Thanks to netgalley for this book in exchange for an honest review.
I genuinely loved this book. Right from the beginning I could tell the main characters just have some hidden secrets that I was dying to find out. Jess and Joan are two people who shouldn't work together but they just do. They bring out the best in each other throughout the book and are so similar without it being obvious.
Personally I loved that the story wasn't a typical romcom, the main focus wasn't just on someone finding a man and it being all about them. The story had more depth than that.
The focus on how people are addicted to technology these days was really interesting, it certainly makes you think more about this and ways to reduce it.
Overall, for my first book by this author I was thoroughly pleased and I would definitely recommend.

I absolutely loved this one!

When Jess responds to an advert for a lodger, she meets Joan. Albeit the age gap, Jess and Joan form an unlikely friendship. The chapters alternate between Jess and Joan, which I really like. A perfect, heartwarming story!

Omg this book is so good, getting into the characters straight away like a comfy pair of slippers. This book would make a great holiday, cosy read, I can understand why this has been given good feedback as its a lovely romance, with laughs along the way, and not knowing what is going to happen next love it and highly recommend

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for an ARC in return for an honest review.

The Library of Lost Love or How to find a Lost Love as it is called in the proof copy is best read if you don't know any of the books/movies it constantly refers to, or you will forever just see You've Got Mail with overtones of The Notebook.

Brace yourselves, there's a lot going on.
The story is written in dual POV, with Jess, 32, and Joan, 79, getting equal say. Jess ends up as Joan's lodger after her boyfriend Liam stole the money she needed for a house deposit. She works in a Notting Hill cinema which is in danger of closing. Her landlady's son Ed turns out to be the villain who wants to buy the cinema and turn it into small work spaces. At the same time she makes a pact with Joan to go offline for four months if Joan goes online instead. She then starts writing to someone through a newspaper lonely hearts column because that's apparently what you do when Tinder is off limits and your landlady's son is so infuriating. Oh, and yes, the lost love is Joan's who wanted to marry someone 50 years ago but the parents forbade it though maybe she can track him down now with her newfound internet prowess.

Regretfully I think in the wake of cheaper streaming services, cinema as a mass appeal might have had its day, and going offline in today's world is almost impossible. Sure, if you're of a certain age and never took to it, but my life is on my phone and I would be lost without it - for starters I wouldn't be able to access NetGalley books! I therefore don't quite buy how well Jess, who is younger than me by a country mile, copes with her electronic detox.

The story is a bit chaotic, as if the author wanted to cram more topics in so no one could say it's simply a You've Got Mail retelling. I have to say I don't mind, it reads well and has quirky, lovable characters, even though the ending felt a little rushed. It's a somewhat predictable feel-good read about friendship, romance and second chances.

Unfortunately, the title is misleading because there is no library anywhere in the book, which annoyed me because I expected a bookish story. A few old love letters don't make a library so the first title would have been clearer! However, the cover is simply gorgeous.

I loved this novel which had a great storyline and engaging characters. It’s a really topical scenario too as there was a newspaper article only last week about older people renting rooms to younger ones for lower rents in exchange for a bit of help with the housework or just a bit of company.
The book grabbed me from the very first chapter and I was completely hooked by wanting to know what had happened to Jess previously and where she would go. I really enjoyed both her storyline and Joan’s and it was fun seeing the events from their different viewpoints. I thought the idea of the tech swap was a fun one and there were some nice insights into our reliance on modern technology as well as the benefits of social media.
All of the characters were well written and came alive for me and the old fashioned romance that grew through letters was beautiful.
I really enjoy novels that have a strong sense of place and this one definitely brought parts of London to life. I was fascinated by the idea of a cheese bar rather than a sushi bar and was thrilled to find that it actually does exist. I may well be paying a visit as well as rewatching You’ve Got Mail.
There does appear to be some confusion over the title. Net Galley lists it as The Library of a Lost Love but the book downloaded as How to Find a Lost Love.
This was a lovely read and my thanks go to Net Galley and the publishers, Headline, for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a great idea for a story. One older person, one younger person, one of them living with online information at their fingertips, the other never having quite got their head around the online world. The story is around their experiences when they do a swap, causing each to pause and reflect on the life they have been leading and where it has taken them thus far. Such easy characters to relate to, this really is a feel good read.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Library of Lost Love by Norie Clarke follows Joan and Jess’ respective love stories as they lodge together on a quiet Notting Hill street. Soon, they explore new beginnings and the complexities of friendship, while discovering different types of love.

Read if you like:
• adult friendship
• avoiding social media
• contemporary romance

My review: Despite the age gap between Jess and Joan, the two really seem like a realistic pairing. I really enjoyed the second half of the book, the first half was a bit confusing with all of the characters flying around. The winning moment of this book was how heartwarming it was, the characters were really easy to cheer for from start to end.

Overall, I would recommend this book!

