Two very different people become unlikely friends in this beautiful story that brings home that our libraries are the heart of our communities. Maggie is retired and perfectly happy on her own until she meets Tom. Tom is a teenager with a bleak home life and an even bleaker future on tap with his job at a dog food factory. A desire to escape the closing walls of his life leads Tom to the local library where he ends up with a bagful of romance novels. Maggie and Tom are unlikely friends, but they bond over books and their appreciation of the library. Tom tries to help Maggie move on from her past, and Maggie tries to help Tom find his way to a brighter future. Together they strive to save the thing that has come to mean so much to them, their library, threatened with closure after budget cuts. A lovely story that sends a clear message- We need our Libraries!

For some reason I didn't have high expectations when I started reading this. It ended up being charming and the relationship between Tom and Maggie is very sweet. There are some deeper issues here like alcoholism. It's a very clean read if you're looking for something of that nature (I don't think kissing even happens).

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjiyed this book, To be quite honest i requeste this book, because i thought it would be a Quick and sweet read about saving the local library. But for Me the book was mainly about the strong and i guess unusual friendship between a teenage boy and an older woman. Their friendship was fascinating were both gor their *needs*for family and support covered. I loved the two Main characters. The male teenage boy Who grew so much in this book the female older woman how she kicked ass. The book also covers some important issues, the loss of a loved one and alcoholism. A must read. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

Thank you so much for sending me a digital copy of Bella Osborne’s latest work, which I have now finished reading. Such a heart-warming and thought provoking novel! The Library is a touching tale of true friendship, overcoming adversity...and the genuine joy books can bring to our lives.

Such a lovely story! I really enjoyed reading the alternating perspectives (first person for Tom and third person for Maggie). Both characters were very likeable and were so great together. Even though there were some very heavy themes addressed in this book, it still feels uplifting. One plot point I found puzzling was when Farrah got upset with Tom. He didn’t do anything wrong and she completely overreacted, cutting off contact with him for a while, it didn’t make any sense to me.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would interested in checking out more books by this author..
Thanks very much to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for providing me access to this eARC for my honest opinion!

This really was a good read, between two characters of different ages and how they communicate. Loved the fact it’s based at a library.

WOW! This book is definitely worthy of more than the alloted 5*rating in my opinion. I absolutely adored this book and couldn't put it down or read it fast enough. The story is told in alternate chapters of the main characters, Tom a teenager trying find his place in the world and Maggie, an older lady who is definitely not your average granny type. A chance encounter leads Tom and Maggie to go on to form an unlikely friendship that eventually helps them both to heal their hidden wounds. This story is written so beautifully, with warmth, depth and compassion, humour and authenticity. I was so engrossed with this story, I was totally gutted it had to end. I heartily recommend reading this book.

This is definitely a different type of book from the other Bella Osborne books I have read. The story was not a light hearted romance book. It reminded me quite a bit of the work by Catherine Ryan Hyde. The story deals with serious issues and real-life flawed characters that will weave their way into the reader's heart and find a place to stay. This emotional story was written expertly by Ms. Osborne. She rose to a new high level of artistry in creating this amazing world.

I love to read books with characters of many ages, especially if a older character (over 70 years old) is included as a main focus. That is the case with this story, as Maggie, 72 years and Tom, a teenager meet and develop a very special friendship that both of them need badly.

I enjoyed this book so very much! I hope by writing my review others will chose to read it also.

I want to thank NetGalley and Aria & Aries for giving me the pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.

4.8/5🌟: This book follows Tom (young invisible teen) and Maggie (more than a sweet old lady) as they meet in the village library and then become unlikely but fast friends. Now they must band together to fight for the place that brought them closer in the first place before it's taken down forever. And I absolutely adored this book, as it was both a quiet contemporary and a novel that deals with grief, alcoholism, and eventual act of forgiveness.

Now I'm usually iffy on stories with multiple povs because I find myself like one over the other(s) and then getting annoyed when they switched, but this story perfectly balances the story and blends them effortlessly. (Personally) I was a little more invested into Tom at first, but I quickly grew to love Maggie and their friendship was so wholesome. I did find the dad a bit unbearable at times (a little John Wincester-ish for those who know) but seeing Tom's relationship with him develop was beautifully done.

Also the love side plot didn't really go anywhere but I personally, didn't need a love plot because I thought the story was strong on it's own but if you're going to include, then you might need to make go somewhere. It felt a little bit pointless. Otherwise, I loved the story as I devoured it in one day. It provided wonderful insights and I definitely need to go pick up a copy when it comes out.

[A BIT OF A SPOILER BUT NOT REALLY, READ AT OWN RISK}
The one thing that was a little bit iffy about the book was Farah. She's the potential love interest for Tom but then never really developed this in the book. They really hang out once in the book and the rest is just inferred. I also didn't like that there is moment where Tom tells her that another boy is jerk and she deserved better. She leaves in a huff and ignores him for WEEKS. Later, it's revealed that she wasn't with the jerk at all but tutoring him because her mom asked her too and she had to get out it because he was annoying. So she ignored him for what? it made no sense and it pissed me off so minus .2 invisible points for that.

---My ARC copy of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair, unbiased review.----

I absolutely loved this book which tells the tale of 16 year old Tom and 72 year old Maggie who meet at their local library and become unlikely friends. I loved the way the chapters alternated between Tom and Maggie’s points of view. I really felt for Tom with his difficult home life. I couldn’t put this down and read it in two sittings! I definitely want to read more by this author on the strength of this book.