Chloe Sampson works at the town’s library, barely eeking out a living and taking care of her three younger siblings. The job falls to her when her mother leaves without a word and Chloe puts her entire world on hold. Her next-door neighbor doesn’t help, an octogenarian who steals her brother’s frisbees. But one day she finds a worn copy of Tropic of Cancer with handwritten notes in the margins and it becomes apparent that a grand romance that happened in the 60s right there in Colville with books as the messenger. Her life changes as she begins to unravel the decades-old romance, meets a new friend in town when her sibling Noodle has an accident, and is finally forced to confront her curmudgeon of a neighbor.

This story was so sweet and fun - I love all the characters and the intergenerational aspect of it. It truly shows how one decision can change everything down through the ages, and affect all of those around you. Chloe is a resilient person who does the right thing and she’s a wonderful protagonist, and with her mirror in Jasper, the grumpy neighbor, they just make good fiction. Lately, I’ve been reading a lot of books where the main characters are suffering from poverty or near poverty, and I believe it is very telling of where we are right now as a society, as well as how readers perhaps need to read it. It was pretty cathartic for me to hear about others going through this sort of situation. Gilmore’s writing is good and experienced, and the plot flows so well that the reader is compelled to keep reading; it makes it a quick read for sure. The characters are in love with literature, and even with their dire circumstances, books pull them out of the depths and give them hope. It is a lovely novel, one that the ensemble cast stays with you after you’ve shut the pages.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I am not really a mystery reading but I will say this one drew me in and I actually enjoyed it! I loved the idea of finding love in the margins of library books however, I wish there was just a little more depth everything in the book kind of felt glanced over if this makes sense. I hated that the way Chole had to drop everything to raise her siblings because although it felt like a part of growth in her story at times it felt very forced. Jasper was relatable at times but again often it felt as though characters and overall plot were left unfished. The ending felt about the same but the story also had it good points .

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for this arc. This book is a very sweet story about two couples navigating their respective relationships, sixty years apart. It is also a story about the relationships we have with our families, our community, and the responsibilities we shoulder for these relationships. This is not a romance, but definitely worth a read.

The story begins with the introduction of Chloe Sampson, a librarian in a small town in eastern Washington state, who is also raising her three rambunctious siblings single handedly. Chloe is cleaning out the basement of the town's library, when she finds handwritten notes in a bootleg copy of Henry Miller's Tropic of Cancer. The notes are between Jasper Holmes, Chloe's grumpy next door neighbor, and Catherine Martin, from sixty years prior to present time. Chloe realizes the significance of these written notes when she finds other books with similar sentiments. The story switches from present time to sixty years past, and Chloe meets Zach, and they become the second relationship in the story.

The love of books is starkly apparent in this story, how books provide an outlet for varied emotions, and how books ease the loneliness some characters feel. I loved all of the characters, and the story was intriguing, but the pacing was slow for me in the first 25% of the book. It did take off quickly after that point, and I enjoyed it very much.

I love an unlikely friendship and a mystery, but I wanted a little more depth out of this one, which came too little too late for my taste. Chloe is working at the library doing random jobs, having had to drop out of college to raise her siblings after her mom took off. She comes across a mystery of a love affair written in the margins of library books and sets about to find out who they were. Jasper is the crotchety next door neighbor who keeps frisbees that have landed in his yard until Chloe's brother breaks his leg and she has no one else to turn to except Jasper. I really loved the premise and the writing was great, but I wished the characters had been developed more, or maybe less characters to need to develop. Still a good one for those looking for a light Man called Ove readalike.

3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The book was not what I expected from the premise, but it was a wonderful discovery.

I enjoyed the somewhat parallel lives of the forefront characters, but I especially loved the side characters — Noodle, Theo, and Trixie!. ♥️

The story was interesting. I thought it was purely romance when I started reading it. But it was so much more.

