The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore

Treat yourself to THE LONELY HEARTS BOOK CLUB by Lucy Gilmore which received a starred review from Publishers Weekly. Sloane Parker is a new librarian in a rural, small town in Idaho. Of course, she establishes relationships with her patrons, particularly with Arthur McLachlan, an irascible old man who shows his affection for Sloane through biting commentary. She misses him, though, when he fails to show up at the library and eventually builds a book club around him – with his caring neighbor, Maisie, his grandson, Greg, and her own co-worker, Mateo. These likeable characters refer to novels like Anne of Green Gables and The Art of Racing in the Rain, gradually sharing personal information and truly bonding. At times these “misfits” see each other more clearly than they see themselves. Growth – both personal and as a community – is a key element of the story, plus there’s a bit of mystery in Arthur’s past and a hint of romance throughout. THE LONELY HEARTS BOOK CLUB could be a light, feel good read for book clubs; a reading group guide is included.