The Lonely Hearts Book Club

Sloane goes to see Brett’s family. Brett is going to be late. His parents, Francine and Stan, and his sisters, Tabitha, Rachel, and Rosalie, are all in attendance. They talk proudly about Brett, who’s a chiropractor. The sisters ask Sloane about her bridesmaids, as they know she doesn’t have a large social circle like Brett. Sloane thinks about Emily and reflects on the difficulty of making friends as an adult.

Sloane visits her parents at their new condo. She wants a box of her college things so she can contact her old roommates about being in her wedding party. Her mother sends her downstairs to look. Her parents start fighting. Sloane thinks about Brett and marriage on her way downstairs. The area is dark and rumored to be haunted. She runs into an unfamiliar man, who startles her. He says before heading toward the elevator that he’s renting the open downstairs apartment. Sloane digs through an old box, finding the brooch that she and Emily made to resemble the amethyst brooch from Anne of Green Gables. She pins it to her shirt while talking to the memory of Emily. On her way back upstairs, she runs into the man again. He was having trouble getting back upstairs. As they make their way up together, they hear Sloane’s parents arguing and throwing dishes. The man complains about their noise. Sloane promises to confront them, without revealing that they’re her parents.

Sloane notices that Arthur is late coming into the library. She and Octavia then realize that he hasn’t been in all week. Sloane wants to look up his information in the system so she can contact him and see if he’s okay, but Octavia forbids her. It’s against library policy to look up a patron's personal information. Sloane secretly researches and records the address anyway. She needs to know if Arthur is okay. When Octavia catches Sloane doing so, she threatens to fire her if she goes to see Arthur.

That evening, Brett notices that Sloane is upset. She reveals what’s going on with Arthur. Brett offers to drive her to his house so she can check up on him. They sit outside Arthur’s house, trying to discern if everything is normal. A woman approaches the car to see if they’re lost. Sloane reveals that she knows Arthur, and the woman explains that he’s been in the hospital but is now stable. Sloane promises to come visit another time. The woman says that Arthur is lucky to have a friend like her.

The next day, Sloane returns to Arthur’s house alone. She sits outside trying to decide what to do. The woman from yesterday returns and offers Sloane some food. She introduces herself as Maisey Phillips, Arthur’s neighbor. Maisey has been worried about Arthur, especially since she noticed another man watching his house.

Concerned that Arthur is alone, Sloane and Maisey go inside. They find Arthur on the floor bleeding. He fell and cut his hand. Maisey helps bandage his wound. Arthur is supposed to have at-home care, but he’s dismissed all of his nurses. Sloane volunteers to stay with Arthur until her shift starts. She reads Arthur’s books while he rests.

Sloane arrives late to work. Octavia demands to know where she was, immediately guessing that she went to Arthur’s. She gives Sloane a suspension for breaking library policy, promising to fire her if she oversteps Arthur’s boundaries again. Sloane argues that Arthur is alone and needs her. Octavia reminds Sloane that she is not Arthur. Sloane starts to think about her sister and her past. Suddenly, she realizes that she doesn’t love Brett or his family. She hasn’t loved anyone besides fictional characters since Emily died. She understands that she needs to go see Arthur no matter what Octavia says and leaves the library.

Maisey has always prided herself on reading people. She knew Sloane would be a friend the moment they met. She and Sloane carry groceries inside the house and chat about Arthur’s condition and loneliness. Maisey doesn’t think people are “meant to live alone the way he does” (74). She’s especially worried because of the man who’s been watching Arthur’s house.

The women continue chatting at Arthur’s. Sloane reveals that she lost her job over him. Maisey suggests that she work as his new caretaker. Arthur argues, but Maisey can tell that he likes Sloane.

Maisey works as a tele-psychic. After finishing her calls, she returns to Arthur’s. Sloane has intrigued her. She’s surprised to find Sloane’s fiancé there when she arrives. He’s trying to convince Sloane to leave. She and Arthur give the couple space so they can chat. Arthur gets upset with Maisey for all of the drama.

Sloane has started organizing Arthur’s books. She and Maisey discover that Arthur has numerous copies of The Remains of the Day. He offers each woman a copy, and Maisey suggests they read it together as a book club. Sloane eagerly agrees, and the women start designing the club.

The friends name their club the Racing in the Rain Book Club. Maisey is surprised by how sad The Remains of the Day is. Arthur argues against Maisey’s point while discussing their interpretation of the reading. Arthur teases her, saying Sloane is more intelligent. Sloane insists her sister was wiser. Maisey feels self-conscious.

Maisey offers to read Sloane’s palm. She makes conjectures about her life and relationship. Maisey then mentions her relationship with her teenage daughter, Bella, who’s chosen to live with her father since the divorce. The women start relating their experiences to The Remains of the Day.

Bella comes to stay with Maisey for the weekend but ends up leaving to go to her friend’s house instead. Upset, Maisey goes outside and confronts the man watching Arthur’s house after Bella leaves. She hops into his car and demands answers. The man is Arthur’s grandson, Greg. He came to Coeur d’Alene after hearing about Arthur’s hospitalization. He’s too afraid to go inside because Arthur has never wanted a relationship with him. His mother, Hannah, died not long ago, and she had a fraught relationship with Arthur, too. Maisey encourages him to come inside anyway.

Greg helps Arthur get comfortable as soon as he enters. He confronts Arthur for failing to call him. Arthur has no interest in Greg’s feelings or sympathy. The men start arguing until Sloane arrives. Sloane and Greg are surprised to see one another again. Greg was the man renting the basement at Sloane’s parents’ condo. When Maisey learns the story, she invites Greg to stay with her, as Arthur doesn’t want to host him. She and Sloane agree to invite Greg into the book club.

Greg notices Maisey texting Bella and gives her suggestions about communicating with teenagers. He volunteers with an after-school program and has experience with kids. The two start sharing details from their life. Greg reveals that his mother left home when she got pregnant with him at 18, and she never returned because of Arthur. He then offers to help Maisey and Sloane care for Arthur.

An Adult Protective Services representative arrives at Arthur’s house. Arthur needs a registered nurse, and Sloane’s care isn’t enough. They promise to find help soon. After the representative leaves, Maisey, Sloane, and Greg try to decide what to do. Maisey silently realizes that their new friend group might not last.

Sloane decides to invite Mateo into the book club. She tells Maisey that Mateo is also a nurse and could help Arthur.

Maisey wakes up when Bella unexpectedly arrives home. Bella reveals that she is moving to California with her dad and stepmom. Maisey checks her phone, discovering that her ex-husband left messages about the arrangement. Maisey begs Bella to stay, but she has no interest in being with her mom in Idaho. Maisey is distraught when Bella leaves.

Maisey, Sloane, and Arthur discuss The Remains of the Day after finishing the book. The women argue that it’s a love story, although Arthur disagrees. Maisey gives her own interpretation, breaking into tears throughout. Greg comforts her. Maisey starts to explain what happened with Bella, realizing that her literary friends are more valuable than expected.