The New Town Librarian by Kathy Anderson

This was such a heartwarming and charming story about a middle-aged lesbian librarian wanting to change her life. I loved the library setting, the witty humor, the queer representation and all wonderful side characters!

Nan Nethercott is a queer middle-aged librarian, who finds herself stuck at entry level in the Philadelphia public library system and as well as in tiresome affairs with women who are not looking for that forever after that Nan is. Realizing she might not have that many chances left to make a drastic change, she accepts a pay cut for the job as a head librarian at a small-town library in southern New Jersey. Soon she finds herself way over her head dealing with staff problems, marauding middle-schoolers, a bossy town council principal, and a hot deli owner who is, of course, not looking for the kind of relationship that Nan is.

I loved the library setting and to read about all literary tasks, book club discussions and programs that Nan organized and to get new insights of the life of a librarian (the task of weeding books was definitely a novelty to me)! I also absolutely adored Nan’s wit and sarcasm, and the fact that she was a bit older and very relatable in the way she felt that life hasn’t turned out the way she dreamed of. And the side characters were such charming, kind and fun originals! I loved the way Nan opened up to people in a way she hadn’t before and made some wonderfully sweet new friends that way.

The story was perhaps a bit uneventful at times and it wouldn’t have hurt with a little more romance and passion. Even though Nan is having affairs and dating, I wouldn’t call this a sapphic romance. It’s more a story about changing your life than finding love.

But all in all, The New Town Librarian is a truly sweet, fun and enjoyable feel-good read that doesn’t shy away from the sadder parts of life, with an adorable small-town bookish setting. A perfect book for my fellow bookworms!

Thank you to Pride Book Tours, NetGalley and Ninestar Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Rating:
4 stars

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​Author info:
Kathy Anderson