A Biblioteca de Livros Banidos de Lula Dean

by Kirsten Miller, Ana Bárbara Pedrosa (Translator)

Um romance provocador e sagaz sobre o impacto do preconceito e a força da arte e da liberdade.

Beverly Underwood e Lula Dean vivem na cidade de Troy, noestado da Georgia. Beverly, progressista e moderna, pertence à assembleia local responsável pelo sistema educativo público. Lula, conservadora e defensora dos bons costumes, tornou-se uma celebridade depois de embarcar numa missã livrar as bibliotecas públicas de tudo o que são livros impróprios — nenhum dos quais ela sequer leu.

Contra esses livros «pornográficos», Lula criou a sua própria biblioteca, um pequeno armário com portas de vidro e três prateleiras cheias da literatura que, a seu ver, a cidade necessita. O que Lula não sabe é que debaixo das sobrecapas dos livros, a filha de Beverly colocou as obras que ela banira (clássicos, romances gay, História negra…), mudando a vida de quem os lê de formas inesperadas.

Com Beverly de um lado e Lula do outro, e à medida que estes leitores começam a revelar as suas novas identidades, a outrora pacata cidade de Troy vê-se no centro de um confronto que a mudará para sempre…

Genres: Fiction, Audiobook, Book Club, Books About Books, Contemporary, Humor, Adult

429 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 18, 2024

About the author

Kirsten Miller grew up in a small town in the mountains of North Carolina. At seventeen, she left for college in New York City, where she lives to this day. Kirsten's latest novel, Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books, is a side-splitting satire that takes on some of the most controversial issues of our day. Her first adult novel, The Change, was a Good Morning America Book Club pick for May 2022. Kirsten is also the author of over a dozen middle grade and YA novels, including the acclaimed Kiki Strike books, (which tell the tale of the delinquent girl geniuses who keep Manhattan safe), and How to Lead a Life of Crime. She is not the Kirsten Miller who wrote All That Is Left, but she assumes that Kirsten is lovely and talented. Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Wynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

[updated: Wow. I’m so interested to see how my personal impression of this book resonates with a wider readership. Yay reading and yay discussion! I’m all for hearing where others see themselves (or don’t!) in my words. All I ask, and I think this is very fitting in the context of this book specifically, is that you don’t presume to know anything about me other than what I’ve said, nor that there is a right or wrong way to read a book. From my experience, learning and growing comes from self reflection, not judgement. And if giving a book 2 stars sounds like a judgement to you, well, that’s definitely not my intention. I don’t want people to NOT read this book. I’m just a person who was excited about it, aligned with its message and many of its characters, but ultimately found myself disappointed by it. Can we agree that there’s space in this world for that perspective? Thanks, all!]

I never used to give starred reviews because 1) I used to work in publishing and I don’t want to yuck anyone’s yum, and 2) they flatten the highs and lows into an average.

Here’s my basic stance: if I like it, it gets a 4 or more. If I think it’s okay, but not great, it gets a 3. If it’s something that frustrates me more than anything else, it has to get lower than average, because I’d rather be honest than polite. My intent is to be both! But this book frustrated me…

Allow me to explain. I share this book’s belief that books are magic, and banning them is a sign of something rotten (of deeply insecure). Honest, difficult change comes from looking for new information and perspectives, not from trying to protect anyone “until they’re ready.” I have sold and then made and now sell books for a living because I deeply believe that connecting people with books makes the world a better place.

Why a two star review, then? Well, this book shares one thing with its villains’ world view: there are two sides, and you’re either with us or against. This sort of simplistic duality of enlightened and irredeemable simplifies things, and ultimately flattens the world into a comforting (or scary) place.

I’m on the side of enlightenment, but the villains in this book are straight out of Needful Things, and everything seems, well, as self-righteous as the views we’re being asked to leave behind.

I know which side I’m on, but being preached to sets off my spidey senses. And apparently that goes for people I fundamentally agree with!

So is this a fun read? It depends! It’s definitely a fairy tale, and that may really sit well with some more than others.

But it didn’t create a world I recognize, and as much as I wish it was true, it sure does cut some corners in the process, and takes a fair amount of delight in dehumanizing whole swathes of people (who I don’t agree with!)

Okay, that’s a long way of defending why I liked a lot of bites from this meal, but ultimately was left with a stomach ache.

[Rosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a Nutshell: A contemporary satire about what happens in a small Southern town after a woman campaigns against controversial books. Excellent if you read it as a satire. Might ruffle feathers of a few people. Better for those who enjoy character-oriented storytelling and are liberal in their thinking.

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Plot Preview:

Forty-something Lula Dean has always lived in the shadow of her arch-rival Beverly Underwood in the small (fictional) town of Troy, Georgia. Lula has finally hit celebrity status, thanks to her latest campaign: ridding the local libraries of inappropriate books. To set the right example and provide the townspeople with quality reading material, Lula sets up a Little Free Library outside her home and fills it with “wholesome” books. Unknown to Lula, Beverly’s daughter Lindsay sneakily changes the composition of the free library, by replacing Lula’s books with the banned books but retaining the original “wholesome” dust jackets. As the neighbours borrow books from Lula’s library, they realise that the content isn’t exactly what the cover promises, and see how the right book can change their lives. A secret revolution is brewing in Troy, and Lula doesn’t even know that she has caused it.
The novel comes to us as interconnected stories from various townspeople, with each chapter coming from one specific character.

Bookish Yays:
📚 A satire that works exactly as a satire should: thought-provoking, humorous, hyperbolic yet rooted in reality, and provocative. Love how the book tackles such a serious topic in a sensible and fun manner.

