The Secret Library by Amanda James (HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter)

Most books about secret libraries are whimsical nonsense that makes me want to scream. The Secret Library stays sane because Lucy is a professional skeptic. She inherits a Cornish home and a box of half-finished manuscripts, but instead of a fairy tale, she gets a burden. The Cornwall we see is a place where the wind actually bites, and the neighbors have long memories.

The pacing moves, but it lingers too long in Lucy’s internal monologue. The characters have edges and bad moods, which I liked. The writing is direct, skipping the flowery scenery to focus on the reality of being left with someone else’s secrets. It’s about the lies we tell to stay sane.

"A library is a collection of lives, not just books, and some of those lives are still waiting for an ending."

Read this if you want a story about books that doesn't feel like a Hallmark movie. It’s for people who like a bit of salt and a protagonist who is occasionally grumpy.

3/5

If you like this, you'll like these:

• The Library of Lost and Found – Phaedra Patrick
• The Book of Speculation – Erika Swyler