Libby Page: Bringing the humanity back

This post reviews two novels by British author, Libby Page. I would describe them as charming and joyous. Page's stories are a break from my usual psychological crime and thriller fare and a nice palate cleanser for those gritty reads. While a rather romanticised view of the world, Page's novels do make you feel good about people. Sometimes that's just what is needed. I read The lido and The island home towards the end of the pandemic when my faith in humanity was severely tested. That might explain the high ratings I've given the books...

The lido | Published April 2018 | Read April 2022

In The lido, Kate and Rosemary are unlikely friends, but they come together to try to save the Brixton lido when its existence is threatened by developers. Kate is a young journalist, lonely and overwhelmed by London life. Rosemary is 86, a lifelong swimmer and Brixton resident, also lonely after the death of her husband of some 60 years. I related to Kate and the anxiety that grips her personal and professional life and I enjoyed reading her journey to friendship with Rosemary.

Page paints a romantic and idealised picture of friendship and community, but sometimes there is power in uplifting stories as a salve for the brutality of modern life. I loved the sense of place and space that Page evokes as Brixton becomes just as much a part of the story as Kate and Rosemary.

The lido makes you feel good about humanity (and who doesn't need that on occasion?) without descending into cliché. At time in my life when I am learning to appreciate the simpler things in life, this book is just the ticket.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The island home | Published June 2021 | Read April 2022

The island home is set on a fictional Scottish island, once home to Lorna, who fled for London as a young adult to escape her traumatic childhood. Some 20-odd years later, Lorna returns with her teenage daughter after her parents have passed away. She tries to fix the broken relationship with her brother, Jack.

The novel presents a romantic, idealised picture of island life, but I loved being part of that world as I worked my way through the story. I related to Lorna's struggles to find her identity and deal with parts of her upbringing that had left scars.

Page did a great job of exploring Lorna's particular pain: her estrangement from her brother and the road to repairing it. The ending was predictable, but I still felt touched by the story. It evoked a strong sense of community and the uniqueness of island life, and deftly explored Lorna's journey to happiness.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Check out my review of another of Page's feel-good books, The vintage shop of second chances, read in February 2024.