Tuesday, April 30, 2024

The Library of Borrowed Hearts

Title: The Library of Borrowed Hearts
Author: Lucy Gilmore
Published: April 30, 2024 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
Format: Kindle, Paperback 368 Pages
Genre: Women's Fiction
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

First Sentence: I found the book hidden behind a box of rusted plumbing parts.

Blurb: 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 at the local flea market. 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.

My Opinion: A charming novel that blends romance, mystery, and the magic of books. Initially, I found myself hesitant since I didn’t like how the book began, but as I persevered, the story unfolded into something unexpectedly heartwarming. The characters—Chloe, Jasper, and the others—come alive, their struggles and growth adding depth to the tale.

Chloe Sampson, a librarian juggling a low-paying part-time job and the guardianship of her three younger siblings, finds a rare edition of a once-banned book. But it’s not the book that captures her—it’s the marginalia. Notes from star-crossed lovers that reveal a forbidden romance.

Jasper Holmes, her grumpy neighbor. Once terrifying for Chloe and her siblings, their friendship warms as they unravel the mystery together. But this isn’t just about love in the margins; it’s about the lives behind the words.

When things slowed down, I switched between audiobook and written pages. And it was in the final third that the magic truly happened. The friendships across age groups resonated, and the coming-of-age moments felt endearing.

I guess this is another case of embracing the unexpected when you are ready to give up.

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