For fans of Jane Green and Loretta Nyhan, a heartwarming debut novel about a daydreamer who gives her town, and herself, an amazing gift: a lending library in her sunroom while confronting an even higher stakes, life-changing, decision.
When the Chatsworth library closes indefinitely, Dodie Fairisle loses her sanctuary. How is a small-town art teacher supposed to cope without the never-ending … the never-ending life advice and enjoyment that books give her? Well, when she’s as resourceful and generous as Dodie, she turns her sunroom into her very own little lending library.
At first just a hobby, this lit lovers’ haven opens up her world in incredible ways. She knows books are powerful, and soon enough they help her forge friendships between her zany neighbors—and attract an exciting new romance.
But when the chance to adopt an orphaned child brings Dodie’s secret dream of motherhood within reach, everything else suddenly seems less important. Finding herself at a crossroads, Dodie must figure out what it means to live a full, happy life. If only there were a book that could tell her what to do…
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This was one of the Prime First Reads books for June 2020. Though not the genre I usually read – suspense, mystery – I knew this when I ordered it and enjoyed the story. The only problem I had was at times I would find the author seemed to refer to something that I thought I missed. When I went back and reread the sentence/paragraph I realized that we were now hours (or more) later into the story than the previous paragraph. I found this a bit confusing because nothing was said to indicate this. Even adding “**********” in between the paragraphs to indicate there was a break would have helped.
Normally, things are tied up in a neat bow. This book had surprises, good and bad. Definitely recommend.
Forgive me if I’m wrong, but this read like a first novel: everything, every character the author ever wanted to write about was crammed into the same book. There were so many characters, and so much improbable development, that I found it unrealistic. Enjoyable, yes, but shallow.
I loved this book. It ‘s about my favorite things, books & a library. A fu n read, especially now when times are so hard. It was a relief to read something pleasant. I hope she writes more!
What a wonderful story of love, loss, trust, longing, and fulfillment. This story follows the life of Dodie Fairisle as she goes from an aspiring artist to an aspiring librarian to an aspiring mother to an aspiring wife. Dodie has many good friends and family members who she will do anything to help, but she is often left not doing for herself in the process. When her good friend adopts a wonderful little boy, Dodie finds herself longing to share her life with a special man and a little one of her own. The book describes the trials and heartbreak that she goes through in her quest for happiness. All the while, she is also invested in helping her small town find just the right book in her personally created lending library since the public library is closed indefinitely for renovations. Will love, life, and books bring her what she dreams of or will she be left wishing for that chapter of her life to begin? Read this delightful book and find out!
This started really strong, but the main concept of the book really fell to the waist side towards the middle if not before.
July 17, 2020
Good people book.
Lots of different people populate this story along with the Books they need to read. A bit of love, romance, and heartbreak round out this beautiful book.
Dodie is a daydreamer who gets lost in the stacks on a daily basis. But soon she will lose her 2nd home, the Chatsworth library is closing. Like most readers, Myself included, we have enough books we don’t need a library but we go there for the camaraderie. Missing that Dodie is presented to us as a layered character who has yet to feel fulfilled in some aspects of her life. Even her family teases her for her passion of books. To not feel alone she turns her home into a little library. We get to meet the zany neighbors that need each other more than they just need a good book. When the author adds another layer to Dodie we know what she needs before she does. Told in 1st person as Dodie we start out in 2007 and grow with every page. Could she even play match maker on herself? Could motherhood be an option in her future.
Even though Dodie is a grown up that doesn’t mean she has finished evolving.
A bit slow. Makn character frustrating st times.
Couldn’t get into it
Dodie is a lady on a mission to save her “eggs”, as she feels life/romance are takibg too long and she wants a baby. As an art teacher in school, she does not have the income for freezing her eggs or adopting a baby. As she deals with this, her close friend adopts a baby and she falls in baby love. Meanwhile the public library is closing for repairs and she has bought her first house and it has a sunroom. And the sunroom would be perfect as a tiny open library.
Dodie is on a mission to have books for children and everyone else even if it means buying books, book racks, serving coffee, and having people in and out of her home. Meanwhile her friends help her set up the room and even offer to be there after work.
There is a young girl with parents too busy to “see her” that she is helping and together they think up cute ways to entice book readers to try her library.
The part that was hard to read was how obsessed Dodie still was to make money and adopt a child to the point her friends couldn’t get through to her…you want to shake her! And that means congrats to the author for making me care about Dodie and see just how really involved she was in getting a child. And Dodie meets a sweet, nice, thoughtful guy but keeps this fantasy/obsession from him.
The only negative comment is about the friend that adopted a baby with the wonderful grandparents…..just leave out any clues before the shocking news…blinking eyes and the painful eyes as if the sun was too bright…don’t want to spoil it for anyone….just let it be a shock as in real life, without clues.
There are sad moments, serious thoughts about the way parents raise their children and the need of everybody to be “seen” and heard.
And yes, books are so important and helpful when dealing with life and if you are lucky, someone will give you the right book at the time you need it! This is a cozy chick lite read with meat on its bones..4 stars