Library of Lost Hearts: A Short Story Anthology

by N.F. Afrina

Let this be your last warning: This is no ordinary library. None of the books on these shelves can be found anywhere else, for the stories they contain are either unfinished, forgotten, or rejected—cast aside by heartbroken writers. Once remembered and published as real books to be cherished and commemorated in history, the stories will vanish from the library’s shelves.

All of this was a fine arrangement: a moving library touring small towns around Mount Impossible, favouring Purnama Hollow as its home, with a librarian who loves coffee, mornings, and silence. Until one day, a rogue story—a story with the ability to kidnap readers into its pages upon reading the first line—appears in the Library of Lost Hearts, one after another. Six of them, to be exact.

Follow the librarian and her friends: Kenanga, an ex-author who left the publishing world; Seroja, an amicable baker who gives hugs for free; Melur, a quiet believer in the library’s potential; and Akram, the matcha truck owner next door, as they find themselves in the peculiar worlds the rogue stories lure them into.

Find yourself holding blood-red tulips, turning into a butterfly that reverts back to a pupa at every inconvenience, haunting a village as a pontianak with a sword buried in her chest, discovering the truth of what really happened on Gunung Ledang, losing sense and sanity in the walls of a heartbreak asylum, and getting lost in the Milky Way with an astronaut performing open-heart surgery in space.

It is too late to turn back now. You have read too far…

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Anthologies, Short Stories

272 pages, Paperback

Published September 29, 2024

About the author

An author by night, a doctor by day
• Books I gave birth to: Inkling (2019), Not Here to Stay (2022) and Library of Lost Hearts (2024)
• Things I love in books: Metaphors, women being women, plot twists
• Things I hate in books: Miscommunication, instalove, un-root-able characters

My rating system

5 stars: Life-changing, leaves a permanent mark in my heart
4 stars: It was an awesome read
3 stars: It's okay, just not for me
1-2 stars: I have serious issues with the book

Reviews

[lea in pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

6🌟

(My 3rd 6 out of 5 stars book for this year🥹🌟🫶🏻)

Oh my… what beautiful stories they are 🥹 The most beautiful, profound, bittersweet, and precious I’ve ever read. I feel so lucky to have been chosen by this book. It has left me feeling so full, and I never imagined any author could write stories that would make me feel this way. I’m truly out of words. Afrina did it. She wrote stories that make people feel seen—stories that resonate deeply, offering the warmest embrace✨

I absolutely love the concept of this book. Every story comes from a single, magical library filled with extraordinary books—books that breathe life. We follow Ember, the owner of a pink colored moving library called “Library of Lost Heart”. One day, a rogue story appears on her desk, and from that moment, we are swept into the world of six rogue stories, each one kidnapping us into its universe, inviting us to listen to their lives and tales.

Please, read this book. I can’t stop myself from saying, “This is giving cozy vibes,” “This feels like a warm hug,” because it truly does. It gave me that warmth. I fell in love with the worlds Afrina has created, the characters, their personalities, their emotions, and their stories. I love them all! My heart is so full of them✨🫶🏻

I adore Afrina’s writing. It is so beautiful, lyrical, and whimsical. She brings every story to life. She could write a thousand more, and I’d devour each one, always craving more because her writing is that powerful.

I love every single story, but Haunting of the Fair-weather Ghost and Puteri Gunung Ledang really stood out to me… but honestly, I love them equally. I’m sorry—I lied. I can’t just pick one or two. Each story offers valuable lessons and holds a special place in my heart ❤️‍🩹

[syuhada · Rating 5 out of 5]

i am not good reviewing still i wanna write something here. GOD I LOVE THIS BOOK. i have been in a reading slump for 3 months +. this book got me out of it. a book that carries a lot of things. i love the writing in here, it feels like home. i have been fatin's reader since inkling, i am here to say i am proud to see her writing grows. i have loved inkling, i have loved not here to stay, and now i have come to love library of lost hearts.

ugh i am not good at reviewing and convincing. but please read this book, you'll feel something after finishing it, i can promise you that. i will surely treasure this book, i have very few books that i really loved and lolh manage to get on the list. please, give this book a chance, you will not regret it. 🫶🏼

5/5 ⭐️.

[♡ Aliah ⸜( ˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Not a review]

The end. And the beginning of a closure for you my dear, al ❤️

Dear Akram, thank you for introducing Matcha to Ember (and please love Ember with all of your heart) <3 I love the eight days spent with both of you and others too! Love love love 🫀✨

To my Akram, I don't know who you are yet (or if there is an Akram for me?) but I hope you take good care of yourself and you love yourself so much you are overwhelmed with love that you can love me effortlessly. See you in the future! 💚🩷

[Misshann · Rating 2 out of 5]

I paid RM39.90 for this book. All opinions are my own.

The MCs of the short stories have a pattern of victimising themselves. Some of them have similar traits—they are somewhat extraordinary, so good at whatever they do, get high praises— but they seem to NEED continuous praises and can’t seem to cope when they’re not number ONE. If another person comes along & has amazing gifts TOO & are paid attention to, the MCs see it as them being REPLACED. This self victimisation never ends, the narrative is constantly 'THE WORLD IS AGAINST ME' which gets annoying after 224 pages. I guess... their feelings are valid , I just cannot relate to their ‘problems’. All I thought about was that famous meme 'Kim, there's people that are dying'.

