The Library of Lost Things is an excellent coming-of-age story that takes place in San Diego featuring 17-year-old Darcy and her single mother. They live in a small apartment complex and have been coasting along in life until the complex comes under new management. Darcy fears their secret will be discovered and she will be forced away from her mother if that happens. Her mother is a hoarder. Their apartment is loaded with boxes upon boxes of all kinds of stuff that was incredibly important at the time it was ordered, but remains sorted and stacked - and unused. Darcy accesses her room by "goat tunnels" through the boxes that allow she and her mother to navigate the tiny apartment. Their therapist coaches Darcy on the best way to help her mother but Darcy leaves for college soon and the new manager is getting more and more insistent on entering the unit. Thankfully her friend Marisol and Marisol's family fill in for her neglectful mother. Darcy has a funny, kind and quirky extended family, including her bookstore employer and his ex-wife who owns the wig shop next door. Laura Taylor Namey does a magnificent job with the characters, as well as explaining Darcy's mother's illness and relating more about the disease than I was aware of. She makes Darcy so relatable that I think everyone will find something or many things to like about her. Darcy's dealing with a lot, but not all bad. There's a handsome, enigmatic boy who has his own troubles. With his help, and Marisol's and the rest of Darcy's extended family, Darcy is able to come to terms with her biological family and her own life as well as to encourage her mother to get the help she needs. This is written for young adults but I think adults would enjoy it as well.

Even though I am posting this review on the first of November and the book came out on Oct 8 I got the okay to read an arc thanks to NetGalley. I thought I give this a try. I am glad I did because I completely LOVED this book. I loved the characters and plot of the story. I thought Darcy was such a great character. She is this massive book lover with a gift. She would memorize different parts of a story to someone and she knew a lot of "big" words. I also liked the friendship she had with Marisol it was honest and true. This story also deals with the major topic of hoarding and how it can effect the person who hoards and their loved ones. I also love how the romance between Asher and Darcy was a slow burn and they started to get to know each other when Asher takes his breaks at the bookstore Darcy works at. This is a great story of finding yourself and learning to live outside of a story.

I'm a book nerd so I knew this book would be right for me. Someone that works in a book store, my dream, but most likely for another life. While I'm not a hoarder nor do I know any hoarders (or at least I don't think I do), this gave me an insight into people that do hoard and why they do it. I would love to have Darcy's ability to memorize books, not so I could memorize them, but so maybe I could remember them months after I read them. I don't read a lot of YA but this one seemed not quite as silly as some I have read are. I don't necessarily like romance, but the romance was well done in this book. It was about Darcy and how she grew throughout everything that was put in front of her.

The storyline was believable and the characters were well thought out and also believable. The author took her time with the romance of Darcy and Archer and having both of them have a past and present that could have kept most people from moving forward, this allowed both of them to grow together.

I hope this author writes more books as I really enjoyed this one and hope to read any of hers in the future.

The Good
-All the Peter Pan references (LOVED THIS!)
-I didn’t really care about Asher until he made this pilot analogy near the 80% mark which made me go, Yes, go ahead and take my heart. 😆
-Marisol!!! Yes girl! She was such an awesome, very supportive, and very understanding character. THE best friend.
-It’s a book with/about books. That’s always a good thing.
-I liked the way Darcy’s mom was written.
-Sweet, cute, #FEELS
-Darcy’s awesome brain. If I can quote Shakespeare (or any book) whenever I want, I’ll be extremely happy.
-Awesome characters. I got attached to them (even the supporting characters!)

The Not-So-Good
-Too dramatic to me at some points even though the current circumstances weren’t dramatic at all
-Took quite a while to get into. I’m gonna be very honest here, I thought I was gonna DNF it. I just found the first, maybe, 35%-40% so uneventful
-I don’t know why I don’t feel satisfied even though things ended well

Overall

A light and easy read. I believe most people will be able to relate to Darcy (and/or the other characters). A good debut novel.

This was such a great read. Not just because it spoke to the book nerd in me but for all of the additional growth that is in those pages. From the start of the book we get the reality of what it may be like to hide a hoarder and the anxiety that goes along with it. I would probably spend a lot of time lost in books as well.
The main characters stands on her own and doesn't need a man. But when said man steps into her life with his own baggage it makes your heart swell that much more. Instead of a perfect man we get baggage and growth. Darcy and Asher must learn to trust each other and more importantly lean on each other.
This is the perfect book for any bibliophile. If you are into depth of characters and tons of personal growth in a sweet romance this is for you.

