Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the e-arc.
Wow. What a beautiful, and beautifully written, story. You would think from the description that it might be sad, but it really isn't. It's life affirming. It's hopeful. It's uplifting. It's romantic, even though I'm not sure I would classify is as romance. It shows the true essence of friendships. If you've haven''t read Lia Louis yet, grab this book. If you have read her other books, this is by far her best yet. You will finish it with a smile on your face.

This is so far my favorite Lia Louis book! It’s even better than Dear Emmie Blue! It’s so sentimental, genuine, heart warming with it’s realistic, lovely characterization, promising plot with honest approach to sensitive subjects. The author just played a magical symphony with the strings of our hearts. She knows how to touch the souls with her powerful words.

I wanted to give hugs to Natalie and tell her everything is gonna be all right at each chapter.
Here’s the recap of the plot;

Natalie Fincher is having a problem to move on with her life, living in a wrecked cottage needs a lot of restorations as the horny foxes outside giving her sleepless nights.

Two and half years ago, her husband had an accident. She kept playing piano in the hospital to connect with him when he was in coma. It worked! He came back. But then…she lost him forever.

Now she’s stuck in a house she’s planned to rebuild with her husband and she cannot sell the place because guilt feelings to say goodbye to a place she bottled up memories are eating her inside.

Her plans to create a musical with her best friend has failed after they fell apart.

One day when she waits for the train at St. Pancras station, she sees a piano. Suddenly she gathers her courage to play it without thinking any further. And it turns into her routine to play the piano on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and heading to coffee shop close to the station to chat with lovely owner Shauna.

One day she finds sheet music left for her next to the piano. That is not regular sheet, that is her husband’s favorite song. As the days go by she finds more sheets related with their marriage and their happy times. Could her husband try to connect with her? Could someone close to the couple be involved in this?

As Natalie conducts her own investigation about the mysterious person who is leaving the sheets, she finds herself bumping into charming photographer Tom she’s met in the bar and befriending the Notebook Guy she’s seen at Shauna’s coffee shop.

She slowly realizes the life is full of surprises but if she wants to embrace them, she has to learn how to let go and give herself time to heal!

I loved the revelation about the big mystery and the romance parts! Especially the last gesture at the end made me cry so hard!

It absolutely deserves my musical, poetic, photographic five stars!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for sharing this incredible digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

A slow burn with a sweet romance. This is a heart warming and comforting book and I absolutely loved it

A heartwarming and comforting read. The Key to My Heart is a sweet slow-burn romance. It is also a moving story of a young widow learning to love life again.

Natalie’s husband died two and a half years ago and she is still struggling. One thing that seems to cheer her up slightly is playing piano though she only seems able to play the public one near St. Pancras station. Soon, Natalie discovers sheet music at the piano seemingly left for her—ones that have special meaning to her and her husband. This sparks some hope and happiness in her. As she searches for the mystery person leaving music for her she begins to open up, reconnects with her friends, and makes new ones along the way.

This is a beautiful story and features one of the most thoughtful and romantic “grand gestures” I’ve ever read. If you are already a fan of Lia Louis’s work, you will not be disappointed. And if you haven’t read her work yet—what are you waiting for?! I loved Dear Emmie Blue and think The Key to My Heart is her most charming story yet. A must-read if you are a fan of (British) romance novels, slow-burn relationships, and stories of resilience and renewed hope. 4.5 stars.

Thank you very much to Atria Books for the opportunity to read an ARC via NetGalley. This is my voluntary and honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.
Isn’t it a Lia Louis book if I don’t cry and cry I did. This book broke my heart and put it back together in the best way. Is not a romantic story but is a love story with a dash of romance. It’s about Natalie finding herself after the unexpected loss of her husband and is absolutely beautiful. Lia Louis truly have a gift with words.

Slow burn with a sweet romance that left a song in my heart.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was a great romance! Loved the slow build up, cute banter, and felt myself rooting for the characters. First but not my last from this author- would recommend to all romance lovers!

This book is a perfect snuggle under a blanket read. There were tears and laughter and I really enjoy the way Lia Louis writes. This is the story of Natalie, who lost her husband two years ago in a tragic accident. Natalie is stuck with her grief and spends time visiting him frequently and stopping to play piano in a train station. Mysteriously, sheet music is being left for her and the songs are important to her relationship with her husband, Russ. Natalie has to figure out how to keep moving in her life and the mystery of the music is a catalyst to her moving forward. I loved her "old" friendships and I adored her new friendship with Tom, right from their first meeting. Louis covers a variety of issues and emotions with this story. An enjoyable read Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

A story about a young woman pianist, Natalie, who lost her husband, Ross,, in a tragic bike accident, and is still coping with the loss 2 years after his death.. With the help of 2 new friends, Joe and Tom, her love of piano, and her music therapy, Natalie is finally ready to try to fall in love again and begin a new life..

The Key to My Heart is like a big warm hug on a chilly day. All of Louis's books feel like the perfect winter book to curl up by the fire, watch the snow fall, and cozy up with each page. In my eyes, Lia Louis can do no wrong! Ever since I read the very first page of Dear Emmie Blue I have been a fan work. Her follow up Eight Perfect Hours was amazing and this book definitely follows suit. Louis's books pack a punch with so much heart, emotion, and love. & personally, I love love! The characters always feel realistic, not at all cheesy, and leave you feeling hopeful and happy by the end.

The Key to My Heart introduces us to Natalie Fincher. Natalie experiences extreme loss after her husband is in a tragic accident. She slowly begins to rebuild her life but everything is a reminder of him and she is stalled out and unable to move on. Everyone in her life is worried about her and trying their best to help but music seems to be the only outlet where she is able to find peace. Each Tuesday and Thursday Natalie plays piano at the train station as a form of therapy for herself and truly thinks nobody else is even paying attention. That is until music pages begin showing up in the piano bench. & not just any music, songs that are significant and specific to her deceased husband, Russ. Natalie sets out to find who is leaving the music sheets and why. In doing so opens herself up to the thoughts of a new life, new love, and also the possibly of heartbreak when she finds out the truth.

This story was definitely a slow burn and is not all sunshine and rainbows, but the author is able to write about tough subjects with such hope. I loved all the supporting characters, full of quick wit, sarcasm, and genuine care for Natalie.

Thank you to Atria/ Emily Bestler Books & NetGalley for an ARC of The Key to My Heart in exchange for my honest review. 4.5 stars