The narratives in this book is just not to my preference. (this is me being nice)
Towards the end, the MC took it personally when people don’t like her books, she said it’s not written ‘for them’. But it feels like she’s chastising them which I find distasteful in my opinion. More-so, the ‘readers’ in the story were talking amongst themselves (a reader’s space) which authors aren’t even allowed to interfere themselves into. It’s not a charity, these readers picked up the book and paid with their own money, you cannot tell them how to feel and again….similarly to the other MCs, SHE CAN’T ACCEPT IF SHE ISN’T NUMBER ONE. This MC takes every criticism or simply not liking her book as HATE— which is absolutely ridiculous to me. How are you villainising your readers?

The ONLY story I like is ‘Forget The Tulips’ —that too because of the imageries and the vivid whimsical setting I enjoy, though I think the ending was just ok. I'd prefer it to be longer as I was immersed in it but that's fine as it's established it's just a short story.

Now for my most anticipated read, the RETELLING OF PUTERI GUNUNG LEDANG. I was one of those kids who were fascinated by her. This is where I was taken aback — the author had said she is sick of people villianising Puteri as being ‘demanding’ and difficult.
In the story it’s fine that plot is CHANGED, as it IS a retelling BUT I was confused when the author had this idea while writing this. Perhaps we grew up with different legends. What I know is everyone knows Sultan Mahmud is a cruel ruler. Why would anyone villianise Puteri? She was always deemed as an amazing BEAUTY and confident, and her long lists of demands are her way to reject the SULTAN, not because she was demanding.
AND!!! Another thing is the 7 DEMANDS are also changed so conveniently to fit the plot, it’s no longer IMPOSSIBLE demands (yet the narrator still calls them ‘impossible’). Rather than 7 TRAYS of mosquitoes BLOOD, its just 7 mosquitoes HEARTS, which is farrrr easier, no? I’d be ok that it’s changed IF they no longer call it impossible demands. BECAUSE IT’S POSSIBLE, he did it so easily, therefore NOT IMPOSSIBLE!!!!
Then, the author made Puteri 'NOT PRETTY', that's why she's so adamant about always being the best through her skills. I can give this a pass for creative liberties but it just stuck out like a sore thumb for me because Puteri Gunung Ledang is known since the dawn of time for being remarkably beautiful. And in the 'historical account' part of the story, the author wrote 'she is a well-respected mountain royal that made up for her lack of grace and beauty with her talent.' Err, ok ... creative liberties creative liberties *i whisper to myself* Maybe I'd enjoyed this better if it was an original fantasy. It has one trope I liked ; the 'you came', 'you called'-scene.

One thought provoking scene: in Mariposa, 'going against nature' is a woman choosing staying home to raise her child as opposed to women wanting to work. I find it fascinating especially cuz these days people like to force patriarchal standards back on women & shame working mothers for going against their 'nature'.

In 'Haunting of the Fair-weather Ghost', again, I find the ghost victimised herself too much. I was ready for the reveal and so ready to hate on the man but...I just don't see what's so bad about Bayu (the man). When he talks to her, she only replies with insults --and NOT the flirting kind (cuz I throw insults to guys I like too *flips hair) So the story goes; she fell for him but he doesn't reciprocates, so she went and got the sword stuck in her chest. The thing is... he doesn't OWE her his feelings back! Then in the future, she said that he stabbed her when he didn't? OMG it was an accident. I can't like or feel sorry for her at all bleh. Then after he accidentally stabbed her, he was soooo depressed and guilty (a metaphor for him hurting her by rejecting her feelings boohoo) that he couldn't go on and marry the other girl that he choseee btw! So then the MC narrates; ’this is the history of man, always underestimating how much they loved someone until they're gone. the guilt of hurting his own best friend just because he was too cowardly to marry the peculiar girl ate him alive' —ok so he actually loves her? I got whiplashed. I do believe he loves her, like a best friend whom he grew up with but can't a love just be platonic? You can't force him to love you back the way you want to. That's not how feelings work. Then, the narrative turns to her giving him 'blessing' (lmao) and he (& I quote) -- ’finally walked out & married the love of his life' Huh??? I thought you said he loved you but was 'cowardly' to marry you because you're 'peculiar' AKA nOt lIkE oThEr GiRls (slap me). But now, you said yourself, he married the love of HIS life. So which is true? From what I understand, the ghost is trying to say that he doesn't really love the girl he is marrying, he loves the ghost but because of some 'circumstances' he won't marry her. Which I disagree, from what I read, they're just best friends, she wanted more, he only sees her as a friend, rejects his feelings, she wanted to stab herself to die, he tried to stop her, accidents happen during the situation, (STOP here for a sec & imagine it gender reversed. would this fly?) he accidentally stabbed her, now he wants to die, she sets him free by sorta forgiving him, he got married, she can't move on & the story starts...

I'm not done.

