Elodie’s Library of Second Chances was both a heartwarming and sweet tale!

It was very easy to get caught up in Elodie’s plans to save the library. Wondering if she would be able to manage it. I was right there with Elodie, rooting for her from the very beginning. The story itself moved at a lovely pace and I loved getting to know the characters. It was great to see Elodie grow in confidence and see the her connect with people.

The story had an uplifting and heartwarming feel to it especially as the reader begins to see the wonderful friendships being made. I got so much more than a story about a library that needed saving. I ended up with a beautiful story that put people’s lives at its centre. In turn we see that there is much more to a person than first appearances might show.

Elodie’s Library of Second Chances ticked so many boxes. It was a story that was very easy to get caught up in. Especially with the characters, their friendships and even a hint of romance. Then add in the fact that a library can be many important things and not just a place to lose yourself in books. Well, let’s just say that I loved the messages this book portrayed. It really was a delight!

I read Rebecca Raisin's previous release at Christmas and adored it, so couldn't wait for this one.
This was a brilliant and magical story, I loved the idea of the library.

Another great book by author Rebecca Raisin.
This is the 3rd book by her i have had the pleasure of reading and reviewing, and i have grown to love her work so much!
her books are perfect beach reads, the plot is steady and the characters are well written.

I love books about libraries, but this is more than just a book about a library. This is a book about people, and getting the chance to tell your own story. The beginning of the book which describes Elodie’s experiences as the daughter of media moguls is not as interesting, but it takes on a completely different life when she arrives in Willow Grove and starts planning to save the library. I am not always a fan of the “poor little rich girl” theme, but this book won me over.

I especially loved the way Elodie was drawn to the town outcasts and wanted to know about their lives. The misunderstood, ostracized, bullied, and betrayed were given a voice. They became living books in the People’s Library, which I think is an extraordinary part of this novel. Elodie’s idea to have library patrons meet with a person at the library for 30 minutes and hear their story is completely inspired. I can think of so many people I would like to “check out” at the library in real life. There is a sweet romance, and somewhat of a villain in this novel, but overall this is not a complicated book. Elodie’s Library of Second Chances is a meaningful book that teaches us an important lesson–everyone has a story to tell, if we are willing to listen.

I received a free copy of this book from the pubishers via Rachel’s Random Resources. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.

Elodie (Ellie) is a thirty-something woman who is used to the red carpet, but would much prefer to be reading. Her younger brother Teddy is in love with actress Louise, who isn’t interested in him. Their mother Dorothea is very pushy and rather intimidating and bossy.
When Ellie sees a newspaper article announcing Willow Grove library is at risk of closure, she decides to apply for the job of head librarian and try to save it. After all, that would be much closer to her dream job than working for her mother’s media empire, where it’s all about profit. But she doesn’t want to be recognised as the face of Astor. She needs a less glamorous look…
Being readers, we will all relate to the power of books and the need to keep libraries open. There are so many things in Ellie’s character that I relate to. She realises the importance of libraries as a venue for people to meet people too and how important that social interaction is for so many.
As well as Ellie being a wonderful character (We’d definitely be mates in real life!), I also really loved Harry the homeless man and Alfie the autistic eleven-year-old child (and as the mother of a daughter with Aspergers, I can tell you the autism is described perfectly). Then there’s Finn, the local journalist, who’s really rather lovely…
This is the first book by Rebecca Raisin that I have read, but I really enjoyed it and it won’t be the last. It’s so heart-warming and beautiful. It’s an easy read, but one you want to stick with to find out what happens to the characters you quickly come to care about. I recommend it 100%, you won’t regret it!

Books that are about libraries or books are always a winner for me, and it's written by the fabulously talented Rebecca Raisin too, so obviously it was going to be a winning read!

From the female lead Elodie being a book lover, bookstagram, activities within the library, and saving the local library, this was a book lovers dream.

We've all heard the saying 'Don't judge a book by its cover', and this was so the moral of this story. Elodie was a fabulous character who stepped away from her flashy lifestyle to save the thing she was most passionate about. And her 'borrow a person idea as they had stories that needed to be told was such a lovely idea. I wish this idea could be taken up by libraries everywhere as some would rather overlook these people rather than hearing the stories they have to tell.

