Published By: One More Chapter
Pages: 384
Released On: 01/08/2025
The local library is a place for community members to enjoy a cup of coffee, to read a book, to swap a book, to exchange ideas, and maybe even share a piece of themselves. It’s also a refuge for people like Hattie, looking to reconnect with her past, and Avril, trying to hide from the future, and Stuart, searching for a new purpose, and librarian Will, whose life has been spun in an unexpected direction.
Apart, they could not be more different from one another, but when a flyer for a writing competition draws Hattie, Avril, Stuart and Will together, they come to discover that a good story doesn’t just open your eyes, but also your world…
*****
Thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I have a copy of Sue’s book The Secret Ingredient but haven’t yet read it.
This was lighthearted and easy to read, cosy and uplifting.
There’s a range age of characters and they’re so charming in their own way. They’re all flawed, all grieving something (in the literal and metaphorical sense), and all fabulous in their individual stories and the book as a whole.
Honestly, I think Hattie was actually my least favourite character, which was unexpected seeing that she was probably meant to be this cute old lady protagonist. There were elements I liked about her and she’s an interesting person, but she irked me. She was curmudgeonly and complaining and egotistical and I really struggled to find her positive side, although she did wear me down slightly by the end.
It is very much a story within a story, which was lovely. It was interesting to read the different “voices” Sue has created.
It’s a love letter to libraries, about how they’re about more than just bokos, they’re a place of community.
There’s not so much of a plot – although there is obviously a storyline; it’s mostly character-led and I really enjoyed that. We get to know our characters as individuals and how they work in aa group setting and their histories etc. which was fascinating.
I normally read a book in 1-2 days but this took me nearly a week and I can’t exactly say why. I enjoyed it and it had everything I wanted from an uplifting book, but it took me a little while to get fully enveloped.
Books By Your Bedside 