This book reminds me of a modern-day Breakfast Club, but with adults and a book club instead of detention. Arthur, an old curmudgeon and lover of books, forms an unlikely bond with a young librarian, Sloane. He is a man who likes to keep to himself. When he doesn’t show up to the library for a few days, Sloane grows concerned and can’t help but track him down and make sure he’s ok. Much to his chagrin, she shows up to his home to discover he is very unwell. Before he knows what’s happened, she is helping to care for him along with a diverse cast of characters (some there by their own choosing, some not so much) and they’ve also formed a bookclub. Arthur is thoroughly irritated by it all…or so he’d have you think 😉

This is a very heartwarming tale about love (parental/romantic/friendship). It is also about loss, second chances, books ❤️ and more! It’s a lovely story that celebrates life - its messes, heartaches, triumphs and everything in between.

Read if you enjoy:
❤️ Curmudgeons
❤️ Literary References Galore
❤️ Unlikely Friendships
❤️ Book Clubs
❤️ Multiple POV
❤️ Strong FMC

Fits well into the grumpy-older-person-finding-community genre, although Arthur has significantly more of a bite which persists throughout the story. There are some nice observations about the power of literature, and the different perspectives were interesting, but did leave me wishing that perhaps they had alternated more throughout the book instead of stopping completely after each section; I think that might have led to my feeling like I didn’t quite connect with everyone (although Maisie was my favorite) and that things at the end were a touch unfinished, although the latter does have something to do with the pacing in terms of introducing the plotline about Arthur’s backstory at a point which felt relatively late. A somewhat less heartwarming but perhaps more realistic companion to A Man Called Ove or The Reading List.

The Lonely Hearts Book Club is exactly the book you expect it to be, which is to say, it's about a quasi ragtag group of weird loners who find community with one another, and books. It's not bad -- not by any stretch -- but it is predictable, which might feel like "bad" for some readers. It reads like a Hallmark Christmas movie, minus the Christmas miracle--the kind of book you can give to your mother-in-law for Mother's Day, and she'll think you really took the time to choose something special.

Angie Kane did an incredible job narrating the audiobook. She shows off a huge range of tone, color, and accent; if Arthur's voice was slightly cartoonish, it's only because he is ostensibly the old man from Up! in literary form.

I enjoyed a few aspects of this book - the narrator being one of them. Easy to listen to and pick up on each chapter who was speaking. However, I did really think it would have been easier if it was a multiple voiced cast. There was excellent representation of different types of relationships, as well. Unfortunately, by about the 70% mark I grew bored - it was much longer than it needed to be. Reminds me a little bit of "The Guernsey Literary and the Potato Peel Pie Society."

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. I enjoyed the storyline more than I enjoyed the characters, but because of this I finished the book. I found both women to be so incredibly negative and very weak that it wasn’t endearing to listen to them complain about how they couldn’t stick up for themselves over and over again. It felt like a very very cheesy A Man Called Ove.

Anyway, this is pretty light hearted but ends abruptly. Was just okay to me.

Sloane Parker is a librarian in a small town. She doesn't have a lot to look forward to, but for some reason, she looks forward to seeing the old curmudgeon Arthur McLachlan coming in daily to browse the shelves and cheerfully insult her. Their sparring is such a highlight of Sloane's day that when Arthur doesn't show up one morning, she's instantly concerned. Several days pass with no signs of Arthur, and when Sloane goes to find his address in the system, her boss tells her to drop it or she is fired. But Sloane can't drop it. So she goes by his house to discover him all but bedridden...and desperately struggling to hide how happy he is to see her. Wanting to bring more cheer into Arthur's gloomy life, Sloane creates an impromptu book club. Slowly, the lonely misfits of their sleepy town begin to find each other and, in their book club, the joy of unlikely friendship—because, as it turns out, everyone has a special book in their heart...and a reason to get lost (and eventually found) within the pages.
This book was so good. I am always up for any book about books, libraries, bookstores, etc. so this was perfect for me. I loved the cast of characters that came together for Sloane's book club, and I really enoyed how grumpy Arthur was. Each person in the group had a "lesson" they needed to learn, and the group helped each other in learning that lesson and becoming the best version of themselves. The narration was really good with this book. I definitely recommend this one!

