I loved The Change by Kirsten Miller and was excited to get a copy of this on Netgalley.

Completely different from her previous book, this is a mostly fun book with a serious message. We venture to the town of Troy in the Deep South, where do-gooder Lula Dean, is determined to rid it of what she deems to be inappropriate books.

Lula Dean is a stereotypical comedy baddie, her arch rival Beverly, is more woman of the people, and there is a diverse supporting cast of all ages, races, and sexual orientations, each with their own storyline linking to the overall plot.

It knits together perfectly, with loads of humour, some darkness, good overcoming bad, friendship, family, and a little magic.

I really enjoyed it and look forward to Kirsten Miller’s next!

Thanks to netgalley and @mHQStories for the chance to read this ARC

The blurb

IT’S TIME TO RISE UP
In Troy, Georgia, local woman Lula Dean has campaigned to cleanse the town’s reading habits. All the ‘disgusting’, ‘pornographic’ and downright ‘un-American’ books have been removed from public spaces. Now, the townspeople are only allowed to read ‘appropriate’ books from Lula’s personal lending library.
But a small group refuse to be told what they can and cannot read and, unbeknownst to Lula, her personal collection is slowly restocked with banned books: literary classics, gay romances, Black history, spell books, and more.
One by one, each person who borrows the books from Lula’s library find their lives changed in unexpected ways. And as they begin to reveal their new selves, it’s clear that a showdown is fast approaching – one that will change the town of Troy forever …

This book wasn't exactly what i expected from it and i'm okay with that. The premise quickly dispelled this and i ended really enjoying the vignette style stories told inside. They all came together really well and i loved seeing how the characters grew over the course of their chapter and the whole book. I loved how everything turned out and felt it was a heart warming read overall. There were a couple of moments i didn't love but nothing that was so bad i had to put the book down.

I really wasn't sure what to expect going into this book but I absolutely loved it.

I laughed, I cried, I felt it all. Wonderfully written, I will absolutely be reading more from this author.

This book is a beautiful reminder of the importance, power and magic of books,

This wasn’t for me unfortunately, despite a worthy message. I just didn’t enjoy the writing style which felt a little forced and ‘goody two shoes’ or trying too hard to be quirky in the style of those Scandinavian authors who have made success of the genre of writing about irascible elderly people joining forces with rebellious teens in a humorous way.
The story here isn’t bad, it’s just not to my taste.

This delightfully titled seemingly wholesome read takes a sharp sticky and jabs the pointy end at prejudice, sexism, racism and generally small minded folk - which the character of Lula Dean embodies in spades.

Somewhat bafflingly, Lula decides certain books are just not right for the residents of a small town called Troy, in Southern USA, deeming books like Anne Frank as 'pornographic' books and 'propaganda' and getting them banned.

Instead, she sets up her own little library filled with what she thinks are more appropriate reads - and this is where the fun begins as the actual books are swapped.

I enjoyed the style of the chapters with each persons backstory and then leading onto the book they take from the library. I had to suppress a laugh when one lad started reading a book which began with 'Are you there god, it's me, Margaret'...

There are some delightful little character driven segments, the cheerleaders for example, some of which are heartwarming and some which are sadly reflectively of some of the less educated elements of society. I started to think this had gone too far in some respects and then I remembered that Roe v Wade has been overturned and had to remind myself that these views unfortunately do exist.

Overall this thought provoking and intelligent celebration of literature and mocking of archaic views is a great read. My thanks to the author, NetGalley and HQ Stories for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I enjoyed the structure of this book, with a chapter getting to know each character and book, and the overall message of the book. It was a bit heavy handed in some places, but overall I really enjoyed the story and how everything came together at the end - and loved some of the characters, particularly the ballsy cake-baking Wilma, and Lindsay, the orchestrator. Lula was deliciously hateable and sadly there are women like this who do exist, even though she’s portrayed like a charicature.

I did struggle to remember all the names of the characters which popped back up as there were so many, but that’s on my terrible memory!

A rather wonderfully satirical book for our increasingly censored times. It centres on those brave enough to stand up against the banning of books, which is not uncommon in 21st century United States. Kirsten Miller’s comedy is set in Troy, a small Georgia town where the local busybody Lula Dean is determined to ban any books she feels are unfit for children, ie “pornography and Communist propaganda”, including "The Diary of Anne Frank" and anything to do with queer storylines. When someone accuses her of not having read the books she’s intent on blacklisting, Lula Dean decides to set up her own wholesome lending library (titles include "The Southern Belle’s Guide to Etiquette") in her front garden – with consequences.

