Overall this was a cute story. I liked the characters and that this little library helped bring a community together.

The story was slow to get started and didn't keep me interested. It is a book I would try again at another time.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

3.5*
A gentle, cozy, literary themed read that is burnished by it's English countryside setting and red phone booth wish fulfillment.

An adorable quick read. I loved this so much! Give me a book about books in any way shape or form and I will be happy! I flew through this and was so happy with it.

A cozy romance with enough interesting characters to be worth reading. A bit slow at times and the plot was super predictable. It meets a need of being a 'safe' book. Wish there was a bit more heat with the romance. The flirty was decent but all of the sudden they were in love and I was just like, huh, when did that happen. Loved Becky and Rak and would love to see more of their story.

This is a sweet, easy read that is quick to get through. A great light read when you are looking for something to alternate with heavier reads.

With a promising premise and a quirky cast of characters, Poppy Alexander’s The Littlest Library is a sweet story about friendship, kindness, community and of course the transformative power of books.

This found family story was heartfelt and heart-warming. It gave me such cozy vibes and I always love a story with books at its center. I will put this author on my TBR again.

The Littlest Library" by Poppy Alexander is a heartwarming tale that celebrates the power of books and community. Protagonist Jess Metcalf's life takes an unexpected turn when she loses her job at the local library and her beloved grandmother passes away. Determined to start anew, Jess moves to a quaint English countryside cottage, inheriting an old red phone box in the process.

What sets this novel apart is its focus on character development. Jess is a relatable and endearing protagonist, and readers will find themselves rooting for her as she navigates the challenges of her new life. Alexander skillfully crafts a cast of supporting characters, each with their own quirks and complexities, adding depth to the story.

The evolution of Jess' relationship with her grumpy but handsome neighbor is particularly engaging. Through the magic of books and community, Jess begins to draw him out of his shell, leading to heartwarming moments of connection and growth.

Alexander's writing is charming and evocative, transporting readers to the idyllic English countryside. The concept of the littlest library is enchanting, and the way books bring the villagers together is both heartening and uplifting.

While the plot may follow a somewhat predictable trajectory, the strength of the characters and the warm, cozy atmosphere make "The Littlest Library" a thoroughly enjoyable read. It's a reminder that sometimes, the biggest changes come from the smallest acts of kindness and courage.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this book! I was really looking forward to reading this book. I really enjoyed it! I would definitely love to read another book by Poppy Alexander!

A quaint little town that Poppy Alexander sets her novel about. We are invited to read about the occupants of the town and share their thoughts and dreams. I admire the writing and was satisfied with the ending. Would love to catch up with the story in another book.

Losing the grandmother who raised her means going on without her guidance. Selling her grandmother’s home, she moves into a derelict cottage with an attic full of bats (that can’t be removed because they are a protected colony). How better to honor her grandmother’s love of books and her previous profession as a librarian than to open a free little library in an abandoned red phone box. Throw in a handsome handyman neighbor, friends, and a charming community which make this a very wonderful read.

I thought this was a sweet, adorable story! Sure, the plot was a tad bit silly (Can’t the phone booth hold both books AND a defibrillator?) and predictable, but it was still fun! All the book references were awesome, and the love story was heartwarming, and it was just what I was looking for! And the setting and descriptions were a lovely addition.

I was given an advanced reader's copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own

If this book doesn't put a smile on your face, I don't know what will! This is such a sweet, light-hearted story about rediscovery and love. As a fan of LFLs, I was immediately drawn towards this book and it did not dissapoint!

I enjoyed this book! I loved all the book references. This is a happy tale for any book lover! I enjoyed the escape, the characters and the setting! Don’t miss this one!

Synopsis
Jess Metcalf is extremely emotional over the loss of the grandmother who raised her and has lost the librarian job she loves. With no job, no prospects, and limited savings, she buys a country house with a lot of deferred maintenance in a rural area far from any conceivable job she could get.
My Overall Thoughts
You’ve likely already guessed from my synopsis that I did not love this book. Jess is a completely unbelievable protagonist. Her poor life decisions abound, yet she uses common sense and grit to solve the problems of all the townspeople. Nope. Not buying it.