📚 The characters: Coming from varied age groups, genders, professions, financial status, and racial backgrounds. Beverly Underwood was my favourite. For a while, I thought she'd go the stereotypical hyper-PTA-mom way, but she turned out to be a treasure. Old Wilma Jean Cummings was another exceptional woman. A special shout-out to the Indian rep of Dr. Chokshi – I'm delighted with the refreshing authenticity of his portrayal.

📚 Despite the multitude of characters, the author writes them in a way that it is fairly easy to keep track of them. I especially loved the way she ensures that their age is clarified right towards the start of their chapter – so important to do this!

📚 The representation deserves its own Yay. Not only is the list of characters inclusive in every way, but many characters also have traumatic pasts and hardships in their present, which adds further depth to their arcs.

📚 The depiction of the small-town lifestyle through the fictional location of Troy, where everyone knows everything about everybody, and supports and gossips in equal measure. Not sure if the name “Troy” was chosen by the author to be ironic, but it made me think of Lula Dean’s library as the famous Trojan Horse, where the innocent-looking outside disguised the unexpected inside content.

📚 Each chapter is named after a “book”, with most titles being actual books, including some banned titles. Love how the title bended seamlessly with that particular chapter.

📚 The best part of the novel is that there's no generalisation. It focuses on the good as well as the bad of most of the represented segments, whether in race or religion or even location. I appreciate how the author highlighted the positives of Southern lifestyle such as the food and the hospitality.

📚 Adored the Christian content! It was so nice to see criticism against the misguided idiots who twist biblical beliefs into their own version of righteous Christianity, but without any hateful slings against the religion itself. A related quote from the book: "They are fighting for the glorious past instead of ensuring a glorious unified future."

📚 An interesting array of relationships: parents and children, siblings, couples, friends. Loved how almost every character arc felt almost like a short story because of the detailed backstory of the relationships and issues of that character.

📚 The title made me assume that Lula Dean would be the hero of the story, the person who fills her LFL with banned books. But Lula Dean turned out to be more like Dolores Umbridge. Regardless, I loved how the book banning theme was tackled. We get to hear from both sides of the book ban argument, so obviously, we can rationally decide which side is right. (Not that there was any doubt about whom to support!)

📚 The author's note at the end of the book: honest, heartfelt, excellent! (As she too comes from the South, this is like an OwnVoices novel.) There is also a list of the books named in the chapter titles, with a mention of whether they are banned or not.


Bookish Didn’t-Make-A-Difference-To-Me-But-Could-Be-A-Nay-For-Others:
📖 By sheer coincidence, this is my third composite novel in a row, where each chapter is from a different character and hence the overall effect is like that of linked short stories. I enjoyed the shifting character perspectives, as each had enough merit on its own, and yet added to the events established until that point. But those who don’t enjoy short fiction or too many character arcs might not enjoy this novel.

📖 The book gets politically intense after a certain point, with a clear stance taken against one political party. Might offend a few readers. (Oh, and there are also many cuss words, just in case that also bothers you.)


Bookish Nays:
📕 It goes overboard on the themes:, misogyny, gender discrimination, racism, homophobia, religious discrimination, discriminatory school policies, mental health, gaslighting, anti-Semitism, closet Nazis, slavery, rape, the role of the media in spreading hate, fake news, and many more. Every single theme was important, no doubt. But not all of them needed to be in a single book.

📕 Most of the characters slot neatly into good and bad categories. There are hardly any in-between shades. I wish there had been some layers to the unidimensional portrayal, though I do understand how having so many character perspectives reduced the scope for depth in the individual arcs.

📕 The last couple of chapters were a bit dragged, and the finale was too neat to be believable. There was also an extended infodump, of which I am never a fan.


🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 10 hrs 12 min, is narrated by the usually reliable January LaVoy. For a book with such a wide range of characters, she did a very good job. A couple of the character voices felt a bit off as per their age or gender, but on the whole, the audiobook is fabulous. That said, it is only for seasoned audiobook listeners. Newbies might get confused with the sheer number of characters and their arcs.


All in all, I enjoyed this amazing satire that highlights the restricted thinking of many people. It is light-hearted in its approach, yet unflinching in its agenda and impressive in its declarations. The book would have rated even higher for me had the overly neat ending not spoiled my mood so much.

As the author rightly says, this problem isn’t limited only to Southern USA, and the book certainly isn’t indicative of everyone in Southern USA. But the topic and the setting are such that I can see many features being ruffled by this title. Remember that it's a satire, and is meant to be over the top.

This is my first Kirsten Miller book. And I am quite impressed by her outspoken writing style! I am surely going to try more of her works.

Definitely recommended to those who enjoy short-story-styled novels, literary fiction, hot issues, and character-oriented writing. Keeping my fingers crossed that this book doesn’t get banned. It would be quite ironic if it does!

4.25 stars.


My thanks to HarperCollins UK Audio for providing the DRC of “Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

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[Sujoya - theoverbookedbibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

I loved Kirsten Miller’s The Change and was eager to read her latest offering. Well-crafted, satirical and humorous (with several laugh-out-loud moments), but also hard-hitting, Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller is an engaging read.

“Gather as much knowledge as you can, because information is power. And choosing how to use it is freedom. The more you know, the freer you will be.”

Set in the small town of Troy, Georgia, the novel revolves around tensions that arise from one of the townspeople’s missions to ban books that are deemed inappropriate – a mission she has successfully executed resulting in the removal of said books from the public library. Lula Dean also sets up her own lending library with hopes of circulating what she considers acceptable books among the townspeople. Beverly Underwood, also a lifelong resident of Troy and on the school board, vehemently opposes Lula’s actions. Beverly’s daughter Lindsay takes matters into her own hands and unbeknownst to her mother, replaces the books in Lula’s library with those which have been banned. To avoid detection, she places the banned books inside the dust jackets of acceptable literature. As the narrative progresses, we see how these books impact the lives of the townspeople and the dynamic between Beverly and Lula, both of whom are running for mayor.

