Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for allowing me the opportunity to early read The Finders Keepers Library. This is the first book from Annie Rains that I have read and I was immediately drawn in by the characters. The story deals with real life issues surrounding loss of loved ones, grief, and disabilities but in such an encouraging and uplifting way. If you are an avid reader you will love the book references and quotes within this book. This is a sweet story and has me wanting to create my own garden library. I look forward to reading more from Annie Rains.

I love books about books and I really enjoyed Through the Snow Globe by this author when I read it last September. What I liked about her last book was that every chapter felt fresh and new and had me feeling all the feels. That is missing from The Finders Keepers Library. It was very repetitive and schmaltzy, I felt like I was reading a script for a Hallmark Movie wrapped in pretty paper. I mean let’s be honest what book lover isn’t going to love that cover? Hallmark movie-type books have their place in the world and that’s okay if you’re into those (I am not) but this was overly sentimental and cheesy. I don’t mind sweet but corny grates on me. What most people enjoy about those types of books I hate…I like suffering! Everything just seemed to wrap up in a nice little bow and HEA and I wanted more difficulties and conflicts.

There is a lot to like about this book as well though. Two characters are dealing with health-related issues, one with a disease and one who lost the use of her legs due to an accident and is now in a wheelchair. I liked how the book showed you can still lead a normal life being differently abled. It is no secret that I am deaf but my life is as normal as it gets. I have kids, a job, hobbies and go to family parties and out with friends. I also liked that there was a character who was a single dad just trying to do his best and the character of his daughter June had flaws but she wasn’t a total brat and when she did misbehave he didn’t let her away with it. Another thing that I loved was that there was a late-in-life romance subplot. Ellie and Charlie were adorable.

Each chapter started with a book quote but I wish the author had used to library as part of the story more. It should or could have been a character as well. I would have enjoyed more Books and Blooms meetings there and would have appreciated more of the community involvement, I did enjoy what little bit there was I just wanted more of it. All in all, this was a halfway decent read and June and the books saved it for me.

The finders keepers library

Savannah Collin’s heads to Bloom, North Carolina, to spend the summer with her Aunt Eleanor, a retired librarian.

Her aunt has love of literature. Has Finders Keepers Library, located in her beautiful garden, where anyone can stop by to pick a book or leave a book. A summer storm destroys the library and the roses, it will take a village to get everything ready for the wedding that is planned there.

As friends join in to make the necessary repairs, Savannah shots time with neighbor Evan Sanders over the books that Eleanor has handpicked for each of them, helping them both find healing and self-discovery. Savannah plans to stay through the summer, but when a job offer, health crisis, and a pre-teen push her in new directions, she has to decide whether this is the place that she is meant to be.

This was a slow start and slow end for me, But I loved the story and the characters.

I want to go find a patch of roses to talk to!

I loved all the book quotes and my favorite was — “It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.” Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley; Forever Publishing. all opinions are my own.

What a delightful read! Any title with the word “Library” in it is going to grab me right away. I highly recommend.

I loved this book. It was heartfelt and romantic. I loved how it talked about the romances for both the aunt and niece. It goes to show that you've never too old to fall in love again. it was heartfelt and romantic. I look forward to reading more books by Annie Rains. I'm grateful that netgalley and the publishers let me read this in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for sharing the privilege of an ARC of this book with me. The Finders Keepers Library by Annie Rains is a sweet story of the re-kindling of old friendships and relationships finding their way together through both sickness and in health. It does take a small village to help your friends and neighbors manage through difficult situations. Savannah returning to Bloom to re-invent her life after a health diagnosis and troubling break-up. Aunt Eleanor finding the strength to rely on others to help her regain courage after an accident and Evan dealing with the new found role of full-time parent to a pre-teen daughter. It all comes together in a nicely blended story with familiar book classic quotes intertwined in the storytelling. Very easy enjoyable read with all sweetness and no spice.

Thank you to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest and independent review of The Finders Keepers Library.

When Savannah, a botanist, finds herself without a fiancé, without a job, and without a home on the heels of her Lupus diagnosis, she does the only thing that feels right and returns to her childhood summer escape in Bloom, North Carolina to visit her aunt Eleanor, a retired librarian overflowing with advice in the form of quotations from her favorite novels.

As Savannah starts to work on a game plant to get her life back on track after her series of unfortunate events, her world is upturned again when she runs into her childhood crush and best friend, Evan (Eleanor's next door neighbor) during a storm that would ravage Eleanor's picturesque backyard garden, complete with the Finders Keepers Library at the heart of it. With Savannah being the plant whisperer that she is and Even jumping at the opportunity to repair the Library (to spend time with Savannah), the pair are thrust together with the goal of returning the garden to it's former glory in order to host a wedding in three weeks.

Over the course of the next few weeks, Savannah will learn a lesson about second chance love and the ability to trust yourself and others, even when life has taught you otherwise and understanding that it's okay to ask for help.

With a lovable cast of characters, this book was truly a standout for me that honestly just made me feel good while reading it. It is my first Annie Rains novel, but it certainly won't be my last! The characters are complex and their insecurities are real. I loved the small town, quaint feel where everyone knows everyone and everyone supports everyone. Hope you all enjoy as much as I did!

I love just about everything Annie Rains writes, and this one was no exception. As I was sitting down to write this review, it struck me just how many tropes this one hits: single dad, second chance, small town happily ever after romance. There are probably more that I am missing, but with all that going on, is it any wonder that I found this to be a delightful, fun read? I also liked the book quotations at the beginning of each of the chapters, and how they tied things together.

There were a couple of things that I wished the book had more of- I love the idea of the little library in the backyard and would have loved more description if it, and also have it included a little more prominently in the story. The same with the greenhouse and Savannah’s dreams for it.

I think you will enjoy this book if you are looking for a pleasant, small town to escape to, for a little romance and a second chance at happiness!

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley; all opinions are my own.

thank you to NetGalley (and Grand Central Publishing) for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. do you like to hang out with books/libraries/gardens/small towns and nice people? this book is for you. the characters are well developed, kind hearted and flawed, as all humans are. there is time to explore a lovely garden, a backyard free library, and inside your heart, too. this book is soft but not sappy. it would make for a great beach or vacation read and also a wintry day inside by the fire.