4 stars!

This book I'd recommend to all booklovers.
This story brings several lonely people together and by starting a bookclub they change eachother's lives. This book focuses on peoples love for reading and how this can bring people together.

The characters were great. Diverse, funny, maybe a bit stereotypical, but in a good way. For instance, the grumpy old man. It was perfect for the story. Yet, these stereotypes also ended up in a typical direction for the story to move to. This made it quite easy to predict what was going to happen. This being the reason I gave it four stars instead of five.

The book is seperated in different POV's. Every POV giving you the perfect view of the story. This way yo get to know all characters and their importance to the story.

In the end, I think this is a quick cosy read for booklovers. Nothing too difficult and just fun to read in for instance the types of weather we are currently facing during the winter.

“The Lonely Hearts Book Club” is a bittersweet book by Lucy Gilmore. This book follows Sloane, a lonely librarian and her friendship with a bitter patron, Arthur. One day Arthur doesn’t appear at the library and Sloane discovers he’s in the hospital. With some twists, Sloane decides to start a reading club. Others join the group, but at it’s heart this book is about how, literally, judging a “book by its cover” (or, in this case a person) isn’t always a good thing. All five of the main people (though there are some memorable side characters) are lonely (thus the title) in their own ways. I liked how the book is divided into sections narrated by the different members of the group. Maybe it’s because I’m a parent, but Maisey’s dealing with her daughter I found rather relatable. I liked the side character, Nigel, a lot and I liked how he fit into the book. The publisher included a list of questions for book club discussions, which I found perfect as I’m sure this book will be picked up by reading groups.

What's not to love about a book about people bonding over books. However to me it was a bit of a bittersweet read.

Well, this is a pretty charmer. I already knew Lucy Gilmore was talented, but The Lonely Hearts Book Club proves that she’s talented in the women’s fiction arena as well.

Lonely, meek librarian Sloane Parker has bonded with crusty octogenarian Arthur McLachlann, an imperious bibliophile, over their daily mutual rejoinders and a title game she’s created that drives him bananas. Then one day Arthur doesn’t show up at the library, and Sloane worries that something terrible has happened to him.

She tracks him down and discovers he’s in the local hospital recuperating from an illness. To help him pass the time, she creates a kind of book club. Word spreads in the community, and soon other people who have been lacking human connections in their lives show up and form something of a family unit. Books are read, relationships change and develop, and a love for reading is shared. As Sloane becomes more and more of a leader, shedding her earlier frailties, she begins to contemplate love – and wonder what might happen if she has to say goodbye to Arthur.

The Lonely Hearts Book Club is a good, warmhearted story split between several points of view and a handful of narrators. You’ll come to know Arthur – and the love he has suppressed for years – and Sloane, who grows into a full person as she takes control of the book club. Though the characters here are easy to love, they aren’t pushovers and they aren’t cardboard people.

All the while, Gilmore’s polished style and ease with the English language makes readers fall in love with her prose. It’s a beautiful novel, and one that sings. It also loves literature, and celebrates its characters’ love of literature, in a gorgeous way. The Lonely Hearts Book Club is a treasure that’s impossible to put down.

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The Lonely Heart Book Club is such a fun, quirky and sentiment read that deserves the attention of readers!

I can't use the right word to express how much I adore the characters (Sloane, Arthur, Maisey, Greg, Matteo, Nigel), their unexpected friendship & heart warming bonds put a smile on my face.

This read highlights a few topics like family relationship, love & loss, friendship & past regrets. There's a balance of humour, sass and sorrow.

Thank you Netgalley for providing an Ecopy of The Lonely Heart Book Club!

I received this book from Netgalley. I loved the title of this book and I was really excited to start reading it. This is one of this evooks that has something happening all the time - even just everyday things - but it moves very slowly. It's definitely not a quick read.

Characters:
When Sloane mentions that her fiancé is a chiropractor so not a medical doctor but 'he had a doctorate and that was more than enough for him,' it sounds so judgemental. If you have a doctorate you're a doctor, medical or not. Also, why is she allowing other people to dictate her wedding? I get so frustrated when people do this. It's your wedding - just say no. Not my favourite character.

