Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. I really enjoyed Lucy Gilmore’s The Lonely Hearts Book Club, but this one didn’t live up to that. It took place in two different timelines and I felt that the earlier one, set in the 1960s, was not that interesting. I didn’t understand the “grumpy” neighbor who suddenly became supportive and kind, and to me, none of the characters stories were well-developed or I entertaining. I wanted to like this book more than I did.

This book immediately intrigued me when I saw the description comparing it to The Storied Life of AJ Fikry- another book for book lovers. This was such a lovely story, told between different points of view and time periods, as a librarian tried to piece together the history of decades-old love notes written in the margins of a banned book. Although there were some parts that seemed to drag, I loved the characters and really found myself rooting for their happiness. I really enjoyed this one!

This was such an endearing read. I loved the storylines, the different perspectives, and how everything intertwined throughout and came together at the end. Gilmore’s writing is whimsical and idealistic, and just so dang sweet. Chloe is an easier character to root for, and Jasper, while gruff, really makes you want to break through that rough exterior. While there’s definitely a bit of romance, I found this book to be much more about friendship and, ultimately, community.

Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore is a charming, feel-good story filled with warmth, community, and the healing power of books. It’s the kind of read that wraps you in a cozy blanket of small-town charm and found family vibes, perfect for when you need something light and uplifting.

The heart of the story lies in its endearing characters and the sense of connection that grows within the walls of the library. Gilmore’s writing is easy and engaging, with moments of genuine sweetness that highlight themes of love, acceptance, and second chances. The library setting adds a whimsical touch, making it a lovely escape for book lovers.

However, while the novel is undeniably heartwarming, it sometimes leans too heavily into predictability. The plot follows a familiar path, and some emotional moments feel a bit surface-level, lacking the deeper complexity that could have made the story more impactful. Certain character arcs also felt underdeveloped, leaving you wanting more depth and nuance.

That said, if you’re looking for a cozy, light read with a touch of romance and plenty of heart, The Library of Borrowed Hearts is a sweet choice—even if it doesn’t fully stand out in the genre.

3 stars — a gentle, feel-good story, perfect for fans of comforting, small-town reads, but it may leave some readers craving a bit more substance.

Lucy Gilmore has absolutely found her perfect formula. She's an excellent story teller and easily brings forward feelings.

Nearly perfect book with love letters, flashbacks, pov changes and the sweetest sibling group ever!

Each section of this book delves into a different POV and connects the over arching plot together. While a bit messy in execution I did really enjoy getting those POVs to see the situation from another lens.

My only complaint of this book was that the one love story I was so invested in had a terrible ending and I ended up not liking the character later on at all when we got her POV.

Thank you to the publisher for an eARC of this book!!

This was a story FULL of flawed characters. I was able to look passed that because I really enjoyed the storyline. I also just always have a sweet spot for old and cranky characters lol I liked the multiple timelines and the two POVs.

Another great read from Lucy Gilmore. If you enjoyed reading The Lonely Hearts Book Club, then grab this not-quite-a-sequel. There are a lot of common themes and concepts (young woman struggling to find herself, cranky old man, love interest, book shop, references to literature, etc...) that I was worried would be too repetitive of a plot, But, I found myself really enjoying some of these commonalities but with a plot different enough to capture my interest, my heart, and my sorrow for the real-life elements that these characters go through.

The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore is a charming and heartwarming novel that will resonate with book lovers and romantics alike. The story follows Chloe Sampson, a librarian struggling to care for her younger siblings and find her own place in the world. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she stumbles upon a rare edition of a 1960s book at a flea market and uncovers a hidden love story written in the margins.

Chloe’s search for the truth behind the tragic romance written in the book’s pages leads her on a journey of self-discovery and unexpected connections, especially with her grumpy, reclusive neighbor, Jasper Holmes. As the two work together to unravel the mystery, Chloe learns that love and friendship can blossom in the most unlikely of places.

Gilmore’s writing is both witty and poignant, with a great balance of humor and emotion. The book is a celebration of the power of books to bring people together, heal old wounds, and uncover hidden stories. The Library of Borrowed Hearts is a delightful, feel-good read that’s perfect for fans of stories about found families, second chances, and the magic of literature.

Heartwarming and uplifting, this literary tour of the past and present brings a grumpy old neighbor and the struggling young woman next door together in a way neither could have predicted. A great first read to start the new year!

✨ Book Review: THE LIBRARY OF BORROWED HEARTS by Lucy Gilmore ✨

📚 Book Synopsis: Librarian Chloe Sampson dropped out of college to care for her three younger siblings and is struggling to keep up with their energy, their needs, and the family finances. When she finds a rare first edition from the 1960s that she aims to sell, she finds romantic notes written in the margins. This discovery and her bad-tempered old neighbor’s interest sparks a literary scavenger hunt through town. Written across the 1960s and present day, multiple stories, connections, and secrets unfold.

📚 My Take: Wow, this book has so much, and from multiple points of view. I thoroughly enjoyed the literary mystery, the unraveling of the backstory from the 1960s, and seeing how the characters connect. It’s also beautifully written and I loved how it all came together at the end. This would make a great book club pick and there’s even a reading group guide at the end. Highly recommend.

