"Little Free Libraries" are very prevalent in our neighborhood. My oldest likes to go around and bring a book they are done with to get a new one. Sometimes, they just want to add books into the library for others to enjoy. Of course, I highly encourage all of this!
One in particular caught their eye - it was a TARDIS. Excitedly, they had said, "Mom! It IS a TARDIS. It's bigger on the inside than the outside!"
Confused, I looked at them and asked them to explain.
"Well, all the stories inside! They take you to a different place."
I nodded in agreement, but inside I was shocked. They had already realized how important stories could be in their life - and at the time, they were only four!
But that's not the point of this post....
Not too many weeks later, we had gone to the bookstore to get a book for our niece. Our family does "birthday books," in which we add a book to their birthday gift. My oldest wanted to get one too, so I agreed and then they picked out this book for me - because they had remembered the TARDIS Little Free Library.
("It's not quite the same, Mom. This is a red box.")
Another woman was nearby and recommended it, so I got the book for me to read.
My Review:
This is a really cute story. The main character, Jess, works at a local library until she loses the job at the same time that her grandmother passes away. She decides that she is going to take her grandmother's books and move to the English countryside.
And then she finds an old red telephone box on the property. She decides to share her grandmother's collection of stories with the community that she feels connected with - wanting them to be able to read the stories as well
Of course, there is romance. The magic of stories starts bringing the community closer together, and her grumpy neighbor (it's definitely a grumpy-sunshine trope!).
I will add that I got teary-eyed during the story and it is very emotional. While there was a start of a romance, it really left the ending open to interpretation and I found myself wanting to know more about their story.
Overall, it was a cute, easy read with some emotional scenes. I did want to be Jess and have the little red library in the English countryside.
One of my favorite quotes:
“There was a book to cure ever ill and solve every problem that was what Mimi had always thought. It was like a tiny sanctuary providing a balm for all of life’s challenges.”
Happy reading!
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