I absolutely loved The Key to My Heart and its story about love and grief. The author did a fantastic and thoughtful job exploring the theme of grief and complex relationships through the pages of this story. While this is a sweet romance, there is also a depth and richness through the real and honest characters and the circumstances they walk through. In fact I was sad to part with the characters by the end as they felt like friends. Lia Louis is fantastic at what she does and is an author I will read time and again. Be prepared for this book to leave you with all the thoughts and feelings to process. I highly recommend!

Many thanks to Atria and Netgalley for the gifted e-copy!

This book is classified as romance, but there is also a lot of exploration of grief. There is romance, but it is not the main focus of the story. There is also a mystery element, which added some depth that I was not expecting. While it might not be the lighthearted holiday romance book that readers are looking for, it is a book I would recommend for people who like multi-layered stories and characters who go through hard things on the pages.

The Key to My Heart by Lia Louis. Pub Date: December 6, 2022. Rating: 4 stars. Be still my heart, this book packed all the feels into one beautiful storyline of loss, grief, hope and love. A young widow is struggling to find her identity and what she wants in life now that her life has been completely reversed due to the death of her husband. They bought a house together and were "making plans for their future" but now her future is unknown. Through music, she reconnects with her widow when someone begins to leave sheet music that her husband loved at the piano in a London train station. She begins to wonder who is leaving the music and what her purpose in life is following her husband's death. This was such a heartwarming story with wit, character, love, loss and everything in between. I really love Lia Louis's writing and this book is no exception. Thanks to #netgalley and #atriabooks for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review. #thekeytomyheart

This was such a sweet story about grief and the journey it takes you on. I loved the art piece of the story and thought it just added so much to the emotion it brought up in me.

This is a great love after loss book with a young widow finding love again. I really enjoyed this after I got past the heartbreaking first husband death.

I loved this book! It was emotional, it was romantic, it was set in London - these are all the things I'm looking for in a romance. The Key to My Heart is a great follow-up to her debut novel, and I'm excited to read anything this author writes.

It seems that holiday romance novels either follow a hilarious, charming stuck in a situation together plot or a sad girl romance storyline of finding love and learning to trust again after a loss. This one is a latter. The beginning of this book was very slow moving and I almost gave up, but the end was heartwarming enough to redeem it, although I don't think this is one I'd recommend unless you know this is the kind of holiday book you tend toward. I liked the tie-in with favorite songs and sheet music, but the rest had a sappy generic feeling that didn't hold my interest. Perhaps I'm not the target audience. This does strike me as one of those things where you need to know if it's your cup of tea. If it is, you might love it. There is nothing wrong with this book but it wasn't my jam.

The Key to My Heart follows Natalie, a young widow who finds friendship in unlikely places. Mysteriously, sheet music of her favorite songs keeps popping up at the piano of the local train station. She likes to play the piano there randomly. The music that mysterely appears, happen to be songs that remind her of her late husband. Natalie befriends two different men and has mixed feelings with both until secrets become revealed and she chooses which one is worth her happiness.
The first 35% or so of the story was absolutely boring, and nothing really happened. Luckily, the story picked up and the characters became more likable.

4.00 stars
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TW: Grief, Death, Car Accident
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This book had so much love to go around, we follow Natalie as she navigates life after the sudden death of her husband. Although this is a tale of love, it is also about moving forward in life and dealing with grief and how it affects every aspect of life. Everyone tells her she should have moved on by now, Natalie is having a hard time letting go of those memories, partly, because she still lives in the cottage the couple has bought to fix together. Natalie begins to believe that her husband is sending her a message when sheet music begins to appear at the public piano she plays on Tuesdays and Thursdays as all of the songs are personal to their love story.

The dialogue is so witty, this isn't considered a rom-com but I loved the characters just for how they all interact - especially the banter between Tom and Natalie who she meets at a bar while out with friends. I will admit that the pacing of the book is a little slow, the first half is spent dealing with the grief and fleshing out our characters. Once you get into the second half you get more of the swoony moments that you're used to from a Lia Louis novel.

The ending got me, at the beginning of the book Natalie questions why Tom always seems to be at the train station and we finally get to know why at the end of the book. In romantic history, it's one of the sweetest grand gestures I've ever seen.
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I would like to thank NetGalley, Atria/Emily Bestler Books, and Lia Louis for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This book was published on December 6th, 2022.

I liked this one and thought it was a great exploration of grief and personal development but it just didn't have anything special to me. I would definitely recommend this to anyone struggling with grief just as something to read and potentially learn from, but for me personally I didn't get a ton out of listening to it. I may not be the best audience for it or it just wasn't the book for me, it happens. I will say I found the main character to be a bit annoying but besides that it was an overall cute read.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book, my review will be posted to my instagram @manymerrybooks.

Cute, swoony Christmas read for those who enjoy the holidays. First love leaves, and a new love comes in that’s a “first” after this loss, and Natalie doesn’t really know how to deal. Enter in two men who help Natalie discover who she is, what she wants, and how to go about doing those things. While there’s a love triangle (my absolute LEAST favorite trope, yuck), it’s pretty obvious throughout the story who Natalie ends up with, but the story is more so about how these people help her navigate her life without this love and how to replace it with something just as great. Thanks for the opportunity to read!

