Minnie Darke does it again with The Lost Love Song. This is a book that packs an emotional punch. I don't want to give away too much with this review. But, let it be know that this is a book about deep love, loss, and the power of music.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

I received an eARC of The Lost Love Song by Minnie Darke from Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
4 stars! This is a book about love, loss, hope, and a love song that finds its way to couples across the world. There is magic in a song. The Lost Love Song is not your typical romance book. If you're looking for a change of pace, I recommend this book!

honestly, this book had so much potential. like, it was a pretty cool concept with everything that was going on. but, it wasn't even that good. like, they would just talk and talk about something that was so stupid, and half of their issues could be solved if they just talked to each other. especially like their romantic issues, if they just talked it would have solved half of the issues. and also their romance went to fast, like we were supposed to believe that they were this strong couple. when in a matter of pages we got them to meet, a first date, and they were already moving in together. which, i just thought was kind of stupid. since, i mean, there also was so much breaking apart the text it just got to be annoying. cause, it would be a page or so in one person's pov, then there would be something like ***** and then they would break it down to it being someone else's pov. which just got to be a bit much after awhile. thanks for the arc tho!

This was such a beautiful book. I love how these stories all weaved together. I think it was so moving and I enjoyed all the characters.

This story was simply lovely. Easy to read with varied characters all of whom were likeable. The poetry was a good addition. Will definitely recommend fir purchase by my library.

After being engaged for seven years, Diana feels ready to marry her fiancé Arie. She feels so ready she even has composed a beautiful love song for him. But when a plane accident happens and kills everyone on board, including Diana, Arie was never able to hear it. In other parts of the world, Evie feels ready to settle down and find what she really wants out of life beside her dead end jobs and unrequited love with her crush. When this love song somehow plops into her lap, thus begins a chain of events that might bring the two together. You know what they say, music brings people together. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This book was so romantic from start to finish. I love a good multiple characters perspective and the beginning shocked me! I didn’t know what I thought this novel was going to be about but I was pleasantly surprised. Music is a big part of my life, it’s good for the soul, and I enjoyed this take on a relationship and bringing people together through emotional and heartfelt music.

I really wanted to like this. Love music, I'm married to a musician but I couldn't get into it
I really felt that I would have liked it better if Diana hadn't have died and maybe she just lost touch with Arie and that's why it would be the title of the book. I didn't like Arie and Evie together... Way too fast of a relationship

A delightful book. Diana is a very talented pianist who gives incredible concerts. She plans to marry the love of her life, Arie. What Arie doesn't know is that Diana is composing a love song for him. Diana hopes to finish it before the tour ends. However, a tragedy occurs, and Arie loses Diana forever. Arie, who lives in Australia, felt his world fell. In Scotland, a woman named Evie is taking stock of her life after the end of another lackluster almost relationship. After years she hopes she can find a place that she can call home. And through a turn of fate or circumstance, Diana's song has been passed down from musician to musician. By winding its way around the world, maybe there is a chance for these two souls to be happy. It is a story that made me reflect on the relationship between Diana and Arie. I understand the power of music since I studied the degree for a while. It's very romantic for me when a composer writes something for someone he/she loves. I think it is an expression of unimaginable love. I liked the narration in this book as it is moderately poetic and romantic. But above all, I love that this book emphasizes the power of music. I thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ What a beautifully written story. I was deeply moved from the very beginning and felt such a connection to the characters. This is a romantic story about love, friendship, second chances that will have you laughing until you are crying. I was deeply touched and this story will stay with me for a long time!!

Sending a sincere thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book for my honest review!! This is a must read for any fans of a true love story!!

Absolutely beautiful book, rich characters and an amazing story that really was needed in these tough times. A total gem, thank you for the opportunity to read.

This story is absolutely beautiful but I was not emotionally prepared for it. I wish I had read some reviews for it before starting, because I think I might have put it aside. Quarantine played hard on my emotions, so adding this book on top of it was a disservice to this book. I will absolutely re-read it.

The healing power of music did speak to me right away, as I have always felt solace when listening to music of any kind. I think this story will appeal to readers looking for an outlet to FEEL something. All the feels.


I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

The Lost Love Song is so very special. It is the kind of story that stays in your heart for a long time. I thought the way that everything and everyone was intertwined was just beautiful.