What I Didn't Love

My biggest literary pet peeve is a novel that starts off with a female protagonist making a monumental poor choice. We all know where it is going from there. The protagonist strives to win us over with her fresh, sweet, kind personality. Poor little thing. She’s too sweet and innocent to be expected to think. Then, just when it looks like all is lost, someone sweeps in with buckets of money to save her from her poor decision-making capabilities. This someone is usually a tall, brooding hunk who has millions stashed in his mattress and a damsel-sized hole in his heart that he just figured out how to fill. Fortunately, that very last part is not the case in this book, so I’m not spoiling it for anyone.

Also, there is something else that really made me want to scream. Jess turns an old telephone booth on her property into a small library for the town, but there is a faction in the town that wants the phone booth to hold a defibrillator instead so that anyone in the town can use it in case of emergency. Never once did any character point out the obvious fact that a phone booth could hold both a defibrillator and books. Problem solved. Move on.

Potentially Offensive Content

Adult situations

What I Loved
The setting was lovely but was far overshadowed by the poor plot.

What’s more relaxing than escaping to the countryside with the cutest of libraries?

Following the death of her grandmother, Jess Metcalf makes a drastic decision to buy a cottage with a telephone box and move to the countryside. Much to her astonishment, Jess finds herself belonging in a community, thanks to her converted littlest library, something that she has never felt before.

I loved the characters in this book especially Diana, Mungo and Becky. This was cozy, delightful and heartwarming that I enjoyed this enough to finish but I don’t think I would remember anything in after a week.

Thank you to Avon, NetGalley and the author for my copy. All opinions are honest and my own.

This story had so much potential. After the death of her grandmother and loss of her library job, Jess goes for a drive and stumbles upon a quaint cottage in a rural town. She is purchases the cottage and the accompanying red phone box in her front yard. This town and its people do much to heal Jess's heart and help her to move forward. Her grumpy neighbor Aidan has a big part in that.

I wanted to like this story more than I did. I just felt zero chemistry between Jess and Aidan and found their love story my least favorite part of this book. I loved some of the quirky townspeople but at times found myself rolling my eyes and wanted more development for their characters. Normally I love books about books, but this one fell a bit flat for me overall.

An interesting premise and reminded me of Jenny Cogan novels - sweet, heartfelt. This is not though a light cozy book, there is a strong thread of grief, loss, and darkness placing it firmly more in the women's fiction (or contemporary fiction) than romance it is more marketed as so don't expect a HEA or the strong romance plotline.

The town and side characters all bring life to this book. It's a good choice for anyone looking for a low stakes book that will pull you along and still pull at the heart while not ripping it out.

DNF 41%

I listened to this on audio and at first I was really enjoying it and the quirky small town vibes and characters but around the 30% mark it started to lose me. The plot really started to drag right about there and Jess gets bogged down in all the problems of everyone who lives in the town. So far I'm not feeling the romance, really. It definitely takes a back seat to everyone else's drama. Normally I don't mind that but I kept feeling like the plot was trying to get me to get invested in the romance and it just wasn't happening.

Those mysterious boxes of books were just... popular books she'd enjoyed as a child? Generic almost - the sort of books that end up on school reading lists and everyone reads. Also I was a little offended that in all those 10 boxes of books there was not a single fantasy or sci-fi title. Like, really?

When it gets to the point that I'm actively avoiding reading a book I know it's just not working for me and forcing myself to continue will only make my opinion of it sink further.

The narrator does a good job with the unique character voices and believable accents. I enjoyed the experience of listening to it (at least until the plot lost me).

*Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for providing an early copy for review.

A nice light uplifting read. I was glad to turn to this after a couple of very heavy titles. A fun story where everything works out in the end. I love books like this where a character is starting a new life and creating their nest in a new home. Lovely cover!