This was such a delightful read. First this is a book that celebrates books and a love of all things literary. The main character, Chloe, works in a library and the tale starts out with her finding a message in a book. These characters are well developed-the curmudgeonly neighbor, the precocious siblings and the handsome stranger.
There are many layers to this story, including love, grief, abandonment, friendship, and sacrifice. The POV alternates between various characters and also between the present and the 1960’s. These layers are woven together to create a heartfelt tale that I will continue to think about for some time.

At the beginning, I did not have high hopes. I had trouble embracing the characters but my 25% rule strikes again and there was no turning back! I was so fully invested in how the story would turn out and I was emotionally attached to the characters. This book was light enough to read quickly and holds your interest. Her writing keeps you rooting for your favorite characters and you can actually feel your disgust for others. I will be buying this to have on my personal book shelf.

Enjoyed this book very much. Loved the different POV & timelines. A sweet story of love, family, friendship, and curmudgeon turned happy. Also enjoyed all the book references & why we love books so much. Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy!

DNF @ 36%

I wanted to love this book, but the pacing wasn't working for me.

pros:
It had such an interesting setup. I was enjoying the past timeline story. This book is filled with relatable moments for book lovers, readers of classics & if you've ever worked in a library.

cons:
The pacing was so slow. I felt like not much was happening, it was just a lot of talking but not actually doing anything (if that makes sense).

Maybe this writing style isn't for me, but to avoid a reading slump and a low rating because I was forcing myself to finish this book, I decided to DNF.

I loved every word of The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore. There were so many fabulous interesting characters in this book. I love both present day & years past chapters. The story was funny, heartwarming & thought provoking! Definitely recommend this one!

I thought I loved The Lonely Hearts Book Club, but The Library of Borrowed Hearts has nothing on it!
Lucy Gilmore does such a great job writing an old curmudgeon of a man that you can't help but love, flaws and all! Jasper was such a character, he had the best banter and his heart of gold still seemed to shine through his hard exterior, no matter how hard he tried to hide the shine.

The Library of Borrowed Hearts is a dual-timeline romance with multiple POVs, but it seems the main characters are the stressed older sister/guardian who gave up her dreams to care for her siblings after her mother abandoned her three younger siblings and the old, nightmare of a neighbor who has a habit of stealing the balls and frisbees that fall in his yard. We are thrust into a mystery romance documented in the margins of old library books. We meet a young, sensitive, backward Jasper falling for the new rebellious librarian, Catherine, as well as present day grumpy Jasper. We also meet Chloe Sampson, the not-yet-librarian, who is taking care of her three siblings who prove to be a handful. We are introduced to Zach, who saves "Noodle" Sampson after a nasty fall as well as a cast of other characters throughout the novel.

Cozy down in your reading spot, because you will not want to close this book until you've reached the end!

“𝙏𝙤𝙬𝙣𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙜𝙤, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙤 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙖 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠.“

Rating: 2.5/5 ⭐️⭐️💫

Pub date: 4/30/24

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I found this premise very appealing, who doesn’t like books about books? Add in some good old fashioned romance? *chefs kiss*

While this story started off strong, giving cozy curmudgeon vibes (think A Man Called Ove), it quickly fizzled out. I was bored for most of the middle of the book, while it was not moving anywhere and delivering grandfatherly morals and advice (which I think was the point). I enjoyed the last few chapters when we got a resolution to the star crossed lovers story- but did we?
I also felt a bit unfulfilled at the conclusion of this novel.

I enjoyed Chloe and Jasper, Noodle, even Pepper. The other characters including Catherine, I didn’t find very likable at all.

Overall a good read about two characters that find a bond and friendship in an unusual way.

3.5/5
I am always gonna grab a book about books or libraries or bookshops. As soon as I saw "library" in the title and a romance carried on through the margins of books, I was all in!

The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore features a literary scavenger hunt, a love story, heartbreak, disappointment, and found family.

I adored the book references. I swooned over the romance in the margins, but then I was just sad. I don't want to give away the ending, but some parts of this story are just heartbreaking. There were a few somewhat extraneous characters, but I was willing to overlook it because I loved the book references so much. However, I don't understand when characters just wreck others lives with no consequences really. At any rate, I adore Jasper and his love of books, and that alone makes The Library of Borrowed Hearts worth it.

Told in dual timelines with multiple POVs, this story has book references galore, making it a good pick for book and library lovers. There are a few secondary plots, but the main premise follows librarian Chloe Sampson as she unearths a decades-old love story scribbled in the margins of various library books.

