Experience all the feels in this unforgettable, second chance, standalone romance from #1 New York Times bestseller Lauren Blakely!I didn’t break her heart, and she didn’t break mine — we broke each other’s.I never stopped loving her, but time and distance played its cruel role in ripping us apart three years ago when she moved halfway around the world. Now after all those endless miles away, … those endless miles away, she’s returned . . . but I’m not the guy I was before.
Beautiful, kind, and loving, she’s the same — my hope. The only one who can make a day better, who can make me feel again with one kiss, one touch, one night.
There’s so much I have to put back in place now that I’m alone and on my own. Things I never wanted at the age of twenty-five. When I receive an unexpected letter that might hold the clues to everything I desperately need to understand about my family, I’m sure I have to follow it. But that means leaving her once more.
She says she’ll come with me, and having her by my side will unbreak my heart . . . or destroy it.
That’s the chance I have to take.
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Andrew. Grief stricken. Angry. Hollow.
Holland. She’s in love with a man who is so deeply lost in his grief that all it takes is her to light his face.
She needs more and he’s going to have to find his way. Through the grief. To heal his heart and soul. To give and receive love. To Holland.
It’s a journey from LA to Tokyo and the supporting cast of characters are wonderful. My heart was breaking along with Andrew’s. And his journey not only healed him but my heart as well.
OMG! Most emotional book I have read in a long time. It was awesome….
What can I say? I’m addicted to Lauren’s books. This one is no exception. A little humor, a little steam, and characters that stay with you after the last page.
5 stars
I purchased the novella Unbreak My Heart by Lauren Blakely and this review was given freely.
This is an emotional and poignant short romance spanning two countries and featuring Andrew’s 5 steps of grief to healing, his becoming able to both receive and give unconditional love, his being able to connect with the family he has left, and finally his second chance at love with Holland. Over all, this a moving story with a heavy base of sadness balanced by uplifting friends,Sandy the dog, and a surprise happy ending.
This review is for the audiobook version.
This is a story where I’m glad I have the audio version instead of the written word. When having someone tell the story, it makes it more emotional – so my warning to you is to make sure you have tissue within reach. It pulls so much at the heart that if Andrew were real, you’d want to give him a big hug. Some will know exactly what he is going through. You will see that this is his story to tell – the narration isn’t exactly even. Holland is an old friend who seems to have lost touch but a tragedy has brought the two friends back together again.
Mr. Arden and Ms. Mallon do a great job in getting me to picture what Andrew and Holland are going through as the story progresses. They have my rapt attention while they bring the words of Ms. Blakely alive. They show how sometimes we need to get away in order to bring things into perspective. I don’t know that I’ll ever get to Asia but I can see myself sitting in a dark corner at a Japanese restaurant as I listen to the book. The staff may look at me funny if they were to see me when I get to the ending where I have a big smile on my face knowing that Andrew has found his happiness. But there will also be tears because the ending was also bittersweet. Then the smile is back again when I find out the author has given me a little treat.
The only issues I had, and I don’t think it had anything to do with the book, happened everytime I bent over. One time was when the female voice came on letting me know about the version of this book as our narrators are talking in the background. Another time it shut itself off so that I had to open the app up and restart the book. The last time it skipped a chapter and then restarted a chapter. It got to be frustrating but it didn’t stop me from wanting to continue.
It’s a story that is so full of passion. But it was also full of frustration – not the characters and not the story. The frustration came when I had to shut it off. I could never find the perfect place to cut off my enjoyment. This is one of those stories that will never get old no matter how many times you listen. My iPod has my books listed in alphabetical order so it will be very easy to locate when I’m ready. I look forward to my next adventure with this author.
I voluntarily reviewed an Audiobook copy of this book.