I’m still not sure how I feel about the ending tho. But I think that it’s the author’s way if never fully closing the stories of the characters. ♥️

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a lovely sweet story full of characters that I couldn't help but root for - from the curmudgeon to the rumpled librarian, they may have technically fallen into the categories of tropes, but the way that Gilmore fleshed out their lives and quirks made me love them nevertheless! With a thoughtful plot that takes delightful and painful twists and turns, the story takes readers full circle on a trip through the ups and downs of family (found and biological), and the tragedies that so often underpin the greatest love stories. With an easy style that draws readers in and tugs at the heartstrings without ever devolving into melodrama, the book brings past and present together in a way that is endearing, funny, and charming.

10/10 YES. I fell in love with Lucy Gilmore's first book, The Lonely Hearts Book Club, and had high expectations for her second. The Library of Borrowed Hearts did not disappoint.

The characters were loveable, dynamic and fun. You felt as if you were in their world and experiencing and I thoroughly enjoy the mystery aspect of the love story, the found family relationships and how much of an impact books can have on your life.

Highly recommend!

Chloe Sampson works at the local library in her small town in northern Washington. After her mother left Chloe's three younger siblings alone and never returned and a neighbour called social services Chloe had to leave college to look after them. They are living hand-to-mouth on her pitiful salary and she tries to make a little extra by selling unwanted library books.

One day while clearing out a basement storage unit she finds what she thinks could be a very valuable copy of Tropic of Cancer only to discover that the copy has been defaced by readers writing in the margins, but not just comments on the writing, two people appear to have been conducting a romance. More intriguing, when her cranky elderly neighbour Jasper Holmes catches a glimpse of the book in her possession he offers her a blank cheque for the book, it seems he may have been one of the people writing in the book. Assisted by her BFF and a young man called Zach who runs wilderness/survival courses, Chloe starts a literary scavenger hunt for other library books which have been similarly defaced. The head librarian (whose wife is a believer of tall tales) tells Chloe that rumour has it Jasper killed a young woman (or maybe several) and buried them in his garden, which is why his flowers are so beautiful.

Intertwined with this modern story is the romance between a nineteen year old Jasper and Catherine Martin, the daughter of the Major who runs the 760th Radar Base in Colville. Like all good romances, Jasper is dirt poor, sending half his wages home to his mother and younger siblings, while Catherine lives in a big house and is expected to marry an officer (and a gentleman). Despite her father's authoritarian attitude and her mother's acquiescence, Catherine is a free spirit and a rebel. She alone seems to be able to goad the normally taciturn Jacob into expressing his feelings.

This story is broken into five sections. At the end of each section is some kind of revelation, some of which were more of a shock than others. Its a romance, but maybe also women's fiction, and a mystery.

<spoiler>This didn't go the way I wanted it to, but what it did do was make me finally understand that film <i>The Way We Were</i> and why it has to end that way.</spoiler>

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

Lucy Gilmore has a way of capturing your heart and smashing it in her books. A great and witty rom com that will leave you wanting her next book already.

Not what i expected but i really enjoyed this book. I love a book about books.

Loveable characters, great plot. I really enjoyed.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book!

The Library of Borrowed Hearts was a delight! I loved all of the characters except Catherine. I really loved the dual timeline and how both stories were centered around books. Books truly bring people together.There is a fantastic array of books that are discussed throughout the story.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy of the book. The book will be published on April 30, 2024.

This touching dual-time line story will warm hearts, particularly those who love books, about books.

Chloe, a small-town librarian, is our current day central protagonist. She is struggling to keep her family afloat, raising her 3 younger siblings after her mom left town. When she finds a once scandalous book with writing in the margins, and realizes it is a secret correspondence, she decides to follow the clues to see where the story takes her.

Our second timeline, in 1960, features the romance of the infamous marginalia writers. As the story unfolds, the timelines will come together to a very satisfying conclusion.

