The Key to My Heart by Lia Louis @LisforLia @SimonAudio @librofm

the setup…
Natalie Fincher is a songwriter who isn’t composing these days. It’s been 2 1/2 years since her beloved husband Russ died following complications from a hit and run accident on his bicycle. She’s struggling with her grief, not bouncing back the way her well meaning friends feel she should and is beginning to resent their efforts to get her out in the world. During one evening out with them, she meets Tom at the bar, clearly the man her friends were trying to fix her up with and the two decide to string them along, conspiring together for him to come off as a “bad match” though they later hit it off as friends. Natalie often plays at a train station public piano and when she begins finding sheet music there for songs that were meaningful to her and Russ, she sees it as a possible sign from him in the beyond.the heart of the story…
I connected with Natalie on so many levels, even though I’ve never experienced her kind of loss. She wanted more for herself but wanted to do it in her own way, in her own time. I loved how her well-intentioned friends reached out to her in the best ways they could offer, even if it was having the opposite affect. Grief has its own timetable and Natalie had to not only deal with the loss of a loved one but also the loss of the hopes and dreams they shared as a committed couple. Her friendship with Tom was absolutely fun and delightful as he seemed to instinctively understand how to listen and respond to Natalie in ways she needed. Her friendship with “notebook guy” from the coffee shop at the train station was also helpful as he led her to a musical therapy group that became a lifeline.the narration…
I enjoyed the performance as she skillfully managed the British vernacular that was essential to Natalie’s personality that might have eluded me if I’d just read those words and phrases. I also liked her character distinctions and storytelling.the bottom line…
Natalie’s journey out of her grief shrouded world into something new was one I embraced and felt as deeply as she seemed to experience. There were parts that were lovely, others more painful but all honest and authentic. Louis seems to have a knack for tapping into the heart of a character, displaying those feelings in raw form and baring her or his soul in ways you can’t help but experience vicariously. At least that’s how I connect to her stories and why she’s on my auto read list these day. I adored Natalie and how she was determined to find her way in the midst of pain, loss and sadness. I also loved her friendships and was glad “my team” won out in the long run. The added mystery surrounding the sheet music made it even more engaging and somewhat mystical. This story was special.

Book Info

• Release Date: December 6, 2022
• Narrator: Victoria Fox
• Audio Length: 10 hours, 16 minutes
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

 

Listen to a Sample!

Goodreads | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm

 

 

(Thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)