“When you have everything, the only luxury left is taking things away from others.”

The novel features a large cast of characters, multiple perspectives and several sub-plots seamlessly woven into the primary narrative. The pacing is consistent and the story flows well. At no point did I lose interest or feel that there was too much going on. I loved how the author emphasizes the transformative power of books and how important it is for people to have the freedom to choose what to read and/or what they want their children to read. I loved that the author incorporates certain books (a few of which are banned in some parts of the US) into the plotlines and shows how those books not only inspire individuals to effect change in their own lives but also enable them to gain perspective and expose those spreading hate in the community.

“I think you’re scared that your children are going to open a book and discover the truth. They’ll realize that the Holocaust happened and that slavery was worse than they ever imagined. They’ll find out that both men and women like sex and that gay and trans folks are just regular people. These seem to be the things that you’re trying to hide from them. Why is that?”

There is a lot to like about this novel. The author injects a healthy dose of humor into the narrative, rendering it an entertaining read while also conveying a strong message. The author tackles several heavy themes and social issues such as censorship and book banning, homophobia, bigotry and racism, antisemitism, sexual abuse, racially motivated violence, misogyny and much more. All the characters are well thought out - even the unlikable ones. Beverly is an admirable character and I appreciated her efforts to do the right thing in the face of much adversity. I adored Wilma and I wish we had more scenes with her. I liked how the author depicts the impact of ideological differences and conflicting views on critical issues on the dynamics within a small town. I particularly liked how the author has portrayed the younger crowd and their efforts (a tad misguided at times, but with best intentions) to bring about change in their community.

I did feel, however, that a few aspects of the novel could have been explored further, but with so many characters and subplots, this is to be expected. I also believe that some might not be entirely comfortable with certain content and the tone of the narrative. The ending is a tad too neatly tied up, but I’m glad that the author ends the novel on a positive note.

Thoroughly enjoyable yet timely and relevant, this is a book that I would not hesitate to recommend.

I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Do read the Author’s Note where she talks about the themes addressed in this novel and much more.

Many thanks to William Morrow for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on June 18, 2024.

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{ On a personal note, I loved that one of the characters (not Indian, to be noted) mentions their favorite Indian dish being "kosha mangsho" (a savory mutton curry that is a favorite in most Bengali households) from West Bengal. This made my Bengali heart so happy!}

[Ceecee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monsters are often just ordinary people.

In Troy, Georgia, Lula is known as the town crank while Beverley Underwood is seen as the pillar of the community. One thing is for sure, Lula likes attention and has decided the children of Troy are in terrible danger from a list of books that have no place in a “God-fearing” town. As a consequence of her campaign, books are taken off library shelves until a final decision can be reached, and as a further challenge, Lula has created her own ‘worthy’ lending library outside her home. However, what she doesn’t know is that Beverley‘s daughter, Lindsay has swapped the wholesome novels, replacing them with banned books, hidden behind covers such as The Southern Belles Guide to Etiquette. I’d love to read that – not. This deception, which comes from a good place, is just the start of change and a voyage of self discovery in Troy. Things are about to get REALLY stirred up if not all hell breaking loose. It’s a tale of unintended consequences and is done in a highly entertaining way.

This is a clever novel which I enjoy very much as via the polar opposites of Lula and Beverley, the author has created a thought
provoking tale. It partly exposes hypocrisy, and definitely misogyny, racism, antisemitism and affiliations to the Alt-right and is part caricature and carries an excellent message. It’s safe to say the author doesn’t hold back which will inevitably means it will divide the crowd! It is far-fetched though creates scenarios that aren’t beyond the realms of possibility and it is certainly an ambitious novel.

Via the books, Kirsten Miller shines a spotlight on a small southern town, and its different inhabitants and the divergent views and lives. This inevitably means there’s a large cast of characters and some stories chime more than others, especially those which show examples of bravery. Some stories are funny and make me laugh out loud and some of the exact opposite of that giving chills and sending shivers down the spine. I cheer when some of these characters get their just desserts or see the light via the banned books. If only. Lula is clearly a fool but she knows how to work a crowd which leads to some dramatic scenes. Throughout the storytelling is lively, it’s a never dull moment read, you laugh, you cry and you’ll probably rage at times as it sets out to challenge.

Overall, this is a relevant book, which makes powerful points about knowledge and understanding versus ignorance and it delivers a good message, especially at the end. I strongly suspect that it will be banned somewhere, probably somewhere Southern! I’m very glad to have had the opportunity to read it.

With thanks to NetGalley, and especially to HQ for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, rounded up
Lulu Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books was just what I needed. Something fun but not insipid after way too many super serious books. But that’s not to say this doesn’t have a serious message about hate and ignorance and standing up for what’s right.
Lulu Dean thinks she knows best. So, she wages a campaign to have all those nasty, horrible books banned. You know, the ones like Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank or Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume. She even has her own little free library with proper books, like Our Confederate Heroes or Manhood: The Masculine Virtues America Needs by Josh Hawley. But one young woman has the brilliant idea to replace the books within the covers with more “subversive” material. And the fun begins.
In the beginning, each chapter tells the story of someone who picks up a book and how that affects them. There are some great characters here and they are mostly well nuanced, although a few of the villains are rather two dimensional. As the story goes on, a political war arises as Lula and Beverly, the head of the school board and a social liberal, both decide to run for mayor. The story is entertaining and manages to avoid falling into cliches and overused tropes. In fact, I was surprised at some of the twists and turns that Miller devises.
While I love books like this, I often wonder if they’re just preaching to the choir. Will it ever change a single closed mind? That said, I’ll certainly be seeking out other books by Miller. And I recommend this to other social liberals who need a little laugh and hope.
I listened to this and so I can’t find the exact quote I want, but there’s a bit about the “silent majority” finally getting pressed too hard and coming out of the woodwork. Fingers crossed that’s the case in our current situation.

