Lucy Gilmore

I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, via Netgalley. Thank you!
Audience: Adult
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Keywords: Star-crossed lovers, found family, forgiveness, love, two time periods, librarians

This is a romance story which takes place using multiple POVs during two time periods (1960 and modern day). It focuses on the thrill of new love, the sacrifices one makes for love, and forgiveness, for oneself and others for their choices.
Throughout the novel, there are multiple references to great literary classics — from Shakespeare to Brontë to Hemingway — which have direct influence on the story and the characters. Catherine, a librarian, and Jasper write notes to each other in several of these classics, and we get to watch as their love blossoms and grows. Chloe, also a librarian, discovers the notes 60 years later, and begins on a literary scavenger hunt to find out what happened to Catherine and Jasper. The reader also watches as the characters themselves seem to mirror the heroes and heroines in the classic stories they read.
The pacing of the novel was very good — and the chapters denoted whenever there was a POV or time period change, which was very helpful for me. The overall vibe of the novel reminded me of a Hallmark movie — where the romance was sweet and clean. Overall, I would recommend this novel to anyone who might enjoy classic literature, romance, and found family.… (altro)

Review The Lonely Hearts Book Club Lucy Gilmore

The The Lonely Hearts Book Club unfolds in six sections with a different point of view character in each. We begin with Sloane and her interactions with Arthur McLachlan, then move to Maisey, Mateo, Greg, Arthur, and back to Sloane. Each character is a wounded survivor of a failed relationship or loss. All have resolved themselves to a life of lonely isolation.

Sloane, a librarian in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, forms an unlikely, combative relationship with Arthur McLachlin. When Arthur fails to show up daily, Sloane investigates, is fired from her job, and takes on the job of cataloging Arthur’s personal library. I was disappointed at the shift of point of view from Sloane to Maisey, but I soon found myself interested in Maisey’s situation. Sloane and Arthur’s continued inclusion provided continuity, which became the pattern as the story progressed through the other sections.

I found the book a quick read as the story interested me. Each character brings an added dimension, yet loneliness and an inability to move beyond past disappointments provide continuity. The Lonely Hearts Book Club is much more than a typical romance novel.… (altro)

The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore
Fiction, women’s fiction. Chick lit. Dual time line.
Librarian Chloe Sampson has been struggling to take care of her three young siblings and to make ends meet. Chloe is cleaning out the basement of the library when she finds a rare book from the 1960’s. It’s filled with handwritten messages in the margins between two people, one of whom seems to be her cranky neighbor, Jasper Holmes. When Jasper gets involved with her siblings, caretaking and supervising,, it’s a surprise to all of them, but they seems to fit. They’ve made a new family. Then their mother returns and the whole family is turned again on its axis.
A love story from the 60’s, a potential love in the current day, family unbuilt and built again. It’s an emotional journey with sprinkles and quotes from classic and infamous books made to apply to life then and now.

You can be unique but also find similarities in the pages of the thousands and thousand of available stories.
This book includes a number of different growing relationships both past and present. I sympathized with Chloe struggling to raise her family when she’s young herself. She is determined and strong. Her empathy had me crying. And Jasper. So cranky with marshmallow insides. And Zack, such a charmer.
It may be a bit slow and underwhelming in the first half, but there are rich and heartwarming family ties in the end. But also know that not everyone fits and that’s okay too.

Excerpts I loved:
“You know, the thing I’ve always loved most about books is how they make it possible to live a thousand different lives.”

“If you don’t like where you are, you don’t have to pack up your whole family and abandon everything you know and love. All you have to do is grab a different story from the shelf.”

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. Includes Reading Group Guide and list of the books referenced. This will be recommended to a couple of my reading groups.… (altro)