As a book fairy I love spreading the joy of books and reading. So I when I read about The Littlest Library, in which a woman does just that by setting up a cute little library inside of an old British telephone box, I was instantly sold. And the story within the pages of this book is just as charming as you expect it to be from the description and delightful cover.
Jess Metcalf is not one for spontaneity or great adventures. She has lived with her grandmother in Bourton-on-the-Marsh for as long as she can remember and she has been working as a librarian for most of her adult life. But when her beloved grandmother passes away and she loses her job not long after, suddenly everything that's been so familiar and comforting in Jess's life is gone.
With her best, and only, friend living halfway across the world there is nothing tying Jess to Bourton-on-the-Marsh any longer. And one long drive to clear her head and figure out what to do next, results in an impulse buy of a small, ramshackle cottage in the village of Middlemass. What she hadn't counted on, however, is that the cottage comes with the responsibility of a disused red telephone box. Before too long, Jess gets roped into local village politics to bring new life into the iconic landmark, all while trying to find a new job, navigate critters in the cottage, and get to know the disagreeable but handsome next-door neighbour...
I used to read a lot of books that are classed as women's fiction romance novels. However, after a while, many started to feel similar to one another so I started to vary up my reading genres. When I heard about The Littlest Library, however, I couldn't resist the story and cover. And I am so glad I dipped my toes back into this genre, because this book was an utter delight from start to finish.
There are elements of the story that are a bit predictable, but that didn't take away my reading enjoyment one bit. This lovely book really makes a case for enjoying the journey as much as the destination – and the journey was such a charming and heartwarming one! I really felt for poor Jess at the start of the novel, having lost everything that was familiar to her. Her experiences were so relatable – and, I admit, that despite the hardships on her path I very much wanted to walk in her footsteps. After all, who doesn't want to own a their own cute cottage in a picturesque village?
Mostly though, I cannot express how wonderful it was to discover Middlemass and its community along with Jess. Author Poppy Alexander's vivid descriptions of the charming village location (oh how I wish it was a real place) and its quirky cast of characters was everything. I loved them all; from the elderly sisters who live next door to each other but have not spoken in years to the mystery man in a bowler hat borrowing all the romance novels from the little phone box.
The Littlest Library is a real feel-good novel that will tug at the heartstrings of its readers. With a delightful story, a will-they-won't-they romance, and loveable characters it is the perfect antidote to everything that's going on in the world right now. I picked up the book intending to read just a few chapters in the morning, and was unable to put it down until I turned the final page as it was such a joyful way to spend a Sunday. It was such a wonderful read, in fact, that it has completely reignited my love for this genre! Although, it'll be hard for another novel to beat this one in the charm-factor.
The Littlest Library by Poppy Alexander will be published in the UK by Orion Fiction on 18 March 2021 and you can order your copy now from your favourite book shop!
Blog tour stops for The Littlest Library by Poppy Alexander
This review for The Littlest Library is a part of the official blog tour for the launch of the book. Make sure you check out the other stops for more content!
Disclaimer: This book was gifted to me by the publisher, but this has not impacted this honest review.
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