During Easter my daughters and I made those yummy treats where you take a pretzel and melt some chocolate on top. A little salty, a little sweet - the perfect amount of both. This book reminded me of that - but if the proportion of chocolate was just a little too much.

The set-up: After their mother leaves unexpectedly and not telling anyone, Chloe has to come back from college to take care of her three younger siblings. She has a low paying, but satisfying job at a library, but it is still tough for her to make ends meet for four people. She is also very proud and doesn't easily take help from others. To add some interest to her life, she finds an annotated copy of Tropic of Cancer in the basement where it seems like two clandestine lovers were communicating with each other. She decides to solve the mystery of their romance. This pushes the book into dual timelines as well as MANY POVs - Chloe, Catherine, Jasper, Noodle, the forest guy (I forget his name)...

Instead of doing a strict pros and cons list, I'm going with pros with caveats. I did mostly enjoy this book, so I think that's fair.

First, I enjoyed both timelines although I felt they both got a bit repetitive in the middle. At about the 60% point I knew where the book was going and just wanted it to get there. There was one chapter from Noodle's POV, which I thought was unnecessary and didn't add a whole lot to the story. I don't think I needed all the different POVs in order to appreciate the book. I was especially not very interested in older Jasper. It would have been fun to discover his personality and quirks through the past Jasper and with the other characters. His inner monologue made him more of a caricature instead of a fully rounded person to me.

Second, I can not for the life of me remember the title of this book. It is VERY similar to Gilmore's last book and title. A neighborly, bookish curmudgeon turns out to be not so curmudgeonly once we and the characters get to know him. Think Ove/Otto from Fredrick Bachman but much, much sweeter overall (too much chocolate). I find this one hard to distinguish from her last book. But I did like both better than her rom-com I Hate You More. I'm curious to see if this is going to be her niche now or if she will branch out beyond this micro-genre and similar plot.

Third, although I wouldn't call the ending tidy or neat, it was very saccharine and sweet. I thought some of the characters were VERY quick to forgive and forget when major life things happened. But that could be the cynic in me. I was happy for the characters because I liked them, but I didn't find it overly believable.

Fourth, there is one trope used in the book that I absolutely hate, but I can't say it because it is a bit of a spoiler. I think it wasn't an immediately DNF for me because of the time period, but it did make this not a highly rated book. I think it is probably realistic but overdone.

Overall, this was a successful, quick, easy, sweet read. If you are looking for something not too heavy with a happy ending (but I wouldn't straight up call it a romance) this might be a good fit for you. Am I going to remember these characters? No. Is this going to win any awards? Probably not. Did I enjoy reading it? Absolutely. 3.75 stars rounded up.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A fun nice beach read with enough substance to make it more than a fluffy book!

Another fabulous book by Lucy Gilmore. I absolutely adored her previous novel so I was excited to read this one. It was amazing - so heartwarming. I loved the multiple POVs and time periods....it added so much to the storyline. I do agree with some reviewers that wanted a happily ever after but all in all a great book. A book I will 100% recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I wasn’t convinced I was going to love this story…until about halfway through- when I realized I was so in love with Chloe’s family, her work at the library, and grouchy old Jasper, that I couldn’t put it down! So many literary references, a twist in the final act, and the sweetest siblings made this a home run for me. I’m excited to read more by Lucy Gilmore!

This story takes place in two timelines that match up perfectly. I thought the author did a great job melding the storylines together. I am not usually a huge fan of family style books and focus on struggling moms/guardians but this was actually really cute. I now want to go to a library and look for notes in the margins of random books :)

"You know the thing I always loved about books is how they make it possible to live a thousand different lives."

If you are looking for a heartwarming story that uses books to connect people, share a love story that will fill and break your heart, and help those who may be lonely or struggle to connect to those around them, The Library of Borrowed Hearts is for you.

This book felt like a warm hug for my soul. I adored the utilization of literary pieces along with the correspondence between J & C to propel the story forward. Lucy Gilmore's choice of when to introduce specific POVs allowed me to feel the characters' emotions and get to know them more deeply. Overall this book was beautifully written and unique, and I will be thinking about it constantly - the Sampsons and Jasper have a special place in my heart. My only complaint is the abrupt ending - I needed more!

⭐⭐⭐⭐ This is my second of Lucy Gilmore's books and they just feel good. There is suspense in understanding the characters and she includes twists in the stories but without any anxiety involved. This one was a little steamier than her last and even though I'd say it is a Romance there is such depth and breadth in the cast of characters that it seems fuller than typical genres.

Read if you like:
•Forbidden Love
•Meddling families
•Second Chance
•Impossible Love

🌶️🌶️- A little steam, but not too much IMO.

Chloe Sampson interrupted her grad school to move home and take care of her three younger siblings.
She's working part time at the library and struggling to make ends meet. While cleaning out the library basement she finds a rare edition of a book from the 1960s. In the margins are notes between two young lovers. Intending to sell it online she's shocked that her cranky neighbor, Jasper Holmes, offers to buy it immediately. Chloe realizes that he's one of the writers. And the literary hunt continues when she realizes that this isn't the only book that they used to pass notes.

