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The Lonely Hearts Book Club
“A feel-good story with strong character development” (AudioFile): In small-town Washington, an eclectic group of misfits — spearheaded by young librarian Sloane and curmudgeonly reader Arthur — forms a unique book club that leads to unexpected bonds. “Funny and charming” (Booklist), this listen with over 11,000 five-star ratings is hailed as “a treat” by Publishers Weekly!
Sloane Parker lives a small, contained life as a librarian in her small, contained town. She never thinks of herself as lonely...but still she looks forward to that time every day when old curmudgeon Arthur McLachlan comes to browse the shelves and cheerfully insult her. Their sparring is such a highlight of Sloane's day that when Arthur doesn't show up one morning, she's instantly concerned. And then another day passes, and another.
Anxious, Sloane tracks the old man down only to discover him all but bedridden...and desperately struggling to hide how happy he is to see her. Wanting to bring more cheer into Arthur's gloomy life, Sloane creates an impromptu book club. Slowly, the lonely misfits of their sleepy town begin to find each other, and in their book club, find the joy of unlikely friendship. Because as it turns out, everyone has a special book in their heart—and a reason to get lost (and eventually found) within the pages.
Sloane Parker lives a small, contained life as a librarian in her small, contained town. She never thinks of herself as lonely...but still she looks forward to that time every day when old curmudgeon Arthur McLachlan comes to browse the shelves and cheerfully insult her. Their sparring is such a highlight of Sloane's day that when Arthur doesn't show up one morning, she's instantly concerned. And then another day passes, and another.
Anxious, Sloane tracks the old man down only to discover him all but bedridden...and desperately struggling to hide how happy he is to see her. Wanting to bring more cheer into Arthur's gloomy life, Sloane creates an impromptu book club. Slowly, the lonely misfits of their sleepy town begin to find each other, and in their book club, find the joy of unlikely friendship. Because as it turns out, everyone has a special book in their heart—and a reason to get lost (and eventually found) within the pages.
Audio CD
First published March 28, 2023
2724 people are currently reading
53850 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Gilmore
10 books940 followersLucy Gilmore is a celebrated novelist in a wide range of genres, including literary fiction, contemporary romance, and cozy mystery. She began her reading (and writing) career as an English literature major and ended as a book lover without all those pesky academic papers attached.
She lives in Spokane, WA with her family.
She lives in Spokane, WA with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,250 reviews
November 25, 2025
Wow! This book is so much heartwarming, emotional, quirky, moving, special! I think it’s guaranteed its place at my top 10 readings of 2023!
I fell in love with each of the characters:
Sloane , Maisey, Arthur, Greg, Matteo, Nigel are fantastic characters you may truly want to be best friends, having long chats, drinking tea, nibbling biscuits.
Let’s dive into storyline:
Sloane: shy, introvert librarian who is sick of living like an echo, jeopardizing her job for the meanest old guy she keeps daily bantering. She crosses the line by checking address of regular patron Arthur McLachlan who always stops by at the library at the same time to throw his signatured cruel lines at poor Sloane but last few days he’s been seen which was not like him.
Sloane gets worried about his health and she risks to lose her job to pay him a visit and meets with him unusual, eccentric neighbor Maisey: a clairvoyant, once upon a time a groupie of rock star, having a teenage girl from him, enjoying to feed the others, hating to leave her neighborhood.
Both of them realize Arthur left the hospital, terrorizing the nurses who are designated to take care him. Finally Maisey finds a solution to convince him hire Sloane as his private nurse even though he insists he hired her to catalog his books in his library.
Maisey also confronts the guy who spies on Arthur’s house in his car. She realizes he’s his estranged grandson Greg. When Arthur rejects to give him a room, Maisey welcomes him into her home.
Then Sloane’s lovely coworker from library joins their team and this Motley Crue organizes a book club. Only thing common about these characters are their loneliness, regrets about their pasts, their need for true love!
Overall: I adored each of the characters, their sarcastic remarks, their backstories and the way they find each other to be part of their unique community. This book is everything I may want: it’s intelligent, it’s genuine, it’s sentimental, it’s engaging! It deserves my bookish, shiny five stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
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I fell in love with each of the characters:
Sloane , Maisey, Arthur, Greg, Matteo, Nigel are fantastic characters you may truly want to be best friends, having long chats, drinking tea, nibbling biscuits.
Let’s dive into storyline:
Sloane: shy, introvert librarian who is sick of living like an echo, jeopardizing her job for the meanest old guy she keeps daily bantering. She crosses the line by checking address of regular patron Arthur McLachlan who always stops by at the library at the same time to throw his signatured cruel lines at poor Sloane but last few days he’s been seen which was not like him.
Sloane gets worried about his health and she risks to lose her job to pay him a visit and meets with him unusual, eccentric neighbor Maisey: a clairvoyant, once upon a time a groupie of rock star, having a teenage girl from him, enjoying to feed the others, hating to leave her neighborhood.
Both of them realize Arthur left the hospital, terrorizing the nurses who are designated to take care him. Finally Maisey finds a solution to convince him hire Sloane as his private nurse even though he insists he hired her to catalog his books in his library.
Maisey also confronts the guy who spies on Arthur’s house in his car. She realizes he’s his estranged grandson Greg. When Arthur rejects to give him a room, Maisey welcomes him into her home.
Then Sloane’s lovely coworker from library joins their team and this Motley Crue organizes a book club. Only thing common about these characters are their loneliness, regrets about their pasts, their need for true love!
Overall: I adored each of the characters, their sarcastic remarks, their backstories and the way they find each other to be part of their unique community. This book is everything I may want: it’s intelligent, it’s genuine, it’s sentimental, it’s engaging! It deserves my bookish, shiny five stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
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March 17, 2023
Introverted book lovers UNITE!!! 🎉📚💖
Sloane Parker is a librarian at the Coeur d'Alene public library. She has a nice calm life with her chiropractor fiancé, Brett. That is until she meets the erudite yet curmudgeonly library patron, Arthur McLachlan. At 10:30 everyday he arrives at the library where he insults and belittles her with snide remarks and barbs. Two can play that game, she thinks, so she begins to dish it right back to Arthur and this becomes a bit of a game between the two much to the shock and awe of her fellow co-workers all of whom are terrified of Arthurs wrath being aimed their way.
Then one day Arthur doesn't arrive. Two days. Three days. Sloane becomes worried that something terrible may have happened to this lonely old man. Knowing she could lose her job she uses the library computer to gain his address information. She just wants to do a wellness check to make sure he's okay.
From here Lucy Gilmore introduces us to a charming group of characters that are sure to warm your hearts. All lonely for various reasons. All searching for solace in life. These characters come to form the Lonely Hearts Book Club and it is utterly delightful to watch these characters grow. Each character is given their own sections throughout the book so you get to know them personally. Their individual trials and tribulations. Some of the stories are heartbreaking but there is so much hope to be had that you're never depressed just a little teary eyed as you've come to care for all of these people. I honestly can't think of one negative thing to say and that's surprising for me.
I wanted to hug every character in this book but I'll have to settle with holding my kindle to my heart. A perfect story for book lovers. 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for my complimentary copy.
Sloane Parker is a librarian at the Coeur d'Alene public library. She has a nice calm life with her chiropractor fiancé, Brett. That is until she meets the erudite yet curmudgeonly library patron, Arthur McLachlan. At 10:30 everyday he arrives at the library where he insults and belittles her with snide remarks and barbs. Two can play that game, she thinks, so she begins to dish it right back to Arthur and this becomes a bit of a game between the two much to the shock and awe of her fellow co-workers all of whom are terrified of Arthurs wrath being aimed their way.
