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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
It's not often I read historical fiction, but I'm really glad I picked this up. Don't let the title fool you, 25 Library Terrace isn't about books. It's a beautiful, enriching story about 1 house over the course of 100+ years and the many residents that have shaped what it has become. The writing is quite powerful and filled to the brim with so much love, a sense of belonging, and plenty of periodic moments in history. It was both uplifting and empowering without being in your face, and I really enjoyed how the stories intertwined with each other but still held their own significance as a new chapter. It was nice to see how, whilst certain things stayed the same, small adaptations were made now and again to highlight how times (and attitudes) have evolved over the years. The acknowledgements were an interesting read, too. It gave more insight into how the story was developed, especially knowing that some of the letters were real. This definitely helped highlight how the characters were important and likeable in their own right. I think Ann/Annie was my favourite, though. The whole thing with the door never being locked for Finlay was something that really tugged at the heartstrings.
I highly recommend giving this a read. By all means, I wouldn't say it's a quick read, but it is lovely and highly insightful to our, or at least Scottish, history.
I highly recommend giving this a read. By all means, I wouldn't say it's a quick read, but it is lovely and highly insightful to our, or at least Scottish, history.
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
25 Library Terrace is a historically accurate novel that spans 100 years of occupants in the same house, focussing on the women in particular. I loved the strong female characters, like Ursula and her step daughter Ann.
My favourite character had a very small part in the book, Mary Young a sneaky suffragette in the vegetarian restaurant. Tess's honest thoughts on motherhood in 2011 resonated with me and really should be more accepted in this day and age. The book is a thoughtful and engaging read that explores life across generations.
A MUST read for 2025!
What a wonderful journey I’ve been on - spanning more than a century with the residents of 25 Library Terrace. I love the idea that it’s not just people who have stories and experiences to share, but a house also has stories to tell.
Natalie Fergie has truly captured so many highly relevant social and historical details in each time period which I found fascinating and informative; ranging from the Census protest of 1911, the Suffragettes, Vegetarianism, the fire that destroyed Edinburgh’s Empire Palace Theatre, the post-World War One years, the way in which the status of women has changed across the years, right up to the post-Covid society in 2021. 25 Library Terrace has indeed seen it all!
Everyone who reads this book will certainly take away their own specific characters and time periods that they connect with or feel inspired by.
I love the way the rippling effects through the family generations are so skilfully portrayed; all the joys and the sorrows, with 25 Library Terrace at the heart of it all.
I highly recommend this 5-star book - it will leave a lasting impact on you.
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Thanks to NetGalley and Embla books for the ARC.
What a cozy, lovely book about life in a home in Edinburgh from 1911 to 2022. I would have loved if the. book were longer and could have touched on other boarders at 25 Library Terrace. I also appreciated that everything was not tied up with a neat little bow at the end. I want the house to be there with Tess in 2031 and forward - not as a sequel but in the fictional world that the author created.
Each of the characters had a connection to the house -- not in contrived coincidences -- in believable ways. Those connections tied the book together so it wasn't just a story about a house. Most of the action of the book takes place in or at the house, there are only a few short chapters that occur elsewhere. So, the reader feels connected to the house and its residents.
The author did a lot of research to ensure the accuracy of her descriptions of the time periods. I love a fiction book that makes me go look into historical facts of which I was unaware. I'm American, so much of this social history was unfamiliar to me (e.g., the census boycott and the fire in 1911). I appreciate a well-researched historical fiction book.
Overall, this book made me feel like I was seated in the kitchen at 25 Library Terrace with the fire going and Isobel cooking Parkin. Cozy and safe and at home.
What a cozy, lovely book about life in a home in Edinburgh from 1911 to 2022. I would have loved if the. book were longer and could have touched on other boarders at 25 Library Terrace. I also appreciated that everything was not tied up with a neat little bow at the end. I want the house to be there with Tess in 2031 and forward - not as a sequel but in the fictional world that the author created.
Each of the characters had a connection to the house -- not in contrived coincidences -- in believable ways. Those connections tied the book together so it wasn't just a story about a house. Most of the action of the book takes place in or at the house, there are only a few short chapters that occur elsewhere. So, the reader feels connected to the house and its residents.
The author did a lot of research to ensure the accuracy of her descriptions of the time periods. I love a fiction book that makes me go look into historical facts of which I was unaware. I'm American, so much of this social history was unfamiliar to me (e.g., the census boycott and the fire in 1911). I appreciate a well-researched historical fiction book.
