Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my electronic ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book was published July 1, 2020.

Cute story about a woman who creates a Lending Library in her home while the city library is being renovated. Her passion for matching books with readers was delightful.

The book started off a bit slow, then was a bit predictable but I still enjoyed it. Good summer read for lovers of libraries and chick-lit.

Original review posted on GoodReads.

I wanted to love this book but there was just too much going on.

The main character Dodie, was an art teacher at a local school and a certified bibliophile who spent all her spare time at the local library. when the library closes for refurbishment she decides to set up a lending library from her home to bridge the gap as the nearest library was a long drive away.

Couple this with the handsome local builder and there is a great foundation for a romantic, book-based chick-lit = perfect.

However, starting the library and finding a man was only the start.
1) Due to low fertility levels in her family Dodie wanted a baby within 2 years of the start of the book
2) She can't commit to a relationship because of her dad abandoning her family
3) She wants to adopt her dead friend's child due to her close attachment to him

Each of these sub story lines could have made a decent chick-lit book within itself but there was so much she wanted to achieve it gave the appearance that she was fickle - jumping from the library, to the man, to the adoption and back again.

I think the library was meant to be the main plot but it was muddied by the other, more complex sub-plots.

This book was not for me. It was way too light and fluffy and had almost every stereotype of a small-town character. Even the parts that were supposed to make the reader emotional felt flat. Not every book is for every reader and I am going to chalk this one up as just not my kind of book.

How silly of me to think that the Lending Library would be the focus of this book. Disappointed to know that the story focused instead on the main character's personal life, her love life, her biological clock etc.
Even giving her an abbreviated nickname for Dodie (Do) did little to endear her to me. She proved to be a young, mixed up, still searching for meaning woman with a lending library as a backdrop.
The premise of coming to the aid of her town without a real library was wonderful, the set-up in her own home admirable, the little bookmarks heart-warming but the mix of characters just did not do it for me.

SO, in this #BlackLivesMatter and #MeToo moment, why on *EARTH* pick up a privileged white lady's story of how Becoming A Mother and fulfilling the needs of her wacky New England neighbors for light reading and doing it all by herself dammit!!?

Because it was deeply silly and mostly fun and, while *extremely* not in step with the moment, I needed it right now. No, I don't have a lot of patience for Motherhood Completed Me stories. <spoiler>And she named her victim, I mean adoptee, <i>TERABITHIA</I> for fucksake, which is as cruel a piece of child abuse as anything I've ever heard!</spoiler> But Dodie's the kind of silly little child in a woman's body that would, in fact, feel that way.

That said, Dodie's actually kind of a cipher, not a fully-rounded character, simply moving the pieces of the plot from A to B then D after that L and screw all those other letters, they're probably Not Our Kind. It's set in 2008, which made Dodie the biblioholic's ignorance of ebooks puzzling. I think, though, that it was more ignoring not ignorance, so I got as far past that as I could. And her nesting instinct, her deep and ongoing self-criticism that she can not manage a busy life, wifehood, motherhood, the library, etc etc as effortlessly as she thinks she should be able to? Well, she's never a wife and no one made you a mother and let's face it, Muffin, no gold stars for Doing Your Best in this our life. Still, she feels these negative things about herself for no very good reason (abandonment issues can be overcome, Do, and it's not like someone in your place can't access the resources.)

Dodie's past as an "artist" in New York City was risible. As described, her art (based on her supposed friends' responses to it) wouldn't get her a Brookly caf&eacute;'s wall-space, still less a reviewed show in a gallery. I don't think giving Dodie's sister a Black husband was all that relevant to the story; like giving Dodie herself a lesbian BFF, a soul-sibling whose death in the first part of the book leaves little apparent mark on her life. Just more window dressing, more piece of plot to make into plotsicles.

Oh, desserts! Yes, let's not forget one of today's most popular light-fiction tropes: Lots and lots and lots of sugary stuff described in lingering, sensual detail. This was, I admit without shame or blushes (he blushed shamefacedly), a big reason I kept going with the read. <spoiler>Well, that and the fact that I wanted Shep-the-love-interest's big secret to be he was a big ol' 'mo like all Dodie's buds back in Brooklyn were.</spoiler> The sort-of-stupid references to the male gaze that Dodie craves and invites in terms of desserts is less charming, though...and I am guilty of telling my Young Gentleman Caller that he's sweeter than condensed milk. (In his defense he mimes vomiting every time I do.)

Why would I recommend you read it? I would honestly say that it's an undemanding read that will, without meaning to or even wanting to, cause the least reflective among us to question our assumptions and the more Woke to examine our privilege, looking at how very, very deep it is from the outsider's vantage of an unchallenging-for-privileged-white-folks, like me, of an afternoon's read.

Totally relatable for book lovers who find solace between the pages. Took a little to get into but then from there was enjoyable.

