Not sure how I feel about this book. If it was another time in my life I would probably love it but right now it fell flat

2023 has proven to NOT be the year of rom-coms for me. I chalk it all up to my own personal mental state and a case of “right book, wrong time.” And this book has proved no exception. I can see so many qualities in this book that I’m sure many will love. There’s a vast community of colorful characters who get up to lots of mischief, there’s found family, and, of course, there’s a love story. But this one just proved too zany for me and the main character was just, for me, wholly unbelievable. I just can’t imagine a 50 year old doing some of the things this character does. From the aspect of being a librarian who is a book snob, to ridiculing and judging individuals born with birthmarks on their faces, to behaving childishly at almost every inconvenience…or otherwise calling the police. It was just too much for me. However, I am so grateful for the opportunity to read a book that features a main character within an often too-overlooked demographic (50+ lesbian).

This book wasn't my cup of tea. I found Nan to be rude, unprofessional, and honestly, she's been a librarian for 20 years and can't handle middle schoolers?

I'm sure there will be folks who enjoy it, but it wasn't for me.

In this book, Nan, whose last name is only mentioned once at the very beginning of the book and which I promptly forgot, is tired of the monotony of her life at age 50, which is mentioned several times throughout the book. So she takes a leap and leaves her 25 year job as a librarian in the big city and moves to a small town, taking over their dismal library. As expected, it's a culture shock, and she almost gives up and runs away, but of course, she doesn't. Unexpectedly, though there was a hint of spice (complete fade to black, no description at all), the story pretty quickly veered away from it. And while there was a romance on the horizon, it didn't focus on that at all. This book was more about Nan figuring out who she is and what she wants out of life. And when she's presented with an opportunity that most people wouldn't think twice about accepting, she listens to herself and recognizes that it's not what she wants or needs and that it won't make her happy. I greatly appreciate that this book was about a middle-aged, established queer, rather than someone just discovering her sexual identity. Not every queer book has to be about the beginning. We also have a middle and an end, and they can be just as interesting as the beginning, if not more so. As I get older and look back on my younger days, I don't miss the anxiety and uncertainty of that time of my life. We aren't always dramatic, and our love lives aren't always tumultuous. And so, I enjoy reading about people like myself, who have already had their journey of self-discovery and are just living their lives like everyone else. I would give this book 4 stars for that reason alone. But it was also well-written, and I liked all of the supporting characters, as well. I would have loved happier resolutions for some of them, but that's real life, and Kathy Anderson captured that perfectly in this book.

I want to start this review by saying that I went into this book expecting it to be one genre and it ended up being completely different.

I expected romance but that is not what this book is, or rather not the type of romance I had anticipated.

It is a book about love though, and it’s a deep love I appreciate so much, because it is about a love of books, a love of readers interacting and a love of libraries.

Nan was someone who took me a little bit to love as a character, and the entire book, of course is from her point of view. She is a little judgemental at first, and very set in her ways and what she thinks she wants out of life. What I appreciate most about her, is that she does allow herself to change, because no matter what age you’re at it’s never bad to learn or turn over a new leaf.

T was a character I almost feel like the book could actually do without. I admittedly almost put down the book because she was not to my taste.

Jeremy is the one I became most attached to throughout the book, as well as the men in Nan’s bookclub.

Overall this book left me with warm fuzzy feelings.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. It was a fun, fresh, quirky, delightful book!

2.5/3
Thank you to the publisher, getredprbooks and NetGalley for my copies.

I wanted to love this book, but it just didn’t grip me the way I had hoped. Nan is a librarian who moved to South Jersey to start fresh as the town librarian. There are many antics that happen in the library that frustrate Nan, but she develops a friendship with many of the staff and patrons, and over time is able to build a makeshift family out of her new found friends.

