This book was equal parts romantic, heartwarming, heartbreaking, and hopeful. The Library of Borrowed Hearts is a book full of love stories… young lovers from different worlds fighting for happiness, siblings sacrificing for each other and seeking joy in the face of tragedy, unexpected friendships, and second chances. Gilmore has also penned a love letter to books, libraries, and librarians, and speaks to the power of books - the ones that have shaped and defined us, given hope when life was bleak, provided an escape and brought hope, expanded our hearts, broadened our worldviews, and ultimately, connected our hearts to others.

I loved the dual timeline and the multi POV. Gilmore did a wonderful job creating suspense throughout the story by sprinkling the love notes from the past and connecting them with similar themes in the present day storyline. I couldn’t stop reading and finished this book in one sitting - I was fully invested in this entire cast of characters and needed to know what happened next.

There was a familiar quality in Gilmore’s writing that gave this story a coziness and felt like being wrapped in a fluffy blanket and coming home. This story explores love and the sacrifices we make and the lengths we go to for those we love. My heart ached throughout this story and truly broke for these characters when they faced impossible choices and heart wrenching circumstances. Life isn’t always rainbows and sunshine, but this book serves as a beautiful reminder that joy and hope can be found in the unexpected… and that when things feel overwhelming or we need an escape, we can always turn to books - either for an adventure in a new story or for comfort in the reread of a favorite.

I cannot recommend the audio enough! The full cast narration was fantastic and made for such a moving and emotional reading experience.

The Library of Broken Hearts is the first book from Lucy Gilmore I have come across and I loved it so much that when thte audiobook became available when I was a few chapters in that I decided to do a readalong and I loved it even more!

I am not normally a fan of multi-narrator audiobooks, but this was an absolute delight, a stellar performance where everybody played their part authentically and with style. Excellent portrayal of the cadances of the different era's by Leanne Woodward, Aven Shore, Joe Jameson and Bob Ball

Chloe Sampson is an assistant in a library, she is tasked to clear out an old, dusty basement, full of books long left unread. It is here that she comes across a rare book, banned because of its themes, damp, mildewed but a potential $1000 sale online. The book is "The Tropic of Cancer" and she is blindsided when her neighbour (Jasper) offers to buy it instead. Why is he so keen on it? Why is he after a book in such a state? It is at this point, that Chloe looks deeper, and notices the notes in the margins. Are they just notes? Or something more?

(The premise of a love story played out in the margins of books long consigned to a dusty basement is brilliant and how do C and F relate to Chloe's mysterious old neighbour?)

Chloe has a dichotomy in front of her. She needs to make money to support her and the 3 abandoned siblings she has just been reunited with, but she also has a deep love of books and is intrigued at finding more and more books in which a long-lost love story is playing out

This book is written beautifully and sent me into so many different reactions, through joy and incredulity to a tear or two and lots of chuckles. A love story played out through the decades and lives lived through adversity and avarice. Brilliant

Thank you to Netgalley, Sourcebooks, Sourcebooks Casablance, Dreamscape Media, Lucy Gilmore and the narrtors for this awesome ALC and ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

two romances in one book, with a dual timeline and a love of books this book was truly a book lovers dream.
The audiobook was a great listen, the narrator’s voice was very engaging.

Books are magic, and I’ll never believe differently! I loved reading the EARC and I’m excited for this audiobook. A love story playing out in the margins of a book… it’s a beautiful story.