I would first like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me an ARC (advanced read copy) of this book.

This was definitely one of those warm and cozy types of books. People always making tea, serving tea, drinking tea with the ones they are close to.

“The kettle was coming to a boil again. More tea, but it was a comforting routine, part of the ritual of friendship, and today, more than any day, they were all prepared to drink gallons of the stuff if it helped Lia.”

A young librarian starts a book club at her library and ends up trying to help out all of the people who join as time goes by… and possibly to help herself.

“Well, I used to think that things were quite simple and then I found myself becoming involved in what was happening in other people’s lives, and I’ve realised just how complicated life can be- how you can be set on a particular path one minute and then something comes along and prompts a life changing decision.”

I felt that this story had distinctly EMMA like qualities about it. A young woman who is trying to guide the lives of others without understanding where her own young life should be going. Her mother doesn’t seem to help either, in my opinion.. while Lucy, you come to realise, has a lovely family, her mothers’ initial prompt on why to make friends is a little wayward to me..

“Being a friend costs nothing – and from what you’ve said that’s exactly what Lia and Oscar need right now. Everything happens for a reason, and maybe if you give them a helping hand, somewhere along the line they’ll help you out too, give you something back in return that perhaps you never even knew you needed. That’s how it works in my experience.”

Now, I get that she probably meant that these people would give her something that maybe she is lacking in her life, social skills, etc. we all learn from our friends. But, I couldn’t help reading that suggestion from a possibly socially graceless point of view thinking “be friends with someone so I can get something out of it in the end??”

Beyond these silly things that I am picking on, maybe I’ve been imbibing on too much of my own recommended drink, it was a very sweet story and it was well written with, in my opinion, very relatable characters.

'Lucy's Book Club for the Lost and Found' really took me by surprise. Before I began reading the book I thought it was just going to be a book about a book club (I don't read blurbs) and, whilst I still would have enjoyed the book if that had been the case, nothing could have prepared me for the actual contents of this storyline.

Lucy is a complete bookworm, and she proves that fact by running the local library in her village. Nothing says 'total bookworm' like working in a library of course! With a heart the size of her own personal to be read pile, Lucy just wants everyone to be happy and would do absolutely anything for those she loved and cared about. However, whilst Lucy's intentions were brilliant, the execution left a lot to be desired and ending up creating a lot more problems than Lucy could even fix on her own.

I'm just going to jump straight to it - this book was by far one of the most heart-warming and touching novels I have read this year. What started out as just being a simple book club. soon turned into something members of the community could no longer be without. That alone cause my heart to soar. But, to be honest, the entire premise of this novel could not have touched my heart the way that it did if it wasn't for the authors storytelling from the heart. It is so clear that Emma Davies wrote every situation, every character, and every hurdle, all from her very own heart. It's writing like that which blows me away, yet Emma Davies has got that talent down to a fine art.

There were a couple of characters which I couldn't gel with as much as the others but I didn't let that be the be all and end all. After all, in life we aren't going to like or understand every single person we come across, are we? I adored Lucy's intentions, her heart really was in the right place yet sometimes I found myself wishing that she would just take a step back and let others find their own path.

From the bottom of my heart, I absolutely adored every single word on every single page of 'Lucy's Book Club for the Lost and Found'. Emotion poured out of me like a waterfall  - I just couldn't help myself as certain situations within the storyline opened the flood gates and just let me....feel. Emma Davies didn't make me feel emotion that was tainted by complexity and stress, nor did she make me feel emotion that left me riddled with guilt and disbelief. Instead, Emma Davies opened my heart to feel emotion that was pure, honest and severely captivating. I honestly have never experienced anything like it.

'Lucy's Book Club for the Lost and Found' made me laugh multiple times. The entire book was an absolute joy to read and I cannot wait to read more from the wondrous talent that is Emma Davies. 

One of the most heartfelt and captivating books I have read this year. Beautifully emotional, this book has it all. Such a joy to devour and I recommend this book with all of my heart.

Thanks Bookouture.

After a bit of a slow start, this book grabbed me and took me on an interesting ride. I thought it might be a bit of a light read, something a bit fluffy, but it has surprising depth. Don't get me wrong, it isn't super heavy either, but it is an interesting look at modern day life.