I can’t stop singing Toni Braxton’s 90s song Unbreak My Heart. That song is just as heartfelt and heartbreaking as the story. Lauren Blakely is the queen of romance. Listening to this on audio made this story feel… alive. Joe Arden and Erin Mallon, the narrators, brought this story to life. It was full of angst and this lovely tension that made it a compulsive listen.
The characters Andrew and Holland were amazing. I really appreciated the fun and banter between them while the story itself was deeper and fuller than we normally get from Ms. Blakely. Unbreak My Heart starts out by breaking my heart. The journey Andrew goes on is such an emotional story. You’ll find yourself swooning, crying, and laughing… all right in the gut! Watch Andrew as he remembers how to live again. Amazing and heartfelt! Don’t miss this one!
I received a complimentary copy of this audio book with the hope that I would leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… my opinions.
Well this was all kinds of emotional. It was sad but still beautiful. I liked that it was different from the norm.
A heartbreakingly beautiful story that had my crying through the entire book.
Where I could make notations, all I could do was leave crying emoji’s and hearts. I was at a loss for words, choked up crying, and loving the poetic moment all at the same time.
Lauren Blakely broke me and at the same time unbroke my heart. To say this is like nothing I’ve read before would be an understatement, but there it is.
Andrew Peterson is in mourning. Deep in grief over the loss of his brother. It’s been just the two of them for several years having lost their parents in an accident when Andrew was still a teenager. This makes the loss of his brother completely devastating, leaving him feeling bereft and alone.
Everyone deals with grief in their own way and on their own timeline, but Andrew isn’t sure how to cope with the hole in his heart and the nothingness that he feels. When he lost his parents he had his brother to lean on, now he has no one and the weight of his grief is so heavy I physically ached for him.
“Figuring out how Ian was the most joyful when he was dying. Because I’m living, and I sure as hell don’t feel anything but empty.”
When a letter arrives from Japan with the first clue into how Ian spent his last few months alive, it
set out to only raise questions for Andrew, but it was also the first time Andrew felt something. The first time he doesn’t feel numb, he sees it as a sign to go to Japan and seek answers from his brothers girlfriend and hopefully mend the giant hole in his heart. Perhaps once he has his answers he’ll be healed and finally be able to move on from all the pain he’s felt. He’ll be whole once again. He sees a light at the end of a very dark tunnel.
“I’m with all these people, but I’m still alone.”
This is only part of the story, a huge part because Andrew is a broken man and has to find how to mend himself first before he can ever move forward with his life, but within that he also has another story twisted into his grief.
Holland St. James is the love of Andrew’s life, but they had to walk away from one another three years ago. Both Holland and Andrew had degrees to finish and unfortunately that took place on different continents. Now that Andrew is headed to Japan he asks Holland to join him on his adventure, it’s where she’s been for the past few years and she knows the area better than any tour guide. With her by his side she may be the light he needs to drag him out of the darkness. However, Holland is leary of being Andrew’s crutch and is only willing to go as his sidekick, nothing more. He had to give her up once, he’s not sure he’ll be strong enough to give her up again if she doesn’t stay with him. She’s the only thing good he has right now and she makes him happy. He’s walking a slippery slope, but she’s worth the risk.
“Everyone I have loved is gone. Except her. Holland is the before and the after.”
Will Andrew finally get the answers he needs and be free or will he still be a broken man once his time is up and he has to go home?
If anything, for me, this book requires a lot of tissues, but also reaffirmed how important it is to enjoy life to its fullest, tell or even show the people in your life how much you love or appreciate them, and never forget how precious life is.
Be kind, be grateful, be thankful. Thank you for this beautiful story to remind of me this.
“Life is short. Make it count. Don’t have any regrets.”
Awe man this book is a journey. It’s so unlike any of Lauren’s other books, don’t’ get me wrong I enjoy her books to no end but this book had me thinking and feeling right from the beginning.
It’s really a story of triumph, Andrew is struggling with the illness and death of his brother and like anyone he doesn’t know how to live without him.
