This was such a great book! I really liked it, and would definitely recommend to anyone who thinks it sounds interesting. (And isn't this cover adorable?!)

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

From reading the book summary of this book, I became very intrigued with the main character. I always find women's fiction reads more intriguing when the main character is trying to process something major in their life. And Jess will find out more about herself as she processes through her grief.

Losing a family member will always be hard. There is no way to deal with grief. It’s going to be different for everyone. And it’s something Jess will struggle through as she tries to move forward. But she has a huge project that may help her. She wants to host a shared little library around the neighborhood with her grandmother's books. It seems like a great idea.

I love Poppy Alexander's books! This one and her Christmas novel easily became favorites of mine and I'm excited to see what she writes next!

When I look at books to read, there are several topics that automatically catch my attention. Anything book themed, set in a small town, or has a lot of food content, and I am immediately interested. The Littlest Library, by Poppy Alexander, is a sweet book that has all three (bonus points for it being set in England!). I liked the concept of a library created out of an old telephone booth, found the small village to be charming and filled with fun secondary characters, and there were many dinner parties with descriptions of fabulous food. There was also a lovely romance between the main character, Jess, and a divorced next-door neighbor.

What I Liked:

Setting:

I love books set in small towns. And this quaint English village seemed just lovely, even if it had seen better days. When Jess buys a small cottage seemingly on a whim, she has no idea what she's getting herself into. There are, of course, unexpected repairs (and bats) to contend with, town feuds that she must navigate, and village etiquette to learn.

But there are also lovely discoveries. Jess learns to appreciate the beauty of the pretty garden and pond behind her home. Neighbors stop by, which at first is not welcome. But she finds generosity in her neighbors bringing food to share, along with new friendships, and opportunities for her to become involved in the community.

Books:

Jess is a librarian who's previous library has closed. When she moves to her new home, she leaps at an opportunity to create a little library in front of her home. Her collection of beloved books stocks the shelves. It's a treat to see what books the village's residents choose. Some pick out classic books for their kids, while others check out cook books. But the most popular type of books are the romances! As with any good library, the telephone booth becomes a gathering place for the community. I loved this!

Food:

I love books where the author describes delicious food at dinner parties. In Jess's case, there are several Sunday luncheons with descriptions of roasted lamb, fresh garden vegetables, and light summer desserts. The way these dishes are lovingly described makes me think the author must love to cook and entertain.

Characters:

I like the main character, Jess. Although she has daydreams about seamlessly gliding into the village social scene, she is actually quite awkward and makes many mistakes. I can relate! But, when she does something rude, she apologizes, and tries to make amends. She also is still mourning the loss of her grandmother who raised her. There are many moments where she fights tears and would rather be alone. But when this happens, she remembers that her grandmother wanted her to be a part of the present, not wallow in self-pity.

Very sweet story set in a small village. It was nice to see Jess find her place within the community.

I really wanted to love this, but the writing style just wasn't for me. It was a bit slower and steadier paced than I like, but I would still recommend this because I know lots of people love that style.

Librarian, Jess, has been raised by her beloved grandmother since she was a toddler. When she dies, Jess sets out to find a new life where the memories won’t always overwhelm her, but brings along her grandmother’s beloved book collection. Jess moves to a small town into a cottage that needs a lot of work, and that also comes with a defunct phone box that can’t be removed, and that must be approved for a use by the town. When the suggestion is made to create a tiny library in it, Jess knows that her grandmother’s book collection will serve the town in the perfect way.

This book was just a breath of fresh air! Jess and her grief are so palpable, and I really enjoyed watching her come out of her shell and becoming a part of a community. She consistently encounters challenges, and handles them with optimism and a good attitude. The cast of characters in the town are so much fun and have the kind of wonderful eccentricities that you’d expect from a small and tight knit community.

I was rooting for Jess, and for her to find the perfect place where she truly belonged. It’s a sweet story, with a hint of romance that will be perfect for fans of Jenny Colgan.

Thank you to Avon Publishing for providing me a gifted copy of this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harpercollins for the book in exchange for my review

While this book was adorably sweet and cute and the most perfect concept(little English village, a library in a phone booth, discovery of self etc) it fell a little flat for me and felt a little abrupt. In the end, it just wasn’t for me but is definitely for someone!

A classic red telephone box, an English village, and a sweet story of books and libraries pretty much had me at the premise of this story! 32 year old Jess Metcalfe, who lost her parents at a very young age, was raised by her grandmother who poured herself into raising Jess. She read many, many books to her over her lifetime of living in the same house her whole life until her grandmother died. Mimi left enough of a nest egg for Jess to start over and spread her wings to fly and explore after she lost her job at the library. On a random car trip she "lands" in the charming village of Middlemass where there happens to be a cottage for sale. She buys the cottage which comes with a red telephone box that she has no idea what to do with. After a village meeting, she is asked what she will do with the smelly box. And after a suggestion of a little free library, she realizes all the books MImi left her would be a great basis for this little library. With a cast of quirky and interesting characters, Jess finds herself feeling at home with friends for the first time in years. But can she stay there without a job? Does she even want to stay? Her characters bring out the best, but believable, side of human nature. It is also a clean book which seems to be harder and harder to find these days. My thanks to NetGalley and Harpers Collins Publishers for this delightful e-book.

