As a librarian, I am partial to books about books and libraries. This one did not disappoint. I appreciated the quotes from books at the chapter beginnings and also the ones mixed in as advice for the characters. This book addresses so many issues that resonate with me like grief, health issues, aging, and anxiety in a compassionate and non-triggering way. Thank you to NetGalley for making it possible for me to read and review this book. All opinions are solely mine.

Writing this review breaks my heart because I wanted to love this book.

I’m a big Annie Rains fan, but this book was not my favorite. There were a couple things in this book I couldn’t get past.

The ages were confusing to me. They said June was 12. Savannah was 29. Evan was in his 30s. Then they said Savannah and Evan were both 19 at the same time. And that 19 was the last time they saw each other, but June wasn’t alive then so that further mixed up the ages.

I wish we knew a little back story about June’s mom and how her and Evan met, etc.

I enjoyed Eleanor; Charlie, and June. However, Savannah and Evan didn’t give me soul mate vibes. I truly didn’t care when they broke up and wasn’t necessarily rooting for them. This book I feel like was more about June’s journey settling into Bloom, Savannah’s journey with Lupus, and Eleanor’s journey leaving the house. This book isn’t for someone hoping to read a romance book in my opinion.

I love annie rains too much to give her only 2 stars or to write a negative review publicly so I will just leave this here. Thanks for the opportunity to read it!

I couldn't put this book down! Best book of the year so far! Savannah goes "home" to her aunts house to recover from a broken engagement to Mr. Wrong. He refused to be there for her in sickness and in health.
She finds her aunt dealing with some inner struggles as well as her childhood best friend, now a single dad. Trying to help his daughter recover from the loss of her mother.

All are dealing with their past hurts. Can they overcome them to move forward?

Ms. Rains did a wonderful job of researching and learning about the struggles of living with an autoimmune disease. As someone who lives with one. I can relate to Savannah's struggles. Especially after the failed relationship with Mr. Wrong.

I encourage everyone to read this book!!

The Finders Keepers Library is a feel-good and emotional story. It deals with the fear of living with health challenges, loss, moving forward, making changes, and best of all, learning to open one’s heart to new love and finding and accepting new “normals”. I loved the tie-ins to books, the bits of advice Eleanor dispensed from various book quotes, the listening potential of the roses, and Figaro - so many unique touches and delightful characters. This is definitely a book worth reading.

Like the book shows, sometimes the right book is placed in your hands for a reason. I felt like this was the book I needed to read right now. I was immediately invested in each character and cared about what happened to them. The little town of Bloom, North Carolina was a place where anyone would feel welcomed.. Each chapter begins with a quote from a different novel that relates to what is going on in the chapter, and I really enjoyed seeing how that quote would come to fruition in each chapter. My only wish is that the actual Finders Keepers Library was more a part of the story. if you are looking for a story with relatable characters, and a happy ending this is your book.

I used to really love Annie's books, but I just can't get into the recent releases. They are so sappy and unbelievable and read like a bad soap opera. I love a good romance, but there has to be some believability. Both of the last two books have had such bad and corny dialogue. I only read the first 2 chapters before giving up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for allowing me the opportunity to early read The Finders Keepers Library. This is the first book from Annie Rains that I have read and I was immediately drawn in by the characters. The story deals with real life issues surrounding loss of loved ones, grief, and disabilities but in such an encouraging and uplifting way. If you are an avid reader you will love the book references and quotes within this book. This is a sweet story and has me wanting to create my own garden library. I look forward to reading more from Annie Rains.

I love books about books and I really enjoyed Through the Snow Globe by this author when I read it last September. What I liked about her last book was that every chapter felt fresh and new and had me feeling all the feels. That is missing from The Finders Keepers Library. It was very repetitive and schmaltzy, I felt like I was reading a script for a Hallmark Movie wrapped in pretty paper. I mean let’s be honest what book lover isn’t going to love that cover? Hallmark movie-type books have their place in the world and that’s okay if you’re into those (I am not) but this was overly sentimental and cheesy. I don’t mind sweet but corny grates on me. What most people enjoy about those types of books I hate…I like suffering! Everything just seemed to wrap up in a nice little bow and HEA and I wanted more difficulties and conflicts.

There is a lot to like about this book as well though. Two characters are dealing with health-related issues, one with a disease and one who lost the use of her legs due to an accident and is now in a wheelchair. I liked how the book showed you can still lead a normal life being differently abled. It is no secret that I am deaf but my life is as normal as it gets. I have kids, a job, hobbies and go to family parties and out with friends. I also liked that there was a character who was a single dad just trying to do his best and the character of his daughter June had flaws but she wasn’t a total brat and when she did misbehave he didn’t let her away with it. Another thing that I loved was that there was a late-in-life romance subplot. Ellie and Charlie were adorable.

