Elsie Martin works as a librarian at the little library within the village of Meadowbank, in the Kent countryside, where she grew up. When the library's future is threatened by a development company intending to build affordable housing, Elsie knows she has to overcome her personal obstacles to fight for her beloved library. Jacob Yardley joined his father's construction company even though his heart was in charity work. He believes in affordable housing, having grown up in a small town where he and his friends were forced to move away. Besides, who really uses libraries these days? And what will happen when Elsie and Jacob meet?

This is my sixth novel by author Katie Ginger and it did not disappoint as I loved my return visit to Meadowbank. The Little Library on Cherry Lane was a really lovely story and I especially liked the main characters. It's all about gaining inner confidence and standing up for yourself and the community you're a part of. Although part of a series the novel makes a great standalone read, too. Katie Ginger's characterisation is excellent as is her portrayal of community spirit and there are a few serious issues in the plot as well providing depth. A terrifically good read.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from HQ Digital via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

A love letter to libraries.

I really enjoyed this charming book. Elsie is the local librarian and a fierce defender of all the services libraries provide.
Jacob is the opposition who wants to tear down her precious library to build affordable homes. I liked that they both had noble, community serving motivations, but I was team Elsie all the way! What I especially liked was that this was the beginning, with the possibility of falling in love.

It truly was a charming read, and if one loves a library, well worth the read.
Recommend.

Elsie Martin has her dream job working as a librarian at the little library she grew up with in the village of Meadowbrook. But when the library's future is threatened by a development company set to build affordable housing, Elsie must put aside her crippling social anxiety to fight for her beloved library. It's not just a building, it has become a hub of the community.... if only she could get the developers to understand that!
Jacob Yardley has always sought his father's approval, even joining his father's construction company when all he ever wanted was to do charity work. He believes in affordable housing, having grown up in a small town where his friends were forced to move away due to lack of housing options. He felt attracted to Elsie from the moment he met her and his feelings have only grown throughout, but how can anything ever happen between them when his company threatens what she loves the most?
I loved how this mousy, shy librarian found her confidence and stood up for her community, forcing a compromise. I didn't really like some of her hatred and bitter comments directed towards Jacob though. He just seemed like a sensitive soul getting beaten from all sides by both his father and the townsfolk. I could see how everyone's hatred was really starting to get to him. I loved the small town community feel to this book. I didn't realize this was part of a series, it could totally be read as a standalone.
I received an advance reader copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

This was a first-time read for me by this author and I found it to be a really sweet and charming story. It was very well-written and pulled me in right from the start. The characters were well-developed and endearing and you can't help but fall in love with them. The author did a really nice job of bringing the story and characters to life with her vivid descriptions and attention to details. As a lover of books and by association libraries, this book went straight to my heart. The story demonstrates that the library is not just a place to access books, but provides a means to get together with the community, meet and connect with people, and form lasting bonds. There is also a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers story that will certainly melt your heart. The story is heartwarming and the characters have such depth and personalities and are realistic and easily relatable. A charming story that had me completely captivated and I didn't want it to end! I enjoyed this book and would love to read more by this author in the future.

I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

In the dead of winter when spring is just starting to show itself, I found myself ensconced in the small village of Meadowbank. Elsie is the town's quiet and shy librarian who has never been able to say more than a few words to people outside of her usual group, but when Jacob Yardley comes to town with a plan to bulldoze her beloved library and build new, affordable housing, she finds herself saying and doing things that are out of character for her. She schemes to stop Jacob's plan while trying to avoid the fact that she is secretly becoming more and more attracted to him every day.
I got this book as part of a NetGalley preview and I absolutely loved Elsie and her whole community. The descriptions of the idyllic little town, the thatched cottages, the baked goods had me almost logging onto travel websites to plan a trip to England. I loved how Elsie slowly came out of her shell as the place most important to her was threatened and the ultimate fate wasn't too obvious. Jacob was a good character to play off of her and it was interesting to read about development from the developer's perspective. Most of us have Elsie's perspective, but it was nice to see the other side too. I did find it a little unbelievable that Jacob was so interested in poetry, it seemed a little contrived in the beginning, but made a bit more sense toward the end of the story. I especially liked the Mutter & Mingle group in the town, they made me laugh.
All in all, this is a delightful feel good read if you want to sit down, get cozy with a spot of tea, and pretend you are living in the English countryside.

I adored this book. It has a great storyline, wonderful characters and such a fun, feel good, romantic plot. I absolutely loved it.

Another lovely story by this author set in a great village community with Elsie and the library at the centre of it. Warm hearted and with plenty of humour you very quickly become immersed in the story and I read it in one sitting. Perfect warm lighthearted summer read

I was drawn to this book by the cover and the title which both seemed so cheery and bright. And it was a lovely read which I really enjoyed. The story of two people and a library, a community and a meeting place and of course book!

It is a book that is easy to read yet keeps you interested, it makes you laugh and you just want to be there in this lovely community. It reminds me of my own local library and the lovely people I have net there over a good book!