The story is a mishmash of contemporary fiction, mystery and mild romance and is filled with many literary references - some I got (Anne of Green Gables) and others I didn't (Hemingway, Wuthering Heights). I enjoyed the mystery element as Chloe tries to piece together the identities of the couple from the 1960's who wrote love notes to each other in books.

But despite dysfunctional family issues and a couple memorable characters (Jasper and Noodle), the story fell a little flat for me and I finished it wanting more depth, more connection to the characters and believable motivations for a female character's brusque and (I feel) heartless decision.

There is a delightful grumpy, tell-it-like-it-is elderly neighbour in Jasper and even though Ove (A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman) has my heart, some of Jasper's comebacks to characters were some of my favourite parts of the book.

This story had a good premise about lost love, books and libraries and will delight fans of easy-going, small-town stories.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the complimentary digital copy of this book which was given in exchange for my honest review.

I love the premise and the dual timelines, but this was just a little slower than I expected. I also felt that it ended abruptly and left lingering questions, which may just be personal preference. Overall cute idea, and I think would be great for the right audience!

A delightful novel, “The Library of Borrowed Hearts” by Lucy Gilmore weaves together romance, mystery, and the magic of books. Lucy Gilmore invites readers into a world where lonely souls find solace within the pages of old library books.

Meet Chloe Sampson. She’s a librarian who is juggling the responsibilities of caring for her three younger siblings, finding her own path, and making ends meet. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she stumbles upon a rare edition of a book from the 1960s at a local flea market. This serendipitous find seems like a sign of better luck, but Chloe is in for an even greater surprise. Meet her reclusive neighbour, the curmudgeonly Jasper Holmes, who offers to buy the book at an exorbitant price. Intrigued, Chloe discovers the margins of the book contain notes exchanged between two young lovers decades ago, and possibly even Jasper himself.

So begins a literary scavenger hunt. Chloe becomes determined to unravel the mystery behind the romantic marginalia. What happened to the tragic lovers who corresponded through various library books? As she follows the clues, Chloe discovers that there are more old books in town with hidden love stories waiting to be uncovered. But it's not just about the books; it's about the people behind them, from their hearts and secrets, to their connections.

Gilmore's writing is both charming and moving. She captures the essence of bibliophilia: the way books can bridge gaps, connect souls, and offer refuge. Chloe's journey is not only about solving a mystery but also about discovering unexpected friendships. As she opens her heart to Jasper, she realizes that love stories can begin in the unlikeliest of places.

The characters come alive on the page. Chloe's determination, Jasper's hidden depths, and the quirky townsfolk create a rich tapestry of emotions. The setting is a small town filled with cozy bookshops and hidden treasures. It adds to the enchantment. Gilmore's prose is like a warm cup of tea on a rainy day, comforting and inviting.

The Library of Borrowed Hearts celebrates the power of literature to heal, connect, and transform lives. It reminds us that sometimes the most profound stories are written in the margins from the spaces between the lines where hearts whisper their secrets.

In this novel, love transcends time, and the library becomes a sanctuary for lost souls. Whether you're a book lover, a romantic at heart, or simply seeking an uplifting read, Lucy Gilmore's tale will leave you with a smile and a renewed belief in the magic of books.

A literary scavenger hunt of love and mystery, “The Library of Borrowed Hearts” by Lucy Gilmore is a gem that deserves a permanent spot on your bookshelf. Gilmore has crafted a heartwarming story that will resonate with readers long after they've turned the last page.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Books about books will always be an immediate buy. Add in a dual timeline that features a whirlwind romance with swoony note exchanges you have created the perfect book. Reading this felt like a like a hug for my soul. My mind enjoyed all the book references and there was so much to highlight/annotate it’s impossible to include all in this review.

However, there is no wrapup at the ending of the book - it just ends. It felt incomplete.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC! Being a librarian, I'm a sucker for books about libraries and this was one was sweet and just a tad mysterious. I fell in love with all of the characters, especially Jasper, I'm also a sucker for grumpy old men. A great, uplifting story of love and family!

This was my first Lucy Gilmore book but it most certainly won't be my last.

The Library of Borrowed Hearts tells the story of Chloe, who is doing her best to scrape by, taking care of her three siblings. She finds a book at a flea market and realizes that it's been annotated by her grumpy, old neighbor.