Sloan Parker is a quiet, predictable Librarian. That is until she begins sparring with the cantankerous Arthur McLachlan. Arthur is a known patron in the library who takes joy in tearing others down and being genuinely miserable. Sloan and Arthur forge a routine of daily sparring that Sloan comes to enjoy in an odd way. After several days of not seeing Arthur at the library, Sloan begins to fear something terrible has happened to the miserable old man. She tracks down where Arthur lives and discovers he is completely by himself and nearly bedridden. Determined to see that he is taken care of, Sloan becomes a sort of caregiver. Soon others in the neighborhood begin to join the unlikely pair. After a little while this newly formed group create a book club. The club leads to friendship and the small group comes to realize how much of a family they truly have become and how love is hidden in the books inside Arthur's home. This is a story of friendship, loss, and love. A story you won't want to put down.

The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore Pays Homage to Friendships Around Books!

Sloane Parker is a friendless librarian at the Coeur d'Alene Public Library and Arthur McLachlan is the crotchety old gentleman who she counts on each day promptly at 10:30 AM.

Arthur peruses the shelves for books but mostly he tosses insults and barbs at Sloane. She takes pleasure in her artful deflection of these taunts along with his consistent visits.

When Arthur fails to show up at the library for several days, Sloane becomes concerned and takes matters into her own hands, even if it means putting her job at risk.

What she discovers is Arthur in terrible shape, pretending he's not happy to see her, and firing his caregiver. What to do?

Based on Arthur's love of books and to push much needed light into his dark frame of mind, Sloane creates a book club and Maisey, Arthur's concerned, lonely neighbor, offers to help whether Arthur likes the idea OR NOT...

What could be better than a book that pays homage to friendships around books? The feelings it gives a book lover, like me, who reads it and feels like she's found her people inside the covers!

The Lonely Hearts Book Club has great character building and I love how the author allows each book club member to narrate their own backstory and point-of-view. It's a great way for readers to get acquainted with this eclectic mix of introverts who have a love of books in common. What brings them together is the desire to help and what keeps them together are the books and friendships.

This is one of those books where you just can't help feeling connected to each of the characters. But I have to tell you, my very favorite is grumpy old Arthur. He has such a great backstory and I have a special place in my heart for octogenarians, especially the challenging ones. This gentleman definitely has my heart!

I enjoyed listening to the audiobook narrated by Angie Kane, whose gender voicing was a bit muddled, but resulted in a great experience overall and I would definitely listen to one of her narrations again.

I love and highly recommend The Lonely Hearts Book Club to book lovers everywhere!

4.5 Book Club Stars!

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Lucy Gilmore for an ALC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.

A well written, heartwarming, engrossing novel that tugs at your heart strings. The characters are well developed and likable, making this a difficult book to put down. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire story and could not put it down.
Thank you, #netgalley and #dreams capemedia, for the advanced copy.
#thelonelyheartsbook

Thank you to NetGalley, Lucy Gilmore & Dreamscape Media for an audio arc of The Lonely Hearts Book Club in exchange for an honest review. This review is wholly my own & may not be reproduced.

This heartwarming story revolves around Sloan who is the librarian in her small town. The highlight of her day is when Arthur, a cranky old man comes into the library to swap jabs with her. Only when Arthur stops showing up, Sloane begins to get worried and searches for him only to find him almost bedridden. When she realizes how happy Arthur is to see her, she discovers that he’s as lonely as she has been, so she begins a book club for all of the lonely people in their little town.

This was a super heartwarming book that will give you all the feels. Very well written with plenty of quirk and humor making it very unique. Told from multiple POV, you will absolutely fall in love with the cast of characters that Lucy Gilmore has flawlessly written.

