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The Lost Love Song: A Novel
Behind every great love song is a great love story, from the author of Star-Crossed
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY PUBLISHERS WEEKLY • “A tender tribute to the healing powers of love and music . . . Readers will be wowed.”— Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Concert pianist Diana is finally ready to marry her longtime fiance, Arie; she’s even composing a beautiful love song for him, and finishes it while on tour. Before she can play it for him, though, tragedy strikes—and Diana is lost to Arie forever.
But her song might not be.
In Australia, the world has gone quiet for Arie and he lives his life accordingly, struggling to cope with his loss. In Scotland, a woman named Evie is taking stock of her life after the end of another lackluster almost-relationship. Years of wandering the globe and failing to publish her poetry have taken their toll, and she might finally be ready to find what her travels have never been able to give a real home. And through a quirk of fate or circumstance, Diana’s song is passed from musician to musician. By winding its way around the world, it just might bring these two lost souls together.
With heart-wrenching emotion, The Last Love Song explores what it means to be lost, what it means to be found, and the power of music to bring people together.
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY PUBLISHERS WEEKLY • “A tender tribute to the healing powers of love and music . . . Readers will be wowed.”— Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Concert pianist Diana is finally ready to marry her longtime fiance, Arie; she’s even composing a beautiful love song for him, and finishes it while on tour. Before she can play it for him, though, tragedy strikes—and Diana is lost to Arie forever.
But her song might not be.
In Australia, the world has gone quiet for Arie and he lives his life accordingly, struggling to cope with his loss. In Scotland, a woman named Evie is taking stock of her life after the end of another lackluster almost-relationship. Years of wandering the globe and failing to publish her poetry have taken their toll, and she might finally be ready to find what her travels have never been able to give a real home. And through a quirk of fate or circumstance, Diana’s song is passed from musician to musician. By winding its way around the world, it just might bring these two lost souls together.
With heart-wrenching emotion, The Last Love Song explores what it means to be lost, what it means to be found, and the power of music to bring people together.
384 pages, Paperback
First published March 3, 2020
188 people are currently reading
3913 people want to read
About the author
Minnie Darke
13 books386 followersMinnie Darke writes smart, contemporary stories about love ... of all kinds.
Her first novel Starcrossed - about a journalist who manipulates an astrology column for her own romantic ends - was published in over 25 international territories.
The Lost Love Song - composed in a slightly more melancholy key - tells the story of a haunting melody that finds its way home, all by itself, to the heart of the person who inspired it.
With Love from Wish & Co takes you deep into the world of a professional gift-buyer. It begins on the day Marnie Fairchild is wrapping two gifts: one for her best client's wife, and one for his lover. What could possibly go wrong?
Three Juliets brings together themes of motherhood, daughterhood, love, loss and dressmaking. It's the story of Claudie Miller, who designs the beautiful 'Juliet' dress in tribute to the daughter - who would now be 16 years old - that she never had the chance to know. It's also the story of Roisin, Bindi and Miranda – all born on the same day, all adopted – who are 16 years old when the 'Juliet' enters their lives. The dress was designed with one of them in mind ... but which one?
Minnie Darke is a lover of freshly sharpened pencils, Russian Caravan tea and books of all kinds. She lives on the beautiful island of lutruwita/Tasmania, at the bottom of the world.
Photo Credit: Karen Brown
Her first novel Starcrossed - about a journalist who manipulates an astrology column for her own romantic ends - was published in over 25 international territories.
The Lost Love Song - composed in a slightly more melancholy key - tells the story of a haunting melody that finds its way home, all by itself, to the heart of the person who inspired it.
With Love from Wish & Co takes you deep into the world of a professional gift-buyer. It begins on the day Marnie Fairchild is wrapping two gifts: one for her best client's wife, and one for his lover. What could possibly go wrong?
Three Juliets brings together themes of motherhood, daughterhood, love, loss and dressmaking. It's the story of Claudie Miller, who designs the beautiful 'Juliet' dress in tribute to the daughter - who would now be 16 years old - that she never had the chance to know. It's also the story of Roisin, Bindi and Miranda – all born on the same day, all adopted – who are 16 years old when the 'Juliet' enters their lives. The dress was designed with one of them in mind ... but which one?
Minnie Darke is a lover of freshly sharpened pencils, Russian Caravan tea and books of all kinds. She lives on the beautiful island of lutruwita/Tasmania, at the bottom of the world.
Photo Credit: Karen Brown
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 718 reviews
July 3, 2021
Red rimmed, running nose, blotchy face: side effects of reading something directly addresses to your soul, emotional, heartfelt.
Wow! What a beautiful, poetic, genuine, bittersweet story about the exhilarating journey of love song which saves people’s souls and gives them a real reason to move on and see the magical beauty of the life.
This moving, soul crushing journey starts from a Singapore Hotel and moves on from Edinburgh, London to New York and Australia.
A talented pianist Diana finally plans to marry with Arie after completing her world tour, composing a special love song for him. But you know the famous Michael Charon quote: “ Man makes plans, God laughs.”
As this beautiful love song starts its own journey around the world, we move to Scotland to be introduced with Evie Greenlees who left Australia for a few years ago for chasing her dream to because a poet. Now she’s drifting, living a meaningless life without an achieving career plan and proper relationship. Maybe it’s the right time for her to turn back to her roots.
And her path crosses with broken hearted Arie. And then... let’s stop right here. No more spoilers!
This is extremely poignant, lyrically written love, grief, friendship, second chances, power of great music, art, poems, romance novel. The characters are easy to resonate and empathize with. The pacing is well balanced. Just keep napkins, any kind of absorbing paper products with you and get used to cry out like a baby.
I haven’t read any works of this author before and I’m so happy, this arc put her on my radar. I cannot wait to read more books of her sooner.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing/ Ballantine Books for sharing this poetic ARC with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
Wow! What a beautiful, poetic, genuine, bittersweet story about the exhilarating journey of love song which saves people’s souls and gives them a real reason to move on and see the magical beauty of the life.
This moving, soul crushing journey starts from a Singapore Hotel and moves on from Edinburgh, London to New York and Australia.
A talented pianist Diana finally plans to marry with Arie after completing her world tour, composing a special love song for him. But you know the famous Michael Charon quote: “ Man makes plans, God laughs.”
As this beautiful love song starts its own journey around the world, we move to Scotland to be introduced with Evie Greenlees who left Australia for a few years ago for chasing her dream to because a poet. Now she’s drifting, living a meaningless life without an achieving career plan and proper relationship. Maybe it’s the right time for her to turn back to her roots.
And her path crosses with broken hearted Arie. And then... let’s stop right here. No more spoilers!
This is extremely poignant, lyrically written love, grief, friendship, second chances, power of great music, art, poems, romance novel. The characters are easy to resonate and empathize with. The pacing is well balanced. Just keep napkins, any kind of absorbing paper products with you and get used to cry out like a baby.
I haven’t read any works of this author before and I’m so happy, this arc put her on my radar. I cannot wait to read more books of her sooner.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing/ Ballantine Books for sharing this poetic ARC with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
August 5, 2020
the romantic in me desperately wanted to love this, and the story idea itself is indeed a dream for all romantics out there, but the realist in me just could not get over some aspects of this.
again, the idea is adorable, but i had a difficult time believing the connection between the two main characters. i just couldnt believe that i dont think so. lol. the actions just seemed super inconsistent with the supposed situation.
but beyond that, i will say that i did enjoy the writing and how the format of this story reminded me of MDs debut novel, in that there are a bunch of little ‘interlude’ chapters filled with extra stories that seem unrelated, but actually tie-in very well to the larger narrative. it was such an adventure to see how the love song made its way across the world and influenced so many parts of the plot in very subtle ways.
overall, this is a really light and easy read, but perhaps a bit more development could have been done to make the romance a little more realistic/convincing.
↠ 3.5 stars
again, the idea is adorable, but i had a difficult time believing the connection between the two main characters. i just couldnt believe that i dont think so. lol. the actions just seemed super inconsistent with the supposed situation.
but beyond that, i will say that i did enjoy the writing and how the format of this story reminded me of MDs debut novel, in that there are a bunch of little ‘interlude’ chapters filled with extra stories that seem unrelated, but actually tie-in very well to the larger narrative. it was such an adventure to see how the love song made its way across the world and influenced so many parts of the plot in very subtle ways.
overall, this is a really light and easy read, but perhaps a bit more development could have been done to make the romance a little more realistic/convincing.
↠ 3.5 stars
October 14, 2020
The Lost Love Song is a fantastic romance above love and loss. There are so many facets of this book that I won’t say much because I’m afraid of ruining something.
The Lost Love Song is about a song that finds its way to different couples. There is the main story and then a few side character stories. The connection between the stories is the song. The love stories are great and different parts about music make it better.
I highly recommend The Lost Love Song for fans of Jojo Moyes, Josie Silver, and Jill Santopolo.
Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books/Random House Publishing Group for The Lost Love Song.
Full Review: https://justreadingjess.wordpress.com...
The Lost Love Song is about a song that finds its way to different couples. There is the main story and then a few side character stories. The connection between the stories is the song. The love stories are great and different parts about music make it better.
I highly recommend The Lost Love Song for fans of Jojo Moyes, Josie Silver, and Jill Santopolo.
Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books/Random House Publishing Group for The Lost Love Song.
Full Review: https://justreadingjess.wordpress.com...
August 22, 2021
. . . . . . . .