'Sometimes the deepest act of love is to let go when letting go is due. To prioritise their happiness over your own'

Yes, this is true in most context, but here, she makes it seems like Bayu OWES her the affection (he still loves her --as a friend!). Again, she was SO upset she stabbed herself (a very big reaction & devastating act). What (good) person would not be shocked & guilty? YOU made him feel bad about marrying 'the love of his life' (she said it, not me)

Ok, phew I'm done with my rant.....on this story! NEXT!

The few paragraphs trying to justify fantasy or magic with religion in a more or less a fantasy book (magical realism) --took me OUT of the book. This is just my own preference.

How does Ember mouth a 'sorry' to Akram when she wears a mask? And the sudden reveal that they're both engaged, maybe to 'halal'fied their subtle romance made me grimace a bit because it was so abrupt (imo) I personally believe you can fall in love with someone FIRST without any 'official' ties to them. It's human instincts. Does having mutual feelings and caring for the other person prior of any 'official' relationship, be it 'halal' ver or not, make it maksiat? Especially in the book, it's not like they have visible relationship. Akram just cares for Ember. Anyways, this is just MY preference, MY opinion & MY belief :)

[Anastasia Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8 ⭐️

Library of Lost Hearts is a beautifully cozy read that transported me to a whimsical, fantastical realm. It feels like a heartfelt ode to bookworms and writers alike, especially those who struggle with self-acceptance and fear putting their words out into the world. Even beyond my usual interest in the fantasy genre, this story stirred something in me. Quietly inspiring, in its own gentle way.

[maisarahkim · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the perspective of a once-lost heart, this book feels like a warm embrace for anyone who has come to realize that acceptance is the key to happiness. The journey of embracing who you are and your circumstances is a central theme here. We cannot control the actions of others—they may be kind or cruel, and we may never know which. But what matters most is that we did our best in our own role.

In comparison to other works like Inkling and Not Here To Stay, I personally find this book to be one of the most well-written and well-developed stories. The author’s growth is evident, and I truly admire how much she has improved since her previous work. Major props to the author for the incredible effort behind this book.

There are three stories that resonated deeply with me: Little Astronaut, Heartbreak Asylum, and Mariposa. Little Astronaut in particular felt as if it were written just for me—I cried while reading it. It also serves as the perfect closing to the book.

To my fellow lost hearts, I hope you find what you are searching for within these pages. Fi hifzillah.

[escapeintotheink · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Forgetting is a cruel act of erasure.” - The Forget-Me-Not Lady, Forget the Tulips, Library of Lost Hearts.

TW & CW: Death, Drowning, Familicide, Mental illness depictions, Stabbing, Traumatic medical procedures (ECT)

Library of Lost Hearts is a collection of short stories interwoven with the main narrative about making peace with oneself. A few of these stories draw inspiration from famous Malaysian legends while adding their own unique twists. The effort that went into this book should be applauded because the author did everything on her own while managing a demanding career.

Unfortunately, LoLH was a miss for me. The beginning gripped me off the bat, and after the first short story, I was hopeful to find a new favourite N. F. Afrina. It went downhill from there.

The story felt very disjointed because nothing in the first half indicated the plot direction of the last 25%. Suddenly, Akram and Ember were engaged, despite both of them acting like they were in the primary-school-crushes stage. I understand the religious implications, but couldn’t the author have developed their relationship more naturally? The awkwardness was endearing at first, but it became worrying when Ember referred to Akram as the boy she “settled on”. That left a bad taste in my mouth because if the genders were reversed, that would have been the set-up for a romance book with a “better” man.

The idea that people who are important to you will continue to make an effort, even if you don’t reciprocate, can be harmful. This mindset often leads to the end of friendships and relationships. Healthy connections need a balance of effort from all parties. Kenanga's backstory was confusing and took me aback. Maybe I missed the hints, but inserting yourself into a readers-only space is a recipe for heartbreak. Readers are not obligated to share an author's opinions, and it is not an act of hate to criticise a book. Unless they lash out at the authors directly, readers should be free to express their opinions to each other without the authors butting in.

Focusing on the short stories that did well; Forget the Tulips shattered my heart by reminding me of all the things I couldn't forget about connections long broken and lost. Mariposa was thought-provoking as the narrative challenged our societal norms and turned our ancient beliefs on their head. Little Astronaut was a balm to my lost soul, yearning to belong.

On the other hand, The Haunting of the Fair-Weather Ghost, Puteri Gunung Ledang and Heartbreak Asylum are stories I have personal beef with. The self-victimisation by the Lady did not make sense because Bayu shouldn't be held accountable for her feelings. This is the classic debate topic when it comes to boy-girl friendships, only in reality, it's usually the boy who is the problem. Then, drawing similarities between his daughter and his ex-friend felt like an additional layer of cruelty. I'm pretty sure this is also the plot of an old Hindi movie.

I always remembered Puteri Gunung Ledang as being both resourceful and beautiful beyond compare. She was the heroine in all the books in my school's library. When was she ever the villain? If anything, I think she was the victim, forced into marriage with Mahmud. Yes, history and legends written by men tend to skew things in their favour, and this is a retelling, but I didn't get the concept.

Heartbreak Asylum was my dealbreaker. As someone who understands the misconceptions surrounding electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and the average person's fear of it when ECT is their only option to reduce their symptoms, its portrayal in this story made me uncomfortable. There is enough stigma associated with ECT as it is, and readers may perpetuate that stigma without proper warnings.

