful Aiden Foxworthy. Although she forgot to take the full tour of the house for sale, she finds out she needs to move soon and on a whim makes an offer for the picture perfect house. She picks up the keys to her new house and the seller turns out to be none other than the tree surgeon, her neighbor across the pond, hunky Aiden!

Books that hold the right messages for us come into our lives when we least expect it! That is what I have always believed and that is one of this book’s messages. This book not only contains a romantic interest, but love for books, small town community, and especially healing. Sometimes, healing is through books. I love that the village was able to heal from the messages Jess’s late grandmother wrote in the books! I love how Jess was able to help the village in many ways. I love her growth from a grieving introvert to a vital Middlemass villager!!

There is so much in this charming “little” book! If you enjoy reading about small towns, inspirational stories, making friends, annoyed neighbors, handsome neighbors, and book lovers to name a few, pick up this book!!