The Last Library: 'I really loved this . . . a brilliant first novel' Katie Fforde

Description

Library assistant June knows a lot about the regulars at Chalcot Library, yet they know very little about her. When her mum - the beloved local librarian - passed away eight years ago, June stepped into her shoes. But despite their shared love of books, shy June has never felt she can live up to the village's memory of her mum. Instead, she's retreated into herself and her memories, surviving on Chinese takeaways-for-one and rereading their favourite books at home. When the library is threatened with closure, a ragtag band of eccentric locals establish the Friends of Chalcot Library campaign. There's gentlemanly pensioner Stanley, who visits the library for the computers and the crosswords, cantankerous Mrs B, who is yet to find a book she approves of, and teenager Chantal, who just wants a quiet place to study away from home. But can they compel reclusive June to join their cause? If June wants to save the library, she finally has to make some changes to her life: opening up her heart to friendship, opportunities and maybe even more . . . For fans of The Lido, Saving Missy and The Authenticity Project.

Freya Sampson works in TV and was the creator and executive producer of Channel 4's Four in a Bed and Gogglesprogs. She studied History at Cambridge University and is a graduate of the Faber Academy. She lives in London with her husband, two young children and an antisocial cat. The Last Library is her debut novel.

I've spent the last few days asking myself what Matilda would do, and I'm totally in love with Mrs B. A wonderfully warm and uplifting story of kindness, community, love and libraries. The Last Library made me laugh, cry, cheer and want to champion all of our fabulous libraries * Clare Pooley * A powerful reminder about the importance of community, kindness and friendship. Beautifully nostalgic, with a gorgeous cast of characters you are set to fall in love with, this is a truly stunning debut * Hannah Tovey * Such an uplifting story with a cast of characters I fell head over heels in love with. A heartwarming portrayal of the vital role libraries have in our communities and I adored every page * Jessica Ryn * The Last Library is sheer joy from the first page - a story of love, loss, self-discovery and courage. Funny, poignant and a celebration of books, libraries, stories and everything that makes us human. Unmissable * Katie Marsh * June stepped into her Mum's shoes at Chalcot Library but has felt she's been living in her shadow for the last eight years. Now the library is threatened with closure will she find the confidence to fight it and realise it's ok to let go of the past. With an array of fabulous characters this is a truly lovely and endearing read * Nina Pottell, Prima * I really loved this from start to finish. The premise is a library threatened with closure and community coming together to campaign to save it, but with a lovely light touch. A brilliant first novel * Katie Fforde * A gentle, heart-warming story and a love letter to libraries everywhere. When the world is grim, The Last Library is just the book to soothe your soul * Jenny Bayliss * The Last Library is SUCH a feel-good read, brimming with warmth & lovable characters. Also, a moving reflection on community & friendship. Bliss * Tracy Rees * Stunning debut * Woman & Home * An absolute gem . . . A must-read for all bookworms * The Sun * Wonderful Characters, gentle humour and a sweet romance make this an endearing read * Good Housekeeping * Uplifting and beautiful * Fabulous Magazine * For booklovers or anyone who has ever sought solace in a library, this is for you * Woman's Way * A heart-warming and uplifting read * Red * Sampson's winning debut adorably illustrates how a library can be much more than a place where people borrow books. Readers will have all the feels as they root for June, learn what the library means to the village's residents, and see how crucial libraries are to communities. Fans of libraries and heartfelt, humorous women's fiction with a powerful message and a hint of romance won't want to miss this one! It's so good that readers may very well devour it in one sitting * STARRED Library Journal * Author Sampson has created a gem of a book populated by vivid personalities and a story that weaves together heroes and villains, love and loss, mourning and growth as it follows June and the Chalcot community as they seek to save their library - which offers so much more than books. A delightful exploration of personal growth, inner strength, and the importance of family, friends, and love * Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW * a sweet testament to the power of reading, community, and the library * Booklist * [A] winsome debut...Sampson convincingly brings her characters to life, as well as the importance of their collective crusade to save the library. Readers will be touched by June's transformation * Publisher's Weekly * The Last Library is absolutely irresistible! Curl up and indulge in Freya Sampson's charming novel about a shy librarian in a small town with a great cause. You'll have such a good time and you'll love the unexpected twist at the end! * Nancy Thayer, New York Times bestselling author of Family Reunion * The Last Library is a heart-squeezing and charming story about grief, love and the power of community. An absolute delight * Colleen Oakley, USA Today Bestselling Author * Both spellbinding and tender, The Last Library is a gorgeous love letter to books, a celebration of the characters that make a community, and an inspiring call to muster our courage and fight for the things that matter. Simply put, this book is sublime * Libby Hubscher, author of Meet Me In Paradise * Freya Sampson's debut has all the markings of a hit: a book-centric premise, a quirky cast, and a librarian protagonist finally forced step out from behind the shelves and open herself up to the world. The premise is giving me big Fredrik Backman vibes, so if you like feel-good found family stories about books and people with a dash of romance, you're definitely going to want to put The Last Library on hold * BookRiot * With The Last Library, author Freya Sampson delivers a refreshingly feel-good first novel about the sustaining power of books and how libraries unite communities and forge lasting relationships that improve lives ... The Last Library unravels with great wit and tenderness. Sampson assembles clever, funny scenes where June transforms from a wallflower into a take-charge, crafty young woman who is forced to handle difficult people and navigate situations that enlarge her ingenuity. Readers will eagerly invest in the cause to save the library and be greatly amused by plot twists that play out with pleasant surprises and heart-tugging twists * Shelf Awareness * I adored The Last Library! It's a fierce love letter to libraries and the communities they serve. I left feeling so absorbed by the characters of Chalcot that I wanted to paint a placard and join them outside the library myself! A beautiful debut full of charm, wit, sharp observations and characters that you wish you could bump into on the street * Abigail Mann *