I really wanted to like this book, and I may yet someday, because, as a librarian, I love stories about librarians, I think it was too slow paced for me as a romance novel. I don't even remember when the main character meets the love interest. It got a little too bogged down in the details of the town and people instead of the story. I may come to it someday, and I would still recommend it to folks who just binge a lot of romance novels, but it wasn't as good as I hoped it'd be.

Everything about this felt so fake, from the character names to plot points (randomly attacking middle schoolers with tomatoes??). The main character felt very whiney and I stopped caring what she did, but finished the book because I am a lesbian whose first job was at a library.

I received this book complimentary from NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

Oh, this was a sweet gem of a book. Nan is likable and interesting. Her move to Pinetree Public Library is full of interesting, dynamic characters. Reading this book feels like a cozy hug in a way. The characters have beautiful growth and the focus of the story is how Nan builds a beautiful community around herself.

“It was tremendously fun to throw ripe tomatoes; she had no idea what a high that would give her.”
― Kathy Anderson, The New Town Librarian

The New Town Librarian was such a fun read! It featured a middle-aged queer librarian who got a new job in a small town. Being the sole librarian there brings many challenges and complications along the way. It's very adventures of a librarian. Nan is witty but, at times, can be mean. It is fun to go through Nan's self-discovery journey.

There were a few areas where events felt out of place, which made the story a little less compelling. It just didn't always flow well.

This is a tremendous comfy summer read for anyone looking for something simple. Thanks to Ninestar Press and NetGalley for the free copy for an honest review.

A 50-year-old queer librarian moves to a small town, where she gets to run and reinvigorate the local library. Along the way, we meet the folks who come through her library or who impact her life in the town. A great premise for a sweet, meandering novel that is more concerned with characters than it is cohesive plot. But sometimes dropping into a world of sweet characters makes up for any structural qualms.

Wanting more than being an entry-level librarian in Philly, Nan applies to jobs. But she'd never gotten an interview until she applied to be the sole librarian in the town of Pinetree. Once she gets there, she's in a little over her head— she has to figure out budgets, deal with potty-mouthed middle schoolers, and a very bossy library board member. She comes to find a community that she loves, though, and decides to stick around and make the small town her home.

Some of the plot points feel forced in, or out of sorts with the rest of the book. Her Hypochondria Hotline idea for the library made no sense, and felt like the author just wanted to get a few more character details in. Why, for instance, would a library start such a tool when the internet exists? It is unclear when this book takes place, but we do know that the library has computers with internet access. Similarly, some characters become beloved, just to have them swiftly stolen away from town. Their exists feel abrupt and without any motivation or groundwork in place for them to make sense. It felt more like a series of small, connected vignettes more than a full novel.

The New Town Librarian is a perfect summer read, if you want something easy, breezy, and set in a small (and very Italian-American) town in New Jersey. While it might be far from the best book you've ever read, it will definitely make you smile the whole time you're reading it.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review.

Overall: 3.75

Big town meets small town drama and makes for an interesting combination of interesting events and ideas. You fall in love with the characters because they are so quirky and keeps you wanting to keep reading to find out what is the next thing that's going to happen. I love how they address the main FMC"s sexuality within the book.

Witty and charming. Enjoyed the main character’s search for belonging at a new librarian and coming into her own.

A fun read that had me falling in love with the small town Nan lives in. Thank you for this eGalley!

This was a cute and fast read. More like "adventures in being a Librarian", I loved learning all the antics and wild things that she experienced day to day. Her little quips, however, that felt judgmental about what made a real reader and what didn't (read: classics, not fantasy) definitely made me pause. It was cute and I chuckled a few times.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book! The title and this beautiful cover drew me in and i was excited to read this book! I will be recommending this book to others for readers advisory.

The New Town Librarian was a sweet read that I enjoyed! The characters were vibrant, and I love a read that focuses on a community or place for a lot of the narrative.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I became unsurprisingly a lil obsessed with this book; so often a fictional librarian is a meek mouse with traditional clothes who is too aware of the sexy stereotype fantasy to do much more than shelve things and pine after some dude, but this sapphic sarcastic witty librarian quickly became a new favorite in my pantheon of fictional librarians.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Absolutely loved this story. I laughed so much, but it was a touching story that I really, really enjoyed.

Very self-insert/wish-fulfillment type story, and I'm honestly not sure what audience this was written for.

Maybe this is the case of right book, wrong time, but I could not for the life of me get into this. And I have not wanted to try again.

I received this book for free for an honest unbiased review from Netgalley.

I wish more books were this well written. Characters were witty and the setting fantastic.

I requested this as a "read now" and the title, cover, and description had me interested. However, I just wasn't into it and gave up about 40% of the way through. I found it difficult to get through. I would not consider this a romance. Lots about it was confusing.

The New Town Librarian by Kathy Anderson is a humorous and heartwarming story about Nan Nethercott, a middle-aged librarian who decides to take a chance on a new job in a small town in New Jersey. The book follows Nan's journey as she adjusts to her new life, faces unexpected challenges, and navigates her way through the ups and downs of love and career.

Nan is a relatable character, a hypochondriac with a sarcastic sense of humor and a lackluster career. As she settles into her new job, she encounters a number of obstacles, from overbearing landlords to rowdy middle-schoolers. But through it all, Nan remains determined to succeed and find happiness.

The book also explores Nan's journey towards self-discovery and acceptance. As a queer woman, Nan has struggled with her identity and relationships in the past. Her new life in the small town forces her to confront these issues head-on, leading to some surprising and touching moments.

Overall, The New Town Librarian is a delightful read that will make you laugh, cry, and cheer for Nan as she navigates the challenges of life and love. Kathy Anderson has crafted a charming and relatable story that is sure to resonate with readers of all ages.

As soon as I saw this I knew I had to request it. It was so my taste that I'm definitely buying my own copy. This is such a cute queer romance surrounded around something I love: books and libraries! I currently work at a library and the in depth thoughts of the processes especially that of weeding books... Blew my mind. I related to this book and loved every inch of it.