Overall, I’m afraid this will be my last N. F. Afrina work. The concept was fresh and intriguing, but the author tried so hard that they overshot their mark of achieving profundity. The constant theme of needing external validation and being owed affection, multiple linguistic errors and the abrupt ending of a few stories did a number on my enjoyment.

Thank you for taking the time to read my review. Enjoy reading the book, fellow bookworms!

[bookmehnia · Rating 4 out of 5]

{62/2024} 3.5/5🌟 Short Story Anthology (Fiction) | 263 pages

I have read Afrina’s Inkling and loved it but I didn’t get the chance to read her second book. I certainly thought I couldn’t miss this one, particularly because of the cover and the catch about the short stories.

We are introduced to a librarian, who owned a moving library. This moving library moved around and made its stops at small towns. However, this was no ordinary moving library. The stories that were kept in the library were special ones - some were unfinished, some were forgotten, some were rejected and some were even thrown away. These stories were written by special writers. They were the heartbroken ones.

One day, a rogue story, a title given to all these special stories, had kidnapped its readers into their pages, and the stories came one after another. What were these stories trying to tell the readers? Were they unresolved matters? Were the stories in need of help?

You would meet a tulip seller searching for love, a confused butterfly, a pontianak whom I can’t avoid of having Maya Karin’s visual (🤭), a different version of Puteri Gunung Ledang, an asylum residents and a lonely astronaut. There’s science, folklore, and fantasy.

This is like reading stories in another story. Totally two different plots but somehow they are connected to each other. If I remember Inkling well, I know Afrina would be able to write lyrical and melodious wordings. Beautiful words were chosen meticulously to describe whatever she has visualised in her mind.

I dare say, Afrina really poured her heart in all the stories, decompressing whatever that have been etched and stucked in her heart on a personal level. Afrina, probably comfortable enough now, is letting us inside her heart to get to know her.

I am particularly enthralled with some of the short stories like “Forget the Tulips” because I wanted to know more; “Mariposa” because it is so relatable to me as a mother; and the Puteri Gunung Ledang retelling. I could sense the “girl-power” movement in the stories but not on the side of an angered feminist. It’s more to prove that women are not that weak. We may cry all the time but given the chance we are unbreakable human beings.

In a way, Afrina is letting the readers know that it is okay to be heartbroken, and it is okay to take as much time to recover. Have a strong faith and belief that God has much better plans for us to all the heartbroken situations that we have ever been through. That’s my take on the book. Afrina is also sharing some of her penned thoughts from her journal that somehow build the idea around the book.

Read this book of your heart has been broken and to know that you are never alone.

#justreaddontbawang #bookmehnia #OctoberReads #OctoberTBRs #bookstagrammalaysia #bookstagrammy #malaysiamembaca #bookstagrammer #bookgram #bibliophile #bibliophilemy #bookish #bookaddict #bookaesthetic #readersofinstagram #goodreads #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookworm #libraryoflosthearts #nfafrina

[Marea · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Forgetting is a cruel act of erasure.”

Library of Lost Hearts by N.F. Afrina reads more like an emotional reflection than a plot-driven novel. It is a quiet book that asks the reader to sit with feeling rather than move quickly toward resolution, and that choice defines both its strengths and its limitations.

The idea of the library works mainly as a metaphor. It represents how grief, love, and unfinished emotions are stored rather than healed or erased. The hearts in this story are not redeemed or repaired; they are kept, remembered, and revisited. This thematic consistency is one of the novel’s strongest elements, giving the story a clear emotional focus.

The prose is restrained and often understated. Afrina relies on implication more than direct expression, which creates a soft, contemplative tone. That style will charm readers who look for emotional resonance over action, but it can feel distant if you’re craving strong narrative momentum. Most of the characters exist more as ideas and feelings than as fully fleshed-out people, which fits the anthology’s dreamlike rhythm but also means the emotional impact depends on what you bring to it.

Because the book is structured around short stories nested within a framing tale, the pacing is uneven. Some sections pull you deep into their worlds; others leave you waiting for a stronger emotional hook. The magic of the library and the concept of being transported into another story are whimsical and lovely, but there are moments when that whimsy risks becoming too soft, too veiled.

Overall, Library of Lost Hearts is best approached as a reflective piece rather than a conventional narrative. It will appeal to readers who appreciate symbolism, emotional stillness, and unresolved grief. Those looking for momentum or clear catharsis may find it muted, but for readers comfortable with quiet introspection, the novel offers a thoughtful exploration of how loss continues to linger rather than disappear.

[Meg Chia (bibliophilogy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yep it’s 2am that I finished this book and I am in tears

[Sherareads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite a unique anthology from a Malaysian author, integrating cultural resonance and the use of metaphors—I love when authors do this. The short stories were amazing and the author still managed to include plot twists (I didn’t expect any in a short story anthology). The idea of the characters traveling into the stories and experiencing the plots was compelling. I enjoyed 'The Haunting of the Fair-Lady Ghost' and 'Puteri Gunung Ledang and The Golden Bridge' the most. The author also didn’t let these short stories overshadow the main character’s story and the final plot twist was surreal.