Read THE LIBRARY OF BORROWED HEARTS for
📖 In-the-margins secret romance
🤫 Long-buried secrets
📚 Book quotes
🏡 Neighborly bonds
❤️‍🩹 Familial love and sacrifice
🖐️ Multiple POVs (and narrators!)
⏳ Dual timeline
🥰 Uplifting finale

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 stars)

😘 Thanks to @SourcebooksCasa and #NetGalley for the gifted eARC and to my local public library for the borrowed audiobook of this amazing read. All opinions are mine alone.

This was a good read a bit slow but I was enjoying it. Until the ending. The book just ended. No epilogue. I was left with too many unanswered questions. The book just felt incomplete. So overall it's just an average read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the E-ARC.

All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

𝙏𝙬𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨. 𝙎𝙞𝙭𝙩𝙮 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨. 𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝 𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜.

The short blurb for the book above, plus the fact that one of the lovers is now an old curmudgeon (A Man Called Ove is one of my favorite books) had me immediately intrigued. But there is SO much else going on in the book that the main "mystery" seems like a very minor sideplot, even with the dual timeline. I think main character Chloe was written to be sympathetic and endearing but I just couldn't connect with her and found myself not really caring how her story would end. Just overall a disappointing read as I was excited going into it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Thanks to @netgalley for the opportunity to read this heartwarming story. A small town librarian discovers handwritten love notes in books from the 1950s and decides to find out if the writers still live the community. A lot of coincidences happen but the plot is still believable. I highly recommend this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ novel. 📚📚📚 #netgalley #netgalleyreview #my2024readingchallenge #bookstagram #libraryofborrowedhearts #bookrecommendations

The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore is a story that centers around books and libraries. What more could this library worker and book lover ask for? I thouroughly enjoyed Gilmore's previous novel, The Lonely Hearts Book Club and was very excited to get a chance to read this one. While it's marketed as a romance, I would say it is more of a found family narrative with a little mystery and lost love mixed in for good measure. Told in dual timelines (present day and the 1960s) and through multiple perspectives this novel had so many wonderful literary references - some I knew very well and some of which I wasn't familiar with. Maybe I need to read a couple more classics? A librarian finds scribbled secret messages between J and C in the margins of classic novels at the library, she's set on finding out who they are from and what they mean. And what she finds includes her grumpy next door neighbor, a survival training expert, and her own brothers and sister.

I have really become a fan of the found family trope and enjoyed the curmodgeonly neighbor (Jasper) of our protagonist and her siblings. He wasn't as mean as he tried to be and I really enjoyed his growing relationship with Chloe's siblings as they kind of made themselves at home with him. I found the first half of this book to be wonderfully warm and engrossing. I loved the interaction between Chloe and her friend at the library as they find and try to figure out the messages in the books. But as the story progressed, I found myself losing interest quickly. The past timeline with Jasper was interesting at first, but I was turned off by the actions of some characters in that time. I also felt like the book just ended and was dissatisfied with how a major plot point was just done.

I was looking for the excitement and magic I felt while reading The Lonely Hearts Book Club (yes, there's a nod to a character from that book!) but felt like this just didn't reach that mark. However, there are many great reviews and people that have loved this novel, so I encourage you to check it out. Overall it was good, but not a great read for me.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

If you love romcoms you will love this one so so much! It’s incredibly moving and just so sweet, I loved every second of this book.

I loved how romantic and heartwarming this one was. I know I’m late reviewing but I wanted to take my time with this one and I’m so thankful I did! This was one to savor

A beautiful and sensitive book. Well written, with a touching story that deserves to be read by everyone. I highly recommend reading it!
Thank you NetGalley for making this work available!

This was a cute read, and I was hooked and needed to get to the end with Chloe. I was rooting for her and liked her as a FMC. The romantic tale was sweet and pulled at my heartstrings.

What a sweet book! Librarian Chloe leads a quiet life, work and taking care of her younger siblings, but it's not really the life she would have chosen. When she finds an old, rare book in the library's trash pile, she thinks that selling it might help her situation. Then she discovers writing in the margins, and this leads her to an intriguing love story.

The characters are well drawn, the story is full of heart and moves swiftly. The story fluctuates between Chloe's story in the present day and the story of the young lovers who corresponded through the writing in the margins of the book. Both stories are captivating and very sweet. I could not put it down. Yes, it's a bit sappy. Yes, it's a bit predictable. But I just didn't care. Nothing new or shocking, but a fun, romantic book.

This book was really sweet! It was my first time reading anything by Lucy Gilmore and it definitely won’t be my last - I felt that this story was super heartwarming despite some of the heavier and sadder topics throughout. A book about books is always fun to read about and I loved that Chloe worked in the library, since that’s such a fun setting.
Her family’s dynamic reminded me a lot of Shameless, it was hysterical but also so sad and I felt for every one of the kids. They were written to be so dynamic and layered that they felt so real to me. I had suspicions early on about the reveal towards the end of the book and I thought it was clever. Jasper and Catherine’s love story was realistic and sad, but a bit over the top for me. But hey, it’s fiction! Jasper grew on me and I love him so much, I have a soft spot for grumpy old men I guess!