Thank you @netgalley, @dreamscape_media media and @sourcebookscasablance for the ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Did I go crazy and listen to this book while reading it at the same time? Uh, yes I did.

Warning for a long rambling review.

The grumpy old character and a lively young woman who bursts into his life is a trope done to death. And while I've always loved the idea of it, rarely have I actually seen a good execution.

When I started this book, I knew I was in trouble. I knew I'd finish it in a few days even though I can't really afford to (I'm preparing for a very competitive exam). Then I saw that it was actually dual timeline, and I thought okay there's hope for me to read it at a reasonable pace rather than a starving man seeing food for the first time. I have a literal phobia of historical fiction, I guess. But it was written beautifully. And I found out I was in trouble after all and I read this book while I really should have been studying.

The characters were so lovable and quirky. They stole my heart in less than a page. This book will stay with me for a long time. And I'll change my mind every few days whether I loved the ending or hated it with my very being.

After seeing so many great reviews for this, I was excited to read The Library of Borrowed Hearts. Featuring a romance between Chloe and Jasper, and strong family dynamics, I was engaged with the story right away.

I loved the audiobook narration, which was performed by a full cast, by Leanne Woodward, Aven Shore, Joe Jameson, and Bob Ball.

WHAT TO EXPECT
-dual timelines (present and 1960s)
-two romances
-multiple POVs
-close proximity

*many thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca, Netgalley and Dreamscape media for the gifted copy for review

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore showcased the love of books and romance in a heartwarming and unique way. It was a sweet story. I plan to read more from this author. Great narrator and audio quality.

"The Library of Borrowed Hearts" by Lucy Gilmore is a heartwarming and enchanting tale that beautifully intertwines romance, family, and the love of books. Narrated with warmth and emotion, the audiobook brings Chloe's journey to life. Chloe's character is relatable and endearing, her struggles and determination resonating deeply with listeners. Lucy Gilmore’s writing shines through the vivid descriptions and heartfelt moments, and the narrator does an excellent job of bringing the characters to life. "The Library of Borrowed Hearts" is a delightful listen for those who appreciate stories about the transformative power of love, the importance of family, and the magic hidden within the pages of books. This audiobook a charming addition to any listener's collection.

"The Library of Borrowed Hearts" is a wonderful story for anyone who loves books, libraries, broken hearts, lost dreams, and found family.

Chloe Sampson's mother abandoned her and her young siblings four years earlier, and they haven't heard from her since. So, Chloe dropped out of college to take a job at the local library and raise her two brothers and sister. It isn't easy for this young lady, but there is no way that she will disappoint her siblings.

As hard as life is, their next door neighbor doesn't make things any easier. Jasper Holmes is a curmudgeon to the nth degree. But he's also a bit of a mystery.

When Chloe finds a rare book and prepares to sell it, Jasper swoops in and insists on buying it from her for much more than she could sell it anywhere else. And given that the house needs a new roof, that money would be welcome. But Chloe's interest is piqued and she sets out to figure out why that specific book is so important to him.

Of course, he has no interest in explaining anything to her and tells her to mind her own business. So, she sets out to figure things out on her own. And what she uncovers is a sweet but sad romance from sixty years earlier, and its ripples are still being felt all this time later.

As Chloe and Jasper start to form an unlikely (and highly improbable) friendship, the romance of his youth is slowly exposed, but even Jasper will be surprised by how the story ends!

Thank you to Lucy Gilmore, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for an advance review copy. This has been one of my favorite books so far this year!

Short synopsis: While cleaning the old shelves in the library, Chloe finds an old copy of Tropic of Cancer with love letters scribbled in the pages.

My thoughts: I am such a sucker for a book about books. And this one was just so adorable! Now I need to go back and read The Lonely Hearts Book Club, which is already on my TBR!

This one has dual dual timelines, and multiple POV. They all just blend seamlessly together to really give the reader all the feels of this story.