I thoroughly enjoyed the interactions between all the characters and I was glad that I was wrong with my initial assumptions about what was going to happen with some of them too. This is a far from formulaic book and all the various strands of the story wove around each other nicely. My emotions definitely got involved and I found myself wishing nothing but the best for all of them. They were a nice bunch of people; not perfect by any means, but supportive of each other despite what life threw at them.

This was a highly recommended read from me, 4.5 stars.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.

As a mad bookworm, I love a novel about a book club and this is one of loveliest ones I’ve come across. Such well-rounded and realistic characters, all with their own difficult life situations to cope with .. and they are all safe in the hands of Emma Davies.

Having given up her studies to run a small local library, Lucy sets up a book club which turns out to give it’s members what amounts to their social life. Callum spends his days in the library to escape from his unambitious family; Hattie enjoys the adult company whilst her young daughter attends school; Stanley, recently widowed, likes to sit and read quietly and Lia? Well, as carer for her mother suffering from dementia it is her once a week respite. Each of them have their own reasons for seeking out the company of others, and the book club saves their sanity on a weekly basis.

This is such a wonderful read. With plenty happening to the characters – all believable and nobody perfect – all the small details add up to one bumper read. I’m not going to give anything away, but there are enough ups and downs to keep the reader glued and turning the pages at a decent speed. I loved all of it, every single tale and have no hesitation in recommending to lovers of a well-written rom-com. I have enjoyed every novel this author has written, but I think she has excelled herself with Lucy’s Book Club for the Lost and Found.

My thanks to Bookouture for allowing me to access an arc via NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.

Lucy had dreams of being a teacher as her father was before her. Somehow the glitter dropped off the dream and she found work at the local library whilst she decided what to do. She decided to start a book club to entice more people into the library and perhaps make some friends along the way. Enter Hattie- a single mum who is a dab hand at dressmaking, Lia who is a full time carer for her mother who has Alzheimer's, Callum who should have a job but hasn’t the confidence and Oscar the elderly but sprightly bow tie man who comes in several times a week so as not be on his own. This is an engaging cast of characters and some serious themes are addressed along the way. Somehow through skillful writing you end up caring for the characters and share with their emotions both up and down. This is so much more than “just another lighthearted read”. It made me laugh , it made me cry, and it made me think. A book with a smile and a message of hope and positivity. A treasure of a book that rarely comes along. One of my 5** reads of the year(out of 250+ book- less than 10% achieve this). A wonderful read, a perfect present.
I voluntarily chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

I have read books by this author before and they have always been written to a very high standard so I knew I was in for a treat with this one – and I was over the moon when I saw it was based around a love of books!!

Lucy is a great character but I really enjoyed how books and the book club Lucy creates are really the centre of the story – after all who doesn’t love a good book!  There are a real mix of characters with their own emotional baggage and I liked how Lucy was able to help them through the foundation of the book club – it is a real heart warming story and a very easy book to read.

I loved it and it’s definitely one I’m going to be recommending to family and friends – 5 stars from me!

Oh my, I've only gone and fallen in love with this book. It is absolutely wonderful and enchanting. It was a perfect read in every single way.

I literally felt at home with this book as it had so many connections for me and some of the things I love so very much being libraries and dancing.

I loved getting to know all of the characters and seeing how each of there stories would develop. I was entranced by the story and could not put it down. I also loved it so much that I didn't want the story to end.

This book really does have a bit of everything, from love, friendship, grief, families and lots more.

When I first heard about this book I was intrigued by it as it is about a woman who works in a library and starts her own book club as she loves reading and talking to other people about books. It is also the first book of Emma’s I have read so was very interested in reading a book from a new author as I love finding different authors to read.

The book itself is a feel good romance, which centres around the five main characters; Oscar, Callum, Lia, Hattie and of course Lucy all of whom have their own issues and want different things from the group, but mainly just friendship and someone to talk to.

The book is the perfect feel good book for Christmas as it is very easy to read and has the right amount of sadness, happiness and hope in it to make the most cynical person happy.

The story follows Lucy as she tries to help each of the people in the group with their issues whilst they also help her with hers. Oscar is an elderly widower who is struggling without his loving wife by his side, Callum is the shy kid who wants to better himself, Lia’s mum has dementia so her life revolves around that and keeping her mum safe, Hattie is a single mum who’s child has just started school so wants to make new friends and then there is Lucy. Lucy’s role in this is helper to the people of the group and she does it brilliantly.

I love the way the book gives each character their own voice and the way we learn so much about them throughout the book makes you really feel for them during their struggles and really root for them to make successes of themselves and to be happy at the end.

