Elly's Reviews > The Lending Library

I didn’t love it, but I wanted to. The first third was really really great, Dodie was one of those go-getters, light hearted and generally charming. She grew the lending library and ate many wonderful baked foods, had a lovely community around her and it all seemed really great. I was sure she’d manage her clear goals and any upcoming conflict in a way that resonated (spoiler: not the case).

What was not great was everything after. Like her being spineless and getting chewed out by Maddie and Kendra, and taking all the blame unfairly. Her stubbornness about not accepting help. Not worrying about Shep obviously keeping secrets (blah). Allowing other people to put down her dreams/needs/wants. What bs. She went from being a strong, lovely character with charming determination to an absolutely (and unnecessarily) meek damsel in distress.

Once the problems had been piled on, the whole book changed. The pacing got slow and the ideas and paths got convoluted, overwhelmed with what felt like badly written emotional sullenness that didn’t feel authentic (or communicated appropriately. It came off as naff). TBH I started skimming. The way she managed (by pushing everyone out) was poor form and I don’t think true to her character we’d met in the first third. The whole Shep line was awful. Prince Charming has never been less charming.

Overall, I really liked the premise. Hated the implementation.