Please Note:  I received an advance copy of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

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 turn 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 take the leap?

Review:

When I look at books to read, there are several topics that automatically catch my attention.  Anything book themed, set in a small town, or has a lot of food content, and I am immediately interested.  The Littlest Library, by Poppy Alexander, is a sweet book that has all three (bonus points for it being set in England!).  I liked the concept of a library created out of an old telephone booth, found the small village to be charming and filled with fun secondary characters, and there were many dinner parties with descriptions of fabulous food.  There was also a lovely romance between the main character, Jess, and a divorced next-door neighbor.  

What I Liked:

Setting:

I love books set in small towns.  And this quaint English village seemed just lovely, even if it had seen better days.  When Jess buys a small cottage seemingly on a whim, she has no idea what she's getting herself into.  There are, of course, unexpected repairs (and bats) to contend with, town feuds that she must navigate, and village etiquette to learn. 

But there are also lovely discoveries.  Jess learns to appreciate the beauty of the pretty garden and pond behind her home.  Neighbors stop by, which at first is not welcome.  But she finds generosity in her neighbors bringing food to share, along with new friendships, and opportunities for her to become involved in the community.

Books:

Jess is a librarian who's previous library has closed.  When she moves to her new home, she leaps at an opportunity to create a little library in front of her home.  Her collection of beloved books stocks the shelves.  It's a treat to see what books the village's residents choose.  Some pick out classic books for their kids, while others check out cook books.  But the most popular type of books are the romances!  As with any good library, the telephone booth becomes a gathering place for the community. I loved this!

Food:

I love books where the author describes delicious food at dinner parties.  In Jess's case, there are several Sunday luncheons with descriptions of roasted lamb, fresh garden vegetables, and light summer desserts.  The way these dishes are lovingly described makes me think the author must love to cook and entertain.

Characters:

I like the main character, Jess.  Although she has daydreams about seamlessly gliding into the village social scene, she is actually quite awkward and makes many mistakes.  I can relate!  But, when she does something rude, she apologizes,  and tries to make amends.  She also is still mourning the loss of her grandmother who raised her.  There are many moments where she fights tears and would rather be alone.  But when this happens, she remembers that her grandmother wanted her to be a part of the present, not wallow in self-pity.

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release Date:  July 19th, 2022

Author: Poppy Alexander

Publisher:  Avon Books

Genre:  Contemporary Fiction/Romance

Page Length:  320 Pages

Source:  NetGalley

Format: E-Book

Recommendation:  This was a lovely book, and the perfect summer read.