Reviews - The Library of Borrowed Hearts

1.02k reviews for:

The Library of Borrowed Hearts

Lucy Gilmore

3.89 AVERAGE

abradbury96's review against another edition

4.0

For the romantic in us all

delwitt's review against another edition

4.5

emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

juniper_reads's review

4.75

emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

okiecozyreader's review against another edition

4.25

hopeful reflective medium-paced

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

A Man Called Over x Bookish Life of Nina Hill (maybe)

Chloe is a librarian raising her younger siblings, after her mother just left one day. She lives next door to a cranky old neighbor who gives her and her mother a hard time. One day, she asks him for help with the youngest sibling, and she begins to see him in another light.

As her library is cleaning out old books, she comes across an old copy of Tropic of Cancer that is worth thousands until she realizes two lovers had written messages back and forth within the pages. Their notes continue in other books like The Haunting of Hill House. I loved the references to A Farewell to Arms (since I recently read The Paris Wife about Hemingway), and Wuthering Heights, which I’m hoping to read soon before The Favorites.

There are multiple narrators: part one rotates between Chloe now and the Catherine in 1960; part 2 rotates between Jasper (the cranky neighbor and 1960); part 3 noodle and 1960; part 4 Zach, Catherine and Jasper and part 5 Chloe.

I really loved the first part of the book. I did think it dragged for a little in the middle, but it was an enjoyable read with some fun twists.

I love the cover of her books. I am also just enjoying some happy reads lately.

“Her mom had so much more to offer the world than a clean house and a nicely browned pot roast.”
P261

“Everyone's heart breaks at least once in a lifetime,"
she said, determined, as ever, to go her own way. "It's as inevitable as falling in love. The real challenge is deciding what you plan to do about it.” P284

Content Warnings

cloudwalkerbooks's review against another edition

3.5

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Content Warnings

bandrh's review against another edition

4.0

emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

kpro4's review

4.5

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

It may have been my overly emotional state at the time of reading this book, but I felt SO DANG MUCH.

Parts of the book were a bit slow. I preferred the narration from some points of view to others. I don't care... I devoured this heartbroken love story at a time when I needed it most.