There is heartache and hope, a mystery of who wrote the messages in the book, and so much love. Chloe was such an amazing character and the love she showed her siblings. And don’t even get me started on Jasper. I love a crotchety old man in my books and his inner softness was everything!

The audio on this was phenomenal! I especially loved how we got multiple narrators to voice the different points of view as they came along in each section. Highly recommend.

Read if you love:
- Books about books
- Libraries
- Dual timelines
- Multiple pov
- Romance

3,5 ⭐️

Oh, how I love books about books! I really liked this one as well. Chloe, our FMC, has to go through old books in her library and finds a rare book filled with annotations. It looks like two people were writing to each other through the margins (I mean, the ultimate dream for a book lover, right?). When she finds the man who’s one of the authors, the story unfolds. I loved the characters, who were very well-written, and the book definitely dealt with some heavier topics.

For me, the middle part was a tad bit slow, and because this was an audiobook, I couldn’t “skim” the text. That being said, there were still some great scenes and even a gasp moment for me. I have another book by this author and I’m very excited to get to that one as well 🫶🏼

The narration of this audiobook was very comfortable, and easy to listen to 🌞

PS: Taylor Swift references 🥹🥹⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! All thoughts are my own 💘

I always love books about books and librarians then throw in found family and I’m in heaven.

This one has dual timelines, a couple of romances, multiple POVs, a bookish scavenger hunt, lovable pets and a grumpy neighbor.

With so many characters, some ended up a little underdeveloped, but this is a solid read or listen.

There is quite a cast of narrators in this one. Leanne Woodward. Aven Shore, Joe Jameson, and Bob Ball all do such a great job bringing such a large and varied cast alive. I love when there are multiple narrators for a book with a large cast. This group hit it out of the park.

I wanted to like this more than I did. There was just something about the volume of characters, the choices they make, and the way things unfold that didn't gel with me.

Honestly, I though this would be perfect for me, but maybe I didn't read it at the right time. I think this one deserves a re-read, but for now, I thought it had a lot of potential, but it fell short on storytelling and characters!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent narration, heartfelt story. I had never read any Lucy Gilmore before but after listening to this I picked up The lonely Heart Book Club and thoroughly enjoyed that one too. Gilmore creates a cast of characters that are equally lovable and infuriating, but that you can't help but root for. She does an excellent job of drawing you into Jasper and Catherine's story while keeping you in the present. Literary lovers rejoice! There are tons of literary references in this book- I wish I had the annotated copies!

This was an incredible read. The story within the story was deep and moving. The relationship between J and C was so sweet. I was eagerly anticipating what would happen next between them!

Chloe endured so much heartbreak throughout her life, and I found myself hoping she would eventually find her happy ending. While the story carries deep meanings and valuable life lessons that may bring you to tears, it also offers plenty of smiles and laughter. I adored this book, and the Lucy Gilmore has a way with words!

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca.

A book about books? Yes please!
The Library of Borrowed Hearts is about Two young lovers. Sixty long years. One bookish mystery worth solving.

Oh my heart 🥹 This is one of those feel good books that will stay with you for a while. I love stories with found family. They just make me feel all warm and fuzzy. Dual timelines and multiple POV’s added so much depth to this story. There is also a bit of romance which was cute (zero steam). The one tiny issue I had was the first half of the book was sooo slow 🐢 but once it picks up you’ll love it!

Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the audio galley to review!

This was a fun read with a sweet romance and even sweeter budding friendship between our two main leads, brought together by the utterly romantic flirting exchanged in the margins of library books. Chloe, one of our two main leads, is a public library worker who has been trying to support herself and her younger siblings after their mother abandons them, and she is the one to find one of these books and is determined to find out who this couple is and what happened to them. She also ends up in her own budding romance. Jasper, her neighbor, the other main lead, and one half of the starring romantic couple (not exactly a spoiler), discovers that she has it and offers to pay thousands of dollars for it. Up until this point, these neighbors avoided each other at all costs but this is the start of their better understanding of one another and eventual friendship.

