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A review by billynev
The Last Chance Library by Freya Sampson
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A heartwarming story about a small village fighting for its library. You really end up rooting for the “Friends of Chalcot Library”, especially June who’s the protagonist of the story. Her character development is well-written albeit totally predictable.
There are some flaws in the book. The dialogue was not at all captivating. Sometimes it seemed that it was written by an AI model in a sense that I feel like real people don’t at all talk like they do in the book. The characters often fulfilled their stereotype to a fault (outspoken lesbian socialist, old immigrant-basher, insecure book girl) that it made them not believable. It’s also why I was not in love with the June character whose insecurities were almost cartoonish. I also didn’t buy her relationship with Alex (the love interest). The most inspiring and heartwarming passages involve Stanley Phelps, an old lonely pensioner who stands up for the library, and who inspires June’s character development in many ways. I really enjoyed the fact that his son appears in the ending as a donor for the new community library. Smart way to bring a plotline full circle. Overall it was an enjoyable and quick read. I feel like the story and characters had more potential though.
There are some flaws in the book. The dialogue was not at all captivating. Sometimes it seemed that it was written by an AI model in a sense that I feel like real people don’t at all talk like they do in the book. The characters often fulfilled their stereotype to a fault (outspoken lesbian socialist, old immigrant-basher, insecure book girl) that it made them not believable. It’s also why I was not in love with the June character whose insecurities were almost cartoonish. I also didn’t buy her relationship with Alex (the love interest). The most inspiring and heartwarming passages involve Stanley Phelps, an old lonely pensioner who stands up for the library, and who inspires June’s character development in many ways.