A book about books and a small town. The perfect recipe for a very sweet book. This book is also about self-discovery and grief. It really is just so cute and a great summer or beach read. I am giving this three stars just because I didn't really connect with any of the characters too deeply. But the writing was good, the setting was good and overall I enjoyed the book.

This is the story of my dream! To move from he city to a cute little English fixer upper cottage and tend to the little free library in my front yard. This book is heartwarming, cozy and made for those of us who absolutely love books and love to share that love with others.
Jess loses her job when the city library closes down. On top of that, she’s coping with the loss of her beloved grandmother, Mimi. When she takes a drive to clear her mind, she stumbles upon a quaint little village that calls to her heart. When she finds a rundown cottage for sale, she knows it’s what Mimi would want her to do. So she moves in and gets to know the locals, especially her neighbors, Aiden and his daughter Maisie. Aiden is a hot but grumpy single dad and despite that there are definitely some sparks between them. There’s also Diana, who comes to be One of Jess’s closest new friends, and encourages her to step outside her comfort zone.
On Jess’s property is an abandoned old phone booth that the young men of the village use as a urinal after a night at the pub. Jess decides to clean it up and turn it into a little free library with the help of Aiden and the Town Council and using books left to her by Mimi. That is until some people of the village decide they’d rather have a defibrillator located in there for everyone to use. In order to convince the village to keep the library, Jess and her friends hold a grand opening ceremony and festivities to convince the naysayers that it’s the right choice.
This book is like a warm mug of tea for the soul. It hugs you, it makes you smile, it cheers your heart. And it’s about books! Talk about ticking all the boxes!!
Thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review

This was a cute and heartwarming story, centered around the power that books can have on not only individuals, but communities as a whole. I loved the village backdrop of this story, and the main character was easy to relate to the majority of the time.

I enjoyed the librarian aspect, and how the struggle of modern day libraries and librarians were portrayed. I found it very realistic, and it added another layer to the story and the main character's dilemma. The supporting characters had just the right amount of intrigue and humor as well. Overall a 3.5 star read for me.

The Littlest Library by Poppy Alexander is a sweet story of self-discovery and community spirit. I enjoyed this book very much and loved the charming village and its inhabitants.

Jess Metcalf leads a quiet peaceful life with her grandmother. When her grandmother passes away, Jess is left feeling lost and a bit lonely, but when she loses her job at the library, she decides it’s time for a change. She finds a small cottage in a small village in the English countryside. She decides to purchase the cottage and later finds out that an old phone box is on her property. She works with the town council and they decide to turn it into a library.

Jess decides to use her Grandmother’s old books to start the library, and as the library becomes more popular, Jess becomes more at home in her new little village. She befriends many of the quirky villagers, and especially the somewhat grumpy Aiden, who sold her the cottage.

I enjoyed this small town story. The story is mostly about Jess and how she moves through her grief of losing her grandmother and how she makes a new life in the village. The romance with Aidan was a slow burn, but there was some great banter between the two. And I adored Aidens daughter Maisey, she was a fun addition to the story.

I recommend The Littlest Library to anyone who enjoys Women’s fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Littlest Library by Poppy Alexander is a sweet story of self-discovery and community spirit. I enjoyed this book very much and loved the charming village and its inhabitants.

Jess Metcalf leads a quiet peaceful life with her grandmother. When her grandmother passes away, Jess is left feeling lost and a bit lonely, but when she loses her job at the library, she decides it’s time for a change. She finds a small cottage in a small village in the English countryside. She decides to purchase the cottage and later finds out that an old phone box is on her property. She works with the town council and they decide to turn it into a library.

Jess decides to use her Grandmother’s old books to start the library, and as the library becomes more popular, Jess becomes more at home in her new little village. She befriends many of the quirky villagers, and especially the somewhat grumpy Aiden, who sold her the cottage.

I enjoyed this small town story. The story is mostly about Jess and how she moves through her grief of losing her grandmother and how she makes a new life in the village. The romance with Aidan was a slow burn, but there was some great banter between the two. And I adored Aidens daughter Maisey, she was a fun addition to the story.

I recommend The Littlest Library to anyone who enjoys Women’s fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a nice, medium paced read for me. I enjoyed reading about Jess and the new life she's trying to set for herself after her grandmother passes. I loved Jess's idea of turning the old phone booth in front of her new house into a little library; she was able to connect with her neighbors and it was great to see those interactions. It honestly didn't need the romance part. It was nice getting to know Aidan, but I think the story would've been fine without a romantic plot.

Overall I thought this was a pretty cute story and I'd definitely be interested in reading more by the author.

Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the ARC!