Then one day Arthur doesn't arrive. Two days. Three days. Sloane becomes worried that something terrible may have happened to this lonely old man. Knowing she could lose her job she uses the library computer to gain his address information. She just wants to do a wellness check to make sure he's okay.
From here Lucy Gilmore introduces us to a charming group of characters that are sure to warm your hearts. All lonely for various reasons. All searching for solace in life. These characters come to form the Lonely Hearts Book Club and it is utterly delightful to watch these characters grow. Each character is given their own sections throughout the book so you get to know them personally. Their individual trials and tribulations. Some of the stories are heartbreaking but there is so much hope to be had that you're never depressed just a little teary eyed as you've come to care for all of these people. I honestly can't think of one negative thing to say and that's surprising for me.
I wanted to hug every character in this book but I'll have to settle with holding my kindle to my heart. A perfect story for book lovers. 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for my complimentary copy.
April 25, 2023
3.5⭐️
Twenty-seven-year-old Sloane Parker is a librarian at the Coeur d'Alene Public Library, a place she considers a haven and where she feels most at home. She is engaged to be married to a chiropractor and is more or less content with the way her life is going, unwilling to rock the boat though she does carry much sorrow in her heart over the loss of a loved one from her childhood. In the course of her work, she meets the curmudgeonly Arthur McLachlan, a regular patron at the library whose cantankerous demeanor has most of the staff running for cover when he makes his entrance. Sloane and Arthur engage in heated exchanges and trade insults regularly – a kind of ritual for them Sloane gets used to and enjoys. When Arthur suddenly stops showing up at the library, Sloane decides to go check on him and discovers him recuperating at home after a medical emergency. Her unauthorized home visit with Arthur earns her a reprimand at work, but Sloane does not stop going out of her way to check on Arthur. She meets Arthur’s neighbor, Maisey, and with Arthur, they eventually form a book club with a few more members slowly joining in. The book club is a safe space for these lonely strangers to be themselves, and share their stories and, in doing so, become friends who enable one another to reevaluate their lives and exact positive change.
“This world was a terrible place. It gave you people to love and then took them away before you stopped loving them. It made you mean and angry and cruel to those who needed you most. It ground you down until it was all you could do to get through the day. But most of all, it tried to convince you that you were alone in your suffering.”
The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore is an emotional story that is built around a beautiful premise. The narrative is shared from multiple perspectives and touches upon themes like grief, loss, aging, loneliness, friendship and kindness. I appreciated that the author injects just enough humor and lighthearted moments into the narrative so as not to make the story too overwhelming/depressing for the reader. A running theme in this novel is the power of books and reading in bringing people close together. I love stories that revolve around books and people who love books and I have always believed in how books and love for reading can bring people together, as it does for these characters. I did enjoy the literary references and the discussions on Remains of the Day, The Joy Luck Club and Anne of Green Gables. Having said that, I expected to like this book more than I actually did. Stories like these are almost always predictable, but what makes them special is the journey to the end. While I liked the characters, especially Maisey, and I did feel for Sloane, I wasn’t quite invested in any of the other character’s stories, a few of which I felt were a tad contrived. Greg and his connection to Arthur was a nice touch to the story, but with so many characters and backstories, there was a lot of drama to unpack, the pace did drag in parts and I found it difficult to stay engaged in the narrative.
This was another immersion reading experience for me. I'm sorry to say that I didn't really enjoy the audio narration. There were quite a few characters, and the narrator, Angie Kane, voiced two of them well, the others not so much. A full-cast narration would have been better suited for this story. Even a flat narration would have been okay.
Overall, while I did like this story, I wasn’t quite taken with it as much as other readers.
“Life stories were written in ink, not pencil. Once they were down, the only thing you could do was turn the page.”
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Twenty-seven-year-old Sloane Parker is a librarian at the Coeur d'Alene Public Library, a place she considers a haven and where she feels most at home. She is engaged to be married to a chiropractor and is more or less content with the way her life is going, unwilling to rock the boat though she does carry much sorrow in her heart over the loss of a loved one from her childhood. In the course of her work, she meets the curmudgeonly Arthur McLachlan, a regular patron at the library whose cantankerous demeanor has most of the staff running for cover when he makes his entrance. Sloane and Arthur engage in heated exchanges and trade insults regularly – a kind of ritual for them Sloane gets used to and enjoys. When Arthur suddenly stops showing up at the library, Sloane decides to go check on him and discovers him recuperating at home after a medical emergency. Her unauthorized home visit with Arthur earns her a reprimand at work, but Sloane does not stop going out of her way to check on Arthur. She meets Arthur’s neighbor, Maisey, and with Arthur, they eventually form a book club with a few more members slowly joining in. The book club is a safe space for these lonely strangers to be themselves, and share their stories and, in doing so, become friends who enable one another to reevaluate their lives and exact positive change.
“This world was a terrible place. It gave you people to love and then took them away before you stopped loving them. It made you mean and angry and cruel to those who needed you most. It ground you down until it was all you could do to get through the day. But most of all, it tried to convince you that you were alone in your suffering.”
The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore is an emotional story that is built around a beautiful premise. The narrative is shared from multiple perspectives and touches upon themes like grief, loss, aging, loneliness, friendship and kindness. I appreciated that the author injects just enough humor and lighthearted moments into the narrative so as not to make the story too overwhelming/depressing for the reader. A running theme in this novel is the power of books and reading in bringing people close together. I love stories that revolve around books and people who love books and I have always believed in how books and love for reading can bring people together, as it does for these characters. I did enjoy the literary references and the discussions on Remains of the Day, The Joy Luck Club and Anne of Green Gables. Having said that, I expected to like this book more than I actually did. Stories like these are almost always predictable, but what makes them special is the journey to the end. While I liked the characters, especially Maisey, and I did feel for Sloane, I wasn’t quite invested in any of the other character’s stories, a few of which I felt were a tad contrived. Greg and his connection to Arthur was a nice touch to the story, but with so many characters and backstories, there was a lot of drama to unpack, the pace did drag in parts and I found it difficult to stay engaged in the narrative.
This was another immersion reading experience for me. I'm sorry to say that I didn't really enjoy the audio narration. There were quite a few characters, and the narrator, Angie Kane, voiced two of them well, the others not so much. A full-cast narration would have been better suited for this story. Even a flat narration would have been okay.
Overall, while I did like this story, I wasn’t quite taken with it as much as other readers.
“Life stories were written in ink, not pencil. Once they were down, the only thing you could do was turn the page.”
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The StoryGraph
February 22, 2023
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I love books about books or ones that take place in a bookshop or library, this book was right up my alley. There are many characters that join The Lonely Hearts Book Club and this story is divided into sections so each character gets their point of view across. I loved that the author did that as it made me feel connected to the characters and helped me to understand them and their problems better. The characters were very real and not all of them are always likeable but the relationships they forged were true to life and believable. They were people I'd like to be friends with. What book lover wouldn't?
I liked how books were the reason this group of lonely people was brought together. They made a family for themselves and learned a lot about each other but also about themselves and they grew as a group and changed a bit along the way. This is a very character driven storyline with well thought out backstories for each, it was also very emotional at times. I adored this book and the characters inside. All. The. Stars.
I love books about books or ones that take place in a bookshop or library, this book was right up my alley. There are many characters that join The Lonely Hearts Book Club and this story is divided into sections so each character gets their point of view across. I loved that the author did that as it made me feel connected to the characters and helped me to understand them and their problems better. The characters were very real and not all of them are always likeable but the relationships they forged were true to life and believable. They were people I'd like to be friends with. What book lover wouldn't?
