The Last Chance Library - Freya Sampson

I think by now it has been established that I can't resist a book with a fun cover or a book about a library. While picking up my latest holds, I spotted this one on the new shelf at the library and of course I brought it home. It sat in our book bin for quite awhile before I finally picked it up, but once I did, I read it in about two days.

The book takes place in a small village in England called Chalcot. June Jones has lived there her whole life and the town library has always been a central part of her life . June is 28 and has been working at the library as an assistant for ten years, since her mother died. When she was young, her mother worked there and she spent many glorious days reading and playing at the library. June is the typical bookworm, shy, blending into the background, with basically no life. Her ideal weekend is spent at home reading and not seeing anyone. It all sounds rather sad, even for someone like me who can also see the joy of spending a weekend with books.

One day the council tells the villagers that they plan to close the library. June has to make a decision, support the protest to keep the library open or keep blending into the background. Because she is told she must stay out of it or risk her job, she hides in the background. But a few chance encounters with an old schoolmate, Alex, and her realization that the library is vital to a community, pushes her to join the cause, at first as an anonymous source providing information, then eventually she joins an occupation of the library. June quickly realizes how important all the library patrons are to her and she to them. In a fight to save the library she realizes how much she enjoys spending time with people and begins to come out of her shell.

I won't spoil the ending, though it ends fairly predictably, but in a heart-warming way. I enjoyed watching June grow and realize how important she was. I also loved the other characters in the book, especially Mrs. B, If you need a light read, give this one a try!