Minnie Darke is a very lyrical writer. One of the main characters in this novel, Evie, is a wandering poet and in her Acknowledgement, the author gives credit for the the poems that Evie shares with us to Young Dawkins Young, a local poet in Hobart, Tasmania. This is one of my favourites, which Evie created during a poetry slam event:
I thought it was very decent of Minnie Darke to boost another writer/poet's career like this. For the most part, this is an enjoyable and engrossing read. There are numerous side characters who help move the plot along or who bear witness to the The Lost Love Song's progression around the world, until it finally reaches Arie Johnson. Diana had created this haunting piece of music as a declaration of her love and her decision to marry Arie shortly before she died in a plane crash - leaving Arie and her mother completely brokenhearted.
. . . . . . . .
Two years later, Evie tires of her world travels and returns to Melbourne, renting - as fate would have it - an AirBNB right next door to Arie. She'd heard The Lost Love Song while she was working in a pub in Edinburgh, and played it on her guitar one evening. Almost at first sight, Arie is attracted to Evie, but he doesn't know how to move on from Diana's memory. As things inevitably progress between them, Evie is aware of Arie's conflicted feelings.
It was passages like this that kept me turning the pages of this novel, despite the fact that parts of this story moved very slowly for me. All of the side characters had an important function, but the description of their surroundings, although often interesting, was a distraction from the main action. I wanted more of Arie and Evie and a bit less of the life and times of all these people who wove in and out of the main characters' lives. (I know, I know! I can be so impatient sometimes!)
I wavered between rating this one 3.5 and 4 stars, and ultimately decided to move closer to a 3.85 rating because parts of this novel were very, very moving and the writing was charming - even a tad magical. I do recommend this book: I couldn't put it down despite the various side characters who wandered into the plot and drew my attention away from Arie and Evie's budding attraction to one another. I do highly recommend this book and I can see that Minnie Darke will only get better with each new novel.
Minnie Darke is a very lyrical writer. One of the main characters in this novel, Evie, is a wandering poet and in her Acknowledgement, the author gives credit for the the poems that Evie shares with us to Young Dawkins Young, a local poet in Hobart, Tasmania. This is one of my favourites, which Evie created during a poetry slam event:
I am a solitary
wooden match,
all out of patience
with this interminable tilt
toward light.
Scratch
and my fire
would burn down our walls
and cast us together,
displaced persons
in the wilderness
of desire.
There is so much
more
for our hearts
to know.
I thought it was very decent of Minnie Darke to boost another writer/poet's career like this. For the most part, this is an enjoyable and engrossing read. There are numerous side characters who help move the plot along or who bear witness to the The Lost Love Song's progression around the world, until it finally reaches Arie Johnson. Diana had created this haunting piece of music as a declaration of her love and her decision to marry Arie shortly before she died in a plane crash - leaving Arie and her mother completely brokenhearted.
. . . . . . . .
Two years later, Evie tires of her world travels and returns to Melbourne, renting - as fate would have it - an AirBNB right next door to Arie. She'd heard The Lost Love Song while she was working in a pub in Edinburgh, and played it on her guitar one evening. Almost at first sight, Arie is attracted to Evie, but he doesn't know how to move on from Diana's memory. As things inevitably progress between them, Evie is aware of Arie's conflicted feelings.
Are you surprised? she asked herself, already knowing the answer.
Already knowing was perhaps the greatest of Evie's unhelpful talents...... When she'd agreed to come with Arie on this journey, she'd already known - hadn't she? That if he reached for her, she would fall for him. That if she fell for him, she could fall a long way while he was looking elsewhere....
It was passages like this that kept me turning the pages of this novel, despite the fact that parts of this story moved very slowly for me. All of the side characters had an important function, but the description of their surroundings, although often interesting, was a distraction from the main action. I wanted more of Arie and Evie and a bit less of the life and times of all these people who wove in and out of the main characters' lives. (I know, I know! I can be so impatient sometimes!)
I wavered between rating this one 3.5 and 4 stars, and ultimately decided to move closer to a 3.85 rating because parts of this novel were very, very moving and the writing was charming - even a tad magical. I do recommend this book: I couldn't put it down despite the various side characters who wandered into the plot and drew my attention away from Arie and Evie's budding attraction to one another. I do highly recommend this book and I can see that Minnie Darke will only get better with each new novel.
June 27, 2020
Title is Long Lost Love Song.
How do Arie Johnson, Bene Romero, his daughter Beatrix, her first love Felix Carter, traveller and hopeful poet Evie Greenless connect? Through a long lost love song sung by Lucie Dorian which came to her via a very circuitous route. Though none of them knew it the melody was composed by music prodigy Diana Clare to show her love for Arie before tragedy struck.
I absolutely love the first two thirds of the book. There are some sections that are so well described that you feel as if you are there. There is one part which is gripping and you hold your breath. The book includes several themes such as stultifying grief which makes it hard to move on with life and this is well conveyed. There’s deep love and first love - the latter between Felix and Beatrix is beautiful. There are some excellent relationships portrayed such as the bond between Arie and Belinda Clare (Diana’s mother) and the strength of friendship and understanding shown by Arie’s friends Richard and Lenka. The music elements are very enjoyable and I like the coincidence (or is it fate?) of the song bouncing its way around the world until it’s recorded.
However, I think it’s a bit overlong and it loses some early magic as a consequence, it gets a bit convoluted and maybe contrived and there are a lot of characters to get your head around.
Overall though, despite my reservations I did enjoy it. I really like the premise which is original, it’s well written and the characters are extremely likeable.
With thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for the ARC.
How do Arie Johnson, Bene Romero, his daughter Beatrix, her first love Felix Carter, traveller and hopeful poet Evie Greenless connect? Through a long lost love song sung by Lucie Dorian which came to her via a very circuitous route. Though none of them knew it the melody was composed by music prodigy Diana Clare to show her love for Arie before tragedy struck.
I absolutely love the first two thirds of the book. There are some sections that are so well described that you feel as if you are there. There is one part which is gripping and you hold your breath. The book includes several themes such as stultifying grief which makes it hard to move on with life and this is well conveyed. There’s deep love and first love - the latter between Felix and Beatrix is beautiful. There are some excellent relationships portrayed such as the bond between Arie and Belinda Clare (Diana’s mother) and the strength of friendship and understanding shown by Arie’s friends Richard and Lenka. The music elements are very enjoyable and I like the coincidence (or is it fate?) of the song bouncing its way around the world until it’s recorded.
However, I think it’s a bit overlong and it loses some early magic as a consequence, it gets a bit convoluted and maybe contrived and there are a lot of characters to get your head around.
Overall though, despite my reservations I did enjoy it. I really like the premise which is original, it’s well written and the characters are extremely likeable.
With thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for the ARC.
October 13, 2020
4 Lovely Stars and now available
I kept thinking the title of this one was the “Last Love Song” -- but it really is the story of a lost love song! A love song from world class Australian pianist Diana Clare that makes its way into the hearts of several couples around the world.
I really enjoyed the character of Evie, she’s moved around so many times, writing poetry and struggling to find someone who loves her completely. She finally heads back home to Australia and finds someone amazing, but the timing seems to be off for them.
It’s hard to tell you much more about this book without giving it away and I don’t like when reviewers do that! This one is best savored without knowing much about what will happen. There’s love, there’s grieving, there’s a beautiful wedding that I got completely teary over, there are some beautiful friendships, and poetry! This is my second book this year with Tasmania as a setting, I want to visit there for sure!
Thank you to Random House/Ballantine for the copy of this one to read.
I kept thinking the title of this one was the “Last Love Song” -- but it really is the story of a lost love song! A love song from world class Australian pianist Diana Clare that makes its way into the hearts of several couples around the world.
I really enjoyed the character of Evie, she’s moved around so many times, writing poetry and struggling to find someone who loves her completely. She finally heads back home to Australia and finds someone amazing, but the timing seems to be off for them.
It’s hard to tell you much more about this book without giving it away and I don’t like when reviewers do that! This one is best savored without knowing much about what will happen. There’s love, there’s grieving, there’s a beautiful wedding that I got completely teary over, there are some beautiful friendships, and poetry! This is my second book this year with Tasmania as a setting, I want to visit there for sure!
Thank you to Random House/Ballantine for the copy of this one to read.
August 23, 2020
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**4.5 stars**
The Lost Love Song by Minnie Darke. (2020).
In Australia, Arie waits impatiently for classical pianist Diana to return from a world tour and is hopeful that she'll finally agree to plan their wedding. On her travels, Diana composes a song for Arie. It's the perfect way to express her love and she knows they'll spend their lives together... won't they?
Late one night, her song is overheard and begins its own journey across the world. In Scotland, Evie is drifting. It's been years since she left Australia. She wanted to be a poet but spends her time making coffee and beer. She doesn't even know if the guy she lives with is her boyfriend or flatmate.
Then one day she hears an exquisite love song. One that will eventually connect her to a man with a broken heart...
I really enjoyed this author's previous novel (Star-Crossed) so I was quite excited to see this release. I'm happy to report that I found it to be a great read! I was a bit thrown by the big event that occurs near the start of the novel (you'll know what I mean when you read it), just because I wasn't expecting it at all. What I like about this book is that while there are some jumps between different characters and what I would call little intermission chapters, it never gets confusing and the story all flows together really well. All of the characters are really likeable and feel realistic; they are not perfect but they feel like your friend and you are hoping it all works out for them somehow. Love is the running theme throughout this story and that love takes many forms: relationship, family, friend and so on.
I'd happily recommend for anyone looking for a great romance or contemporary read.
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
**4.5 stars**
The Lost Love Song by Minnie Darke. (2020).