I liked how books were the reason this group of lonely people was brought together. They made a family for themselves and learned a lot about each other but also about themselves and they grew as a group and changed a bit along the way. This is a very character driven storyline with well thought out backstories for each, it was also very emotional at times. I adored this book and the characters inside. All. The. Stars.
June 20, 2023
A lovely book about unlikely friendships. The characters are lovely, with several POVs who have their unique personality. A book that is perfect for escaping and feeling good about the world.
May 6, 2023
The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore Pays Homage to Friendships Around Books!
Sloane Parker is a friendless librarian at the Coeur d'Alene Public Library and Arthur McLachlan is the crotchety old gentleman who she counts on each day promptly at 10:30 AM.
Arthur peruses the shelves for books but mostly he tosses insults and barbs at Sloane. She takes pleasure in her artful deflection of these taunts along with his consistent visits.
When Arthur fails to show up at the library for several days, Sloane becomes concerned and takes matters into her own hands, even if it means putting her job at risk.
What she discovers is Arthur in terrible shape, pretending he's not happy to see her, and firing his caregiver. What to do?
Based on Arthur's love of books and to push much needed light into his dark frame of mind, Sloane creates a book club and Maisey, Arthur's concerned, lonely neighbor, offers to help whether Arthur likes the idea OR NOT...
What could be better than a book that pays homage to friendships around books? The feelings it gives a book lover, like me, who reads it and feels like she's found her people inside the covers!
The Lonely Hearts Book Club has great character building and I love how the author allows each book club member to narrate their own backstory and point-of-view. It's a great way for readers to get acquainted with this eclectic mix of introverts who have a love of books in common. What brings them together is the desire to help and what keeps them together are the books and friendships.
This is one of those books where you just can't help feeling connected to each of the characters. But I have to tell you, my very favorite is grumpy old Arthur. He has such a great backstory and I have a special place in my heart for octogenarians, especially the challenging ones. This gentleman definitely has my heart!
I enjoyed listening to the audiobook narrated by Angie Kane, whose gender voicing was a bit muddled, but resulted in a great experience overall and I would definitely listen to one of her narrations again.
I love and highly recommend The Lonely Hearts Book Club to book lovers everywhere!
4.5 Book Club Stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Lucy Gilmore for an ALC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
Sloane Parker is a friendless librarian at the Coeur d'Alene Public Library and Arthur McLachlan is the crotchety old gentleman who she counts on each day promptly at 10:30 AM.
Arthur peruses the shelves for books but mostly he tosses insults and barbs at Sloane. She takes pleasure in her artful deflection of these taunts along with his consistent visits.
When Arthur fails to show up at the library for several days, Sloane becomes concerned and takes matters into her own hands, even if it means putting her job at risk.
What she discovers is Arthur in terrible shape, pretending he's not happy to see her, and firing his caregiver. What to do?
Based on Arthur's love of books and to push much needed light into his dark frame of mind, Sloane creates a book club and Maisey, Arthur's concerned, lonely neighbor, offers to help whether Arthur likes the idea OR NOT...
What could be better than a book that pays homage to friendships around books? The feelings it gives a book lover, like me, who reads it and feels like she's found her people inside the covers!
The Lonely Hearts Book Club has great character building and I love how the author allows each book club member to narrate their own backstory and point-of-view. It's a great way for readers to get acquainted with this eclectic mix of introverts who have a love of books in common. What brings them together is the desire to help and what keeps them together are the books and friendships.
This is one of those books where you just can't help feeling connected to each of the characters. But I have to tell you, my very favorite is grumpy old Arthur. He has such a great backstory and I have a special place in my heart for octogenarians, especially the challenging ones. This gentleman definitely has my heart!
I enjoyed listening to the audiobook narrated by Angie Kane, whose gender voicing was a bit muddled, but resulted in a great experience overall and I would definitely listen to one of her narrations again.
I love and highly recommend The Lonely Hearts Book Club to book lovers everywhere!
4.5 Book Club Stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Lucy Gilmore for an ALC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
April 6, 2023
Sweet and endearing read about a group of lonely people coming together.
Sloan Parker is living a quiet life, working as a librarian and engaged to a steady, reserved chiropractor. One day at the library she encounters Arthur McLachlan--an irascible elderly man who seems to enjoy sparring with Sloan while at the same time tearing her apart verbally. When one day Arthur doesn't appear, and that one day turns into many, Sloan gets worried and wonders if he is all right. She finds his name in the library files and heads over to his house to check on him. He reluctantly lets her in, and as the days pass, she meets his neighbor, and they decide to form a book club. The group of three expands to include others, and the group helps each of the members to learn more about themselves and others around them.
I love "found family" stories and this one just hit the spot. It is told through each of the characters' points of view, so we get a bit more of the thoughts and background of each character as the book progresses. I was rooting for each of them as they discovered more about themselves and what they wanted out of life.
The book aspect of this novel will appeal to book lovers, and some of the humor surrounding the books and the book choices are particularly pointed towards those who have read those books. The end of the tale made me a bit teary, because it is beautifully full of emotion. The themes of loneliness and all of its manifestations, learning how to be brave and authentic, opening up to others, as well as seeking and accepting friendship and love are explored and resonate throughout.
I listened to this as an audiobook and the narrator, Angie Kane, does an amazing job giving each character a distinct voice. Sometimes with this many POV characters it doesn't work to have only one narrator, but in this case it is done extremely well.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Sloan Parker is living a quiet life, working as a librarian and engaged to a steady, reserved chiropractor. One day at the library she encounters Arthur McLachlan--an irascible elderly man who seems to enjoy sparring with Sloan while at the same time tearing her apart verbally. When one day Arthur doesn't appear, and that one day turns into many, Sloan gets worried and wonders if he is all right. She finds his name in the library files and heads over to his house to check on him. He reluctantly lets her in, and as the days pass, she meets his neighbor, and they decide to form a book club. The group of three expands to include others, and the group helps each of the members to learn more about themselves and others around them.
I love "found family" stories and this one just hit the spot. It is told through each of the characters' points of view, so we get a bit more of the thoughts and background of each character as the book progresses. I was rooting for each of them as they discovered more about themselves and what they wanted out of life.
The book aspect of this novel will appeal to book lovers, and some of the humor surrounding the books and the book choices are particularly pointed towards those who have read those books. The end of the tale made me a bit teary, because it is beautifully full of emotion. The themes of loneliness and all of its manifestations, learning how to be brave and authentic, opening up to others, as well as seeking and accepting friendship and love are explored and resonate throughout.
I listened to this as an audiobook and the narrator, Angie Kane, does an amazing job giving each character a distinct voice. Sometimes with this many POV characters it doesn't work to have only one narrator, but in this case it is done extremely well.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
March 23, 2023
What a wonderful find!
The Lonely Hearts Book Club
by Lucy Gilmore is heartwarming, heartbreaking, humorous, and filled with literary quotes and discussions. Sloane Parker lives and works as a librarian in a small northwestern Idaho town. While she doesn’t think of herself as lonely, she looks forward each day to cranky Arthur McLachlan’s arrival to browse the shelves and insult her. When he doesn’t show up for several days, she tracks him down. He's had health problems, is still cranky, but struggles to hide how happy he is to see her. To cheer him up, she starts a book club and others slowly join the club.
Told from multiple points of view, but sequential in time, the story flowed well. Sloane generally is kind and understanding, shy, somewhat controlled, and loves being a librarian. However, she verbally spars and banters with Arthur. Arthur is somewhat uncontrolled and angry, upbraiding everyone. The other members of the book club have distinct personalities. Additionally, they have been living somewhat isolated and contained lives. Readers get a good feeling for each of them.