Update - I’m re-reading this for a book club. And how prescient parts of it feel in Trump’s second term. “Fighting the forces of evil -whether Black, gay, feminist or fabulous- would take drastic measures, the hate-mongers told their followers. Books would need to be banned and laws broken. Some parts of the Constitution might no longer apply to everyone. And there were sections of the Bible they’d have to ignore, starting with love thy neighbor.”

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is clearly a message book. But the message was better delivered in the author’s note when she shared…

“I want to make it clear that the issues addressed in this novel – book banning, white nationalism, anti-Semitism, etc. – are by no means unique to the South. These are American problems. Pretending they occur in the South has allowed them to flourish unchecked elsewhere in the United States.”

I agree. I believe her intention in writing a story about a clearly prejudiced woman who started up a Little Free Library, in which individuals decided to disguise her books with banned books that this woman, Lula Dean was labeling as “pornographic and propaganda” was different.

What set Lula Dean in her “hateful” motion? What really happened to her “perfect” twins after they graduated high school? Why don’t they visit their “perfect” mother?

So many of us who have Little Free Libraries appreciate what our mission is as a steward. It is to provide books to our neighborhoods as a service and as an opportunity to educate and bring together the community by our love of books. The idea that Lula Dean was doing anything but, felt despicable and counter to the little free library mission. So, in many ways it was really difficult to read “her” story. And, definitely to like her character or feel any sense of empathy toward her.

But thankfully she was not the only character. There were others to appreciate. They were the fighters for this small town of Troy in Georgia. The fighters of hate and homophobia and prejudice and of course, the banning of books. The ones who wanted to make a difference and to help their little town overcome people like Lula Dean.

And, yes eventually the mystery of what happened to Lula Dean’s twins will be resolved in a very unique way.

I’m sure that fighting the hate was the intended message of the author, but I’m not sure that this book delivered the message in the best way. It felt like it rambled its way through and then took too long to get to the end.

[Liz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lula Dean's is a book that personifies the phrase "and then everybody clapped."

There is a full scene where a ten year old innocently repeats to his mother liberal talking points about why books shouldn't be banned in front of a crowd of people and the crowd all starts crying because they think its so sweet. I laughed out loud, but not because of any intentional humor. The worst part was that this wasn't the only scene with the same level of "shove the message down your throat" unrealistic spectacle, just the one that doesn't spoil any of the story. Just let it be known that characters in this book spend more time speaking to vague groups of overly interested reporters or town folk than speaking directly to each other. Its weird.

While I agree with the message the book intends to portray, the story exists in a world where everyone speaks like a wikipedia article bringing up liberal talking points offhandedly and slipping convenient little fun facts in casual conversation. Conservatives, meanwhile, seem to not understand their own worldview and crumble against any form of pushback.

Conservatives are depicted as idiotic, miserable, self centered people who don't know how to take care of themselves and who secretly no one likes. Liberals, by contrast are depicted as beautiful, talented, successful, hard workers (many of whom are rich and are desired by everyone). The "good" liberal characters rant to the "bad" conservative characters and the conservatives just kind of take their rants and accept everything said to them because deep down they all know it to be true. They always seem to sort of absorb whatever is told to them without needing to overcome past misinformation or denying anything said to them.

It almost seems the book is saying there are two types of conservatives: The ones who know its all BS but support it for attention and the ones who do believe it but are real life all the way nazis with flags and everything.

That's just not the way the world works. The book seems to skip over the class of conservatives who are well meaning that wont be switched over with a little chastisement from the right person or a single random book. I have never read a book that made me want to scream while reading talking points that I agreed with.

What IS wonderful about the book is it mentions and draws attention to a number of notoriously banned books from across the country, all worth reading. While this does nothing to redeem this book in my eyes, I do appreciate the resulting interest I have developed in reading the books mentioned.

In my opinion, pass on this book and instead go straight to the banned books list. Or- pick up a copy and support a title with good intentions even if the method could have used far more nuance.

[Panic!_at_the_Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is not a political statement. I am directly quoting the book where quotations are used, and I've marked those in parenthesis so no one mistakes anything for sarcasm, rudeness, or judgment. In Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books, the author, Kirsten Miller, remarks that the book is a work of satire. However, more than a couple of the events depicted in the book played out in real time, mainly in the southern states of the US.

Despite reading books like "50 Shades of Grey" and smut novels involving people and T-Rexes, Lula Dean declares war on all “non-God-fearing books” (quoting book). What caused her sudden outrage? She found pornography erroneously placed in the Walmart baking section, no doubt by a prankster (there are quite a few bored ring-and-run-like kids in this book). But Lula isn’t focused on how or why the offensive materials are there. Lula, while clinging on to her drawer of sex toys and dog-eared smut, is on a mission: she must remove and burn books encouraging "children to use drugs, have sex, and pursue the homosexual lifestyle." (book quote) Some of these gateway-to-hell titles include:

"Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank

"Beloved" by Toni Morrison

"Are You There, God? It's Me Margaret" by Judy Blume

Soon after Lula and her committee remove a basement-sized selection of the "harmful" (book quote) books in Troy, Georgia, she builds a lovely community library on her lawn. Almost immediately, two bored college-aged students switch out Lula's books, like "The Southern Belle's Guide to Etiquette" and "Chicken Soup for the Soul" with banned books. To fool the naive, the pranksters wrap the banned books with the book covers from the Lula-approved books. No one is the wiser until they open up the book and discover a banned title that speaks directly to their troubles in life (a bit far-fetched that all the book borrowers would find the right title at exactly the right time in their life, but I digress).

