#AmReading

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The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore
Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca on April 30, 2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Fiction

Goodreads

A.J. Fikry meets The Bookish Life of Nina Hill in this charming, hilarious, and moving novel about the way books bring lonely souls together.

Librarian Chloe Sampson has been struggling: to take care of her three younger siblings, to find herself, to make ends meet. She's just about at the end of her rope when she stumbles across a rare edition of a book from the 1960s at the local flea market. Deciding it's a sign of her luck turning, she takes it home with her―only to be shocked when her cranky hermit of a neighbor swoops in and offers to buy it for an exorbitant price. Intrigued, Chloe takes a closer look at the book only to find notes scribbled in the margins between two young lovers back when the book was new…one of whom is almost definitely Jasper Holmes, the curmudgeon next door.

And when she begins following the clues left behind, she discovers this isn't the only old book in town filled with their romantic marginalia. This kickstarts a literary scavenger hunt that Chloe is determined to see through to the end. What happened to the two tragic lovers who corresponded in the margins of so many different library books? And what does it have to do with the old, sad man next door―who only now has begun to open his home to Chloe and her siblings? In a romantic tale that spans the decades, Chloe discovers that there's much more to her neighbor than meets the eye. And in allowing herself to accept the unexpected friendship he offers, she learns that some love stories begin in the unlikeliest of places.

Chloe uncovers a romance in the margins of a book and embarks on a search for the rest of the story.

This is my seventh Lucy Gilmore book, and she continues to delight me with her touching stories that are filled with humor and warmth. I loved the premise of this one - two lovers sharing their thoughts and feelings via notes in classic books. As with her previous book, The Lonely Hearts Book Club, Gilmore did a wonderful job picking well known literature to illustrate the power of books. The way they can offer us comfort, clarity, and connection was put on display in this story, and as book lover, I couldn't resist this aspect.

I also loved the bit of mystery in this tale. The search for the other books plus a few OH WOW! twists had me turning the pages. I loved the hunt for the books as Chloe sought some answers as to what happened to these literary lovers. We get that story, in pieces, via flashbacks. I swear. There were two flashbacks that reduced me to tears. My heart ached!

Chloe quickly figured out that some of those book notes were written by her crotchety, old neighbor who was not a Mr. Rogers type of neighbor. Chloe's bookish discovery opened the door to an unlikely friendship that bloomed into something really special. It meant so much to me that Jasper cracked open his heart again for Chloe and her siblings because they were not dealt the easiest hand in life. Their mother and respective fathers all abandoned them. Chloe stepped up to care for her younger siblings, but it was no easy task and required a lot of sacrifice on her end.

Though she was reluctant to ask for help, Chloe had a great group of people who supported her on the sly. She had an A+ best friend and few others in her small circle who were always there for her. And the love her brothers and sisters had for her was crystal clear. I am also complete garbage for found family, so the community element was a special treat for me. I will admit that I wanted a bit more from the ending, but it's because I grew to love these characters so much. The ending wasn't bad, but it seemed a bit abrupt.

Once again, Glimore has crafted a lovely story packed with bookish love, quirky and lovable characters, and tons of heart.

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Christa Comes Out of Her Shell by Abbi Waxman
Published by Berkley on April 16, 2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Fiction

Goodreads

Just when she thought she’d gotten far enough away . . . a life-changing phone call throws an antisocial scientist back into her least favorite place—the spotlight. A hilarious and insightful new novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Bookish Life of Nina Hill.

After a tumultuous childhood, Christa Liddle has hidden away, both figuratively and literally. Happily studying sea snails in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Christa finds her tranquil existence thrown into chaos when her once-famous father—long thought dead after a plane crash—turns out to be alive, well, and ready to make amends. The world goes wild, fascinated by this real-life saga, pinning Christa and her family under the spotlight. As if that weren’t enough, her reunion with an old childhood friend reveals an intense physical attraction neither was expecting and both want to act on . . . if they can just keep a lid on it. When her father’s story starts to develop cracks, Christa fears she will lose herself, her potential relationship, and—most importantly—any chance of making it back to her snails before they forget her completely.

When her father is discovered alive after 25 years, Christa is forced to return home and confront her past.

Christa Comes Out of Her Shell was another delightful story from Waxman. I have grown to expect engaging and quirky characters and amusing and snappy dialog from her. While this was very much in the vein of Waxman's previous books, I felt as though the romance was a bigger part of the main character's story. I cannot say I was disappointed at all because I adored Nate and found him to be a perfect match for Christa. I not only liked each of them, but I loved them together and for each other.

At one point, Christa talked about how she had known Nate her whole life, but he was older than her, so she didn't really *know* him back then, and she definitely didn't know him now. But she wanted to, and Nate wanted to know grown up Christa as well. The things he said, let me tell you, he had me swooning. Nate seemed like the perfect person to be there when Christa came out of her shell since he was also there when she hit rock bottom in her teens. This was a sad event which Christa struggled with for many years. 

There sure was a good dose of romance in this tale, but it made sense, since this was Christa's return from a self-imposed seclusion and her attempt to reclaim her life from those who used her, those who hurt her, those who exploited her, and those who let her down. I was glad she had Nate by her side as she took back parts of her life, slowly revealed pieces of herself, and opened her heart up to people again.

The dad part of this story was wild, and where it went was even more wild. Buckle up for that part. It was interesting the way it all affected Christa's life, and I liked the way she chose to tackle it. I also found her family to be rather wonderful. I do understand that their relationship was strained due to Christa's teen antics, but time and personal growth gave everyone in Christa's family a different perspective, and it was a positive one. It was wonderful seeing them bond and their love and affection for each shine through.

This is a story that could have easily slipped into heavy territory, but Waxman kept it packed with humor and some very over the top shenanigans which gave the story an overall light and fun feel. I had a fantastic time with Christa and her family as they processed their past and embraced their future. There were great things on the horizon for them all, and I was glad to be part of this entertaining and heartwarming journey.

*ARCS PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER

What book would be part of your love story?
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