Overall I would give this book 4 stars, as it is a book you can sit in front of the fire and read on a cold evening.

WOW! This book was super awesome and wonderful to read. A great cozy book, with heart warming characters. I loved every single minute of it. This is the book to read to uplift your spirits and to spend an afternoon or two reading! Bravo to the author! LOVED IT!

Lucy loves books so running a library is a perfect job for her and it seems to her that a natural extension to that is to start a book club and so Mia, Hattie, Oscar and Callum all come together.

Each of the characters have their own problems.... Lia's mother has Alzheimers, Hattie is a single mother who needs to make new friends, Oscar is a widower who is struggling without his wife and Callum wants to make something of his life but is being held back by his family. As they meet to discuss books they start to become friends and realise that there is help out there for them when they need it

A lovely warm feel good book which works perfectly with each of them having the narrative to tell their own stories, perfect for curling up and reading on a cold winters day

Lucy loved working at the library – a gentle soul, she was nevertheless lonely and decided to start a book club within the library to bring together like-minded people with their love of books and reading. And so the group was formed with the elderly Oscar, Callum, Hattie and Lia joining Lucy. Their enjoyment knew no bounds, and before long Lucy began her agenda of helping those around her…

Lia cared for her elderly mum who had dementia. She had always wanted to dance but circumstances wouldn’t allow it. Oscar was sad and lonely since his Mary had passed on – and he had a secret. Hattie had family issues and so did Callum. Could Lucy help them all? Or was it an impossible task? And would her efforts be appreciated?

Lucy’s Book Club for the Lost and Found by Emma Davies is an absolutely delightful story of friendship and caring; of love and loss; and of the depth of human kindness. A thoroughly enjoyable novel which I highly recommend.

With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital copy to read and review.

I really want to do my review justice. This book was everything. I'm not even kidding one bit. My heart is in my throat right now, there are tears pooling in my eyes and running down my cheeks. This story is about all sorts of love, friendship, family and love between romantic couples, but also about so much more.

The writing style was so easy to read, it flowed so well. It was beautiful. I read the book in one sitting. There were several parts where I had to stop and collect myself because it really evoked strong emotions. There was sadness, there was laughter, bittersweet moments between Lia and her mom. Those scenes really broke me. Utterly heartbreaking.

The relationships were so authentic. The friendships, found families and romantic relationships all came together so naturally. It felt so real. The friendship among the whole group was a breath of fresh air, but I especially loved the female friendship. So many books these days have girls hating on girls for no good reason, but this book had the exact opposite. The friendship had the kind of found family feel to it that I really love to find in some books. They might not be related by blood, but they loved each other regardless.

All the characters were extremely likeable and had distinct personalities.

This book really touched my heart.

I liked the title of this story, so my only wish is that there was more of a book club aspect that the title hints at.

The ending is bittersweet, with a touch of hope.

The subtitle for Lucy’s Book Club for the Lost and Found is ‘a heart-warming feel good romance novel’, and that’s exactly what this book is. Lia, Hattie, Callum and Oscar all turn up at the library to join the book club. Each of the characters take it in turns to tell the story so it is a good way for the readers to know what is going on in each life before the rest of the cast do. Lia is the sole carer for her mother who has Alzheimer's; Hattie is a single mum whose daughter has just started school and she wants to make friends; Callum wants to make something of his life but his family and lack of confidence is holding him back; while Oscar (who was my favourite character) is a widower missing his wife. Their stories all intertwine as the group becomes friends and each of them hits a low point before realising they don’t have to face this alone, that they have their book club friends to lift them up and help them crawl back out of their pit.

Lucy’s Book Club for the Lost and Found is a wonderful feel good story with depth. It covers quite contemporary issues such as caring for the sick and elderly, broken relationships, single parenthood and unemployment. Each of the sub-plots have closure although happy ever after is not necessarily riding off into the sunset. Overall, five strangers become five good friends and I certainly recommend the book, and will read more of Emma Davies’ work.

I loved this book. A great cast of characters who are all in one way or another trying to deal with difficulties in their lives. Librarian Lucy brings them all together with her book club. Sometimes a bit cheesy, but this book definitely deals with some hard topics: Alzheimers, forced adoption, single parenting, dysfunctional family life, etc. One line really caught my attention: "Love at the heart of everything; the most wonderful of emotions with the biggest capacity for hurt." How true.