The whole town starts borrowing Lula's books, and many townspeople are inspired to adopt a new way of thinking. For instance, Crystal, a housewife, discovers "The Rules: Time-tested Secrets for Capturing the Heart of Mr. Right," which is really "All Women Are Witches: Find Your Power and Put It to Use." Before reading this book, Crystal discovered her breadwinning Piggly Wiggly managing husband had been sleeping with a young cashier. Initially, she sought the book to recapture her husband's attention, but after reading and further reflection, she decided her marriage was over. She was tired of cooking and serving her husband the Thursday special of chicken parmesan.

Dawn, cleaner of her husband's mancave and mom, has been dusting her husband's Nazi paraphernalia for years. It just so happens she has accidentally borrowed "Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl" instead of "Buffy Halliday Goes to Europe!" He also "collects strays" (e.g., creates the. next generation of "incels" and Nazi wannabes) --->(more book quotes), but when he starts to indoctrinate their son, she takes her sweet boy and leaves, thank you very much. Just before she goes, she sneaks into the mancave and moves her husband's museum of Nazi "memorabilia" (book quote) to the front lawn for the whole town to see.

Even boys and men are not immune to the lures of Lula's library. The Mayor's 10-year-old son Beau is eager to learn about periods (Do women feel pain when they have one? What are pads for?). But since Beau is a southern boy, he is encouraged not to worry about women's issues. Luckily, he spies a pink spine through the little library's glass door. Could he finally get the answers he seeks? While the cover purports the book is called "Secret Keeper Girl," it's actually "Are You There, God? It's me, Margaret." Thanks to Margaret's bust-increasing work ethic and period talks, Beau finally starts to understand what it is to become a woman. While his mom Melody is initially horrified at what Beau has read and learned, she remembers she read AYTGIMM around age 10. But also, nearly everyone else has done so, too. And it did help to educate her child, so in the end, Melody is glad the book lived up to its purposes of entertainment and education.

While the townspeople are experiencing the effects of Lula's contraband, several "woke" (quoting the book — this review is NOT a statement on politics) people begin a plot to remove the statue of Confederate general and town hero August Wainwright. Lula and her archnemesis run for Mayor after the existing one's past catches up to him, forcing him to resign and face society's justice. Both mayoral candidates have competing ideas about what should become of the statute. The statue's story, Lula's library, and a line of lineage make national news. Even big celebrity Mitch, who has ties to Troy, advocates for the likeness of Wainwright to remain in front of the courthouse. And some of Troy's own citizens get dropped into the "fake news" (quoting book) cycle, providing interviews that appear heavily edited on air.

Mayoral candidate Beverly undergoes a metamorphosis of sorts and encourages others in her community to face truths, grow, and come together. But will Lula persevere and divide the community in the end? What are the community's ties to Confederate General Wainwright, anyhow? Read the book to find out :)

Overall, I liked this one. It was entertaining. More and more, I'm drawn to books that have sections devoted to each main character. However, the downside to this book is there are a lot of characters. It was difficult to keep up with -- I read books to zone out, which wasn't possible here. The individual characters' deep dives didn't always align with the timing of the plot, so the book is messy in this respect. Kirsten Miller is a strong writer, and the characters' plot and plight are also interesting. 4 stars.

[Laurel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed, I cried, and thoroughly enjoyed every single page of this deliciously mischievous, truth-telling, heart-warming story. While the subject of book-banning is a serious matter, the author strikes the perfect balance of using humor as well as rich and powerful storytelling to lift up the negative consequences of doing so, of whose voices are squelched, who doesn’t get to see themselves in history or literature to know that they can be better than their stereotypes or their ancestors, or find commonality, respect and compassion for others’. And, conversely, the positive outcomes that can come from opening someone’s heart or mind through reading.

Yes, it makes a mockery of Lula Dean, a caricature of a town busybody who is trying to fill a whole in her heart with attention, drama and power and seizes on book-banning as a vehicle for that. But through each character’s story, even Lula’s, the author illustrates how books don’t hurt people - people hurt people. Books do, however, give people access to new ideas as well as historical truths, a wide array of perspectives, belief systems and role models to choose from in finding their own moral compass, live their best lives, and heal old wounds and relationships.

It’s only January, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this ends up being the best book I’ll read all year. I’ve already advance ordered a copy to re-read and share widely.

Thanks to NetGalley, Kirsten Miller and Harper Collins for the privilege of previewing an advanced reader copy.

[Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am against banning books but this added nothing to the argument. Now i know this is fiction but still this book does not allow any critical thinking on the subject or pretty much on anything. You are basically told what to think and feel as if the author was trying to get across this is how i see the world and if things were done my way then things we would all be so much better off. The characters were all mostly just one dimensional stereotypes. The ending was I felt like a political fairytale. Everything gets wrapped up so neatly and one sided.

[Brandice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lula Dean’s Library of Banned Books is a timely fictional story about a small town busybody who takes it upon herself to initiate a book ban at schools and in the public library. While some residents are in agreement with the ban instigated by Lula, all residents certainly aren’t. When the books in Lula’s little free library are secretly restocked with the banned books, things in town begin to change.

Despite being under 300 pages, Lula Dean’s Library of Banned Books began to feel quite long, and there were several characters to keep track of across many storylines. Overall though, I enjoyed the message of this book, about the power of standing up for what’s right, and being open to learning (through what we read).

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm here for this book.

It's basically Pleasantville if written by Hallmark.

I've seen a lot of reviews say this book kept driving the same point home. Yeah, that's called a theme, and the theme of this book is empathy. If you're someone who is bothered by people evolving to be more kind and loving versions of themselves, then this isn't the book for you.

