Libraries are more than buildings with bookshelves. They're portals to other worlds. Step between the stacks and you can be anywhere. For so many readers, that first library card feels life-changing, and it definitely was for me. And Matilda.

Libraries hand us keys to other lives, invite us to try on new selves, and remind us that wonder is free, shared, and waiting. They’re warm, public spaces where curiosity is free, community grows, and a single story can change the course of a life.

To celebrate that magic, we’ve gathered 20 brilliant books that put libraries, librarians and book lovers centre-stage - from feel-good fiction to true histories and gorgeous gift titles. 

We were prompted to update this collection by the recent LoveReading Star Book - Miss Winter in the Library With a Knife by Martin Edwards. Liz Robinson described it as: "A fabulously twisty and delightfully devious Christmas mystery beautifully contained within a snowed-in remote hamlet in North Yorkshire."

Feel-good fiction that champions libraries

The Last Library by Freya Sampson is a "book for booklovers about a gem of a quintessentially British village library and the community of people who use it and rally round after threat of closure."

The Littlest Library by Poppy Alexander was enjoyed by our Liz Robinson: "light and bright, this tale of community, friendship, and romance comes with the wonderful addition of a telephone box library."

The Librarian by Salley Vickers is "a beautifully timeless book that celebrates the joy of reading from the perspective of a children's librarian in the 1950s."

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams is a star of a book celebrating our beloved spaces whereby a handwritten list passes from stranger to stranger, binding a community through books. Liz Robinson, comments: "If you’re ready to fall in love with a heart-warming and emotionally intelligent novel that highlights the joys of reading, friendship and community, then stop right here."

Library books that open doors to other worlds

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig is a beautiful and inspiring story that is full of hope. Nora Seed enters The Midnight Library and is given the opportunity to experience how her life could have turned out, answering her "what ifs?" and undoing each regret she has in search of the perfect life. It's a library of unlived lives - hopeful, heart-tugging, hugely discussable. 

The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami is a surreal, illustrated fable that reminds us libraries can be mysterious, too. Liz Robinson comments: "This is a strange little book indeed; soulful, sorrowful and yet curiously engaging and charming. Translated from Japanese and including wonderful illustrations, drawings and photos, this quirky tale draws you into it’s deep dark secrets from the moment you turn the very first page."

For the book-besotted (and gifty shelves)

Bibliophile by Jane Mount is catnip for book people - gorgeous art, iconic jackets, and literary ephemera. According to Liz Robinson, "inside an Aladdin’s Cave awaits, glimpses of bookshops, literary facts, and recommendations galore."

Ex Libris: 100+ Books to Read and Reread by Michiko Kakutani is a critic’s love letter to reading, packed with recommendations. 

The Library by Arthur der Weduwen & Andrew Pettegree is a fascinating in-depth history of the library, this book weaves its way through time and is overflowing with tidbits and facts.

More to browse in the collection

From friendship-through-borrowing tales to literary mysteries and librarian memoirs, dive into the full list and find your next ode to stacks and stories. And tell us in the comments: which library book have you pressed into a friend’s hands lately? 

Love libraries? Here’s how to keep the pages turning

Join, borrow, champion. A library card is still one of the best deals around. With 4,000 libraries across the UK, we need to use them, or lose them. They are special community hubs where you can borrow print, ebooks, audiobooks, magazines and films. Joyous accessible spaces for all.

And don't forget when you order through LoveReading, 25% of the cover price can be donated to a UK school you choose - fuelling school libraries and reading for pleasure.

Go on, dive in, what are you waiting for.

And don't forget to let us know in the comments which ones you think should be included here.