Set primarily in 1973, this book is a fascinating tale of strength. Hanna is an elderly heiress who invites antiques dealers to assess her homes contents. Claire is an impulsive employee of the antique shop, who stays in residence to catalogue the contents. Gossip and mysteries abound about the heiress and her household. As Claire works, her curiosity leads her to attempt to uncover the secrets. The results of her quest are life changing for many. Christine Nolfi is a delightful storyteller who weaves these characters into a world of mystery, love and found family.

Who can resist a story with a secret library in the title?!!! It is an intriguing story full of secrets, love, and history. I especially loved seeing how the relationship between Claire and Hanna grew. I feel in love with both characters. And as I was reading about the house, the antiques and a secret library, I wanted very much to walk through those halls!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my e-ARC of The Secret Library of Hanna Reeves!

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
📚 have enough books to start your own library
👀 enjoy dual timelines
📕 love historical fiction
🤫 can keep a secret

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

Cautious Claire Shelton, employee at a Maine antique shop, is surprised when she’s recruited to catalog the treasures of reclusive Hanna Reeves, sole descendant of the state’s most colorful shipbuilders and industrialists. Hanna’s retreat from society years ago is just one of many mysteries behind the walls of Rose Hill, her fabled estate.

Settling into Rose Hill’s carriage house, Claire finds Hanna, nearing eighty, to be a still-formidable woman. She’s demanding, judgmental, and protective of a mansion that is a veritable shrine to her ancestors. Then, diving into her work, Claire discovers a hidden library that is the stuff of legend among locals. An avid booklover, Claire is in heaven. More enthralling are Hanna’s leather-bound family journals that open Claire up to the past—and soon forge a rich and unexpected bond between two very different women.

A legacy is coming to light. All of Maine is talking. Because the revelations in the journals are enlightening enough to unite old friends, lovers, and families. And shocking enough to tear them apart forever.

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

This was such an entertaining read. While a bit slow to start, it really takes off once the secret library is mentioned and the relationship between Hanna and Claire becomes stronger. I enjoyed the banter between them, and getting to travel back in time to see Hanna’s younger self. She was definitely my favorite character of the two. The secret library was my favorite part, but it was definitely a somewhat small portion of the story. I do love the relationships Nolfi builds with her characters though. They really came to life for me. The book seems to end abruptly, but I hear there is a sequel in the works, so I can’t wait to continue this story!

Claire has been hired to catalogue Hanna's library but this turns out to be about so much more than books. This moves back and forth between the 1970s and Hanna's life over the years to tell the stories in Hanna's journals. There are secrets but they aren't all negative ones. This illustrates how we are all connected in some way. Nolfi is a good storyteller who will keep you turning the pages. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Looking forward to more of Hanna's stories.

I absolutely love stories like this with a secret library and couldn't wait to dive into this. Clare, works for an antique store and is sent to the Rose Hill Estate to catalog and appraise items. Rose Hill is the estate of Hanna, who is now eighty and a mystery herself. Clare finds a secret library and journals that really open this up to such a beautiful story. I'm so glad there will be a sequel. I can't recommend this enough.

Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY

I thought this was another good book by this author.
I did think it started out a bit slow and I really wasn’t too sure about it. As the story goes on I started to like the characters and the story more. I wasn’t quite ready for it to end and felt like some things were left unfinished.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book set in the early 1970s in which
the main character, Claire, who works for an antique shop goes to a house to value its items to sell.

This just isn’t any house, but one full of mystery that has Claire the envy of everyone now that she has inside access to the estate.

The book has so many engrossing parts. The house allegedly has a secret library that was built for Hanna by her father. There is a close knit connection to the employees of the house over the years and Hanna’s record of these families including her own.

Claire’s relationship with Hanna develops so organically that it feels like these characters are real. Claire also meets a man and she develops a deep connection.

I loved everything about this read. I enjoyed the time period and references to popular songs of the early 1970s. I loved the kindness of and the interactions with all of the characters.

When I first heard about The Secret Library of Hanna Reeves by Christine Nolfi, I was immediately in! Who could resist that title and cover?!

This book is a dual timeline historical fiction, but the “present” is also historical-ish (it pains me to say this 😂). We meet Claire in 1973 as she is hired to catalog antiques in the historical home of Hanna Reeves. The second timeline is Hanna‘s past, with chapters woven into the story that show us a few pivotal years in her life, beginning in 1907.

My favorite part of this book was the stories of the staff members and their past relatives who worked at Rose Hill. Claire and Hanna each had their own found families, and they were the meaningful relationships they both needed. The family trees and conversations about legacy had me itching to learn more about my past!

I also really enjoyed the descriptions of the mansion, and of course, the secret library. Every part of Rose Hill was steeped in history. I would love to see a house like that in person one day!

The Secret Library of Hanna Reeves will be a total win for any reader that enjoys historical fiction, found family, inter-generational stories, and antique furniture and collectibles. There’s also a bit of a mystery! It’s a great book all around!