Tracking down a love story from decades ago, opens up doors and second chances in the present. Jasper finds himself, sucked into the whirlwind that is the Sampson household. Not all love stories end in tragedy or start with first love.

Why I started this book: I've been haunting Netgalley this year, and this title caught my eye.

Why I finished it: The story unfolded gently, pulling at the heartstrings as it continued. This is the second book in less than a month, about the power of finding the right book to heal and help a person. (See [book:Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books|200987258]). Chloe and Jasper learn about family, friendship and power of second chances. And the bittersweet gifts of love. This is a romance, an ode to books, and curmudgeon all in one book. How could I resist falling in love?

Chloe Sampson, self-described book nerd and library employee, has found a treasure in the far reaches of the Colville Public Library’s basement — a dusty bootleg Mexican copy of “Tropic of Cancer” by Henry Miller, a famous banned book, that wasn’t legally published in the US until 1964. It’s going to be thrown out, but she thinks it has some value to online collectors and she could use the extra money. Although she’s only 24, she abandoned her library science degree to be responsible for 3 siblings, ages 15, 12, and 11 (after her mother just walked out), and her $18 an hour job just lets her family scrape by. Until she realizes that the book has been annotated (which would negatively affect its value) — apparently by a couple trading secret messages nearly 60 years ago. She’s beguiled and absolutely gobsmacked when her elderly curmudgeonly neighbor, Jasper Holmes, wants to buy it for $5000 — far more than a pristine copy would fetch.

Chloe enlists her fellow librarian, Pepper, to find other 60 year old books to uncover the decades old love story, as she is sort of courted by Zach, the survivalist school guy who rescued her brother from an accident in the woods. In a dual timeline, another young librarian, Catherine, is intrigued by a similar well-read strapping woodsman (Jasper?) while being pursued by another guy who works on the military base commanded by her father.

This delightful, clever story takes time to come together, as old secrets are revealed, relationships get re-evaluated, and the timelines start to intersect. Classic books are uniquely utilized to tell a love story. Chloe is a marvelous main character whose hard work as a substitute mom to her odd set of siblings is both amazing and heartbreaking. She’s come to realize that she might seem “stuck” for now, but there’s always a friend inside the pages of a book. 5 stars! I think this would be a terrific book club choice, too!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Chloe has big green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): YES Jasper’s garden has a featured place in the plot, but not everything blossoms at the same time, but the author needed these specific plants for literary references. Crocuses are a March bloom, long gone by the time lilies in June appear. Wisteria isn’t blooming when it’s pumpkin spice time. And growing oleander in Washington state beyond the coastal areas would be rare beyond a zone 8b -10. But Jasper’s garden is magical, so it’s all there.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for a free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Loved every minute.

Chloe is on the struggle bus. Called back from college she's taking care of three rowdy but lovely siblings since they're Mom left them high and dry. She gets a job their local library and stumbled upon a very old copy of Tropic of Cancer in the basement. Curious, she starts to read the scandalous tale only to find several notes in the margins - back and forth - love notes. Even MORE curious is when her cranky neighbor Jasper offers her a blank check to take it off her hands.

Literary scavenger hunt. Multiple POV. Two romances. Strong family bonds. This book is why I love to read.

Chloe is struggling to keep up with everything in life - her job, her brothers & sister. Then one day she finds a book with writing in the margins.

I really liked this story. Chloe seems like a character I’d like to be friends with and the love story is unique.

#netgalley #TheLibraryofBorrowedHearts

I 100% adore this novel. Gilmore tackles tough subjects in such a way that hits home without being overbearing. Even better, she provides the reading list at the end. I did not want to put this one down.

Love this book. Cozy setting, enchanting characters, and all the romance and heartbreak you could wish for. I enjoyed the multiple perspectives and time periods. I see some other reviewers didn't like the ending, but I didn't need a happily ever after to know that all of the characters will find their way.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

Chloe Sampson is struggling. She left college to become the primary guardian of her three younger siblings after her mother abandoned them. Straight up just dipped! Working at the local library to try and make ends meet, she finds a priceless book that could help put a little money in her pocket and name-brand cereals in the pantry. After her curmudgeon of a neighbor offers to buy the book for an insane price, Chloe examines the book and after closer examination, she finds a love story from the '60s in the margins. Determined to discover what happened to the lovers and why her neighbor desperately wants the book, she embarks on a literary scavenger hunt to assemble the pieces.

I'm a sucker for love notes and questionable pasts so this book was right up my alley! Chloe works so hard to stay afloat and her love for her siblings guides her. Having this literary scavenger hunt is something she can have for herself and is an escape she didn't know she needed. I enjoyed following her on this quest and was genuinely surprised by every twist and turn the story takes. Everyone has secrets and there's so much left unsaid in the margins that you can't predict the ending.

I loved all the characters, from Chloe and her siblings to her grumpy neighbor and even the charming outdoorsman who's crushing on Chloe. There's so much going on and you get POVs from several characters that slowly uncover the story of the lovers and Sampson's familial drama.

