Scan barcode
fantasycat's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Grief, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, and Cancer
oceanwriter's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.0
I found this book at a thrift store and was so drawn to the vibrant and bookish cover that I didn’t so much as glance at the synopsis. It’s caught by eye on my bookshelf and thanks to a bingo challenge, I was inspired to finally pick it up. What a treat it was!
June’s life revolves around her job at her small town’s library. Her attachment has been even greater since the death of her mother. When the library is at risk of closing, she’s forced to come out of her shell for the sake of her friends, job, and the community.
I couldn’t have picked this book up at a more perfect time. It was a relaxing, sweet read that resonated deeply with me. I love that the romance plot of the book was mostly in the background and didn’t overshadow the main plot surrounding the library. Some scenes felt unnecessary and stalled the progression of the book, but it wasn’t difficult to get back into the groove once it picked up again. I will absolutely be reading more from this author!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying and Cancer
Minor: Alcoholism
caitimae's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.75
This book as been sitting in my downloads for so long it's a shame. It's an even bigger shame it took me so long to actually finish the book. A great short novel about the love one community holds for their local library while they fight to keep it afloat through budget cuts. This book so rich with characters and how the library and it's assistant, June Jones, has impacted their lives for the better and worst. Because a library is more than just a place to check out books, it's a sanctuary for some.
Highly, highly recommend. I will definitely be reading Freya Sampson more.
Highly, highly recommend. I will definitely be reading Freya Sampson more.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Racism, Cancer, and Bullying
Minor: Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Death
juanat77's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Alcohol, Terminal illness, Vomit, Cursing, Death of parent, and Grief
cass28's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I started this book because I'm also working in a library and the plot hits home. The story begins expectingly shallow and the characters seemed cliché, so I didn't think much more of it than a good side read. The bullying of the main character even closely made me quit because I couldn't stand it, since June couldn't even fight back, yet alone speak, for her defense one damn time. She is passive in life and the story got me extremely angry. But then there was Stanley who carrys the whole story and was my favourite character since he got introduced.
I'm now glad I didn't quit the book, since after the first half it was getting very deep and emotional, surprisingly.
The book made me cry for various reasons.
All in all I really enjoyed that book and it's one of my favourites now! :)
I'm now glad I didn't quit the book, since after the first half it was getting very deep and emotional, surprisingly.
The book made me cry for various reasons.
All in all I really enjoyed that book and it's one of my favourites now! :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming and Bullying
Moderate: Terminal illness, Death, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Alcoholism and Cancer
el90's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer, Death, and Bullying
analenegrace's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
So much of how I give five stars is if it made me cry, and this absolutely did. As someone currently getting a library master's degree, it always makes me so emotional to consider what libraries, especially public libraries offer their patrons. They are so much more than book repositories, they are everything to a community.
I loved the characters in this book deeply and appreciated that the side characters got fleshed out, starting as caricatures of people you might see in a library and becoming important and valuable to the library by the end. I also appreciated that they didn't win but that a solution was found otherwise. Books where people always win against corrupt government make me tired since so rarely do people actually win, so I loved the realism and the earnestness of the characters and the plot.
I loved the characters in this book deeply and appreciated that the side characters got fleshed out, starting as caricatures of people you might see in a library and becoming important and valuable to the library by the end. I also appreciated that
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Bullying, and Classism
Moderate: Death and Mental illness
mikaelaandherbooks's review against another edition
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
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Cancer
Minor: Alcoholism, Racism, and Xenophobia
alexrose28's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Bullying, and Panic attacks/disorders
onion's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Grief
Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Cancer, and Death