I had such high hopes for this book. The premise of a lending library sounded lovely. But alas, the plot went off the deep end with Dodie's desire to have a baby. I managed to hang on until the end but I was disappointed by several loose ends as characters and themes were abandoned to focus on Dodie's desire to adopt. I don't know if it is a good or bad sign that I found myself annoyed by Dodie - she was made out to be selfless at the beginning but quickly became self-absorbed. It was hard to read about her blatant disregard for anyone else, but at the same time it made her a real character - flaws and all. Dodie's father left the family when she was a child and it left an imprint on her - Fogelson highlights how past trauma can affect future relationships.

Overall, this was a 3 star read for me. I wanted more of the initial story, before Dodie's desire for a baby overtook the plot. What happened between Elmira and her mom? What about Dodie's art? I understand that it would be difficult to write an entire book that was only about a library, but I wish that more of the book was about the community that grew around the Lending Library rather than about Dodie's desire for a child.

I liked this book but it wasn't exactly what I thought it would be. I had visions of people connecting around a little free library and while there was some of that, the book was primarily focused on Dodie and her desire to be a mother. I'm not sure I would have deliberately decided to read a book about motherhood and adoption but indeed that is what this book is really about.

I went into this book with the expectation of a cute, meaningful story of a woman who loves books finding a home through a community of readers. The synopsis of this book was largely about the library though I found that the story had very little to do with the lending library itself and focused greatly instead on Dodie's desire to be a mother and reevaluation of her life up to the point of the novel. The lending library itself served only as a place where Dodie could meet people and use as a meeting place. I appreciated the author's inclusion of heavier topics (motherhood, adoption, fertility, death, illness, etc.), especially as it is geared toward an adult audience. This noted, I also found that in such a short book, the events were rushed and at times random.

While it seems that Fogelson meant for the audience of this book to resonate with Dodie, I found myself (a white woman in her early 30s) instead frustrated by her. We are told in the book that Dodie is selfless, however through her actions she appeared relatively selfish to me. Her desire for motherhood and entitlement to have her friends and family there when she needed but ignoring them and the library at her convenience, though a believable reality, was self-serving rather than, as she's described multiple times by other characters, generous and helpful. I wish that there was more character development through actions to demonstrate her selflessness rather than being simply told that she is these things.

One other note: Many characters received names, which lent to my confusion as a reader about which were notable to remember. Even one peripheral character's wife and a couple of Dodie's students received names and then were never mentioned again.

Without any spoilers, I also found there to be multiple instances of white saviorism throughout, for example, the discussions about international adoption, humanitarian services abroad, and pointedly noting in a congratulatory way the "diverse" books in the library.

I will admit, I really struggled to get into this book. It was a bit like a roller-coaster for me, some bits I really enjoyed and others I didn't.

It's a solid romance with some added depth.




*Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with a complimentary eARC for review purposes*

The Lending Library by Aliza Fogelson was written in first person narrative.

The main character name is Dodie or Do for short.

I love her two friends, Kendra and Sullivan.

Do is so obsessed with books. I could understand her perfectly. In fact, the book title was what made me to request for the book from NetGalley. I have always been fascinated with libraries and books. Funnily enough, my blog name is “The Book Chic Blog” so I can totally relate with Do.


I don’t want to summarise the book but libraries have a way of welcoming you home especially if you’re a book lover.


I could practically imagine everything involved in starting the Lending Library thanks to Dodie’s narrative.


Themes of friendship, family, support, love for books and many more were explored in this novel.


I love this line from the book ” The smell of books was already filling the air”.


Aliza Fogelson writes an engaging novel where so many lives are brought out in the book.


Oh! I love the recipe that was added at the back of the book. The baker in me wanted to try out the renowned Hummingbird cake popular in this novel. Thanks, Aliza Fogelson for that extra chapter.


I am giving this book 4 stars rating.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are mine.

I wanted to like this book and eventually powered through to finish it, but after several attempts. I loved the beginning of the book, but then felt the tone change when the goal (it seemed) was to become a mother. While that is the goal for some, it's something that I could not relate to and found it hard to get into the remaining of the story. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, but all opinions are my own.

I sooo wanted to love this book. As a Little Free Library owner and small town lover I thought this would be the perfect read. It was slow, lackluster, and lacking any kind of grit. I loved the concept because I could totally relate to her wanting to put books into the hands of the community. That being said, the fact the she 1. Had space in her home that happened to be perfect to fit 16 bookshelves, 2. Had enough donations to fill said bookshelves, and 3. Had enough visitors that she had to staff the library with volunteers seems way too farfetched. The chemistry between her and her boyfriend was as dull as QVC segment. She was hot and bothered everything she spotted "his wrist". What?! His wrist?! Ok then... This book had so much potential and fell so short.
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book. All my opinions are my own.

