This story was very enjoyable! The characters and story were fun to follow along. The story kept my attention throughout and I was looking forward to see how it would end.

This beautifully woven story follows modern day Chloe Sampson and her siblings while she unravels secrets from a 1960’s love story. Chloe finds out about more than just a quick fling but a life long devotion between margin writers C and J. The Library of Borrowed Hearts Is a beautiful example of how a multiple point-of-view story should work.

I adored this book. The banter between characters, strong feminist women, aching heart break, and family ties - both biological and found, gave me a reason to turn page after page. It was thrilling. The twist shocked and delighted me. It is one of the sort of books that I wish I could read for the first time all over again.

Truly, my only complaint is the way the margin notes between C and J are organized in the text. It made it difficult to follow along. I’m not sure how to fix the format issue, I just know it annoyed me.

I look forward to reading everything Lucy Gilmore writes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

After her mother abandoned her three younger siblings, Chloe left college behind and moved back home to take care of them. Now, she’s working at a library trying to make ends meet, dealing with the chaos of raising three kids, and dreading the occasional interaction with her curmudgeonly old neighbor, Jasper. When she comes across a book the library is throwing away that might be worth some money, she squirrels it away to sell. But she discovers that the book has a surprising connection to her neighbor, one that paints him in an entirely new light.

This book tells two narratives in two timelines told by different narrators in each part, coming together to create a story that is beautiful and funny and heartbreaking and heartwarming. I loved that the characters were so vividly drawn and three-dimensional, and I loved that it didn’t end with the perfect fairy tale ending. That kind of ending would have been too neat and saccharine for this book. The ending we did get was perfect for these characters and the story they inhabit.

Representation: Native American characters

CW: Child neglect and abandonment

From the author The Lonely Hearts Book Club, which I completely adored, comes another sweet and bookish read. Chloe has enough on her plate. She's a local librarian who is struggling to support and raise her three younger siblings after their mother abandoned them. She comes across an unusual find while cleaning out the library's basement, a first edition of an unusual book. Unfortunately, her plans to sell it are dashes as she finds notes in the margins from two young lovers. But, in a surprise twist, her cranky neighbor, Jasper, spots the book during an argument and offers to buy it for a hefty sum. Chloe realizes that Jasper must have been one of the lovers, and decides to go on a literary scavenger hunt to find any other books with more notes to learn the end of his love story.

Filled with literary references and moments, this book is any readers dream, plus it's filled with lots of heart. It's hard not to love Chloe and her tight-knit family, including all three of her siblings, and everyone in their lives. A delightful bookish read!

Gilmore writes another story about misfits finding each other and forming their own families, united once again by a love of public libraries. The story recounts a past romance in 1960 and the repercussions of that young love that echoes in the present day. Gilmore excels at character development, and this light-hearted read with emotional depth is well-worth your time.

This story used the library and books as a backdrop for a multigenerational, multi-perspective story that unfolds as a love story of books, of family, of found family, of privacy and strength but also knowing how to accept help. This story came together like a puzzle -- seeing all the story lines and where they ended up but getting all the pieces to put together to fill out the story. It was intriguing and sweet, but just a great read all around.

#netgalley
#thelibraryofborrowedhearts

I stumbled upon this lovely book and was immediately drawn in by the cover and blurb. Many thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for providing the copy. Chloe is a librarian who barely makes ends meet because she also has to take care of her younger brothers and sister. One day she comes across a very old copy of a book in which two people had left messages for each other. She takes on the difficult task of unraveling the lovers' story, while her relationship with her angry neighbor undergoes a change. Will Chloe uncover the whole story and what will she learn about herself along the way?

I really liked the story. We read about Chloe and her loved ones in the present tense, with the point of view sometimes changing and getting to know more of the characters. Ah, the narrative also jumps back in time, where we manage to follow in real time the two lovers and their exchange of words between the pages of books. Iliked the love story itself, but I didn't like how it ended. To me, Catherine's decision was not a good one and Jasper did not deserve such a thing. However, I understand the author's motivation for such a development in the plot.

I liked Chloe and felt sorry for having to deal with absolutely everything by herself. She definitely has a problem with accepting help, but we get to see a wonderful gradation of her character. I liked Jasper and Zach the most though. I liked the contrast between the two, and the grumpy old man whose heart isn't actually made of stone really amused me at times. Chloe's siblings were also a great addition to the story. The book is interesting and definitely managed to make me smile.

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: General Fiction, Women's Fiction
Spice Level: Med (sex on page but not detailed)
Language: A few f-bombs

I wasn't sure going into THE LIBRARY OF BORROWED HEARTS if this was actually a romance. There is a strong romantic theme, but I'm going to call it as being on the wide of women's fiction.

There was so much I enjoyed about this book:

- Literary references
- The unfolding of the past
- The characters

There was one thing I didn't enjoy:

The reference to The Tropic of Capricorn along with the quote threw me off because it was graphic. To me, this set up the book to be very salacious (and it's not). I was on edge wondering if this book was going to turn pornographic. This shows how important it is to think through the applications of adding something in the beginning. Without it, this would have been a five star read.