In Australia, Arie waits impatiently for classical pianist Diana to return from a world tour and is hopeful that she'll finally agree to plan their wedding. On her travels, Diana composes a song for Arie. It's the perfect way to express her love and she knows they'll spend their lives together... won't they?
Late one night, her song is overheard and begins its own journey across the world. In Scotland, Evie is drifting. It's been years since she left Australia. She wanted to be a poet but spends her time making coffee and beer. She doesn't even know if the guy she lives with is her boyfriend or flatmate.
Then one day she hears an exquisite love song. One that will eventually connect her to a man with a broken heart...
I really enjoyed this author's previous novel (Star-Crossed) so I was quite excited to see this release. I'm happy to report that I found it to be a great read! I was a bit thrown by the big event that occurs near the start of the novel (you'll know what I mean when you read it), just because I wasn't expecting it at all. What I like about this book is that while there are some jumps between different characters and what I would call little intermission chapters, it never gets confusing and the story all flows together really well. All of the characters are really likeable and feel realistic; they are not perfect but they feel like your friend and you are hoping it all works out for them somehow. Love is the running theme throughout this story and that love takes many forms: relationship, family, friend and so on.
I'd happily recommend for anyone looking for a great romance or contemporary read.
February 24, 2021
4.5 stars, rounded up.
The Lost Love Song , the latest book from Minnie Darke, combines some of my favorite themes—love, loss, hope, and music—and it was just so good!
“What was it, Evie wondered, that made some people fit for a love like that, and left other people wanting? Was love like a radio signal, and you just had to be lucky enough to be born with your heart’s dials tuned to the right frequency? Or was it something that could only happen to you when you were young and fearless?”
For all intents and purposes, they shouldn’t have worked. Diana Clare was a famous concert pianist, even at 25, and had traveled the world, playing music in some of the most famous locations. Arie Johnson was an IT specialist at the music conservatory where Diana practiced. And yet the day after he set up her passwords, she asked him to lunch, and the rest, they say, is history.
Seven years later, they are engaged and they can’t imagine life without one another. But Arie wants marriage and a family, and Diana isn’t sure she wants those things, but she knows she can’t lose Arie. So she writes him a love song, although she doesn’t get to finish it until she’s on another world tour, but he hears her playing some of it before she leaves.
And in the midst of the tour, tragedy strikes, and Arie is left without Diana. He’s not sure how he’ll cope.
Meanwhile, Diana’s song finds its way through the world. One day, Evie, a young Australian woman who has never really put roots down, decides to head back to Australia and then she hears this unknown melody. It haunts her, but can it help her find the elusive things she has always wanted—true love and a home?
Like many love stories, The Lost Love Song is beautiful, moving, funny, and a little bit hokey at times. (There are some plot twists which seem a little too convenient.) Sometimes the book felt a little like it’s wandering off course. (For me, those “interludes” might all make wonderful books of their own.)
But I found myself fully immersed in this book, loving these characters, wishing I could hear the song, and, of course, crying at the end. (Hey, I’m an emotional guy.)
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the last decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
The Lost Love Song , the latest book from Minnie Darke, combines some of my favorite themes—love, loss, hope, and music—and it was just so good!
“What was it, Evie wondered, that made some people fit for a love like that, and left other people wanting? Was love like a radio signal, and you just had to be lucky enough to be born with your heart’s dials tuned to the right frequency? Or was it something that could only happen to you when you were young and fearless?”
For all intents and purposes, they shouldn’t have worked. Diana Clare was a famous concert pianist, even at 25, and had traveled the world, playing music in some of the most famous locations. Arie Johnson was an IT specialist at the music conservatory where Diana practiced. And yet the day after he set up her passwords, she asked him to lunch, and the rest, they say, is history.
Seven years later, they are engaged and they can’t imagine life without one another. But Arie wants marriage and a family, and Diana isn’t sure she wants those things, but she knows she can’t lose Arie. So she writes him a love song, although she doesn’t get to finish it until she’s on another world tour, but he hears her playing some of it before she leaves.
And in the midst of the tour, tragedy strikes, and Arie is left without Diana. He’s not sure how he’ll cope.
Meanwhile, Diana’s song finds its way through the world. One day, Evie, a young Australian woman who has never really put roots down, decides to head back to Australia and then she hears this unknown melody. It haunts her, but can it help her find the elusive things she has always wanted—true love and a home?
Like many love stories, The Lost Love Song is beautiful, moving, funny, and a little bit hokey at times. (There are some plot twists which seem a little too convenient.) Sometimes the book felt a little like it’s wandering off course. (For me, those “interludes” might all make wonderful books of their own.)
But I found myself fully immersed in this book, loving these characters, wishing I could hear the song, and, of course, crying at the end. (Hey, I’m an emotional guy.)
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the last decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
February 19, 2020
⭐️ 4.5 Stars ⭐️
The Lost Love Song is a beautifully well written story. The cover is a delightful fire engine red and eye-catching.
This is the enchanting journey of a love song that changes people’s lives and the bittersweet story of love and loss. I personally wish I could hear the sound of the intriguing 'love song’ in the story. Seriously it would make a great movie, then we could all hear it!
Arie Johnson is unaware that when Diana Clare returns home from a world tour she is going to finally agree to marry him after seven loving years together.
In Edinburgh Scotland, Evies Greenlees has dreams of publishing a book of her poems. She's been drifting too long and decides it’s finally time to return home to Australia.
Our main characters and others are cleverly woven together in a story about music, friendship, love, loss, dreams and second chances.
Minnie Darke writes a hauntingly beautiful tale that I loved reading.
I wish to thank Better Reading & Penguin Michael Joseph for generously sending me a beautifully gift wrapped advanced copy of the book in return for an honest review
The Lost Love Song is a beautifully well written story. The cover is a delightful fire engine red and eye-catching.
This is the enchanting journey of a love song that changes people’s lives and the bittersweet story of love and loss. I personally wish I could hear the sound of the intriguing 'love song’ in the story. Seriously it would make a great movie, then we could all hear it!
Arie Johnson is unaware that when Diana Clare returns home from a world tour she is going to finally agree to marry him after seven loving years together.
In Edinburgh Scotland, Evies Greenlees has dreams of publishing a book of her poems. She's been drifting too long and decides it’s finally time to return home to Australia.
Our main characters and others are cleverly woven together in a story about music, friendship, love, loss, dreams and second chances.
Minnie Darke writes a hauntingly beautiful tale that I loved reading.
I wish to thank Better Reading & Penguin Michael Joseph for generously sending me a beautifully gift wrapped advanced copy of the book in return for an honest review
February 24, 2020
“For Diana, Arie had learned, music was an all-purpose medication. She used rousing music to stir herself to action, maudlin music to soothe herself in distress, violent music if she needed to vent, and bittersweet music if she felt like crying.”
The Lost Love Song is the second novel by Australian author, Minnie Darke (aka Danielle Wood). Celebrated pianist Diana Clare had composed the song for her lover, Arie Johnson. They had been together for seven amazing years, and it was going to be her way of telling him what he so wanted to hear. But soon after the composing was completed, that song, the one Arie had heard her tinkering with before she departed on tour, was lost. Diana couldn’t bring Arie her beautiful gift.
But the song wasn’t altogether lost. It took a long journey, was overheard, inspiring action and further creation. Bene Romero heard it, was fascinated and took it home; flautist Beatrix Romero played it with her lover; it made Evie Greenlees understand she deserved more; it helped distant brothers connect; it motivated a fiddler to a long-overdue proposal; it moved a jaded DJ to tears; a crusty old banjo player felt closer to his dear departed wife hearing it. Would it one day find Arie?
The path that Diana’s love song follows, through different players and diverse instruments and multiple iterations, is easily believable: described by a certain banjo player as “jumping around from ear to ear and heart to heart, which is how all the best songs make their way across the world.” Its effects might have the reader wishing they, too, could listen to it.
It’s easy to fall in love with Darke’s characters, who are by no means perfect but are definitely the sort of people you want to know. Their dialogue is natural: at times clever and amusing, often wise. The challenges these people face are from every-day life and how they deal with them is completely credible. Darke portrays grief, and reactions of others to those grieving, exceptionally well. A warm and wonderful story, beautifully told.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Better Reading Preview and Penguin Michael Joseph.
The Lost Love Song is the second novel by Australian author, Minnie Darke (aka Danielle Wood). Celebrated pianist Diana Clare had composed the song for her lover, Arie Johnson. They had been together for seven amazing years, and it was going to be her way of telling him what he so wanted to hear. But soon after the composing was completed, that song, the one Arie had heard her tinkering with before she departed on tour, was lost. Diana couldn’t bring Arie her beautiful gift.
But the song wasn’t altogether lost. It took a long journey, was overheard, inspiring action and further creation. Bene Romero heard it, was fascinated and took it home; flautist Beatrix Romero played it with her lover; it made Evie Greenlees understand she deserved more; it helped distant brothers connect; it motivated a fiddler to a long-overdue proposal; it moved a jaded DJ to tears; a crusty old banjo player felt closer to his dear departed wife hearing it. Would it one day find Arie?
The path that Diana’s love song follows, through different players and diverse instruments and multiple iterations, is easily believable: described by a certain banjo player as “jumping around from ear to ear and heart to heart, which is how all the best songs make their way across the world.” Its effects might have the reader wishing they, too, could listen to it.
