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.

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.