Get your copy on April 30, 2024!

Thank you NetGalley & Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was a feel good story and is a delightful novel that skillfully weaves together two timelines, creating an intergenerational story. Librarian Chloe Sampson’s life takes an unexpected turn when she discovers a rare book from the 1960s filled with romantic marginalia. As she follows the clues left by the young lovers in the margins, Chloe embarks on a literary scavenger hunt. Meanwhile, her grumpy neighbor, Jasper Holmes, reveals hidden depths, and their friendship blossoms in the unlikeliest of places.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

♡ Audiobook & eBook Review ♡
4.5 ⭐️ Rounded to 5 ⭐️
•Star-crossed Lover
•Duel Timeline
•Duel POV
This is my first book by Lucy Grimore, and I will be reading more of her work.
This book was everything and more. It will give you all the emotions.
The narrators Leanne Woodward, Aven Shore, Joe Jameson, and Bob Ball they did a phenomenal job bringing this beautiful story alive.
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Chloe has been struggling to find ends meet and literally take care of her three younger siblings. Chloe found a rare edition of a book from the 1960s at the local flea market. Only to be shocked when her cranky hermit of a neighbor swoops in and offers to buy it for an exorbitant price. Intrigued, Chloe takes a closer look at the book only to find notes scribbled in the margins between two young lovers back when the book was new…one of whom is almost definitely Jasper Holmes, her neighbor.
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♤ Release April.30 ♤
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Thank you, Netgalley and Dreamscape Media, and Sourcebook casablanca, the ALC (audiobook), and eArc for my honest review.

You cannot go wrong with Lucy Gilmore!! I loved this book! Forest of all, books about books steal my heart! And then the dual timeline, the romance and the mystery? You need to preorder this book!!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I absolutely loved Lucy's book The Lonely Hearts Book Club and knew when I saw this available on NetGalley that I had to have it.

This book had a similar layout/format to Lonely Hearts and I loved not only seeing the multiple POCs but also the dual timelines. Getting that sneak peak into Jasper's past allowed us to understand him a little more in the present.

I loved that classics were mentioned and that's how we saw the love story for J & C. I thought it was a cute, unique way to showcase their story without taking from the present story.

Chloe and her siblings were all great characters and their quirks added another layer to the story. I loved having their POVs added in the second half, too.

Overall, I loved the story and the characters. I enjoy Lucy's writing style and will read more in the future.

I really enjoyed this one. I liked Chloe and her quirky family. I liked the chemistry between her and the other characters, even her best friend Pepper. I liked how we got her point of view of her relationship with these characters and could feel the depth between them.
I loved the look into old classic books. As a librarian and book lover I loved that side of this book. We know that old books have to be gone through, but we also know that there are treasures out there.
I also liked Jasper and the look back into the past, it gave us a better look into his character. I don't think everyone will like him, but he does have good in him. Even if he seems like a curmudgeon.

A feel good read for book lovers.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

I had my first experience with this author's work last year when I read The Lonely Hearts Book Club, and it ended up being a 2023 favorite. It's probably easy to understand why I have been highly anticipating Lucy Gilmore's newest title The Library Of Borrowed Hearts... That and the fact that I love a story with a bookish angle and a mystery to solve. I have to say that it turned out to be a very satisfying read indeed!

If you enjoy books with a small town setting, you are in for a treat. The small Washington state town of Colville makes for such a great backdrop, and I liked how the surroundings actually played a role in the plot. What I didn't expect was that The Library Of Borrowed Hearts was actually a dual timeline story though, where we switch between the present and 1960 (where the story between the two tragic lovers unfolds). Dual timelines can be tricky, as I usually prefer one over the other... And in this case it was the present timeline that stood out for me; the flashbacks mostly just slowed down the pace, although that I admit that I was intrigued by what happened between the two for Jasper to end up the way he was.

This story doesn't just have a dual timeline plot though, because it also has a multiple POV structure to boot. Especially in the second half you will find a lot of different POVs, although by then you already know all of the characters so it's easy to keep them apart. I do have to say that it took me a little while to warm up to Chloe, who could be a bit exhausting at times... But I did love her three siblings, and it was fun to read about their antics. Jasper also made for such an intriguing character, and I had a great time getting to know him better over time... He might be your typical grumpy old man in the beginning, but he is sure to win over your heart! The same can't be said about the mystery woman though.

The Library Of Borrowed Hearts isn't your ordinary romance, and I wouldn't even classify it this way. True, there is romance to be found in both timelines, and especially the 1960 chapters have a lot of focus on the doomed lovers and forbidden romance. BUT. This story is also so much more. It's about family, hardship, unlikely friendships and letting go of the past. It's a mystery and scavenger hunt as Chloe tries to unravel the full story of what happened between her neighbor and the mysterious woman. And it also has many many delightful quotes and other bookish elements along the way.
All in all if you enjoy a well crafted and multi-layered dual time line story with a dose of intrigue and romance as well as unlikely friendships, I can definitely recommend The Library Of Borrowed Hearts.