It’s easy to fall in love with Darke’s characters, who are by no means perfect but are definitely the sort of people you want to know. Their dialogue is natural: at times clever and amusing, often wise. The challenges these people face are from every-day life and how they deal with them is completely credible. Darke portrays grief, and reactions of others to those grieving, exceptionally well. A warm and wonderful story, beautifully told.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Better Reading Preview and Penguin Michael Joseph.
September 11, 2020
A piece of music, a love song travels around the world as people hear it and are touched by it, sounds really corny and when I started I was worried it would be too sickly sweet for me but it actually worked really well and I got pulled into the story and found it hard to put down.
The story is mainly about Arie, a computer geek in Melbourne. Arie’s partner Diana, a concert pianist writes the song. The other main character is Evie , an Australian travelling around the world who wants to be a published poet. There’s many other characters who come across the song, and share it.
Themes of love and loss at all different stages of life, I cared about these characters and really enjoyed reading it.
The story is mainly about Arie, a computer geek in Melbourne. Arie’s partner Diana, a concert pianist writes the song. The other main character is Evie , an Australian travelling around the world who wants to be a published poet. There’s many other characters who come across the song, and share it.
Themes of love and loss at all different stages of life, I cared about these characters and really enjoyed reading it.
October 13, 2020
When Diana, an accomplished pianist, and Arie, an IT guy, meet for the first time, it's love at first sight. Seven years later they are engaged, living together in the home they bought, and happier than ever. But Arie is confused as to why Diana still won't make the ultimate commitment and marry him. Desperate to convey her feelings for him but undecided about the tradition of marriage, Diana composes a hauntingly beautiful love song that she begins to play for him before she's whisked away for another concert series across the world.
During her travels, Diana finishes composing the song at her hotel, unaware that an onlooker has become completely transfixed with the moving melody. Exhausted and distracted, Diana forgets her manuscript with the written composition at the hotel piano. The onlooker notices and with the intent to return it to her, pockets it and quickly forgets all about it.
On her way to Paris, the flight Diana is on malfunctions and the entire flight dies from oxygen deprivation. The ghost flight is escorted to its watery grave at the bottom of the Atlantic. Wrecked and inconsolable, Arie must live the rest of his days without the love of his life. Meanwhile, Diana's love song takes on a life of its own, passing from one stranger to the next, one lover to another.
This was a moving and heart wrenching story about love, loss, and grief. The writing was extremely artistic and poetic and it was easy to get lost in the beautiful language and story lines. The story followed Arie in his journey of grief and self-healing. It also followed the life of the song as it moved from musician to musician and changed not only in how the song was interpreted and played, but also in how it continued to impact the people it touched.
Though the underlying story was sad, this was a beautiful novel about the power of love and the healing power of music. There were quite a lot of characters in this novel, many not introduced until the last third of the book which is generally something I dislike. However, the connections and ties between the characters and the song was well done and added a lot of depth to the story. The varying story lines also added levity and hope to an otherwise sad story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for a copy of this book.
During her travels, Diana finishes composing the song at her hotel, unaware that an onlooker has become completely transfixed with the moving melody. Exhausted and distracted, Diana forgets her manuscript with the written composition at the hotel piano. The onlooker notices and with the intent to return it to her, pockets it and quickly forgets all about it.
On her way to Paris, the flight Diana is on malfunctions and the entire flight dies from oxygen deprivation. The ghost flight is escorted to its watery grave at the bottom of the Atlantic. Wrecked and inconsolable, Arie must live the rest of his days without the love of his life. Meanwhile, Diana's love song takes on a life of its own, passing from one stranger to the next, one lover to another.
This was a moving and heart wrenching story about love, loss, and grief. The writing was extremely artistic and poetic and it was easy to get lost in the beautiful language and story lines. The story followed Arie in his journey of grief and self-healing. It also followed the life of the song as it moved from musician to musician and changed not only in how the song was interpreted and played, but also in how it continued to impact the people it touched.
Though the underlying story was sad, this was a beautiful novel about the power of love and the healing power of music. There were quite a lot of characters in this novel, many not introduced until the last third of the book which is generally something I dislike. However, the connections and ties between the characters and the song was well done and added a lot of depth to the story. The varying story lines also added levity and hope to an otherwise sad story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for a copy of this book.
July 21, 2021
A couple of years ago I read the debut romance by Minnie Darke, Star-Crossed, and was very impressed with her writing abilities. This, the second novel written under the pen name Minnie Darke, is even better. I very seldom give five stars to any book but, when I compare this one to all the other romances I've read in the past few years, it's just that good.
I'll get to my review in a minute. First, I need to mention that I was mistaken about this author's body of work, thinking that STAR-CROSSED was her first effort. Not so. Minnie Darke is a pen name for Danielle Wood, an Australian author with an arts degree who has worked as a journalist and as a media officer for Tasmania's Parks and Wildlife Service. Her first book, under her real name, was published maybe a decade ago. I have not read any of her work as Danielle Wood but am impressed by the two books under the name Minnie Darke and hope she continues to write many more.
Now to this particular novel. Very seldom do I feel sad that I have reached the last page of a story. With a huge amount of the romances I read (apparently I often make poor choices), there's a feeling of relief that my agony is finally over. But I wanted to keep on reading this one. Keep on meeting more and more people whose lives had been changed for the better by this lost love song.
The story is an homage or tribute to the power of love and music. And I'd say also to the power of words and poetry, because Darke's descriptive, poetic, lyrical way of writing is a perfect fit for me. Plots in books are never as important as the beauty of the writing. I guess that's why so many of the books I'm reading lately merit three stars or even less.
This is a romance with an ensemble cast. The main couple are famous pianist/composer Diana Clare and Arie Johnson, IT computer genius. They meet and fall in love in the first pages of the book and it's a love affair for the ages, even if Diana has trouble expressing her adoration of Arie in words. She decides to write him a love song so he will know how much he means to her and how much she loves him.
But, alas, on a concert tour, as Diana is coming home to Australia from Singapore, her plane crashes and no one survives. And the love song, which she had finally finished while away, is lost. But not exactly lost, as a London businessman in the hotel she was staying in had overheard her working on the haunting love song and finds the manuscript she'd left behind.
He's unsuccessful in returning it to her but from here on this story is about the peripatetic travels of that song from country to country (Scotland, England, Canada, U.S., Australia) and how it affects the lives of those who hear it.
But, as I said, the main couple had been Diana and Arie. 10% in to the story, Arie is alone and grieving. We feel the terrible loss along with him and wonder how this story will ever have the HEA readers expect in their romances. But it won't be a story just about Arie. In Scotland, a young Australian woman named Evie is struggling to find herself and to become a successful poet. When she hears a beautiful haunting love song being played by two young musicians at a train station, she makes the decision to finally go back home. And it's not just Arie and Evie whose lives we follow. There's the businessman who first found the love song, his daughter who's a budding musician, a family in Canada, Arie's mother-in-law, several professional musicians, and so many more in this ensemble cast.
I was going to add some excerpts from this book to give you an idea of the way this story delighted me but I highlighted so much that I couldn't decide what to share. I'll just include one sentence that reflects the deep love Arie had for Diana but also his ability to love again with Evie: "It seemed to Arie that there was no more perfect song for the way he felt right now--achingly, stupidly, in love with the woman beside him, but aware that his feelings for her flowed through riverbeds that may never have been so deep if Diana Clare hadn't carved them out first."
I'll get to my review in a minute. First, I need to mention that I was mistaken about this author's body of work, thinking that STAR-CROSSED was her first effort. Not so. Minnie Darke is a pen name for Danielle Wood, an Australian author with an arts degree who has worked as a journalist and as a media officer for Tasmania's Parks and Wildlife Service. Her first book, under her real name, was published maybe a decade ago. I have not read any of her work as Danielle Wood but am impressed by the two books under the name Minnie Darke and hope she continues to write many more.
Now to this particular novel. Very seldom do I feel sad that I have reached the last page of a story. With a huge amount of the romances I read (apparently I often make poor choices), there's a feeling of relief that my agony is finally over. But I wanted to keep on reading this one. Keep on meeting more and more people whose lives had been changed for the better by this lost love song.
The story is an homage or tribute to the power of love and music. And I'd say also to the power of words and poetry, because Darke's descriptive, poetic, lyrical way of writing is a perfect fit for me. Plots in books are never as important as the beauty of the writing. I guess that's why so many of the books I'm reading lately merit three stars or even less.
This is a romance with an ensemble cast. The main couple are famous pianist/composer Diana Clare and Arie Johnson, IT computer genius. They meet and fall in love in the first pages of the book and it's a love affair for the ages, even if Diana has trouble expressing her adoration of Arie in words. She decides to write him a love song so he will know how much he means to her and how much she loves him.
But, alas, on a concert tour, as Diana is coming home to Australia from Singapore, her plane crashes and no one survives. And the love song, which she had finally finished while away, is lost. But not exactly lost, as a London businessman in the hotel she was staying in had overheard her working on the haunting love song and finds the manuscript she'd left behind.
He's unsuccessful in returning it to her but from here on this story is about the peripatetic travels of that song from country to country (Scotland, England, Canada, U.S., Australia) and how it affects the lives of those who hear it.
But, as I said, the main couple had been Diana and Arie. 10% in to the story, Arie is alone and grieving. We feel the terrible loss along with him and wonder how this story will ever have the HEA readers expect in their romances. But it won't be a story just about Arie. In Scotland, a young Australian woman named Evie is struggling to find herself and to become a successful poet. When she hears a beautiful haunting love song being played by two young musicians at a train station, she makes the decision to finally go back home. And it's not just Arie and Evie whose lives we follow. There's the businessman who first found the love song, his daughter who's a budding musician, a family in Canada, Arie's mother-in-law, several professional musicians, and so many more in this ensemble cast.
