This charming book not only has a delightful cover, it has a lovely story, too.

Jess Metcalf is reeling after the death of her beloved grandmother, who she has lived with since her parents died in a car accident. After getting laid off from her job as a librarian, she’s even more at a loss. While driving to clear her mind, she ends up in the village of Middlemass in the English countryside. She’s immediately enamored with an ivy-covered cottage she finds, and is even more curious about the old red abandoned phone booth that sits in front of it. Jess pushes aside her worries and anxieties and takes the plunge.

This novel is a warm cup of tea in a book! Although Jess’s story is a bit predictable, the distinct details that Alexander included made me smile, tear up, and cheer. I especially loved the phone-booth-turned-littlest-library-in-England as the focal point. There is lots of talk about the classic books you love, the relatively modern joy of Manga books, and, of course, how books can enhance and change lives, in this case Jess’s. The littlest library is the catalyst that sparks her change from grief-stricken lady to a woman with a community, confidence, and love in her life.

I’d classify this book as more women’s fiction than romance. There’s flirtation and a connection with a hunky-if-grumpy neighbor, but it’s not the driving story of the book. Instead it’s Jess’s change and progress. I do wish there had been a bit more “on-the-page” romance, but it wasn’t a deal breaker. I still loved Jess’s relationships with her neighbors, especially her love interest’s daughter, and her growth. And, of course, all the talk of gardening in the English countryside, delicious cups of tea, and the power and joy of books. Bookworms (and anglophiles!) will love this one.