This book has it all really as it isn't just about Elsie and Jacob and saving the library but about people, community and the problems of life yet it brings happiness to the reader as well. It is a book that anyone can read and enjoy.

I fell in love with the cover and thoroughly enjoyed the story.
I wasn't a fan of Elsie at the beginning but she grew on me and I appreciated her character arc.
There story is heartwarming and compelling, I rooted for the characters, and had fun.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It took me a while to get into the book. I wished there was more interaction between the hero and heroine though. The character development was great, especially for Jacob. He changed so much throughout the book. All in all, it is a good book 📖

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher (HQ) for the book.

Katie has a way of capturing the whole essence of a person when she writes so not only does she describe the location in such a visual way that the story plays out in front of your eyes she also does this with her characters. Elsie loves the library and always has found it a place that calms and soothes her soul, so when she finds out about the plans for her beloved refuge the normally quiet Elsie develops a who new persona.
When I picked up this book, I knew I needed to get comfy as I straight away was transported to Cherry Lane with it's cute library which is a real central point for the whole village with wonderful connections to all of the other small businesses surrounding it. I loved the friendship between Elsie and Gemma and how the relationship between them was described and drawn upon throughout the story.I really don't want to give too much away, but I loved this book and wanted to just keep reading as I love books with a wonderful array of characters and not only did it have this in buckets but it was set in an idyllic village as well. As always a wonderful story full of love, loyalty and compassion, that i truly loved beginning to end.

These Katie Ginger books are becoming quite addicting! First of all--the covers! I just can't with how adorable these covers are! Which, I'll admit, it kind of what first drew me to trying her books.

However, after the first book of Katie Ginger's that I read, I quickly realized that her books are just the sweet, comfy reads that I need in my life. 

This story revolves around Elsie, a librarian, who just found out that the library is being turned into housing. Which means Elsie is losing her job, as well as the local residents losing a way of life. Many of them rely on the library for their social interactions, and for help. 

When Elsie first meets Jacob Yardley she has no idea he's the one spearheading this big change. And then she does and...well, it takes some time for these two to get on the same page. 

This is a definite slow-burn as the couple has some obstacles to overcome. However, it's a joy from start to finish.

I really continue to enjoy the full cast of characters that Katie Ginger utilizes to keep her stories fun and full of amazing friendships!

I will definitely be reading more from this author!

Elsie is never happier than when she’s surrounded by books – and we can all identify with that, can’t we? – and her job at Meadowbank library is all she ever wanted. And she’s not only handling books all day, but also thrilled to be helping provide a whole range of services (organised groups, and her own special little touches) that make it a wonderful and much-needed hub for the community. Other than her close friends and the individuals she helps or deals with at the library, people can be a bit more of a problem – she’s painfully shy, struggling for words and turning bright pink whenever she’s the centre of attention, and she’d far prefer to be allowed to melt into the background.

But when she hears that the library is to be closed and demolished to make room for a development of affordable housing, she knows she has something worth fighting for. When she first encounters Jacob he’s the first man in a very long time who’s made her heart beat a little faster – until she finds that he’s the developer’s son, there to carry out his father’s instructions, and instead becomes her mortal enemy. He’d prefer it if he wasn’t in that position too – he loves books and poetry, instantly takes a liking to Meadowbank (and to Elsie), he’d far prefer to be in a gentler job with a charity, but instead finds himself the bad guy as the community unites behind a far braver-than-expected Elsie to save the library.

This was such a lovely story, and I really took both main characters to my heart. There’s poor Jacob, bullied quite dreadfully by his father, finding himself championing a cause he doesn’t entirely believe in – and the quite magnificent Elsie, an unstoppable force, like Boudicea directing her army. But the book is far more than just its two main characters – there’s a few real baddies from the council and the developers, some particularly well-drawn individuals who would be as lost as Elsie without their beloved library, and a whole wider community who find themselves unexpectedly at odds over whether affordable housing is something Meadowbank really needs.

The friendships threaded into the story are beautifully handled, as is the unlikely (but perfectly lovely… so special!) romance – but so is the drama, and there’s plenty of that before the story reaches its really heartwarming and uplifting conclusion. The author is a wonderful story-teller – and with this one, she’s really come up with a great story that is tremendously engaging, with an emotional edge that was everything I wanted it to be.

This might not be the only book I’ve read recently focusing on the key role libraries have in the community, but it certainly didn’t mean I enjoyed it any less – the characters and the way they develop are simply wonderful, the setting vividly drawn, and there were times when I got as hot under the collar as Elsie did about every new injustice – and my heart was most definitely in my mouth before there was any possibility of a happy ending. A really lovely read – and one I’d most definitely recommend to others.

The Little Library on Cherry Lane is such a sweet read for all book lovers! I was instantly drawn to this book by its beautiful cover. The story is full of wonderful scenery and a community of lovable characters. Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

Firstly Meadowbank sounds amazing and made me want to visit. Secondly I absolutely love visiting different library's (especially ones in beautiful buildings), so this book was right up my street.