I was going to add some excerpts from this book to give you an idea of the way this story delighted me but I highlighted so much that I couldn't decide what to share. I'll just include one sentence that reflects the deep love Arie had for Diana but also his ability to love again with Evie: "It seemed to Arie that there was no more perfect song for the way he felt right now--achingly, stupidly, in love with the woman beside him, but aware that his feelings for her flowed through riverbeds that may never have been so deep if Diana Clare hadn't carved them out first."
March 17, 2021
4.5!
If you’re looking for a not-your-average romance book, then pick this up immediately!
This novel needs to be digested (and deserves to be read slowly). The writing was a little difficult to get used to at first, but once you get into it, you can’t stop reading it!
A beautiful story about love, loss, and how to give life a chance after the hand you’re dealt with. The ending was a really great, full circle moment as well, which just leaves you wanting to hug the book and smile for a few days :’)
If you’re looking for a not-your-average romance book, then pick this up immediately!
This novel needs to be digested (and deserves to be read slowly). The writing was a little difficult to get used to at first, but once you get into it, you can’t stop reading it!
A beautiful story about love, loss, and how to give life a chance after the hand you’re dealt with. The ending was a really great, full circle moment as well, which just leaves you wanting to hug the book and smile for a few days :’)
March 9, 2020
I read Star-crossed by Minnie Darke last year and instantly loved it. This year she has returned with a new novel, The Lost Love Song, and while it’s completely different to Star-crossed, it’s resulted in another case of insta-love with me. I love music: the way in which people can be brought together and connect over it, the way it can soundtrack your life, the way in which it can make you feel, and the way in which you can lose yourself in it. I would listen to music all day and night long if I could and I’ve always been that way. So this novel appealed to me right from the outset, given that it completely revolves around music and all of those things I just mentioned loving about it.
‘Music is the last thing we forget…
Apparently, we have this special place in our brains for remembering music, and it’s completely separate from the parts where we store every other thing. And when we hear music that we know, our brains light up in completely different ways than when we hear music we don’t. We’re wired to feel something special when we hear music that reminds us of something.’
The Lost Love Song is so named after a love song that gets lost…and then found. And found again, and again. A song that is written but left incomplete, then finished by the person who finds it, then passed on as a love gesture to the next person, and so on and so on, until the song eventually makes its way back to the person for whom it was intended, just in a completely different format to the original. We follow this song’s journey through a series of ‘interludes’ that bracket the chapters throughout. But the interludes do not exist separate from the main story, that of Arie and Evie, but rather have a connectivity that builds with a serendipitous quality that was just gorgeous to discover.
This novel is written with the intent to make you feel, and with this reader, it achieved its purpose. It’s a moving tribute to living and loving, in all its glory and pain. And it’s above all a testimony to the power of music as a means of communicating and bringing people together. I adored The Lost Love Song and feel entirely certain now that anything written by Minnie Darke will be a crowd pleaser. Is this a love story? Yes, but not like what you’re thinking. It has that marvellous Love Actually/Valentine’s Day/New Year’s Eve quality about it. It’s a very special book indeed.
Thanks is extended to Penguin Random House Australia for providing me with a copy of The Lost Love Song for review.
‘Music is the last thing we forget…
Apparently, we have this special place in our brains for remembering music, and it’s completely separate from the parts where we store every other thing. And when we hear music that we know, our brains light up in completely different ways than when we hear music we don’t. We’re wired to feel something special when we hear music that reminds us of something.’
The Lost Love Song is so named after a love song that gets lost…and then found. And found again, and again. A song that is written but left incomplete, then finished by the person who finds it, then passed on as a love gesture to the next person, and so on and so on, until the song eventually makes its way back to the person for whom it was intended, just in a completely different format to the original. We follow this song’s journey through a series of ‘interludes’ that bracket the chapters throughout. But the interludes do not exist separate from the main story, that of Arie and Evie, but rather have a connectivity that builds with a serendipitous quality that was just gorgeous to discover.
This novel is written with the intent to make you feel, and with this reader, it achieved its purpose. It’s a moving tribute to living and loving, in all its glory and pain. And it’s above all a testimony to the power of music as a means of communicating and bringing people together. I adored The Lost Love Song and feel entirely certain now that anything written by Minnie Darke will be a crowd pleaser. Is this a love story? Yes, but not like what you’re thinking. It has that marvellous Love Actually/Valentine’s Day/New Year’s Eve quality about it. It’s a very special book indeed.
Thanks is extended to Penguin Random House Australia for providing me with a copy of The Lost Love Song for review.
October 10, 2020
Two things I loved the most about The Lost Love Song are the gorgeous cover and the idea of a love song traveling around the world, bringing different people together, and evolving while staying true to its origins. I found the first half of the book slow. I felt removed from the story due to the writing style and didn't feel a connection to any of the characters. It took me days to read the first half of the book. I enjoyed the second half a lot more and finished reading it in one evening.
There are a number of love stories in the book with Arie's being the main storyline. I found his storyline the most interesting. I wanted to skip other character's chapters. Overall, The Lost Love Song was a unique novel that I would recommend, especially to readers who love music.
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley
There are a number of love stories in the book with Arie's being the main storyline. I found his storyline the most interesting. I wanted to skip other character's chapters. Overall, The Lost Love Song was a unique novel that I would recommend, especially to readers who love music.
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley
January 4, 2021
The Lost Love Song is a sweeping, bittersweet story, following the journey of a song from one side of the world to the other, as it slowly makes its way home to its intended audience.
Concert pianist Diana Clare sets out from her home in Melbourne, Australia, to perform a series of concerts in Asia and Europe. She's reluctant to leave her fiancé, Arie Johnson, in the midst of a conflict over the direction of their relationship, and begins composing a song expressing her love for him on the night before her departure.
But fate has other plans in store for Diana, and her song soon goes astray, a handwritten musical score in a discarded notebook.
Meanwhile, Australian Evie Greenlees, an aspiring poet on a seemingly endless overseas sojourn, is dissatisfied with her life in Edinburgh, Scotland. While she's considering that it might be time to move on, she happens to hear a beautiful song, played by a couple of teenage musicians in a train station. She feels inexplicably drawn into the music, and it influences her choices as the narrative unfolds.
This was a heartrending and engrossing read, the author exploring themes of love, loss, grief and renewal. The characters were well-developed, complex and convincing, and readers will inevitably find that their own lived experience will drive their empathy for different characters at different stages of the novel.
Minnie Darke writes with a light touch, but this is in no sense a "fluffy" or lightweight romance novel.
Highly recommended.
Concert pianist Diana Clare sets out from her home in Melbourne, Australia, to perform a series of concerts in Asia and Europe. She's reluctant to leave her fiancé, Arie Johnson, in the midst of a conflict over the direction of their relationship, and begins composing a song expressing her love for him on the night before her departure.
But fate has other plans in store for Diana, and her song soon goes astray, a handwritten musical score in a discarded notebook.
Meanwhile, Australian Evie Greenlees, an aspiring poet on a seemingly endless overseas sojourn, is dissatisfied with her life in Edinburgh, Scotland. While she's considering that it might be time to move on, she happens to hear a beautiful song, played by a couple of teenage musicians in a train station. She feels inexplicably drawn into the music, and it influences her choices as the narrative unfolds.
This was a heartrending and engrossing read, the author exploring themes of love, loss, grief and renewal. The characters were well-developed, complex and convincing, and readers will inevitably find that their own lived experience will drive their empathy for different characters at different stages of the novel.
Minnie Darke writes with a light touch, but this is in no sense a "fluffy" or lightweight romance novel.
Highly recommended.
September 1, 2020
In this truly delightful little love story we have a number of different people all over the world who's stories are tied together by the lost love song of the title.
Arie Johnson in Melbourne Australia puts his girlfriend Diana Clare on a plane for a world tour. Diana is a fascinating random and likable character, a classical pianist and Arie adores her, he wants to marry her and hopes when she comes back she will say yes.
On the night before she leaves Diana starts to write a piano melody, Arie only ever hears a little of it, this is the love song and when Diana gets on a plane from Singapore it stays behind to travel it's own long journey through a whole heap of peoples lives. A single dad in London coping with a teenage daughter, a nomadic poet drifting through England, a boy and girl who fall in love at music camp and play it on cello and flute...
The evolution of the song is interesting and it is told through the stories of a huge range of people, it is the deft writing of characters that makes this book so very nice to read. It is a very human sort of book, human emotions and lives, small incidents and major events, it is all... just nice to read!
One of my favourite bits, one that I am sure will stay with me and which made me laugh, was when Evie Greenlees comes back to Australia from the UK. She is sorting through the possessions that she left behind her and tells herself that "It was time to get seriously Marie Kondo." So, she asks a few possessions if they spark joy or not and gets different answers, then she starts to ask a pile of cartons marked 'BOOKS' and before she can say the words they reply "Don't you even dare ask". This was my laugh out loud moment from the book, and it brought me enough joy all on it's own that it would have been worth reading for that alone. But this is a very joyful book in general and I am so happy a friend gave it to me.
I liked most of the people, I enjoyed reading about their lives and the ending was graceful and satisfying.
Arie Johnson in Melbourne Australia puts his girlfriend Diana Clare on a plane for a world tour. Diana is a fascinating random and likable character, a classical pianist and Arie adores her, he wants to marry her and hopes when she comes back she will say yes.