Grieving they say is a process but knowing that and feeling it are completely different things. So to help him understand what his brother was thinking he and Holland (his brother’s nurse and Andrews ex/lost love) go to where his brother was living and see if they can find the answers Andrew is seeking. In the process of this, he and Holland find their way back to each other but not in the way you would expect.
This book will make you feel and hurt and feel some more. I am in awe of how well written it was but also with the narration. Joe Arden gave a voice to Andrew in a way not many narrators would have, you could feel the emotion through Joe’s voice it was utterly astonishing. One of my most favorite performances from Joe by far, I have been a fan of his for a while and this might have just made me a super fan.
Loved Andrew and Holland…their journey and commitment to find a way to be together. While Andrew is trying to deal with unimaginable loss and sadness, Holland has to find a way to hold on to her love for him and giving him space without her, to search for answers. Answers he needs to move forward with his life, with her if possible. The road is tough, but I enjoyed every step.
Big departure for Lauren Blakeley, but a pleasant surprise.
Unbreak My Heart by Lauren Blakely has been one of my most anticipated reads by this author. I’ve been dying to read since Blakely said this is not like her regular books. If you have read her other books you would know she writes nice, feel good, happy books that leave you with a smile on your face.
So going in I knew Unbreak My Heart was going to be different. I knew Unbreak My Heart was going to be tough. But I didn’t expect this book to hit me right in the heart.
Andrew.
My poor Andrew.
He has been dealt some devastating blows and now he’s just left to deal. The well wishers are gone. No one is calling to see how he’s doing. Now he’s left to pick up the pieces and move on. This is the hardest part ever because there isn’t a manual. How does one move on??
“But sometimes the greatest gift we can give ourselves, and in turn the ones we love, is to let go.”
This quote resonated with me in so many ways. I actually stopped reading and thought about how this applies to me in my life.
This was a well written second chance romance story filled with bumpy roads, forgiveness, growth and self discovery. I loved that Andrew had Holland but I also loved how she didn’t coddle him as well. It was so painful to see him suffering and the way he coped with the pain was heartbreaking. Throughout the story we see Andrew mature and become the man I knew he was all along. It wasn’t an easy road but I’m happy to have been along his journey.
Even though this book was different, it showcased Lauren Blakely’s strength as an author. Not too many authors can switch it up, especially when they have a certain formula that works. Blakely did an excellent job! Blakely evokes my emotions, made me feel and think about my own life. I can only hope we will get more books by this author in the future.
This book is so different from any other book I’ve read by this author and I loved it. There is the second chance love story between Holland and Andrew but more than that it was a story about family, love, and loss and peace.
I knew going in this was going to me a much more emotional read than Lauren’s rom com reads. Andrew is dealing with loss and trying to figure out how to cope and move on. It was a very thoughtful read and I enjoyed the depth of Andrew’s character. Holland is trying to be there for Andrew how she can, but they have their past to deal with. They both have strong feelings and great chemistry that time won’t change. I enjoyed reading them try to negotiate it and figure out how they fit together. The book was such a sweet and emotional journey and I really enjoyed it!
This is a wonderful book! It was not the “typical” Lauren Blakely romance, and at times it made me sad because it deals with the death of a loved one, but it is a wonderful story! One of the best books that I’ve read in a while.
Unbreak My Heart is the most devastatingly, hopeful novel I have read this year so far. This is not her ‘usual novel’ that would easily make you swoon and fall in love. No, she does things differently this time – more raw, angst-filled, and emotion-deep kind of novel that you will come to love. Lauren Blakely really knows how to break your heart and bring back the pieces together again. It’s a story of loss, letting go, hope, love, and healing.
Andrew is lost. He just lost his brother to cancer. He didn’t know what to do, he was simply depress. Losing the person who means so much to you does that. The girl that he once lost is now back in his life, and he’s reaching out to her.
