I loved the book. Haven‘t been touched by a book since many months.
The narrator - we know her nickname - is so real and believable, through all stages we follow her. Yes, the book is about love - and so well and deeply moving written.
I hope it will find many readers!

Thanks so much to the publisher and Netgalley for this gem!

Lily King’s Heart the Lover is a quietly powerful, emotionally rich novel that lingers long after the final page. True to her signature style, King delivers a story that is intimate, intelligent, and deeply human—centered around love in its many forms: romantic, familial, and self-forged.

At the core of the novel is a college senior, first nicknamed Daisy and then called Jordan from The Great Gatsby, who is both vulnerable and resilient, navigating the fragile terrain of new beginnings and also grief after the loss of her mother. King’s prose is sharp but tender, layered with subtext and subtle insights that reward close reading. Her dialogue is deft and believable, and she has an incredible knack for capturing the ache of longing without tipping into sentimentality.

What stood out to me was how King explored the tension between desire and independence. The emotional arcs feel authentic, and the small, real-life details—a gesture, a glance, a half-spoken thought—also carry weight. The book moves at a measured pace, which allows the characters and their inner lives to develop slowly and meaningfully. One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its restraint—King never gives too much away too soon. Instead, the narrative unfolds with subtlety, drawing you in gradually and keeping you engaged through quiet revelations and both small and large powerful moments.

Heart the Lover is a gorgeous meditation on what it means to be open to love after loss, and how finding connection often requires facing the truths we keep hidden from even ourselves. Fans of Writers & Lovers will feel right at home, and if you haven't read Writers & Lovers you will want to after finishing this one. Four and a half stars rounded up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Press for providing me with a copy of the book. It will be published on October 7, 2025.

Lily King once again delivers a literary fiction masterpiece with her latest, Heart the Lover. While I’m not sure any book could top Writers and Lovers, Heart the Lover is filled with the same elegant and poignant writing that will undoubtedly propel King back to the top of the charts. Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the ARC.

Heart the Lover by new to me author Lily King, published by Grove Press, is a powerful storyof friendship, loss, first love. This coming of age, complex novel tells the story of three college seniors, is literally fiction of its finest, 4,5 stars.

No books make me weep like a Lily King book.

I loved this from start to finish. It's an emotionally resonant and deeply perceptive page-turner, and I really can't recommend it enough.

Thank you for this ARC! I loved this book!! I am a huge fan of Lily King and this might be my favorite yet. Her characters are so complex and so relatable. The love story was tragic and life affirming. I wanted more! If you enjoy family sagas told over many years and untraditional love stories, this is for you.

Stayed up until 2am reading this. Cried with tears streaming down my face which is extremely rare for me. The first part of this book was about a young woman meeting two men she virtually falls for simultaneously. I was tricked into thinking this was a quiet book about angsty relationships. Then it part 2 came. Oh. Oh wow. Then…part 3. The cover of this book is your warning of king’s sorcery. I’m blown away by the writing in its Patchett-esque way of describing people in the world. King will be a must read author for me forevermore. I hope people go in mostly blind to this one as I think the revelations in each chapter are what made this such an incredible reading experience.do share… but also don’t share, reviewers!

This is definitely a book that you have to stick with, as I found the first portion really slow and I did consider DNFing but then it gets much better and really comes together in the second half.

I really loved this book about first love, friendship and loss. Beautifully written and engaging. Highly recommend. 4.5 stars.

My first book from Lily King and it was wonderful. Even when the first part didn't really click/work for me I'm glad that I stuck with it to see the whole story unfold. The story really came to be the more I read and I know I would like to revisit and come back to it again now that I have the whole picture. I will be looking forward to Lily King other works in the future but for now I will revisit her backlog (Writers & Lovers has been on my list forever and it's about time I get to it too).

Lily King writes books that I’m unable to put down, and Heart the Lover is no exception. It’s the perfect balance of light yet thought-provoking and really struck an emotional chord with me (again). I was so excited and surprised when I read the connection to one of her other books, but it’s more fun to go in blind! Loved it!

I was kindly sent an advance copy of Heart The Lover via NetGalley, and I’m so glad I got the chance to read it early. This is the kind of novel that pulls you in quietly but completely — I found myself reaching for it at every spare moment, utterly absorbed in the story. Lily King’s writing is both tender and piercing. She has a way of capturing the vulnerability of love, longing, and loss with such subtlety that it sneaks up on you — and then breaks your heart. The last 50 pages in particular were devastating; beautifully written, yes, but emotionally gutting in a way that stayed with me long after I’d finished the book. What I loved most was how King explores the complexities of desire and connection — not just romantic, but deeply human. It’s a story about intimacy, yes, but also about grief, identity, and the ache of wanting to be truly seen. If you enjoy literary fiction with emotional depth and unforgettable prose, I can’t recommend this enough. Just prepare yourself — it’s one of those books that lingers.

What is truer here? … She encourages me to write from my own emotions’.

In Lily King’s Heart the Lover she is interested in the process of becoming as a writer and how lived experiences both inform and hinder this. The novel is set at university where ‘Jordan’ develops an intense intellectual friendship with two boys Sam and Yass. They delight in each others cleverness and there are romantic feelings too.

While the novel explores romantic feelings, it is the slow burn of the portrait of the artist as a young woman arc that really drew me in. It’s a compelling read and sweeps you along to it’s bittersweet finale.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy.

Having previously enjoyed Lily King’s novel, Writers and Lovers, I was eager to read an ARC copy of her newest novel, Heart the Lover, due to be published this fall.

