I'm always sad to DNF a read but I reached the 25% mark and realized that while the warp and woof of this story appealed, the writing style just didn't work for me. The tight-knit bond and solidarity between Maggie and Tom was sweet and wholesome in that balm-to-the-soul way enough, though, and The Library might suit other readers' tastes better than it did mine.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for kindly passing on this ARC! 💫

I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley #netgalley

A magical friendship to be sure!!

Grab a cup of tea and a blanket. I absolutely loved this book. It’s a gentle read but with excellent, feisty characters. I devoured it within 2 days. If you enjoyed Away with the Penguins, this is another teaching us not to judge the older generation before we get to know them! A really enjoyable way to spend a few hours.

This was such a lovely book , and I like how it's done with Tom and Maggie's views alternating. It's moving at moments, delightful at others, and I found myself smiling as I read sections of it. Both Maggie and Tom have baggage and difficulties, which is devastating and sad at times but blends in beautifully with the ecstatic. I enjoy forming friendships via books and watching them flourish since, in many ways, it is not only the library that needs to be saved. I enjoy seeing Tom develop in confidence and become noticeable as he goes from invisibly blending into the backdrop to becoming apparent.
There is always something intriguing going on, and it's all part of life's wonderful tapestry. From beginning to end, this was a delight to read.

This is a great book. It is the story of loss, love, and redemption brought about by a love of books

Friendship. It is unexpected and changes you forever, this is Tom and Maggie. The most unlikely duo, yet their friendship makes complete sense..oh and don't forget the library, it's where it all began.

A delightful, heartwarming book about love, family, friendship and second chances. The story line concerning the closure of the library gives us all the arguments you could ever need about the importance and pleasure given by reading.
Well drawn characters that you can really feel empathy with throughout the story. A great read!

Mix together a community library about to be shut down, a lonely teen struggling with his family situation, and a sassy senior ready for some excitement in her life and then you'll have a heartwarming tale of an unexpected friendship!

The Library a fantastic literary four-star read. Tom and Maggie will get you in their story, they will make you care about them, their anxiety and struggles. Having Tom and Maggie walk you through their story, revealing their secrets as they go. It’s a social reminder of what we can lose and how easy we can lose them, but it’s also friendship and life. This is a great story, and the two main characters will keep you going, but there are also lots of secondary characters that will charm you, and recipes that will make you mouth water.

4.5 stars.

Tom Harris is 16 and about to sit his GCSEs, he’s invisible and likes it that way. His mum died when he was in year two and now it’s just him and his dad and he’s spiralling down so their home is not a happy place. Tom likes Farah Shah, she is a popular girl, out of his league but he decides one day to go to the library in the hope of clapping eyes on her. When Tom‘s dad ‘kills his Xbox’ the library and books becomes his solace. Maggie is 72, she is a pivotal member of the library book club and a mugging on her way home from the club brings Tom to her rescue and thus begins a burgeoning across the age divide friendship and a fight to save the library from closure.

This is a really lovely story, I enjoy the way it’s written with the alternating perspectives of Tom and Maggie. It’s touching at times, and charming and parts of it I read with a smile on my face. Both Maggie and Tom have baggage and issues and in places it’s heartbreaking and sad but it blends with the joyous really well. I love the developing friendship via books and watching the connection grow as in many ways it’s not just the library that needs saving. The characterisation is excellent, I love watching Tom going from invisibly melding into the background to his growth in confidence and becoming visible. Maggie is simply amazing for me she is the standout character as she is full of surprises and a good lesson in not judging a book by its cover. She’s also a great cook your mouth waters at times! The peripheral characters of lovely Farah, Christine the anxious librarian and Paul, Toms cash-strapped dad are also well portrayed. The library plays a very significant role in the storytelling and it’s a case of if you don’t you don’t know what you’ve got till its gone as cash poor councils make tough choices.