I adore a community feel book and this is exactly that. Everyone pulls together when there is need for it and as a team they are a force to be reckoned with.

Karen is an interesting character.

Elsie is so passionate about her library and she's lovely. She is a quiet and shy person usually and doesn't speak up a lot but when it's something she's passionate about there's no stopping her, she steps out of her comfort zone and its wonderful to read about.

An absolutely lovely little read. Right from the off, you knew that Meadowbank was a special community.
The maniacal ducks, the quirky characters, and the beautiful cherry blossom trees.
Katie has a great way of fleshing out her characters, they are full of fun and you can truly imagine them going about their daily lives.
Jacob and Elsie had the typical cute meet followed by conflict and misunderstandings that would eventually resolve into friendship and the ending the whole village was waiting for.
Sweet story, perfect for cosying up with!

It was such a beautiful gift wrapped up in a cosy story. Elsie has been an incredibly relatable character for me as I am a shy bibliophile dreaming of living out the stories I have only read about. At times it felt almost like reading an alternate reality of my own life. She has inspired me to step out of my shell to fight for the people I love and for what I believe in. You know what they say! Good things come from outside of your comfort zone. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I loved this story. It had everything I was looking for in my next read and left me with a warm, fuzzy feeling throughout – what more could I ask for? With a beautiful cover, a delightful setting and lovely characters, Ginger has really delivered on her final book set at Meadowbank.

Now my third book by Ginger and this has to be my favourite. My last read was a Christmas offering at Meadowbank; my first was not quite sparking with me like this book did. I think the topic of saving a local library had a lot going for the book and I think this will make this story rather popular with many book-lovers! Ginger acutely brings the setting of Meadowbank library alive, and it vividly felt like I place I had visited myself. Indeed, reading this story had me happily reminiscing about all the many hours I have spent at several libraries in my lifetime.

Elsie, the protagonist, is painfully shy and seems to be the embodiment of a librarian. Her love of books and her community is evident in all of her actions and I loved how caring she is for those who visit this central hub of the village. Furthermore, the descriptions of Elsie’s house did make me chuckle with books stacked everywhere and never enough space! (Maybe because it reminded me of my own storage woes when it comes to books!) Yet, despite being so shy, when it is clear that the library is facing closure to redevelop the area into affordable housing, Elsie finds her spark and starts standing up for herself and her beliefs. From speaking out at meetings (something she never thought capable of), to organising petitions and picket lines, Elsie is determined not to go down without a fight, even if it does risk her own job at the library.

Watching Elsie evolve over the story was lovely. I was rooting for her every step of that way and applauded her strength at stepping beyond her quiet comfort zone. The passion that Elsie displays is admirable and I felt inspired by the change in character. Even when it comes to securing the local author to visit the library, it feels like Elsie is an unstoppable force that will keep protecting her library until the bitter end.

This story was refreshing because I could not foresee how the plot would unfold. Ginger kept me guessing throughout and this definitely added to my enjoyment. With two male characters who juxtaposed one another, I could not guess how they would become involved in Elsie’s life. I wanted to like one more than the other and appreciated how the writer encourages readers to sympathise with characters more at different times.

Finishing this book gave me a great sense of satisfaction because I had enjoyed it so much. It is a lovely tale of fighting for one’s beliefs, even when circumstances seem stacked against you. It was interesting to see the parallels develop between Elsie and Jacob and that, whilst they have very different backgrounds, struggle in similar situations. This made the story more interesting, especially as Jacob is the ‘enemy’ whom is threatening the library.

Such a lovely read, I was saddened to learn that this is the end of the Meadowbank books. They have grown on me more each time and this has been the best. Easily read as a stand alone, I would definitely recommend this book to those who love a good read, enjoy hoarding books and have many fond memories of visiting libraries.

With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Little Library on Cherry Lane was a sweet treat to read. Set in a small English town, the story follows our heroine Elsie as she tries to save her beloved library from the evil(?) Jacob Yardley. Yes, folks: it’s enemies to lovers! Well, more like reluctant enemies to happy lovers.

Reading this book was like drinking a hot cup of tea on a cozy rainy day. It was full of sweet characters, gentle romance, and low drama. The pacing struggled in the middle as our main characters kept repeating their same actions over and over again with similar results, but I have to say: with only 5 chapters left before finishing, I genuinely had no idea how things were going to resolve. Of course it did, and happily too - the only way I like it!

I really enjoyed this book. It tells the story of a village community. Many people regularly attend the local library not only for books but also for friendship and companionship. A few groups use the library for their their meetings. When it is suddenly announced that the library is closing and being knocked down for an affordable housing project the villagers are up in arms. Elsie the normally reserved Librarian attempts to stop the closure with some local support. There is a romantic element which adds interest. I would recommend this book.