Happy reading!

What a lovely yet bittersweet book this was.

Going into it, I didn’t know this was going to be both multi-POV and dual timeline, but I LOVED that it took this route. This was such a rich and interesting story, and being able to get the background from the earlier timeline and all the smaller details that’d be missed in the present day sections made such a huge difference. I felt so invested in these characters, and even though we already *kind of* know what happens, the journey to get there was still full of surprises and twists. A star-crossed love story, found family, and a fun cast of characters - what more could you ask for?

The Library of Borrowed Hearts is a book that, at time of writing, has a 4.2 average rating on Storygraph and a 4.1 on Goodreads. I always like to stress that my reviews are subjective reflections of my own opinions, quirks, and preferences, but I feel that is especially the case here, as I am, apparently, in the minority on this one.
You guys. I was just so, so bored.
It took me nearly three weeks to slog through the chapters, and, considering this is a lightly-plotted contemporary romance (with dashes of magic and whimsy sprinkled throughout), that’s surprising. Hell, I finished Kushiel’s Dart in a little over two weeks, and that’s a thousand-page behemoth. No, something about The Library of Borrowed Hearts was just not quite doing it for me.
Honestly, I just think this is a case where I’m the wrong audience. I’m a lover of classic literature, but the abundance of references to other books and authors (Hemingway, Bronte, etc.) felt less like an interesting interrogation of books and literature than an introductory English lecture during syllabus week. As for the characters - while I love a good curmudgeon with a heart of gold, neither of our female main characters did anything for me. I felt absolutely no connection to either Chloe or Catherine, and the fact that their names were so similar didn’t help things. (Again, I’ll totally cop to this being a me problem. If I was more invested in the plot or the characters, I doubt this would’ve been an issue.)
Whenever you, as an author, choose to write a book in which other books feature prominently, you always have to be a little careful. Sometimes, I’m reminded of just why these other books appealed to me so much in the first place, and instead of feeling drawn into the world of the story I’m currently reading, I can’t help but wish I was reading Wuthering Heights instead.
In the end, I think I wanted something different from this book than what I got. I wanted more depth and mystery, and while those did come, there was too little, too late, at least for my tastes. I’d still recommend checking it out if you’re a fan of the author’s previous work, or if something in the blurb appeals to you. This just wasn’t my particular cup of tea.


(Review will be published 04/22)

This book was a lot of fun to read. Although the characters face a lot of different hardships and obstacles, this story still felt so wholesome. It reminded me a bit of Fredrik Backman's writing in the sense that you get to see through the eyes of different characters' points of view (and there's a curmudgeon of an old man!). Definitely worth picking up. Thank you Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I accidently downloaded this book in two different formats so this review will be identical to the audio one.

Lucy Gilmore has this amazing ability of making the characters in the page feel real. Their pains and struggles as well as their happy and sweet moments are shared with the reader as if they were real leaving breathing people.
Chloe was delightful. Her courage, love and passion were impossible not to sympathize with. As someone that grew up with family members and has had foster children in her care before I can tell you with absolute certainty that the book was written well and real care was given to pains and difficulties in those character lives.
Jasper was entertaining, and this comment will probably sound funny, but Lucy writes cranky old man that you can't help but fall in love with really well!
I also loved that there was a love interest or two in this book. It gave it a little more heart without being over the top.
I called The Lonely Hearts Book Club a love letter to Book Lovers, but I think perhaps this one fits that description better. The book quotes and the cute way notes were passed through books between Jasper and his love were adorable and made me smile every time. I will 100% be recommending this book to everyone.

Sourcebooks Casablanca And NetGalley provided me with an electronic ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to them!

This was such a great read. It has heartbreak, romance, family drama, etc. all wrapped up in one book. It is something that I would recommend to others, especially if they are looking for a meaningful, yet fictional, story.

You will most likely find yourself with watery eyes at times, but you will also be exposed to moments that make you laugh out loud. The dual POV/timelines are done very well and the author’s writing style makes this an easy to read book that is difficult to put down.

I do feel like the ending is abrupt though. A few things at the end seem rushed or incomplete, that is the reason for 4 stars instead of 5.

I really enjoyed this book and finished it in just a couple days because it’s one of those easy read books and I didn’t want to put it down! I really enjoyed the characters and the whole plot was just fascinating. I also liked that although it is a romance book, that was not the main focus and there was an actual story behind the leading couple. Lucy Gilmore writes a book that transcends generations to show that a book can unite people far apart. I feel every reader can relate to The Library of Borrowed Hearts.

Wow, this was such a wonderful read. The story within the story was so deep and moving. I also just loved Chloe, even with her hardships she truly understood the deep meaning of family and taking care of the ones you love. The story between J and C, was so beautiful. I was so reeled in by all of it and wanted to see what happened between them! So much heartbreak that Chloe experienced in her lifetime, I was praying that she'd some day get her happy ending. While this story has deep meanings and good life lessons which may make you shed some tears, it will also make you smile quite a bit and laugh a few times as well. Loved this story, the author has a magical way with words.