On the night before she leaves Diana starts to write a piano melody, Arie only ever hears a little of it, this is the love song and when Diana gets on a plane from Singapore it stays behind to travel it's own long journey through a whole heap of peoples lives. A single dad in London coping with a teenage daughter, a nomadic poet drifting through England, a boy and girl who fall in love at music camp and play it on cello and flute...
The evolution of the song is interesting and it is told through the stories of a huge range of people, it is the deft writing of characters that makes this book so very nice to read. It is a very human sort of book, human emotions and lives, small incidents and major events, it is all... just nice to read!
One of my favourite bits, one that I am sure will stay with me and which made me laugh, was when Evie Greenlees comes back to Australia from the UK. She is sorting through the possessions that she left behind her and tells herself that "It was time to get seriously Marie Kondo." So, she asks a few possessions if they spark joy or not and gets different answers, then she starts to ask a pile of cartons marked 'BOOKS' and before she can say the words they reply "Don't you even dare ask". This was my laugh out loud moment from the book, and it brought me enough joy all on it's own that it would have been worth reading for that alone. But this is a very joyful book in general and I am so happy a friend gave it to me.
I liked most of the people, I enjoyed reading about their lives and the ending was graceful and satisfying.
October 11, 2020
4-4.5 stars
This was a very emotional and ultimately heartwarming romance. I loved the premise of the book, but I don't think I was quite prepared for how heavy and sad the beginning would leave me. I actually had to step away from the book for a bit to regroup and get my feelings in order. It's not that the book itself is sad, but a tragic event (see CW below) sets in motion a domino effect that touches so many lives.
I really loved the journey that Arie and Evie both took through this novel. Each had to find their way after being lost and decide on their own when and if they would ever be ready to move forward. It was heartbreaking, but also uplifting seeing them stumble and get back up. The author captured the grief and vulnerability so well and I found the writing truly wonderful. The romance itself is closed door, but there was something profoundly moving and tender about it.
The book is broken down into several parts and interludes and features numerous characters. This was both a positive and negative for me. As much as I loved how cleverly the author wove each and every character into the story, there were times that it felt like too much. I could see the number of characters and connections possibly being an issue if I enjoyed this as an audiobook. I think the mini stories detracted somewhat from the main storyline between Arie and Evie and caused the flow of the novel to stall in certain places. The overall effect, however, was very powerful. I especially loved and appreciated the Coda chapter at the end. Overall, The Lost Love Song was a heartwarming novel and I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.
CW: airplane crash, death of loved one
*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*
This was a very emotional and ultimately heartwarming romance. I loved the premise of the book, but I don't think I was quite prepared for how heavy and sad the beginning would leave me. I actually had to step away from the book for a bit to regroup and get my feelings in order. It's not that the book itself is sad, but a tragic event (see CW below) sets in motion a domino effect that touches so many lives.
I really loved the journey that Arie and Evie both took through this novel. Each had to find their way after being lost and decide on their own when and if they would ever be ready to move forward. It was heartbreaking, but also uplifting seeing them stumble and get back up. The author captured the grief and vulnerability so well and I found the writing truly wonderful. The romance itself is closed door, but there was something profoundly moving and tender about it.
The book is broken down into several parts and interludes and features numerous characters. This was both a positive and negative for me. As much as I loved how cleverly the author wove each and every character into the story, there were times that it felt like too much. I could see the number of characters and connections possibly being an issue if I enjoyed this as an audiobook. I think the mini stories detracted somewhat from the main storyline between Arie and Evie and caused the flow of the novel to stall in certain places. The overall effect, however, was very powerful. I especially loved and appreciated the Coda chapter at the end. Overall, The Lost Love Song was a heartwarming novel and I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.
CW: airplane crash, death of loved one
*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*
March 22, 2020
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
‘That piece? You know what we call that piece?’
‘All right … tell me.’
Felix grinned. “Love Song”.’
Minnie Darke is best known for her enchanting novel Star-crossed, which became a bestseller last year. Her latest release is an unforgettable and life affirming tale of the power of music to transform lives. I have all good words to say about this affecting tale of love, life, loss, friendship, music and poetry.
The Lost Love Song is the spellbinding tale of a composition that travels around the world, changing people’s lives. It begins its journey in Australia, in the hands of the original composer, Diana. A classical pianist, Diana creates a song for her fiancé, to be gifted to him on her return from a big world tour. However, this song’s journey takes an alternative route and falls into different hands, not the intended recipient. So begins the amazing journey of the lost love song. From a Singapore hotel, to London, Edinburgh, Canada, New York and back to Australia again. This life changing love song travels full circle. Eventually, the song returns to Arie, the man who was originally meant to receive the song. But Arie is nursing one big broken heart and he may not be open to the healing power of this special composition. Drawing on the author’s meditations on the power of music to heal and nourish the soul, Minnie Darke’s astonishing new tale reminds us of the strength of music to reassure and connect us to one another.
Wow, just wow! I just adored this one. I didn’t expect to respond to The Lost Love Song in the way I did. I have to admit I judged it a little. I assumed it would a standard chick lit title and of late, I have struggled with contemporary romance. However, this book was a true gift, offering so much more. It was life affirming, upbeat, reflective, meaningful and hopeful. I truly loved it.
It didn’t take much time at all for me to be enamoured by the unfolding story, characters and big themes that circulate around The Lost Love Song. I was immediately taken by the character of Diana, a classical pianist and her fiancé. I was fully invested in their relationship and future. As I was invested in these characters, I was quite taken aback by the change in fortune of these appealing protagonists. I was surprised and shocked by the circumstances they faced. I found the related topic of air travel and gas lighting which is touched on in this novel to be fascinating, but also deeply upsetting. I think Darke handled this aspect of the novel with insight, as well as sensitivity. Linked to this is Darke’s treatment of the process of loss and grief. We see the cycle of grief within the novel and how it impacts people on an individual level. Darke also approaches this aspect of her novel with the thought and care it deserves.
On a different note, The Lost Love Song is about connections, travel and fate. I liked how one simple musical piece changed the lives of so many it was able to touch. Clearly I underestimated the power of music! Darke shows us that music opens up world of possibilities, if you just listen and accept it into your heart. The Lost Love Song is contemplative, full of emotional depth and life changing moments. I loved the emphasis on the musical world, alternative instruments and the links to poetry. This is a novel packed full of art and creativity. The Lost Love Song is also underscored by the emphasis on love in many forms, second chances, first love, lost love and parental love.
As you travel through this incredulous journey of love, life and music, Darke leaves you in the guiding hands of a very likeable character set. I really enjoyed spending time with Arie, Diana, Evie, Lenka, Richard, the young lovebirds and lost souls. Each managed to touch me in their own unique way.
I really enjoyed making my way across the globe, through the influential love song. Darke effortlessly transports the reader from Australia, to sultry Singapore, the streets of Edinburgh and back in Australia, closing off the story very neatly in one of my personal favorite places, Hobart. It was a wonderful and poignant journey, marked by many memorable events, that I am sure will remain locked inside my mind for some time to come.
Darke’s pensive narrative, which is refined and somehow reaches in and pulls at your heartstrings is a wonderful rendition to love in all its guises. The power of music to touch our lives, encouraging us to take a chance, or let love into our life, is expressed with ease on the pages of The Lost Love Song. This is a bewitching read, from an author I now greatly admire.
*I wish to thank Penguin Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The Lost Love Song is book #30 of the 2020 Australian Women Writers Challenge
‘That piece? You know what we call that piece?’
‘All right … tell me.’
Felix grinned. “Love Song”.’
Minnie Darke is best known for her enchanting novel Star-crossed, which became a bestseller last year. Her latest release is an unforgettable and life affirming tale of the power of music to transform lives. I have all good words to say about this affecting tale of love, life, loss, friendship, music and poetry.
The Lost Love Song is the spellbinding tale of a composition that travels around the world, changing people’s lives. It begins its journey in Australia, in the hands of the original composer, Diana. A classical pianist, Diana creates a song for her fiancé, to be gifted to him on her return from a big world tour. However, this song’s journey takes an alternative route and falls into different hands, not the intended recipient. So begins the amazing journey of the lost love song. From a Singapore hotel, to London, Edinburgh, Canada, New York and back to Australia again. This life changing love song travels full circle. Eventually, the song returns to Arie, the man who was originally meant to receive the song. But Arie is nursing one big broken heart and he may not be open to the healing power of this special composition. Drawing on the author’s meditations on the power of music to heal and nourish the soul, Minnie Darke’s astonishing new tale reminds us of the strength of music to reassure and connect us to one another.
Wow, just wow! I just adored this one. I didn’t expect to respond to The Lost Love Song in the way I did. I have to admit I judged it a little. I assumed it would a standard chick lit title and of late, I have struggled with contemporary romance. However, this book was a true gift, offering so much more. It was life affirming, upbeat, reflective, meaningful and hopeful. I truly loved it.
It didn’t take much time at all for me to be enamoured by the unfolding story, characters and big themes that circulate around The Lost Love Song. I was immediately taken by the character of Diana, a classical pianist and her fiancé. I was fully invested in their relationship and future. As I was invested in these characters, I was quite taken aback by the change in fortune of these appealing protagonists. I was surprised and shocked by the circumstances they faced. I found the related topic of air travel and gas lighting which is touched on in this novel to be fascinating, but also deeply upsetting. I think Darke handled this aspect of the novel with insight, as well as sensitivity. Linked to this is Darke’s treatment of the process of loss and grief. We see the cycle of grief within the novel and how it impacts people on an individual level. Darke also approaches this aspect of her novel with the thought and care it deserves.
