I have read the three previous books by this author, and at this point, Lia Louis does not disappoint.

This book focuses on Nat and her struggles to overcome her grief after losing her husband, Russ, in an accident two years prior. Her friends are trying to get her to go out and meet people, but she is reluctant to do it. She still goes to the crematorium every week, and she stops to play piano in the train station two days a week. Music has become hard for her after Russ died, so playing in the train station is the only time she does it. When she finds a printed sheet of one of Russ's favorite songs left for her at the piano, she feels excited about life again.

There are a few different things going on in this book, and I really liked each part of it. First is the mystery of the music being left at the piano in the train station. Second is the friendship she strikes up with Tom, a man her friends tried to set up her up with. Third is the music therapy group Nat joins and the man, Joe, she meets there. And fourth is the development of her relationships with her friends.

Each part of the plot is important and doesn't feel like too much. Natalie struggles with these relationships and trying to determine exactly how she feels. She battles her guilt over Russ's accident and being the one who survived. She doesn't know how to move on but her friends are trying to push her to do just that. Even though these themes are heavy, there is funny dialogue and interesting scenes that lighten things up. Louis does a great job of balancing the tough stuff with the heartwarming stuff so that the book, overall, feels good to read.

I was very emotionally invested in this book and definitely recommend it!

I have to admit - I started this book a while ago and I could not get into it. I picked it up the other day and was completely sucked into the story and ended up absolutely loving it. I think it goes to show that some books just need to be read at the right time. I loved the mystery element of this book and also how tenderly and honestly she writes on the topic of grief and loss. Overall, I really liked this one. Heavier than just a normal "rom-com" but I found myself laughing out loud while reading a few times also. Full of emotions, loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley & Atria Books for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

I liked this one and thought it was a great exploration of grief and personal
development but it just didn't have anything special to me. I would definitely recommend this to anyone struggling with grief just as something to read and potentially learn from, but for me personally I didn't get a ton out of listening to it. I may not be the best audience for it or it just wasn't the book for me, it happens. I will say I found the main character to be a bit annoying but besides that it was an overall cute read.

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

Sometimes our expectations are too high and the poor book doesn't live up to them and becomes dull. Like this one.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!

I really loved Lia Louis' EIGHT PERFECT HOURS so I was excited to check out another heartwarming story from her, but this one unfortunately didn't capture that same magic for me. I think the music aspect just personally wasn't as interesting to me so I had trouble getting engaged in the story.

Thank you to the publisher for granting me access to an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Key to My Heart follows Natalie, a young widow who finds friendship in unlikely places. Mysteriously, sheet music of her favorite songs keeps popping up at the piano of the local train station. She likes to play the piano there randomly. The music that mysterely appears, happen to be songs that remind her of her late husband. Natalie befriends two different men and has mixed feelings with both until secrets become revealed and she chooses which one is worth her happiness.
The first 35% or so of the story was absolutely boring, and nothing really happened. Luckily, the story picked up and the characters became more likable.

This book gave me all the feels but it was such a great story of learning to love and move on after loss. I will definitely be reading more of Lia Louis in the future.

I mostly enjoyed this, but it did take me a month to read because it didn’t really grip me.

I didn’t get holiday romance vibes from this either.

I always enjoy the author’s writing though and will continue to read their future works!

Lia Louis does it again with her novel The Key to My Heart. The story was captivating and magical just like Eight Perfect Hours. I look forward to what Louis does next!

I enjoyed Eight Perfect Hours, so I was delighted to receive a copy of The Key to My Heart by Lia Louis. This is a book about having it all and then losing it and then finding oneself again. It's a book about love and grief and the power of music to heal.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

Started off a tad slow, but then I ended up loving Natalie and her journey. There are lots of moments of deep grief and sadness and Louis did a really beautiful job of showing how grief and healing is not linear. Lia Louis is definitely a must read for me!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

I loved Dear Emmie Blue and Eight Perfect Hours and now I can add The Key to My Heart as another Lia Louse favorite. This book has heartbreak, hope, love, quirky friends, and a little bit of mystery. The story follows Natalie after a devastating loss as she navigates her way through life and love. The musical aspect of the story was delightful. This book is an absolute treat to read!

I started this book over a year ago (because christmas spirit 🫶🏼) and then promptly was upset by the MC’s friends treating her like crap because she hasn’t “moved on” in the two years since her husband passed away tragically

and then christmas was over and I never finished so here we are!!! new season, new perspective!! and I’m glad I stuck this one out 🤍

natalie is grieving during the holidays, and no one can understand her - until she’s unexpectedly matched with two male friends who start to get her more than anyone since russ died 🥹🥹 and what a story it was!

there were moments of all emotions from rage to sadness to heart swooning - and I think the author did this effectively - but I wanted more!! I felt like the characters were very surface level, and I wanted to feel the grief a bit more like ashley poston’s books (will I stop bringing up ashley poston every day? not likely)

however, I did absolutely love the magical vibes of this story!!! and while I wouldn’t consider it a “holiday” story, the setting was perfect for this time of year!

rating: 3.5 stars
wine pairing: willamette valley pinot noir

Some lists have The Key to My Heart by Lia Louis labeled as a romance. There is a romance in the book, but this book is much more about grief and healing as a young widow finds her way to live with the unbearable loss of her young husband. The main takeaway is that grief is an individual journey. It does not and cannot conform to the expectations of family or friends. The journey is hopefully a path to healing.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2023/11/the-key-to-my-heart.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

A feel good story about finding a way to live, and love, again after devastating loss. A sweet, pick-me-up tale.

Natalie isn’t really worried about her life since her husband Russ died. She just goes on existing. She has the folks she visits at the coffee shop, and she finds some solace in playing the piano at the train station. Everyone else seems to want her to have more, but it’s not their life, is it?

Eventually the time comes where she finds herself somehow moving on. A practically required night out with her friends introduces her to Tom, who keeps turning up even though she had never noticed him before, and then a recommended music therapy group has her spending time with Joe, who she does recognize as being around before, but always as part of the background in her predictable life.

This charming and unique story earned 4 out of 5 stars. As a young widow, Natalie wasn’t the usual young-ish woman searching for love at the bars with her friends. Her friends were having babies and living their full, developing adult lives, and she wasn’t sure where that left her. She didn’t want a new love; she wanted what she already had with her husband, but she now had to move on without him. Her reluctance to accept the life she truly had to deal with now was just part of her appeal.

The details of the ending were somewhat unexpected in a pleasant way. This is a great and heartwarming book with likable characters who each had their own flaws. The story could be enthusiastically enjoyed by those who enjoy family dramas, starting over, and interesting ideas of where love may be found.

"The Key to My Heart" by Lia Louis is a heartfelt and enchanting romance that weaves together love, destiny, and the power of connection. Louis' storytelling prowess shines as she crafts a tale of unexpected encounters and the magic of second chances. The book's relatable characters and tender plot create an immersive reading experience that resonates with romance enthusiasts. Louis skillfully captures the emotions and vulnerabilities of her characters, adding depth to the narrative and making it a captivating read for fans of the genre. "The Key to My Heart" is a touching reminder that love has the ability to unlock the doors of the heart, leaving readers with a warm and hopeful feeling as they embark on a journey filled with both longing and joy.

Usually I love books like this but this one fell flat for me. I enjoyed the author's previous book "8 Perfect Hours" more than this one. Was this supposed to be a romance or a romance thriller, pick a genre and stick to one.

Not for me but I can see why other readers would like this,

Thanks to NetGalley, Lia Louis and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Already available!