A lot of people will get hung up on the politics of it, but things like Nazis and rapists shouldn't be partisan issues. Literally, everyone should just be against Nazis and rapists.

This book had a lot of cheesy and heartwarming moments to offset some of the more serious topics. It worked for me. I wish those who needed to read it the most would, but according to their reviews, they were too scandalized by talk of butt plugs to finish it.

[Melissa ~ Bantering Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first line of Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books is pure gold. I won’t quote it here because part of the fun is the unexpectedness of it, but if you find it as funny as I did, then you will love Kirsten Miller’s book.

The publisher labels the novel as satire, and it is but it isn’t. I’ve always understood satire to be a way of poking fun at and exposing people’s ridiculous beliefs through humor and exaggeration. And to me, there’s nothing much exaggerated in the book. What Miller attacks – book banning, hate, Trumpism and the MAGA movement, Christian nationalism and conservative extremism, racism, antisemitism, fake news, transphobia, and I’m sure I’m forgetting a few – is spot on. There's no exaggeration to it because it’s all happening today, in the United States, and it’s so sad.

Lula Dean is wildly entertaining. It’s bold and smart. I found myself nodding my head in agreement throughout the entire book – and laughing out loud, too. Miller has such a knack for cutting humor, yet the warmth of her words softens the bite enough so readers of a different mindset aren’t too riled. Bear in mind, though, the story is not all fun and games. There are also darker, more traumatic moments mixed in.

I will close with this: if you are a follower of any of the conservative movements I listed in my second paragraph, do not read this book unless you are open to changing your thinking and the way you live your life. You will not like what you see in Miller’s mirror.

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really like the sound of this book, but unfortunately I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. The book began well with the story behind Lula Dean and her chosen books. I liked the first couple of stories, and enjoyed meeting the different characters. The chapters alternated with the different characters stories and the books that they took from Lula's library. The stories were interesting but weren't very happy reads. I did though struggled with the book as a whole and lost interest half way through. It does seem that I'm in the minority of not enjoying this book, but it just wasn't for me.

[Kate O'Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting (if at times a bit twee) look at the fate of one small town in Georgia when Lula Dean, a woman who has felt ignored for too long, decides to become the town's arbiter of decency and the consequences when others fight back.

I listened to a very well read audio. The narrator, January Lavoy, had a good clear voice and the differences between characters was very good. I liked listening to her mild Southern drawl and she gave just enough drama to the text which could have easily fallen into melodrama at times.I also had a hard copy and it was great to swap between the two. It was an excellent book for audio though.

The story is an interesting one and was written in response to the increasing amount of book banning going on in the USA. Although I'd have to say its not just an American problem- it is worldwide. The wider premise of the book is to show that history is not what you may think it is - there's a famous quote about history always being written by the victors. The history in Troy, Georgia is of a very personal nature as very different people discover their shared history.

The book, on the whole, is an easy read even if the contents are quite astonishing at times. For example I was bewildered by why any of the books would be banned but then I'd read quite a lot of them.

The book is quite funny at times but it is sending a clear message of tolerance, understanding and being judgemental when you don't know the true facts. For that alone it should be applauded.

I would definitely recommend this book and the audio to anyone.

Thankyou to Netgalley, Harper Collins HQ and Harper Collins Audio for both the hard copy and the audio. Very much appreciated.

[Stephanie C · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started as a 4***, devolving into a 1*. Let me be clear - I do not believe in banning books because I support the free exchange of ideas, no matter how controversial they may be. (Sexually explicit materials available to all ages is an entirely different discussion which is not appropriate here.) I loved how the author first portrayed a hoity toity woman with her panties in a bunch stuffing her Little Free Library with what she considers to be “right and proper“ reading material (which she incidentally is allowed to do since she has the right to place any book she wants there, as do others). Others take it upon themselves to hide other books inside those covers so that - surprise! - someone is actually holding a banned book. That part of the novel was fun and quite entertaining.

Then, then. The book unfortunately descends into horrible stereotypes, hypocritical of what the author is actually trying to portray with her message of freedom to live and let live. She gets onto her endless soapbox and paints that “other side” of book banners as hateful racist Nazis, even though what she writes is extremely prejudicial and unnecessarily inflammatory. The divisiveness and rhetoric she uses is evidently how she views “that evil side” and thus logical, civil discourse cannot be had.

Perhaps it was meant to be a parody? I don’t think so, though, because she only pens very hateful words against one particular and highly extreme prejudicial view and considers that group to be the representative perspective of a particular class - which serves to be the penultimate stereotype of all. By demonizing this entire subset of people (and to be fair, some ARE truly terrible), the author herself hypocritically becomes that which she rails against.

I would have liked to see and listen to an honest exchange of ideas here, not a completely slanted, one-sided extremist view which further perpetuates divisiveness in our country. I mean, isn’t that the whole purpose of reading… to present and listen to different ideas? So what the author meant to do, I feel that she sorely contradicted her own point and thus became her own cringeworthy stereotype of prejudicial thought and ideas.

[Rae | The Finer Things Club CA · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒍𝒖𝒙𝒖𝒓𝒚 𝒍𝒆𝒇𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔. 𝑰𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒏 𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒍𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑳𝒖𝒍𝒂 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉.”


𝘓𝘶𝘭𝘢 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘯’𝘴 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 will probably be the funniest and most heartwarming novel you will read about a banned books list.