I was immediately pulled into the story line. I enjoyed learning each character’s backstory and how it affects them today. Additionally, it was wonderful to see how they change and grow as the story unfolds. Themes include grief, anger, and despair over the loss of a loved one as well as friendship, loneliness, family, found family, affection, hope, and optimism.
Overall, this was an entertaining, heartwarming, and engaging story of lonely misfits finding each other. It pulls on the emotions and heartstrings at times. I would love to read more from this author.
SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca and Lucy Gilmore provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for March 28, 2023.
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My 4.49 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
Told from multiple points of view, but sequential in time, the story flowed well. Sloane generally is kind and understanding, shy, somewhat controlled, and loves being a librarian. However, she verbally spars and banters with Arthur. Arthur is somewhat uncontrolled and angry, upbraiding everyone. The other members of the book club have distinct personalities. Additionally, they have been living somewhat isolated and contained lives. Readers get a good feeling for each of them.
I was immediately pulled into the story line. I enjoyed learning each character’s backstory and how it affects them today. Additionally, it was wonderful to see how they change and grow as the story unfolds. Themes include grief, anger, and despair over the loss of a loved one as well as friendship, loneliness, family, found family, affection, hope, and optimism.
Overall, this was an entertaining, heartwarming, and engaging story of lonely misfits finding each other. It pulls on the emotions and heartstrings at times. I would love to read more from this author.
SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca and Lucy Gilmore provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for March 28, 2023.
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My 4.49 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
March 31, 2023
3.5 stars ⭐️
This is reminiscent of “A Man Called Ove” but for bibliophiles!
Sloane Parker is a librarian in the small town of Coeur d’Alene. She never thinks of herself as lonely but the highlight of her day is when an old curmudgeon Arthur McLachlan comes to browse the shelves and cheerfully insult her.
She knows it’s the highlight of his day too, because he has changed what time of day he starts arriving at the library, from when Octavia, the head librarian was working, to coming in during Sloane’s shifts instead. So, when Arthur doesn't show up one morning, she's instantly concerned.
And when another day passes, and then another, she looks up his address, and decides she needs to check up on him-even if it costs her, the very job she loves.
The “Lonely Hearts Book Club” is born, and this charming story of friendships formed among the book lovers who gather around Arthur, unfolds from the alternating five POV’s of its members-Sloane, Maisey, Matteo, Greg and even Arthur himself.
The first two perspectives, those of Sloane and Maisey, were stronger for me than the others, but it’s still an enjoyable read about unconditional love! 🥰
Sometimes when you set out to save someone with only pure intentions, what you put out in the World is returned to you in spades!
Thank You to the Chandler Public Library for the loan of this title! ❤️
This is reminiscent of “A Man Called Ove” but for bibliophiles!
Sloane Parker is a librarian in the small town of Coeur d’Alene. She never thinks of herself as lonely but the highlight of her day is when an old curmudgeon Arthur McLachlan comes to browse the shelves and cheerfully insult her.
She knows it’s the highlight of his day too, because he has changed what time of day he starts arriving at the library, from when Octavia, the head librarian was working, to coming in during Sloane’s shifts instead. So, when Arthur doesn't show up one morning, she's instantly concerned.
And when another day passes, and then another, she looks up his address, and decides she needs to check up on him-even if it costs her, the very job she loves.
The “Lonely Hearts Book Club” is born, and this charming story of friendships formed among the book lovers who gather around Arthur, unfolds from the alternating five POV’s of its members-Sloane, Maisey, Matteo, Greg and even Arthur himself.
The first two perspectives, those of Sloane and Maisey, were stronger for me than the others, but it’s still an enjoyable read about unconditional love! 🥰
Sometimes when you set out to save someone with only pure intentions, what you put out in the World is returned to you in spades!
Thank You to the Chandler Public Library for the loan of this title! ❤️
March 20, 2023
Librarian Sloane Parker becomes concerned when Arthur McLachlan, a grumpy old man who insults her daily, does not show up at the library. Deciding to check on him, she breaks the library's rule of checking a patron's address. Oops.
She goes to his home and finds him bedridden and hiding how happy he is to see her. She also meets Maisey his neighbor and they both devise a plan to help Arthur. But the plan will turn out to help more than him!
Sloane creates an book club (Lonely Hearts Book Club) and soon new members find the book club and friendships bloom.
This was a charming book about people, lonely people, giving people, sad people, helpful people, and their love of books. It is about human connection, growth, and community. As the book progresses, readers get to know each member and we see them interacting and being there for each other.
This book was charming and left me with a smile. Plus, this book will have readers looking up and wanting to read the book selections of this club (if you have not read them already).
#TheLonelyHeartsBookClub #NetGalley #DreamscapeMedia #LucyGilmore
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
She goes to his home and finds him bedridden and hiding how happy he is to see her. She also meets Maisey his neighbor and they both devise a plan to help Arthur. But the plan will turn out to help more than him!
Sloane creates an book club (Lonely Hearts Book Club) and soon new members find the book club and friendships bloom.
This was a charming book about people, lonely people, giving people, sad people, helpful people, and their love of books. It is about human connection, growth, and community. As the book progresses, readers get to know each member and we see them interacting and being there for each other.
This book was charming and left me with a smile. Plus, this book will have readers looking up and wanting to read the book selections of this club (if you have not read them already).
#TheLonelyHeartsBookClub #NetGalley #DreamscapeMedia #LucyGilmore
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
July 6, 2025
“Life still called to me. It was time for me to answer.”
Be still my heart. 💜
Tell me that the title of this book doesn’t speak to you, too?
I walked into my local library with my wrong glasses. I have new glasses now. I use to wear progressive glasses. For those who are unfamiliar with progressive glasses, that is where distance and reading glasses are an all-in-one pair of ‘seeing’ glasses. But as I have aged, they have become not as effective for me. So, now I need separate glasses for reading and walking. Thus, when I walked into the library, I only had my walking glasses on, thus I could not read the fine print of what the book was about. So, I needed to be satisfied with just the title when I spotted it.
So, not knowing what this book was about, when I first saw this one on the shelf in my local library, I still had a feeling it was meant for me to read it.
The idea that it had the words ‘book club’ in the title was enticing enough for me. After all, I facilitated and coordinated my local Library Book Discussion group for 12 years (April 26, 2006 – May 16, 2018). And, it seemed only fitting that I should begin reading this book on the 7th anniversary of the day that I had facilitated my last book discussion group at my library…May 16th.
Of course, this book had nothing to do with my own experience, other than the feeling one gets at being in the company of others discussing a book. But it was a pleasure to be brought back to those memories.
If anything, this book stands out for me in so many different ways. I will try and explain through this review.
Readers are meeting Sloane, a Librarian, who knows how to put on a friendly face, despite what attitude might be put in front of her. I know how that feels too, as my first job in life was at Disneyland. And, we were expected to put on a happy face to all the customers, regardless of their sometimes demanding and impatient attitudes. As employees, we were taught during our training at Disneyland University, that the customer comes first, and is always right, even if they were not…always right. It truly was the best training, especially when dealing with difficult people.
And, in many ways, I could relate to Sloane’s character in those moments when she was confronted with difficult people.
Still, for Sloane, she needed to remember this friendly face in spite of her boss, Octavia who doesn’t believe she has what it takes to make the kind of decisions that take her library to the next level, so denies her the much-desired promotion Sloane covets. Or Arthur, a curmudgeonly patron who finds fault in everything Sloane says or does.