On a different note, The Lost Love Song is about connections, travel and fate. I liked how one simple musical piece changed the lives of so many it was able to touch. Clearly I underestimated the power of music! Darke shows us that music opens up world of possibilities, if you just listen and accept it into your heart. The Lost Love Song is contemplative, full of emotional depth and life changing moments. I loved the emphasis on the musical world, alternative instruments and the links to poetry. This is a novel packed full of art and creativity. The Lost Love Song is also underscored by the emphasis on love in many forms, second chances, first love, lost love and parental love.
As you travel through this incredulous journey of love, life and music, Darke leaves you in the guiding hands of a very likeable character set. I really enjoyed spending time with Arie, Diana, Evie, Lenka, Richard, the young lovebirds and lost souls. Each managed to touch me in their own unique way.
I really enjoyed making my way across the globe, through the influential love song. Darke effortlessly transports the reader from Australia, to sultry Singapore, the streets of Edinburgh and back in Australia, closing off the story very neatly in one of my personal favorite places, Hobart. It was a wonderful and poignant journey, marked by many memorable events, that I am sure will remain locked inside my mind for some time to come.
Darke’s pensive narrative, which is refined and somehow reaches in and pulls at your heartstrings is a wonderful rendition to love in all its guises. The power of music to touch our lives, encouraging us to take a chance, or let love into our life, is expressed with ease on the pages of The Lost Love Song. This is a bewitching read, from an author I now greatly admire.
*I wish to thank Penguin Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The Lost Love Song is book #30 of the 2020 Australian Women Writers Challenge
October 17, 2020
“For Diana, Arie had learned, music was an all-purpose medication. She used rousing music to stir herself to action, maudlin music to soothe herself in distress, violent music if she needed to vent, and bittersweet music if she felt like crying.”
The Lost Love Song is the second novel by Australian author, Minnie Darke (aka Danielle Wood). The audio version read by Arianwen Parkes-Lockwood and Marcello Fabrizi. Celebrated pianist Diana Clare had composed the song for her lover, Arie Johnson. They had been together for seven amazing years, and it was going to be her way of telling him what he so wanted to hear. But soon after the composing was completed, that song, the one Arie had heard her tinkering with before she departed on tour, was lost. Diana couldn’t bring Arie her beautiful gift.
But the song wasn’t altogether lost. It took a long journey, was overheard, inspiring action and further creation. Bene Romero heard it, was fascinated and took it home; flautist Beatrix Romero played it with her lover; it made Evie Greenlees understand she deserved more; it helped distant brothers connect; it motivated a fiddler to a long-overdue proposal; it moved a jaded DJ to tears; a crusty old banjo player felt closer to his dear departed wife hearing it. Would it one day find Arie?
The path that Diana’s love song follows, through different players and diverse instruments and multiple iterations, is easily believable: described by a certain banjo player as “jumping around from ear to ear and heart to heart, which is how all the best songs make their way across the world.” Its effects might have the reader wishing they, too, could listen to it.
It’s easy to fall in love with Darke’s characters, who are by no means perfect but are definitely the sort of people you want to know. Their dialogue is natural: at times clever and amusing, often wise. The challenges these people face are from every-day life and how they deal with them is completely credible. Darke portrays grief, and reactions of others to those grieving, exceptionally well. A warm and wonderful story, beautifully told.
The Lost Love Song is the second novel by Australian author, Minnie Darke (aka Danielle Wood). The audio version read by Arianwen Parkes-Lockwood and Marcello Fabrizi. Celebrated pianist Diana Clare had composed the song for her lover, Arie Johnson. They had been together for seven amazing years, and it was going to be her way of telling him what he so wanted to hear. But soon after the composing was completed, that song, the one Arie had heard her tinkering with before she departed on tour, was lost. Diana couldn’t bring Arie her beautiful gift.
But the song wasn’t altogether lost. It took a long journey, was overheard, inspiring action and further creation. Bene Romero heard it, was fascinated and took it home; flautist Beatrix Romero played it with her lover; it made Evie Greenlees understand she deserved more; it helped distant brothers connect; it motivated a fiddler to a long-overdue proposal; it moved a jaded DJ to tears; a crusty old banjo player felt closer to his dear departed wife hearing it. Would it one day find Arie?
The path that Diana’s love song follows, through different players and diverse instruments and multiple iterations, is easily believable: described by a certain banjo player as “jumping around from ear to ear and heart to heart, which is how all the best songs make their way across the world.” Its effects might have the reader wishing they, too, could listen to it.
It’s easy to fall in love with Darke’s characters, who are by no means perfect but are definitely the sort of people you want to know. Their dialogue is natural: at times clever and amusing, often wise. The challenges these people face are from every-day life and how they deal with them is completely credible. Darke portrays grief, and reactions of others to those grieving, exceptionally well. A warm and wonderful story, beautifully told.
February 12, 2021
I had high hopes for this one - the cover is gorgeous and grabbed my attention right from the start - and the Once Upon a Book Club December 2020 teaser of "Behind every great love song is a great love story" tugged at my heart strings as well.
Yet, while the story was enjoyable, it really didn't take root in my heart and in "the feels" like I thought, nay - hoped, it would. The tale of a song that makes it's way from one person to the next, and takes a tour all over the globe, is, however, intriguing. And not that unrealistic. I recently read an article about the song "Wagon Wheel" and was pleasantly surprised at it's provenance - taking many decades and going through quite a few hands to get where it is in recent years with the ultimate award of a Grammy.
A decent read, especially for music and/or poetry lovers, and the hopeless romantic type.
Drop me a line below to let me know what you thought of this review, and/or The Lost Love Song - I'd love to hear from you!
Yet, while the story was enjoyable, it really didn't take root in my heart and in "the feels" like I thought, nay - hoped, it would. The tale of a song that makes it's way from one person to the next, and takes a tour all over the globe, is, however, intriguing. And not that unrealistic. I recently read an article about the song "Wagon Wheel" and was pleasantly surprised at it's provenance - taking many decades and going through quite a few hands to get where it is in recent years with the ultimate award of a Grammy.
A decent read, especially for music and/or poetry lovers, and the hopeless romantic type.
Drop me a line below to let me know what you thought of this review, and/or The Lost Love Song - I'd love to hear from you!
October 13, 2020
4 1/2 "For Real" Stars
The Lost Love Song is a book that resonated with my heart and soul. I know it's a little fantastical to believe a lost love song can makes its way into the hands of so many people. Not only making its way to them but also impacting each of their lives in a beautiful and significant way. I was easily able to suspend reality and fall into this lovely and somewhat mystical story.
This book starts in tragedy, but evolves into a beautiful exploration of how one event can affect so many other people. Ultimately for me, I loved the fact that this song ends up being the very thing that brings love to the man it was originally intended for. It just takes a very meaningful journey to get there.
I personally love music and feel moved by the words and sounds. Given my personal feelings, this book really spoke to me. Others may not connect in exactly the same way. However, I think it's still easy to appreciate the beauty and power of love and its ability to win out against unlikely odds..
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Publishing for this ARC. I voluntarily reviewed it and the opinions contained within are my own.
The Lost Love Song is a book that resonated with my heart and soul. I know it's a little fantastical to believe a lost love song can makes its way into the hands of so many people. Not only making its way to them but also impacting each of their lives in a beautiful and significant way. I was easily able to suspend reality and fall into this lovely and somewhat mystical story.
This book starts in tragedy, but evolves into a beautiful exploration of how one event can affect so many other people. Ultimately for me, I loved the fact that this song ends up being the very thing that brings love to the man it was originally intended for. It just takes a very meaningful journey to get there.
I personally love music and feel moved by the words and sounds. Given my personal feelings, this book really spoke to me. Others may not connect in exactly the same way. However, I think it's still easy to appreciate the beauty and power of love and its ability to win out against unlikely odds..
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Publishing for this ARC. I voluntarily reviewed it and the opinions contained within are my own.
January 18, 2021
The Lost Love Song is so very special. It is the kind of story that stays in your heart for a long time. I thought the way that everything and everyone was intertwined was just beautiful.
By the time I finished the last line, I was in love with each and every character and I didn't want their stories to end.
When I finished the last word, I just sat for a moment with my eyes closed. This novel is tender, bittersweet, gentle, and absolutely lovely.
4.5 stars
By the time I finished the last line, I was in love with each and every character and I didn't want their stories to end.
When I finished the last word, I just sat for a moment with my eyes closed. This novel is tender, bittersweet, gentle, and absolutely lovely.
4.5 stars
September 29, 2020
Being on a world tour, Diana Clare, a famous classical pianist, had composed a love song that was supposed to be a message to her lover. But as she never managed to come back home, the message remained undelivered and the song, unknown.
But then, "once released into the world, songs, have a tendency to make their own way."
The Lost Love Song is a book about love and loss; and 'love after loss' and about the magical power of music, but mostly about a love song. A song that despite being lost itself, will guide 'love' on its way from one person to another "jumping around from ear-to-ear and heart-to-heart".
Taking a tour around the world, being played on different instruments by different musicians, going through many a changes and even after the addition of the lyrics, it still remained the same old song of "passionate love, all-or-nothing love, a-little-bit-dizzy-in-the-head love".
But after all these, still one question remains,
will the song ever find it's way to serve the purpose for which it was created?
I don't know why exactly I chose to read this book or maybe it chose me, who cares! But I definitely know why - despite of its slow narrative and rather unnecessary parts of the characters' history - I stuck to the end; that's for the deserved happy ending of that lost song! The story was slow paced, the expressions were stretched that sometimes felt boring. But taking it as a whole it was a 'feel-good' read. It was simple and detailed and the feelings that it conveyed were not at all complex.
