A warm story about books! What more could a booklover want?

The Library is a pleasant story about how books can be the guiding force in one's life. The relationship that Tom and Maggie shared was heartwarming and often made me cry with a smile on my face.

4 well-deserved stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and Aria for the ARC.

Tom is a 16 year old boy who lives with his father. His life has changed since his mother died when he was only 8. His father is an alcoholic and wants Tom to go to work to help keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. He is working to get him a job, that Tom doesn't want. Tom wants to learn about women and how to talk to them and attract them, especially Farah Shah. He begins to go to the library and get books "for his mother" about romance and women, with the hope to learn about those topics. On one of his visits, he leaves the library and comes to the rescue of 72 year old, Maggie, who is being mugged. Maggie has lived alone for ten years and is quite self-sufficient, but after this encounter, she and Tom become friends. The begin to help and support one another, so when they find out that the library might be closing, they work together and rally others to their cause to save the village library.

I love books with multi-generational friendships. I felt bad for Tom. He didn't want to end up like his father and worked hard to get his marks to the point where he would be able to go to college or university. Any money he made at part time jobs was taken by his father. I loved seeing his relationship with Maggie grow. He was caring, thoughtful, kind and wanted to help Maggie. He found a purpose and the encouragement he didn't get from his dad, in Maggie. Maggie also changed with their friendship and I also liked seeing her come out of her shell and find a purpose. Tom's dad was not very likable. I can understand losing the love of your life, as it happened to me, but he was left with a young child and was a fish out of water. What I didn't like was the path he chose, the self-pity that turned him into the father that Tom wanted to get away from. The cast of characters at the library were an eclectic group. I enjoyed seeing them come together under the direction of Maggie, Tom and Farah to save the library. They were smart and used what they could to get attention, without being too confrontational. This was a great listen for me. There were several themes of grief, friendship, alcoholism, trust, family relationships and of course, the importance of libraries in communities. I enjoyed this one and definitely recommend it to all who love books and libraries.

I enjoyed the story.
Maggie & Tom make a fabulous unexpected duo.
Though deals with some heavy topics & I felt it dragged in to middle.

This is a really lovely read, it reminded me of The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley; excellent characters with a lot of laugh out loud moments with some heartwarming interactions in between. The writing is light and accessible and the characters are really well portrayed.

The Library introduces us to Maggie and Tom, the most unlikely of duos but two incredibly lovable characters. Tom seems like a genuinely nice kid and Maggie has so much energy for a woman in her seventies, what an inspiration! The two characters are escaping certain parts of life and find comfort through their love for books, which is centred around the heart of this book, the library.

But this book is about so much more than a library and a book club of unlikely friends, it isn't all rosy and nice. Osborne addresses some heavy but important issues in this book, loneliness and addicition being the primary themes. My heart really went out to Maggie and some of the other elderly people in the village and Osborne really opens our eyes to the effects loneliness can have - it made me think of my grandmothers and how I must try harder to see them and speak with them more. The way she touches on addiction is nothing new but what she portrays very well is the effects it has on others, the friends and family of the person who is suffering. You experience Tom's worry and anxiety throughout the book and your heart breaks for him. He is at a major crossroads in life but lacks guidance from his family, thus making his encounter with Maggie all the more sweet.

This is a lovely read that will make you laugh and make you sit back and think about some of the challenges that must face in life. Whether you are curling up on the couch, chilling by the pool or sitting in the tube on the way to work, this is a read for all occasions and one that I would probably read again.

A big thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this before its publication and I can't wait to read more from Osborne.

As the biggest library lover, this book was sweet and perfect. I think if you liked The Reading List, you will also enjoy this book.

I am all for people saving their local library. Thanks for the review copy. It has some heavy topics but is a sweet story.

Heartfelt and immersive. Will please fans of THE READING LIST. A recommended purchase for collections where bookish fiction is popular.

I love a story which centres around the library, don't you?

Especially when it's all about a community coming together to try to save it, most of us have been there, haven't we?

I know when my local library was threatened with closure the community came together to try and fight for it, unfortunately for us, it didn't work and the council closed it anyway and then decided to demolish it and build houses on the land, which no one in the area can afford boooo- hisssss!!!😡

Hmm, went off a little there, apologies!!😳

Anyhow, this is utterly charming, and I wouldn't expect anything else from Bella Osborne, true I haven't read as many of her books as I feel I really should have, but the ones that I have, I have absolutely loved them - this one is no different!

this book isn't just about strangers coming together to save the heart of their community; the library (even though that is a major part of the story) it's about people, friendship, courage to step out of your comfort zone, learning, kindness, and helping each other.

It's full of hope and the importance of somewhere people can go to be themselves, to make friends to feel important and to be encouraged something which our libraries do in abundance.

It's utterly charming, will have you sighing with delight and leave you feeling a lot lighter, it weaves joy and acceptance over everyone and I absolutely loved it!!

Maggie is a pensioner who lives alone and tells herself that she’s happy to be by herself. Tom is a teenager who seems nearly invisible to everyone around him. Through a series of circumstances, they meet at the local library and then unexpectedly continue to interact. Over the course of several months a bond begins to form and when their library is under attack the two friends set out to protect and defend it.

