Book Review: Mornings with Rosemary (The Lido) by Libby Page
A review of Mornings with Rosemary by Libby Page - a fun, uplifting story about two unlikely friends and their connection to their local swimming pool.
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Mornings with Rosemary (The Lido)
By Libby Page (2019)
Contemporary Fiction
For fans of: Unlikely friendships, community coming together, spring/summer, swimming, newspaper journalism, London, lifetime love stories, saving community landmarks, treating people with kindness.
Synopsis: This book was originally published under the title The Lido, but the US version has changed to Mornings with Rosemary. The UK version remains The Lido.
An unlikely duo set out to save their local lido (outdoor community pool), and form a friendship neither of them saw coming, but both of them needed.
At 86 years old, Rosemary Peterson swims at the Brixton, London lido almost every single day, and has been doing so since childhood. The lido has been the place she turns to in good times and bad. It’s where she finds community and happiness, and revisits memories of growing up during World War II and falling in love with her husband, who recently passed away. However, there is talk of the lido being sold to a large housing developer who wants to turn it into a fitness center for their wealthy clientele. Kate, a young newspaper journalist who just moved to Brixton, is covering the story about the lido’s potential closing when she meets Rosemary. The two decide to take things into their own hands and set out to protect the lido. In the process, they form connections not only with each other, but the diverse people of their community. This is an inspiring story of the power of kindness, friendship, and standing up for what you believe in.
Series: This book is not a part of a series.
Romance heat level: 1/5. Some characters do get intimate, but there are no explicit sex scenes. The romantic scenes in this book would be considered “closed door”.
Profanity: A few F-bombs are scattered throughout this book, but that’s about it. It is not heavy-laden with profanity.
Quick thoughts: This book was recommended to me by a dear library friend, and I am so glad she shared it with me! It is a story filled with warm fuzzies. I have discovered this past year that my favorite books have characters who are kind and respectful towards each other, even if they are experiencing stressful situations. Mornings with Rosemary is the quintessential example of this type of read. Rosemary, Kate, and their community of friends go out of their way to be kind to others and always try to support each other. It is inspiring to read about a community so profoundly connected, and it makes me want to connect more deeply with people and causes in my own neighborhood. You never know who you’ll have an impact on.
I really liked the story taking place in an area like Brixton. It helped me to see how, even if you live in a large city, there are still ways it can feel like a small community. The author lived in Brixton for awhile, and was struck by how community-oriented the area was. She did a great job translating that feeling into this story. Fun fact: the lido this story is based on actually exists, and it did close for a period of time in the 90s. The patrons of the lido helped to get the pool reopened!
There is a touching romance in this story between Rosemary and her husband. She shares little snippets of the life they shared together, both the good and the bad, and how the lido saw them through all of it. Seeing a place disappear where you have so many memories is hard, especially when the memories include people who are no longer around. Change, while inevitable, can be hard to grapple with. But you don’t have to be a young person to fight for what you want - you can be 86 years old!
Kate describes the crushing weight of anxiety she’s been battling ever since moving to London, along with the feeling of loneliness. I didn’t expect this story to address mental health, but I think this is something people of all ages can relate to. I feel like Kate’s character especially speaks well to young people who are just starting out their careers and trying to figure out where they belong. You will see how Kate grows throughout the story and learns to control her anxiety, largely in part to connecting with the people around her.
In conclusion: If you are looking for a sweet, uplifting story about friendship and fighting for what you believe in, this book is for you! With characters you’ll want to root for and fun spring/summer setting, Mornings with Rosemary will inspire you to get to know the people around you and see the good in your community.