The Key to My Heart

August 1, 2022

Pianist and composer Natalie Fincher used to be confident, outgoing, and full of hope for the future. Then her husband, Russ, died, and her best friend's betrayal came to light. Now Natalie is like a bug trapped in molasses; every move seems to take maximum effort, and she's exhausted all the time. Her only outlet is practicing on the public piano situated at a London train station. When she opens the piano stool and finds the music for Russ's favorite song, it seems like a sign--especially when meaningful music continues to miraculously, randomly appear, sparking something inside Natalie that she thought was gone. VERDICT The newest novel from Louis (Eight Perfect Hours) is a chaste, heartwarming contemporary romance, but it's also a beautifully written narrative about grief and letting go. Give this book to fans of Jenny Colgan and Felicity Hayes-McCoy and be prepared to receive backlist requests.--Heather Miller Cover

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September 19, 2022
A young widow discovers new love in this moving contemporary romance from Louis (Eight Perfect Hours). Songwriter Natalie Fincher stopped composing after the death of her husband, Russ, over two years before the start of the book. She’s abandoned her craft and now barely makes an effort in her work at her parents’ London shop. Her friends pressure her into chatting up a stranger, Tom, while out at a bar one night—and she’s surprised to run into him again later at a train station where she occasionally still plays the communal piano. When Natalie discovers sheet music to Russ’s favorite song in the piano bench, it feels like a sign, leaving her determined to track down whoever left it. This quest unexpectedly leads her back to Tom—and to the possibility of finding love again. But to make their relationship work, Natalie must navigate an emotional minefield of grief and guilt. The authenticity of Natalie’s relationships buoys the dramatic story as her supportive friend group sticks by her through all the ups and downs. Fast-paced and intensely emotional, this tale of loss and love delivers the goods.

November 1, 2022
It's been two years since her husband passed away, and Natalie's tired of everyone expecting her to be fine. Russ was a part of her; they were a team. These days, when her girlfriends point out an attractive man standing alone at the bar, it's easier to sidle up, make a few jokes, and politely excuse herself as quickly as possible rather than absorb their pitying looks and hear the same pleas to ""get back out there."" But her friends don't know Natalie's secret: Russ is leaving her messages; she's sure of it. As Natalie dives into her past and interviews the people who know her and Russ the best, Louis (Eight Perfect Hours, 2021) unspools the mystery of Russ's messages--sheet music hidden in a public piano bench, songs special to them both. When Natalie's social circle widens, she finds herself healing in unexpected ways. Fans of Hazel Prior and Ellen Meister will adore this insightful, heartwarming glimpse into the complex journey of life after the death of a loved one.

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