I believe the central idea of this book revolves around “authors” and their unfinished books, unfinished ideas left hanging. I can relate to this, as I too love writing but stopped halfway. Lost. Never made it to publication. It shows that we can have great ideas and stories in our minds, but not all of them get published, approved, or even taken seriously. Hence, the library of lost hearts—lost, abandoned, forgotten.

The shelves did not hold books that were approved by a room of people, printed in factories, and sold in bookstores. Every single book here is a unique copy. You would never find any of the library’s stories anywhere else because the books here are stories that were never finished, never told. In fact, most of these stories were forgotten.

Also, this type of book helps introduce our culture (and Malay folklores) to the world, and I believe it has reached the non-Malay book market. Keep writing books like this and I will continue to support you, Afrina!

[septvloom · Rating 4 out of 5]

"𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘊𝘭𝘶𝘣. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘶𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴, 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘢 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺. 𝘋𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦. 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴."

as i said before if there’s any book that truly deserves the title of the best comfort book ever, this would DEFINITELY be the one.

I found myself relating to almost everything in this book—it just gets me. The concept of a moving library? Absolute genius. I don’t just want one; I need one. No, scratch that—I want to own one right now.

As for my favorite stories, The Ghost and Mariposa stole my heart. Believe it or not, Mariposa had me in tears. Huhu. but I still love all six stories so much. Each one carries a warmth that feels like a soft embrace, and you can feel the author’s heart in every word. Every word carries so much emotion, and you can just feel the sincerity behind them. Cozy, heartfelt, and deeply personal—this book is like a warm hug in written form.

plus, the way the author beautifully conveys that it’s okay to rest, to take our time, to go at our own pace—it really hit home. Life isn’t a race, and just because our journey looks different from others doesn’t mean we’re lost. Everyone has their own path, and we just need to have faith in Allah’s plan. HE is, after all, the best planner.

okay okay last can we talk about Akram and Ember? TOO. CUTE. TO. HANDLE. I need my own Akram—like, seriously. Where do I sign up to get one? Because that man is everything.

Overall, this book was everything I needed and more. A solid 4.5/5 from me

p/s: I just LOVE all the details in this book! And as a September baby, I love that having the main character's name, Ember, comes from September🌷

[Afiya . · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning ⚠: You will fall in love with each word written on these pages.


Library of Lost Hearts is one of those books that’ll make you experience all kinds of emotions while reading it ---Joy, sadness, envy, Fear, Anger, Excitement. ----

Imagine a library that holds the stories of love, space, ghosts, mother-daughter relationship, fantasy, realism—each page brimming with emotions you didn’t know you needed to feel. The author's writing is so poetic that when you read it you can feel like there's daisies growing around your heart. It’s the kind of book that makes you reflect on your own experiences with love, loss, and what it means to truly find yourself. In this review, I’ll dive into why this book is so much more than just a story—it’s an emotional ride that stays with you long after you finish the last page.

My fav story was the Fair-Weather ghost

The way she adds Qur'an verses and islamic messages in this novel makes me realize that even if the story isn't topiced as religious, you can still connect it back to Allah and his Verses. Proof that everything is related to God, yes, I mean EVERYTHING.
Love how the author da'wahs even in Books.

Also am so glad I bought the first print limited edition signed one!! the exclusive content in it was worth it!! I am absolutely in love with the entire book and I just want to hug it all night long!!

Call me dramatic all you want but this book changed me


I genuinely want to fullfill all the questions asked in the 𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓'𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒆
But of course I'm too lazy, and who would even scroll down to read my opinion on this amazing book.

This isn't any regular book; it's a book that will kidnap you into it's pages and stories, you will be the main character.

[Silverprince · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars = It was okay.

First, I admire Ms Afrina's effort in publishing and designing her book herself, and I think she's pretty young (I'm guessing early 20s), so I applaud that. I like the cover, but oh my gosh, I disliked how the paragraphs are shaped and indented, and many times I felt the paragraphs were too short—okay fine, I'm used to classic old style long-ass paragraphs.

I couldn't feel this book was going anywhere; there was very little conflict, and nothing needed to be resolved. Reading this book felt like eating too much sweet cakes or those puffy sweet pastries like those mini-cakes with a big crunchy sugar block on it (usually coloured) till your mouth gets sick, and to the point after eating it, thinking about it makes you sick a little.

I was captivated by the first 10% of the book, then it went downhill from there. It's too soft, too magical, and too goody two-shoes. It doesn't feel like it was written from pure boldness or fright. It felt like it was written from basic insecurities. You know that one shy classmate you had in school who was sometimes a bit annoying cause they spoke too softly and didn't contribute much to the group? Yeah, this book felt like it came from that person.

Sure now it sounds like I didn't like the book, yet I really liked how the author blends Islam with fiction just a tad bit, like mentioning azans happen casually in some stories. Also, this is the kind of book I'd want my future hypothetical children to read. I'd recommend it to a 12 year old girl, but I'm not a 12 year old girl so I didn't like it.

I need a pallette cleanser... BUT my heart is touched by the book, for some weird reason.

