“𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒍𝒖𝒙𝒖𝒓𝒚 𝒍𝒆𝒇𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔. 𝑰𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒏 𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒍𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑳𝒖𝒍𝒂 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉.”

𝘓𝘶𝘭𝘢 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘯’𝘴 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 will probably be the funniest and most heartwarming novel you will read about a banned books list.

In the town of Troy, Georgia, Lula Dean—widow, empty-nester, and local busy-body—takes her quest for attention and crusade against “woke” lifestyles and values to new heights. As the founder and leader of the Concerned Parents Committee, she pulls books that are supposedly filled with pornography and propaganda out of schools and libraries. To help provide Troy with better reading material, she then sets up a Little Free Library in her front yard and stocks it with “wholesome” books like 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘱 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘭 and 𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘦𝘴 for her neighbors to borrow. Unbeknownst to her, the daughter of her archenemy switches the books out with ones on the banned list, hiding them under the more “decent” dust jackets. And that’s when things get really interesting. Book by book, reader by reader, the lives of the townspeople begin to change for the better. The little library sparks self-discovery, new or mended friendships and relationships, and citywide changes.

This was a fun read that was entertaining yet also reflected on significant issues like racism, misogyny, antisemitism, and the disturbing rise of the alt-right movement. Though, in my opinion, a few storylines were a bit outlandish and the ending was a little too neatly tied up and somewhat far-fetched, I would still recommend 𝘓𝘶𝘭𝘢 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘯’𝘴 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 for its charming storytelling and important message—books, libraries, and the sharing of knowledge and experiences matter.

4.75 stars rounded up. Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

A small town in Georgia, many of the residents conservative and non-inclusive, is tricked into reading banned books from the little book library in town. The little library belongs to book banning crusader Lula, who doesn't realize the "Wholesome" books she chose are being replaced with the books she and her team removed from the public library as unfit for children.

I loved seeing how the residents change after reading these banned books, how their worldview and outlook are broadened, expanded in impressive ways. I liked also that teens benefited by reading about others like themselves who had been abused as they were.

The title of the book is playful but the themes are serious ones, written in a smooth and easy to read way that addresses the constrictions forced on some people on their lifestyle, choice of reading material, and their friendships.

I devoured this book. The message is so important and timely, the characters are relatable and well-developed, and the story is believable and endearing.

I will say, there are a LOT of characters to keep track of, though the author does an amazing job of keeping their names and stories different enough to be able to get the hang of it as you read.

I could recommend this book to so many people with different backgrounds and morals because there are a huge variety of voices in this story. Can't wait for this to hit the shelves this summer!!

Read an advanced reader’s proof thanks to NetGalley. Loved it. Thought at first it was going to light and humorous but the book left me with plenty to think about. Can’t wait to share it when it’s published.

Lula Dean's Little Library is a conglomeration of all the current hot button political issues focused on a small town of Troy, Georgia, where a college student decides to replace the books in a front yard free lending library with the titles on a banned booked list. The novel revolves around old high school rivalries and the family histories of people who have never moved on from this little town. This is a skeletons in the closet book that is often funny. Recommended for reading groups who can see both sides of the political mess.

Engaging, entertaining, and SO timely! A recommended purchase for collections where Miller's previous title was popular.

I absolutely loved Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books! I didn’t know much more than the premise: Lula Dea wanted to ban books and started a little library of books she thought were appropriate to read; a college student removed the book jackets and replaced with banned books. But this book, through its large cast of interconnected characters addresses so much more than than the right to read. Kirsten Miller weaves subplots related to neo nazism, fake news, feminism, rape, political extremism, and LGBTQ+ issues.

Great for book clubs!

This is one of those books where I almost regret reading an advanced copy -- because I want to run out and buy it for all my friends. Miller perfectly balances humor, satire, connection, and the dark /dangerous edges of our modern times, when book bans are flaring all around us. The characters are memorable, despite the cast growing quite large, and the small town vibe is perfection. I really can't wait to share this with everyone when it publishes in June.