Plucky Claire Shelton, an orphan who works at an antique shop in Maine, is given access to a reclusive heiress', Hanna Reeves, entire estate collection to catalog and prepare for auction. The catch? She must live on-site in the carriage house and follow the explicit and often demanding instructions of Hanna herself! What unfolds is a unique and unexpected friendship between these two women. Claire discovers a hidden library full of invaluable books as well as journals detailing the estate's rich history.

When Claire's discovery reaches the ears of local residents, everyone wants to learn more as these journals have the opportunity to unite old friends, lovers, and families while also potentially revealing decades buried secrets.

I absolutely adored this read! Claire was a wonderful clever heroine whose curiosity was contagious. I loved watching her clash with formidable Hanna and then watching their relationship grow into one of mutual respect and care. There are some flashbacks to delve deeper into Hanna's past as well as a budding romance for Claire with a local bar owner that had me reaching for this story each night.

Readers who enjoy books with complex characters, family sagas, found family, and historical settings need to fall into this wonderful escapist book!

I loved every single character I met in this book! An antiques dealer and an elderly heiress become unlikely friends (with arguments but grudging respect) as Claire and Hanna help the staff/townspeople find answers they long for.

Hanna is such a beautiful soul. She has a soft heart for orphans and helps them in amazing ways. Claire has a hard time at first breaking through Hanna's stubbornness but then she eventually gives as good as she gets. The journals Claire found and the way they worked through them to give some answers was nice. I felt bad for what it did to Clyde but it's outside forces that are to blame. I could see this story continuing in some way but if it's a single book, it's great too.

Although I have heard of Christine Nolfi’s books in the past, I hadn’t picked one up to read. The summary for The Secret Library of Hanna Reeves sounded so interesting to me, that I finally read one of her books and have entered the Christine Nolfi fan club.

I really enjoyed her writing style, her wonderfully created characters and the interesting plot. I hoped for a believable and satisfying ending to the book and I am thrilled to state that it was all that I wished for.

I found myself one day while reading, suddenly saddened. I stopped what I was doing and had to think about this weighing emotion I felt. After thinking for a while, I concluded that I was thinking about the characters in this book. Even though I was not consciously thinking about the story, my mind was. That is the greatest compliment I can give to an author. Their story is part of my life now, and I care so much about the characters that I carry them with me.

I am happy that there are many books that Ms. Nofli has written, and now I can explore all of them.

A sincere thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.

Christine Nolfi is a new author to me, and when I saw the title on NetGalley, I had to check out the description. I adore books where someone in the present discovers a secret and through alternating chapters readers also learn what happened decades ago. This book is no exception, especially since it took place in Maine, a place I want to settle in years from now. Good character development, well-structured plot, and solid writing. I found myself eager to get to the truth, and even though the secrets weren't extraordinary, I felt a connection to the book. Will read more from the author.

Christine Nolfi has given us another story with a writing style that allows the reader to visualize both the characters and their surroundings as they lead us into their worlds. Claire Shelton is a young woman who, raised by her grandfather, developed a love of reading books - but also of the book itself. Hanna Reeves is an older woman who has found the need to catalogue and auction the many historical antiques she has in her home. As an employee of the antiques shop that Hanna has reached out to and asks to take on this project, Claire finds herself temporarily living in Hanna's home to complete the job. Learning to live and work for the sometimes garrulous and excentric Hanna, Claire hears rumors of a "secret" that Hanna's deceased father had given her.......a secret hidden library full of first edition books....and sets out to find the library and its contents. What follows, and told through episodes of Hanna's life, leads Claire into finding Hanna's journals and making a mistake that she comes to regret, but which also builds a relationship between Claire and Hanna that is sometimes funny, sometimes brusque, and mostly endearing. The peripheral characters in this story, the employees of Hanna's estate and Claire's love-interest Nate, are purposeful in telling the life of Hanna, but also of building the character of Claire. As Nolfi writes an ending that makes the reader want more.....I was delighted to learn that there will be a sequel so we can follow along as Claire and Hanna learn more about each other and the families that Hanna has written about in her mysterious journals. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #NetGalley #TheSecretLibraryofHanna Reeves

It's 1973, and twenty-six-year-old Claire Shelton works at Holbrook & Kinney, an antiques and collectibles shop in Maine. Having been raised solely by her recently deceased grandfather, shop owners Louis and David have become like family to Claire. When Hanna Reeves summons them to Rose Hill, her fabled mansion, Claire is asked to join them. Holbrook & Kinney is given the coveted opportunity to manage the auction of the reclusive 77-year-old Hanna's vast collection of antiques. Claire is tasked with cataloging the items and residing at the estate during this process. While conducting her research, she finds a hidden library filled with valuable books and journals. When Claire reads the journals, she learns about Hanna's past as well as the legacies of those who have worked at Rose Hill through the years. Will revealing these secrets turn out to be a great discovery, or cause havoc? And will it threaten Claire's growing closeness with Hanna as well as her job?