In the town of Troy, Georgia, Lula Dean—widow, empty-nester, and local busy-body—takes her quest for attention and crusade against “woke” lifestyles and values to new heights. As the founder and leader of the Concerned Parents Committee, she pulls books that are supposedly filled with pornography and propaganda out of schools and libraries. To help provide Troy with better reading material, she then sets up a Little Free Library in her front yard and stocks it with “wholesome” books like 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘱 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘭 and 𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘦𝘴 for her neighbors to borrow. Unbeknownst to her, the daughter of her archenemy switches the books out with ones on the banned list, hiding them under the more “decent” dust jackets. And that’s when things get really interesting. Book by book, reader by reader, the lives of the townspeople begin to change for the better. The little library sparks self-discovery, new or mended friendships and relationships, and citywide changes.

This was a fun read that was entertaining yet also reflected on significant issues like racism, misogyny, antisemitism, and the disturbing rise of the alt-right movement. Though, in my opinion, a few storylines were a bit outlandish and the ending was a little too neatly tied up and somewhat far-fetched, I would still recommend 𝘓𝘶𝘭𝘢 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘯’𝘴 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 for its charming storytelling and important message—books, libraries, and the sharing of knowledge and experiences matter.

4.75 stars rounded up. Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story takes place in a small town in Georgia. Lula Dean and Beverly Underwood have been rivals since high school and things get pretty sticky when Lula makes it her mission to rid the school and town libraries of books she deems inappropriate. Beverly is on the school board and she isn’t going to let Lula get away with banning books. But Lula is swaying many in the town to get on the book banning bandwagon and books are pulled off library shelves. Lula sets up her own little lending library in front of her home filling it with “safe” books. Unbeknownst to her or the rest of the town though Beverly’s daughter Lyndsey pulls those books out, removes their dust jackets and wraps them around some of the very books that have been banned. She puts them back into the little library and that’s when things in town really start changing! People pull a book thinking it’s one thing, but they get something else all together and it turns out it’s often just the book they need!
I like the premise of this book. I don’t support banning books. I don’t want someone else dictating to me what I can and cannot read. There are lots of other hot button issues the book presents as well such as racism, misogyny, homophobia and antisemitism to name a few. The story is told from quite a few different viewpoints as different characters pull books and we learn how reading these banned books affect them and what they learn from them that meets their needs at just the right time. I had a few favorite characters and enjoyed their stories. I also enjoyed seeing various townspeople step up and make their voices heard to effect positive change in their town.
Here is what I didn’t enjoy however: I didn’t find the book “hilarious” as the description states. It was actually kind of dark. And I felt that it was very heavy handed on pushing the topics it presented. It felt very “us vs. them” juxtaposing the conservative vs the liberal. I don’t support anything Lula or the rest of the book banning whack jobs in that town supported. That’s what just hit wrong with me because I feel like conservatives get grouped in with all the whack jobs like them in today’s world. The conservative people I know would never support the dark, ugly agendas many of the characters in the book pressed.
One final thought involves the town’s physician, Dr. Chokshi who is of Indian ancestry. He takes the time to chat with Mitch who was initially supporting Lula’s agenda. I loved how he explained his ideas to Mitch. He used humor and found some commonalities between them. It took Mitch off his guard and he really listened and changed some of his thoughts. It’s a great example of how we can approach someone with differing viewpoints and have a civil discussion. Beating someone over the head doesn’t seem the best approach to me.
Thank you William Morrow and NetGalley for the chance to read this digital copy!

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you have everything, the only luxury left is taking things away from others. It was an indulgence that Lula Dean certainly seemed to relish.

Told as a series of interconnected stories that make up a larger narrative, Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books is about what happens when one small Georgia town goes to battle over banned books. This is not a subtle story: It's a humorous but bracing and unapologetic exploration of many topics at the forefront of America's current culture wars.

I would like to say that this book is over-the-top, but unfortunately my own small Midwestern town recently elected a school board that would have been Lula Dean's BFFs. They started with banning books and pride flags and railing against CRT -- which was actually not even being taught in classrooms. Now they are coming for social-emotional learning and undermining teachers' choices at every turn. And they sadly have plenty of support from the community, a group of individuals that might as well call themselves the Concerned Parents Committee. So I assure you, the events outlined in this book may be exaggerated for narrative effect, but things like this are happening -- not just in my own town, but around the country.

That was my mindset while reading Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books, so it (unfortunately) really resonated with me. There are several characters I wish I would've gotten to know better, and there are places where it is a bit too heavy-handed, but overall this book is a relevant and necessary battle-cry. It's a reminder that, historically, the book-banners have never been the good guys; that fake media and fear-mongering are insidious diseases; and that censorship actually goes against everything it means to be an American, no matter how anyone tries to spin it. And, of course, it reads like a love story about the power of books: how they can empower and connect us, no matter how different we are.

Thank you to William Morrow for the early reading opportunity.

[Rain · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story sets out to be a sharp, witty satire about censorship, small-town politics, and the power of literature. While the premise was intriguing, it leaned too heavily into a simplistic 'us vs. them’ narrative, one that feels especially exhausting these days.

The novel seems to celebrate the importance of free thought and the transformative power of books, it does so in a way that feels forced and one-sided. If you don’t fully align with its message, you may find yourself cast as an outsider rather than engaged in a meaningful discussion. There’s little room for additional depth with the huge amount of characters.

[Done with TV · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can’t respect a writer that greatly exaggerates or in this case completely creates a faux reality so they can demonstrate a bunch of liberal self righteous ideas. If you like to get caught up in a bunch of faux outrage and identify as an SJW instead of reality…you will enjoy it!

[Kelly (and the Book Boar) · Rating 3 out of 5]

When a cookbook containing recipes for naughty cakes is discovered at the local public library, Lula Dean makes it her mission to rid the town of smut and enlists fellow likeminded townsfolk to join her efforts. She also installs her own Little Free Library – guaranteed to only offer the purist of options. That is, until the locals start swapping out book jackets and replacing the actual stories with those which are on the banned list. Call it luck, fate, whatever – somehow those books seem to make it into the hands of the reader who needs them most.