Holland is back. They were together for sometime in the past – but circumstances brought them apart. But she isn’t back permanently – she has other things to consider, she would soon leave him once again. How can she ever turn her back on the man who needs her the most and tell him goodbye once again?
I love the fact that they went on their separate ways to build their lives like they want to – but the moment the universe conspires to bring them closer and the feelings is still there, that is fate. They are at an impasse when the story came to light. They love each other, but no one was brave enough to say, they couldn’t ask anyone to stay, they were in between their past, their present and their future. Would someone be brave enough to take the chance?
More than just a love story, Lauren Blakely takes us on a journey of healing and letting go. This is one of the most unforgettable reads that I read this year.
Unbreak my Heart healed my soul
The chemistry among the characters in this book is unexpectedly spell binding. The story of Ian even though you never meet him was so amazing. Andrew was lovable from page one and Holland’s giving compassionate spirit captured my heart. The heartbreak of losing a loved one to cancer is something very personal to many of us and the way this story handles the loss and grieving process was very introspective. Thank you Lauren for having the courage to share this phenomenal story.
I love Lauren Blakely’s writing, she gives us such great romcoms that I become captivated by. This book is different to her usual style and the blurb appealed to me and was tugging at my heartstrings already. This book really evoke a lot of feelings whilst reading it. The writing was full of raw emotion that drew you in.
Andrew is one of Lauren’s witty, sexy heroes that she normally delivers us but he is also heartbroken and grief-stricken. The pain he is feeling radiates from the pages. He is unable to move on as he is too consumed with the pain he is feeling. Blakely has written the stages of grief superbly.
Holland is Andrew’s second chance at romance. They were so meant to be but the timing was out, they were victims of circumstance. The Push/pull between them was off the charts. I was rooting for them to get together.
This is such a great story of love, loss, and healing. It is heart wrenching and at times the writing is filled with such raw emotion you are knocked on your ass.
Lauren Blakely is usually the queen of romantic comedies but Unbreak My Heart is definitely not the typical romance from her.
This is the story of grief, sadness, romance and your soul. This is the story of what you do with yourself in journey through life while dealing with such overwhelming feelings.
I truly took every word of this book to heart. I felt the pain, the sadness and the love and took every word of Andrew and Holland’s story and matched it to my own life. This beautifully written story showed me that now is the time to live my best life.
A truly heartbreaking yet touching story. An emotional journey that is a must read for any Lauren Blakely fan.
I am a huge fan of Lauren Blakely’s fun, sexy, angsty reads but this book just blew me away. So different from her other books but equally amazing. This book is about healing oneself enough to allow love in. To mend ones soul and have the support of someone who loves you but will give you space to stand on your own when needed. Andrew and Holland’s story was engaging and developed from friendship to more as Andrew began to pick up the pieces of his life.
This book definitely tugged at my heart strings and made me cry on more than on occasion. Andrew’s journey to heal after suffering such loss at a young age would be taxing on anyone but his determination to find his way out of the darkness was inspiring.
This book is full of emotion and will stay with you after you finish reading. It’s always nice to take something away from a read and this one will linger in my thoughts even though I have finished reading.
Thank you for you
My favorite books are the ones that draw me into the story through the heart of its characters triggering my empathy and giving me a bird’s eye view into what they’re thinking and feeling. When my emotions are engaged the story becomes so much more compelling to me and Lauren Blakely’s newest book accomplished all that and more. Anyone working through the loss of a parent will find it glaringly obvious that Andrew is in trouble. He’s in a very destructive period and he can’t make sense of the death of his beloved brother Ian and what that loss will mean to his future. Thankfully, Andrew has a host of friends and neighbors who surround him with loving care to let him know that he’s not alone in his grief, and that’s exactly what we need when we find ourselves in the same situation. This book will change the way you look at life and survive loss and it deeply touched my heart. I read an early copy of this book and all opinions expressed in my voluntary review are completely my own.