Lily King

Heart the Lover
A novel by Lily King
48 people recommend this
Recommended by
Lily DiamondFirst to rec
Lisa“Read this in one day (and at 2 in the morning), such a great character study”
311
Kelly“Beautiful writing. Heartbreaking. Funny. Short enough to consume in a day. 2 books, but don't feel the need to read them in order💞”
2131
Arielle“this made me feel very real things”
142
Brooke Pekula“One of those stories where not a lot “happens” but somehow your entire emotional system gets rearranged. Beautifully written and quietly devastating. Can’t stop thinking about it.”
13
Anna Griffin“If nostalgia was a book, this would be it for me! Loved every turn.”
101
Kari Singleton“Best novel of have read in forever. Read it two times in a row.”
61
Anja Tyson61
Haley Jo“Listened to the audiobook over the course of a few long drives. One of the best books I’ve ever read. Wept in the best way! Incredible characters.”
31
Amy22
regina“must read when you’re in the mood to lose yourself for three days and end the trip sobbing”
21
Mary“Have been missing the feeling of reading a book you can't put down and this came to the rescue, read the whole thing in one weekend.”
3
pairofgeese“Newer to her work, but gobbled it up. Preordered heart, knowing literally nothing about the plot.”
3
Michael Sippey“Very, very good.”
21
Jordan21
Natasha“Blistering good . We all need a heartachingly good love story .”
2
Kristen Case“Written with the superb wit and emotional depth .This book celebrates forgiveness, love and friendship.”
2
allison wierema“This book is all nostalgia and yearning (complimentary).”
2
Diana McGrail“Excellent morning weeping material”
2
Lilah Abrams Rossman2
Carrie“A very poignant story, that stayed with me for weeks.”
1
Allanah“Sweet and nostalgic.”
1
Taylor“5 ⭐️”
1
Mithra Ballesteros“A captivating story from the get go and it’s a little hard to put my finger on what grabbed me. I liked how the setting — a college campus sometime in the 80s — was a contrast to the first person present tense point of view. I liked the dialogue. The inventive card games. The main character is learning to write, which makes the whole premise kind of meta, which is fun! Realistic plot where nothing earth-shattering happens, just the usual trials and tribulations of regular life. I’m gonna stop typing now and go reread it.”
1
YooMi“May book pick. Fast and furious read, like the love story itself. Some debate towards the end. Be transported to your younger years and have a tissue ready. 4.5/5”
1
Courtney“Quiet sob kind of book💔”
1
Margot Ritz Marquit“ALLL the emotions - I read this in 2 days”
1
Aya C1
Jane“because I don’t always want to bawl my eyes out okay?”
Sarah“I was really averse to reading this book. The title and the cover art just aren’t for me. But my online book club read it and it was serendipitously available at the library. It knocked me out. For me, it felt nostalgic - like going back to the way I felt and experienced emotion in high school/college/my 20s. One of those books I read both before work and after. Just a good read.”
lottie
Ellen“flawed, real characters and an exploration of what if…”
Andi DeFur“This was a gift from a friend. Loved it. Didn’t know anything about it before cracking it open but it was really good. I really didn’t know where it was going. Warning: ugly cried the last 50 pages. Needed recovery time after finishing.”
Tiffany Moldof“This book is 10/10. I read it in 2 days. It really takes you back to first loves and all the feeling and growing from your 20s. Lily King is so good at capturing conversation and all the details of unsaid communication.”
Steph“It’s not often I come across a book that when I finish it, I want to start it all over again. it’s a love story - true nostalgia for when you first discover relationships and crushes/ friends that become part of your story, and the impact of human connection”
chels“Read this one without realizing there was a book before it. Definitely would have read book 1 first, but it didn't change how wonderful this was as a stand alone.”
Rebecca Atwood“Have been recommending this book to every woman I know.”
Kat (they/them)“This book slayed me with the combination of wit, elegant prose, and deeply moving coming of age character driven story.”
Melissa“Emotional and beautiful”
Caroline
Whit
Anna
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Caitrin Chappelle
Notorious JGP
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