I am a huge fan of little free libraries and this reminded me of them. I think this was a great little book and I will definitely be reading more of Alexander in the future.

Imagine coming across a library in an old telephone box! Magical! The Littlest Library is really a book about reinvention and growth for not only the protaganist, Jess, but also the village and the little telephone box. It is a lovely read.

This is the story of a librarian, Jess, who ends up moving to a cottage after some big life events.
I loved all of the characters in this book, they were very well written! I loved how much Jess loved her grandmother and did everything to preserve her memory. Such a lighthearted and beautiful read!

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book is incredibly cute and cozy! I am always looking for bookish romances and this definitely did the trick for me. I also love a good happy small town story (almost as much as a love spooky small towns), so honestly I was happy all around. I got a lot of Stardew Valley vibes while reading, and it was a great pick me up!

Jess lives in the same tiny English town she was born in, but after the death of the grandmother who raised her and the loss of her job she is feeling unmoored. When her car dies in a picturesque village she stumbles upon the cottage of her dreams...and an old phone box smelling heavily of wee. In a truly becoming story, Jess takes the leap to move to Middlemass and begin a new life, but how long can she keep it up before her funds dry up?

This story of a little free library in the making was cozy and cute. The cast of characters were funny amidst their chaos and issues. The best part of this book was seeing the impact the right book can make on a person - maybe even changing their lives. I know the main part of this book was not really a coming of age, instead a self actualization, but I found the small town romance side of the story lacking. You can tell from the initial meet-cute that at the core it should be an enemies to lovers/grumpy sunshine romance story, however, when it happens it just feels so abrupt after a long wait. I think we would benefit some from seeing Aidan's side of the story as we never really get a true sense of what he is feeling, and all Jess is giving us is the standard litany of reasons why it would never work (psst, it totally will!) I felt like it went round about her issues being "unsolvable" while she was fixing her friends' lives left and right, and her problems just required the predictable creative solution. This book was not as emotionally deep as what I am used to reading, however, it was a refreshing and sweet read (even if I had to frequently google the British terms I was unfamiliar with!) I've wanted a little free library of my own for a while now and this story reignites that desire!

Growing up with her beloved grandmother Mimi, Jess never made many friends. Her grandmother and their dream of owning a cute cottage with a garden was all she needed. After her grandmother's death and the loss of her library job, she packs up and moves to a cute cottage in Devon. With boxes of her grandmothers cherished books she sets up a library in an abandoned red phone booth on her property. The littlest library creates a community for Jess. When the library is threatened and Jess realizes she may have to move to fins work she comes to realize what her grandmothers boxes of books has come to mean to her. a lovely story, with warm likable characters, and a cozy Devon sense of place. One point I dislikes was Jesses repeatedly saying that libraries and library jobs are dying. The whole book proves that isn't so.

I'm not the target audience for this book. It's one of those British slice-of-life books that moves too slowly for me. DNF.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

An idyllic English country cottage, one red telephone box turned library, and a village set with quaint villagers, what more could a reader want in a story? The Littlest Library is the perfect book to curl up with when you desperately want an escape to the country.

Jess has come to a crossroads in life. Her grandmother, who raised her since the time she was four after her parents passed away, has recently passed away, and her job as a librarian no longer exists. Selling the house she grew up in on a whim, Jess gets in her battered car and happens upon a quaint house in a tiny village in the country. It's everything Jess and her grandmother wanted for their futures and she excitedly decides it's time to move on. There's just one pesky issue, she has a red telephone box on her new property that she has to deal with. And a less than neighborly neighbor named Aidan who also happens to be attractive. Aidan tells her he sees potential in her to make a positive impact on the village, and unknowingly that's exactly what Jess does. Getting to know her new village, Jess makes more friends than the whole of her life and changes lives for the better around town. But can she learn to live in the moment and simply be happy?