Each chapter started with a book quote but I wish the author had used to library as part of the story more. It should or could have been a character as well. I would have enjoyed more Books and Blooms meetings there and would have appreciated more of the community involvement, I did enjoy what little bit there was I just wanted more of it. All in all, this was a halfway decent read and June and the books saved it for me.

The finders keepers library

Savannah Collin’s heads to Bloom, North Carolina, to spend the summer with her Aunt Eleanor, a retired librarian.

Her aunt has love of literature. Has Finders Keepers Library, located in her beautiful garden, where anyone can stop by to pick a book or leave a book. A summer storm destroys the library and the roses, it will take a village to get everything ready for the wedding that is planned there.

As friends join in to make the necessary repairs, Savannah shots time with neighbor Evan Sanders over the books that Eleanor has handpicked for each of them, helping them both find healing and self-discovery. Savannah plans to stay through the summer, but when a job offer, health crisis, and a pre-teen push her in new directions, she has to decide whether this is the place that she is meant to be.

This was a slow start and slow end for me, But I loved the story and the characters.

I want to go find a patch of roses to talk to!

I loved all the book quotes and my favorite was — “It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.” Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley; Forever Publishing. all opinions are my own.

What a delightful read! Any title with the word “Library” in it is going to grab me right away. I highly recommend.

I loved this book. It was heartfelt and romantic. I loved how it talked about the romances for both the aunt and niece. It goes to show that you've never too old to fall in love again. it was heartfelt and romantic. I look forward to reading more books by Annie Rains. I'm grateful that netgalley and the publishers let me read this in exchange for an honest review.

This was absolutely delightful. The plot was well-paced and captivating from start to finish. The characters were charming and witty. I highly recommend this fun and quick read! Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for sharing the privilege of an ARC of this book with me. The Finders Keepers Library by Annie Rains is a sweet story of the re-kindling of old friendships and relationships finding their way together through both sickness and in health. It does take a small village to help your friends and neighbors manage through difficult situations. Savannah returning to Bloom to re-invent her life after a health diagnosis and troubling break-up. Aunt Eleanor finding the strength to rely on others to help her regain courage after an accident and Evan dealing with the new found role of full-time parent to a pre-teen daughter. It all comes together in a nicely blended story with familiar book classic quotes intertwined in the storytelling. Very easy enjoyable read with all sweetness and no spice.

Thank you to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest and independent review of The Finders Keepers Library.

When Savannah, a botanist, finds herself without a fiancé, without a job, and without a home on the heels of her Lupus diagnosis, she does the only thing that feels right and returns to her childhood summer escape in Bloom, North Carolina to visit her aunt Eleanor, a retired librarian overflowing with advice in the form of quotations from her favorite novels.

As Savannah starts to work on a game plant to get her life back on track after her series of unfortunate events, her world is upturned again when she runs into her childhood crush and best friend, Evan (Eleanor's next door neighbor) during a storm that would ravage Eleanor's picturesque backyard garden, complete with the Finders Keepers Library at the heart of it. With Savannah being the plant whisperer that she is and Even jumping at the opportunity to repair the Library (to spend time with Savannah), the pair are thrust together with the goal of returning the garden to it's former glory in order to host a wedding in three weeks.

Over the course of the next few weeks, Savannah will learn a lesson about second chance love and the ability to trust yourself and others, even when life has taught you otherwise and understanding that it's okay to ask for help.

With a lovable cast of characters, this book was truly a standout for me that honestly just made me feel good while reading it. It is my first Annie Rains novel, but it certainly won't be my last! The characters are complex and their insecurities are real. I loved the small town, quaint feel where everyone knows everyone and everyone supports everyone. Hope you all enjoy as much as I did!

I love just about everything Annie Rains writes, and this one was no exception. As I was sitting down to write this review, it struck me just how many tropes this one hits: single dad, second chance, small town happily ever after romance. There are probably more that I am missing, but with all that going on, is it any wonder that I found this to be a delightful, fun read? I also liked the book quotations at the beginning of each of the chapters, and how they tied things together.

There were a couple of things that I wished the book had more of- I love the idea of the little library in the backyard and would have loved more description if it, and also have it included a little more prominently in the story. The same with the greenhouse and Savannah’s dreams for it.

I think you will enjoy this book if you are looking for a pleasant, small town to escape to, for a little romance and a second chance at happiness!

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley; all opinions are my own.

thank you to NetGalley (and Grand Central Publishing) for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. do you like to hang out with books/libraries/gardens/small towns and nice people? this book is for you. the characters are well developed, kind hearted and flawed, as all humans are. there is time to explore a lovely garden, a backyard free library, and inside your heart, too. this book is soft but not sappy. it would make for a great beach or vacation read and also a wintry day inside by the fire.