[SITI NURBAITI MOHAMED · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it would a simple book about lost books in a caravan library. But it is definitely more than that. Being absorbed like literally into a book that you enjoy is a dream for every bookworms. That's what happened to the characters in LOLH, once they read the first line of the story, they were transported into the story, leaving their body in reality as holograms. Quite interesting if you ask me. Plus the setting is somehow magically existed among reality. I don't really know how to describe it but it is how I felt throughout the story.

LOLH is a compilation of lost stories or rogue stories or peculiar stories. My favs are The Mariposa, Retelling of Puteri Gunung Ledang from the pov of the glorious mountain itself and Little Astronaut. Each of which has its own themes to be understood by the readers. But most significant and compelling to me is the theme brought by Little Astronaut and what I got from the librarian herself; and I think NF Afrina also found it is most relatable to her a doctor/writer; finding a home, finding ourselves and doing something that we consider as breathing. To her writing is breathing. Take away something that you breathe your life is like killing you.

Second is, differentiating yourselves through different lenses reminds me of Carl Jung's theory of personality. We are divided into three stages of how we see ourselves and all of them shape who we are. Persona is the mask we wear when we are in certain circumstances or with certain people. Contradict to Persona is the Shadow. The innermost layer of ourselves that only we know. As comparative these two are, Self relies on both to make the whole out of us. I did this too as a teacher. Trying to be professional to my kids but I made a joke out of myself. Hahaha cringe sangat bila jadi adult yang wise. Not soo me.

Bro, I rambled too much. Honestly I want to say more. But I think I will stop now. Thank you NF Afrina for this thought provoking read. Rating: 3.75/5 ⭐️🫣💜✨📚

[Adawiyah Holland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another kind of fantasy- driven
I feel like inna nested or lucid dreams, I mean what do you mean the narrator is sucked into the book? Well, I don’t know whether it is the narrator or the main character. Nevertheless, it is so thrilling and I never knew there’s such a thing like this genre

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, I felt unsure about this book, whether I like it or not. But the more I read, the more fond I become of the stories. Stories about self-discovery and healing broken hearts… felt like I could relate.

[Lyana A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the concept of this book. The stories are sweet and unique too.

[Husnul Khatimah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every story within these pages is beautifully written. And just as the author had hoped, this book feels like home—a comforting embrace for the soul :)

[Adibah(whatdibsread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the book but cannot comprehend the retelling of puteri gunung ledang🥹🥹 like what was that. That story actually one of my anticipated short story from this book huhu

[risya reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second time I have fallen in love with a book by the same author. Words cannot express how much I love the book, either out loud or in writing. I adore everything that has been written; it gives me a sense of inclusion for each story and sentence in this book. While reading this, a deep thought occurred to me: love can often look like so many things that don’t seem like love. The legends that had the most impression on me were the fair-weather ghost and the puteri gunung ledang.

All characters evolve differently, and one thing I've learnt is that anything happened is similar to a crash course in bicycling and love. You take a risk, fall down, get back up, and repeat the process. This is exactly what it feels like. I get delighted every time one of the characters begins the rogues' story. That the worlds in the stories appear real to me.

After finishing this book, I had the feeling of wanting more and not being ready to go on to the next book. This book helped me appreciate myself more and embrace opportunities to love wherever they came. It helped me recognise that life is amazingly happy when you know who you are and that the Almighty is always there for you. I realised that I wasn't terrified of the suffering that would come. Oh, I picked up this book at the perfect time since I was in deep despair and needed a dose of happiness, so beyond any description, I am certain that my stricken heart has already been greatly comforted. In handful of days, all my life had been unwound.

(just ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ is not enough. This book deserve the whole set of constellation.)

[Mai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sukaaaanyaa ❤️❤️❤️ All the feelings are felt and i felt belong 🥺 Thank you for writing this, and it would be my comfort read in the years to come.

I’d not say I'm a scaredy cat, but I am scared of ghosts (if not much, the thought of them made me goosebumps), but after reading The Fair-Weather Ghost I was sympathetic and felt safe even 😭 So yes that’s my fav story in this book (please write more of not so horror and romance like this 🫣)

And to author, your book would be my auto-buy in the future. Please keep on writing ❤️

[Mariam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just... so warm and forgiving and gentle. Every story felt like a piece of the author's soul and I'm so honoured to get the chance to read it. I usually like to devour books in one sitting if I find it enjoyable but I couldn't with this one. Not because it wasn't enjoyable, oh no that was definitely not the case. It was because every story demanded to be savoured and I took my time turning the page because I honestly did not want it to end.

This book grounded me and the stories within the Library of Lost Hearts helped my own heart feel a little less lost.

This is fiction -with a dab of magic and matcha- that I know I will reach for again and again.

[Nur Adlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only bad thing about this book is it was too short 😔

Honestly this book feels like a warm hug to me, there are some moments that really relatable with my experience and it sort of feel like a personal like talking to friends so this book felt really close to my heart ♥️

[AnisShafie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strongly believe that the author wrote this book as an excuse to publish a compilation of unfinished/unresolved shorts.

I have criticisms that followed throughout the book, but also things that I liked as well.

The writing style is not my cup of tea. Often, I find myself trying to rephrase the author's words. It's a habit that I find I stumble upon against some writing styles.

