Everyone has a story and we can learn and grow in empathy by being open to one another's stories as well as the stories available to us through books.

I took a while to take this book off my To Be Read pile and I am happy I read it. The story of the city of Troy, GA, and its residents as they try to deal with change in our world and in their town. The story revolves around Lula Dean's efforts to ban certain books in the school and town library. When Lula puts up a Little Library of suitable books, one character changes out the "approved" books and inserts banned books with the slipcovers of the approved books. As each resident borrows another book we get a glimpse into their lives and what the banned book has to teach them and it all comes together with some other storylines in the town.

The book is being billed as a satire and while it is true that some characters are a bit stereotypical and some storylines strain credulity, I preferred to take it as a lightening up what could have been an otherwise heavy book.

I read this book sitting on the beach; it was an easy page-turner. I wish book banners would read this book as it offers a different perspective.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books in exchange for an honest review. This book is available now.

TL;DR: I read LULA DEAN’S LITTLE LIBRARY OF BANNED BOOKS last fall and it rocked my damn world. It is hands down the most fun reading experience I’ve had in the last year, and when I made a decision to start my own monthly book club, there was no doubt in my mind that LULA would be one of the first book club picks.⁣
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The latest from Kirsten Miller, the author of the 2022 feminist rage satire/suspense novel THE CHANGE (A Jordy’s Book Club must-read), LULA DEAN is a southern-fried satire that takes down this country’s obsession with culture wars in an objective, thoughtful, and did I mention laugh-oud-loud, pump your first, hell yeah kinda way? This is THE book that will have you saying “mmmmmhmmmm”, “I know that’s right”, “amen”, “get her, Jade”, “makes sense to me!!” and “finally, someone writing the thoughts in my head into existence”. This book is not a blue state book. It’s not a red state book. It’s a common sense killer of a novel that I just know you’re going to finish reading and want to pass on to all of your friends. It’s that good. And it’s that much fun. No other book this summer will have you simultaneously laughing your butt off at a whipped-cream spraying penis cake while you double check to make sure you’re registered to vote this fall.

Does a book really have the power to change someone's life? Can it really redirect a person's moral compass? The local busybody certainly thinks so which is why she has launched a book banning campaign! She's doing it for the sake of the children obviously. Unfortunately, for Lula Dean, not everyone in town agrees with her and a hilarious countercampaign ensues. Soon the township is in complete chaos and the locals are forced to address the skeletons that have been so unceremoniously ripped from out of the closet. This charming novel explores the themes of book banning, prejudice, sexism, and flagrant racism with a levity that makes these themes accessible to any audience (well . . . not neo-Nazis, but everyone else). The author highlights the endearing aspects that characterize the South while leveling serious social critiques that remain unaddressed. The novel is also well paced with each chapter telling the story of a singular character that feeds into the larger plot. The characters were so well developed that I couldn't help falling in love with them and I certainly couldn't out this book down! I loved this book and I have recommended it to everyone!

Much like Kirsten Miller's previous book, The Change, Lula Dean is meant for a specific audience. Luckily for me, I am very much that audience.

Lula Dean tackles the current issue of book banning, and in a delightful manner, uses specific books to showcase how diverse literature can enrich people's minds and help them through their life. I love the nods to various books that have been on banned lists (Speak, The Diary of Anne Frank, etc), and how they affect the readers. By virtue of the stories referenced, the entire town is changed. Each chapter is related to a specific character reading a specific book. I really loved the idea of hijacking a little library by replacing all of the awful books with related books.

This is a soapy, cozy book - Lula Dean the character is the WORST, but everyone involved learns some lessons, and the town is better off for it. This was a charming read. My only real complaint is that there were a few too many characters, and it got a bit confusing keeping track of who was connected to whom. But if you happen to be the target audience (liberal-leaning, voracious reader, open-minded), I think you will quite enjoy this one.

This book is fabulous and so timely. It focuses on a small town on the south (be sure to read the author’s note) that begins banning books to “protect the innocent children.” And due to a prank, instead of books help bring people together. There are a few hard topics discussed so research trigger warnings.

The power that books have to educate, share different perspectives and create compassion is amazing. This is why I love to read. This would make a great book for a book club!

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

“When you have everything, the only luxury left is taking things away from others.”

Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books reminded me so much of the movie, Pleasantville. This tiny town of Troy, Georgia starts out in black and white. Women wear belted dresses and stockings and live in the kitchen. But the teenagers are curious and rebellious, and with each discovered banned book, pops of color emerge.

Kirsten Miller surprises me every time, because the covers of her books are often sweet and cute. They give little indication of the punch within. They are often witty, numerous, and packed with perspectives on human rights issues that would sway even the most ignorant.

The Change was one of my favorite books from 2022, and I can safely say that Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books is one of my favorites of 2024. It showcases how important representation is. Not only to the person who is pleading in their mind to find someone like them, someone who makes them feel normal and seen, but also to the people who love them.

