The Library by Bella Osborne was so much more than just a feel-good “save the library” read. It was heartwarming like most bookish books are, but also touched on loss, alcoholism and childhood trauma. I loved the unexpected friendship between Tom and Maggie and the way they brought out the best in each other in situations where it could be hard to find hope. On top of trying to save the library, the duo spends time on Maggie’s farm and I loved the role her animals played in helping Tom and Maggie find joy. This is a read that more people should be talking about! Thank you NetGalley for my copy to read and review!

Thank you to Aria and NetGalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Pensioner Maggie and teenager Tom don't seem to have much in common -- except the library. They strike up a friendship that they both sorely need and deal with community and personal drama over the course of a year.

This book is really quite charming -- but I don't know that I expected the tones to be so blunt. It's clear that Tom is being written as a teenager and while it's funny, I think that it read liked a middle grade novel. Sixteen-year-olds aren't dumb! Maggie's narration was cute and sweet and very grandmotherly.

It's a sweet story for sure, and a good breezy read for the summer.

3 stars.

If you love reading, books, libraries and a story based around all these things then this book is for you
It was soooo enjoyable I am not sure where to start in trying to ‘get over’ how good it was
Basically a young disillusioned chap, Tom, finds friendship with Maggie, a lonely ‘old lady’, the friendship, although unlikely turns into a life changing series of events for them both as amongst other things they face alcoholism, past secrets, first love ( Tom ), bullying and the centre piece of the book the imminent closure of their village library
Much reference to wonderful food and baking and cakes and also fascinating snippets on farming life and lambing and puppies
I couldn’t have picked a more ideal book, in every way, its a real feelgood happy read referencing authors and books and the joy of reading that most of us will relate to
In this world of late a book like this stands out for just being so positive
Yep I loved it

10/10
5 Stars

The Library made me more emotional than I was expecting to be.

The story of Tom and Maggie coming together to try to save the library was so heartwarming.

I really felt for Tom's story. Bella Osborne did a wonderful job of depicting how much of a struggle it can be to live with an alcoholic parent. He doesn't really have a positive experience with a parental figure.

Maggie is an older woman who is lonely. She finds solace in her local library's book club. As a librarian myself, I love that there is a book showcasing how important the library is to every day people.

Maggie and Tom end up coming together to save their local library. The plot was definitely heavy at some times, and I may have shed a few tears.

At the heart of it "The Library" is a wonderfully heartwarming story about finding togetherness in the most unlikely places. Maggie really became a parental figure to Tom when he needed someone the most. 10/10 would recommend this read!

Thank you to netgalley and Aria and Aries for allowing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The heartwarming story of a beautiful friendship between sixteen year old Tom and seventy two year old Maggie.
"My name is Tom Harris and I am invisible." Tom lives a lonely life. His mum died when he was eight. He is in the final year at school and academically struggles. His dad works nights and visibly spirals into alcoholism. Silence is prevalent in their relationship and they only speak to each other when necessary. After a heated argument, Tom's dad breaks Tom's Xbox. With nothing else to do, Tom finds himself in the local village library one Saturday.
Seventy two year old widow Maggie also leads a lonely life. A former flower child, Maggie has spunk. She regularly does yoga and knows martial arts. She lives alone on a farm and her social life only revolves around the book club in the library on Saturdays.
Tom and Maggie strike up a friendship. Their lives become more brighter and purposeful with each other in their lives. As things become increasingly difficult for Tom at home, Maggie soon takes him under her wing. Their friendship is wholesome and healing and provides the nurture that Tom badly needs. For Maggie, Tom also fills the void for the son that she once lost.
Both Tom and Maggie also become instrumental in rallying around the community when the library is threatened with closure.
This is the third Bella Osborne book that I've read and it truly was a lovely read.

Two lonely people come together to save the library they both love. Seeing kindred spirits come together to bond over a common goal and watch a beautiful relationship blossom form it was wonderful to read!

A lovely story about an unlikely friendship between a woman in her seventies who lives on her own and a teenage boy, raised by a single dad, who doesn't have any friends. Both are very lonely for different reasons, both have experienced great loss and grief, and both find community, hope, and adventure within books and their small town library.

With each chapter, The Library changes from Maggie's point of view to Tom's... and I found that I enjoyed both equally, always eager to read the next chapter. While I could have done with eight or nine less mentions of "losing yourself in a book" or "escaping into another world" (etc), as it was quite repetitive and added nothing to the greater story, this is ultimately a touching, heart-warming read about friendship, family, and the joy of reading.

Content warning: some violence (a mugging), alcoholism

I didn't expect this book to be so good. A diverse group of people works together to save a local library from being closed. In addition to this library bond, friendships develop outside of the walls of the library. Throw in students working toward being their best, an alcoholic dad trying to get his life together, and several baby farm animals and you have a wonderful story. I easily read it one evening and would love to read a sequel to see how everyone is doing. It is that kind of book... Thank you, NetGalley, and the publisher, for an ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely ADORED this book! Books about books (and libraries) hit a sweet spot for me. This one is so well done. I love the characters, they are so well written. Real without being cheesy. Five big stars!