I am really sorry, but this book did not work with me. I had hoped to read about the comings and goings of a lending library and the different people who visit it, but as it turned out it was not the main topic of this book. I could not, unfortunately, relate to the heroine and her obsession with motherhood. So the story did not draw me in, I watched the events from a distance. However, I did feel the talent of the author and there were very well worded parts in the book. I think with stronger editing it could have been much better.

There is so much to unpick about why I didn't enjoy this book. Given that the primary focus was supposed to be about a little library, the library seemed not to exist for about 60% of the novel, and that was a real shame. For the parts where Do (as in dough, not do) was starting to set up the library I was intrigued and it seemed like it was going to be a really cute read, but it all started to go downhill from there.

Do's obsession with being a mother is one I can sadly relate to. However, the way it's handled in this book is terrible. Firstly, I felt downright insulted by some of the early passages about 'infertile' people. The author really needed to check some of her wording. Do showed her true colours pretty early when she selfishly focused on herself and didn't even feel any kind of empathy on learning that her mother had faced struggled. Not once did she think that she should have a heart to heart with any of the family members she professed to be close to. Not once did she tell her mother how sorry she was for the heartache she might have experienced, and the longing she might have felt. The hilarious thing about all that, is that Do is continuously portrayed as this selfless character, and as only thinking about others. It's simply not true, and the most frustrating thing about it was that she just refused to talk to anyone about anything.

Of course the main focus of that story line is little Terabithia. I don't even know where to begin with the issues there. This is classic white saviourism, its not even masquerading as anything else. Do's white friend wants to adopt a baby so heads to Africa. Do's white sister heads to Africa to do charity work and help all the starving African's, Do's white sister decides she'll also adopt an African baby, and that's not even the whole list. The complications and heartache that goes with adoption are also never truly explored, its just a thing everyone decides is worthwhile and because they are white and privileged it just magically happens for them. There is the barest hint of attachment issues being explored, but thats about it. In fact, at one point in the book Do's sister declares that they are going to adopt in the space of a few weeks because they had dinner with some official people....so basically they are buying an African baby?! The tone is just all wrong.

As if all that wasn't bad enough, Do gets engaged but doesn't think it's important to tell her fiancé that she wants to adopt. This woman who claims to be so ready for motherhood, isn't even mature enough to have a conversation about it with the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with. All she does is whine and expect everyone just do what she wants. Not once does she consider what might actually be best for the child, it's all about her which just goes back to my earlier point about her being inherently selfish and completely over privileged.

I don't want to turn this into a rant, but I just really wish there had been more of the cute library and the reading circles. More friendly gossip and Do fixing the local problems. I loved that the book was laced with literature and food, they are two things that I am passionate about. But it simply wasn't enough, and the motherhood issues completely swamped the rest of the book. Adoption isn't a simple road to motherhood, it's actually the most complex one that brings with it a unique set of challenges, and books like this that seek to glamorise it help no one. It's books like this that help create a culture where any mention of fertility issues provokes people to say 'have you thought of adopting?', as if that's the simple solution.

A lovely read I love books that involve books.I was drawn right in a book that has everything romance friends and the love of reading.Really enjoyed.#netgalley#bookouture

The library in Dodie's small town closes for repairs, and she decides to open up a library in her home. The library aspect of the story was okay, but Dodie was baby crazy, which I never really connect with, and she also fell for a guy's hair before ever even speaking to him. Then when she and the guy do end up together, the whole relationship seems to hollow and undeveloped. Like there is nothing special about him and there is nothing remarkable about their interacitons. I ended up quitting about halfway through because it was just not my kind of book. Two stars.

I love books about libraries and this one was a cute one. I vacillated between being frustrated with Do and loving her. She's an interesting character, not perfect in any way. Good storyline. The library is magic.

This book was okay, but why oh why was half the book spoiled in the description? I wish it was a little more vague because the plot became way too obvious. It seemed like there were too many plotlines going on, and it was kind of messy.

Thank you so much @AmazonPublishing & @NetGalley for giving me this eARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 01 July 2020)

SYNOPSIS | When Chatsworth library closes indefinitely, Dodie has an idea to start a small lending library in the sunroom of her home. An opportunity arises to adopt her best friends orphaned child, however Dodie needs to figure out how she can fit everything in.

WHAT I LIKED:
- i was drawn to the premise of this book
- any book lover will enjoy the many bookish references

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- Dodie's character. She is blindingly self-absorbed and although she is depicted as being very generous (I mean she built a library in her own home for the community!), as a supposed 32 year old she is also highly immature.
- the entire idea that exists for the majority of this book that someone's life will be better if they get married and have children. There is a lot of dialogue around her "biological clock is ticking".
- if you ARE contemplating starting a family (whether that be through conception or adoption), you should probably talk about it with your partner. If you can't have a healthy & open discussion with your partner about children then you probably shouldn't be trying to bring one into your family.
- the writing was rather clunky and often I found that the story either fast forwards entire chunks of time or just segues really clumsily.