Poppy wove an absolutely beautifully detailed story in The Littlest Library. The imagery alone makes me even more envious of English country living. Ivy Cottage isn't just Jess' dream of home but mine as well. I gave it 3 stars though because as beautiful as the setting and imagery are, the plot line felt jumbled and drawn out, while rushed in other places. Aidan was such a strong character at the beginning, making me laugh out loud with his quick banter, but he fell flat and empty half way through. I just wanted more meaningful interaction between them. The front half of the book I sped through, but the back half I had a hard time finishing, but when I got to the final page I flipped to the next expecting an epilogue but was met with acknowledgements. Overall, it's a solid 3.5 read and I will dream of Ivy Cottage often, wishing I could be Jess living there.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
The Littlest Library is a cozy tribute to reading, books, and libraries, and especially what these things can mean for a small town in bringing people together. Above everything else, the little English village and its residents are what shines, as are the bonds that form among them thanks to the efforts of down-on-her-luck librarian Jess. Seeing the process of Jess coming to realize the need for this little phone-booth library, putting it together, and running it is such a joy. It’s also loaded with bookish references that spoke to me as a book lover.
The book does try to fall back a bit too much on this premise, as I didn’t find the characters themselves overly interesting on their own merits, beyond the protagonist. Jess as the lead is reasonably compelling, especially as she describes sentiments that ring true about the field of librarianship, like the challenges faced by librarians in the digital age to evolve to remain relevant, or working with issues with funding (which is also interrelated with the issue of relevance).
But this is yet another book being packaged as a romance that includes a tepid romantic subplot. I keep saying this, but I don’t mind the more women’s fiction focus, but you just have to make me care about the romance, and I really didn’t care about the weird attempt at romance in this.
This book is a nice, light read, and will give anyone who loves books some joy. However, it is yet another in a long line of recent (ish in this case, as it’s a reissue of a 2021 British release) books that continues the same bad genre market blending trend, so I’d be wary if you’re expecting a romance.
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Rating: 4.5 Stars

When I first met Jess, she was not in a great place. She was still grieving her grandmother, she lost her job, and she felt lost in general. She believed that anyone she loved would leave her, and my heart ached for Jess. When she took that leap and moved house, I was excited for the possibilities, and I was not disappointed.

The village of Middlemass was packed with some colorful and quirky people, and I loved meeting them all. It was beautiful seeing them embrace Jess and seeing her blossom as she settled into her new home. It was also wonderful the way Jess’s arrival revitalized the town. It was simply one smiling inducing moment after another as I read this sweet and heartwarming tale. And, I doubt any reader will fail to adore the little library itself. Pay special attention to the books, and the way the perfect book found its way to each person in need.

Overall: I adored this feel-good story about finding your people and your place. It was a like a warm hug and put a huge smile on my face.

*I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Avon Books for this ARC!*

This was a really cute read! If you are into books about books, cozy British village life, slow-burn romance and books about finding yourself, then this is the book for you!

I was really into the setting of this book! I felt like the author really painted a vivid picture of this sweet little British village. I could envision the cottage, the red telephone box library, the pond, the village square, the school. It was well described without being overly descriptive. I got a super nostalgic feeling for my vacation to England a few years ago.

The characters were interesting. I really liked some of the side characters more than the main character though, which was a little disappointing. Jess was certainly relatable, but I also felt like she kept getting in her own way. This was kind of frustrating to me. I know that people do that in real life all the time, but this kind of book seems more like a break from reality to me, rather than an ode to the human condition, if that makes sense. I liked Diana and Mungo, I want to be friends with them!

The little library part of the story was fun, and I enjoyed seeing how it began to bring the community together. This book felt a bit like a love story to libraries and how they can morph and change, depending on what the community needs. I loved that.

My Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️

I gave The Littlest Library 3 Stars!

This was a very predictable but charming clean romance. We follow Jess who uproots her life upon losing her job as a librarian. She buys a cute, fixer upper cottage from the handsome neighbor, and turns the abandoned phone booth on the property into a library which brings her new friends and new opportunities.

This is a quaint little book.

I have to admit that it took me quite a while to read as it never really got me hooked - not for any particular reason but I just didn't feel very connected to the people and there isn't exactly a riveting storyline to pull you in. That being said, this book is more about the town and the people than anything else, there is some conflict but it's pretty low stakes. I enjoyed the ideas of a communal library and a sweet, small town. The characters all had very interesting and distinct personalities which definitely helped bring Middlemass to life. I especially loved the storyline of the two bickering sisters.
The personalities and vibe of the town itself reminded me a lot of Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls!!

All in all this is a pleasant read, perfect for anyone who needs to get lost in the simple life of a small town but doesn't care to watch a predictable Hallmark movie :)

I give this a solid 4 stars, I didn't fall in love with this book but it was still cute and original.

Thank you Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

This is such a cute book, and I'm a sucker for anything about a free little library. I instantly bonded with Jess, who prefers a quiet life surrounded by books, and is mourning the death of her grandmother. Aidan is a BIG jerk at first, and I hate that trope (jerks who turn out to be good guys), because really? In real life? A person who treats a stranger badly is usually just a jerk, no matter how much you get to know them. Anyway. It turned out well, and I was okay with Aidan in the end. More than the romance, however, I liked Middlemass, the quiet English town Jess moves to. It was charming and interesting, and made reading quite a lovely, immersive experience.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

A sweet book, perhaps a little too sweet about a librarian starting over and the joy she brings to a community by starting a little library. There is the required romance and a cute village setting-an enjoyable summer read.