Elodie’s Library of Second Chances: A feel good, laugh out loud summer romance Paperback – August 1, 2023

I absolutely loved reading Elodie’s Library of Second Chances!!! All about Elodie Halifax/Elle Astor is in her late twenties and studied Librarianship and is also the face of Astor Media & Finn Ford who is in his late twenties and is a newspaper reporter. Elle leaves Aster Media in London to pursue her love of Library’s. She’s taken on a failing library in Willow Grove, this is the library her and her brother Teddy went to when they were in boarding school, and she has many found memories of this library. Read about Elodie & Finn and see if her idea to save the library will work!! It just might if Finn’s article can attract the town’s residents, to becoming intrigued enough to not only become members, but to partake in an experiment. The author wrote a book about a problem that plagues many libraries around the world, how to keep membership up and the library from closing and becoming obsolete because people use their modern technology for everything including reading. If you enjoy quaint towns and unique individuals, read this book, you won’t be disappointed!!! The author writes a very engaging book, so get it and read it!!!

This is the 3rd book I have read by Rebecca Raisin, and this was my favorite. Enjoyable read, good character development and not predictable, original story line. I really enjoyed it!

I love this story. How many times in my 73 years of life have I encountered the phrase ‘ don’t judge a book by its cover’? Hundreds? A thousand? I don’t know. A lot. But this book really put into perspective the awful results when this simple advice is disrespected. It illustrates the danger of idle gossip, the spreading of misinformation, and the terrible impact it has on the person targeted unfairly. I love the ‘human book’ idea that is the central theme in the story. It has inspired me to take the idea of learning other people’s story before I form an opinion of their character based on first impressions or idle gossip. Perhaps in the future I can apply the principles of friendliness towards others whom I might otherwise have avoided due to baseless gossip and misguided assumptions. See! You’re never too old for self-improvement

Indeed, this is a lovely “feel good” read. However, aside from the beginning of the book which made me think that Ellie Astor was a movie star, the rest of the book was quite predictable. Good novels to me have some tension built in but the author was too quick to resolve any issues before they could make you worry about an outcome. Even Elodie’s mother who was the only unlikable person in the book, suddenly caved with understanding at the end. Totally out of her character up to that point. I also felt as if I’d read bits of ideas in this story in other stories as well. So although it was a nice escape from this turbulent world we live in, and I am grateful for that, I’ll stick to other authors who write feel good novels with more realism, more tension before resolution, and more in depth explorations of people’s personalities. The novels of Jenny Colgan comes to mind. Obviously, I’m in the minority here. And I did finish reading the novel…I delete novels without finishing them that don’t hold my interest. I’m just not as enamored of it as some of the other readers are.

Characters were believable.

Elodie's Library has a chance of being closed. Elodie must come up with something different to save said library. She will give the library a second chance to stay open. Everyone and everything should have a second chance. This was a great story as to how the library was failing and how Elodie answered the call to save it. Along the way there are a great cast of characters that all deserve a second chance also. Great ready for a emotional read.

Insightful and inspiring. So well done.

*I received a free copy of this book with thanks to the author and Rachel Gilbey at Rachel’s Random Resources blog tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*This is such a light, easy, feel-good read and it features plenty of book mentions (as Elodie’s double life is in publishing and in a library respectively), so is ideal for book worms!Not that the story is actually all about books though; instead it is about people – the people who make up a community and those who fall through the cracks – and about giving people a chance instead of judging based on gossip, rumours and appearances. In other words, the phrase ‘Never judge a book by its cover’ could have been written to apply specifically to this plot and these characters!I felt a bond with the main character, Elodie, as her obsessive love of reading felt very familiar to me and I vehemently agreed with her sentiments about the importance of access to books for all. I did find her a little bit of a Mary-Sue character at times though, as she was so good and calm and kind all the time and seemed to have not a single fault – all of her problems were caused by other people (especially her family… grrrrrr!).The whole idea of human books was a really novel one to me and I think it is an absolutely fantastic one and really gave the story its heart and emotional impact – the ‘books’ were all so lovely and so brave to put themselves out there to be re-judged like that. This aspect of the story was so moving and memorable that I did a bit of Googling and found out that this is something that you can actually do in real life! (Check out The Human Library if, like me, you are interested in finding out more about this.)If you enjoy heartwarming stories about found family, saving a community hub, and opening up some closed minds, then this is a lovely, uplifting read. It might even make you look at the people all around you with new, kinder eyes.Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog

I really liked the idea of borrowing a book store, particularly in an English village with interesting characters. A very feel good story

Elodie’s Library of Second Chances: A laugh out loud summer romance for 2022!I thoroughly enjoyed this romance, which was a perfect read for a summer’s day. Elodie loves books, which is odd as she is the daughter of a media empire. Having applied for a librarian job in the peaceful Willow Grove, she’s looking forward to a new start, out of the spotlight. Along with local journalist Finn, Elodie believes that people like the homeless man, that everyone walks past and the divorcee who can’t escape her husbands misdeeds, have stories of their own that need telling. Elodie sets up a person ‘borrowing’ scheme, so instead of borrowing a book, readers, listen to the life story of a person. However, Elodie isn’t that keen on sharing her own story, but as the library’s success grows, her secrets might be revealed. An enjoyable and engaging heartwarming and uplifting story, with great characters and a wonderful setting.

This is a lovely book. Great descriptions of a small town and it’s inhabitants. I love the fact that it quietly tackles some real issues.Some of these areas being the following. The disappearing town library and the social cohesion and sense of community it brings. Communication and gossip. The power to uplift or completely render individuals to a life of ….. (nothing positive). Celebrity and how this can easily be a fabricated thin layer of facade that sells magazines and looks great on the ‘gram (but is quite harmful to the vulnerable or impressionable adolescent) …. and more!Basically I recommend this book highly.I personally did not enjoy the last few ‘mushy pages’ but that’s me!

I knew I was going to love this book when 3mins in Elodie refered to Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada, but it was so much more than a book about a Library & second chances. The characters came to life & you had a vested interest in them all. Such a unique story about Books & Human Nature & that you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. I love Rebecca's books & this one is up there with my 3 favourites,The Little Bookshop on The Seine, The Little Antique Shop under the Eiffel Tower & The Little Perfume Shop off the Champs-Elysees.

I loved this story about Ellie wanting to walk away from the family business but her mother won't here of it. So Ellie doesn't walk away she runs. I love a feel good story and especially with romance.