A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I thought the story was interesting, but it felt a little slow paced. I didn't feel too connected to the characters outside of the fmc either.

I am not familiar with the author but sometimes in a reading lull I hit request or read now to boost me out of the reading lull.

And this was a lovely boost. A lovely tale of love lost, secrets and friendships. Particularly the friendship between Claire Shelton an independent young woman and Hanna Reeves whose library we explore. And the lives that are enriched and changed by the unlikely friendship between the two women.

This is a lovely gentle novel that you will come away feeling all warm and cosy inside.

I rate this book 2.5/5 stars, rounded up to 3.

While some might enjoy this book, my main reasons for the low rating were:
- The library in the title isn't even hinted at for about a third of the book, and even when it appears, it's not really central to the story (something she found in it was, but that could have been found elsewhere without changing the story). I felt like the title was manipulative, used to grab the eyes of people who enjoy library/book-focused stories.
- The plot felt contrived because main character hardly had to do anything to move it along (e.g. someone reached out to tell her about the rumored library, and then when she went to ask a friend about it, there just HAPPENED to be someone nearby who knew the whole story and was able to fill her in)
- I often didn't find the main character consistent (e.g. talking about having learned to dress/act the part for her job and then quickly turning around and acting in inappropriate ways with no provocation)
- The main character's passionate feelings about various things (e.g. not wanting to stay at the mansion in the beginning) seemed unfounded.

In theory, this should have been the kind of book I really enjoy, but unfortunately it just didn't do it for me. Perhaps it will have a different effect on others.

I do appreciate the opportunity to read a digital ARC in advance of publication, though!

I started reading this book at the time I needed a read pick me up and it did really did help with my book slump. It was a perfect combination of well pacing but at the same time the happenings weren’t too much to overwhelm a reader or give too much to get confusing. I was able to finish the book in two days and felt satisfied with the end.

Though as a librarian I advise against judging a book by its title, in this case, the title was absolutely what drew me toward this book, and the book itself didn’t disappoint. From the antiques, to the history of the setting/house, to the complex interpersonal relationships, there was always something to keep you reading.

Historical fiction is not typically my go-to genre, but this novel was very well written and the characters seemed realistic and relatable, despite the historical setting. I would recommend this book to someone looking for a general fiction with a touch of mystery, even if they are not typically a reader of historical books.

I received an ARC from NetGalley.

The Secret Library of Hannah Reeves by Christine Nolfi is an immersive novel that takes readers on a journey through the intertwined lives of Claire Shelton and Hannah Reeves. Set in the early 1970s, the story follows Claire, an antiques dealer who finds herself drawn into the enigmatic world of Hanna, the aging heiress to a legendary Maine family, after she’s hired to catalog her vast collection of stunning antiques.

Being a passionate reader myself, and also a fan of Historical Fiction, this book immediately piqued my interest. With a story rich in history and shrouded in mystery, it had all the makings of an amazing novel. Unfortunately, for me it missed mark. It was a little slow in the beginning, and just when I thought it might pick up about halfway through, it continued to move at a snails pace. I was hoping for some kind of twist, anything to make the slow burn of the story make sense, but it just never happened.

While this book is very character-driven, something I really love in any novel, I feel like I learned so much about the characters, but was kept at arms length and never really got the know them for real. I also felt a little disappointed in the ending. While Christine Nolfi is no doubt a fantastic writer and storyteller, The Secret Library of Hannah Reeves just wasn’t as exciting as I had hoped.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me to read the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I'm so happy I had the chance to read this historical fiction book. A book about a secret library sounded right up my alley, and once I started reading, I knew I was going to like it. The plot and characters were so well done.

Claire works as an antiques appraiser at an antique shop in Maine. Hanna, who's now in her 80’s, is the heiress of the state's most well known shipbuilders and industrialists. Claire is asked to catalog and appraise all of the heirlooms at Hanna's Rose Hill estate, but they also want her to live there until the job is complete. With reluctance, she accepts. Once there, Claire and Hanna start off not on the best terms, but as the story goes on, they end up developing a friendship. Claire stumbled upon the mansion's hidden library, and it is everything she could possibly imagine and holds so many amazing treasures, along with the family's journals that have so much of this estate's secrets and history written in them.

We get the timeline in the 70’s, and the flashbacks into Hanna's life in the early 1900s. I enjoyed reading about Hanna's past and about all of the other staff at the estate. They all played a role in this story and I really enjoyed it. It did take the story a little bit to build up, but once it got going, I was captivated. I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future.

Thank you to the publisher, Suzy approved book tours and the author for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

The Secret Library of Hanna Reeves by Christine Nolfi is such a wonderful book that I really enjoyed.
I live in Maine and I was so pleased to see the book was set in Maine.

Clare Shelton is an antiques dealer at a Maine antique store. Her job is to inventory the antiques of Hanna River that are in her home. Hanna insists that Clare lives there while she does this task. She's not thrilled about that but agrees to it.