This is one of those special books that makes you wish every read was the first time. A book that makes you stay up way too late because you don't want to put it down, and keeps you thinking about it long after you've finished. I had it on good authority that I would enjoy this book, even though it was YA, but I didn't know how much this book would give me all the feels. I cannot recommend this enough.

This book was ok. Not terrible but not great. I enjoyed the references to other books within the story and getting a feel of what it’s like to live with a hoarder. I can understand Darcy wanting to be there for her mom and try to help her because I’m a big believer in sticking by family, but at the same time I think she should’ve left when her grandmother gave her an offer. You need to take care of yourself first and being with her mom was not good for her at all. I loved the friendship between Darcy and Marisol. Those two were great together and I wish more books would show such a strong and honest friendship as this.

Darcy lives for books. She's the definition of a booknerd. A quality that Darcy has is she memorizes stories from beginning to end--she can quote almost any book. To Darcy, her books are her comfort zone and the escape she needs from real life. Unfortunately, real life is becoming too real. Her living and financial situations are both threatened and she's basically the one that has to carry the heavy burden.

I felt so much for this beautiful character. Darcy is dealing with so much and she's still going forward, one step at a time. Thankfully, she has the support of her best friend, Marisol, and her bff's family. I have to point out that I felt like I was one of Marisol's family members because how the author described this family is exactly how Puerto Rican families are. We are loud, we are always eating, we are a whole bunch of people. But when you're introduced to the family, you're one of us for life. The author was able to portray this so well and so vividly. I give her all the kudos!

Then we have Asher, a beautifully broken guy who's trying to move forward from the accident that cost him his dream of becoming a pilot. When he came into Darcy's life, he was still dealing with the emotional pain, but he was still able to be there for Darcy, show her there's more to life, give her a different perspective from the angle she was looking at situations, teach her about the magic that is speed reading, and ultimately, give her all of his support through everything she was dealing with.

I totally enjoyed Asher and Darcy together. They were made for each other! And I just loved how sweet the slow-burn was, seeing them become friends and ever so slowly seeing them grow closer to one another until a romance starts blooming.

One of the aspects of the story that touched my heart was the mental illness Darcy's mother was dealing with. I have never read a book on hoarding before and never really understood much of it until now. I believe the author did a wonderful job in enlightening the reader on this particular Mental Health. It broke my heart to read about someone going through something like this, especially Darcy. She wasn't the one hoarding, but this still affected her life in so many ways. What broke my heart even more was when her mom confessed why she began hoarding in the first place. Ugh, my heart broke in pieces. I just wanted to hug both of them.

Overall, The Library of Lost Things is truly beautiful and insightful. I have nothing bad to say about it. The rating I'm giving the book is more a, "It's not you, it's me." I still very highly recommend this because I know it will resonate with so many readers!

Laura Taylor Namey does a fabulous job of creating Darcy, the "literary genius" main character, and every bookish teen is going to wish they have her super power of recalling favorite passages from the books she reads and rereads to feel safe. Namey also handles the hoarding issue in such a real way. My own mother was a hoarder, and I could hear her in Darcy's mom's words.

If you like complex and dynamic characters (yes, even the supporting ones), all things bookish, adorable love stories, and herbal tea, this book is for you.

This book is a mixed bag for me. I think it is a book that is fine for many readers but just wasn’t my favorite. One thing I loved was the writing. There were so many beautiful sentences. The plot itself made me smile and laugh. I kinda loved it for it’s complete corniness. For example:

“All the times we’ve talked about books, you’ve never talked about romances. But are you really ready for one? Not a make-believe or pretend one. The read deal.”

“I can’t run with you on the boardwalk or even share a piece of chocolate cake with you.” “I don’t care. You lived.” “I lived, and I’m here.”

but it also churned out gems like this:

“Holding a real book is like holding something alive. There’s the grit of the pages between your fingers as you turn them. The edges get soft and worn. With a real book, you feel the weight of the story more.”

I enjoyed reading this book. It covered a lot of hard moments and it was nice to see how they were handled. I do wish there was a more solid ending, however. Cliffhanger endings have never been my favorite.

Title: The Library of Lost Things
Author: Laura Taylor Namey
Genre: YA
Rating: 5 out of 5

Darcy Wells is a literary genius. Her name is Darcy, after all. As long as she can remember, she’s found comfort and solace between the covers of her beloved books—and escape from her mom’s hoarding. But when a new property manager starts making changes at their apartment complex, Darcy is afraid the complex balancing act of her life will topple.