Packed with colourful characters in the local community, this is a funny and charming celebration of literature and reading as eyes are opened and lives are transformed!

A brilliant book! I loved Kirsten Miller's The Change, and this book is just as accomplished. There are so many characters in this book and every single one of them is completely true to life, textured and interesting. This seems to be quite an impressive achievement.

The novel is set in the small town of Troy, in the South of the US, where quite a few residents hold the kind of opinions stereotypically associated with the South - prejudiced, small-minded and right wing. However, this by no means describes everyone. And when one resident, Lula Dean, decides to wage war on 'pornographic' books and 'propaganda' in the town's library, it starts to become apparent just how many people don't share her views.

Lula sets up her own library in her front yard, filled with ridiculous titles that she has deemed to be 'wholesome'. When Lindsay, a gay student who would no doubt come under Lula's fire, decides to switch the books the fun begins.

The book launches into the story without preamble, beginning with someone who turns out to be a fairly minor character. It's a good way into the story. Through the battle with Lula and her followers we discover more about her past in the area, and her run-ins with other characters.

The writing is at times hilarious and ridiculous, right wing ideas really come in for a battering. I especially liked the send up of transphobic views, with Lula bemoaning the fact that people should be able to decide who they are for themselves and have freedom in their lives. 'Without the Lord of the Flies, kids wouldn't be getting kidnapped or groomed or given double mastectomies.'

There are lots of touching elements to the book, with characters growing in confidence as they come to realise that more people in the town agree with their progressive ideas than they might have thought. There are many great characters. The black postman, Delvin, has become something of a hermit because he has seen the hate that too many people harbour. He is transformed when he realises he has more allies than he thought.

Ken and Kari, a couple who are taken in by fake news, are brilliantly drawn, and I love how Miller shows that they aren't in fact reactionary, just ordinary people who have been taken in a little by the media. Crystal discovers her husband Russell is having an affair and, rather than this mark the end of her life, she embraces the spur to transform things and instead decides to remember the best of her marriage, while accepting that their relationship has reached its natural end.

Lawyer Wilma is brilliant as is Beverly, head of the school board. Both take on Lula and also give confidence and encouragement to younger people to stand up for themselves too.

There are many more characters I could mention but this review would go on way too long. Suffice to say this is a brilliant novel with a great message that leaves the reader with hope for the future.

📖NetGalley Review

Beverley Underwood and her enemy Lula Dean reside in Troy, Georgia, where they were born and raised. Now Beverley is on the school board, and Lula has become a local celebrity on a mission to rid the public libraries of all the books she deems inappropriate, none of which she had read.

The author does a great job of developing these characters as real-life complex individuals, and they are completely believable. Each character reads for a different reason - they may be curious, bored, seeking inspiration or comfort. A book allows us to see ourselves and others more fully.

The ending is exactly the one most of us are looking for when it comes to book bans. There is something for everyone in this book; I recommend it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Huge thanks to HQ and Kirsten Miller for providing an eARC via NetGalley; this is my unbiased review.

WHEW, this was a great read. I wasn't sure what to expect from the beginning of the book, but it was honestly such a good read. I laughed, I teared up a bit, and with the current situation with books lately, it was a very timely read. Absolutely enjoyed it and hope to read more by Kirsten Miller!

First of all thank you for approving my request!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The authors writing style had me hooked throughout this book.

I didn't want it to end, a book I really couldn't put down.

Well.. I couldn’t put this down. The author has an incredible way of talking about a serious topic in a very funny way. This created a light, emotional, funny and thought-provoking plot, peppered the whole way through this book. Whilst there are main characters who appear throughout, each chapter seems to be focused on a different person or family dynamic that is directly impacted by the book banning, or simply discrimination in a small southern American town. Censorship, unfortunately, is something that is a real concept in the world we’re living in - it’s always been there, but I’d like to think that those people are the minority. Books, whether fiction or non-fiction allow us to learn, see a different point of view, feel empathy, and allow us to be confronted with our history which we must learn from - good or bad. I loved this book, it was powerful and a must-read.