Bella Osborne’s book is a good read. It’s well-written and the characters are delightful (even the not-so- nice ones) and well-defined. The plot is interesting and entertaining. I found myself rooting for Tom and Maggie and the people they were trying to help. Libraries are often the heart of a town and in this book the author proves that beyond the shadow of a doubt.

The Library is, quite simply, a book that will make you feel good. It’s about the resilience of the human spirit, hope for the future, and the value of friendship. I enjoyed Ms Osborne’s book. NetGalley provided an advance copy.

Such a cute story that was a joy to read. I can not wait for more by this author. The storyline was ready to follow and the characters were well filled out.

This was my first time reading a book from the author but I am delighted to say I thoroughly enjoyed the story and I look forward to reading more books from the writer in the future!

I loved this so much, The Library is a charming, beautiful and addictive read, it’s uplifting and heartwarming.
I adored the relationship between Tom and Maggie, although I loved nearly all the characters in this story. I appreciated the coverage of alcoholism , it was very realistic and very sensitively handled. Overall a wonderful book I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

The Library by Bella Osborne is an uplifting story of how two very different people can find common ground and form a deep bond that transcends generations. The novel is an engaging exploration of human nature and a tribute to the power of friendship. Tom and Maggie's struggles to keep the library open and preserve their community illustrate the resilience of the human spirit and the power of a single idea. With a mixture of humour and emotion, Osborne brings her characters and the community to life in a powerful way. The Library is an inspiring tale about what can be accomplished when you believe in yourself and have a little help from your friends.

What a lovely read. Maggie and Tom's friendship was so pure, sweet and heartwarming. How these two lonely souls came together and brought out the best in one another was just so touching. This book made me think about the importance of a local library and I for one will ensure that I will use mine more frequently. I honestly had the stupidest grin on my face reading the last couple of pages of this book. The ending was just perfect. A must read for any book worm.

A really excellent book and I’m already looking forward to reading it again. Excellent book that makes you realise that the book community is so giving.

Books about books are always something I enjoy. This is a heartwarming story about an intergenerational friendship between two lonely people forming a bond thanks to their local library.

This might seem to be about an odd couple saving a library but it's really about the family we make. Maggie and Tom couldn't be more different or are they? She's much much older, she's lonely, and she's got a secret she's struggling with. And so is Tom and he's got a difficult home life, That they build a relationship is indeed a little trope-y but you will root for them. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Osborne is a good storyteller.

The Library

by Bella Osborne

Cross-generational stories hold a certain appeal that is present in Bella Osborne’s The Library. Built around characters who probably would never have met but for a library, this novel involves the reader in their lives. Tom, a lonely young man whose mother died when he was eight, intervenes when a hoodlum snatches Maggie’s purse. Maggie, a widow, lives alone on a small farm and longs for human contact. Both have issues that have isolated them from others: Tom’s father is an alcoholic, and Maggie has lost her son and husband.

There are so many interesting themes and threads woven into the bare bones scenario I have described. As the book progresses you learn to love Maggie, an intelligent, spunky lady with surprising talents and Tom, the object of her generosity of spirit, money, and time. Tom is trying to find his way through adolescence and is dealing simultaneously with poverty, a neglectful and grieving father who is edging toward abuse, a bully, a crush on a girl in his class, and studying for exams that will place him in A levels, the key to going to college. In the midst of all this drama, Tom has to convince his father that his future does not lie in a dog food factory. He and Maggie also have to keep their local library from closing.

I recommend this book for the style of narration, the gradual way the author reveals the inner workings of the characters, and the way she creates empathy in the reader. The events in the plot are well-crafted and the ending is satisfactory without being saccharine.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 5/5

Category: General Fiction, Women’s Fiction

Notes: 1. There are a few uses of inappropriate language in American English and a lot of mild expletives in British English. Interestingly, Tom does try to catch himself and avoid swearing when talking to Maggie.
2. Contains lots of Britishisms.

Publication: September 2, 2021—Aria

Memorable Lines:

She’d sought peace at the library, and it had given her exactly that along with multiple worlds to hide herself in. She could disappear into a book and be gone from the harsh reality of the real world for hours.

He was lost in the no man’s land between the child he was and the man he so longed to be.

Maybe nobody was who they seemed. Apart from the animals. Rusty was beautiful inside and out; she was caring and loyal. Colin was literally the devil in sheep’s clothing. But you knew where you were with animals—they weren’t suddenly going to surprise you and tip your world upside down. They didn’t pretend to be something they weren’t and because of that they didn’t let you down. Unlike people who did it all the time.

The Library - Bella Osbourne

This book was such a feel good cosy read, I am so annoyed it has taken me this long to get around to reading it! This is the first book I have read by Bella Osbourne and I have already had a sneak peak at her back catalogue to choose my next read. I adored Maggie and even more so Tom, I thought their friendship was lovely and found the book hard to put down. I personally love any book that is based around the daily life of the community library and this did not disappoint. Thank you so much NetGalley and Aria & Aries for the e-arc in return for my honest opinion, I can only apologise for the delay in my response