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blewballoon's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I enjoyed this book for the most part, but I did want something more from it. I feel like the "resolutions" to a couple of the characters plot-lines were unsatisfying, and since that's most of what the book has going for it in terms of story, that feels more significant than it might in a more plot heavy book. What the book does well is show a group of strangers coming together as true friends, which is a type of story that I eat up just about every time. I just had a few lingering doubts and concerns here that I would have rather been addressed better, and there were parts of the writing that felt a little too forced even for my sentimental soft heart.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Medical content, Child death, and Terminal illness
Minor: Blood and Alcohol
bella613's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
This was so good!
It was kind of a random pick-up-and-read and I wasn't expecting much out of it, but it was a pleasant surprise from beginning to end. Stellar writing, lifelike characters, and well placed literary references. I want to join a book club now.
It was kind of a random pick-up-and-read and I wasn't expecting much out of it, but it was a pleasant surprise from beginning to end. Stellar writing, lifelike characters, and well placed literary references. I want to join a book club now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Terminal illness, Death, Death of parent, and Medical content
Minor: Blood
herothegreat's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
I found this story to be really charming and really engaging. It was sweet, explorative and I loved the focus being on a group of characters. I enjoyed everyone’s voices, struggles and joys. I didn’t go in expecting much but it really drew me in and proved to be a good, sweet time. Especially as a writer and reader. Definitely think it’s a low stakes, high reward read for anyone who needs a little something to spark that love of reading again.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Child death, and Death
earthie's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I thought this book at first was going to be cheesy and fluffy with all the predictability of a washed romcom plot. Boy was I wrong. This book was heartwarming and heart wrenching at the same time in how it showed the unique sides of vulnerability that people hold and how there are such varied forms of facing those feelings, whether head-on or through deep and prompted self-processing.
This book drew me in unexpectedly, finishing it in less than 24 hours from when I started it. A heartwarming read, somewhat light and somewhat hard, but altogether interesting & full of wit. A book for those with a great love of books to find solace within its pages.
This book drew me in unexpectedly, finishing it in less than 24 hours from when I started it. A heartwarming read, somewhat light and somewhat hard, but altogether interesting & full of wit. A book for those with a great love of books to find solace within its pages.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Terminal illness and Death of parent
Minor: Suicide attempt, Cancer, Stalking, Medical content, Abandonment, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Domestic abuse
savheath's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, and Child death
Moderate: Terminal illness
kshertz's review
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
Wow this book was fantastic. It made me laugh and sob cry. I don’t think you could ask for more. I didn’t even mind how many characters there were because I loved them all. I wasn’t even mad that it wasn’t a romance! The platonic love story of this book is just magical perfection. I read it in one day. I loved it 😍
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Cancer, and Death
dogoodwithbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Lucy Gilmore's The Lonely Hearts Book Club is a charming tale of finding community within the love of books in unlikely places.
Sloane Parker prefers the quiet nuances of everyday life as a local librarian, even if it means the occasional argument with the town grump, Arthur McLachlan. Yet, when Sloane finds out about Arthur's recent hospitalization, she decides to assist in Arthur's recovery and eventually forms a makeshift book club made up with the town's misfits.
Going between the book club members: Sloane, Maisey, Matteo, Greg, and Arthur himself, this book really explores themes of belonging and community excellently. Each of the characters with their own set of problems and how their involvement in the book club changes their lives for the better, Gilmore does a great job with balancing out this ensemble cast with their own moments to shine.
Now, I listened to the audiobook version of The Lonely Hearts Book Club through my local library and it was a bit of an investment. The chapters can be a bit long and the transitions between the different POVs, as well as their subsequent chapters, isn't as smooth as it could be. However, Angie Kane, sole narrator for The Lonely Hearts Book Club, provides an excellent narration for the book and conveys every single emotion found in the page with authentic acting.
If you are looking for a contemporary, found family novel featuring an ensemble cast bonding over a love of books, you might want to read The Lonely Hearts Book Club.
Sloane Parker prefers the quiet nuances of everyday life as a local librarian, even if it means the occasional argument with the town grump, Arthur McLachlan. Yet, when Sloane finds out about Arthur's recent hospitalization, she decides to assist in Arthur's recovery and eventually forms a makeshift book club made up with the town's misfits.
Going between the book club members: Sloane, Maisey, Matteo, Greg, and Arthur himself, this book really explores themes of belonging and community excellently. Each of the characters with their own set of problems and how their involvement in the book club changes their lives for the better, Gilmore does a great job with balancing out this ensemble cast with their own moments to shine.
Now, I listened to the audiobook version of The Lonely Hearts Book Club through my local library and it was a bit of an investment. The chapters can be a bit long and the transitions between the different POVs, as well as their subsequent chapters, isn't as smooth as it could be. However, Angie Kane, sole narrator for The Lonely Hearts Book Club, provides an excellent narration for the book and conveys every single emotion found in the page with authentic acting.
If you are looking for a contemporary, found family novel featuring an ensemble cast bonding over a love of books, you might want to read The Lonely Hearts Book Club.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Cancer
lizzye33's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Grief
Moderate: Toxic friendship
Minor: Alcohol, Cursing, Gaslighting, Self harm, Blood, Cancer, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Medical content, and Toxic friendship
emilywemily6's review
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I really enjoyed this book! There is an emotionally diverse cast of characters in a sweet found family environment. Arthur’s banter was witty and the use of books/book quotes was really entertaining and insightful. This felt like a more lighthearted and shallower version of A Man Called Ove, but it wasn’t shallow by any means. So many moments made me laugh or smile, and it was such a joy to read. I liked having different perspectives/voices, though I wish that there was more depth of character in each of them; a lot of the character development felt rushed. The ending of the book also felt abrupt, but didn’t end on a cliffhanger that implies a future book, so it just felt a little incomplete.
This scapegoating or APS (Adult Protective Services) bothered me too, as someone who works in the medical field. Medical providers legally cannot force a patient to stay in the hospital/receive treatment so Arthur had every right to do as he wished. In all my healthcare experience with APS, APS only gets involved when someone is abusing/neglecting a vulnerable adult. As a competent human, Arthur can decide what he wants to do even if it is harmful for his health. So that part of the storyline irked me.
While a few of these characters have suffered death of loved ones, none of them has a truly troubled life. They are ordinary people with ordinary problems and ordinary loneliness, nothing super traumatic (like drug abuse, sexual assault, murder, extreme poverty, etc.) which made them relatable and easy to read about in a lighthearted way.
While a few of these characters have suffered death of loved ones, none of them has a truly troubled life. They are ordinary people with ordinary problems and ordinary loneliness, nothing super traumatic (like drug abuse, sexual assault, murder, extreme poverty, etc.) which made them relatable and easy to read about in a lighthearted way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Medical content, Cursing, Terminal illness, and Grief
Minor: Child death, Death, and Death of parent
lusimusi's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is the best books I've read in a while, I've enjoyed so much that I teared up at the end, my only wish is that there was an epilogue but I can't even complain because the last line has me in its grip.
Content Warnings
Minor: Terminal illness, Death, and Cancer