Overall, this book made me feel like I was seated in the kitchen at 25 Library Terrace with the fire going and Isobel cooking Parkin. Cozy and safe and at home.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Death, Emotional abuse, War
This is an intriguing journey that follows multiple lives across the years, all who have lived in the same house across a century.
It's an inspiring journey of growth, forward thinking women, and shows the loved poured into the house from all its different occupants.
All residents have a distinct journey in their time period, but it was interesting to see how their lives were interconnected and the sense of community.
I also enjoyed how each story had a healing element, where new relationships or friendships were formed, or it acted as a safe place for those in need and that they became found family.
It's a compelling historic journey showing real life struggles, victories, losses and joys.
It's an inspiring journey of growth, forward thinking women, and shows the loved poured into the house from all its different occupants.
All residents have a distinct journey in their time period, but it was interesting to see how their lives were interconnected and the sense of community.
I also enjoyed how each story had a healing element, where new relationships or friendships were formed, or it acted as a safe place for those in need and that they became found family.
It's a compelling historic journey showing real life struggles, victories, losses and joys.
25 Library Terrace is a house where lives are shared and changed.
In 1911, Ursula moved in and injected love into a family recovering. She was progressive and encouraged her step children's curiosity. In 1931, her step daughter takes charge of 25 Library Terrace and offers a home to those who need it most in a unique, radical way.
In 2011, Tess becomes one more in a long line of women who have found safety at the house. In 2021, she continues that journey.
I struggled with this book to start with. I didn't gel with Tess to start with, and I struggled to grasp what was going on; I felt like I was thrown straight into her chaos with no context. I persevered though, and within a few chapters I was hooked. I'm so glad I stick with the book; it was incredibly rewarding.
After starting in 2011 with Tess, we were thrown back to 1911, when Ursula joined the family at 25 Library Terrace. I loved Ursula; part of the suffragette movement, she was kind and strong and a wonderful character. I wish we'd seen so much more of her. The book moved chronologically after this point, covering some of Annie's time in the house before Georgia and eventually reconnecting to the present day and Tess.
Once we met back up with Tess, I found I liked her a lot more and appreciated her in the context of the story.
I loved all the characters, their found family and their stories and secrets and hopes. This was a fascinating, well researched social commentary wrapped up in a lovely story with wonderful characters.
In 1911, Ursula moved in and injected love into a family recovering. She was progressive and encouraged her step children's curiosity. In 1931, her step daughter takes charge of 25 Library Terrace and offers a home to those who need it most in a unique, radical way.
In 2011, Tess becomes one more in a long line of women who have found safety at the house. In 2021, she continues that journey.
I struggled with this book to start with. I didn't gel with Tess to start with, and I struggled to grasp what was going on; I felt like I was thrown straight into her chaos with no context. I persevered though, and within a few chapters I was hooked. I'm so glad I stick with the book; it was incredibly rewarding.
After starting in 2011 with Tess, we were thrown back to 1911, when Ursula joined the family at 25 Library Terrace. I loved Ursula; part of the suffragette movement, she was kind and strong and a wonderful character. I wish we'd seen so much more of her. The book moved chronologically after this point, covering some of Annie's time in the house before Georgia and eventually reconnecting to the present day and Tess.
Once we met back up with Tess, I found I liked her a lot more and appreciated her in the context of the story.
I loved all the characters, their found family and their stories and secrets and hopes. This was a fascinating, well researched social commentary wrapped up in a lovely story with wonderful characters.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I’ve been eagerly anticipating reading this book and it didn’t disappoint. 25 Library Terrace looks at the people who lived in that particular house in Edinburgh again over the course of more than 100 years.
25 Library Terrace starts off as a family home and the first resident we meet is Ursula Black who becomes second wife to John Black and step-mother to his children Finlay and Ann. Ursula is an well educated woman, who is strongly in favour of women’s suffrage and becomes involved in the census protest of 1911, something I’m ashamed to confess I hadn’t heard of. Census years form a focus for the rest of the book as we meet residents in 1931, 1951, 2011 and 2022. Ursula’s firm beliefs in the rights of women leave a legacy in the form of the rules of the household throughout the years. I enjoyed reading about all the women who are the focus of different strands of the book, getting to know them, finding out their connections to Ursula and their reasons for staying at 25 Library Terrace.
The house itself of course is a constant in the story, very much a character in its own right, and I felt I could easily visualise the various rooms, the garden, the huge old cooking range, the maid’s room above the scullery. I enjoyed reading about Edinburgh at various times in its fairly recent history too.