Before I comment on the main story, I'll rate the short stories;

Forget The Tulips (2.5/5)

Mariposa (1/5)

Haunting of the Fair-Weather Ghost (4.5/5) - I really liked it except hated the dialogues at the end of it

Puteri Gunung Ledang (5/5) - Beautiful retelling/version of the tale. Don't trust men blindly!!! Enjoyed the last line of the story a lot.

Heartbreak Asylum (2/5)

Little Astronaut (3.5/5)

Now, to the main story. I have very pressing opinions on it. Most of it, if not all felt flat and bland.

By page 60, we're still introducing main characters? It got boring.

Insufficient build-up to bring suspense for the twist, though the plot twist was good.

I understand why the book garnered readers attention. It has a fresh premise. Though quite flawed.

Overall, not amazing but not at all terrible.

[Fyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵. 𝘊𝘢𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵?”

Have you ever imagined, as you reach for a book on your shelf, the moment you read its opening line, you are suddenly transported into the realm of fiction? It’s basically every reader’s dream to dive into the world of their favourite book.

This story follows the journey of Ember, a librarian who runs a moving library with her pink caravan, weaving through small towns around Mount Impossible. As she was preparing for her day, a rogue story unexpectedly burrows her into each six different short stories.

LOLH is like the perfect sip of earthy matcha—an act of warmth and comfort weaving into us readers 🍵🍃🫶🏻

I’m absolutely captivated with the metaphors the author emphasises in this book. I can also feel the sincerity of every word woven in each line.

Based on all the short stories, it somehow portrays the same message—a chance to forget the most painful parts of ourselves and able to learn on embracing our inner strength and beauty.

Coming from someone who tends to self doubt her capabilities and having a hard time to accept her true form, this book truly spoke to me, waiting for me to pick it up and holding on to it for eternity.

I love all the short stories equally but Mariposa and Little Astronaut resonate with me the most. Mariposa reminds me of my mother, who never stopped showering me with love and lessons about life. The never ending encouragement of how I don’t have to be perfect to fit in. Even now as an adult, I’d still come to her every time something is wearying me down, yet she never gives up on me.

In Little Astronaut, I connect deeply with the feeling of never belong in anywhere I go. When in reality, this temporary world was never meant for us to have a permanent comfort. It’s always gonna be a trail filled with obstacles. Therefore, it’s essential to find a sense of belonging within ourselves first—to cherish who we are to finally be at peace with whatever Allah has decreed for us.

We all have our own Kenanga that may cast doubt on our dreams and our worth. But we must never allow them to hold us back or diminish our belief in ourselves. Our broken pieces, our imperfections, are what make us whole, forming the beautiful complexity of being human.

p.s Ember and Akram are so adorable I am rooting for them since the beginning 😍💗

Thank you so much to the author for writing this masterpiece and I’m proud of you. Much love, from a lost heart that has finally found her way back home 🌷🩷

[Dhuha Shahrain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I even begin..

First and foremost, Afrina has done it again! Her signature lyrical and whimsical storytelling has only gotten better this time around. I pre-ordered the book and was among the first batch to receive a copy (the first copy i tell u!), so I got the exclusive free gifts. One of them was a library card for jotting down page numbers and quotes from the book. But there were so many quotable lines that I ran out of space to write on the card!

The book revolves around a moving library—a library in a pink caravan (how cool is that?)—run by Ember. This library holds untold stories from various unknown authors. Among these books are rogue stories that demand the readers’ attention. When read, these stories literally transport the readers into their worlds, kidnapping them into their universes.

The book features two main sections: the story of Ember and her moving library, and six different rogue stories, all of which are interconnected with Ember’s journey.

My personal favorites are Mariposa and Puteri Gunung Ledang. Oh, and let’s not forget The Fairweather Ghost (a.k.a. the pontianak)!

Mariposa narrates the life of a butterfly searching for purpose. It weaves together the story of a mother who sacrifices her glorious future and goes against her nature to stay home and nurture her baby, and a daughter who struggles to chase glory while losing sight of her true purpose. (I even got a Mariposa sticker!)

Puteri Gunung Ledang is told in two versions: one from the perspective of another mountain, and the other from within Gunung Ledang itself. It’s a fresh and creative retelling of the legend, offering new perspectives. The story highlights women’s empowerment but without veering into hyperfeminism.

The pontianak story follows a heartbroken woman literally stabbed in the heart with a sword, leaving her trapped between this world and the hereafter. It reminded me of Goblin 😆

Overall, this book feels like a warm hug. It resonates deeply with my life and brings closure to my heart. such a cozy read! I finished it in just three days, though I kept putting it down because I didn’t want it to end.

[Nurien Aina Ahmad · Rating 5 out of 5]

It began with a single sentence, full of something I couldn't name. And just like that, I was no longer in my room. I was inside the book. The world around me melted away, and I walked beside the characters, through stories folded inside other stories, like dreams within dreams.

Every tale was a mystery, a puzzle I wanted to solve, and with each answer, I felt something grow inside me.
wonder, maybe, or something close to it. This book didn't just tell stories. It made me part of them. And when I turned the last page, I wasn't ready to leave. Some books end. This one stayed.