All of this was great and I adored the flashbacks to Jasper's romance, but then the twists (yes, plural) happened and the sigh I sighed is still ongoing in my soul. It all genuinely infuriated me and the reactions Jasper and Chloe have is appropriate, but then the book becomes unsure of the message it's trying to send and left me more frustrated. Really, only Chloe's closure made me happy. If I didn't love the characters of Jasper and Chloe so much, or Jasper's teenage romance, this whole later part of the book would have turned me off to recommending it. But it does have a happy ending, at least, and more or less I still enjoyed the book, so it wasn't a complete disappointment. I'd still recommend it, especially given that we get a FULL CAST for the audiobook that is a joy to listen to! So if you're going to read it, I would suggest the audiobook.

What a wonderful title for fellow book-lovers! There is much more to the story - fractured and restored families, lost love, new love, and a series of precocious siblings. It's a great read and just further encouragement to annotate and continue to look for annotated titles when I shop!

I listened to the audiobook of The Library of Borrowed Hearts. While the narration was decent, I wasn't a fan of this story. I had a hard time keeping interested in the plot and I didn't care for much of what was happening. I wanted to DNF but since I had an ARC of this, I pushed through and finished. But honestly, I wish I had just given up earlier.

Synopsis:

Upon discovering a rare edition of an old novel, librarian Chloe's life takes an unexpected turn. Inside the book, she uncovers a series of messages exchanged between lovers, piquing her interest. After further investigation, she realizes that her seemingly grumpy neighbor, Jasper, is one of the passionate correspondents. Intrigued by their story, Chloe becomes determined to locate the remaining books to unravel the whole tale. Chloe is also the guardian of her siblings, as her mother left them when she was at college.

I enjoyed the different timelines and points of view in the story. I admired Chloe's strength in caring for her siblings. She truly loved them and put them before herself. I enjoyed the bond between her siblings and their neighbor, Jasper. My heart hurt for Jasper. I was distraught at how his lover, Catherine, treated him and conflicted about whether I agreed with her actions. I resonated with Jasper's love for romance. I adored how Jasper longed for Catherine but was also sad because he wasted so much of his life being angry and sad about losing her. Ultimately, I felt like the love story told through books was enjoyable, and I felt like I was a part of the hunt for the books alongside the characters.

I highly recommend this audiobook, featuring four incredibly talented narrators: Leanne Woodward, Aven Shore, Joe Jameson, and Bob Ball. Their skillful narration brings the characters to life, providing a delightful experience. The narration of Noodle and Jasper particularly stood out as my favorite.

Love Always, Catherine


Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for access to the audiobook.

Chloe finds a rare edition of an old novel and her librarian heart can't help but take it home. Her cantankerous neighbor shocks her when he offers to buy it. His demands for it, in addition to the notes scribbled in the margins, has Chloe all kinds of curious and on the hunt for more.
This audiobook was such a pleasant surprise. I've read Lucy before so had completely different expectations but I can't say I'm at all disappointed. I loved the dual timeline explored and the double romance (even if one was a little more Nicholas Sparks than Nora Roberts). I really liked how seamless the transitions were between past and present and how they developed together.
With multiple narrators - Leanne Woodward, Aven Shore, Joe Jameson, Bob Ball - this made for a delightful listen. I love one narrator per POV!
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for the alc. All thoughts are my own.

Better to have loved and lost...

Except, once loved, it's never really lost. Whether that love is on the pages of a book or physically beside you, within your heart, it is borrowed. The trick is knowing it when you see it, whatever form it may take, and always hold it in your heart, close to the surface.

This is a story of a variety of loves. Passionate love, familial love, selfish love, and selfless love. You're going to love it.

A great heartwarming story with some mystery, heart, book love, and found family. A very sweet story I could easily recommend to anyone! Great on audio and digital- narrators were great as they changed with the characters! I also really liked the different POVs an time periods.

Thank you to the publisher and Net galley for the opportunity to read this book!