Darcy’s vibrant best friend is the only one she lets in—to her secrets, her life, and her apartment. But when Archer Fleet walks into the bookstore where Darcy works, she finds herself drawn to the wounded guy. He’s experienced a life-altering accident, and he’s struggling to make sense of his new reality, but he truly sees Darcy—who is, for once in her life, at a loss for words.

Darcy wants to let him in—but can she overcome her fears to take a chance on life and love?

I loved this book from the first page! Darcy is a wonderful character: flawed, struggling, and so strong it breaks my heart. Marisol’s and Darcy’s friendship made this book, but the rest of the characters were fantastic, too. From Mr. Winston (the bookstore owner) to Tess, Darcy’s mom, Archer’s best friend…I loved all these characters, and though the book’s portrayal of mental illness was spot-on. I could not put this book down!

Laura Taylor Ramey is a former teacher who writes young adult novels. The Library of Lost Things is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin TEEN/Inkyard Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

I did not expect this book to go deep into the emotional aspects of a child with a parent with a mental illness. It shows that a family can look perfect and even successful from the outside and be a mess on the inside. Full of hidden secrets and things that make them ashamed or embarrassed to let other in.

I enjoyed the character development off the main character and the mother. I do feel that the mother could have been more developed but it would have taken away from the younger main character. I enjoyed the writing style and the way the author brought in the love of books and how someone else's notation can bring a familiar story to life in a whole new way.

"The Library of Lost Things" was an interesting novel centering on Darcy Wells, a girl that enjoys life inside of books far more than the life she faces outside of them. This novel had a decent list of quirky characters that the author managed to give some depth to rather than simple, stock characters. Darcy's main dilemma in the book is the secret she hides from all others, save her best friend Marisol, This secret is one her mother creates and perpetuates, leaving Darcy to shoulder responsibilities more in line with an adult than a teenager. I enjoyed the flaws and relatability of the teenage characters and think that other teen readers will as well.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I wanted to like The Library of Lost Things. I really did. I pushed my way through it in the hope of finding a book that surprised me in the end, but I never found what I was looking for.

The book is centered around Darcy, an almost 18 year old senior in high school who works at a bookstore to help support her and her mother due to her mother's hoarding and obsessive shopping. Darcy meets Asher and becomes infatuated with him. I love a good romance with secrets, but that's simply not what I was given.

**Spoilers Below**

It felt hard to root for Darcy and Asher when Asher spent the first 3/4ths (or more) of the book in a relationship with another girl, London. There's a brief scene at the beginning of the book that is meant to vilify the girl, but in reality it's just a drunk teenage girl who says something she shouldn't have. The rest of the book, the reader barely gets to see London. When she's seen, it's because Darcy is watching Asher and London from afar and noting how nice Asher is to London. Sometimes they seem to be arguing, but you never really find out why. (Asher says they just weren't meant to be together. eyeroll) In fact, there's times when Darcy points out how nice and patient London can be, also noting how she's surprised that London can be nice and patient. (Why? There's no reason to assume London isn't nice and patient.)

Darcy is painted as a character who is smart and loves books, and therefore she is different. Instead of feeling genuine, it felt like pandering to readers. At one point, Darcy points out that books are meant to be held and eReaders are lesser. (I rolled my eyes at this as well. I was reading the book on a Kindle, and it felt like I was being chastised by the character.)

Redeeming qualities: Marisol. The book would have been much better if it had been about Darcy's friend Marisol and the unexpected romance she ended up having at the end of the book. I was way more invested in her as a character than I ever was in Darcy.

I did enjoy Asher. He could have easily been a main character as well. I wish the author had dug more into his story with his accident and his relationship with his father following the accident.

This book had so much potential, but it felt like the bulk of the story was fluff and not real character development. So many storylines were introduced that did not have a satisfying ending.

The Library of Lost Things is lovely. I immediately fell in love with Darcy and her BFF Marisol. They’re arty opposites that get each other and activate growth in each other, but don’t try to change each other’s fundamental nature. I appreciate the introvert staying the introvert & no one treating it as the end of the world.

Her Mr. Darcy romance is far more understandable and endearing, which won me over faster than any other Mr.Darcy before.

I’m not a Peter Pan fan, but I’ve never read the book either. Those quotes with the mystery squibbler were interesting and illustrated how whatever book you’re reading affects your life at the time.

