By Tessa Pulyer Posted on

Elodie’s Library of Second Chances by Rebecca Raisin #BlogTour #BookReview #WomensFiction

Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot in this blog tour.

An uplifting story about fresh starts, new beginnings and the power of stories, from the bestselling author of Rosie’s Travelling Tea Shop!

When Elodie applies for the job of librarian in peaceful Willow Grove, she’s looking forward to a new start. As the daughter of a media empire, her every move has been watched for years, and she longs to work with the thing she loves most: books.

It’s a chance to make a real difference too, because she soon realises that there are other people in Willow Grove who might need a fresh start – like the homeless man everyone walks past without seeing, or the divorcée who can’t seem to escape her former husband’s misdeeds.

Together with local journalist Finn, Elodie decides these people have stories that need sharing. What if instead of borrowing books readers could ‘borrow’ a person, and hear the life stories of those they’ve overlooked?

But Elodie isn’t quite sharing her whole story either. As the story of the library’s new success grows, will her own secret be revealed?

Purchase Links

Author Bio – Rebecca Raisin writes heartwarming romance from her home in sunny Perth, Australia. Her heroines tend to be on the quirky side and her books are usually set in exotic locations so her readers can armchair travel any day of the week. The only downfall about writing about gorgeous heroes who have brains as well as brawn, is falling in love with them – just as well they’re fictional. Rebecca aims to write characters you can see yourself being friends with. People with big hearts who care about relationships and believe in true, once in a lifetime love. Her bestselling novel Rosie’s Travelling Tea Shop has been optioned for film with MRC studios and Frolic Media.

Social Media Links –

Overall Rating (out of 5):

Rating: 5 out of 5.

What’s it about (in a nutshell):

Elodie’s Library of Second Chances by Rebecca Raisin is a heartwarming tale of self-discovery, empathy, and being true to yourself.

Initial Expectations (before beginning the book):

This is my second book by Rebecca Raisen – the first being Flora’s Traveling Christmas Shop – and based on that, I expect a quirky, funny, and heartwarming story. Just look at that cover. Doesn’t it totally say quaint and cozy, and what warms the heart more than quaint and cozy? The blurb confirms my thoughts, describing the story as an uplifting tale about new starts.

Actual Reading Experience:

The story is just as heartwarming as the cover and blurb said. I love a book that can wrap you in a warm hug, and this one does just that!

First, I loved the messages in the story. It’s about not judging a book by its cover and the stories that go along with that…well, at least one brought me to tears. It was so incredibly moving. Willow Grove is a small village full of small-minded people, and Ellie, with her open mind and big heart, strives to change that one person at a time.

I also enjoyed witnessing Ellie’s struggle to get enough members to keep the library going. She approaches it in such creative ways it becomes an absolutely fascinating plot. So many ideas and the one that saves the library is the best and most creative. It completely opened my mind in unexpected ways.

Lastly, I loved the laugh-out-loud moments, of which there were plenty. The comedy is more natural and relatable humor rather than absurd, and I love that kind of humor most of all. This is the kind of story I didn’t want to end because I enjoyed it so much and it made me incredibly happy to read.

Originality Rating:

Rating: 10 out of 10.

Writing Quality Rating:

Rating: 9 out of 10.

Characters:

The characters are all so believable, for good and for bad. You will recognize them as your friends and neighbors if you look around you. The character development is exceptional for the primary and minor characters since we see them through Ellie’s eyes. She tends to see people in a way that very few do.

Ellie is a wealthy socialite expected to take over the family media empire. Still, it’s not what she wants to do. She wants to make a difference in the world in more heart-led ways, not amass as much money as possible. You can’t help but love Ellie for her love of books and her acceptance of everybody she meets.

Character Development Rating:

Rating: 10 out of 10.

Narration & Pacing:

Elodie (Ellie) tells this tale in first-person narration. I think it’s the perfect style of narration to achieve the most significant impact. Ellie is so relatable and good that you understand everything she does and want to be like her simultaneously. The pace stays at a steady pace which is relatively quick from start to finish.

Pacing Rating:

Rating: 10 out of 10.

Setting:

The setting is the small village of Willow Grove in the UK. It’s a quaint and peaceful village that’s on the verge of losing its library, and they need a new head librarian for the dying library

What It Reminds Me Of:

This story definitely reminded me of Raisin’s other book that I read – Flora’s Traveling Christmas Shop.

To Read or Not to Read:

Why would you not read this book? It will make you laugh, warm your heart, and even draw a tear or two – what more can you ask for in one book?

‘Couldn’t Put It Down’-ness Rating:

Rating: 10 out of 10.

21 Replies to “Elodie’s Library of Second Chances by Rebecca Raisin #BlogTour #BookReview #WomensFiction”

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      Me too! Especially that first living library story. My eyes welled up before I even realized it.

      Like

  6. WendyW says:

    I love Rebecca Raisin and I need to read more of her books. Wonderful review, Tessa!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      I actually bought a couple of her books that were 99 cents a few days ago. I’ve loved the two books I read by her so I can’t imagine not loving more.

      Liked by 1 person

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  11. Carla says:

    Wonderful review, Tessa. I have read a enjoyed a few of Rebecca Raisin’s books, so really want to read this one. I love the idea of hearing a person’s story. I know there are libraries (I believe in Denmark) that actually do this. I love the messages this sends. Throw in some humour and quirky characters, and I am in.

    Liked by 1 person

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