****Publishing December 6, 2022****

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Are you looking for a well told and satisfying story that is sentimental?

After 2.5 years, Natalie Fincher is still grief stricken over the death of her husband Ross. Natalie is a young widow, which makes it worse. She feels that she should be not so consumed with his loss still. Natalie’s friends try to set her up, but with not much luck. Natalie finds solice in playing the piano at a London train statin. Mysteriously someone keeps leaving meaningful sheet music for Natalie, which she finds healing. Could this be the one who understands her grief and can support her? Show her that she can start living her life again? Or will this person remain a mystery? This book will have you turning the pages to find out.

I love how this author writes a heartfelt and meaningful story while highlighting the real
struggles and grief of being a young widow. Its not a light hearted book as this author takes you on Natalie’s journey of grieving. But in the end, this book shows that with the support of friends, family, and music therapy, life can go on. A great book club book as it will lead to many good discussions.

Thanks to Atria Books(Atria/Emily Bestler Books) I was provided an ARC of The Key to My Heart by Lia Louis via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve been intending to read past books by Lia Louis forever, so I’m glad I finally read one! I will be going back to read those previous releases that I bought but haven’t opened yet, very soon! This book was extremely good. I don’t normally go for the really emotional, tear-jerker type novels, and this one is described as being about moving on after loss, but was written so beautifully that I was was able to read through without the usual tears. I don’t like teary books.

I related to Natalie with the musical background, and the way in grief she was having difficulties in living life and wanting to move on, even 2.5 years later, how even just going for a night out with the girls was a chore. After losing my best friend almost 3 years ago, which I know isn’t the same but still not wanting to socialize the same way or relate to people anymore, was similar to how Louis described it in Natalie. Natalie’s friends and family can’t understand why she won’t date again or just move on since it had been so long, and can’t understand why she hasn’t processed the grief after her husband’s unexpected death, even though she’s moving at her own pace. They try to set her up with a cute guy at a bar one night, so she pretends, he agrees to pretend, and they strike up an unlikely friendship. At the same time, she joins a musical therapy group and meets another friend who’s also processing the grief of losing his brother.

There’s a bit of a love triangle happening, but while Natalie is spending time with these two guys, she’s not really technically dating but friends with them… it does feel a bit uncomfortable, but all unfolds pretty much exactly like you might expect in reality!

I really enjoyed this one - excellent storyline, great characters, great surprises, and it really unfolds all in a perfect timeline. A great read! Not too overly emotional for those of us that aren’t into emotional reads. A definite recommendation!

I received an advance copy from NetGalley and Atria Books, Atria/Emily Bestler Books, and this is my honest feedback.

While I knew that this was a story about a widow finding the courage to love again, I somehow wasn't prepared to witness the grieving process with Natalie. I think I somehow thought that she would be further along in her grieving process and this would be the start of her stepping into her next chapter. Because of that, the pacing and the tone of the book was off for me, and I couldn't connect with it at all.

I just realized that this is my second attempt at a Lia Louis novel. I am charmed by the covers and intrigued by the blurbs, but I suspect that the writing may just not be be for me as this is the second DNF in as many books.

I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to read and review.

This book…. It was a slow start but the end gave me all the feels. I am not usually a crier when reading but the end was the perfect ending and had me a little misty eyed. I won’t spoil anything but the art exhibit scene at the end is one of the best romance endings I’ve read in some time. This book is a story about love after grief. I loved Natalie and her quirky humor even in the face of intense grief after losing her husband. There is a bit of a love triangle with two possible love interests and you find yourself rooting for both of them for different reasons. The secondary characters are so good and bring a light-heartedness that this storyline needed. There is a bit of a mystery that keeps you guessing throughout the book. The romance is written so realistically and helps you to really connect with the characters. I so wish that the first half of the book had moved at a bit of a quicker pace because I’m worried some people will get bogged down and not get to experience the beautiful second half of this book.

Read if you like:
▫️heart warming romance
▫️P.S. I Love You
▫️musical storylines

Do you play the piano?
I took lessons in middle school and still tinker every once in a while. But overall, reading The Key to My Heart made me want to start again.
Natalie’s husband Russ died after an unfortunate accident two years ago, unexpectedly changing Natalie’s life. She’s starting to get out more, spending time at a coffee shop and playing a public piano in the tube station near the shop. But Natalie’s grief remains a consistent presence. Her friends try to set her up whenever they can get her to come out with them, and Natalie is just not having it. The story follows her unexpected friendships with one such set-up and one of the coffee shop regulars, as Natalie begins to grow through her grief.
I really enjoyed the beginning and the end, but I felt like the middle was slow. This inconsistent pacing affected my enjoyment of the book. However, I loved the way the author realistically depicted the grief process and the positive possibilities of both music therapy and group therapy. At times the book can feel heavy, but the overall vibe is positive. This was my first book by the author - thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler books for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion. I also won a Goodreads giveaway ARC of the title!