A beautifully written, highly relatable, heartwarming read that's guaranteed to leave you feel all warm and squishy inside.

Many thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for my tour spot.

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Elodie’s Library of Second Chances” is a well-written story about a women who gets burnt-out by being stuck as the face of her family’s company and who not only gets a second chance when a library from her childhood is looking for a new librarian, but also gives a second chance to the outcasts in that town.


However, while I enjoyed the storyline, it wasn’t a book that kept me captivated for a long period of time, hence the 3 stars.

A fabulous feel good romance!

This book gives a great message of hope and community.

Elodie is fed up being the poster child to her Mums company so seeks to make her own path and discovers her own worth along the way.

A lovely collection of characters but I would’ve enjoyed a few more details and a little more depth in the relationships.

Overall a lovely easy read.

I love Rebecca Raisin’s books, true I haven’t read as many of them as I should have, but the ones I have read absolutely loved them, so I was so pleased that I had the opportunity to sit down and read another.

I instantly loved this from the moment sat down and started reading to when I closed the last page, I loved everything about it. I was particularly drawn to the saving the library storyline, we are losing our libraries so fast, we lost our local library years ago so I loved that this is all about a few people coming together to save theirs and in a very original way.

Elodie is a great character, she has had enough of the rat race and the constant stress of her high-powered job in her mother’s compant. Even though ‘company’ isn’t the right word for the empire her mother has built and which Elodie is connected with, it’s all too much and she wants a breather away from it all. This is when her unspoken dream is answered in the form of a newspaper advert, she walks away from her life, creates a new persona and heads for sleepy Willow Grove where she accepts the position of a librarian. Elodie is a woman after my own heart, she trained as a librarian but never really got the chance to follow her dream si here she is, back in Willow Grove and ready for a new challenge.

She soon finds that it’s not just her that needs a fresh start or a helping hand, through the library she befriends a whole selection of people who have found themselves in hard times and like the library, itself need someone to come along and help. I love the genius ways Elodie starts getting people through the doors of the library, I won’t say too much as it would give away too much but let’s just say it’s incredibly imaginative and refreshingly original.

Elodie proves that she is far more than a spoilt little rich girl whose mother owns a powerhouse, she is a kind generous passionate loyal caring woman who despite initially lying about who she is does have a heart of gold and just wants to help. I love that while helping save the library and assisting people to she is also helping heal herself. After all, a life of being watched for who you are is no life at all is it, she needed a breather and she has got it in spades, plus done some genuine good and made firm friends in the process.

Everything about this book is heartwarming, it speaks to your heart and has the most beautiful message of not judging on appearances and of kindness to others. The writing is (as always with Rebecca Raisin) impeccable you are drawn into the story and go on this journey with the characters as though you were right there with them, it’s a beautifully gentle and charmingly emotional story, a definite must-read!

How to save a library, read this lovely story with different emotions and characters. An easy read and enjoyable. 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

I loved this story right from the first page! Elodie was definitely a kindred spirit with her love for books and a need to stand on her own two feet and live life the way she had always wanted to, even if. She was so easy to love!

This story was about saving a library, but also about Elodie on her self discovery journey, with secrets that are bound to come out and so many stories that need to be told in order for all these lovely characters that we meet to be understood and accepted by the community. Overall this was a lovely uplifting story with some romance added it in, making it just that little bit better!

What a lovely idea for a story. Elodie works in the family business and is expected to take over one day but it's not what she wants or needs so she applies for a job in a run down library to try and get it funding to keep it open. No one recognises her as she works under her own name and she comes up with the idea of humans sharing their stories till they can get the funding to buy new books. The stories are incredible and sometimes humbling as no one has any idea of other people's lives and are incredibly judgmental of others without knowing about their past. Loved hearing the stories and it's a great reminder never to judge a book by its cover. Highly recommend this book

Elodie has it all but she isn't happy. When a job vacancy presents itself in a library it sets her off on a new beginning. Despite everything being an uphill battle she is optimistic and up for the challenge. Such likeable characters in a lovely setting. A feel good read.