THE RUNDOWN:
I love this take on Mr. Darcy’s unpleasantness
The bookstore, its persnickety owner.
The wig shop next door and its owner as well
Tea time dress up breaks
BFFs
Marisol & her fam!
Anxiety attacks
Hoarding, but clean
Accidental disability
High school play – Much Ado About Nothing
Chill parties at the beach and an airplane hanger
Love how the break up & new relationship jump worked out
Reading recommendations at the end!
Great, complex and growing mother daughter relationships
Didn’t see the mystery scribbler reveal coming
Did figure her moms was hiding something, but didn’t affect my reading & enjoyment
Great Rating Graphic

four-stars

Perfect for YA contemporary fans of all ages & kinds. Sweet and understanding romance that blooms with the introverted book nerd heroine.

I found this book eye opening, I knew a few hoarders in my past but never thought about the problems children of theirs would have to go through.

Definitely, for book lovers and teens going through similar issues Darcy has, with a mother whose a hoarder. I found the characters a little one dimensional and maybe a bit predictable. The one character that didn’t seem to disappoint was Marisol, Darcy’s best friend. She was caring, supportive and her mother and family was just as amazing, wish I could have read a bit more about them. I really loved the story between the two besties and how they became so. All I will say is hearts, stars and cupcakes! Asher, Darcy’s love interest was a bit bland and their get together seemed about just as bland.

All in all I did enjoy this story and would look for the author’s future books.

The Library of Lost Things by Laura Taylor Namey is a book all book lovers will relate to. Like many chronic bookworms (myself included), main character Darcy Wells spends most of her mental energy living inside the little worlds of books. Inside this world, she’s safe from her grim reality — a mother who obsessively hoards, a grandmother who is about to cut her off financially, and a new property manager who is trying to nose his way into their house, which will surely lead to eviction. All of these problems need solutions, and with her mother too emotionally crippled to help, all the responsibility falls on Darcy.

Enter Asher Fleet, a recent high school graduate whose dreams of being a pilot were shattered by a car accident that leaves him suffering from migraines and all kinds of health issues. Asher is working for his uncle in construction while he tries to figure out his future, still clinging to the hope that someday he will fly again. He chooses, for some mysterious reason, to start hanging out at the bookstore where Darcy works on his lunch break, and the two grow closer. He’s cute, charming, understanding, and he loves books… but there’s one problem. Darcy has no idea how to talk to boys. She’s read more romances than she can count, but never participated in one. She constantly asks herself, “What would Elizabeth Bennet or Jane Eyre or Anne Shirley do?”

But Darcy’s problem is bigger than just talking to this boy. If she really wants to build a relationship with him, she’s going to have to trust him, and even bigger than that, she’s going to have to let him into her life, mother’s hoard and all.

As a massive booklover myself, I related to this book so hard. Throughout this novel, Darcy has to go through what all book lovers eventually need to face: how do I live my life outside the pages of a book? Darcy escapes the hardships of life through books, she learns how to act through books, and she is never without a book in her hand. She breathes other people’s stories. And there’s nothing wrong with that, but eventually you have to put down the book and live your own story. What I loved about this book in particular was that even after Darcy starts to participate in her own life more and reads less, she never stops reading. Books have become a secondary part of her life, but they will always be a key part.

Another thing to love about this book are the great characters and great relationships. The romance is adorable and fun while still being deeply vulnerable. Every book-loving girl deserves an Asher. Darcy’s best friend, Marisol, is a true gem. She comes from a big half-Mexican, half-Cuban family that just leaps off the page, and Marisol’s personality is even bigger, but what I really love about her is how much love and support she gives to Darcy. The two are complete opposites, but they fit together perfectly. My favorite relationship, however, was between Darcy and her mother. Seeing Darcy struggle to deal with her mother broke my heart. Despite how hard it is for Darcy to juggle trying to make money and deal with her mom’s hoarding while still being a teenager, she refuses to leave her mom, which I relate to, and I felt like it was such an honest portrayal of family.

If you love contemporaries about honest, painful, but heartwarming relationships and dealing with mental illness and trauma, this story is for you. It will make you laugh and smile, but it will also make your heart ache. Even if you are not a book lover, I promise you will love it, but if you are, it just makes it even better.

RATING: 3.5/5 STARS

This is a cute novel that digs deep into topics that I haven't seen addressed much in YA (e.g. hoarding disorder, post-concussive syndrome). I really loved the author's writing style - it was very descriptive and unique. The main characters were likable and the romance between them was very sweet. As a fellow bookworm, the classic literary references sprinkled throughout were a nice touch. I overall enjoyed this read, although the pacing felt a little slow for me towards the end,

A sincere thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for providing an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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This is a perfect contemporary read, especially if you love books! I loved everything about this book! I loved the writing! The writing is just so beautiful! I loved getting to read about a mother and daughter relationship. The characters are very well written and perfectly flawed and relatable. This book has become and new favorite and I really think you should read it!