It was a little slow, but once i got into it, i was hooked. A solid holiday read. I love the characters so much. A great story! I thoroughly enjoyed this one!

I thought this one moved a little slow but also totally loved Tom. This book can definitely feel heavy at times. It follows Natalie while she is struggling with the grief from losing her husband two years prior. The highlights were definitely her interactions with Tom. While I didn’t love this one as much a Dear Emmie Blue Or Eight Perfect Hours, it is still worth a read if you’ve enjoyed both of those books.

I will read absolutely anything by Lia Louis! This started off a little slow but was a beautiful story of grief, love and second chances.

Thanks to NetGalley and atria for the advanced copy!

I was really looking forward to this book because I LOVED Lia Louis' other recent work but I was a little disappointed. I ended up DNF and was underwhelmed by the plot. I think I was expecting a great romance and it felt like there was a lot going on.

Wow Lia Louise has done it again. This book destroyed my heart!! 

This book started off a little slow for me, it was just so sad and I found myself avoiding it because I kept crying! But the main character, Natalie, was so well written. I could really feel her pain and I thought the grief that she was going through felt so realistic. This book had a sadness that carried through the whole novel, but it was done beautifully. 

I loved that this book showed Natalie's growth- this wasn't just a "love after loss" type of romance. This was a true character journey to find her happiness again. 

And Tom...I've never fell so hard for a character before. He is perfect. 

Truly one of the best books of the year for me. I will read anything Lia Louise writes!

After losing her husband in a tragic accident, Natalie struggles to move on with her life. Over two years later, she begins feeling hope and opening her heart 💖

A story of love, loss, heartbreak, and healing. I think there’s something here for everyone.

Did the first 2/3 drag on a little? Sure. Was the ending a bit rushed? I think so (I just wanted more!). But I thought the plot was unique and I loved the main characters.

🌟 rating: 4
📚 genre: romance, contemporary fic
📄 pages: 350
✍🏼 same author as: EIGHT PERFECT HOURS
🥳 pub day: 12/6/22
🤓 read if you like: stories about overcoming grief, friends to lovers, books set in London, heartwarming books, less spice

liked the first half, loved the second half and how everything came together! what an emotional story about finding love again after loss. it’s well written and didn’t feel rom-commy with a basic/predictable trope which was super refreshing. the MCs and supporting characters were likeable and well developed. my biggest complaint is that it was uber G-rated with zero spice or language (ya girl loves a lil toxicity 😮‍💨)

definitely will be reading more from this author! solid book— can’t say i’ve ever read a story quite like it 🤍 loved the ending sm 🥹

thank you Atria books and NetGalley for the free arc in exchange for my honest review!

Dear Emmie Blue was one of my favorite books a couple years ago, so I was eager to read this one and I'm so glad I did! This book started out rather sad and really pulled on my heart strings. But as I got into Natalie's story, I found a woman trying to overcome intense devastation and find out how to truly love again. Not just romantic love, but her love for her friends and her love for herself. The ending was just utterly perfect and warmed my heart in the very best way. I just loved this book so much! If you are looking for a novel that will warm your heart, make you cry, and help you appreciate life, then I highly recommend this book ❤️

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of this beautiful novel 🥰

I really enjoy Lia Louis's ability to instantly connect me to her characters. Tom, Natalie, Joe, Shauna, Priya; they're all wonderful. Following along as Natalie navigates grief and finding a "new normal" hit some fairly personal notes for me that reflected pieces of my own experiences with grief. Well written and wonderfully told.

*Strong language

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my complimentary e-arc of this book. All opinions here are my own.

This is the second book by Lia Louis that I read and having loved Eight Perfect Hours, I was beyond excited for this one.
The Key to my Heart is a book filled with emotions and it gives you all the feels. We have Natalie who lost her husband and now struggles to continue her life. Everyone is expecting her to be done and over grieving and she avoids most of her close friends and family for that very same reason. Until she starts finding music sheets in a piano in a tube station. However, they are no ordinary sheets, because they have meaning for her. Trying to find out what is going on she makes new friends and gets closer to old ones in a quest for finding the truth and a way of moving forward.
This is a book that breaks your heart a little sometimes, but it is also filled with hope and love. I think it has a perfect combination of drama, and joy, light moments and deep ones. Natalie is a very complex character and you cannot avoid feeling close to her and wanting her to be happy. Tom was such a sweet character too. I loved all their scenes and dialogues together.
I really liked the story and I can admit it had me sobbing at the end. Lia Louis certainly knows how to create gripping stories that go directly to your heart. I highly recommend it.