Releasing tomorrow (3/28/2023)!!! Definitely grab a copy and curl up and get cozy because this one will tug at your heartstrings!

4.5/5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC audio copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This is such a cute, quirky, and quaint story that I absolutely adored! The story is absolutely heartwarming, and one that I will continue to think about for a very long time! I fell in love with each of the characters: Sloane, Maisey, Arthur, Greg, Matteo, and Nigel.

Sloane is a librarian who absolutely loves her job, has a quiet life, is a little lonely even though she is engaged to Brett, a chiropractor. She is rather quiet and tends to run from any confrontation- that is until she meets Arthur McLachlan. Arthur is a cranky, grumpy, and frankly, a rude old man who is a daily library patron. Arthur comes into the library every day at the same time; he and Sloane develop a routine where Arthur insults her and Sloane (to everyone’s surprise) dishes back responses that she knows will annoy him. This may not sound enjoyable, but Sloane looks forward to it and even Arthur seems to perk up around Sloane.

After some time away from the library, she comes back and realizes on the first day that she hasn’t seen Arthur come in. Her co-workers inform her that he hasn’t been in for a little while. Sloane doesn’t know why, but she is worried sick about Arthur. Where is he and what happened to him?

The story that follows is character driven, and an absolutely beautiful tale of friendship and love. Lucy Gilmore did a fantastic job of building realistic characters that feel like some of your best friends. I found that I genuinely missed them when I was finished the book!

This is a solid 4.5 star book for me; I loved learning about the diverse cast of characters, reading the sarcastic and witty remarks, and feeling all the sentimental feelings the book evokes. The audiobook was also very well narrated! I found myself wrapped up in the story from start to finish. If you love a book about books that is character driven – you will not regret picking this up!

This book was absolutely delightful. As someone that has worked in multiple libraries, I understand the attachment you get to patrons. Sloane's worry for Arthur and Mateo's fear of Arthur are spot on to feelings that are common to those working in libraries. But the true hook of this book is the group of misfits - Sloane , Maisey, Arthur, Greg, Matteo, Nigel all coming together and finding common ground through books while simultaneously healing each other. The tackle raising teenage daughters, love, family history, and broken hearts.

I highly recommend this book. Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an eARC of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

This is a heart-warming read which illustrates the power of literature to bring people together and create powerful and life-changing friendships.
The author presents an eclectic bunch of flawed yet endearing characters who are all influenced by the books they read. Secrets are revealed, losses acknowledged and wounds healed through the friendships established within the inter-generational book club.
A very enjoyable read which was also very well presented by the narrator in the audible version of the text.
I am grateful to Net Galley and the publishers for an ARC of this book.

The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore
Women’s fiction. Contemporary. Multiple POV’s.
A group of individuals create a bookclub to help an elderly man recover from a health issue. As they read and discuss literature, they add a few new members and become involved with each other’s lives. Each gets something different from the experience as they build friendships, and become support and trusted, made family.

The book starts with Sloan, the librarian that traded quips with Arthur and realizes he hasn’t been into the library for a few days. The story switches to each of the characters from their point of view and ends back at Sloan.

🎧 I listened to an audiobook version of this book, narrated by Angie Kane. The performance was clear and modulated well. You have to listen closely for POV changes. They are announced with the character name before chapter titles at 7, 16, 22, 28 and 33. It’s pretty clear when there has been a change simply by the conversation, but I did have to backup and verify a couple of times. The narrator does a great job with Sloan and Arthur, however when we get to Mateo, I was still hearing “Sloan” when it was the boyfriend instead. There are distinct voices for the main characters. Secondary characters, caused me some confusion.

I admired Sloan for her compassion and her ignoring Arthur’s actual words to look beyond for what he is really saying. She is the glue to the group.
Enjoyable and thought provoking. What people say is not always straightforward or even what they actually mean.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media.