Here are the pieces I found.

~ Forget the Tulip
Memories are soft petals,
holding love between what was and what is lost.
Kindness means knowing when to remember, and when to let go.
Even if names fade,
the heart remembers what truly mattered.

~ Mariposa
In every quiet ache, transformation begins.
Growth hurts, but it leads us home.
Beauty fades. Praise fades.
But love with purpose stays.
We bloom when we stop chasing approval and start giving ourselves freely.

~ Haunting of the Fair-weather Ghost
Love doesn't always mean to keep.
Sometimes, what we want isn't meant for us.
It slips away, quietly.
But not every loss is a punishment.
Life clears space for something better.
Every "no" from fate hides a gentler "yes" waiting to arrive.

~ Puteri Gunung Ledang
Never place your hopes in people.
They will disappoint you.
This world breaks hearts silently.
Kindness often comes with conditions.
But Allah's love?
It stays.
It heals.
It never fails.

~ Heartbreak Asylum
The deepest pain shapes us most.
It molds us into something stronger.
We don't always need to forget pain. sometimes, it's what helps us bloom.
Softer. Wiser.
More beautifully.

~ Little Astronaut
Belonging isn't something you chase.
It finds you,
where your soul is met without condition.
It doesn't ask.
It doesn't exhaust.
you are enough, just as you are.


And lastly, when the time is right, may Allah allow our paths to cross, so I may find my own 'Akram.

[Alea Aizad · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘒𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘸𝘢𝘺?

Living as librarian in a moving van-library is what Ember does. Getting up early, drinking some coffee and opening a moving bookstore for early-risers every single day. But this wasn't an ordinary library, it filled with thousands of forgotten unpublished stories for special readers to read including the rogue stories. Stories where they refused to be forgotten and would transport the readers to their realms of world.

⊱ ─── ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ ─── ⊰⊱ ─── ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ ─── ⊰

First, I would generously thanking the author for being so vulnerable and so real in writing this book. By letting her glimpse of life to be reflected in the story is such an amazing braveness that we rarely see nowadays. So thankyou for sharing bits of your life, things that you're scared of as an author and i'm be able to reflect as much as i could too from being a reader.

Out of 6 stories; the fair-weather ghost, heartbreak asylum and little astronaut are my favourites. Some of the lessons that i've learnt from them is:

1. sometimes to love is to lose
2. you can't forget the past, but you can learn the lesson and move on
3. you don't need a special place or person to feel belonged, you can just feel belong to yourself too.

i would like to pinpoint out that reading Kenanga's story makes me want to learn and finally accept the ugly, the wound and the scar inside of me. Instead of running from them, i need to embrace them too cause they also make me the person that i'm today ❤️

Overall, it was such a reflective and a surreal reading experience. And i'm so glad that the author also included the quotes and the journal that felt like secret diary at the back. It definitely add much more insight to the characters as well 🙌🏻

[Bidasari · Rating 3 out of 5]

6 kisah fantasi berdasarkan lagenda, isu semasa, dsb yang ada setiap satunya mengingatkan den kepada cerita, sejarah, movie, dsb yang pernah den baca dan dengar.
Setiap satu cerpen mempunyai pengajaran yang tersendiri yang buat den refleksi hidup sendiri.

🌷blood-red tulips - mengingatkan den kepada movies:
✅spy macam James Bond😅
✅The Cave of the Golden Roses - Tarabas😅

🦋butterfly that reverts into a pupa
✅tidak pasti kenapa sepanjang pembacaan ni dalam kepala den terngiang-ngiang lagu 🎼 dari ulat jadi kepompong, tidur rehat dalam kelongsong🎶
✅kita perlu menjadi diri sendiri
✅akan sentiasa ada orang yang lebih cemerlang, berjaya, cantik, dsb
✅jangan bandingkan hidupa kita dengan orang lain
✅apa yang penting kita live our life to the fullest

👻a ghost with a sword buried in her chest
✅teringat dekat Gong Yoo dalam KDrama Goblin😅
✅teringat pada pelbagai series Merlin di mana Gaius selalu buat ramuan aneka jenis potion

👑Puteri Gunung Ledang & Sultan Mahmud
✅Penulis memberikan a refreshing input tentang 7 syarat pinangan Puteri Gunung Ledang kepada Sultan Mahmud
✅ada mesyuarat tentang bagaimana hendak menangani isu monsoon dalam cerita ini - mengingatkan den kepada pelbagai mesyuarat tentang mitigasi dan tebatan banjir yang den pernah hadir

💔the walls of heartbreak asylum
✅reminded me of the Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind
✅setiap patah hati, dsb yang berlaku dalam hidup kita mencorakkan kehidupan kita yang mendatang

🛸an astronaut in Milky Way galaxy
✅teringat movie Wall-E sebab ada robot nama Eva macam dalam cerita ni
✅sedikit vibes buku The Prince sebab Willa merayap ke hulu ke hilir di Milky Way itu.

Plot cerita molek dan unik lengkap dengan kek, kopi, matcha segala cuma barangkali expectation den agak tinggi berdasarkan hype nya ataupun den tidak sajak membaca genre fantasi☺️