I love Lia Louis' books because they give me a romance story while also having so much substance. I found Lia Louis on a whim and knew I needed to read this book. I loved Natalie's story because she was human. She went through the hardest thing she's ever known, losing her husband at such a young age, and pulled herself through it. Sometimes it was messy and hard, Natalie wasn't always perfect, but she did the best she could at the time. I loved her character even if sometimes she was whiny or had her "head up her own arse" as Roxanne says.

Tom... oh Tom. I loved Tom. There were moments I felt like he could've been a little more developed but then we'd get a little piece of his humor or why he made choices he did.

And then there's Joe. Sweet Joe who understands Natalie and they seem to be a crutch for her. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Joe was the perfect reason and I loved following their relationship development.

This book was a romance but it was also more than that, and I loved it.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Honestly, Lia Louis is a treasure. I fell in love with her writing in Dear Emmie Blue and again in Eight Perfect Hours, she really can write a heartfelt and heartwarming story. In The Key to My Heart Natalie is alone and trying to find her place in the world following her husbands sudden death - on her journey she meets new people and learns new things of herself. All of the characters were wonderful, and you really do not see the twist coming at the end, which I was very excited about! This book covers so much, from grief and loss to learning to love again and does it so well! Another great book brought to us by Lia Louis!

Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
The Key to My Heart by Lia Louis is a heartwarming story about one woman’s journey to deal with her grief. I loved this book that followed her journey.

Story Recap:
Natalie Fincher has it all until she doesn’t anymore. When her husband suddenly dies, all her hopes and dreams die with him. After two years, she’s still struggling with his death and barely finding time to visit with her friends. Now, the only music in her life is when she occasionally plays the piano in a London train station on her way home.

When she starts to find pieces of sheet music on the piano in the train station, she is immediately heartened as the music is all pieces that remind her of her husband and he is the only person who knows how special the music was to them. She begins to play with more enthusiasm as she starts to see light at the end of her dark tunnel. But who can be leaving the music for her? And why?

My Thoughts:
I’m a huge fan of Lia Louis and her latest book did not disappoint. I was quickly immersed in the story and I couldn’t wait to find out who left the music on the piano. Natalie has been stuck in her grief for a couple of years, and nothing seems to help her change until she finds the sheet music on the piano. There were a couple of suspects and I like how Natalie not only tried to find the person leaving the music, but also grew and began to understand that those around her were there to help.

This is a heartwarming story that tells a story of grief and friendship and taking a chance. Natalie has a wonderful group of friends who love her, but she has walls built around her to keep them out, and it isn’t until she can let them in and help her heal that she can live a full life.

Recommendation:
I highly recommend The Key to My Heart to anyone who enjoys heartwarming fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 4.5
Laughing Score: 2
Crying Score: 1
Pub Date: 12/6/22

Lia does it again! I’m still swooning over this story (and let's be honest, my tommy button. Hello new book boyfriend!!)
Lia’s stories are never really *light* and this one was no different, but they are all so amazing. Natalie, a young widower, is trying to find her place again after her husband’s sudden death. She’s trying to find her spark, and along the way she makes new friends and meets new people who help her get there.

This is one of those books where you theorize a bit, because you’re not sure what’s going to happen, and I’ll say, I didn’t figure out the twist, so it’s definitely not a predictable plot line.

I really loved all the characters in this book, I love that she was a regular at a coffee shop, and had names for the other regulars. I love the complexities of her friends and how their dynamics have changed over time, it all felt very realistic.

This is a lovely story about grief, loss, hope, strength and love. I’m so happy I got a chance to read it. Thank you Netgalley and Atria for the advanced copy.

This is my second Lia Louis book and I really enjoy her as an author. Her books aren’t traditional romances and they deal with grief so keep that in mind when reading this.

3.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Natalie lost her husband two years ago and cannot seem to move on with her life. Things have been stagnant in her career, her friendships, and her home. She doesn’t feel like she can open up to people anymore and no one really knows that she plays a community piano in a tube station. When one day she starts finding sheet music left for her from important moments of her marriage. This book follows Natalie’s journey through figuring out who is leaving her sheet music and how she can start to move on with her life.

While this book is grief heavy I thought it was handled in such a beautiful way. I also really enjoyed the love interest. He has major book boyfriend potential. It was really cool to read about strangers meeting and coming together to help Natalie through her grief as well. It was very much a “how to meet a man in the wild” type of romance.

My docked stars are because I thought a lot happened in the book. I felt like a few circumstances were unnecessary and could have been edited out. But overall, it was a good read!

Thank you Netgalley and Atria for an eARC of the book.

Also - my netgalley had a lot of grammatical and sentence errors that I'm sure are fixed in the final copy