Poppy Alexander (25 Days 'Til Christmas) brings readers a heartwarming, summery tale of second chances in The Littlest Library. Featuring an unexpectedly resilient librarian who faces trauma from her past and uses her books to bring together the residents of a charming English village, the novel speaks to the power of literature to change lives.
Jess Metcalfe, who was orphaned as a child, has been left reeling by the recent death of her beloved Mimi, the grandmother who raised her. Already unsure what to do with her empty life sans Mimi and after being laid off from her library job, Jess finds herself aimlessly driving through the English countryside and buying a cottage on a whim. Ivy Cottage comes with a classic red phone box in its yard, and Jess decides to turn it into a tiny library, filling it with Mimi's book collection. Slowly, Jess finds herself letting go of her lifelong anxieties and finding friendship--and possibly love--in the process.
Sweet and funny, The Littlest Library is perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella or Jenny Colgan. The village of Middlemass is full of a hilarious assortment of characters, including reluctant stay-at-home mum Becky; Aidan, the attractive tree surgeon; and Joan and Muriel, sisters who have refused to speak to each other for more than 30 years. Jess finds herself connecting with many of them, playing matchmaker, job-finder and book-recommender to everyone she meets. The Littlest Library is a lovable novel, perfect for reading on a sunny summer afternoon. --Jessica Howard, freelance book reviewer