Reading is escapism, and there is forced empathy in that. We are regularly put into someone else’s shoes, and it’s exactly what we need as a society. We need empathy and understanding, and banning books keeps us ignorant and separated. I encourage you to read this book and other banned books.

It was a sad and happy story. Made me laugh and it made me cry. Gave a wonderful perspective of social issues happening right in front of us today. Gave the book 4 stars.

I will read anything Kirsten Miller writes. Lula Dean is a great follow-up to The Change - but I wonder if anything could stand up to the remarkable novel that that one was. Lula Dean is a joy. Look forward to more from this author.

I loved Kirsten Miller’s The Change and was eager to read her latest offering. Well-crafted, satirical and humorous (with several laugh-out-loud moments), but also hard-hitting, Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller is an engaging read.

Set in the small town of Troy, Georgia, the novel revolves around tensions that arise from one of the townspeople’s missions to ban books that are deemed inappropriate – a mission she has successfully executed resulting in the removal of said books from the public library.

Lula Dean also sets up her own lending library with hopes of circulating what she considers acceptable books among the townspeople.

Beverly Underwood, also a lifelong resident of Troy and on the school board, vehemently opposes Lula’s actions. Beverly’s daughter Lindsay takes matters into her own hands and unbeknownst to her mother, replaces the books in Lula’s library with those which have been banned.

To avoid detection, she places the banned books inside the dust jackets of acceptable literature. As the narrative progresses, we see how these books impact the lives of the townspeople and the dynamic between Beverly and Lula, both of whom are running for mayor.

I loved that the author incorporates certain books (a few of which are banned in some parts of the US) into the plotlines and shows how those books not only inspire individuals to effect change in their own lives but also enable them to gain perspective and expose those spreading hate in the community.

The author tackles several heavy themes and social issues such as censorship and book banning, homophobia, bigotry and racism, antisemitism, sexual abuse, racially motivated violence, misogyny and much more.

Many thanks to William Morrow for my ARC in exchange for my review!

As usual, thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Before you also choose to pick this up, please note that the book talks about racism, anti-semitism, homophobia, and other important topics that might be triggering for a group of people.

While this books brings up a lot of important topics and has important messages to us all, the book is also very entertaining. We have this Lula Dean, very annoying Karen, who we all know exist in real life. She opened up her own little library that offers books she claimed she likes, when in fact she had never even read those books. Lindsay, the daughter of her “rival” (Beverly never really thought of Lula as a rival), decided to have her fun and swap those books with the books Lula had banned. Without knowing the consequences, each book that Lindsay has put in that library ends up affecting the people who read them. The plot was very interesting to me that I read this book in one sitting.

The happy ending to this book might not have been realistic, but hey, isn’t that why we read fiction?

I would say there are so many other fiction books that are much more entertaining or have better stories when it comes to the topics I mentioned, but I still think it’s nice to pick this up if you need a quick entertaining read!

In our world of book banning, Miller imagines a Southern town wracked by conflict over the threat posed by books that some deem offensive. Just as books are threatened today, the small town of Troy, GA is embroiled in a controversy over books that are often considered classics. Lula Dean is a one-woman crusader trying to rid her local school of books that might teach about subjects she thinks are inappropriate. Maus, Are You There God It’s Me Margaret, Beloved, Speak, The Diary of Anne Frank and others are on Lula’s hit list.

Lula sees herself as a victim, someone no one really likes and no one listens to. At least until she begins to whip up fear by saying books like those she disapproves of, promote pornography and might make people feel bad about history. Suddenly, people are listening and she loves the attention she’s getting. Her Little Library in front of her house is filled with books she herself feels are “safe.” These include outdated and inappropriate titles such as The Southern Belle’s Guide to Etiquette and Our Confederate Heroes. What Lula doesn’t know is someone has switched out her books by placing the dustjackets on the very books she is trying to ban. Now visitors to her little lending library find books to read that enlighten them to topics like the holocaust, rape and teen sexuality.

Miller uses the conflict over access to books as a platform to demonstrate how books can open minds, educate, and create better understanding. Lula is a complicated person who is desperate to have people listen to her. Despite the unpopularity of her campaign, she takes great joy in using scare tactics and intimidation. But in Troy, there are others who are willing to stop Lula’s efforts and demonstrate the importance of the right to read.

Set in a small town in Georgia, the book effectively captures the quintessential hometown drama, featuring a diverse cast of characters that elicited laughter, acknowledgment, and reflection on the current political climate.

What I appreciated most about this work was its skillful balance of humor and incisive social commentary. Miller addresses significant issues—such as racism, sexism, homophobia, and book banning—with a refreshing candor that resonates strongly in today’s society. While some of the narrative's situations may seem a bit improbable, they emphasize an important truth: books possess the ability to change hearts and minds.

However, the novel introduces a substantial number of characters, which can make it challenging at times to keep track of everyone. Additionally, if you have specific political leanings, some of the commentary may be difficult to digest; nevertheless, I encourage you to approach it with an open mind.

