The Library of Borrowed Hearts
Books | Fiction / Women
5
Lucy Gilmore
A.J. Fikry meets The Bookish Life of Nina Hill in this charming, hilarious, and moving novel about the way books bring lonely souls together.Two young lovers. Sixty long years. One bookish mystery worth solving.Librarian Chloe Sampson has been struggling: to take care of her three younger siblings, to find herself, to make ends meet. She's just about at the end of her rope when she stumbles across a rare edition of a book from the 1960s. Deciding it's a sign of her luck turning, she takes it home with her—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, the curmudgeon next door.When she begins following the clues left behind, she discovers this isn't the only old book in town filled with romantic marginalia. This kickstarts a literary scavenger hunt that Chloe is determined to see through to the end. What happened to the two tragic lovers who corresponded in the margins of so many different library books? And what does it have to do with the old, sad man next door—who only now has begun to open his home and heart to Chloe and her siblings?In a romantic tale that spans the decades, Chloe discovers that there's much more to her grouchy old neighbor than meets the eye. And in allowing herself to accept the unexpected friendship he offers, she learns that some love stories begin in the unlikeliest of places.
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More Details:
Author
Lucy Gilmore
Pages
368
Publisher
Sourcebooks, Inc.
Published Date
2024-04-30
ISBN
1728256267 9781728256269
Community ReviewsSee all
"I thought the characters were a little too similar to those in her earlier book The Lonely Hearts Book Club but I ended up liking this story a lot more "
Sarah
"“The Library of Borrowed Hearts” by Lucy Gilmore without context: ✍"
Kristy Thai
"Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Dreamscape Media for both the digital and audiobook advanced copies via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.<br/><br/>"The thing I've always loved about most books is how they make it possible to live a thousand different lives."<br/><br/>I put this book down right around Chapter 5 and almost didn't go back to it. I was right in the middle of a book slump and just wasn't ready to start a new book yet. But I am so glad I went back and finished it because this ended up being my favorite book that I've read all month. <br/><br/>I enjoyed the multiple-character POVs and the alternating timeline from present day and back to the 1960s. The different character POVs offered a more well-rounded view in to the story. I think without all of the perspectives chosen, the story would not have felt as complete as it was. I was elated when Noodle got his own POV. I loved that his perspective was added. Having this element made the side characters feel like they had more depth. <br/><br/>This story has so many layers to it. From Chloe taking care of her 3 younger siblings after her mom walked out on them, to the literary love story written between the pages of a bootleg banned book by two people and uncovering their love story and what happened to the people who wrote the notes, especially after Chloe's cranky old neighbor writes her a blank check for the book. The literary scavenger hunt was so fun to figure out as you continue reading. This was such a beautiful and wholesome story."
CaitGreens