This book won't WOW you. No. Rather you may call it cliché. You may even call it too romanticised. Then maybe I've to agree with you. But I have to say that if this 'perfect cadence' of a story created by music and poetry hand in hand together, cannot come up with even a tinge in your heart, at least it'll be able to draw a small smile on your lips.
The Lost Love Song is more like a message to its readers to be hopeful even through the darkest moments and to open their hearts for the acceptance of the reality and second chances.
So if you want a light and cozy read, you too can give it a chance!
Happy Reading! ❤
But then, "once released into the world, songs, have a tendency to make their own way."
The Lost Love Song is a book about love and loss; and 'love after loss' and about the magical power of music, but mostly about a love song. A song that despite being lost itself, will guide 'love' on its way from one person to another "jumping around from ear-to-ear and heart-to-heart".
Taking a tour around the world, being played on different instruments by different musicians, going through many a changes and even after the addition of the lyrics, it still remained the same old song of "passionate love, all-or-nothing love, a-little-bit-dizzy-in-the-head love".
But after all these, still one question remains,
will the song ever find it's way to serve the purpose for which it was created?
I don't know why exactly I chose to read this book or maybe it chose me, who cares! But I definitely know why - despite of its slow narrative and rather unnecessary parts of the characters' history - I stuck to the end; that's for the deserved happy ending of that lost song! The story was slow paced, the expressions were stretched that sometimes felt boring. But taking it as a whole it was a 'feel-good' read. It was simple and detailed and the feelings that it conveyed were not at all complex.
This book won't WOW you. No. Rather you may call it cliché. You may even call it too romanticised. Then maybe I've to agree with you. But I have to say that if this 'perfect cadence' of a story created by music and poetry hand in hand together, cannot come up with even a tinge in your heart, at least it'll be able to draw a small smile on your lips.
The Lost Love Song is more like a message to its readers to be hopeful even through the darkest moments and to open their hearts for the acceptance of the reality and second chances.
So if you want a light and cozy read, you too can give it a chance!
Happy Reading! ❤
January 12, 2021
The Lost Love Song
By Minnie Darke
This is such a beautiful and poignant written story about finding love, second chances and and music that heals broken hearts. This book was pretty special and love tis emotional and heartwarming love story. The story was sad and the grief was captured so beautifully. I loved the writing and the immersive story that really drew me into the story investing my time with these characters. Truly a fascinating read I loved..
By Minnie Darke
This is such a beautiful and poignant written story about finding love, second chances and and music that heals broken hearts. This book was pretty special and love tis emotional and heartwarming love story. The story was sad and the grief was captured so beautifully. I loved the writing and the immersive story that really drew me into the story investing my time with these characters. Truly a fascinating read I loved..
May 1, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up.
RTC.
RTC.
March 7, 2020
After enjoying Star-Crossed last year, I was thrilled to receive a copy of The Lost Love Song for review. Darke writes about the connections between people so well - be that the random coincidences of strangers, or the budding romance between a couple - and she applies this skill to her latest novel in spades. This is the story of an unconventional romance, and it is a joy to read. Readers should note triggers for the description of a fatal aircraft crash and gaslighting.
Melbourne-based piano prodigy Diana Clare begins to compose a love song for her unlikely love, IT developer Arie Johnson. The tune is overheard, and begins its extraordinary journey around the world. Meanwhile drifter and aspiring poet Evie Greenlees is reevaluating her life behind the bar of a London pub, when the tune finds her. These events will shape Arie's own story, which doesn't go the way he always thought it would.
I have been craving reads that have a happy ending (i.e. "uplit" books), and while this novel has some unexpected and deeply striking sadness, it fully delivers on emotional richness and a delightful ending.
Darke tackles the theme of grief with sensitivity, but also with honesty, showing there's no fairytale fix for coming to terms with loss. Through Evie, she also touches on the dynamics of an unhealthy relationship, and how women can recover their confidence and self-respect. Above all, though, her message is about the unifying power of music, and the ways it can touch and shape our lives without us really, fully knowing.
Writing about any other artform is difficult, but Darke captures the sensations we feel when listening to music so well that I found myself getting emotional as I read about it. It's easy to imagine the sort of song Diana has composed, and Darke cleverly relies on that feeling we all know - an ending, where the final pair of notes is inevitable, and brings a sense of relief when achieved.
Darke invests more in her secondary characters in this novel, and the approach of having fewer than in Star-Crossed worked much better for me. I enjoyed seeing a richer portrait of the lives she touches on, and returning to certain groups of people throughout.
This novel was a breeze to read - Darke's writing style is confident and accessible, and she easily conjures an apricot orchard in Australia or a poetry reading in the UK. Her approach to the story is emotionally intelligent and rewarding for the reader - I recommend picking this one up for sure.
I received a copy of The Lost Love Song from Penguin Australia in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Melbourne-based piano prodigy Diana Clare begins to compose a love song for her unlikely love, IT developer Arie Johnson. The tune is overheard, and begins its extraordinary journey around the world. Meanwhile drifter and aspiring poet Evie Greenlees is reevaluating her life behind the bar of a London pub, when the tune finds her. These events will shape Arie's own story, which doesn't go the way he always thought it would.
I have been craving reads that have a happy ending (i.e. "uplit" books), and while this novel has some unexpected and deeply striking sadness, it fully delivers on emotional richness and a delightful ending.
Darke tackles the theme of grief with sensitivity, but also with honesty, showing there's no fairytale fix for coming to terms with loss. Through Evie, she also touches on the dynamics of an unhealthy relationship, and how women can recover their confidence and self-respect. Above all, though, her message is about the unifying power of music, and the ways it can touch and shape our lives without us really, fully knowing.
Writing about any other artform is difficult, but Darke captures the sensations we feel when listening to music so well that I found myself getting emotional as I read about it. It's easy to imagine the sort of song Diana has composed, and Darke cleverly relies on that feeling we all know - an ending, where the final pair of notes is inevitable, and brings a sense of relief when achieved.
Darke invests more in her secondary characters in this novel, and the approach of having fewer than in Star-Crossed worked much better for me. I enjoyed seeing a richer portrait of the lives she touches on, and returning to certain groups of people throughout.
This novel was a breeze to read - Darke's writing style is confident and accessible, and she easily conjures an apricot orchard in Australia or a poetry reading in the UK. Her approach to the story is emotionally intelligent and rewarding for the reader - I recommend picking this one up for sure.
I received a copy of The Lost Love Song from Penguin Australia in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
October 19, 2020
Minnie Darke’s new novel The Lost Love Song is one of the most unique love stories I’ve read in a long time. Rather than a character, the star of this story is actually a love song and the powerful yet subtle way it serves as a catalyst to bring people together all around the world. The unnamed love song was composed in a hotel in Singapore by a piano prodigy named Diana Clare, who wrote it for her fiancé, Arie Johnson. Diana desperately wanted Arie to feel all the love for him that she had in her heart, and while she was never very good with words, her exquisite music has always perfectly conveyed what she’s feeling.
When Diana returns home from her concert tour, she plans to share her song with Arie and tell him that she’s finally ready to get married. When she checks out of her hotel, however, she accidentally leaves the notebook behind. When tragedy strikes soon after, it appears that the beautiful song is lost. Or is it? When the notebook finds its way into the hands of another musician, he falls in love with the song as soon as he plays it and thus begins the song’s journey as it captivates everyone who hears it.
We get to see the song work its magic on several couples throughout the story and I really loved how the song felt like it was actually a character in the story with the way it spoke to people and brought them together. That was probably my favorite thing about the story honestly. I was also quite captivated by Arie and Diana’s story, which is both romantic and tragic, and by Arie’s connection to a young woman named Evie who is staying in the apartment next to his. This was a double-edged sword for me though because although I loved that I was so drawn to these three characters, I didn’t find any other characters nearly as compelling. This made for a slightly uneven read as I found myself skimming through their parts so that I could get back to Arie, Diana, and Evie where I would then devour their chapters.
Even with that issue though, I still really enjoyed The Lost Love Song overall. It’s a beautiful story that is full of grief and heartache, but also with love, hope, and second chances. If you’re a romantic at heart, I think you’ll love this one.
3.5 stars.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own..
When Diana returns home from her concert tour, she plans to share her song with Arie and tell him that she’s finally ready to get married. When she checks out of her hotel, however, she accidentally leaves the notebook behind. When tragedy strikes soon after, it appears that the beautiful song is lost. Or is it? When the notebook finds its way into the hands of another musician, he falls in love with the song as soon as he plays it and thus begins the song’s journey as it captivates everyone who hears it.
We get to see the song work its magic on several couples throughout the story and I really loved how the song felt like it was actually a character in the story with the way it spoke to people and brought them together. That was probably my favorite thing about the story honestly. I was also quite captivated by Arie and Diana’s story, which is both romantic and tragic, and by Arie’s connection to a young woman named Evie who is staying in the apartment next to his. This was a double-edged sword for me though because although I loved that I was so drawn to these three characters, I didn’t find any other characters nearly as compelling. This made for a slightly uneven read as I found myself skimming through their parts so that I could get back to Arie, Diana, and Evie where I would then devour their chapters.
Even with that issue though, I still really enjoyed The Lost Love Song overall. It’s a beautiful story that is full of grief and heartache, but also with love, hope, and second chances. If you’re a romantic at heart, I think you’ll love this one.
3.5 stars.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own..
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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