This is a wonderful, feel-good story! Just what I needed to read at this time. Osborne shows how friendship can be found in the most unlikely places, and the characters demonstrate the wisdom that can be gleaned from those of any age. It did take me a bit to initially get into the story, but once I did, the pages flew by. There are some heavy topics (alcoholism, grief, and loss), but they're handled in a tactful way. Overall, this is an interesting and unique take on a coming-of-age novel.

If like me, you're a book worm, just the title of this book alone with send a tingle down your spine. If ever a book was written for me, this is it!!!

Based around the closure of a town library, which is becoming all too familiar (and horrific) across the, teenager Tom and pensioner Maggie are thrown together to save this important foundation stone in their local community.

The two main characters are Tom, an awkward teenager who stumbled into the library one day, and walked out with a rucksack full of romance novels for “his mum” and pensioner Maggie attends the book club each week. One evening when leaving the library Maggie is set upon by two muggers and Tom comes to her aid, and this is where their friendship blossoms.

On paper their friendship shouldn’t work but it does and it is a lovely thing to read about. Without knowing it, Tom and Maggie lean on each other emotionally as their friendship grows.

This is a book that I didn’t want to end, I absolutely loved it, and I would go as far to say that this is certainly my favourite novel of 2022!

"You'll pass a million people on your path and just a few will be worth spending time with."

This was totally different and unique. The depiction by the author will hit you hard. This story is filled with struggle, pain, grief, kindness and how we don't think about our actions affecting others.

"Books provided a secret door to escape through: something she had often been grateful for in her life."

Tom is a teenager who isn't happy with what is happening in his life at the moment and the impact of it on his future. He forms an unlikely friendship with Maggie, a pensioner who he meets at the library and rescues her from a burglary.

"That's nature I'm afraid Tom. It's neither cruel not kind just pitilessly indifferent."

This book is filled with emotions and is realistic in the best possible way. The author addresses heavy issues of alcoholism, relationship, grief and how friendship doesn't see age. I liked how she has molded everything to bring out such a beautiful story with the focus on library.

Thank you Netgalley for providing with a chance to read this.

What a beautiful story and brilliant characters!

The library is a story about saving Compton Mallow library from closure, but it is so much more than that. It is a story of friendship, love, loss, loneliness and forgiveness.

Maggie is 72 and lived alone on her small holding. Tom is doing his GCSEs and lives with his father. Tom and Maggie strike up an unlikely friendship when they meet a the library.

As Tom’s life gets hard, Maggie steps in to help and their friendship grows, until Tom finds out the truth…

Can they save the library? Can they get past the truth?

Brilliant characters and touching storylines. A must read book.

The Library is such a sweet, feel good book. Dealing with loneliness and finding friendships in unexpected places. Then people coming together to save their local library. I truly enjoyed this one, especially the friendship between Thomas and Maggie.

I received this book for free in exchange for a review. This doesn't affect my opinion of the book.

Meet Tom, a teen of sixteen who is living with his Dad under very trying circumstances. At school he is not doing so well, and there is a bully that shows his hand every so often.  And then Tom takes up reading books from the library, not ones you'd expect either.

Meet Maggie, about in her seventies, small time farmer who likes her own company - sort of. She has quite a back story too, but let me tell you has a heart of gold. And a few tricks up her sleeve.  I loved her and of course Tom too. They are both characters I totally fell for.

When they meet up that's when the story gets going. Sometimes I smiled, sometimes my heart squeezed. Sometimes I wanted to look away.

The story explores the library today, loneliness, alcoholism, parenting and loss. Tough subjects but told with such warmth and humor. I totally fell for this book. Of course the cover drew me in, and the story kept  me within its covers.  It is a keeper.

EXCERPT: The post lady came in and handed over a pile of letters and something Christine had to sign for. Christine let out a gasp worthy of anyone winning a TV prize jackpot but her face told a different story. Maggie went to see what had caused it but Betty was quicker off the mark.

'Something wrong?' asked Betty, her face laden with glee.

'They're closing us down,' said Christine, followed by a dramatic sob as she clutched the podium for support.

Betty was quick with the tissues, which gave Maggie a chance to swivel around the offending letter and have a quick read for herself. She wasn't surprised to see that Christine had made a mansion out of a Lego brick. 'It's inviting you to a meeting about the future of the library, Christine.' It wasn't exactly an eviction notice. Maggie had seen plenty of those in her time.

Christine looked affronted. 'That's what it means.' She stabbed the letter with a neat fingernail. 'It came by recorded delivery. They call you to a meeting and that's when they tell you they're closing you down. . .'

ABOUT 'THE LIBRARY': Two different generations. Two unusual people. Thrown together to save their local library.
Tom is a teenager and blends into the background of life. After a row with his dad, and facing an unhappy future at the dog food factory, he escapes to the library. Tom unwittingly ends up with a bagful of romance novels and comes under the suspicion of Maggie.

