What’s not to love. The lovely cover draws you in. But the book itself keeps your interest throughout. It’s a lovely feel good read. It was well written and flowed well.

Who could not fall in love with this cover, but the words within it are just as delightful to fall in love with. 

After teaching for ten years Lucy has to take a break otherwise she will burn out completely. To get away from it all, to rest recuperate and perhaps find out what she wants to do next she spends the next six months in a little cottage in a Cotswold village. 

The catch she can live virtually rent free in this cottage if she looks after another village resident, Bunty. 

Trouble is Bunty really doesn't need much looking after, despite what her daughter in law thinks. She is quite content, in a house full of memories and an eclectic mix of pets. 

Lucy a history teacher is fascinated with the area and the fact that they are so close to Bletchley Park, which played a pivotal part in World War Two she knows she will be able to do some of her own research during her recuperation. 

However the villagers have other ideas and Lucy finds herself, making friends quickly and becomes involved with local projects such as what to do with the old red telephone box, now surplus to requirements. 

But the telephone box holds special memories for Bunty and has history with it - but will she ever tell anyone what she did during the war? Lucy's research goes into overdrive and she wants to find out the truth behind Bunty and what she did in the war, so many other villagers know something but Bunty is not very forthcoming. 

What is Bunty's secret and what does it have to do with the telephone box?

It seems that the interest of the village, the phone box and the surrounding areas as well as some of the other villagers are a real pull for Lucy. Perhaps this is where she needs to be to make her own history. 

This is a joyous and delightful read which appealed to me greatly considering my love (and degree in) for history and the fact that I too am fascinated by what went on at Bletchley Park and that no one knew anything about it. I really don't think in today's world of social media that secrets could now be kept. 

The book has so much packed in between the cover that you just can't help but be drawn into the story both the past and the present. Strongly recommended by me!

Another great read from Rachael Lucas and it is a place I would love to go back and visit sometime.

An entertaining read with a heartwarming story and delightful characters. It's a great novel if you want an easy read

This is an easy read with a sweet story in it.
It's entertainment for the moment and the writing is good!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This author has an easy readable style with well drawn characters that quickly immerse the reader in the story. A stressed out history teacher is taking an enforced 'rest' in a village near Bletchley. In exchange for accommodation she is keeping an eye on an elderly neighbour who worked for Bletchley during the war. There are the usual village characters and issues in what is an interesting and delightful light read.

The main character in this heart-warming and beautifully written novel is called Lucy. She is a very talented and conscientious Head of History in a challenging Brighton school, living with her brother and commuting to school daily. She has recently had a work related medical emergency and has been given a six month sabbatical from her post. She has sourced a part time job with a small cottage to let at a low rent going along with her new position. She has been hired by Margaret, the daughter-in-law of Bunty, a feisty and determined nonagenarian. Lucy’s job description is to keep an eye on Bunty and help her if and when she is needed, and her cottage is right next door to Bunty’s. Lucy will be taking her young West Highland terrier called Hamish with her, and plans to recuperate by researching local history.
When Lucy arrives at Little Maudley, a picturesque Cotswold village, Bunty is hostile and indignant about having a carer. But as time passes by they begin to forge a warm relationship based on trust and mutual respect. Lucy is amazed to learn that Bunty was once stationed at Bletchley Park and longs to find out more. Bletchley Park itself is in a nearby village and Lucy is soon planning a visit.
The local community are very welcoming and are delighted that Lucy has come to live in their village. They are planning to create a book of historical information in honour of an upcoming 80th anniversary. She agrees to conduct interviews with the locals, recording their memories of the village. The project requires historical research and knowledge as well as collating facts, artefacts and memories. Lucy learns that many of the villagers came together through their jobs during the war and liked the area so much that they stayed and made it their home. Lucy is delighted when she is asked to take the lead and edit the factual information ready for publication. It is right up her street.
At the same time the village telephone booth is due to be decommissioned and ideas are floating around about renovating it and making it into an exciting feature of village life. Lucy becomes involved in this project as well. Soon she is living her best life, free from the ten years of the daily stresses of the classroom, behavioural problems and the curse of assessment and moderation and marking books. She has made new friends and is doing work that she really loves. This story is very much about Lucy’s sabbatical and the important decisions she has to make about her future.
I really enjoyed reading this beautifully written story. My favourite characters were Bunty and Lucy. I loved watching their friendship deepening and thought their back stories were involving and interesting. Many other characters were introduced into the main thread and gradually their stories were skilfully interwoven with Lucy’s story. This was definitely a feel-good story, raising several issues. Rachael Lucas is a genius at creating communities and making their lives come to life so that you really care about them at the same time as learning about their diverse and interesting lives.
I received this book through my membership of NetGalley and from publisher Pan in return for an honest review. Thank you most sincerely for my copy. I recommend this novel as an easy and engaging read all about fresh starts and new beginnings. I’m sure you will like it.

A sweet story, though it took a while to get going. An easy read.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review.

This is what I deem my guilty pleasure. A well-written cozy romantic story set in the country. I could relate to the main character, I enjoyed following her story; seeing the relationships and friendships grow and the ending was just as i needed it to be. Fantastic.

The Telephone Box Library is one of those books you can completely immerse yourself into and before you know it you’ve read nearly half the book.

Rachael Lucas has a wonderful way with words. The whole book flows well and is a joy to read.

History teacher Lucy arrives in the small village of Little Maudley on a six month sabbatical from work. She’s taken a job where she has to keep an eye on nonagenarian Bunty in exchange for cheap rent on a quaint little cottage. Armed with boxes, bags and her Westie Hamish, she’s looking forward to relaxing and carrying out some research at nearby Bletchley Park. She seems to fit in to village life straightaway and gets involved in turning the telephone box into a library.

This book has some great characters, Bunty especially, and of course Lucy and Mel. Add in a potential love interest and a boa constrictor called Stanley and you’re guaranteed a great read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Pan Macmillan and the author for the chance to review.

I've never read any previous works by Rachael Lucas, but I will certainly be keeping an eye out now. I really enjoyed this book! It had the perfect mix of woman leaving the busy life to settle in a small village and ending up involved in village affairs as well as a love story from the war. The book had many layers. The style of writing reminded me of Phillipa Ashley and Cathy Bramley.

Many thanks to the author for an ARC of this ebook.
This is an easygoing tale featuring Lucy, a teacher who has had to take a leave of absence from work due to stress. She relocates temporarily in a idyllic country village where a large cast of local characters play out the story. There are no surprises, no shocks just a pleasant story to while away a few hours. My only irritation with the writing is the overuse of the word 'bloody', it loses any impact and becomes annoying.
I'd recommend this book to those who enjoy a simple romance with a bit of WW2 back story.

I picked this book because it had such a pretty cover, and I loved the idea of a telephone box being turned into a library. It turned out to be a lovely gentle story about life in a village, with a romance.

I immediately loved Bunty as soon as I met her. She says things how they are and doesn’t make pretence about things. It was her that totally hooked me into the book to start with. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about village life, and Lucy and Sam’s romance. It’s great that they don’t immediately fall in love, but get to know each other first. All the characters are well written, having their own stories and motivations.

I’ll be on the lookout for other books from this author. I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a nice relaxing romance with a community feel.

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was so excited to receive this book as I absolutely adored finding hope at hillside farm and this book has been even better!
A real feel good factor, based in a lovely rural village steeped in history with a random assortment of likeable characters! Add in a dose of romance and you get the perfect read and an insight into the work that was carried out during the war years in and around Bletchley park!
Lucy a single burnt out teacher decides to take a sabbatical and answers an ad for a job keeping on eye on an elderly lady, so packing up her worldly goods and loyal dog hamish she heads to the Cotswold, what follows is a tale of friendship, camaraderie, and a sense of belonging coupled with a healthy dose of romance!
Thank you so much net galley for this early read!