but it seemed like it was not a book that wanted to stay really light while only brushing on tougher topics. It deals with a lot of interesting topics: loss, alcoholism, abuse, etc. Neither storyline was compelling and the added drama about the library did not add much overall. It's told in alternating viewpoints (a device I hate) and nothing about the story was interesting. It sounded interesting and the ratings are good but I thought the book was very dull. Maggie befriends Tom at a library meeting and finds through their friendship to reexamine her past and regrets. Tom is a 16 year old on quest to impress his romantic interest. A book about a library? An intergenerational relationship? A quest to save the library? Sounds good. Spotted this Overdrive library and decided to borrow this. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I wish the book had stuck to a lighter 'save the library' theme instead of going off into so many darker tangents maybe two different books could be written here, as the two themes really did not have a lot to do with each other. Tom had some redeeming characteristics, although he was a whiner and judgmental of adults. She was willing to help others and showed a caring spirit. I liked Maggie as a strong character, who survived through many heartaches and disappointments in life. The story alternates between the two different viewpoints of Maggie and Tom. Themes addressed include alcoholism, bullying, freedom of speech, and generational understanding. When teenage Tom and senior citizen Maggie meet at the small local library, they do not expect their lives to intertwine as they do. But when the library comes under threat of closure, it's up to Tom and Maggie to rally the community and save the library! Will these two unlikely friends be able to bring everyone together and save their library? … ( more)Īlthough this book purports to be a 'save the library' story, many other issues are discussed.

As Maggie helps Tom navigate the best way to ask out Farrah, Tom helps Maggie realize the mistakes of her past won't define her future. When Tom comes to her rescue after a library meeting, never did she imagine a friendship that could change her life. Maggie has been happily alone for ten years, at least this is what she tells herself. So Tom quickly decides the best way to learn about women is to delve into romance novels, and he finds himself at the village library where he befriends 72-year-old Maggie. Farah makes Tom want to stand up and be seen - at least by her. He happily blends into the background of life. An unlikely friendship forms between a sixteen-year-old boy and a seventy-two-year-old woman as they rally the community to save their local library.

The village library bella osborne