Overall there is a lot going on so it’s constantly interesting and it’s all part of life’s rich tapestry. This has been a pleasure to read from start to finish. With thanks to NetGalley and Aria and Aries, Aria for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review

The Library by Bella Osborne is a heartwarming book. Telling the story of an unlikely friendship between a 16 yo and an elderly lady, dark past and difficult lives; it reflects on how having a good friend can make things better, give you hope and courage to deal with the difficulties of being a shy teenager or a lonely woman. The Library itself takes a bit of a back seat in the narrative, but the relationships and development of the characters are enough to keep you wanting to know more. I enjoyed a lot the growth of Tom and the straight forward attitude of Maggie. The books touches subjects like alcoholism and depression, so please be aware if you decide to read it, I def recommend it!

It's not unusual for me to read a book outside my genre. It feels good to read a sweet story, and The Library was the perfect book for me to read.
Tom and Maggie meet by chance, Tom, A 16 year old boy, with an alcoholic father, and Maggie, A seventy something who has a lot to be sorry about.
Tom feels invisible, so while trying to avoid his father, he finds himself in the library, and slowly begins a friendship with Maggie, who needs him as much as he needs her.
This is a true, feel good story, and I feel lucky to have met them both.
I might just have to pick up another book by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

#TheLibrary #NetGalley

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC for an exchange for an honest review.

I liked this one, good characters, makes you want to root for them.

I loved this book I devoured it in one day.I love Tom& Maggie and their special friendship.I was sorry to finish this book.Iwill be gifting and recommending #netgalley#atriaand Aries.

What a wonderful book!

Once again I thank NetGalley for introducing me to an author who has written dozens of books (an author that wasn't even on my radar). Granted that Bella Osborne typically writes romances; this book is about a relationship between a 16 year old and a 70+ year old who meet in the library. I just loved this story; if you are looking for something heartwarming, you really can't beat this one. I think it would be a good suggestion for my local book club read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author Bella Osborne and the publisher Aria & Aries for the opportunity to review the advance read copy of The Library in exchange for an honest review. Publication date is 1 April 2022.

If I had one recommendation, I wish that there was a list of books listed throughout this book at the end of the book. There sure were a lot of books mentioned ... and I loved that!

The book seemed a bit longer than most, but I really hope that nothing is edited. I really didn't want this book to end.

Tom, a withdrawn unhappy boy who lost his mother when he was eight, lives with his alcoholic father who wants him to leave school and work in the dog food factory rather than go to uni. Maggie is a tough farmer in her seventies who lives alone and tries her best to keep her farm running. When the two meet in the local library they form an unlikely friendship that makes a big difference to both of their lives.

A lovely moving story of two lost people coming together in unlikely circumstances and helping each other out. Great characters and a book that I couldn't put down

Aria,
Thank You for this sweet, wonderful, beautiful work of fiction!

The Library by Bella Osborne

Mini Review:
This is one well developed, lovely, sweet, light hearted story!
Heart-warming with genuine likeable characters, with a story you won't want to miss with The Library is an uplifting and humorous.
Bella's vivd prose is exceptional in its ability to capture the brilliant details of scenery and the subtle shifts of her characters as they develop and grow throughout the story.
I loved how this story was so warm and inviting. The cast of characters are unique and they all added their own identity to the plot development.
An interesting storyline, constantly evolving characters. Who I couldn't help but fall in lobe with.
Full of humor, warmth and love this is one book you do not want to miss out on.

Thank you again publisher, NetGalley and Bella for this exciting new story!

Meh! Cute story but too much going on with mention of alcoholism, bullying, sheep, dogs, school, lost loved ones and saving a library.Just was not able to connect to story and fast forwarded most of it.

This story is a reminder how people come in and out of our lives just when we need them and how you can meet friends in the most unlikely of places. I love the enduring friendship between Maggie and Tom. I lobe how a small group of friends save the town’s library. And I love all the literary references throughout the novel!

I read this in one afternoon. And I'm so sorry it ended. I loved Tom and Maggie. A beautiful story of family.