Oh you sly little book you! I'm crying...this was such a lovely book. I LOVED Tom and Maggie and what they brought to each others lives. The story of community and family and the library! And the farm! Just..well after psychological thrillers and WW II books this was a nice dip into a small town, sending over some warm and fuzzies. 3 1/2 stars.

I blitzed through this book over the weekend as I just could not get enough. Light and witty I enjoyed every second. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“Like the rest of you, I always thought the library would be here. I never expected it to be under threat. It’s a stark reminder to not take anything in life for granted. You only properly start fighting for something when you realise you’re going to lose it.”

The Library is a novel by British author, Bella Osborne. Compton Mallow’s village library is many things to many people: for seventy-two-year-old Maggie, it represents a break from Providence Farm, some social interaction with her book club and a chance to read the papers; for sixteen-year-old Thomas Harris, it’s quiet place to study and revise for his GCSEs, and a source of the romance novels he hopes will teach him how to attract a certain girl.

While it’s inevitable that they notice each other, it’s not until Maggie punches Tom on the nose that they get to know one another better. Maggie is quickly impressed with this introverted young man, finding his company refreshing. While she is mostly self-sufficient at the farm, when she asks for help, Tom readily agrees, especially as a roast dinner is on offer. His dad’s cooking could never come close and, while not prepared to openly admit it, Tom is surprised at the rapport he has with this witty old lady.

When he encounters that certain girl in the library, he manages to chat about books without being wholly overcome by the embarrassment that usually plagues him. Later, they learn that the library is under threat of closure and, together with Maggie’s book group and other library patrons, they vow to fight the council’s short-sighted plan.

Meanwhile, Maggie calls on Tom’s assistance more often, glad that he is both willing and interested in farm work, and she’s happy to have someone else to cook for. They open up more to one another, and Maggie has sound advice about study and further education. On the farm, Tom finds himself involved in tasks he could never have anticipated, and enthralled by newborn animals.

When Tom phones Maggie in a panic one night, she does not hesitate to come to his aid, and their relationship enters a new phase. But Maggie has not been entirely honest about her past, a past that Tom’s continued presence has her reaching out for, with unfortunate consequences.

What a wonderful cast of characters Osborne gives the reader: appealing for all their very human flaws, growing and changing with the challenges they face. And there are quite a few: alcoholism, loneliness, grief, guilt, social isolation and low self-esteem. It’s lovely to see Tom and Maggie ultimately fighting for the library that brought them together when they most needed to meet. This is a delightfully funny, heart-warming feel-good story with a satisfying happy ending.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Aria & Aries

Intergenerational friendships always warm my heart and Tom and Maggie’s friendship is no different. Although the majority of this plot doesn’t really center around the library, it is the library that acts as a catalyst to bring all the characters together, and isn’t that what libraries do?! In defining Maggie and Tom’s friendship, Osborne really explores the how different yet the same our experiences can be. Tom’s burgeoning love of the outdoors, animals and cooking sealed the deal for me! A delightful read!

What a lovely book, I was hooked from the very beginning. So far, this is my favorite book for 2021. And secretly I'm hoping for a second book with one of the characters from The Library, perhaps Christine the library lady, or the farmer who lives on his own near Maggie.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.

What a joyful, heartwarming book! I read this in one sitting as I was fully invested in Tom and Maggie’s story and their unlikely friendship. Although this book deals with some difficult subjects such as alcoholism, it is not difficult to read - the subjects are dealt with in way that acknowledges the illness with understanding and hope.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. Bella Osbourne is fast becoming one of my favourite authors and although this is a slightly different genre for her, it is still recognisable as her writing, full of believable and fully developed characters. I loved it!

Thank you to Netgalley and Aria Fiction for a free digital copy.

This book is a DELIGHT. I requested it on Netgalley on a whim and it worked its way into my favorite books of the year so far. It's not my usual genre, but it's so heartwarming that I couldn't put it down.

Tom is a 16 year old boy being raised by his alcoholic father after his mom years ago. He likes a girl, but doesn't know how to talk to her. He seeks guidance at his local public library in the romance section. There he meets Maggie, a 72 year old independent lady, who frequents the library weekly for book club and runs her own farm. When the library is threatened to be closed, it propels these acquaintances into an unlikely friendship. These two form a bond that goes beyond what you would expect, but it's because they are both what the other needs.

If you love sincere characters that are sweet but not too much so, you will enjoy this book that is not just about a library, but about finding your family and where you belong.

Content Warning: Alcoholism, Death of a Parent, Bullying