Thank you, NetGalley, for the read!

jess and Joan have a large age gap but it doesn't hold them back from a friendship
I love the challenge they set themselves where they swap the way they live there lives. jess gave up her phone and all social media and Joan starts to learn how to use it.
it's a lovely book which I enjoyed a lot

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. I was thoroughly engaged in Jess and Joan's story. Clarke captured the dual narratives well and while the story was predictable at times, it was engaging, emotive, and well-paced.

This book follows the life of Jess and Joan, an unlikely pairing you may think due to the age gap.
I struggled at first to get into this book but trust me it is worth persevering!
Jess feels her life is just plodding along whilst Joan feels old and lonely. This book delves into how they adjust to living together and also into their pasts.
Heart warming, with a roller coaster of emotions thrown in! (I cried way too many happy and sad tears!)
I would happily rate this book 4.5 stars and recommend it
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC

This book is an absolute gem! From its captivating premise to the endearing characters of Jess and Joan, it’s a heartwarming journey that left me utterly charmed. The clever device of swapping technology between them led to delightful twists and turns, especially as they both navigated the complexities of romance in their own unique ways. The narrative beautifully intertwines Joan and Jess’ love stories, evoking a rollercoaster of emotions that kept me fully engaged throughout. While the initial abundance of names may have been overwhelming, the story gradually unfolds, revealing intricate layers of religious diversity and its impact across different time periods. Jess’ modern-day encounter, cleverly exploring the allure of social media and the possibility of stepping back from it, adds a refreshing depth to the narrative. Though I wished for more insight into Ed’s character, the subtle portrayal of his family dynamics was remarkably effective, culminating in a poignant revelation that deepened the emotional resonance of the story. Overall, this book is an absolute delight, offering a perfect blend of romance, emotion, and thought-provoking themes. I couldn’t recommend it more highly—it’s a definite must-read that leaves you with all the warm fuzzies!
Honourable mention for the Pick & Cheese shout out! I’m actually booked to go in august so was excited to see it in the book!!

I received an ARC copy of this book for free from netgalley and I’m writing this review voluntarily based on my own opinion.

Oh, I absolutely loved this! Such a sweet, wholesome, heart-warming but also heart-wrenching story of lost love, secrets kept, and how our minds can always conjure up worst case scenarios that never happen. The use of going on/off-line draws Jess and Joan together, helping Jess slow down and figure out what she wants, and helps Joan start living again instead of just existing. Secrets get revealed and dealt with, and loves are discovered or rediscovered. Simply put, this is an awesome story and a great debut novel that is worth every second it takes to read it.

Jess has never been able to recover from the early death of her mother and her boyfriend's betrayal. She is sofa surfing with her best friend, Debs, but her time there is limited. When Debs finds a 'Lodger wanted' ad in the local paper Jess's life begins to change. Her landlady is Joan, well into retirement who needs something to escape the loneliness and isolation. They make a pact, Jess giving up modern technology and Joan embracing it, leading to unexpected consequences and adventures. I really enjoyed this book, the stories about different age groups and positive interactions with more complex stories to be uncovered. I particularly enjoyed it being set in London with a lot of familiar landmarks.

This was such a heartwarming story. Perfect for a cosy read. A clever plot which wasn’t always as predictable as it might seem, which for me is a perfect combination that provides an easy read with a few surprises. I’d recommend.

Read this one very quickly and it was really lovely! Predictable, yes.... but only because I had seen You've Got Mail recently. Perfect title for anyone looking for some escapism!

ARC REVIEW:
This book was truly beautiful, the way it followed Joan and Jess’ respective love stories… the pain, the joy all of it was absolutely inviting and emotional.

Truth be told at first there was just too many names for me to follow, this may have just been my lack of concentration but it did throw me. That being said once I got further into the book they all fell into place. I truly enjoyed the story of Joan’s love and how the author explored the effects of religious diversity in different time periods and how this lead to decades of secrecy. As well as Jess’ modern day atypical meeting scenario (this will make sense when you read the book, no spoilers here 🙈) which was such a unique way to portray the addictive nature of social media and how we can take a step back from it and still have a beautiful story. I do wish we got to see more from Ed but at the same time I think this was a great representation of how his family life was disconnected so we saw less of him; then when the secrets were revealed he gained the relationship with his mum and he was seen a lot more - a great technique that was really affective!! Overall this book was such a cute read and I couldn’t put it down!

Favourite Quotes:
“let’s start the end of our story.”
“Please write again and tell me about her.”
“I miss her everyday.”

I really enjoyed this. I thought the premise was good and both Jess and Joany’s characters were very likeable. It was clever to get them to do the tech switch and to then see both of them embark upon romance in different ways was very cool. A great read.

What an inspired story. The swap was ingenious. Lovely, lovely characters and beautiful storyline. I couldn't put this down. Bravo!

Love love loved this! Such a heartwarming romance! Fell in love with all the characters and was just such a feel good book! Highly recommend, defo gave me all the feels!

A lovely feel good story that is cleverly written. The characters are easy to relate to and their storyline is one you’ll fall in love with!