Claire and Hanna have two very different personalities and from the start they had their disagreements. I loved how much the staff respected Hanna and how they were like family. I really liked Claire and her job. She took it seriously but was also a curious person that could get her in trouble. I also would want to search for a library if I heard there was one so I can’t fault her for that. The way the past was revealed came at the right moments to help Claire understand Hanna better and added some emotion. Friendships between generations are always heartwarming to me and this was no exception. I can’t wait to see where the next book goes.

Thank you @christinenolfi @suzyapprovedbooktours for the gifted copy.

Set in the 1970's Hannah Reeves a daughter of a wealthy merchant - is in her 80's... Rose Hill has always been her home... but is falling into disrepair. She makes a decision to sell some of her antique furniture - stored in the attic after a leak.

Claire Shelton - grew up with her grandfather, her parents young teenagers died just after she was born and is tasked to write the inventory of the antiques by her employers for the sale.

There are rumours that Hannah's father built her a secret library... Claire is determined to find it.

A story - showing money is not everything... and the love of books is a wonderful trait.

I love books about books and libraries and this one was really special. Hannah Reeves was extraordinary in so many ways - - wise beyond her years after losing her mother at a young age, incredibly brave, and a protective daughter who became the heiress of a large household made up of a "found family." Claire was also a wonderful character and I loved her determined spirit. We should all be so blessed to have a grandparent as loving as Pete was to Claire. Their unique relationship tugged hard at my heartstrings. Christine’s writing was wonderfully descriptive as always and I could clearly picture Hannah’s estate and her beloved secret library.

A Beautifully written mysterious historical fiction noVel that takes place mostly during the 1970s. the author does a great job of trANsporting us to other points in timE and different character perspectives to add depth and a seamless connection to the story!

Rest assured, The author has confirmed she is writing a sequel!

“The Secret Library of Hanna Reeves” is by Christine Nolfi. I have really mixed feelings about this book. While it’s set in the early 1970s, I’m not 100% sure why it was set then - other than to have a person born in the late 1800s maybe? I liked the mystery of where the library was located - the information about the house and trying to find the library was really interesting. But once the library was found - for me the story didn’t hold together as well. The mystery was solved - here’s this new plot twist, which wasn’t really a plot twist. While I understand the open ending of the book (though I do wonder if a sequel might be the reason), it really felt awkward and abrupt. I wanted to know more in this book - more about Claire’s employers, more about what happened to the antiques once with her employers, did the local community rally together enabling the house and Hanna to live there longer together? So many unanswered questions - thus why the question of a sequel. I loved the beginning half of this book - but after the discovery of the library it just became uninteresting. The romance felt like it was there to be there, the family mysteries felt thrown in, and the local paper reporter felt really underused after such a strong promise. I wanted to enjoy this book from start to finish and, instead, it wasn’t as strong all the way through as I had hoped. 3.5 stars, rounded down due to the factors mentioned above.

The Secret Library of Hanna Reeves was a surprisingly heartwarming story about a lovable elderly woman, Hanna, and a young woman, Claire, finding family in each other. The story is set in 1974 but told across the years and from different points of view. I actually didn’t care too much for the main character, Claire, but loved all the other main and supporting characters. There were several hidden nuggets that surprised me along the way. I very much enjoyed this read.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this book to review.

This was a fun historical romance novel, and I enjoyed it a lot. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

The Secret Library of Hanna Reeves
by Christine Nolfi
Pub Date: Jun 24 2025

Cautious Claire Shelton, employee at a Maine antique shop, is surprised when she’s recruited to catalog the treasures of reclusive Hanna Reeves, sole descendant of the state’s most colorful shipbuilders and industrialists. Hanna’s retreat from society years ago is just one of many mysteries behind the walls of Rose Hill, her fabled estate.

Settling into Rose Hill’s carriage house, Claire finds Hanna, nearing eighty, to be a still-formidable woman. She’s demanding, judgmental, and protective of a mansion that is a veritable shrine to her ancestors. Then, diving into her work, Claire discovers a hidden library that is the stuff of legend among locals. An avid booklover, Claire is in heaven. More enthralling are Hanna’s leather-bound family journals that open Claire up to the past—and soon forge a rich and unexpected bond between two very different women.

