The Library of Lost Things

By: Laura Taylor Namey

Narrated by: Brittany Pressley

From the New York Times bestselling author of A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow, this deeply heartfelt love story explores hiding the worst parts of ourselves, and finding the people who love us anyway.

“How could I open that door and let him see the messiest part of me?”

From the moment she first learned to read, literary genius Darcy Wells has spent most of her time living in the worlds of her books. There, she can avoid the crushing reality of her mother’s hoarding and pretend her life is simply ordinary.

But then Asher Fleet, a former teen pilot with an unexpectedly shattered future, walks into the bookstore where she works…and straight into her heart. For the first time in her life, Darcy can’t seem to find the right words. Fairy tales are one thing, but real love makes her want to hide behind her carefully constructed ink-and-paper wall.

Still, after spending her whole life keeping people out, something about Asher makes Darcy want to open up. But securing her own happily-ever-after will mean she’ll need to stop hiding and start living her own truth—even if it’s messy.

“A lovely tale for bookish readers that will give them all the feels.” —Kirkus

The Truth was what stood out.

I loved the way Darcy started her
new life. I loved her acceptance of her rebirth. She was a miracle,

Just... wow

The way the story builds make you feel how Darcy feels when she experiences her various struggles in love, family, and acceptance. Brittany Pressley, the narrator, had connected me to this story unlike anything else.

loved it!

if you’re looking for a great contemporary with a latinx lead this is absolutely perfect!

Friendship, love and family may be messy but it is worth fighting yourself for.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a reminder that love, friendship and family are worth working through our meesy issues to get to the hug filled other side of a messy reality. Darcy is absolutely right that there is a hoarder in all of us, just with different things. I am Dodie and I am a hoarder of things that hold special memories, of people who have no family (or only have family that abandoned them), and of cats that show us unconditional love and acceptance! (Is 6 cats a hoard?)

felt very real

The writer tackles some difficult subjects inside a charming teenage love and coming of age story. Supported by excellent transparent narration, with distinct voices for characters.

Very well done. Not my typical genre or characters, yet worth the time. If anything about the description catches your interest, definitely give it a try!