First off, this puppy is maybe just a little too on the nose when it comes to the current climate in the good ol’ U S of A, so steer clear if you’ve had enough of hot button issues this election cycle. Second, Lula Dean???



There should have been no sort of redemption arc for her in the end. Really, she deserved a little Regina George-ing . . . .



2.5 Stars

[Crystal · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt that Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books was well done for what it was. The interweaving storylines of a small town with a ton of characters was well thought out and put together. However, as a reader this book gave me a giant headache. I like to read to get lost in the story and to escape reality.. this book just felt like work to me. Keeping track of all the characters and storylines was a lot of work. And while my views align with the overall message of the book it all felt really one sided, preachy and too close to reality for me personally.

[Em Lost In Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

This was fun.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

With this book, I am constantly between this



and this


No, I'm not alright. There should be groups that come to your home after a book leaves you this raw to clean and cook and wash for you while some other members hug you or cover you with a blanket and put a mug of tea in your hands and tell you everything will be alright until you've recovered.

So why am I having this kind of reaction to this book? Because it addresses VERY important topics. Not new topics but definitely topics that are very timely again now - the situation IS getting worse. Part of the book is practically fantasy because in real life, things don't end this positively. The other part is not all that positive at all because we have death in here on top of all the hate.

The gist:
Lula Dean is Queen Bitch in Troy, Georgia. Her family was rich and influential once upon a time. Then things changed, much to Lula Dean's chagrin. One day, dissatisfied bitch that she was, she came for everyone "different". She got books banned and erected her own Free Little Library - but that was just the beginning thanks to so many agreeing wiht her and the others being so damned scared.
Her arch-rival's daughter didn't want to just take what Lula Dean dished out so she secretly swapped the books in the Free Little Library, only leaving the old dust jackets.
One by one, the residents read banned books, good books, important books - and at least a few learn a thing or two about doing the right thing even when a lot is at stake, or especially then.

Boy, this fucking town! I wanted to burn the whole place to the ground to make sure I got all the sexists, nazis, wife-beaters, abusers, liars, hypocrites, racists, homophobes and whatnot. For some details (though I deliberately kept it vague), please refer to my status updates.

This was a rollercoaster of emotions. Many people absolutely get what they deserve (part of the "fantasy" bit about this book). For others, things don't go all that well and it was heartbreaking.

Important debate points about true freedom, education, family ties, friendship, disinformation, hate crimes in all their forms, resiliance. Sadly, as is the norm with stories like this, the people who need to read this the most never will. *sighs* However, at least it will be balm for the souls of the rest of us.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not into the "let's all hold hands and sing together" nonsense. I have some conservative views, too. And I don't believe in redemption after a certain point. However, I believe in resistance and they had me at "they destroyed all these books". *swings baseball bat*

Sometimes, it's just nice indulging in these wholesome fantasies where the monster authoritorian gets taken down by her own twins instead of that same authoritorian burning her own offspring at the stake, where eyes and hearts are opened and minds changed.

Wonderful story of which I now also own the paperback in addition to the excellent audiobook. I'm gonna thrust this at everyone for at least the next year.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boy was I excited to read a book about banned books but wow… all the alt right versus the best liberals ever was a real snooze fest; I can get all of this by turning on the garbage of Fox or the garbage of CNN... I just wanted to read a book about the absolute need to encourage reading, but authors today have to put an agenda in there and pit political factions against each other. I guess those days of a good story are just over.
I gave it a two because the parts where the author dealt with the banned books were amazing and how the right people got the right books and the impact that those books made on them. Everything else was pure garbage.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it a second time. Lots to say about this one tooof- later.

[Jill Tait · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF this was annoying and click bait of everything in the news placing right and left leaning people against each other. I put it in a free library half way through bc I just couldn’t keep going

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute advertisement for the wonderful Little Free Libraries wrapped in a tale of fun, if slightly stereotyped Southerners. Lots of characters, the whole thing was very well done.

Listened to as part of the 2025 Book Lover’s Challenge by Book Girls’ Guide, prompt #6, favorite audiobook narrators. This was read by January LaVoy and she was incredible, a great recommendation by the Book Girls.

[Vanessa M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first started to read this book I took it very seriously. I was crying over housewife Dawn Dugan, who for the first time was reading The Diary of a Young Girl and asked neighbor Mr. Stempel, "Whatever happened to Anne? The book doesn't say." I could not believe this woman was so sheltered that she never heard of Anne Frank!

Mea culpa. After reading some reviews I then realized that a) I'm a ninny and b) this is a work of humor/satire.

In Kirsten Miller's book, she explores the concept of how free accessible knowledge via the printed word offered at a Little Library can transform the mindset of a community.

Lula Dean is the type of woman who craves the spotlight. She's been in a self-absorbed competition since high school with classmate Beverly Underwood. Lula conceived that Beverly was more well liked; prettier; etc. etc. Lula became a little local celeb by hitching her wagon to people who think some books should be banned from the local school library and her squawking about how these books are ruining young minds caused the removal of several books.

Beverly's daughter Lindsay takes some of the banned books and sneakily places them under the dust jackets of the "wholesome" books Lula places in her own Little Library. One by one, townspeople borrow the books and the whole community experiences a shake-up never before seen in the likes of Troy, Georgia.

It's a fun book and story, full of outrageous stereotypical characters. I felt Miller had a tad too many characters in her story and that the changes and developments that occurred were sewn up a little too easily. It's worth a read if you are into current culture wars and want to explore the sides surrounding the banned books movement. For those who like books about books and books about libraries, this doesn't quite hit the spot.