Most nights, if his dad is not at work, he will be drinking and lying on the couch until he passes out. He has watched his father spiral further and further down into depression and alcoholism. His mother died when he was quite young and it’s just been his dad and him for a long time. Tom is a high school student who has had a rough time of it. I’m the person others find easy to forget. “Not actually invisible – that would make me interesting and I’m not. Tom Harris feels as though he is invisible. The chapters are told in alternating points of view between Tom and Maggie. The library is where our two main protagonists will meet and become acquainted. The theme of this book is the possible closure of a local library, which is not a new premise. I will always reach for a book that is about a bookstore or library, takes place in one or is somehow connected to books! If you are reading this review you are probably a bit of a book addict, as am I. ***NOW IN PAPERBACK AND FREE FOR KINDLE UNLIMITED*** *Thanks, NetGalley, for a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest opinion. Overall, a really excellent book, and I am already looking forward to reading it again. Excellent reminder to give back to the book community before it is too late! One thing that The Library did was inspire me to help out my local library and fired off a note asking if they wanted my assistance in punching up their social media presence, if they want me to give a presentation about books (how to get free books, book recommendations, how to get started in the book community), and book donations. It also felt very realistic, especially when fighting for the library, acknowledging that perhaps they were not going to be able to save it. Flying off the handle would not have worked as well in this book, and the scenes came across even stronger. The Library stirred the emotions in the best possible way, and I loved the UK atmosphere and tone. It also reminded me a bit of The Glass Castle.

There are parents who are not top 10% parents there are parents who are bottom 10%, and this book was one of them. It was truly endearing, and the author did a perfect job of depicting what it feels like to live with a drunk parent: never knowing what you are coming home to, how long you will be able to live in the same spot, struggling to make ends meet. This book was like Harold and Maude plus a library. Can the library be saved? How will things turn out for these two? These two bump into each other at the local library which is slated to be closed. Maggie is a seventy-two year old woman who is struggling with living alone on her farm. His mother died when he was eight, and his father is an alcoholic. He needs to start thinking about his future which is difficult with no guidance. Tom is an awkward UK teenager who is at a major crossroads in his life.

The village library bella osborne