Jess is having a time of it. Her grandmother has just died and she lost her job at the library. Which means she now needs a change.

On a random drive out of town, while her house is being shown by a real estate agent, Jess finds the cutest little town, Middlemass, with a house for sale that she is immediately drawn to.

Unfortunately, the town (and house) comes with a grumpy neighbor, Aidan. Even more unfortunate, Aidan is the owner of the house Jess would like to buy, Ivy Cottage.

At first life is difficult for Jess as she settles into a new home. Ivy Cottage is a bit more rundown than Jess thought. But it doesn't take long for Jess to blossom in Middlemass and for her to start making friends.

While I wish the romance had been a little more at the forefront of this book, I am very pleased with the way the story was written. I enjoyed every moment of it and it was a definite favorite of the month!

This was adorable! I loved the little free library esque style in the english country side. It's the perfect little cozy book that makes you want to go hide away and read all day with your cats (or dogs). Maybe with some coffee. I don't know, it was just perfect.

Poppy Alexander- thank you for this heartwarming and delightful read! I went a little out of my comfort zone with this read and I'm thankful that I did. Jess was so inspiring, relatable, and such an easy character to love. Jess was so easy to love and she had so much depth. Aidan was frustrating from the beginning, but I knew over time we were going to love him. The characters individual relationships is what made the book special to me. It was easy to understand that Jess was going through something really difficult. At the same time she still put herself out there and formed these once in a lifetime relationships. While having such a strong impact on her friends lives and the community. It's a timeless story of loss, love, growth, all while trying to figure this thing called "life" out. The Littlest Library made me laugh, cry, and do a lot of reflecting. I was getting so frustrated any time I needed to book the book down. Each character was so unique and special, yet they all blended together to create a beautiful story together. Go pick this book up if you haven't already!

I loved this book to start: After her beloved grandmother dies and she loses her librarian job, Jess packs up to start anew in a small hamlet Middlemass. Among the litany of problems with her new house is the little phone booth in front of her house, which is technically municipal property. Using her grandmother's books, Jess turns it into a little library - but not everyone in the town is on board (what?!). The home's former owner Aidan is Jess's grouchy (but good-looking) neighbor across the street and father of precocious preteen Maisie - one of the many people with whom Jess connects in the town.

With a drawn-out drama of the phone booth (that is solved in the *most simple way possible*) and tepid romantic chemistry (that started out with such promise), I struggled to stay connected with this book. I liked the Stars Hollow-esque town and the kooky cast of characters. Overall, I tend to find British romances a little too cute and tepid (I felt the same about the similarly named Last Chance Library). If you are looking for something sweet and slow, this is a great choice.

I’m not even going to lie. I picked up The Littlest Library by Poppy Alexander because of that adorable cover. Who can resist a charming little red phone booth converted into a library? I sure couldn’t! I went into this book expecting a story just as cute as the cover and got so much more. The Littlest Library is a heartwarming story about community, family, and finding your place in this world. Oh and of course, it’s also about books. 😊

When we meet the protagonist, Jess Metcalf, she is having a rough go. She has just lost her job as a librarian, her grandmother has recently died, and when Jess tries to take a drive to clear her head after dealing with her grandmother’s estate, she takes a wrong turn and her car breaks down right in the middle of a tiny town in the English countryside. What Jess doesn’t realize at the time is that her wrong turn and subsequent breakdown is about to change her life in ways she never could have imagined.

I really adored Jess. She’s just so sweet and it’s obvious how much she loves her grandmother, Mimi. When I learned that her grandmother had practically raised her, my heart just broke all the harder for Jess when Mimi died. I also found it incredibly moving that Mimi, who knew she was dying, had boxed up all the books that she and Jess had treasured over the years to make sure that Jess kept them all. I loved the bond between these two women so much and especially that their bond was made all the stronger by the books they shared. Mimi’s last wish is for Jess to go out and find herself a new adventure, rather than stay in their old house alone. When Jess’ car breaks down in this cute little town in the country, she decides it’s a sign to do just that and buys herself a little cottage that happens to have an old red telephone booth on its property.