This is a great story of LGBTQ+ representation, and I loved how Nan is unapologetically herself. I enjoyed learning about the inner workings of the library, and seeing the people rally around eachother to create a little network for Nan. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel connected enough to Nan or the supporting cast, and I felt a lot of the scenes dragged on or could have been eliminated.

I was a little apprehensive about this book after starting it- I wasn’t sure about the main character and her motivations/ambitions. But as kept reading, I was very drawn in. I fell in love the cast of characters, really felt the highs and lows they did. I ended up liking this much more than what I expected and would definitely recommend it for anyone looking for reassurance that even when we’re older, we can still change and life is good.

Enjoyable, great pacing, exciting settings kept me hooked. Fun novel that will be the perfect beach read. Thank you Net Galley for ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

The New Town Librarian is such a sweet story about all your dreams coming true. There are not enough stories about badass librarians. This is the perfect pallette cleanser book, especially if you have been reading heavy books.

A feel-good slice-of-life story about a queer middle-aged librarian who gets a new job in a small New Jersey town. The simple writing, quirky cast of characters and short chapters made this a breeze to read through. I really enjoyed reading about Nan's love for books as well as her connecting with some of the townspeople, especially Joe and Jeremy. I did find that the sheer amount of characters caused me to not be able to connect to them as much as I would've liked. I also didn't care for the way this novel was structered - two or three chapters at a time would be dedicated to a specific issue in Nan's life before we were swiftly moved on to the next event. Instead of weaving these mounting worries throughout the chapters of this book, the story sortof read as a guide for how to get your shit together as a queer middle-aged hypochondriac. Which wasn't bad to read about necessarily?? IDK, I enjoyed reading this story but I wouldn't read it again, if that makes sense.
TL;DR: If you're in the mood for a "no plot, just vibes" story about a queer horny fifty-year-old librarian, this might be the book for you!

The New Town Librarian was such a cozy read!📚👓

Nan is in her 50s and still hasn’t found what she would consider her “dream job”. When a job posting for the head librarian in a small town opens, she jumps at the chance for something new. What she doesn’t expect is a stingy council, masked middle-schoolers who like to run in and shout obscenities, or a new romance (or two…).

Honestly, the only thing that irritated me about this book was the presence of T (Thomason’s). She was an absolute cringe human and I do not understand why Nan was into her. The cursing middle scholars and Nan’s retaliation was definitely a highlight. And her relationship with her landlady and her husband was so sweet!

thanks NetGalley and Ninestar Press for this arc in exchange for an honest review

After turning the last page of Kathy Anderson's "The New Town Librarian," I found myself unexpectedly moved by this tale of self-discovery and transformation. The idea that it's never too late to find yourself and your place in the world was beautifully conveyed. The protagonist, Nan, was as unconventional as they come - a hypochondriac, cynical, middle-aged librarian who managed to make me root for her despite her flaws.

What particularly struck me was the authentic representation of small-town life and the library's role. Nan's unique approach to the library, with initiatives like provocative book displays and a hypochondriac hotline, had a certain charm. It was heartening to see her win over the town's diverse and, at times, quirky inhabitants and to witness how they, in turn, helped her shed her cynicism and genuinely become part of their community.

Of course, some parts stretched reality, but these elements added a touch of whimsical humor instead of detracting from the story. The narrative's flow might have stumbled in places, but it didn't hamper my engagement. Instead, it felt like I was reading a series of vividly drawn vignettes from Nan's life. It was like being on a fun rollercoaster ride, slightly topsy-turvy but ultimately exhilarating.

Ultimately, "The New Town Librarian" was a journey that offered far more than I had anticipated. It was not just about a woman finding her place but about the power of community, friendship, and being open to change at any age. It was a heartwarming tale that made me laugh, tear up, and, most importantly, think. And as a reader, there's nothing more I could ask for. This is one book I can't recommend enough. Thanks to Kathy Anderson, Ninestar Press, and Netgalley for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book is perfect for anyone who loves the library. It is quaint and is a love letter to all things bookish. This is the perfect gift for anyone who loves the literary world.