Still, despite Octavia’s lack of confidence in Sloane, readers can’t help but appreciate her tenacity. And, when Arthur doesn’t show up at the library at his usual time, Sloane risks her job to find out why. How will this decision make a difference to Sloane?
And, because Sloane holds that the library is a place of community, she believes that creating a book club might change everything. Will she get her book club? Well…
There is still Sloane getting in her own way.
To consider Sloane a doormat to her boss, her fiancé, Brett and his family would be an understatement. The question being, what will it take for Sloane to realize this and recognize her own self-worth?
“An echo with nothing and no one to call her own.”
And then, something happens that changes everything.
What is particularly interesting, is how the author tells this story.
“Life stories were written in ink, not pencil. Once they were down, the only thing you could do was turn the page.”
Because there is obviously more to the story when Gilmore allows readers to see through the lens from multiple characters points of view. And, this is where Gilmore does a remarkable job. By allowing readers to hear from not only Sloane, but Maisey, Arthur’s neighbor, as well as Mateo, Sloane’s co-worker at the library, and Greg, Arthur’s grandson, and then Arthur, himself. Everyone has a viewpoint as the story progresses.
But more importantly, readers will also be invited into each of their lives and learn about who they are, and how each will impact the other. And, how the book club they create together will transform all these character’s lives.
And, the way books have meaning in many different ways becomes even more significant in helping to reveal and peel away layers hidden under the surface.
“Every highlighted passage spoke of friendship and affection, of hope and optimism. Alone, they were happy little sound bites that were pleasing to the eye. Stitched together, they became something else entirely. They became a love letter of words and sentiment.”
This story has a way of touching hearts with its ability to address second chances, past hurts, friendship, forgiveness, and finding oneself. Readers will find themselves turning pages of hope, as they will undoubtedly want to become friends with this motley crew of richly developed characters.
Be still my heart. 💜
Tell me that the title of this book doesn’t speak to you, too?
I walked into my local library with my wrong glasses. I have new glasses now. I use to wear progressive glasses. For those who are unfamiliar with progressive glasses, that is where distance and reading glasses are an all-in-one pair of ‘seeing’ glasses. But as I have aged, they have become not as effective for me. So, now I need separate glasses for reading and walking. Thus, when I walked into the library, I only had my walking glasses on, thus I could not read the fine print of what the book was about. So, I needed to be satisfied with just the title when I spotted it.
So, not knowing what this book was about, when I first saw this one on the shelf in my local library, I still had a feeling it was meant for me to read it.
The idea that it had the words ‘book club’ in the title was enticing enough for me. After all, I facilitated and coordinated my local Library Book Discussion group for 12 years (April 26, 2006 – May 16, 2018). And, it seemed only fitting that I should begin reading this book on the 7th anniversary of the day that I had facilitated my last book discussion group at my library…May 16th.
Of course, this book had nothing to do with my own experience, other than the feeling one gets at being in the company of others discussing a book. But it was a pleasure to be brought back to those memories.
If anything, this book stands out for me in so many different ways. I will try and explain through this review.
Readers are meeting Sloane, a Librarian, who knows how to put on a friendly face, despite what attitude might be put in front of her. I know how that feels too, as my first job in life was at Disneyland. And, we were expected to put on a happy face to all the customers, regardless of their sometimes demanding and impatient attitudes. As employees, we were taught during our training at Disneyland University, that the customer comes first, and is always right, even if they were not…always right. It truly was the best training, especially when dealing with difficult people.
And, in many ways, I could relate to Sloane’s character in those moments when she was confronted with difficult people.
Still, for Sloane, she needed to remember this friendly face in spite of her boss, Octavia who doesn’t believe she has what it takes to make the kind of decisions that take her library to the next level, so denies her the much-desired promotion Sloane covets. Or Arthur, a curmudgeonly patron who finds fault in everything Sloane says or does.
Still, despite Octavia’s lack of confidence in Sloane, readers can’t help but appreciate her tenacity. And, when Arthur doesn’t show up at the library at his usual time, Sloane risks her job to find out why. How will this decision make a difference to Sloane?
And, because Sloane holds that the library is a place of community, she believes that creating a book club might change everything. Will she get her book club? Well…
There is still Sloane getting in her own way.
To consider Sloane a doormat to her boss, her fiancé, Brett and his family would be an understatement. The question being, what will it take for Sloane to realize this and recognize her own self-worth?
“An echo with nothing and no one to call her own.”
And then, something happens that changes everything.
What is particularly interesting, is how the author tells this story.
“Life stories were written in ink, not pencil. Once they were down, the only thing you could do was turn the page.”
Because there is obviously more to the story when Gilmore allows readers to see through the lens from multiple characters points of view. And, this is where Gilmore does a remarkable job. By allowing readers to hear from not only Sloane, but Maisey, Arthur’s neighbor, as well as Mateo, Sloane’s co-worker at the library, and Greg, Arthur’s grandson, and then Arthur, himself. Everyone has a viewpoint as the story progresses.
But more importantly, readers will also be invited into each of their lives and learn about who they are, and how each will impact the other. And, how the book club they create together will transform all these character’s lives.
And, the way books have meaning in many different ways becomes even more significant in helping to reveal and peel away layers hidden under the surface.
“Every highlighted passage spoke of friendship and affection, of hope and optimism. Alone, they were happy little sound bites that were pleasing to the eye. Stitched together, they became something else entirely. They became a love letter of words and sentiment.”
This story has a way of touching hearts with its ability to address second chances, past hurts, friendship, forgiveness, and finding oneself. Readers will find themselves turning pages of hope, as they will undoubtedly want to become friends with this motley crew of richly developed characters.
March 8, 2023
This book is an example of why comparing books to others can be dangerous. I've seen this book compared to "A Man Called Ove" several times, so I was expecting an incredibly impactful, emotional story with phenomenal character growth and a deeply satisfying friendship as the center of the novel. I'm bored with the characters and don't feel any real emotion in the story. They're just a funny group of friends. The story is okay, if slightly boring, but I don't feel deeply impacted and likely won't remember these characters later.
September 19, 2023
This book has easily become my most anticipated release of 2023!
And also my most favourite ARC read ever!
Thank you, SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca, for the advance reading copy.
I love this book so much!!! It talks about quirky characters, especially one older character no one would ever like but the writing has a way of letting you know that these characters are breathing and more real than you would ever know!
The story is about a younger librarian Sloan, her very realistic (reality bite infusing) friends, a very grumpy older book enthusiast whose ultimate duty seems like insulting Sloan and her choices everyday. This is their story about their interactions, how sudden unexpected events bring strangers closer than our most closest friends and families.
That ending. I can’t… I just can’t.
The writing is too good and the characters so convincing! I love the book cover to cover. I cannot wait for it to come out!
I love the fact that the plot lives its title to the fullest. Never have I been so awed about a book about books with different kinds of reader characters which are more convincing than any other book blogger/vlogger I have ever known. It was like I was watching my favourite blogger talking about their book clubs and their bookish thoughts on some very popular books. Yes, you will enjoy the banter and the discussions! It’s like I was enjoying the main dish and I know the dessert would not be any less.
*-* (book hangovers are real…)
Ooooh the cover…. And more ooooohhh to the title 💋
This book!!!!! Love it so much!!!!!!
And also my most favourite ARC read ever!
Thank you, SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca, for the advance reading copy.
I love this book so much!!! It talks about quirky characters, especially one older character no one would ever like but the writing has a way of letting you know that these characters are breathing and more real than you would ever know!