This is defiantly a slow burn, it gets there in the end but takes a while, I do love reading but the amount of time spent telling us she is reading was painful, another book to not take much thinking about a holiday read

All about not judging a book by it cover as a lot of people do.
Elodie lives a rich life as part of a wealthy family and her mother hopes she will take over the running of Astor Publications but all she has dreamt of was running her own library.
When Elodie sees her old village library is going to close down she leaves her top job to help by getting more people to join they will get funds to keep it open.
A great summer read I loved all the characters and the little village it was set in.
Definitely worth reading.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC

I throughly enjoyed this book. It was such an easy read and just drifted along. A perfect book for a summer’s day. I read this so quickly in one day in fact. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

A quick and easy read that I found myself picking up after a long day to unwind. The characters are beautifully written and I came to love them within the first few pages and was rooting for them all the way to the end. At times I wanted to stop reading because I just wanted the experience to go on for longer.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another day, another sunny, summer read to warm your heart as this weather warms your outsides! Rebecca Raisin’s Elodie’s Library of Second Chances was just perfect for me – a library? Good. Bookish people? Good. People being nice to each other? Also good.

Elodie Halifax finds her life as part of a global media empire confining, but she’s too nice to her parents to tell them how she really feels. Experiences in her early life have led her to want to become a librarian, and open people’s eyes to the joy that can be found in books and reading so when she reads a compelling article about a library on the brink of closure, she makes a life-changing decision, but must hide who she really is.

Although people in Willow Grove are slow to warm to the new librarian, can she open their eyes to a love of books, but also make real changes to the lives of some of Willow Grove’s residents?

I really enjoyed this book as, while it focused on books and the library, it was also a lesson in being kind and not judging people at face value. Elodie’s bold experiment in ‘The People Library’ – allowing local residents to book a period of time with some of the more marginalised residents of Willow Grove to really find out their stories – was really interesting and it was nice to hear from some of the people that Willow Grove had written off. A real cautionary tale in not judging a book by its cover!

A dash of romance is in the mix and a series of misunderstandings threaten to derail Elodie’s big changes but, ultimately, this is a feel-good book about love, books and second chances!

Elodie’s Library of Second Chances is a gorgeous love letter to libraries and those who use them.

There is something so magical about a Rebecca Raisin book; they always have this incredible ability to fill your heart with so much happiness and joy. I was having a somewhat slightly stressful work week, and reading this book was the perfect way to escape that stress. Elodie’s Library of Second Chances just oozes kindness from its pages. If you are a fan of libraries, then you are just going to adore this book. Heck, suppose you aren’t a fan of libraries. In that case, I still think you should read this book because Rebecca does an excellent job of showing why libraries are such an important part of a community and are still very relevant today. Going on this journey with Elodie as she tries to save Willow Grove’s library was fun and heartwarming. I loved how Rebecca explored all the ways libraries help connect community members with resources and to each other.

In typical Rebecca fashion, Elodie’s Library of Second Chances is chock-full of delightful and endearing characters. There is a theme in the book of not judging a book by its cover. The residents of Willow Grove have been judging each other based on gossip or stereotypes, which has caused some residents to become isolated from the rest of the community. Elodie starts to break down those stereotypes by creating a borrow a person program at the library. It’s such a fantastic idea and an excellent way for people to connect. I loved listening to the different characters’ stories; they were just so touching. Elodie is a character that makes you feel like anything is possible. She radiates positive energy, and it was so charming watching as she interacted with all the other characters.

The relationship between Elodie and Finn is as sweet and perfect as drinking a cup of homemade lemonade on a hot summer afternoon. Finn has that sweet laidback guy feeling that you just can’t help but love instantly. I loved the realistic yet very charming chemistry these two had. There was this ease to their relationship. It wasn’t marked with an abundance of drama or misunderstandings. It was just an adorable love story with tons of cute moments.

Elodie’s Library of Second Chances is a perfect pick-me-up romance read that fills your heart with so much joy.

Thank you, Harper Collins UK and Rachel Random Resources, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love Rebecca’s books.
Thank you Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Such a cute book. It was very lovely and thought provoking.
I like a sweet book that o can sink into when life’s feeling too much.