The Last Page Café by Kate Storey

This is my third Kate Storey book, and each one has centred around a library or book club — a theme I absolutely adore. I love any story about books, book clubs, or libraries, so this was right up my street. Kate’s writing always has such depth and her characterisation is wonderfully sharp, capturing people with all their quirks and flaws. I’ve really enjoyed every one of her novels, and I can’t wait for the next.

When Erin inherited The Bookmark Café from her mother, she believed she was set for life in a job she adored. It provided enough for her and her son, Jack, and allowed her to employ Riley — a young girl who sees Erin as more of a mother than her own ever was. After the breakdown of her marriage, Erin has become wary of relationships, and the book club she runs at the café has a unique rule: they read the last page of every book first, a small ritual that helps Erin feel she’s protecting her heart. But when her landlord suddenly raises the rent to an unaffordable level, Erin feels the weight of responsibility — to honour her mum’s legacy, to keep Riley employed, and to maintain a safe home for herself and Jack. The question is whether she can hold everything together. 

This was such a lovely, uplifting read, full of warmth, community spirit, and the quiet courage it takes to start again. Erin’s journey — balancing responsibility, vulnerability, and the hope of something better — felt tender and believable, and the café setting added that comforting, bookish charm I always enjoy. Kate Storey writes with real empathy for her characters, and by the end I was rooting for Erin, Riley, and Jack to find the security and happiness they deserve. I’m already looking forward to whatever she writes next.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8297174834