A whole lot of characters decorate the pages of The Library of Borrowed Hearts, and all of them enchant and captivate the audience. In the end the novel provides a heart-tugging feast that extolls the importance of wrapping your arms around the concept of love no matter how impossible it seems.

Chloe Sampson has been caring for her three younger siblings, Beatrice, Theodore, and Aloysius since their mother abandoned them. Working as a librarian, she finds herself clearing out the library’s basement while on duty one day, only to discover a copy of Tropic of Cancer hidden among the detritus. It is moldy and the cover is damaged, but the edition is a rare enough one from the 1960s that she becomes determined to sell it.

Then she notices the margins are stuffed with notes sent back and forth between two figures locked in a romantic tumult – C and J. Chloe quickly realizes that because of the annotations, the book won’t pay for her new roof. But when she brings the edition home and tries to retrieve the kids’ frisbee from her neighbors, Jasper Holmes sees the book and offers to pay a tidy sum for it. She realizes quickly who the ‘J’ is – but what of the ‘C’?

Inspired by their story, Chloe finds herself scouring the town for more of J and C’s marginalia. But can ‘C’ be found? And will Jasper open his hearth and home and let the Sampson family in?

The Library of Borrowed Hearts truly reminded me of Cynthia Voight in a lot of ways, as it’s about found families and opening hearts more than it is about romance.

I really loved Jasper and C’s’ unfolding romance. Some might find the choice which rent them apart a selfish one, but back in the day it was quite the realistic decision.

Even better is Jasper’s relationship with the Sampson family, all of whom are lovely. The slow blossoming of connection is perfection. There’s also a potential romance for Chloe with local, Zach, but be warned – both this and the J/C storyline leave things open with no definite HEA.

The novel also has a strong love affair with the literary world – heavy allusions to Wuthering Heights, A Farewell to Arms and The Haunting of Hill House linger.

But this book is delightful for what it is – a wonderful little story about finding love and searching out your people no matter the time. The Library of Borrowed Hearts is pure magic.