Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - The Last Library

Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

The Last Library by Freya Sampson

37 reviews

becca_thegrimreader's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was utterly adorable! I will never say no to a book that is about a library, book lovers, and the fight to save local libraries. The icing on the cake is the unbelievably lovely and feisty elderly characters that I would like to adopt!

June Jones is twenty eight, working at her local library she has built walls to keep people out. When the local council announces it plans to close the library June must break out of her shell to try and save it. June’s self esteem is rock bottom throughout the book, suffering from grief after losing her mother she keeps to herself and feels she’s missed out on life. Any booklover would connect with her as books are her favourite things, they transport her out of her life and into another world. Her journey throughout the book is heartwarming and shows June that she is stronger than she thinks. We meet several regulars of the library, and they are a joy. Mrs B is fiery and passionate woman who will fight against any injustice, Vera is cranky and difficult, while my absolute favourite was Stanley.

This book delves into a small community and touches on the many libraries that are facing closures due to budget cuts. We get a look at what is lost when services such as libraries shut, not only is a valuable resource shut for education, but also a social hub for rural and small communities. There are some hilarious moments in the book that help to lighten the mood after some more heartrending moments. This is definitely a book I’d recommend to any booklovers out there!

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mylifeasjessskincare's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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calamitywindpetal's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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biancabuysbooks's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

"This was one of her favorite parts of the day, before Marjorie and the patrons turned up, when it was just her and seven thousand books for company. She liked to walk around the room, breathing in the heavy, still air, and sometimes when she closed her eyes, June imagined she could hear the books whispering their stories to one another."

I absolutely ADORED The Last Chance Library by Freya Sampson. This debut novel was brilliant and was like a big hug at the end of the day that made me smile and cry profusely. Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the gifted copy!

June Jones is 30 and working as a library assistant at Chalcot Library, the same library where her mother was a well-known librarian. After her mother passed a few years prior, June has been in a rut. She once had dreams of leaving town, going to university, and becoming a writer and full-time librarian, but they never panned out. Now, Chalcot Library is being threatened with closure by the local council, and June finally has a chance to speak up and make a difference in her life.

This book features a cast of quirky and eclectic characters that will steal your heart. It emphasizes how special and unique libraries are and made me think of my own early memories of visiting the local library with my grandpa. That's why I connected so much with the character of Stanley! (I'm not crying).

After loving this debut, I am SO EXCITED for Freya's next book, The Lost Ticket, coming this August 30! (Just in time for my birthday!)

Content Warnings

mikaelaandherbooks's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

I'm surprised I haven't seen more reviews address this, but first, this is not a romance book. I would categorize it more as contemporary fiction. There is a very small romance plot, but the majority of the book focuses on saving the library and a really nice found family trope. It was slow to begin with and I didn't find June Jones to be a very lovable main character. I found myself screaming at June to stop letting people walk over her so much throughout the first third to half of the book. I was much more interested in the side characters and what would happen to them. With that said, the ending really wrapped this story up nicely.

Content Warnings