I really enjoy Lia Louis' books. This one was very sweet and enjoyable. It handles grief well and I loved the theme of music throughout the book. I felt like this was a very realistic portrayal of someone dealing with their grief. I found it to be heartwarming and hopeful and I just really loved it.

This is a sweet romance about a widow finding love again.
Natalie is a musician who doesn’t play much or do much of anything since her husband died. The only place she performs is at a public train station, where she’s made friends with some of the shop owners.

One day, she finds sheet music on the piano, and the song was significant to Natalie and her husband. She gets more music as time goes by, and it feels like she’s communicating with her deceased husband.

Natalie wants to find out who’s leaving music for her, and her journey helps her open up again. 4 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

Let me first say this is my first book by this author, this story left my heart heavy. The weight of loss and how someone grieves takes a toll on ones soul. They say you are never truly whole again, I felt that with the main character Natalie. She used her music to move through her pain. The author did such a great job with the writing I really felt like I could hear her play the piano at the train station.

I only recently heard about music therapy before reading this book, and how it has helped people. So thank you to Lia for bringing light to the gift of music. This book is a lot to unpack, it is sad and hopeful all in one.

Natalie thought she had it all, husband she loved and career in musical theater. But then everything comes crashing down when her husband dies suddenly. But that was two years ago and she can't move on, the only thing that makes her happy is playing the piano at a busy train station. Then one day music sheets she shared with her husband start to show up at the piano. It this one last thing her husband did for her before he died or is something bigger?? With the help of friends and new friends she discovers a part of herself she thought she had lost.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for copy of this book for my honest review.

Russ was a victim of a hit and run on his bike and ended up in the hospital. Though he appeared to be on the mend, an infection quickly ended his recovery and his life. Two years later, his wife Natalie is trying to get on with her life per her friends' support but she can't seem to get over Russ. Her grief is still very much alive. She keeps getting music left at the piano at the train station where she sometimes plays. She thinks it's some kind of sign from Russ and doesn't dare tell her friends for fear that they might think she's crazy. Through chance, Natalie meets Tom and her life starts changing. She discovers how and why the music ends up at the piano and eventually is able to move on and continue with her life. It's a heartfelt read.

THIS BOOK. No one can make me cry like @lialouisauthor. I remember my online bookclub got to zoom with her and she told us a little about what she was currently working on. She threw out a short pitch for this novel and I knew in that moment I was going to fall in love with this story HARD. And I did.

What a breathtakingly beautiful story. I smiled, I cried (a lot), and I was filled with all the warm and fuzzy feelings. These characters left such an imprint on my heart. Another incredible story from Lia Louis!

Huge thank you to @atriabooks for the ARC in exchange for a review.

Sweet romance with a touching plot, this book is perfect for romance reads who aren't fans of a lot of spicy content. The characters are well-written and easy to identify with.

What an emotional rollercoaster! I absolutely adored this novel. The characters, the banter, the story! Everything was perfect. I officially will read anything Lia Louis touches! If you’re a fan of emotional romance novels I would highly recommend this one. I was laughing, I was crying, I was hoping the end would never come! Thank you netgalley for my free review copy. I highly recommend this one!

Natalie is grieving the loss of her husband Russ. A pianist and composer, she feels trapped in her life, but one day a sheet of music is left on the piano she plays in the London train station and her life begins to look up. She makes it her mission to discover who is leaving her the music and rediscovers herself along the way. The cast of characters are so delightful, and I especially enjoyed Natalie’s friendship with Shauna. Natalie’s banter with Tom is sweet and he is such a breath of fresh air. Although the book touched on grief, it was done in such a lighthearted way. The ending left a smile on my face and I can’t wait the author’s next one.

Thank you to Lia Louis, NetGalley and Atria Books for an advance copy of this book.

This is my first Lia Louis novel, and I really enjoyed reading this one! I loved the music elements in the plot, the exploration of grief after losing her husband two years prior, and the strength that she pulls from while trying to move on/solve the mystery of the sheet music that keeps popping up!

I also adored the cast of characters throughout this story. They were all so entertaining and fun! Plus, the reveal at the end was fantastic! I can’t wait to pick up another Lia Louis book soon!

3.5 stars rounded up to 4!⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books/Emily Bestler Books for the arc in exchange for my honest review!

Lia is just AMAZING! she is so talented and weave stories and characters in a way that few authors can. She has this emotional aspect about her books that I always love. The key to my heart was wonderful! The mystery behind who’s leaving the music had best resolution.

I have already reviewed this book. I am not sure why it is coming up twice. 'Please see the other review that I wrote

This is such a heartwarming story about Natalie who is grieving after the loss of her husband Russ. It is full of loving characters that help Natalie through her journey. I especially liked that she was so close with her sister Jodie, that she had Shauna as a mother figure, and found laughter and peace in her relationship with Tom. I enjoyed watching Natalie grow as she figured out how to move in a new direction. I also liked the pop culture icons mentioned in the story. They really added a lightheartedness to a serious subject matter. The ending was so touching and romantic! Tom truly was the best person to help Natalie move forward with her life.

