The Key to My Heart

I have truly enjoyed the way Lia Louis writes stories full of heart and emotion while tackling tough topics like grief and loss. The Key to My Heart is another beautiful story from Louis full of love, tenderness, humor, and charm.

Synopsis: Sparkly and charming Natalie Fincher has it all—a handsome new husband, a fixer-upper cottage of her dreams, and the opportunity to tour with the musical she’s spent years writing. But when her husband suddenly dies, all her hopes and dreams instantly disappear.

Two and a half years later, Natalie is still lost. She works, sleeps (well, as much as the sexually frustrated village foxes will allow), and sees friends just often enough to allay their worries, but her life is empty. And she can only bring herself to play music at a London train station’s public piano where she can be anonymous. She’s lost motivation, faith in love, in happiness…in everything.

But when someone begins to mysteriously leave the sheet music for her husband’s favorite songs at the station’s piano, Natalie begins to feel a sense of hope and excitement for the first time. As she investigates just who could be doing this, Natalie finds herself on an unexpected journey toward newfound love for herself, for life, and maybe, for a special someone.

What appealed to you the most in this story?

For me, when I pick up one of Louis’s books, I know I’m in for a story full of all the emotions and I love it. I both laughed and cried while reading this book as I was drawn into Natalie’s life from the very beginning. I could feel her loss and empathize with her grief and frustrations.

I also fell in love with all of Natalie’s family and friends who truly cared about her and were in her corner throughout the story.

How was the romance?

The progression of the romantic relationships felt very natural in their development. Of course, I was rooting for one of the characters from the beginning while also rooting for Natalie as she began to choose happiness for herself and her future life without Russ.

How was the pace?

This story held a steady pace.

Do you recommend this book?

This is a lovely book, and I truly recommend it to all who love a sentimental yet realistic story full of heart.

Thank you, Atria Books, for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.