Immersive, tender, and beautifully written, I devoured Heart the Lover over the course of a few hours (stopping only to sleep, actually). I loved getting to know these endearing and complex characters, watching their relationships unfold and deepen as they graduated from college and moved on with their lives. Lily King's writing is witty and clever -- and absolutely compelling. The pacing is excellent (like I said . . . I couldn't put it down), and the powerful ending had me reaching for the Kleenex box.

Heart the Lover was everything I need in a novel right now.

(And, for fans of King’s earlier Writers and Lovers, there is a surprise twist for you . . . right at the very end. I guess I’d call Heart the Lover . . . a most clever set of Lily King "bookends.")

Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on October 7, 2025.

4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.

Holy moly, I love Lily King. This is masterful. Read this in 24 hours and spent probably the last 25% of this book actively trying not to sob.

There is no way my summary of this book could do it justice. The only way I know how to describe this book is if Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow and Tom Lake mixed together with a dose of philosophy into just a beautiful story of growing up and growing old and the people we love along the way. You'll cry for your old friends, you'll cry for your children, you'll cry for your husband, you'll cry for your past self and your current self. You'll just cry and feel good for it. You'll be happy to be alive.

Extra points for one of my most favorite book covers and book titles. Thank you NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for this ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the opportunity to read this book early!

Since discovering local Maine author Lily King early last year, I have been a huge fan of her work. So when I received notification that I had received an early copy of her new book on NetGalley I was over the moon excited.

I was instantly taken by the cadence of this book - told from the first-person perspective of a narrator in her senior year of college, who has just met two men - Sam and Yash, both subletting a professor’s home while he is on sabbatical. Sam and Yash are true academics, and Lily King’s love of literature and deep thought shine through in her writing of these two young men, both of whom possess both intellectual prowess and the still-developing brains of 21-year old men. Together, the three of them share a bond that transcends decades, and as their story evolves in ways that are both expected and not, the reader is taken on a journey that both captures the heart and leaves it broken.

There is a quote in this novel that I highlighted while reading. Upon completion knew I needed to include in this review (shared with permission from the publisher):

“A great novel, a truly great one, not only captures a particular fictional experience, it alters and intensifies the way you experience your own life while you're reading it.”

As I sat in my chair with tears streaming down my face after reading the last page, I knew this quote perfectly summed up my feelings about this novel. It is one of those stories that will take you on a ride, captivate your attention, and then bring a flood of emotions from your own life in a way you never expected.

It took me a day to fully recover from this book. It is beautiful, captivating, heartbreaking, emotional, and overall a moving and brilliant read.

Lily King - you did it again. 👏🏻 I cannot wait to read your author’s note on this story and have my own hard copy in my collection when it is released this fall.

Breathtaking prose infused with emotion.
To be honest, the early part of the book during the story origins dragged for me, but the story came into its own as the characters & settings evolved and completely captivated me.
Deeply affecting story, one which I uncharacteristically would like to read again.
Gorgeous cover and such a poignant title.


With great thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for this e-ARC.

Heart the Lover by Lily King is a beautifully written, emotionally resonant novel that lingers long after the final page. King has a gift for exploring the complexities of love, vulnerability, and human connection without slipping into sentimentality.

The prose is elegant but restrained, allowing the emotions to emerge naturally. The characters feel lived-in and real—flawed, searching, and achingly human. Their relationships unfold with nuance, and even in the quietest moments, there's a quiet tension that pulls the reader along.

While the pacing can be slow in places, and a few plot threads don’t fully resolve, the emotional depth and lyrical writing more than make up for it. King doesn’t offer easy answers, but she invites reflection—which, for this kind of story, feels exactly right.

A moving and deeply felt novel. Highly recommended for readers who appreciate literary fiction that leans into introspection and emotional truth.

Thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the eARC.

Heart the lover is available Oct, 7th, 2025

Lily King’s book is a tender story about the complicated relationships between 3 college friends. Jordan and Yash’s love is complicated by conflict from Jordan’s old boyfriend Sam. Heart the Lover is about how strongly our friends can influences our lives and how impactful those choices made at a young age can be. It is clearly told in three time lines. Each time line is better than the last.
In Heart the Lover we see imperfect characters face difficult obstacles. Jordan and Sam’s unwieldy relationship ends which allows her to move on to her true love Yash. As they navigate college and their future Jordan moves temporarily to Paris. In returning to meet Yash he never shows up but instead goes to Sam’s house. This devastates her. She is left to deal with a pregnancy she has kept a secret.
The second section progresses to years later. Jordan is a successful author with a happy marriage and a family. Yash visits her, the meeting is tenuous but welcome. A lot is left unsaid.
The last section is heart wrenching and truly majestic. Jordan had her present love, her family, and her past love, Yash. Each desperately needed her. It is about misunderstandings and miscommunication and ultimately forgiveness. A coming of age book I absolutely could not put down in the end.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Grove Press for the ARC of this wonderful book. These opinions are my own.

Hilariously, as I was about halfway through "Heart the Lover," I told a friend how much I was enjoying it, noting that I adored "Euphoria," but couldn't quite get into "Writers and Lovers." Imagine my surprise at the end of "Heart the Lover," when I finally got hip to the connections (no spoilers here!) between the books. Guess it's time for me to try "Writers and Lovers" again, because I really did so love "Heart the Lover." Hunt writes like she's unspooling a big, grand story (that's also the most intimate thing you've ever heard) to a new acquaintance. The major movements are just as big as the little ones (a line about how Casey's kids can never quite fathom stories about their parents before they knew each other is a gem in a sea of them), and that all adds up to an uncanny ability to make a very deep-feeling story that never feels showy or soapy. It's all wonderfully earned, and it sticks with you. What a treat.