The Little Christmas Library

The Little Christmas Library in Merry-le-Moors is now my happy place as I'm sure it was for the lovely characters in the story. Jack and his daughter Molly turned the library into a safe and warm place for anyone and everyone to come to for a cup of tea and a chat. Each and every character I felt such warmth for and wished them only the best. The story shows that books can bring people together and they are great source of escapism. No matter what is happening in your own life a book can take you on a journey anywhere and anything can happen. The book made me cry and smile and warmed my heart with festive spirit. It was a pleasure to read and will stay with me forever!

I loved this book. I love a Christmas read, feel good, cosy, Christmas spirit vibes, love etc. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves a Christmas romance

This is quite a read.. Not the story I expected but loved it. You follow a library bus and how it helped people. Moving at time. You had some great love elements . Two characters I really liked were Frankie and Pamela..All the characters had stories. Read it . A neat ending

A lovely book about Christmas and books and libraries. All of which I love. This was an addictive read and very sweet. I loved the friendly characters who wanted to help people. We need more people like that these days. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishing for this ARC.

Molly moves back from London to Merry-le-Moors at Christmas time after a break-up. Her Dad Jack runs a mobile library there for the council after the physical libraries were shut down like so many services. There are a plethora of characters using the library, mostly elderly people just trying to get out of the cold. Soon, a table and chairs plus hot drinks making facilities and mobile heaters are added and the Merry-le-Moors Mobile Library Friendship Society is born.

This is a difficult book to review because it is well-written but the disconnect between the pink cover and cutesy title and the actual content is so stark. From the outside you expect a traditional fluffy romance book but you are getting a male author with lofty ambitions of being literary and letting you know it, by quoting Camus and referencing politics and racism.

He then goes on to comment on his own story: "Maybe if this was more of a feelgood Christmas story, which you may feel you were promised, then things would be different." I'm sorry, but thing's like that take me right out of a book. I don't want an author to comment on his own story, I just want him to write a good story. And this is largely a good story.

A lot of feel-good things actually do happen, with people connecting, reconnecting and breaking out of abusive relationships left, right and centre. There is community, romance and laughter, even in the face of a threatened closure of the mobile library service, and I liked the many supporting characters.

The narration hops from person to person and, strangely enough, to dogs too. You will never guess who the principal narrator is supposed to be!

There is a lot to like about the book but it might be better to change the cover and title to something more accurately reflecting the content, and to maybe leave the author's many comments on his own story out.

3.5 stars

This is the first book i have read by this author, it was a lovely cosy read and really gets you in the christmas mood, it has a good community feel and the characters are very well written, if you need to get in the christmas mood this is the book for you.

This was a lovely Christmas read. Forced home after a bad break-up, Molly McGinley moves back in with her Dad. Christmas is on the horizon, and the move will give her the space she needs to decide what to do next with her life.. Her Dad, Jack, is still missing her mum who passed away several years before. He encourages Molly to join him at work- he drives the local mobile library. Soon, the library becomes a haven for those looking for warmth and companionship., and new friendships are formed - but will Molly find her own happy ending?

A real treat of book for a cold afternoon in front of the fire. Thanks to NetGalley and Orion for my ARC- this has not affected my review.

I want to read books about hope, solidarity, friendship, and a pinch of Christmas magic.
This was the right book at the right time: poignant, heartwarming, moving and life affirming.
Molly, Jack and the cast of characters are facing grief, loss, a sense of needing hope. Molly is helping her father with a small mobile library and the library helps to create community in a village called Merry-le-Moors but not famous for being a merry place since 1069 (when William the Conqueror razed it).
It starts with a sense of loss and defeat and build hope and a sense of happiness page after page.
I loved the atmosphere, the descriptions of the place, and the fleshed out characters.
The storytelling is excellent and the plot is tightly knitted and compelling.
I hope to read other books by this author, this one is heartwarming and poignant.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Orion and Compulive Readers for the digital copy, all opinions are mine