Poppy Alexander wrote her first book when she was five. There was a long gap in her writing career while she was at school, and after studying classical music at university, she decided the world of music was better off without her and took up public relations, campaigning, political lobbying, and a bit of journalism instead. She takes an anthropologic interest in family, friends, and life in ehr West Sussex village (think The Archers crossed with Twin Peaks), where she lives with her husband, children, and various other pets. Poppy Alexander is always happy to chat with readers on social media. Search for Poppy Alexander Books on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Her website is Poppy-Alexander.com where you can also sign up for her author newsletter.
A little red telephone box full of stories, a chance to change her life... Jess Metcalf is perfectly content with her quiet, predictable life. But when her beloved grandmother passes away and she loses her job at the local library, Jess' life is turned upside down. Determined to pick up the pieces, Jess decides it's time for a new beginning. Unable to part with her grandmother's cherished books, she packs them all up and moves to a tiny cottage in the English countryside. To her surprise, Jess discovers that she's now the owner of an old red phone box that was left on the property. Missing her job at the local library, Jess decides to give back to her new community—using her grandmother's collection to run the ordinary phone box into the littlest library in England. It's not long before the books are borrowed and begin to work their literary magic—bringing the villagers together... and managing to draw Jess' grumpy but handsome neighbor out of his shell. Maybe it's finally time for Jess to follow her heart, let go of her old life, and make the village her home? But will she be able to make the leap?
One of my favorite books is Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, and I'd often wondered what a more "adult" version of that book would be. While reading The Littlest Library, I decided that this was that book. Jess's insecurities about her life and her future color the whole novel, much like Cath's uncertainty about her college and writing careers. The romance with the leading man is important, but not as much as the female character's journey to who she is meant to be. Most importantly, the journey to get there is full of a colorful cast of characters that guide her to where she's meant to be. I loved every element of this story for Jess, and how it reminded me of Cath's. This book's similarity to my longtime favorite endeared this novel to me instantly.
Of course, that's not all The Littlest Library has going for it. Like other books about books, it wholeheartedly champions the power of reading and the importance of community. In order to build this sense of community, Jess ends up with a telephone box in front of her new cottage that she converts into the country's smallest library, and she forms connections with the villagers as they come to visit. Jess makes closer friends with specific townsfolk, like Becky and Mungo, and has a very conflicted relationship with one of her neighbors, Aidan. I love how each relationship was balanced pretty equally—once it felt like we hadn't seen one character in a while, the story would transition to Jess catching up with exactly that person. I love that feeling of kismet while reading. Jess and the townspeople band together to save their new creation, demonstrating the power of community and the power of books in a community. It's well-done, and character-driven for sure.
Because it's character-driven, some readers might find this book to be at a slower pace than you're used to. I think it's worth it to stick with it. I also love how the slower pace reflected the time it takes for Jess to heal, and the sleepiness of small town life. I felt like every decision made in the crafting of this book was deliberate, carefully thought out before finding its place between the pages. Jess's story is very heartfelt for that reason—I felt like you could relate to her even if those points of relation aren't tied to her identity (for example, you could understand her inability to move forward because you've felt the same even if you hadn't lost a dear family member recently).
While I had hoped for maybe one more chapter or an epilogue, I think Alexander leaves her characters and her town in the perfect little spot, and I can't wait to share my love for this story as wide as I can. In the meantime, you can find her online at Poppy-Alexander.com where you can also sign up for her author newsletter.
*This review can also be found on my Goodreads page*
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