This has the words "book" and "club" in the title, so I had to read it. I'm a sucker for books about books, writers, readers, etc. This book was perfect if you also like that aspect. I loved the book club, a group of people coming together over a mutual interest in reading. Who reader doesn't like to see that in a book? I found this book to be emotional, which I wasn't expecting but enjoyed it all the more for. This book gives you all the feels and is a perfect cozy read.

Lucy's Book Club for the Lost and Found by Emma Davies is a sweet heartfelt tale. The entire book was one happy story. Each of the characters struggled with their own issues. Callum struggles with insecurities and shyness. Hattie is a single mum. Lia is taking care of her mum who suffers from Alzheimer's. Oscar feels lonely. All of these characters add a bit to the overall story. Lucy is a young woman who meddles into other people's lives. This, causes for messy situations and for making new friends. I enjoy any journey that offers friendships, talk of books, and new beginnings like this one did. The pacing was steady. There wasn't a 'I must read this...before bedtime' or an 'OMG, this is amazing!' moments...so, be prepared. However, it was clean and entertaining.

Simply fantastic, a wonderfully heart warming story about Lucy and the other people that attend her book club.

Lucy is wonderful she besides being a book lover, also just wants to help her friends achieve their dreams. Some may see it as meddling but she had a good heart and really wants the best for everyone. Somehow everything that happens in the story has Lucy as the catalyst to it.

There is Lia who dreams of dancing and is currently her mothers carer, Hattie who is single mother to Poppy and having family troubles of her own. Oscar is a lot older than the others but he is hiding a secret and I was really touched by his story. Then there is Callum, he is only 19, not from the best family in town, but is nothing like his parents or brothers. He has the signs of becoming a remarkable young man.

In fact Callum is perhaps the surprise character of the group, and I loved seeing how he changed over the course of the story. Actually loved seeing all the characters development.

It took me a short while to get into the rhythm of this book given it really has 5 main characters, and each gets a good amount of coverage, as the chapters change focus between a few of them. It does allow you to get to know all their situations really well.

I'm becoming a huge fan of Emma Davies work, and this has made me even more impressed with her writing. It is a fabulous book and I'm so happy to have taken a break from my Christmas reading stacks to read it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I absolutely adored this book!

I’m one of those people who can’t resist books about books, reading, libraries, and anything else bookish. I bought a book recently that I’d not heard of, purely because it was about a bookshop. There was no way I was going to be able to resist Lucy’s Book Club for the Lost and Found, with its library, book club, book lovers and aspiring author. Oh my goodness, that’s like a three course meal with all the trimmings to a bookish book lover like myself.

The strength of this book is definitely in its characters. They are so endearing and lovable. I found myself falling in love with them within the first few chapters of this story. I adored how they were so supportive of each other, and thought what a wonderful world we would live in if everyone was as caring and supportive as the characters in this book. There are some sad moments (yes, I did have tears in my eyes) and each character has their own difficult issues and problems to face, but it felt like they were never truly alone.

There is a great mix of characters, young and old, and a number of different storylines. This is something that would normally put me off a book, as I struggle to keep track of what is going on, but at no time did I feel confused, as this book felt real and flowed so well, and most of the characters were linked by their use of the library and membership of the book club. I was completely absorbed by this story, and had no problems falling into Lucy’s life, as if I was a new member of the book club. In my mind, these characters are real and going about their lives exactly where this book left off.

This is a wonderful story of family, friendship, happiness, sadness, love, grief, regret, sacrifice, ambition, and hopes and dreams. I definitely recommend this to readers who enjoy overall feel-good books with wonderful characters. Pure cosy yet emotional escapism and this would make a wonderful gift for any bookish friends or relatives. I'm already jealous of those of you who get to read this for the first time.

What a delight this book was!

I received an ARC courtesy of Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

Overall I enjoyed this book. It does at times become in danger of being too schmaltzy, and I think everyone is just far too nice. I'm obviously becoming cynical in my old age! Although there are several plots on the go, I didn't feel like there was enough angst. And considering this book has 'book club' in the title, they don't meet to discuss books that often. I also thought the relationship between Lucy and Callum was questionable given their ages. Some of the characters could have been fleshed out more, like Jasper for example.

On the plus side, some meaty issues are covered including adoption and Alzheimers. I liked the mix of age groups. And whilst some question marks were left, I think the ending was realistic. All in all this is a pleasant, easy read.