As soon as I saw the cover of The Secret Library of Hanna Reeves, I knew I had to read it. Christine Nolfi has written an enjoyable mix of historical fiction and family mystery. The developing relationship between Claire and Hanna was heartwarming. It wasn't until I finished the book that I learned a sequel would be coming, and I'm happy the story will continue.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC of this book. My biggest take away from this book is that I saw the author posted on goodreads how she had so much more planned for this story, but decided to break it into two books instead. With that in mind, a lot of my issues with this book make sense. Overall, it felt unfinished--like each plot point is only meeting 40-50% of its potential. For example, the purpose of keeping the library such a closely guarded secret, only for the protagonist to go and tell everyone in town about it as soon as she finds it. The half-baked, shoe-horned romance plotline between Claire and Nate feels like it only exists so that Claire has a reason to hang out at the bar and run her mouth about secret information about her client. Claire and Hanna's motivations make almost no sense throughout the book. For someone whose entire livlihood, found family and identity is wrapped up in her career, Claire does not seem overly concerned about sneaking around Hanna's house, invading her private spaces full of valuables and then telling EVERYONE that she found out Hanna was hoarding mountains of personal information about her employees and their extended families. The relationship between Hanna and Claire feels completely baseless and lacks emotional depth. The book was at its best during Hanna's flashback sections.

Additionally, there is no discernible reason for this book to be in the 1970s. In fact, the book is nearly indistinguishable from any other point in modern time except for random inclusions of the word "groovy," lore drops about LBJ policies and the random mention of a typewriter--and these insertions always took me out of the story because they felt out of place. In the third act of the book, the author speedruns significant plot points to the point that they lack an emotional depth, consequence or climax to the narrative. This is felt keenly during the Pete Shelton letter "reveal" and the Clyde half-sister robbery induced heart attack.

Whatever Nolfi's orgininal plan for this book was, I'd love to see it.

The Secret Library of Hanna Reeves by Christine Nolfi was a cozy read full of charming characters.

The main character is Claire Shelton, orphaned at a young age and raised by her impoverished grandfather, the library became a haven to her during childhood. After her grandfather’s death, Claire, still enamored with old books, finds work at an antiques store where she occasionally comes across rare prints and first editions.

An unexpected request from a reclusive matriarch of society sets the story in motion. The antique store owners and Claire are asked by the renowned Hanna Reeves to catalog and auction the family heirlooms at Rose Hill. Claire, after hearing rumors of a secret library, is unable to resist the temptation to search it out. What she finds there will change the lives of several people connected to Rose Hill’s history.

This story is easy-paced with a charismatic cast of individuals. I enjoyed the development of the plot, the affection the whole crew of supporting characters had for one another, and the close relationship that eventually grew between Claire and Hanna.

4/5 stars. I was missing an epilogue to the story, so I was happy to hear that the author plans a sequel due out some time next year. Recommended if you’re looking for a low-tension, but moving read about the families we’re born into, and the families we create.

Thank you to NetGalley, Christine Nolfi, and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to ready the eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

I loved the story and enjoyed the blunt characters with a dry sense of humour. The whole part of secret library, rare books ans the cherry on the cake was the journals with family trees and past records. All of this set in the 70s America was an enjoyable read all throughout.

I know the title caught your attention. Who wouldn’t want a secret library?

What I loved about this story was the atmosphere and the unlikely friendships made. Additionally, the secret library contained something special, more than just classic books, but also family journals that allowed for lost connections to be reestablished.

I love books set in the 1970s, and Christine Nolfi captures the essence and feel perfectly. The atmosphere of Hanna’s estate, Rose Hill, has a bit of a Gothic feel to it, with its imposing architecture, watchful staff, and the indomitable Hanna as its mistress. Claire, the antique appraiser, hired to sift through and catalogue items, was all the while cautiously searching for a hidden library, adding to the mystery and intrigue.

The story, although not dark, delves into some tragic moments from Hanna’s past that have shaped her. As the narrative unfolds, there's a noticeable shift. What initially seemed to be about Claire's task of cataloguing Hanna’s antiques—essentially about things—gradually transforms into a tale of human connections. Bridges are built, bonds form, and suddenly, it's not about the objects, but about the people, our family, the friendships we make, and the legacy we leave behind.

I’m eager to see what the sequel brings!

Thank you to @suzyapprovedbooktours and @christinenolfi for the gifted book and ebook via #NetGalley.

This book was solid! I liked the mystery that surrounded Hanna and it was really sweet to see the way that she cared for both her staff and the main character.

I thought it was a little slow at times and I didn't feel as connected to the characters as I would have liked, but overall, it was an enjoyable read.

My thoughts
☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️

The secret library of Hannah reeves.

women historical fiction.

a secret library, a story that takes us back in time.1907 then brings us back to 1973 different time Lines. Multiple time Lines. ❤️
simply amazing story. Hannahin, in her life, goes through so much.

the losses, the loves. the friendships
but the secrets are simply the best.
the up keep of Hannah home.

just simply a phenomenal story.
this story is different from others this author has written and I absolutely Loved it.

a must read.

Christine Nolfi