The story is about a younger librarian Sloan, her very realistic (reality bite infusing) friends, a very grumpy older book enthusiast whose ultimate duty seems like insulting Sloan and her choices everyday. This is their story about their interactions, how sudden unexpected events bring strangers closer than our most closest friends and families.
That ending. I can’t… I just can’t.
The writing is too good and the characters so convincing! I love the book cover to cover. I cannot wait for it to come out!
I love the fact that the plot lives its title to the fullest. Never have I been so awed about a book about books with different kinds of reader characters which are more convincing than any other book blogger/vlogger I have ever known. It was like I was watching my favourite blogger talking about their book clubs and their bookish thoughts on some very popular books. Yes, you will enjoy the banter and the discussions! It’s like I was enjoying the main dish and I know the dessert would not be any less.
*-* (book hangovers are real…)
Ooooh the cover…. And more ooooohhh to the title 💋
This book!!!!! Love it so much!!!!!!
January 9, 2024
The Lonely Hearts Book Club was my December '23 book club read. Grump Vs. Sunshine//age gap but make it friendship & create a book club full of unlikely members!
Super cute premise & I loved the wide variety of characters and multiple POVs. The story is about friendship & self reflection...and showing that loneliness comes in many different forms. Definitely brought the whole be kinder than necessary thing to mind many times while reading. Everyone is one small act of kindness away from a new start or big life change. 3.5 stars.
**Between the holidays & getting sick it took me FOREVER to finish. I think my rating is, in part, reflected by that.**
Super cute premise & I loved the wide variety of characters and multiple POVs. The story is about friendship & self reflection...and showing that loneliness comes in many different forms. Definitely brought the whole be kinder than necessary thing to mind many times while reading. Everyone is one small act of kindness away from a new start or big life change. 3.5 stars.
**Between the holidays & getting sick it took me FOREVER to finish. I think my rating is, in part, reflected by that.**
March 26, 2023
The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore
Women’s fiction. Contemporary. Multiple POV’s.
A group of individuals create a bookclub to help an elderly man recover from a health issue. As they read and discuss literature, they add a few new members and become involved with each other’s lives. Each gets something different from the experience as they build friendships, and become support and trusted, made family.
The book starts with Sloan, the librarian that traded quips with Arthur and realizes he hasn’t been into the library for a few days. The story switches to each of the characters from their point of view and ends back at Sloan.
🎧 I listened to an audiobook version of this book, narrated by Angie Kane. The performance was clear and modulated well. You have to listen closely for POV changes. They are announced with the character name before chapter titles at 7, 16, 22, 28 and 33. It’s pretty clear when there has been a change simply by the conversation, but I did have to backup and verify a couple of times. The narrator does a great job with Sloan and Arthur, however when we get to Mateo, I was still hearing “Sloan” when it was the boyfriend instead. There are distinct voices for the main characters. Secondary characters, caused me some confusion.
I admired Sloan for her compassion and her ignoring Arthur’s actual words to look beyond for what he is really saying. She is the glue to the group.
Enjoyable and thought provoking. What people say is not always straightforward or even what they actually mean.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media.
Women’s fiction. Contemporary. Multiple POV’s.
A group of individuals create a bookclub to help an elderly man recover from a health issue. As they read and discuss literature, they add a few new members and become involved with each other’s lives. Each gets something different from the experience as they build friendships, and become support and trusted, made family.
The book starts with Sloan, the librarian that traded quips with Arthur and realizes he hasn’t been into the library for a few days. The story switches to each of the characters from their point of view and ends back at Sloan.
🎧 I listened to an audiobook version of this book, narrated by Angie Kane. The performance was clear and modulated well. You have to listen closely for POV changes. They are announced with the character name before chapter titles at 7, 16, 22, 28 and 33. It’s pretty clear when there has been a change simply by the conversation, but I did have to backup and verify a couple of times. The narrator does a great job with Sloan and Arthur, however when we get to Mateo, I was still hearing “Sloan” when it was the boyfriend instead. There are distinct voices for the main characters. Secondary characters, caused me some confusion.
I admired Sloan for her compassion and her ignoring Arthur’s actual words to look beyond for what he is really saying. She is the glue to the group.
Enjoyable and thought provoking. What people say is not always straightforward or even what they actually mean.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media.
July 14, 2025
What a cozy, heartwarming gem! This story completely charmed me with its gentle humour, quirky characters, and the kind of quiet emotional pull that sneaks up on you.
I loved Sloane right away—a small-town librarian who doesn’t feel lonely, but still treasures her daily sparring sessions with grumpy old Arthur. When he suddenly stops showing up, her concern felt so real. Their unexpected friendship is the beating heart of this story, and the book club that follows brings even more joy, connection, and delightful misfits into the mix.
The audiobook narration was lovely—engaging, warm, and perfectly matched to the tone of the story.
Thank you to Libro.fm for the ALC! A charming celebration of books, friendship, and finding your people in the most unexpected places.
I loved Sloane right away—a small-town librarian who doesn’t feel lonely, but still treasures her daily sparring sessions with grumpy old Arthur. When he suddenly stops showing up, her concern felt so real. Their unexpected friendship is the beating heart of this story, and the book club that follows brings even more joy, connection, and delightful misfits into the mix.
The audiobook narration was lovely—engaging, warm, and perfectly matched to the tone of the story.
Thank you to Libro.fm for the ALC! A charming celebration of books, friendship, and finding your people in the most unexpected places.
March 25, 2023
Sloane Parker is a librarian at the Coeur d'Alene Public Library, she loves her job and books. Sloane is engaged to Brett, and her mother-in-law is busy planning their wedding. Arthur McLachlan is a grumpy old gentleman, all of the library staff run and hide when he arrives and the chief librarian Octavia deals with his issues. One day Arthur enters the library, he meets Sloane, he finds her far too nice and she doesn't understand Roman history.
Sloane isn’t scared of Arthur, she enjoys his regular library visits and she not bothered by his mild insults and cankerous behavior. One day Arthur doesn’t show up, Sloane is worried, and it’s against the libraries policy to visit members at home, as the days pass, Sloane is really concerned, and she doesn’t care about the rules and she wants to make sure Arthur is alright.
Arthur has been in hospital, of course he checked himself out early, he has nurses caring for him at home and they don’t last long. Sloane meets Arthur's neighbour Maisey Phillips, over the years she has tried to help him and he always sends her packing. Arthur needs help, Sloane offers to keep an eye on him and while sorting through his massive book collection.
Maisey starts dropping off food, slowly others become involved in supporting Arthur’s and they start, The Lonely Hearts Book Club. The members of the book cub are: Sloane, Arthur, Maisey, Mateo, Greg and Arthur isn’t happy when an old work colleague returns and wants to join.
I received a copy of The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore from Sourcebooks Casablanca and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. It’s an engaging and at times amusing narrative about unexpected friendships, helping an elderly person and them admitting they do need a hand, mother and child relationships, how love of books and reading brings a mixture of people and personalities together and companionship. Five stars from me, an enjoyable read, it's an uplifting and appealing story.
Sloane isn’t scared of Arthur, she enjoys his regular library visits and she not bothered by his mild insults and cankerous behavior. One day Arthur doesn’t show up, Sloane is worried, and it’s against the libraries policy to visit members at home, as the days pass, Sloane is really concerned, and she doesn’t care about the rules and she wants to make sure Arthur is alright.
Arthur has been in hospital, of course he checked himself out early, he has nurses caring for him at home and they don’t last long. Sloane meets Arthur's neighbour Maisey Phillips, over the years she has tried to help him and he always sends her packing. Arthur needs help, Sloane offers to keep an eye on him and while sorting through his massive book collection.