By the time I finished the last line, I was in love with each and every character and I didn't want their stories to end.

When I finished the last word, I just sat for a moment with my eyes closed. This novel is tender, bittersweet, gentle, and absolutely lovely.

Such a good enjoyable read but have your tissues handy. Large cast but loved it. This is exactly the knd of book we should be reading!!

The beginning few chapters took me by surprise, be prepared with tissues. The story took such a wonderful turn as other characters were introduced and romances continued. Definitely felt a little like the movie Love Actually which was a nice twist. A good book club selection.

The Lost Love Song
By Minnie Darke

This is such a beautiful and poignant written story about finding love, second chances and and music that heals broken hearts. This book was pretty special and love tis emotional and heartwarming love story. The story was sad and the grief was captured so beautifully. I loved the writing and the immersive story that really drew me into the story investing my time with these characters. Truly a fascinating read I loved..

While I was so excited to be given an early preview of this book, the longwinded story and large cast of characters had me confused and underwhelmed after reading.

Concert pianist Diana meets Arie, and a romance blossoms. Along the way, the author introduces you to multiple characters, whose lives all intersect with theirs.

While the premise is one I thought I would enjoy, I would either lengthen the stories of each character OR shorten the characters met. It was all a lot to read and understand for me. Themes of love and loss are prevalent in the story, and I was rooting for the main character. Overall, the story just fell flat for me.

The Lost Love Song is one of those amazing novels that are difficult to categorize. I was expecting a typical modern romance but this was so much more. The book opens on Arie, a tech assistant, meeting Diana, a gifted concert pianist. Arie is surprised that someone as gorgeous and talented as Diana would be interested in him, still they fall in love. They find a great house with room for Diana's grand piano. Next on the life list is marriage, but Diana keeps putting Arie off. When she finally decides to say "yes", she does so by composing love song that expresses her love for him more than words ever could. She finishes it on tour in China, then a tragic accident prevents her from ever playing it for Arie. His heart is broken. But the song takes on a life of its own. Someone finds Diana's journal in China and the song makes its way around the world, touching and healing lives as it goes. Years later, Arie is attracted to Evie - lost herself and trying to get her life back in order. They meet and move on, but the song has a way of getting where it needs to go and helping who it needs to help. It is a love song after all. It is difficult to describe the heart breaking hopefullness of this book without making it sound trite or formulaic. The Lost Love Song is anything but that. Everyone should read it - with a box of tissues handy - then pass it on to someone you love. I really appreciate the chance to read the ARC and share my opinions with you.

A story that reminded me of Sleepless in Seattle, Love, Actually, and The Red Violin, The Lost Love Song stands out as one of my top-five 2020 reads. I was caught up in the story from page 1 and read late into the night because I just had to finish and find out how Minnie Darke would wrap up the plot lines of all the disparate characters.

The Lost Love Song starts small—the meeting of two people, Diana and Arie, at a music conservatory in Australia—and proceeds to spiral out from there. Along the way, Darke introduces us to a half-dozen characters whose lives intersect, often unknowingly, with those of others. If I have one critique of the book, it’s that I want more of many characters; everyone has such a compelling story that I could read an entire novel about any one of them. Some were introduced just briefly, to move the story of the love song along to its next turning point, and I was left wondering how things turned out for those characters.

The Lost Love Song is often melancholy, but in a quiet and beautiful way, as it explores love and loss and loving again. I really enjoyed Darke’s voice; she occasionally breaks the fourth wall, which isn’t something I usually care for in narration, but it works perfectly here. While the book is classified as a romance, I would say it’s more adult fiction with romantic elements (similar, in some ways, to Evvie Drake Starts Over, by Linda Holmes).

The Lost Love Song is the perfect novel to pick up on a dark winter night when you want to get absorbed in a sprawling plot involving many intertwined lives. I only wish I could hear the song itself!

I was so touched by the many emotions that The Lost Love Song brought. Love and loss were such impactful themes throughout, and I loved that a song played a part to connect characters.

The lyrical writing and moving story was so beautiful, and I gravitated towards the ideals of second chances and friendship.

*many thanks to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own

This book was a punch to my gut. I definitely had to put it down a few times to regain my composure. So good and heartfelt!