Chloe realizes she holds the clues to a great, tragic love story and continues to follow the story, desperate to know how it ends.

Equal parts heartful and hopeful, The Library of Borrowed Hearts is a sweet love story with adorable friendship sure to please all book lovers.

This one had potential, the premise and cover alone made me snag this one, but it felt a bit boring and lifeless. I really questioned some of the choices of the FMC in this

I was so excited to receive an ARC of The Library of Borrowed Hearts because I loved Gilmore's The Lonely Heart Book Club.

This is a dual timeline and dual POV book. Chloe is raising her three younger siblings after their mom disappeared and left the children home alone for days. Chloe works at the local neighborhood library and discovers that sixty years early two young loves wrote notes back and forth to each other in the margin of the books. Chloe becomes invested in their story and wants to know how it ends.

Jasper, Chloe's next door neighbor, is a grumpy old man who makes Chloe's and her siblings' lives miserable.

To Chloe's surprise, Jasper is the male voice in the notes written in the library books. Chloe becomes determined to find out how the story ended.

The biggest issue I had with this book is that Jasper and "C" wrote in the books. It hurt my book loving heart that they wrote in library books. I wish Gilmore would have had them put notes on paper in the books. But I am a fan of any book that has a cast of quirky characters that shows we are better together.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

DIDN'T HIT THE SAME AS GILMORE'S PREVIOUS BOOK

Absolutely not a bad read, I did enjoy it. I just wanted a bit more

What I liked

👍 Reference: Gilmore references the 'hero', Arthur, from her previous book, The Lonely Hearts Book Club. That was fine nod and a fun easter egg.

👍 Book about book: Books about other people who love books as much as I do - and who find love through the love of books - will always be a hit with me.

What I didn't like

👎Characters: None of the characters developed enough throughout the story, and Chloe was (sadly) the most bland character.

👎 More: Honestly, I was looking for more of the magic that I got in Lonely Hearts Books Club. It just wasn't there for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC of The Library of Borrowed Hearts!

This was my favorite read of April! I definitely have a soft spot for grouchy old neighbors with a heart of gold and Jasper is certainly one of those! I also have a soft spot for books about books so this one was really checking all my boxes. I enjoyed all of the characters. Usually in a multi POV book I feel disappointed when the character narrating switches but with this one I was perfectly happy to get back into that other timeline or viewpoint. Chloe is an exceptionally well developed character with her squashed dreams and forced responsibility balanced perfectly with the love she bears for her siblings and happiness she finds in the life she didn't plan but is making the most of. Zach is such a great balance for her.

Jasper and Catherine's timeline was also excellent with a different kind of focus on family expectations and how everyone embraces those differently. Catherine's mom was such an unexpected character. I loved her despite some of her actions. I don't necessarily agree with Catherine's actions but we wouldn't have this wonderful story without them so I suppose we will have to accept them.

When the story started to lag, new plot twists were introduced at the right time to bring the book back. The ending wasn't what I expected but I loved it.

Chloe Sampson is going through it - her mother abandoned her three younger siblings and she had to drop out of college to be their guardian. She now takes care of them, working as a library assistant, living paycheck to paycheck, with a messy house and unpaid bills galore. When she finds an old copy of a banned book from the 60s while cleaning out the library's basement, she wonders if she could fetch a pretty penny for it on Ebay. When she takes the book home, she realizes that two young lovers have been corresponding in the margins, which intrigues her. She mentions the book to her cranky neighbor Jasper Holmes, who offers her a blank check in exchange for the book,which piques Chloe's interest even more. Was Jasper one of the writers in the margins? And who was he writing to? What happened to her? Chloe is determined to get to the bottom of this mystery, and when a handsome young survival-school instructor offers to help her with her quest, who is she to say no?

I LOVE LOVE LOVED this story. It started off a bit slow, but once it got going, it was GOING! There were so many surprises, twists, and turns. I loved seeing things from the POV of so many different characters and getting to see the motivations behind each one's actions, which made you sympathize with them all, even when their choices were at tension with someone else's who you were also growing to love as a character! Chloe and Jasper had so many similarities and I loved seeing them realize it and especially for Jasper, realizing that what he really wanted and yearned for was family and that even if he didn't have one of his own, he had the Sampsons and that was enough. I cried multiple times during the last 45 minutes of this book, so that should tell you something. This was just such a beautiful story about the power of books, making hard choices, and standing up for the people you love.

I recommend The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy reading!