Lia Louis can do no wrong! This was such a moving read. It was so touching and I loved that the story focused more on Natalie's personal growth and the sheet music mystery than on the romance. HOWEVER, I loved this love story and watching these two grow together. It was the perfect slow burn and I loved the friendships formed along the way, Such a very endearing, stunning read.

Where to even begin....This book was SO SO SO good! I loved it with my whole bookish heart! I was nervous about jumping into it as there is a lot of talk about grief and I shed more than a few tears, but it was so much more than that. There was growth and moving forward, friendship, music, love and the complexity of relationships. Lia did such a fantastic job at bringing the characters to life. It felt like I really got to know them and didn't want to say goodbye. She pulled at all of my heartstrings, but she also injected humor that had me cracking up.

There was a small mystery in the story and the reveal made me swoon so hard! I loved that this book was not centered around spicy scenes, but still had such sweet romance throughout. READ THIS BOOK! For real...go....now!

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this advanced reader's copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book tugged on my heartstrings in the best way possible! Though I did not love it as much as Lia Louis' previous books, I did enjoy it very much and it left me so emotional throughout.

"The Key to My Heart" by Lia Louis is a heartfelt and enchanting romance that weaves together love, destiny, and the power of connection. Louis' storytelling prowess shines as she crafts a tale of unexpected encounters and the magic of second chances. The book's relatable characters and tender plot create an immersive reading experience that resonates with romance enthusiasts. Louis skillfully captures the emotions and vulnerabilities of her characters, adding depth to the narrative and making it a captivating read for fans of the genre. "The Key to My Heart" is a touching reminder that love has the ability to unlock the doors of the heart, leaving readers with a warm and hopeful feeling as they embark on a journey filled with both longing and joy.

Thank you so much to Atria and Netgalley for providing an advanced copy of this! All thoughts and opinions are still my own.

I am so mad at myself for not picking this up sooner. Dear Emmie Blue is one of my all time favorite books and I just knew that I would love this one as well. And I definitely did.

This is an emotional, raw story about our heroine grieving the loss of her husband. It's been 2 years since his sudden death, and she feels like everyone is waiting and forcing her to move on and be the "old her". But she feels irrevocably changed by the loss.

Throughout the book you follow Nat as she heals, grows, changes, and moves on. It was a beautiful story about love - self love, platonic love, familial love, and romantic.

This definitely leans more contemporary than romance, but ends in the sweetest HEA. The hero falls first and is completely swept away by the heroine, just waiting for her to be ready.

If you want a story that will make you laugh, cry (the ending of this one brought the tears), and fall in love, pick this up. This author's books are stunning stories of hope and love and I can't wait to read whatever she releases next.

Oh Lia, you got me good with this one!!! I absolutely LOVED this beautiful story. The loss that Natalie went through, and her growth and healing throughout was beautiful. I love Tom and I also likes Joe. The mystery of the sheet music and how it made Natalie happy and helped her heal made my heart happy. First 5/5 rating in 2023!

Thank you Lia, Netgalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Booksfor my free early eARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions and words are my own.

I really enjoyed this heartwarming story of a widow who is getting her second chance at love. As a big fan of music, I loved the musical aspect and how the piano played such a huge role in this hopeful story. This was a quick, adorable read filled with heart and love - a very unique plot that kept me invested in the story and characters. It's the perfect romance to read curled up by the fire with a hot drink and a warm blanket! I would very much like to read more by this author.

"The Key to My Heart" by Lia Louis is a heartwarming novel that delves into themes of hope and healing after loss. Natalie Fincher, a young widow, embarks on a journey of self-discovery when mysterious messages of love begin to appear, reigniting her sense of hope and excitement. Through Natalie's exploration of these messages, Lia Louis explores the transformative power of music and the resilience of the human spirit. While the book offers moments of warmth and inspiration, it falls slightly short of fully immersing the reader, resulting in a 3-star rating.

The story follows Natalie, a vibrant and charming woman whose life is shattered when her husband passes away unexpectedly. Left feeling empty and lost, Natalie struggles to find meaning and joy in her existence. However, a glimmer of hope enters her life when someone starts leaving sheet music for her late husband's favorite songs at a train station's public piano. Intrigued by this mysterious gesture, Natalie embarks on a journey of self-discovery and newfound love.

Lia Louis captures the emotional turmoil of grief and the slow process of healing with sensitivity and depth. Natalie's transformation, as she unravels the mystery behind the sheet music, is portrayed with authenticity and grace. The author adeptly explores themes of hope, self-love, and the cathartic power of music, infusing the story with moments of emotional resonance.

Louis' writing style is accessible and engaging, carrying a whimsical touch that adds charm to the narrative. The pacing of the story is well-balanced, allowing the reader to follow Natalie's journey with a sense of anticipation. The inclusion of the sheet music and its connection to Natalie's husband's favorite songs serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring power of music to evoke emotions and forge connections.

Ahhh this was a beautiful story about grief and finding love again. I’m a big fan of this author, and I think she delivered with this book. 5 out of 5 stars for me!