Maggie is a pensioner and has been happily alone for ten years, at least that's what she tells herself. When Tom comes to her rescue a friendship develops that could change her life. As Maggie helps Tom to stand up for himself, Tom helps Maggie realise the mistakes of her past don't have to define her future.

They each set out to prove that the library isn't just about books – it's the heart of their community.

Together they discover some things are worth fighting for.

MY THOUGHTS: I needed this! If you want a book that is going to make you smile and your heart swell, this is it!

The characters are realistic, relatable and mostly lovely, except Kemp who is an out and out bully. Thomas Harris, just like the author, is seriously lacking in self-esteem, and feels like he is invisible - 'Not actually invisible – that would make me interesting and I’m not. I’m the person others find easy to forget. The one who is lost in the crowd.' - except to Kemp, who always manages to see him and make his life even more miserable than it already is.

Maggie is in her 70s, and lives alone on a smallholding with just her animals for company. The highlight of her life is the weekly book club at the library. She is an extraordinary character with hidden depths and a tragic secret.

Maggie and Tom meet at the library after Tom's dad smashes his x-box which seems like a tragedy at the time but which is probably the best thing that ever happened to him, because he starts reading again, something he hasn't done since his mum died.

A friendship that will change both their lives begins when Tom comes to Maggie's aid when she is getting mugged.

The Library isn't so much about the efforts to save the local library as a touching story of an unlikely friendship. It's a heartwarming and uplifting read that left me with a smile on my face and needing to read more from this author.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.3

#TheLibrary #NetGalley

I: @bellaosborneauthor @avonbooksuk

T: @osborne_bella @AvonBooksUK @aria_fiction

#comingofage #contemporaryfiction #familydrama #sliceoflife #smalltownfiction

THE AUTHOR: Bella's stories are about friendship, love and coping with what life throws at you. She likes to find the humor in the darker moments of life and weaves these into her stories. Bella believes that writing your own story really is the best fun ever, closely followed by talking, eating chocolate, drinking fizz, and planning holidays. She lives in the Midlands, UK with her lovely husband and wonderful daughter, who thankfully, both accept her as she is (with mad morning hair and a penchant for skipping). (Amazon)

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Aria & Aries via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Library by Bella Osborne for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage

4.5 stars / This review will be posted on goodreads.com today.


Lately I have read so many good books! The Library is another one that just made me smile.

Tom is a teenage boy, living alone with his dad. Tom has aspirations of university and a future outside of their small town. Tom’s father has other ideas tho. Paul wants Tom to start an apprenticeship at the local dog food factory where he works. Nothing has been right between Tom and his father for years. This is just one more thing that Tom can’t stomach.

Tom finds himself at the local library to do his schoolwork, just because he can’t stand being at home with his father any longer. There is a book club meeting at the library. One of the members, Maggie, takes an interest in Tom. She finds him more fascinating than the book they are discussing. When she leaves the library later that day, she is accosted by a hooded man who steals her bag. When Tom sees what’s happening and tries to intervene, he ends up the one who is wounded, and the thief gets away. But this gives Maggie a chance to start a friendship with Tom.

When they find out that the library is going to be forced to close, Tom, Maggie and Farah, the girl that Tom is pining for, rally around the librarian Christine, and scheme to keep the library open. The three become partners in their Save the Library campaign. But more than that, Farah helps Tom study for his exams. Maggie helps Tom escape his toxic household. Tom brings new joy to Maggie’s life. Everyone offers something to this unusual group of friends, all because they want to save the library.

Reading this book was such a pleasure. It’s not all perfect sunshine and rainbows, but it shows that friendships can bloom between the most unlikely of people. That we all need someone to care for us. That you’re never too old to give a damn. Each of the characters emotionally grew throughout the story. I didn’t want this one to end. Such a lovely tale. I would recommend this one to everyone!

It took me a while to get into the story, but I had decided to request it because it reminded me a lot of another book I had loved years ago as well as Up.

This story and friendship between Maggie and Tom is heartwarming and one that you will remember for a long time!

I thought this sounded right up my street - quirky, funny, and with lots of potential for mischief. Add in the setting of the library and I was sure I was guaranteed a hit.

Unfortunately, although I did enjoy this one, I didn't love it. I found the writing to be very simplistic, and it didn't engage me as much as I would have liked. However, the story was interesting and hopeful, and it's a nice, easy read.

I loved this book. It really has it all. The library is threatened with closure, the book club who meet there plan to save it. Maggie is an older woman living alone on a small holding, who tries to fill her time. Tom is a troubled teen with an emotionally absent father who tries to stay invisible in order to avoid the bullies.
These two form an unlikely deep friendship which is reassuring, hopeful and full of kindness and respect. As the story unfolds and we live alongside these two, we learn more about Maggie’s past, and see Tom mature into a wonderful young man.
It has feel-good factor written all over it, and I would highly recommend this book
Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review