Maisey starts dropping off food, slowly others become involved in supporting Arthur’s and they start, The Lonely Hearts Book Club. The members of the book cub are: Sloane, Arthur, Maisey, Mateo, Greg and Arthur isn’t happy when an old work colleague returns and wants to join.
I received a copy of The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore from Sourcebooks Casablanca and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. It’s an engaging and at times amusing narrative about unexpected friendships, helping an elderly person and them admitting they do need a hand, mother and child relationships, how love of books and reading brings a mixture of people and personalities together and companionship. Five stars from me, an enjoyable read, it's an uplifting and appealing story.
April 8, 2023
(free audio review copy) This book had all the ingredients for a book I should love but fell so so short of others in the “lonely oldster finds friends” genre. Narration was not great and perhaps led to my increasing dislike of the book. I have a lot of issues with the story but first and foremost is how MEAN Arthur was compared to many similar characters in books I have loved. It seems I’m an outlier based on ratings and reviews, though.
Source: audio review copy via Libro.fm
Source: audio review copy via Libro.fm
November 9, 2024
So I finished this.
I almost didn't. But this book has so many good reviews I wanted to see if it got better.
It didn't.
It was slightly more entertaining and less annoying . . . But not my cup of tea.
The change in POV was interesting, and I think that's the only reason I didn't DNF this. The constant change in POV also made it so each character's story and character development was rushed.
I still found Arthur insufferable.
-‐-----------------------------------------------
Review From When I Almost DNF This At 27%:
This book was annoying. Everyone in this book treats Sloane like a naive idiot, and the only reason given as to why they treat her like that is because . . . she's emotional. She's not out here crying every second. She's not unable to carry out her work. In many ways, she seems to be the only reliable, empathetic person introduced.
Everyone is an asshole to Sloane because they know she won't call them out on it due to childhood trauma where she always needed to be the quiet, unassuming child. So all the attention could go to her terminally ill sister.
Arthur isn't simply a grumpy old man--he's a dick. He's outright cruel to Sloane and it's meant to be passed off as quirky. He's not Ove from A Man Called Ove. Arthur has no redeeming qualities that make you feel sympathy for him. He is allowed to say anything he wants to Sloane and no one sees this as a problem.
Don't even get me started on Sloane's fiancé and future in-laws. Think monster-in-law and double that for every sister her fiance has. They are planning Sloane's wedding without her input while at the same time insulting her at every opportunity.
And then there's Sloane's boss. What a bitch. She talks to Sloane like she's a child who can't handle any responsibility. She gives a promotion to a man who hasn't worked at the library as long as Sloane, and essentially tells Sloane she's too "naive" for the promotion.
There is no one likable in this book. Sloane is a sympathetic character, but it's infuriating when she never stands up for herself. Everyone around her is deciding her future. And all she does is make excuses for them.
I had hoped Sloane would progressively become more self-confident and assertive, but I can't continue reading her being an absolute doormat in the meantime.
I almost didn't. But this book has so many good reviews I wanted to see if it got better.
It didn't.
It was slightly more entertaining and less annoying . . . But not my cup of tea.
The change in POV was interesting, and I think that's the only reason I didn't DNF this. The constant change in POV also made it so each character's story and character development was rushed.
I still found Arthur insufferable.
-‐-----------------------------------------------
Review From When I Almost DNF This At 27%:
This book was annoying. Everyone in this book treats Sloane like a naive idiot, and the only reason given as to why they treat her like that is because . . . she's emotional. She's not out here crying every second. She's not unable to carry out her work. In many ways, she seems to be the only reliable, empathetic person introduced.
Everyone is an asshole to Sloane because they know she won't call them out on it due to childhood trauma where she always needed to be the quiet, unassuming child. So all the attention could go to her terminally ill sister.
Arthur isn't simply a grumpy old man--he's a dick. He's outright cruel to Sloane and it's meant to be passed off as quirky. He's not Ove from A Man Called Ove. Arthur has no redeeming qualities that make you feel sympathy for him. He is allowed to say anything he wants to Sloane and no one sees this as a problem.
Don't even get me started on Sloane's fiancé and future in-laws. Think monster-in-law and double that for every sister her fiance has. They are planning Sloane's wedding without her input while at the same time insulting her at every opportunity.
And then there's Sloane's boss. What a bitch. She talks to Sloane like she's a child who can't handle any responsibility. She gives a promotion to a man who hasn't worked at the library as long as Sloane, and essentially tells Sloane she's too "naive" for the promotion.
There is no one likable in this book. Sloane is a sympathetic character, but it's infuriating when she never stands up for herself. Everyone around her is deciding her future. And all she does is make excuses for them.
I had hoped Sloane would progressively become more self-confident and assertive, but I can't continue reading her being an absolute doormat in the meantime.
April 8, 2023
I know I shouldn’t rate books I DNF. But this book was offensive to me as a librarian. If the MC worked for me, I would fire her for her horrible customer service. And that patron would be banned . Urg! Talk to a librarian before you write a book about one
February 12, 2025
Exactly what I needed. Heartwarming and charming without any silly or unnecessary romance. Great characters and a perfect ending.
April 21, 2023
If you love Fredrik Backman, you will likely enjoy The Lonely Hearts Book Club. It reminded me of A Man Called Ove, which is one of my all-time favorite novels. I really loved the characters and the writing style of this book.
Thanks to Libro.fm for the ALC!
Thanks to Libro.fm for the ALC!
September 19, 2025
4.5 Glowing Stars!
This book came highly recommended by several Goodreads friends, and it certainly didn't disappoint. I truly appreciate the recommendation and thoroughly enjoyed it.
This work of fiction might not be for everyone, but it's a beautifully told, heavily character-driven story with intricate character development. Told from multiple points of view, it weaves a sweet and emotionally deep tale about a cranky old man and a group of wonderfully unique "oddballs" who come together through a common bond—a love of books (mostly). While the premise is a book club, what they actually find in themselves and each other is much deeper—perhaps not the meaning of life, but for these characters, it's pretty close. They become a "found family," and it's truly a feel-good story that was exactly what I needed to read!
Don't let cranky old Arthur spoil this great book for you; there's a soft spot to be found beneath his tough exterior. It's a worthwhile read to discover what makes him and each of these characters tick. You might even learn a thing or two about yourself in the process!
📖“When was the last time you cared about something so much you couldn’t eat?” he demanded. “Or sleep? When have you ever felt the fire of life burn so bright that it hurts? When did you ever bother to fight for something you loved?”
📕 📚 l
This book came highly recommended by several Goodreads friends, and it certainly didn't disappoint. I truly appreciate the recommendation and thoroughly enjoyed it.
This work of fiction might not be for everyone, but it's a beautifully told, heavily character-driven story with intricate character development. Told from multiple points of view, it weaves a sweet and emotionally deep tale about a cranky old man and a group of wonderfully unique "oddballs" who come together through a common bond—a love of books (mostly). While the premise is a book club, what they actually find in themselves and each other is much deeper—perhaps not the meaning of life, but for these characters, it's pretty close. They become a "found family," and it's truly a feel-good story that was exactly what I needed to read!
Don't let cranky old Arthur spoil this great book for you; there's a soft spot to be found beneath his tough exterior. It's a worthwhile read to discover what makes him and each of these characters tick. You might even learn a thing or two about yourself in the process!
📖“When was the last time you cared about something so much you couldn’t eat?” he demanded. “Or sleep? When have you ever felt the fire of life burn so bright that it hurts? When did you ever bother to fight for something you loved?”