Reading 25 Library Terrace gives the reader a fascinating insight into the social history of the past century and especially how women were affected over those 100+ years. It’s a story about strong women helping and supporting other women. With brilliant characters and a gripping and intriguing storyline, I thought this was a fantastic read. This is book which historical fiction fans should definitely have on their reading radar.
25 Library Terrace starts off as a family home and the first resident we meet is Ursula Black who becomes second wife to John Black and step-mother to his children Finlay and Ann. Ursula is an well educated woman, who is strongly in favour of women’s suffrage and becomes involved in the census protest of 1911, something I’m ashamed to confess I hadn’t heard of. Census years form a focus for the rest of the book as we meet residents in 1931, 1951, 2011 and 2022. Ursula’s firm beliefs in the rights of women leave a legacy in the form of the rules of the household throughout the years. I enjoyed reading about all the women who are the focus of different strands of the book, getting to know them, finding out their connections to Ursula and their reasons for staying at 25 Library Terrace.
The house itself of course is a constant in the story, very much a character in its own right, and I felt I could easily visualise the various rooms, the garden, the huge old cooking range, the maid’s room above the scullery. I enjoyed reading about Edinburgh at various times in its fairly recent history too.
Reading 25 Library Terrace gives the reader a fascinating insight into the social history of the past century and especially how women were affected over those 100+ years. It’s a story about strong women helping and supporting other women. With brilliant characters and a gripping and intriguing storyline, I thought this was a fantastic read. This is book which historical fiction fans should definitely have on their reading radar.
Thank you NetGalley and Embla Books for this eCopy to review
I recently finished 25 Library Terrace by Natalie Fergie, and I absolutely loved it. This novel is a beautifully woven tapestry of history, resilience, and the lives of strong women who have called the house at 25 Library Terrace home over the decades.
The story spans more than a century, beginning in 1911, when Ursula Black moves into the house and becomes deeply involved in the fight for women’s suffrage. She embraces vegetarianism and takes on the challenge of raising children who are not her own, all while navigating the shifting social landscape of the time. In 1931, during the Great Depression, the house transforms into a radical experiment in communal living, and a long-buried family secret is uncovered. Fast-forward to 2011, when Tess Dutton arrives at 25 Library Terrace after a failed relationship, only to find herself drawn into the house’s rich history and the unconventional landlady who welcomes her. Finally, in 2022, as Scotland faces another census year, the lives of past and present residents intertwine, revealing the enduring legacy of the house and the women who shaped it.
What I loved most about 25 Library Terrace was how Fergie masterfully connects the lives of these women across generations. The house itself feels like a character, witnessing moments of triumph, heartbreak, and transformation. The themes of community, resilience, and the power of storytelling resonated deeply with me. The writing is immersive, and the historical details are rich without feeling overwhelming.
This novel is a celebration of the quiet yet profound ways women shape history, and I found myself completely captivated by its depth and warmth. 25 Library Terrace is an unforgettable journey through time, love, and the enduring spirit of a home that holds so many stories. If you enjoy historical fiction with strong female leads and a beautifully layered narrative, this book is a must-read!
I recently finished 25 Library Terrace by Natalie Fergie, and I absolutely loved it. This novel is a beautifully woven tapestry of history, resilience, and the lives of strong women who have called the house at 25 Library Terrace home over the decades.
The story spans more than a century, beginning in 1911, when Ursula Black moves into the house and becomes deeply involved in the fight for women’s suffrage. She embraces vegetarianism and takes on the challenge of raising children who are not her own, all while navigating the shifting social landscape of the time. In 1931, during the Great Depression, the house transforms into a radical experiment in communal living, and a long-buried family secret is uncovered. Fast-forward to 2011, when Tess Dutton arrives at 25 Library Terrace after a failed relationship, only to find herself drawn into the house’s rich history and the unconventional landlady who welcomes her. Finally, in 2022, as Scotland faces another census year, the lives of past and present residents intertwine, revealing the enduring legacy of the house and the women who shaped it.
What I loved most about 25 Library Terrace was how Fergie masterfully connects the lives of these women across generations. The house itself feels like a character, witnessing moments of triumph, heartbreak, and transformation. The themes of community, resilience, and the power of storytelling resonated deeply with me. The writing is immersive, and the historical details are rich without feeling overwhelming.
This novel is a celebration of the quiet yet profound ways women shape history, and I found myself completely captivated by its depth and warmth. 25 Library Terrace is an unforgettable journey through time, love, and the enduring spirit of a home that holds so many stories. If you enjoy historical fiction with strong female leads and a beautifully layered narrative, this book is a must-read!
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes