With grateful thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest opinion.
First time reading this author and it was a sheer delight, nothing better than reading about about a library.
Can highly recommend this fabulous book.

The blurb for this book really appealed to me when I read it, so I was thrilled to be approved for an advanced reader copy from NetGalley.

The characterisation in this book is absolutely it's best feature. On the surface, the story is about how to save the lirbary, but on deeper inspection it's really about how the library saved all the people in the community. The wide range of people and personalities did a fantastic job of illustrating just how impactful a local library can be, not just for education and literacy, but also as a community hub.

I was nervous that I wouldn't like June when I first started reading, so much so that I actually put the book down for a few days - her passivity was annoyingly painful to read at times. However, when I decided to push through and picked the book back up, I found that I warmed to her quite quickly. Her rediscovery of who she was without overwhelming grief ended up being a joy to read.

For me, the "secondary" characters that made up the library-using community of Chalcot were even more enjoyable to read about than June. Each had their own endearing quirks and interesting backstory that made the book feel whole and well-rounded. Stanley Phelps was, by far and away, my favourite of these characters, with his gentleness and chequered past - he was beautifully written and very touching.

The blurb made it sound like there was going to be a fair amount of focus on June's love life in the story but, on reading the book, I found that the romance element felt somewhat tacked on and a little forced. There was plenty of love to be had though, just not in an obvious way - this book is a real love letter to books, and specifically libraries. There were several books mentioned throughout the story, which any reader can take away as a further reading recommendation if they choose to do so. I've come away from reading this book feeling guilty about not using my local library more, so it's certainly done more than just provide a few hours of literary escapism.

This was a heartwarming, easy read that I ended up thoroughly enjoying despite my initial reservations.

Everyone depends on June and the opportunities that their local library brings, but the threat of closure means they need to fight to protect what is important in their lives. A rebellion is on the cards. June adores her role in the library, but it was her mum’s place before her, and she’s never really been bold enough to create a path for herself. This fight is too much for June to deal with, but she can’t lose her library or the connection to her mum, no matter how easy it is to retreat behind her books!

The written word is something marvellous and libraries are the gateways to new discoveries & adventures, therefore they are to be treasured. They can be lifelines for many people due to the varied activities that they offer. I loved that Sampson clearly cares about this too, as you felt that seeping though the characters and their reactions. I just knew I was going to enjoy this story after only reading a few pages, and I wasn’t wrong.

The eclectic patrons of Chalcot library walk off the page and straight into your hearts in this uplifting tale of friendship, goodwill and the power of the library. Book lovers will love it, I know I did!

I raced throught this at a speed of knots and loved every word of this nuanced piece. A pure delight. Great characters and a fantastic plot.

What a fantastic book. I really could not put it down. The plot is about a library that is about to be closed down and the characters around this. the main character is June who is shy and works in the library. the plot is highly character driven and would certainly make an excellent film - I do hope someone picks up the film rights. I loved the story and all the characters that were so well described each with their own quirks. Stanley as a character is still my favourite as he develops throughout the book.
This is a total must read and a fantastic book I only hope it does not get overlooked with the plethora of other releases as it really does deserve the highest praise..

The central character June Jones has worked as library assistant since she was 18

June lives her life in a safe way with the same routines she always has until her beloved library is threatened with closure.
The novel is full of humour and emotion. Follow the way the other characters especially Stanley, Alex, Chantel and Jackson try to help.
Definitely recommended.

The Last Library is a heart-warming, funny, charming novel with a delightful cast of characters. The story follows June Jones, a shy young librarian who is thrust into the limelight when her beloved library is threatened with closure. Freya Sampson clearly understands the importance of libraries in communities, and threads her story with tales of all the different sorts of people who rely on libraries every day, including the lonely elderly who need someone to chat to, the young home-schooled children who need books to study, the babies and toddlers enjoying rhymetime, and the immigrants and unemployed job seekers who need advice and computer support. I loved this book, and will eagerly read Sampson's next novel.

This was delightful with characters you could really warm to. Reminded me so much of why I fell in love with library’s and what an essential part of our community they are. Definitely a recommended read, perfect to escape into.

This book is such a heartwarming read, I would recommend to all. As a child much like Jackson when I was that age, I really identified with him, and also loved all the other characters in the book, who reminded me of the people who used to be in the library regularly when I was growing up. The story is very realistic, I'll be honest the ending surprised me as it wasn't what I expected, but despite the realism it was still a lovely story that left you feeling good even though it wasn't all rainbows and candy all the way through.

What a wonderful book! I loved all of the characters especially June, Stanley, Alex, Chantel and Jackson. Written with such tenderness. I was all for painting a banner and staging a sit in at Chalcot Library to save it from closure! A brilliant comfort read for a summers afternoon, sat in the garden. Perfect.....

I really enjoyed this book about a community who rally together to save a library. June, the quiet librarian, was sweet - although I did sometimes want to throttle her every time she chose to keep her life small and safe rather than take a risk. The character of Stanley really got under my skin. His storyline was my favourite part of the book. All in all, a delightful read. Perfect for bookworms!

4.5 rounded up to 5

June Jones has worked as library assistant since she was 18. She has so many happy memories of the library, her mother worked there before her. It’s eight years since her mother passed away and little has changed in June’s life. She still lives in the same house, spends her time reading, has the same takeaway every Monday night. But then her beloved library is threatened with closure.

I loved this book, it’s a love letter to libraries and the power they can have on local communities. June is a likeable character who’s still affected by grief from the death of her mother. She’s retreated into the books she loves so much. The story is heartwarming, I was so invested in June and the visitors to the library, I was cheering on their efforts to save the library from closure. There were moments of humour and sadness in the story. It’s very readable, I thoroughly recommend it.

This is the first novel by Freya Sampson that I’ve read but I’ll definitely look out for more from her.