The beginning of the story was a little rough for me with the conversations between her friends at the bar. I found it kind of crude. Other than that, I enjoyed the story.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Natalie, a pianist and composer, feels trapped by her life. Her husband passed away 3 years ago and the indecision and guilt about how to move forward has kept her stagnant, much to the consternation of her friends and family. While acknowledging that she should be moving forward, she consistently rebuffs attempts by her friends to help her get there.

When music that represents special times in her life starts appearing at a piano she plays in a train depot, She starts making it her mission to discover who is leaving her this music. This mission helps her to make steps to rediscover herself, which things and which people are important to her, as well as making new friendships. The reader follows Natalie as she begins to overcome her grief and begin to move forward while exploring all the complexities of what that can be.

The story takes an honest look at grief, the psychological changes that come from watching a loved one die unexpectedly, and the complexities of what it takes to move forward in one's life. It was a sweet book from beginning to end with mystery and romance, fun friendships that were supportive and not, and how to be honest with oneself.

#netgalley
#arc
#thekeytomyheart

I really enjoyed the heartfelt emotions in this book. I would say the cover could be mis-leading for the heavier topics, but overall I think the author did a good job at combining a tragic situation with light-hearted moments. The music was a beatiful addition to the book and the mysteriousness of it brought another great element.

This was such a sweet, hopeful book, full of wonderful relationships. I loved the mystery of trying to figure out who left the sheet music and I did not see the ending playing out as it did. And I think the ending, at the art show, is one of my fav moments of the entire book. Just so so sweet. Thank you Lia Louis for continuing to put out great books.

Lia Louis is definitely becoming an auto buy author for me! The fact that her MC is 32 makes me so happy. We don’t get enough of romance with women out of their 20s!

Overall 3.5/5 stars.

The Key to My Heart follows Natalie Fincher a few years after her husband and love of her life dies. Her friends are all encouraging her to "move on" or "get over it" but Natalie is clearly depressed and struggling to live her life. She is a pianist and begins to play music at a local train station. Then a mystery person begins to leave her music that was meaningful to her and her late-husband.

The rest of the book follows Natalie as she grows and does learn how to move on in some ways while still acknowledging the hurt in her past.

Guys, in case it doesn't sound like it, this is actually a love story. But I leaned towards 3.5 stars over 4 because Natalie's character was written so well that the book was actually very depressing for such a long time before it began to turn around. Depressing isn't usually what I'm going for in a love story.

It's very well written and if you've liked any of Lia Louis's previous books (Dear Emmie Blue or Eight Perfect Hours) it's worth checking out.

Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for giving me an advance digital copy for review.

The queen of kismet. I always love how Lia Louis ties her characters and stories together. The side characters are always quirky, fun and loveable. Just a hug of a book!

Natalie Fincher was all set in life, recently married, a new fixer upper cottage and the chance to tour with the musical she finally finished writing after years, until her husband dies suddenly. Her life changes in the blink of an eye and two years later, she is still dealing with her grief. Her friends don't understand, and are constantly trying to get her out on the town and meeting a new man. She still loves music, but can only play anonymously in a London train station. Then, someone starts leaving her sheet music on the piano. Music that brings back wonderful feelings and memories. As she tries to find out who is leaving it for her, she begins to open up to others and finds friendship and maybe even love.

This is such a wonderful story. I love the way Lia Louis writes about Natalie, her feelings and her life while dealing with her grief, it was tangible. I understand how she felt as well as the various situations with well meaning friends. No one can predict how long it will take to deal with grief, and you don't "got over it". I cried several times while listening to this book, as it brought back so many memories of those feelings and dark times, but I also smiled and laughed as Natalie began to open up to possibilities of what her new life could be. As she allowed new people in, and friendships developed, I cheered her on. I really connected to Natalie, not only because I have also lost my husband, but because she wanted to live, but was afraid of what that life would look like. She moved forward with trepidation, but still moved with baby steps. She was real and I related to her on many levels. I liked both the men that she met and although there was some romance that slowly develops, I also liked their friendships. Tom was such a great guy, and he seemed to be able to intuit what she was feeling and how to make her smile. A wonderful story about new beginnings, grief, friendship, moving forward and finding yourself with a bit of a mystery added. I highly recommend, The Key to My Heart.

Thanks to @netgalley and @atriabooks for my gifted copy of The Key to my Heart, by Lia Louis! This sweet book is out now, and is perfect for the romance and music lover who also loves a good grand gesture.

I thought that this book was so sweet, and really explored grief in a beautiful, touching, and respectful way. Though I haven’t experienced grief in the way that our main character, Natalie, has, it is obvious that Louis has put a great deal of effort into an accurate portrayal.

The best part of this book though, was listening to Louis in conversation with @thechicklitbookclub. She is incredible, and having that little bit of insight was so valuable. It made me want to go back and reread her books.