As much as I loved Jess, I really think the star of the book is this red phone booth and all that it symbolized, both for Jess and for the people in her new community. When Jess decides to clean it up and turn it into a little library, using hers and Mimi’s books, it gives her both a renewed sense of purpose and a wonderful way to connect with the people in the town, who haven’t had a library of any kind in years. They are starved for books and Jess is their hero. It made me smile watching so many people come and check books out, chat with each other and with Jess. There’s also a bit of a slow burn romance involving Jess and a grumpy neighbor that was enjoyable to read about, but I have to admit that I was pretty tunnel visioned on the library and the magic its books worked on everyone. Who knew a little phone booth and some books could create such a renewed sense of community to a town and give a young woman the fresh start she’s looking for?

I love books about books so I fully expected to enjoy The Littlest Library, but let me tell you, it far exceeded my expectations and left me with the biggest smile on my face. An absolute gem of a book!

After the death of her beloved grandmother and the loss of her library job, Jess needs a fresh start. When she stumbles on a fixer-upper cottage in a quaint village in the English countryside, she buys it without thinking twice. The decommissioned phone box out front makes for an odd yard ornament, but it turns out to be a perfect library for the town. As the villagers borrow books, Jess begins to build relationships with her new neighbors, and they all discover the power of connecting someone with the right book.

If you've ever turned to a Great British Bake-Off binge in times of trouble, love the Cameron Diaz/Jude Law portion of The Holiday, or find solace in the pages of books, this might be the story for you. Following Jess Metcalfe as she stumbles into a delightfully pastoral new life is a joyful experience, but Alexander doesn't shy away from the heavier emotions either. Jess struggles with grief and anxiety, afraid to allow herself to be happy for too long for fear of the tragedy that she believes is inevitable. Watching Jess grapple with this was a comfort in its own way, with instance after instance showing that happiness can follow difficult times. I especially enjoyed the magic of the little library, with inscriptions from Jess's grandmother helping the villagers when they needed them most. Though the pacing and timeline were occasionally confusing, I loved the broad cast of characters and never found it difficult to follow the side stories. The romance was sweet and understated, which I always appreciate, and the overall effect of the story was idyllic and wonderful.

This was a cute little story (pun intended) in which we follow Jess who is starting over in life in a small country town. As part of her new living accommodations she has become the caretaker of an abandoned telephone box and decides to turn it into a library. While I did enjoy the focus on books throughout the story, I did feel that there were a few too many convenient plot points. One of which was the resolution to the main conflict. I definitely did a bit of eye-rolling, but I was still entertained and for that I commend the author.

What a lovely surprise this little novel turned out to be! Warm escapist fiction with enough literary references to satisfy anyone who appreciates the written word. Those who follow my blog will know that romance is not my usual genre of choice, but I found this book ticked all the boxes for me just now. It made me escape into the charming Devon village of Middlemass for a time.

Though as with most romance fiction, I knew from the onset that things would end on a positive note, the journey was an enjoyable one with characters that were easily imagined and extremely sympathetic. Jess Metcalfe was a woman whom I would like to meet, so living her life for a few hours was indeed a pleasure. Her charming picture-postcard cottage, her new friends, her handsome neighbour Aidan, and even her two kittens made for a welcome escapist read. The author even references one of my childhood favourite books "Tom's Midnight Garden" and my favourite classic "Jane Eyre".

This romance novel contains themes of starting over, overcoming insecurities, forging friendships, community spirit, and of course the healing power of books.

Highly recommended to those readers who want to get away from real life for awhile, especially those who are ardent book lovers.

The Littlest Library by Poppy Alexander… if books had a heart, The Littlest Library would have the biggest heart. Jess's life is just fine thank you. It's quiet and comfortable. But then her beloved grandmother passes away and she loses her job at the local library. Jess needs a new start and a new adventure.( I'm in the same place, thanks jess!) Through a random series of events (is anything really random?) Jess finds the adorable ivy Cottage With the mysterious red telephone Box. And perhaps, this will be the next chapter in her life. Is she brave enough to turn the page, to venture forward? Read this heartwarming and heart touching adventure to find out. Jess is my hero 💕

I have always heard of people say "this is a character driven story" and I read mostly plot driven stories so I never really understood what that meant until I read this book.

This book is almost entirely character driven so if you don't like that I would suggest finding something else. Unfortunately I found this book to be pretty slow up until maybe 65% in.

In this book we fool Jess after she moves to Middlemass a quiet little town in England. She is navigating grief as she just lost her grandmother, and is honestly pretty lost. This town continues to open doors for her, as she makes friends and opens the Littlest Library in the telephone box that sits in her front yard.

I think my favorite part of this story was how the library brought people together. This library always had the right book for the right person. The community and the reader is able to find a lot of peace through the little notes that Jess's Mimi left in some of the books.

I would suggest this book to someone that likes a sweet, story about finding one's self, making friendships, and learning to live with grief.

The idea of a little library built into an abandoned British phone box is all it took for me to pick up this one!

Jess has worked at the public library for years but she loses her job. She decides to move since she has no-one left. She finds a cute little cottage and outside is a telephone box she makes into a library. This is such a cute book, loved it.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and to the publisher Harper Collins.