Clare starts to get excited when she discovers there is a secret library somewhere in the estate.
Like many of us, Clare is an avid reader and this excites her.

The story spans in the past through the present. There are some twists and turns that I wasn't expecting.

The story is like a warm hug, and I absolutely LOVED this story! I loved all the treasures that were found, both physically and emotionally!

The secret Library of Hanna Reeves; if I could I would give this beautiful story written by Christine Nolfi 10 stars. This story is full of mystery, history, intrigue, and inspiration. It’s kind of a coming of age for the character Claire.. an unlikely bond is forged after so much judgement preconceived perception that Hannah and Claire have for one another. This is why you should never judge a book by its cover for you never know what you will find about them and yourself when you crack it open. I loved the dance between Claire’s time (1973) and Hanna’s (1915). I don’t want to spoil this wonderful story giving away to many Secrets; they are for you the reader to find and discover how special this story is to read. Thank you once again Christine Nolfi for giving me the honor to early read and give my thoughts.

I thought this one was a good one overall it was interesting and kept me engaged throughout Thanks throughout. Thanks for sharing this book with me Netgalley and the publisher

Hanna Reeve's seemingly charmed life is full of more tragedy and heartbreak than it appears. Though wealth and prestige has never been a problem, the young Claire discovers that you cannot judge a book by its cover. As the author provides flashbacks and town gossip on the elderly Hanna's life, readers become more acquainted with both the narrator Claire and her hiring counterpart, finding that they are more alike than not.

While this book had its small town mystery charms, some of the pacing felt a bit slow and failed to build the necessary climactic elements of the plot. For those who prefer a more nuanced or subtle approach to literature, with in-depth character development, and a nod to the nostalgic 70's, this could be a read for you.

A book about books? What more can this reader ask for?!?!

The Secret Library of Hanna Reeves by Christine Nolfi is a heartwarming, beautifully layered story that captivated me from the moment I began it. As someone lucky enough to receive an ARC, I was totally immersed in the plot by the blend of mystery, history, and emotional depth woven through this novel.

Set against the charming backdrop of coastal Maine, the story follows Claire Shelton, an antiques dealer whose life takes an unexpected turn when she’s invited to catalog the belongings of the reclusive Hanna Reeves. What she discovers is the hidden library at Rose Hill is housing more than just books, it’s keeping secrets of a long-buried family history, healing, and hope.

Nolfi’s writing flows stunningly yet it is grounded, with characters who feel real, relatable, and richly developed. The evolving relationship between Claire and Hanna is especially moving—a beautiful exploration of how friendship can blossom across generations and help heal old wounds. At times, it's pretty funny too! I loved Hanna.

This is a story for book lovers, family-story seekers, and anyone who believes in the power of the past to shape our future. I’m so grateful to have read this early, and I’ll be recommending it to everyone I know when it releases!

Claire Shelton is requisitioned from her antiques company by reclusive Hanna Reeves to catalogue her entire collection of antiques and objets d’arte. Claire is convinced it’s going to be long, boring and annoying summer spent in the carriage house of Hanna‘s mansion grounds.
However, she is stunned by the beauty of the grounds, some of the wonderful staff and the intriguing stories she hears about a hidden library within the mansion itself. Claire sets about trying to work out where the Library is and why it’s so secret.
It’s a domestic and community mystery, a lovely relaxing read for me.
Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to have read this ahead of propagation and exchange for an honest review

Who doesn't love a secret library? Especially one that has the power to reunite people after decades. Enjoyable story that keeps you reading.

When Claire receives an invitation to the home of Hanna Reeves, she’s beyond excited. As an antiques dealer, she knows that Hanna’s palatial family home is filled with history. So when Hanna offers her the job of cataloging generations of family heirlooms and then preparing them for auction, she’s beyond excited. Then she begins to hear rumors of something more…a secret, hidden library filled with rare books. Is it true or just another small town rumor? And how will she find out without alienating her employer? This was a good, solid story for me. It offers a glimpse into bygone eras and gives the reader a view into Hanna’s past. And of course along the way Claire discovers some things about herself.

Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Christine Nolfi delivered with The Secret Library of Hanna Reeves. When Claire is tasked with cataloging the treasures at Hanna Reeves estate, there are secrets and other fun things hidden away. I found the relationship between Hanna and Claire to be amazing and thought that the book was well written. If I could give 3.5 stars I would just didn't love it enough to reach the 4.

Really good book that i will recommend to others.

Thanks for the opportunity to read & review it.

I loved being immersed in this beautiful story of discovery. It felt like a grown up version of The Secret Garden only with a secret library hidden away in a historic mansion, instead of a garden. Add in found family, a bit of romance, and a young woman who, while digging into the secrets of other people's past -- discovers new truths about herself. A little bird tell me the author is planning a sequel - can't wait!

Characters felt very flat. There was a huge cast of secondary characters that by the end we felt expected to adore and love but their characterization hadn't been established at all. The introduction of lore and plot points felt really late at times.