Review: The Lonely Hearts book Club by Lucy Gilmore

Sloane Parker lives a small, contained life as a librarian in her small, contained town. She never thinks of herself as lonely...but still she looks forward to that time every day when old curmudgeon Arthur McLachlan comes to browse the shelves and cheerfully insult her. Their sparring is such a highlight of Sloane's day that when Arthur doesn't show up one morning, she's instantly concerned. And then another day passes, and another.

Anxious, Sloane tracks the old man down only to discover him all but bedridden...and desperately struggling to hide how happy he is to see her. Wanting to bring more cheer into Arthur's gloomy life, Sloane creates an impromptu book club. Slowly, the lonely misfits of their sleepy town begin to find each other, and in their book club, find the joy of unlikely friendship. Because as it turns out, everyone has a special book in their heart—and a reason to get lost (and eventually found) within the pages. ~ Goodreads

Source: Audiobook via the library/Hoopla

Review: Although I read this one in summer, this is the perfect - curl up in front of the fireplace, rainy day, fall-ish - read.

Told through multiple pov's, The Lonely Hearts Book Club tells the story of a group of lonely people, at different stages of life & difficulties, coming together to hobble together a new, found family of sorts. And of course a book club!

Sloane Parker leads a nice, comfortable life as a librarian in her small town. After a childhood growing up with loud and volatile parents, she's engaged to a calm, respected chiropractor and enveloped into his large family, where they make the decisions for her. It's all very predictable and safe. The way Sloan likes it. 

That all changes when cranky senior, Arthur McLachlan - who makes all the staff hide or cry - with his epic rants and insults, decides to pick a fight with Sloane. For some reason, Arthur's takedowns and literary challenges don't pierce her, instead, it awakens something else. The feisty side of her. She banters right back with Arthur and it becomes a daily habit. Then one week, Arthur stops showing up to the library and Sloane takes it upon herself to check up on him. She's suspended from work for interfering with a patrons personal information and life and given an order - no more Arthur. But after being passed over for yet another promotion, she choses Arthur and leaves her job. 

Finding Arthur at home, basically alone, after chasing away all his nurses with his "charming" personality, Sloane is determined to bring some light into Arthur's days by taking care of him and organizing his substantial home library. Arthur is loath to say it out loud, but he loves sparring with Sloane just as much and she helps crack open his closed heart by inviting a little band of misfits, one by one, to start a book club. 

There's Masie - the quirky single mom next door who is struggling with a surly teen and empty nest syndrome, Mateo - Sloane's former co-worker, who struggles to let himself love and be loved, Greg - Arthur's grandson who wants to reconnect with his last family member before it's too late and Nigel - a frenemy from Arthur's past, and, of course, Sloane & Arthur round out the group. No matter how different their lives are - the common thread is that they all crave love and connection- even while they sometimes push it away.

While I usually dislike so many pov's in one book, it really worked for me here. I initially felt jolted when the switch happened, but quickly fell into the new background story and fell in love with each of them. They way they all tie back to each other and come full circle warmed my heart. 

I loved how Gilmore discussed all types of books, from the classics to more modern, and popular literature. There was no reader shaming or elitism about how one reads or what our individual takes are from a story. It makes the story assessable to readers of all kinds. Even non-readers.

I also loved how the author showed various kinds of love - platonic, familial, found family. The romance is super light in this so, while it's there a (very) tiny bit, this is a great story for those who don't want romance. 

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Angie Kane who did an excellent job but I wish her Sloane and Masie were a bit more different. And my one peeve would be that story was in dire need of an epilogue. It ended on a perfect note but I would love to know just how far they've come, say a year later. 

The Lonely Hearts Book Club is a nod to all the people who are a little odd, lonely, regretful, introverted and never feel seen. If you're bookish then it's even more wonderful! Reading this book felt a little like therapy - cathartic, enlightening, hopeful and full of possiblity. I already used this quote on another book review (T.J. Klune's The House on the Cerulean Sea) but this was a warm hug of a book. I was so comforted by this world, I didn't want to leave.