📕 📚 l
April 19, 2023
Cute story but kind of a boring execution.
January 22, 2026
this was so sweet! RTC
Read
April 8, 2023I feel like I need to read this in print before I can give it a fair review because the audiobook version didn't work for me. The audio producers should have invested in a male narrator because their voices were unconvincing and inconsistent.
I struggle with doormat female leads because I get impatient waiting for them to grow a backbone, but I appreciated how the author drew the MC out of her shell without turning her boyfriend into a villain. I also liked how the book club attracted people of such varied backgrounds and personalities.
Sweet and predictable, this novel is a heart-warming pick-me-up. Thanks to @libro.fm for the gifted audiobook.
I struggle with doormat female leads because I get impatient waiting for them to grow a backbone, but I appreciated how the author drew the MC out of her shell without turning her boyfriend into a villain. I also liked how the book club attracted people of such varied backgrounds and personalities.
Sweet and predictable, this novel is a heart-warming pick-me-up. Thanks to @libro.fm for the gifted audiobook.
March 21, 2023
BEAUTIFULLY EMOTIONAL WITH A GREAT CAST OF CHARACTERS
Books about books are such an amazing niche genre that I am absolutely here for. This book perfectly illustrates the power of books - to bring people together, to heal old wounds and to open closed hearts ❤️
👍 What I Liked 👍
Emotional: There were several times during this book were my emotions were entirely caught up in the story and the characters. I went from laughing to sobbing. And the ending, especially, had my heart involved!
Character: So many amazing characters to fall in love with! I love how Gilmore chose to narrate this book, giving sections of the book to different characters. It gave me a great feel for all of them, therefore I am having a hard time choosing a favourite. They all felt like full-fleshed and flawed characters, each in their own way looking for something unknown. With that being said, I must admit a partiality towards Arthur and Sloane, perhaps because of their relationship and banter, which I found very humorous and engaging.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
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Blog Post: Which Book Should you read next based on your favourite Jane Austen Heroine
Books about books are such an amazing niche genre that I am absolutely here for. This book perfectly illustrates the power of books - to bring people together, to heal old wounds and to open closed hearts ❤️
👍 What I Liked 👍
Emotional: There were several times during this book were my emotions were entirely caught up in the story and the characters. I went from laughing to sobbing. And the ending, especially, had my heart involved!
Character: So many amazing characters to fall in love with! I love how Gilmore chose to narrate this book, giving sections of the book to different characters. It gave me a great feel for all of them, therefore I am having a hard time choosing a favourite. They all felt like full-fleshed and flawed characters, each in their own way looking for something unknown. With that being said, I must admit a partiality towards Arthur and Sloane, perhaps because of their relationship and banter, which I found very humorous and engaging.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Follow me for more book loving content!
Blog ✨ Facebook ✨ Instagram ✨ Twitter
Blog Post: Which Book Should you read next based on your favourite Jane Austen Heroine
February 16, 2023
The Lonely Hearts Book Club
⭐️⭐️
📚 Fiction
🎶 Lonely - Akon
✨Pub Day: March 28, 2023
One sentence synopsis:
A woman creates an impromptu bookclub with a group of unlikely friends where they read everyone’s favorite book.
My review:
I think it started off kinda cute but quickly went down hill. Around 1/4 of the way in I was just kinda bored. I don’t think the writing or the story was the right fit for me. If this hadn’t been an ARC i dont think I would’ve finished it.
The characters never came off as more than stereotypical. None of them grabbed my heart in any way and they all just seemed pretty… blah? I never grew to care about their stories. The writing never grabbed me.
I need more umph in my books. That’s a good way to put it. This book lacked umph.
⭐️⭐️
📚 Fiction
🎶 Lonely - Akon
✨Pub Day: March 28, 2023
One sentence synopsis:
A woman creates an impromptu bookclub with a group of unlikely friends where they read everyone’s favorite book.
My review:
I think it started off kinda cute but quickly went down hill. Around 1/4 of the way in I was just kinda bored. I don’t think the writing or the story was the right fit for me. If this hadn’t been an ARC i dont think I would’ve finished it.
The characters never came off as more than stereotypical. None of them grabbed my heart in any way and they all just seemed pretty… blah? I never grew to care about their stories. The writing never grabbed me.
I need more umph in my books. That’s a good way to put it. This book lacked umph.
January 12, 2025
3.75 🫂🫂🫂🫂
This was a TLC reading assignment. Currently Los Angeles, my childhood home and playground is in flames. I need stories about love, goodness, human kindness—about Things You Save in a Fire if you will.
I wasn't enamored with the audio narration and feel this would have benefited from an additional male voice. For my personal tastes, Angie Kane was great with the female leads but the males sounded too feminine.
But now, I definitely need to read Anne of Green Gables. I saw the series Anne with an E but I'm thinking that's not good enough. How did I get through childhood without reading the book?
This was a TLC reading assignment. Currently Los Angeles, my childhood home and playground is in flames. I need stories about love, goodness, human kindness—about Things You Save in a Fire if you will.
I wasn't enamored with the audio narration and feel this would have benefited from an additional male voice. For my personal tastes, Angie Kane was great with the female leads but the males sounded too feminine.
But now, I definitely need to read Anne of Green Gables. I saw the series Anne with an E but I'm thinking that's not good enough. How did I get through childhood without reading the book?
December 21, 2022
This is a fantastic book about the unlikeliest of friends supporting each other through life’s difficulties and giving each other the strength to reach beyond comfort zones.
The setting was one of the stars of this book. I loved the idea of a bookshop as a safe place to foster growth. What a wonderful bookish community!
The characters were the other stars of this book. Gilmore has assembled an eclectic, loveable and quirky cast that grew on me and made it difficult for me to choose a book bestie. Sloan, Greg, Arthur, Mateo, Nigel and Maisey will grab your attention and soon you’ll feel like you’ve known them for ages. Each one is shaped by the books s/he reads and their personality is slowly revealed by the manner in which each approaches reading. Gilmore did something unique here - she mirrored what was going on in her characters’ lives with the book the club chose to read! One last appreciation - I loved Gilmore’s focus on intergenerational friendships. I don't think we put enough value on these types of friendships anymore.
Gilmore’s examination of friendship, parent-child relationships, books and how important it is to find the family you were always meant to have, is heartwarming and uplifting. She highlights the idea that everyone has a reason to hide in a book…have you found your reason?
Grab your highlighters and a copy of this book before finding somewhere comfy and quiet to enjoy it.
I was gifted this copy by Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review
The setting was one of the stars of this book. I loved the idea of a bookshop as a safe place to foster growth. What a wonderful bookish community!
The characters were the other stars of this book. Gilmore has assembled an eclectic, loveable and quirky cast that grew on me and made it difficult for me to choose a book bestie. Sloan, Greg, Arthur, Mateo, Nigel and Maisey will grab your attention and soon you’ll feel like you’ve known them for ages. Each one is shaped by the books s/he reads and their personality is slowly revealed by the manner in which each approaches reading. Gilmore did something unique here - she mirrored what was going on in her characters’ lives with the book the club chose to read! One last appreciation - I loved Gilmore’s focus on intergenerational friendships. I don't think we put enough value on these types of friendships anymore.
Gilmore’s examination of friendship, parent-child relationships, books and how important it is to find the family you were always meant to have, is heartwarming and uplifting. She highlights the idea that everyone has a reason to hide in a book…have you found your reason?
Grab your highlighters and a copy of this book before finding somewhere comfy and quiet to enjoy it.
I was gifted this copy by Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review
Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,250 reviews