I really enjoyed Miller's first book but this one was even better - I love reading anything about Banned Books and I really enjoyed how this one turned my preconceived ideas of how the plot was going to go on its head.

Having travelled in America a few times I can see how easily people can be duped and hidden from historical facts - although to a European not knowing anything about the Holocaust seems incredible....
This book very much shows the power of the written word - and how this can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your point of view...

I loved this so so much! A powerful and timely novel about the power of books and community, I cannot recommend it enough to everyone I know! I cried with joy on multiple occasions, a book for the soul.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough! It's a must-read, especially in today's world. I love all of the different issues this book seamlessly tackled.

At times I found it a little long and was getting confused on who was who and how the characters were related to each other. By the end I felt like a native of the town of Troy and was totally invested in how things panned out.


Recommended. 4 stars.

Although it was easy to see which way this book was going to go, I enjoyed the journey. Seeing how the books in the little library impacted on each member of the community in turn was interesting and made me wish this could be done on a large scale in real life.

My review for this book is overdue due to issues I had with the ARC, like many reviewers the text in the proof copy was unreadable. However, I was really curious about the story, so I waited and borrowed a copy from my local library. Considering the plot of the book, this seemed fitting, and I’m really glad I did.

The town of Troy has been contaminated however not with the liberal agenda but with the dogma of the past. This unwavering dedication to the traditions of time that was only ever grand for part of society is something that is replicated time & time again in the world around us. The insidious banning of books in this novel sadly reflects the incidents that we consistently see from communities that follow the dog whistles. Miller has perfectly captured the various forms of the manipulation that is sadly part of a slice of life in today’s society.

This is an impressive book which contains so much power within its pages. The people that really need to hear this message probably won’t as it’s captured within the pages of a book that in essence challenges the right wing massive to be better people.

Like in the novel, the fight continues.

In the small town of Troy, Georgia, where tradition and scandal often intertwine, Beverly Underwood and Lula Dean are locked in a fierce rivalry. Beverly, a member of the local school board, is committed to the town’s educational progress, while Lula has made a name for herself by crusading against what she deems inappropriate literature. Her mission to cleanse the public libraries of “unsuitable” books has become a town spectacle.

In retaliation, Beverly’s daughter, Lindsay, embarks on a covert operation. Under the cover of the night, she sneaks banned books into Lula’s newly established little free library, cleverly disguised with innocuous dust jackets. Among these literary subversions are classics and controversial works, their true content masked by covers promising genteel Southern propriety. The transformation of Lula’s library into a clandestine hub of forbidden knowledge sets off a chain reaction, altering the lives of many unsuspecting townspeople.

As the townsfolk—ranging from the local postman and the prom queen to a farmer and the former DA—read these subversive books, their perspectives and lives begin to shift in profound and unexpected ways. The hidden library becomes a catalyst for change, illuminating the power of literature to challenge, enlighten, and transform.

With the local election for mayor approaching, Beverly and Lula face off in a battle that promises to shape the future of their town. As the revelations about the library's contents come to light, the community is forced to confront their own beliefs and biases. The town's fabric, previously held together by tradition and conformity, begins to unravel as secrets and revelations come to the fore.

The Library of Rebellion delivers a compelling commentary on the clash between knowledge and ignorance. It highlights how literature can challenge societal norms and provoke change, often in the most unexpected ways. This novel's thought-provoking narrative and engaging characters make it a poignant reflection on the enduring struggle between progress and tradition.

http://thesecretbookreview.co.uk

Being familiar with Troy, Alabama (a university town), I was intrigued to be offered an ARC of this unusual novel, set in the fictional Troy, Georgia. Like a university, this novel is equally concerned with educational learning, or perhaps the interference of it: the subject-matter concerns the banning of books that the pillars of the closeknit Southern Society do not consider worthy of readership. Pitted against each other are the fearsome empty-nester Lula, who is on a book-banning mission to make her hometown more ‘wholesome’, and her rival since school days, Beverley, who is determined to sabotage those efforts in ingenious ways with the help of her effervescent daughter Lindsay. As other reviewers before me have written, this book is the rarely successful literary tightrope act of humorous writing style underpinned with serious messages – in this case xenophobia, ultraconservatism, and misogyny. An unusual read from a writer to watch out for! My thanks go to NetGalley and HQ for the much-appreciated ARC supplied in exchange for this unbiased book review.