This book was just beautiful. My literature loving heart could not put it down. This one releases at the end of the month, and I highly recommend it.

It is told in two parts: present day and 1960. It follows several characters as the reader gets the love story of two complete opposites. There story is that shared through books such as: Farewell to Arms, Wuthering Heights, and The Haunting of Hill House.

Beautifully crafted and intertwined with some of the greatest classics.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for review.

Chloe is a librarian at a public library who has to care for 3 younger siblings after their mother abandoned them. She discovers an old book that has notes in the margins, from long-ago lovers. She unravels the mystery of the notes with her friend, her neighbor, and the mysterious cute guy who walks into her life. The book jumps between present day, and the 1960s when it follows the two young lovers in question.

What I liked: The multi-character narration was fine. I liked the premise that involved literature. I enjoyed the family dynamics and the relationship with the neighbor.

What I struggled with: The pacing moved slowly at times. I guessed at how all of the characters intertwined. As a librarian myself, I struggled with the strict librarians in both the past and present day. I also didn't believe that a library employee would deface books just to communicate with a boy!

A banned book from the 1940’s. Scrawled notes in the margins. A conversation with a grumpy old man leads Chloe on a hunt to discover the mystery of a secret love story.

Set in 1960 and the present time.

Chloe is young and single and lives in Colville in the US. Not long after she left home and started college she had to return home to care for her young sister and two brothers after their mother abandoned them.

Chloe works at the public library and struggles to make ends meet and provide a home for her siblings.

One day when Chloe is in the basement of the library sorting out old, discarded books, she finds a very old, battered book hidden with some junk. Inside the book she finds notes scrawled in the margins with hints of a secret love story and famous quotes from other books about love and loss.

When Chloe arrives home, she finds her young brother, Noodle is very upset because Jasper, the grumpy old man next door has confiscated Noodle’s frisbee when it landed in Jasper’s garden.

Chloe decides to confront Jasper hoping to have the frisbee returned. After a long conversation about why he should return the frisbee and how Chloe can’t afford, to keep replacing frisbees, Chloe mentions the banned book she found and how she hopes to sell it. Jasper offers to buy the book.

I loved the way book titles and quotes from books were used throughout the story. Chloe and her friend Pepper try to discover why Jasper is so keen to obtain the book and who the two lovers were that had written notes to each other in books.

This was a fun book about lovers that are forced to lead separate lives but find a way to secretly communicate. Lots of twists and turns. The pace was slow at first but quickens towards the end.

There were a lot of books that I have enjoyed reading mentioned throughout and many quotes from books were used to illustrate love and loss.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for a chance to read and review this E-Book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I love books about books, libraries, librarians and just book lovers in general. This book had all of that, but it also had friendship, love, heartbreak, and so much more.
The main character, Chloe, is a librarian who is struggling caring for her 3 younger siblings. Next door lives the curmudgeonly Jasper Holmes. Chloe finds a rare book in the basement storage room of the library she works at. In the margins of the book are romantic notes. Chloe decides to find out who wrote them. In doing so she finds out that there is more to her neighbor than meets the eye.
This was an excellent book, well written and I finished it in one sitting. I came to love Jasper and his interactions with all of Chloe’s siblings, especially Noodle.
The story hooked me and didn’t’ let go with all its twists and turns. I highly recommend this wonderful story!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5


Thank you, Net Galley and Sourcebook CASABLANCA for this book.
The Library of Borrowed Hearts is a compelling beautiful intersected story I could not put down.
While reading this book I smiled a lot, was mildly frustrated and almost cried.

Imagine working in a library (we all know that is already a dream) and then finding hidden notes on an old forbidden book (double dream). But that is not all my friends, these notes are not simple annotations, these are from two different people, two people who seem to have an amazing witty connection, but who are they? Who is J with his crumbly calligraphy? And who is C with her neat rounded one?
Chloe is not even a librarian, she couldn´t finish her degree to become one, she works at the library doing everything necessary to take care of her three younger siblings, but when one day she stumbles upon an old book with very interesting annotations into it her curiosity gets the better of it.

This story was so well written, with multiple timelines and PoVs. All the characters, even the small secondary ones developed during the book and I was so so so pleasantly surprised by how much I loved every single one of them.
Even the different PoVs are not placed as you expect them at all and they hit you in the face when you least expect them, not even once I was disappointed to find myself inside a certain character or time.

Jasper may as well be one of my favorite characters ever written. His story was so sad and lonely, but also so pure and true. And even if I know he doesn´t really exist I really hope he can enjoy his final (many) years with all his grandchildren and do whatever the hell he wants to!

Zach, Noodle, Theo, Trixie, and even Gummy Bear have all my love!

And even if this could be a romance book, and it definitely is a love story book, there is nothing that can overshadow the family bond between Chloe and her siblings.