Maisey:
Seems like an interesting character. I really enjoyed learning a bit more about her back story and I definitely prefer her chapters to Sloane. I'm glad that she spoke to the group about her daughter because she finally has people that she can count on and it's good that they can be there for her. I also enjoyed the official introduction of Greg in her chapters.

Mateo:
I love Mateo but I think he needs to reevaluate his relationship with Lincoln. He doesn't seem to be all in. Lincoln also needs to realise that Mateo has some issues with his mum and he's allowed to! Also, Sloane inviting him to join a book club under false pretenses is absolutely unacceptable. She should have been honest with him.

Greg:
I really enjoyed Greg's chapter. At the beginning I was unsure about why he would even stay when he was being treated so badly by Arthur. In this chapter I liked that we found out a bit more about his and Arthur's pasts and that we find out the real reason why he stayed.

Arthur: I found this to be one of my favourite chapters until Arthur started speaking about wanting to make Sloane stay. It seemed creepy to me that he chose the same book that he gave to his late wife. The way he spoke about her was a bit too much for me sometimes. Although it wasn't meant to be inappropriate it did sometimes come off that way. Although I am glad that we got to meet Nigel and learn how he fits into the story.

Overall I think that this book has potential but there are still things about it that I'm not crazy about.

I had no idea going into this book that it was set in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho which is my hometown, so you can imagine what a fun surprise that was! The details of the city were perfectly placed and the author really captured the essence of CDA.

This was truly the perfect read. I absolutely adored this story of an insufferable curmudgeon and a book club with hearts of gold. I truly enjoyed the multiple POV's and getting to know each character for their true heart. It's not always the easiest choice to write multiple characters with flaws, but it always pays off. Lucy Gilmore really made you fall in love with these real, lovable, and absolutely relatable people.

The pacing was great, I felt you had plenty of time to learn what you needed to without it being overly drawn out or have a rushed ending.

Thank you so much Lucy Gilmore and Sourcebooks Casablanca for this advanced reader's copy. It was an absolute delight to get to finish off my 2022 year of books with this novel. There are not enough good words I can say about this book. Once it is released, I will be purchasing to put on my bookshelf forever.

Sweet and authentic and thoughtful. Good use of prose and literary references. It left room for a sequel while simultaneously feeling complete and comfortable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC.

First, thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced readers copy I’m exchange for an honest review.

The Lonely Hearts Book Club was my first Lucy Gilmore book and it made me a fan. This book felt like a warm, cozy, much-needed hug.

Sloane is a librarian who seems content letting life happen to her instead of living life. She meets Arthur, a grumpy old man, at her library and although he’s rude and abrasive, she starts to look forward to his visits. Until he stops showing up and she goes to his home to find him bed ridden. She meets his neighbor, Maisey, who has daughter problems and a desire to feed everyone. And through taking care of Arthur, an impromptu book club gets started that will grow in number and purpose over the course of the book.

What I loved about this book was… everything. I loved the characters who formed the book club and I loved that they were given sections of the book with their perspectives. It allowed the reader to dive into each character and understand more fully what the book club meant to each character. I especially enjoyed Arthur’s chapter and the insights it provided.

This is a book about loneliness, grief, loss, and most importantly—friendships that help you through all those topics and more. I loved the Intergenerational friendships. I loved the way they loved, supported, and challenged each other. I especially loved the ending of the book because it felt like all the characters ended up right where fear had been prohibiting them from going.

I can’t say enough good things about this book and Lucy Gilmore’s writing abilities. She really took on each character and her writing reflected the change in perspective beautifully. Find your friends and fellow book lovers and dive into this book!

I found the story to be a bit twee as the main character Sloane Parker lives in her own unrealistic world She develops an unlikely friendship with a Victor Meldew-like man who visits her library on a regular basis.

I tried as hard as I could but I was not drawn in by this tale and struggled to finish it.

The book was well written but too saccharine for my taste.

Sorry.

This book was incredibly sweet and demonstrated the importance of friendship and persistent love and care. The main character is Sloane Parker who is a librarian and a woman content with the status quo. That all changes when one of her irascible, old library patrons doesn't come back to the library one day. What ensues is her efforts to ensure he's taken care of and she gathers a motley crew around her to start 'The Lonely Hearts Book Club'.