Overall, this was okay. I can't really tell you what the plot is, because I'm really not sure. However, the truth is that I didn't really care! This is a book I wouldn't read for the plot, but the feelings each scene evokes. I did like Nan (the mc) for the most part, though she had some questionable opinions at times.

There were some strange comments at the beginning that rubbed me the wrong way (such as an implication that only those who read classics are "smart"), which is partially why this book lost a star. I also felt the book jumped around a bit, because there were quite a few characters and it seemed random, though that wasn't something that bothered me that much.

A book that came to my mind at certain points was Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. The two books have little bits that are similar and some sections have similar vibes, in my opinion.

Also, I don't typically make book playlists but I would put the song Birthday Cake by Dylan Conrique for this one if I did.

So: was this book amazing? No, but I liked it and it got me out of a reading slump!

the new town librarian by kathy anderson: 2 out of 5 stars

this book was not for me. i had such high hopes: a queer 50yo woman is unhappy with her librarian position in philly, so she moves to a small town to become the town librarian. it could have been cute and cozy and heartwarming, but nan (the main character) was judgmental as hell and nothing happened in the book.

nan complains about almost everything, is upset when she doesn’t get a job in ptown (nan babe you are not progressive enough), starts a secret book club with two of her favorite patrons because they’re the only people who are ~serious~ about books, loves and puts too much emphasis on the classics, judges many of her coworkers. i don’t know if it is an age/generational difference, but to me nan felt like a boomer who thinks she’s progressive yet refuses to understand what white supremacy is. thinks she’s so liberalized but has no qualms calling the cops. claims she wants everyone to read but is judgmental and picky about what people are reading.

i do not recommend this book.

thank you to netgalley and nine star press for the arc in exchange for an honest review. this book is available now.

Going into this book, I had zero expectations. I requested an arc of it because as someone who wishes one day to be a librarian, the premise sounded interesting. I was not expecting to finish this book almost in one day, and cry.
I’ve read some of the other reviews on this book and one common critique I’ve seen is that the book doesn’t flow. But I would argue that it is not meant too; this isn’t a linear plot, a story with a defined point a and b, it’s more of a meandering river, that shows us the development of a character. This book would be more accurately described as a slice of life, or a character study.
Speaking of characters, every character in this book was absolutely fascinating. I loved every single one of them, and the author has a knack for making each one feel like a real person.
I love the main character. She’s a funky librarian lesbian who, at 50 years old, needs a fresh start. She’s searching for peace, happiness, a place to belong and perhaps love. And over the course of the story she finds that, in some very unexpected places. I cried at several different points in this book due to the found family and the growth that Nan experiences as a character.
The library aspect of this book was pure gold. I love libraries; they’ve always been a place of refuge for me, especially during my teen years. It’s a magical place full of every kind of knowledge or story you could need. This quote from the book especially struck me: “All are welcome here. All are embraced here. In a way, the public library was as fantastical a world as these imaginary ones(fantasy books).”
All in all this book completely surprised me and I think it’s a favourite now. 5/5 stars

When semi content librarian Nan plays a game of "new job roulette", she happily ends up as the director of a small town library. The challenges of learning her job, navigating small town politics and relationships, and tenant life, she finds creative solutions and happiness in unlikely places.

It took me a bit to get into this one, mostly because the discontent of the character permeated the entire book but as her attitudes changed, so did the tone of the book and as a device it was well done.

#arc
#netgalley
#thenewtownlibrarian

‘The New Town Librarian’ by Kathy Anderson was a fun, sweet, and quick read with an amazing protagonist that I adored, and a super sweet romance, as well as some truly great friendships. Highly recommend!

Definitely a nice read for any librarian. It was really fun and cute and I enjoyed reading this outside in my backyard. I love that she was a 50 year old queer librarian. I am always attached to books that have a bookish theme to it! I’ll be recommending this to my friends and family