This was an incredibly clever novel, which celebrates literature and the power of books. Miss Gilmore has written an accessible story featuring a breadth of characters, both likable and some unlikable. For those who love stories about messy relationships, both familial and romantic, The Library of Borrowed Hearts will be a winner.

If you enjoy books about books and characters that adore books, I have a feeling you will enjoy reading "The library of borrowed hearts".
There are two timelines that are easy to follow. One timeline occurs in the 60's where two star crossed lovers, Catherine and Jasper meet.
They are from different social circles so meeting in public is frowned upon. They decide to communicate through notes in the margins of books. These notes are discovered in a book during a present day library clean out. Chloe works at a local library and becomes a bit obsessed with the back story to these love inspired notes. While the reader follows Chloe on her "investigation" we get to meet present day Jasper, he happens to be Chole's grouchy next door neighbor.
This turns into so much more than just finding out about the story behind some notes. It's a story of young love as well as familial love and responsibility; friendship and it's love is also at the heart of this story. Some of the heart to heart conversations at the end of the book had me in tears. I became so invested in the lives of these characters that I was overwhelmed with emotion.
The ending was left open-ended but I am okay with that, not every story needs a bow to wrap in up. Plus, it's fun to think of how Chloe and Jasper continue to help one another, finally getting the chance to fully enjoy life.
I'd happily give this one 4 stars.
I appreciate Netgalley and Sourcebooks for letting me read this ARC.

Not at all what I expected but in the best way possible. I started this and just wasn’t in the right mindset for it but I decided to pick it up again and give it another go, boy am I glad it did!

Chloe was in college when she finds out the state has her siblings. Her mom walked out on them and they survived without anyone knowing for a week! So, she moves back home and takes care of them. She works as a librarian in their little town when one day, she finds a book in the basement. The best part (well second best part) she can sell it for a bunch of money but then she find writing in it (that’s the best part). Turns out her neighbor and old curmudgeon gives her a blank check for the book! Writing and all! The best part, it’s his writing and a mysterious C. It’s a love story and she now can’t stop to find out more.

This bounces back and forth between Chloe and 1960 when C and J’s love story was unfolding. It caught my attention and kept me. I needed to find out what happened! A few twists and surprises along the way but oh so stinking good. I loved the relationship Jasper formed with Chloe and her siblings so much! This all really came together in the end and I just really loved this.

I’m automatically inclined to love anything with a bookish premise. Lucy Gilmore created characters that are instantly lovable and charming. While the ending wasn’t exactly what I hoped for, I think it was perfectly fit to the characters. I will look forward to more books by this author!

This book is cute and mysterious at the same time, the whole book hunting part was fun and interesting. The characters were great with a lot of depth and the twists were unexpected. And I loved the list of books given at the end of the book. However, I did feel like the story was all over the place, like random changes in pov and it felt rushed.

Lucy Gilmore always has the perfect vision for her characters and the way she unwinds their stories to connect is truly magnificent. This was one of my favorite books I’ve read so far this year.

Have you ever finished a book and you’re just left wanting to stare at a blank wall?

I finished this book and just needed time to process.

This book makes you rethink what happily ever after (HEA) means.
Letting go, accepting what can’t be changed, forgiving, and family were different themes of love that was explored.

Do I think some characters were selfish and hurt other characters? Yes.
Do I wish that they would apologize more?
Also yes.

But I think it was through all the flaws that they seemed most human.

I wish there was an epilogue, but that ending was enough. Why do we need to see a 5 years later clip of them being happy? We see them happy in the present…and isn’t that enough?

A tragic love story told in two time frames between the past and present. This was a very slow read for me. While the overall story is good, there is a lot of over-descriptive filler that makes the book seem to drag on, especially in the first half. I didn't really connect well with any of the characters, but I did want to read to the end to find out the full story.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for ARC.

The concept of this book hooked me into the story right away. What a magical story. I really enjoyed it. The only thing was ending. It wasn’t bad but I felt like it was rushed?

My first time reading this authors book but it will not be the last time.