"Life was calling to me - it had been calling to me for years - but it has taken this random, beautiful collection of people for me to realize what I had to do. It was time for me to answer."

Such an incredible read. This one reminded me a bit of Remarkably Bright Creatures because of the hearts of gold, the older characters, the family coming together, and the lonely hearts. If you enjoyed that one and love banter and sass, you’d love this one. There were times were I lol’d and I even almost cried at the end. Highly recommend!!

This book is a solid 4 stars read. I've been a fan of tis author for years but this book is her best one yet. It's shows different viewpoints every few chapters and but intertwines all viewpoints. It's about relationships and loss. It's a solid four stars for me. I have one major compliant dislike the ending but otherwise thoroughly enjoyed reading this.

********************I received an ARC for my honest opinion from NetGalley.**************************

Entertaining and heart warming book. Once I got into this book I didn't want to put it down. I would highly recommend it.

Sloan loves everything about her job as a librarian. Even Arthur, the grumpy elderly man that comes to argue with her. When Arthur doesn’t show up one day, she tracks him down to find him bedridden. Sloan begins a book club, with a few other unlikely partners, to try to cheer him.

I guess it’s not much of a surprise that a book about a book club would make a terrific book club book! All the characters have so much pizzazz, character, and even problem areas! It makes for great emotional drama and there’s a lot to think about after. My favorite part of this book… the major component of friendship and how it can change our lives. The grumpy old man was also a pleasure. Bonus points for Ann of Green Gables fans!

“Oh the outside, it was a place of whispers and stillness. But inside - oh, what marvelous depths there were to explore.”

The Lonely Hearts Book Club comes out 4/4.

This book was fantastic. If you loved A Man Called Ove or Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting, you'll love this as well. It follows several different people, all showcasing a sliver of their own lives and also continuing the main story.

Everyone has been hurt by Arthur, but it's clear that he isn't really mean. He has just never recovered from all of the hurt in his life and he sees people wasting their lives and it hurts even more. I did wish Maisey's story ended even happier, with her starting her own business helping people or something and I felt like we were missing a Nigel POV. He felt like as "main" of a character as the others, though he did tell a lot of his story through Arthur's POV.

Five stars!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca.

This was an absolute delight. The lonely hearts book club has everything you could want in a cozy read. A couple of librarians, a grumpy cute giant, and meddling neighbor mom, and a loveable curmudgeon. I loved how much this book relied on great books in history to help move the story along and found each character to be quite charming.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca.

"Because books have a way of bringing even the loneliest of souls together..."

Sloane leads a predictable and quiet life as a librarian. She gets into a verbal back and forth with the town's cranky old man. They go at it each time he comes to the library. One day he doesn't show. The next day he doesn't show. Another day passes and he doesn't come in...

She tracks him down and forces herself into his gloomy life. To help him (and to help her) she forms a book club. It changes all of their lives.

I LOVED THIS BOOK. You know me, I love a book with a cranky old character who has a story under a hardened outer shell. This book is told from 5 different POVs and they are all each wonderful in their special way. I especially liked Sloane as she had some figuring out to do (who doesn't!). I loved this book so much.

A charming story that celebrates the power of books in bringing people together. Sloane appears to be a shy, sweet, sensitive librarian who may just be a little bit lonely and friendless. Arthur is an awfully grumpy and cruel man and library patron who hurls insults at anyone in front of him. Somehow, they forge a connection, stemming from a mutual love and respect for literature. When Arthur stops showing up to the library, Sloane senses something must be wrong and puts her career in jeopardy to find out more.

The Lonely Hearts Book Club is a cozy, comfort read. We get to know Sloane and Arthur (and Maisey, Mateo, and Greg) as they embark on an unlikely friendship and organize an even unlikelier book club. 3.5 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

Lucy Gilmore has a fan for life. This was such an amazing read and was one of the first books to bring tears to my eyes in awhile. I love the mixture of characters. They touch your heart.. you’ll laugh, cry and not want to put this one down.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.