This book is timely and relatable, it's entertaining with the satire and straightforward attitude about topics that can be hard to talk about. I liked the approach to current events. Personally, I struggled with the different point of views and intertwining story lines, it felt like it kept me less engaged and invested and found it hard to keep track of the characters. Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The word that kept coming to mind when reading this book was “timely”. It hits on so many hot topics in our society today - racism, sexism, rape, violence, homophobia, book banning, etc - and approaches them all in a realistic and honest way. There are a lot of characters in this novel and it can get difficult to follow each one, but overall the story comes together easily and I believe you will come out on the other side with what you should. It’s a book that will make you think about a lot of different things. And it sure made me want to pick up several banned books to read!

As a passionate reader AND crusader against the banning of books, I adored this novel. Funny, sharp, and decidedly liberal, it doesn't mince words when it comes to fighting back against the banning of books and fighting for the marginalized communities targeted by book bans.

Lula Dean, a curmudgeon in a small Georgia town, has filled her little free library with, what she considers, "appropriate" books. However, someone else in town decides to replace the books within the book jackets with books Lula and her conservative crusaders want to ban. As more and more townspeople start taking the books and reading the true books underneath, they learn the truth: reading and books can change minds, hearts, and truly make the bad good.

What I loved most about this book was that Miller doesn't sugarcoat things--she blatantly "says" that book bans are NOT legitimate and do go against freedom of speech. I will admit, some of the situations seemed a little far-fetched, but, underscoring all of them is the power of books to change hearts and minds, which is absolutely true.

I loved this book. It's absolutely perfect for this time in history. Thanks to Miller for speaking against the banning of books so beautifully in fiction!

I love love loved this book! It’s about a woman in a small town who’s trying to implement a book ban. The author did a great job including issues such as racism and homophobia. Well done!

When I saw that Kirsten Miller had a new book, as I absolutely loved The Change, I had to get a copy. It did not disappoint!

A small town in Georgia. A lot of people who live or lived in the area at one time. Typical hometown drama. It had me laughing, nodding my head, comparing it to today's climate.

A cast of many characters, it seems to mostly go back to Lula Dean, who is fighting to keep "bad" books out of the library and shares "good" books in her own little library, and Beverly, a former town cheerleader who sits on the school board and disagrees with Lula from day one. All of their lives are intertwined throughout the book as a town is changed because of the banned books and the actions of the townsfolk.

The Good: I laughed! Sometimes stories are too serious, and this was just what I needed. At the same time, the author shared some interesting insight about the banning of books and even how it plays along with some of the political ramblings of today.

The Not So Good: There is not much that I did not like, and I highly recommend this book. However, there are a lot of characters, and at times I would forget who was who. Also, if you lean a certain way politically, you may not enjoy some of that is said. Try to keep an open mind.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

As book bannings are increasing throughout the country, Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books is perfect for a book club selection.

In a small town, Lula Dean, the town's noisy neighbor, works on banning books and putting what she considers appropriate books in a Little Free Library in front of her house. In an act against censorship, someone else swaps out the books behind the book covers in Lula Dean's Library with an array of books that are considered banned. As people start grabbing books from Lula Dean's library they find the books aren't what they expected, but end up being exactly what they needed.

The first half of this novel really worked for me. I liked how each chapter was highlighted by a banned book and who it helped to shape the life of the person reading it. Many times it was the book they needed to help propel their life forward. In this portion it really helped to show important all literature is and how no one should be censoring books for others. If you don't want to read something that's fine, but don't decide what's appropriate for someone else, unless you're their direct parent. The second half of the novel took a hard left turn into small town politics. I don't normally mind narratives of this nature, but it didn't have the same feel as the first part of the novel.

Because of themes throughout the novel I feel like it would make a good selection for a book club. Also if you're up for a book discussion with someone, this would make a good selection.

Who doesn't love a book about books? And banned ones at that!

In a time when books are being questioned, when kids are literally not allowed to go into libraries without consent, this couldn't come at a more perfect time. Imagine a small town, surrounded by the misinformed, and the ones who want to ensure this bigotry is stopped at the highest level. Lulu lives in Troy, a tiny town in Georgia, and believes imposing her beliefs upon others is helpful, when quite frankly, it's evil. There's a mix of different characters and the small town feel of being forced to believe one way, without realizing books don't force you to be one way, instead, they teach you how others around us might live.

A timely and fun book.

Fun book addressing some serious issues but in a light manner (mostly).
Lula Dean is a conservative woman and the town odd ball. After she finds an inappropriate book in the library, she puts up her own little personal library box and fills it with books she deems appropriate.
What Lula doesn’t count on is pranksters! They take the books in her book box, remove the outer cover and put the cover on newly banned books. I LOVE IT! What the pranksters didn’t count on was the chain reaction this caused. People opened their eyes to new ideas and found courage to stand up for what’s wrong.
I enjoyed this read but some conservative people may not.