An introverted sixteen year old boy meets an introverted seventy two year old woman at the library, both of them live fairly solitary lifestyles, each one seeking some sense of solace and inclusion without the commitment required of normal social interaction. Maggie has come to the library for her weekly book club meeting. She comes for the company and a chance to interact with others. She has always loved the library, it’s sense of calm and “somewhere safe and quiet to run to and the library had never let her down.” But when the library comes under threat of closure, it's up to Tom and Maggie to rally the community and save the library! I absolutely loved this book. Heart-warming with genuine characters, the plot pulled me in and I was rooting for the library every step of the way. A great tonic for the times and highly recommended!' – Talli Roland Tom is a high school student who has had a rough time of it. His mother died when he was quite young and it’s just been his dad and him for a long time. He has watched his father spiral further and further down into depression and alcoholism. Most nights, if his dad is not at work, he will be drinking and lying on the couch until he passes out. The two don’t have much to talk about and his dad doesn’t question much about what Tom does in the evenings. Tom’s only friends are the online buddies that he plays games on his Xbox with.

I also enjoyed how Bella Osborne brought the theme of nature into the novel and how healing it can be to get outside and spend time with animals and/or working the land. I love to read books with characters of many ages, especially if a older character (over 70 years old) is included as a main focus. That is the case with this story, as Maggie, 72 years and Tom, a teenager meet and develop a very special friendship that both of them need badly. The library seems to be an obvious choice for fulfilling the needs of the socially inept with its open doors inviting people from all walks of life to participate equally and without judgment. Now for the book: At the heart of it, it’s less about saving the village library, though that’s the plot device that introduces characters and moves events along, but more about the unlikely friendship between Tom, a 16-year-old socially awkward boy who lost his mother, and Maggie, a spunky, independent 72-year old widow who lost her son. These are two people who, each in their own way, desperately need the other.The Library is a story about love, grief, friendship and forgiveness. However, it is equally written with love and understanding of what makes us human. It is completely relatable and simply wonderful. I enjoyed the plot, story arc and character development. I especially liked how Tom grew into his own person and became confident in his own skin. Maggie was such a positive influence but she also comes from a place of pain and it affects her personality too. Osborne manages to let the subtleties shine through while also not making despair the focus of either one’s personality. A realistic portrayal, I think.

This book was received as an ARC from Aria Books in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.bestselling author Katie Fforde 'Such a heart-warming and thought-provoking novel! The Library is a touching tale of true friendship, overcoming adversity... and the genuine joy books can bring to our lives' -- Jill Mansell