A legacy is coming to light. All of Maine is talking. Because the revelations in the journals are enlightening enough to unite old friends, lovers, and families. And shocking enough to tear them apart forever.

A story about books, history, and beautiful writing, that’s the perfect combination for me.
This one captivated me from the very first pages: family secrets, an old mansion, and the power of friendship.
I loved watching the connection grow between Claire and Hanna, two very different women brought together by a long-buried legacy.
I’ve read previous books by this author, and this story reminded me exactly why I love her writing; warm, layered, and quietly powerful.

Set in the 1970’s, Claire is tasked with cataloging a heiress’s house, one that has been shrouded in mystery for many years. The book is a great read especially the second half of the book. I loved the flashbacks into Hanna’s history. Hanna is a strong woman who sees something in Claire but at first Claire does not see who Hanna is. If you love reading about hidden books, secrets, and people who are more than they seem, you will love this book.

First off, excited that the author noted there will be a sequel on Goodreads.

Claire Shelton, works at a Maine antique shop. She gets the opportunity of her life, when a reclusive lady Hanna Reeves wants her to catalog her treasures. Hanna has been a recluse at her estate Rose Hill.

Claire gets to move into the carriage house and realizes Hanna is very demanding and has her vision on how to save the treasures of her ancestors which were shipbuilders and industrialists.

Claire discovers a hidden library which enable her to read the family journals which will give her insight to their world.

Charming, interesting and a story line which kept me engaged. Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours and the author Nolfi for the advanced copy.

Christine Nolfi has written an intriguing, memorable and thought-provoking novel. The Genres for this well-written novel are: Books About Books, Historical Fiction, Friendship Fiction, and Mystery and Suspense. I love how Christine Nolfi vividly describes the scenery, plot, and the dramatic and colorful characters. The characters are described as complex and complicated. Claire Shelton, an employee at a Maine antique shop finds herself with a. new responsibility in cataloguing the antiques for Hanna Reeves, a wealthy reclusive woman. There is mystery and intrigue set around Rose Hill, the mansion that Hanna lives in.

Claire’s grandfather Pete had passed away, and Claire’s only family seems like the owners of the Antique Store that Claire works at. Hanna never married, but has a huge staff that is very protective and loyal to her. There are many antiques in the house, and Claire is given the freedom to go where she wants. There is a rumor that Hanna’s father built a special library of first edition books for Hanna, that no one has seen. It is hidden in the house. Hanna is almost eight, yet is a vibrant and capable woman.

While Claire is “looking for the library”, while she is doing her job, she finds Hanna’s journals of her past, and the past of the employees that have worked at Rose Hill for years. These journals hold the secrets that can join families, or cause problems. My feeling is that Claire is opening Pandora’s box.. How will Claire react to Hanna’s discovery? Both Claire and Hanna have a love for literature and books. I highly recommend this amazing, thought-provoking, and suspenseful novel for all.

Thank you to NetGalley and @LakeUnionPub for this ARC. Claire works for an antiques dealer. They have been summoned to Hanna's house on Rose Hill. Once upon a time, this house hosted many fundraisers and galas but it has been many years since anyone has visited this estate. Now, Hanna is ready to turn over generations of furniture to the dealer to pay for some repairs. Claire moves into the carriage house to document all the pieces but in turn she falls in love with staff and especially Hanna. While visiting the local pub, she hears a rumor that there is a hidden library in this house and she is now on the mission to find it. This story flowed so well, it was over before I knew it. I was so shocked it was over because I had so many questions. However, I read in the reviews that the author agreed the story line was more than she bargained for and said a sequel will follow. I will be one of the first in line! #TheSecretLibraryofHannaReeves #ChristineNolfi #LakeUnionPublishing #June2025

Christine Nolfi always has me smiling when I read her books. This was a historical fiction book with heart. I loved the characters big and small. Based mostly on the 70’s it was woven back and forth through time and generations. Perfectly lovely heart warming story about love, life and family, whether blood relation or not. Thank you to Netgalley for the early read.

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.