The Lonely Hearts Book Club has such a wonderful premise- a group of unlikely friends form a book club, and find happiness along the way. However for me it was so flat. I could not connect with the characters at all especially the main character who was just so meek and boring. I really wanted to love this but the point of views made it confusing to see who i was following along with, everyone has such a tragic story but not fully developed and I wasnt rooting for anything.

This was a pretty average sweet and charming read. Nothing too special but a nice 'fluffy' one.
I'd recommend it one to read in between other books that are a bit deeper or tough to relax you in that sense

A lovely story, especially for any book lover. I appreciated the character development as well. Will definitely be adding this to our book club picks at the library.

When old curmudgeon Arthur doesn’t show up to the library one day, librarian Sloane goes to his home. Wanting to bring more cheer to Arthur’s life, Sloan creates a book club for the town’s misfits.

To be completely honest, I don’t really remember this one. It didn’t leave an impression - I think it was fine.

Absolutely love Lucy Gilmore's writing and who doesn't love a good curmudgeon? Gilmore is so good at writing flawed and realistic characters.

Did not finish. The main character is so meek and everybody treats her like she's dumb and I just can't handle it.

I adore the unlikely friends trope. This has all the perfect formula for a cute and fun holiday read. It's truly a recipe for a heart warming read next to your loved ones. This book explores what it means to love, grief, deal with loneliness, and connect. If you enjoy books that will melt your heart and keep you laughing all the while. I recommend this light hearted read.
Thank you Netgalley for the arc

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for access to this title in exchange for feedback.

Sloane Parker is the quintessential librarian. She's helpful to every patron, upbeat, and really knows her stuff. However, even she's not immune to one particular patron's curmudgeonly presence, and finds herself a worthy adversary in him. When Arthur stops appearing at the library, against her boss's wishes and library policy, Sloane decides to check in on him herself, which leads to the unraveling of the life she thought she was building and the repairing of several hearts along the way.

I found this book to be delightful. Each character's POV was a welcome embrace into their little book club, and it was nice to be able to see some of the motivation (though that motivation did tend to be a bit weak at times) behind each of their actions.

I enjoyed this book but there were parts that left me feeling a bit icky. Overall though i enjoyed it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!

An enjoyable if somewhat expected story of lonely people finding a much needed found family. Though the plot might not be terribly surprising, it's a sweet story in a bookish setting, which is enough to appeal to make for an enjoyable reading experience.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca, Netgalley and the author for an ARC of this book. I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily.

I loved this book - it's very well-written and the story plays out like a movie I would watch with a box of tissues to weep into. I mean, it's not particularly tragic, but it's touching in so many ways.

Sloane, Mateo, Arthur, Greg and Maisey all get their turn to narrate and this gives the reader wonderful insight into their characters. The relationship they are able to find with each other is organic and yet surprising.

As this is a book about a book club there were plenty of opportunities for me to nerd out over the literary references tucked away in the storyline and I loved the references to Anne of Green Gables especially, because I credit that book for getting me into reading many many years ago.

If you like books about curmudgeons, found family and beautifully flawed but intensely likeable characters (sometimes even despite themselves) then this is the book for you.

An absolutely heartwarming loving novel about a group of individuals whose lives become better now that they are together. I adored the way each character was written and how the group came together to enhance each others lives.
I also really want to join my own book club now…

I really liked this one! It was different from the books I’m used to. It was so heartbreaking and just wonderful.

Lucy Gilmore’s The Lonely Hearts Book Club follows five individuals as they unknowingly heal their hearts while meeting to discuss works of literature.


The story is broken down into six sections, each being told by a member of the book club. I loved being able to see each character’s point of view as it offered insight into their lives. Having five main characters (members of the book club), readers can and will identify with at least one. So whether you are a single-mother struggling just to get by, a grumpy old man determined to keep people at arms length, or somewhere in between, Gilmore has you covered!

Having been on a long stretch of only reading romances, The Lonely Hearts Book Club was a nice departure into women’s fiction. It highlights the importance of community and how our relationships with others push us to be the best versions of ourselves.

As a book lover, I especially loved the way Gilmore used books as another character. Books offered a point of connection. If it wasn’t for their meetings to discuss said books, this group would have no reason to interact or be in each others lives. When words failed them, it was books that offered a way of speaking for them.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

3.5*
Sloane Parker works at the public library. She’s upbeat and always helpful to the library’s patrons. One elderly gentleman really tries the patience of all he encounters and Sloane’s colleagues avoid him when he makes his daily visit. Despite the insults, Sloane repeatedly tries to assist the curmudgeon. When he fails to show up a few days in a row, she breaks the sacrosanct library rule and looks up his address so she can check on him.

The gentleness and humanity that Sloane shows is in stark contrast to the behavior of Arthur, the cranky old man. But she’s not the only one who tries to help. There’s a long-lost relative and a quirky neighbor who band together with Sloane to help Arthur. They form a book club and recruit another librarian, ready to discuss books with the old man who spent his life teaching literature.

The characters are well-developed but the motivation behind their behavior is a bit weak. Given the book’s title, the book club aspect should play a more prominent role. It’s a factor but doesn’t enter until well into the novel. Readers might see similarities between the character Arthur and A Man Called Otto and the Disney movie Up. On the positive side, the value of compassion, of listening, of caring and of reading are all highlighted and add to the book’s value.

Oh man was I a sucker for this book! I felt like I was watching a movie and that's my favorite feeling while reading.
It felt like You've Got Mail with a little bit of Emily Henry's Book Lovers. The settings were amazing and the plot was even better. Give me a book about a bookstore and a good relationship and I'm completely hooked!

I really love read books who talk about books and bookstores. I really recommended this book 📚
thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the book 💕

The Lonely Hearts Book Club was a plaisant read with endearing characters but who felt sometimes too stereotyped. Even though each of them has a consistent and moving backstory, it overall felt like their reactions were too stereotyped, too two dimensional (compared with the care given to their own stories).
The writing was good too, easy to read and the banter amusing!

The Lonely Hearts Book Club was an absolute delight. Full of mismatched characters, who form unlikely but nevertheless heartwarming and soul-searching relationships with each other.

The synopsis was interesting, but was a bit too shallowly done. The characters didn't feel realistic and the main character felt a bit flat.