The Lonely Hearts Book Club is a quiet story following a group on unlikely friends. Sloane is a librarian who lost her sister in childhood, Arthur is a grumpy man with strong opinions on literature. When Arthur stops coming by, a worried Sloane seeks him out. This event leads to the formation of a book club where each individual finds that there are people who care about them in the world.

I really liked this one! The audiobook narrator was absolutely fantastic. The different voices suited the characters’ ages and personalities so well. The dialogue between them was done very well. I was engaged throughout the entire story.

As for the plot itself, I really did enjoy the concept of Sloane’s story. I was surprised when we got to hear everyone else in the book club’s perspectives too but it offered up different insights. The exploration of different types of grief, different types of loneliness was well balanced and what really made the book shine. It also visited topics of life purpose. I think for all that it encompasses, it can reach a wide and diverse audience. It is very slow paced. Folks who are trying to find a path in life or those who have already fulfilled theirs and are wondering what’s next.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this audiobook! I am a bit surprised at the mixed reviews because I thought the narrator did well differentiating the characters. The character development was done well and the drawing in of the characters into the final relationships that develop was done in a way where you don’t realize at first that you’re being drawn in and the circle is getting tighter. A non-traditional group of friends that didn’t know how much they need each other comes together through a common love of reading. Books are used as a tool to open communication between people who struggle with expressing feelings which I loved. I also enjoyed the changing perspectives so we could see the development of the story through the eyes of all the main players. I wish NetGalley had an option for partial stars because I tend to reserve 5 stars for those books that are just life changing amazing but I feel this one deserves more than “just” a 4 star!

I love a good curmudgeon and Arthur McLachlan was spectacular! I laughed out loud several times at his crankiness but my heart also broke for him. In addition to Arthur, I absolutely loved the unique collection of characters. The narrator was outstanding and really captured each character’s personality. I tend to enjoy books about books and book clubs and this one was really special.

I listened to The Lonely Hearts Book Club (thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media). The narration was okay but I think listeners would benefit with at least one additional narrator - a male one. With the numerous characters there were times I was taken out of the story wondering who was speaking. It's an interesting story of how the past forms one's future. Recommended to readers who love books about books, mildly quirky characters, some over-the-top situations, and the possibility of changing your path in life.

Sloane Parker is a librarian in a small town. She’s quiet and caring, with a sassy streak and a reliable (but boring) fiancée. Arthur McLauchlan is a retired professor and regular library patron. While most staff run when Arthur comes in, Sloane looks forward to his visits and their sparring over books. When Arthur fails to appear, Sloane worries and checks in on him at home, despite being told it was against library policy. After throwing out several home health nurses, Sloane takes over Arthur’s care. She is helped by Arthur’s neighbor, Maisey, a lonely phone psychic, and Arthur’s estranged grandson, Greg. They form the Lonely Hearts Book Club as a way to spend time looking after Arthur. Mateo, Sloane’s co-worker and Nigel, a charming book reviewer, join the book group.

Although a bit predictable, the story does bring this unlikely group together. Alternating the story’s point of view between the various characters helps bring more depth to each of them and Angie Kane does a great job of giving each character a unique voice.

Readers looking for a light, fun read will enjoy this heartwarming book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for providing this audiobook for review consideration. All opinions are mine.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an audio ARC of Lucy Gilmore’s THE LONELY HEARTS BOOK CLUB.

A lonely librarian bringing together misfits for a soul reviving bookclub is totally my cup of tea…. BUT… this just wasn’t.

I tried to finish this audiobook (I really did!!). Despite coming back to it repeatedly, I just couldn’t get over how blah Sloane is and how incredibly rude and annoying Arthur is. Maybe they both get better as the story progresses, but I just couldn’t muster the interest to find out.

Some of my issue with the story may have been narration related (not the actual narrator, as she was totally fine) - the way she characterized Sloane and Arthur (and the voice she gives Matteo) irritated me (a lot!).

The book release date is March 28th, so maybe I’ll revisit as an ebook and come back to try to really rate and review properly.

DNF but NetGalley requires a rating, so rating is reflective of my experience with the story and narration.