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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I sat on a runway waiting for my flight to take off after a three-hour delay. I was seated in front of a screaming child with a stinky diaper, who kicked my seat like a skilled soccer player. I’m a mom, I get it and couldn’t be mad. I just needed to escape. I decided to dive into Unbreak My Heart by Lauren Blakely and read about Andrew and Holland’s second chance at love. I knew this romance was going to be an emotional journey based on the title, and not as light as Lauren’s other sexy and sweet romcom books. While Unbreak my Heart did contain Lauren’s trademark flirty and fun banter, it was deeply emotional. Everything about this book pulled on my heartstrings and didn’t let go. Unbreak My Heart managed to break my heart at times. I felt Andrew’s pain as he circled the drain in a fit of despair. He was broken and needed a lifeline. He wanted his first love and best friend back in his arms. Holland wanted Andrew back, but not at the cost of turning into his emotional crutch.
Unbreak My Heart is deeply emotional, real and raw. Andrew and Holland’s journey was like a romance version of a 12-step program for mending broken relationships and finding happiness again. While reading this book, there were times I felt like I was bungee jumping. I was anxiously waiting, page by page, for Andrew and Holland to find each other again. I knew once they made that jump it would be scary, but so exhilarating.
Lauren Blakely managed to break my heart and soul and put it all back together again. Unbreak My Heart is one of my top reads of 2018. My love for this book is unbreakable! Unbreak My Heart
Unbreak My Heart by Lauren Blakely is a heart wrenching, but also heartwarming, story of loss, family, love, romance and healing. Andrew has just lost his brother and no longer has living family close to him. He’s on his own and grieving. His friends, neighbors and everyone around him are giving him leeway to do anything, and he knows it. They are supportive of him, but in truth he needs more. He needs to discover himself, find his life again.
Holland is different from all the other people. Not only her past history with Andrew but her background makes her a person who can actually help him, and she wants to. As they journey together grief and personal history cause a very complicated dynamic that makes this a different and special book by Ms. Blakely. These characters are complex and give a real feeling of connection while still being romantic and witty as they progress.
Overall Unbreak My Heart by Lauren Blakely was a great story that brings out real feelings from readers and is very well done. I very much enjoyed reading it.
(I voluntarily reviewed an advance review copy of this book I received for free in exchange for my open and honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.)
Unbreak My Heart is Lauren Blakely’s newest masterpiece and one of my favorites of the year. I have to give this one 6 Hearts. For breaking my heart and putting it back together again. For making me cry and giving me a sense of peace when I was done. For showing me healing is possible. Hope is everything. You have to mend your own broken heart before you let love in. Love is the key. This story is different than Lauren’s usual fun and flirty romances. She still gives us the witty banter, the funny conversations, the sexiness. But this story is about healing. About taking a journey to find the answers you’re looking for. About finding your way when you feel alone. The romance is there and it’s powerful. The relationship between Andrew and Holland is palpable and electric. But this is Andrew’s journey. One he needs to take to understand his family. He needs Holland with him, but she knows when he needs to do things on his own. Lauren never ceases to amaze me with her words and her stories. Unbreak My Heart is one of my favorites of hers. I loved the emotion. I loved how I felt reading it. I loved how sad it made me because I knew she would heal me in the end. I cried. A. Lot. But I also laughed, swooned and got chills. While reading I just kept thinking of the saying, “When God closes a door he opens a window.” This is definitely one of my favorites of 2018!
I’m writing this review through blurred vision, with tears still welling up in my eyes even after I let some time pass before I started writing it.
This book is so amazing. I’d heard rumblings that this was going to be an emotional journey and it definitely delivered on that.
Before I even finished the first chapter I wanted to latch onto Andrew and never let him go. He’s not our typical book boyfriend. His charm and sex appeal doesn’t leap off the pages. He’s not alpha or a bad boy or even a man with much direction in his life right now. He’s lost, he’s broken, he’s looking for answers to help him heal. His life is in chaos and there’s only one thing that can speed the process along – but he can’t have her.
Holland is just what Andrew needs. She’s beautiful both inside and out and wants nothing more than to take away everything Andrew has had to endure, but she can’t. All she can do is let him work through his chaos and hope that he finds her when he figures it all out.
This book was a beautiful journey. It was definitely Andrew’s story to tell and I promise you that you’ll fall head over heels for him by the time you read ‘The End.” This book is both heartwarming and heartbreaking but have no fear – Lauren Blakely will put you back together again.
A five-star emotional journey that will definitely require a box of tissue.
I’ve read quite a few of Lauren Blakely’s books and I’ve enjoyed all of them. Some of them I liked and some of them I loved. With this book, I am kind of torn. There were parts of it that I liked and there were parts of it that I loved. So I can’t really decide which way I want to go. Ultimately, this is a second chance story but I would say, not the conventional one where the characters had a huge falling out when they first split up. Here, it is more of a mutual agreement. I would even describe it in a way as friends to lovers.
Andrew and Holland were two intriguing characters. I found the interactions between the two characters quite interesting and the chemistry and feelings between them are palpable. With that said, there were moments in the book where I felt, there was something missing in their story. I still can’t figure out what it was but it made the story go a little bit slow for me. Somehow, I couldn’t really feel the pain Andrew was feeling. I knew about it I didn’t really relate to it. But the parts where my heart got broken and that I loved, were actually Andrew’s memories of his brother. The way both Holland and Andrew were recalling certain times spent with Ian, just broke my heart. And when you add Kana’s, I was a blubbering mess.
So that’s why, I am a little bit torn about this story. I hope I managed to express clearly my still tangled feeling about Unbreak My Heart. In any case, I would recommend every book lover to check it out. I think you would enjoy it.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Get ready for an emotional rollercoaster with this fantastic book. This author always makes me laugh and feel good and I always get wrapped up in her books and the wonderful characters she creates. This book is in my opinion her best yet, it completely ripped my heart out of my chest from the very beginning and then slowly I mended just like Andrew did. I was so wrapped up in this story and these characters that I truly hurt for them. This story is something we can all relate to, it’s dealing with the loss of someone we love and at some point in our lives and we all deal with this and we all handle the pain differently. To experience the hurt and gut wrenching pain that Andrew was dealing with just ripped me apart emotionally. I could feel his pain and I wanted to crawl into the book and hug him.
Holland is such a brave, strong woman and I envy her character. To love someone so much that you realize you must step back and force them to heal on their own. To not be their crutch or drug, they must learn how to survive and move on with their life in their own way. I loved her character throughout the entire book. She is willing to sacrifice her heart so that Andrew can heal.
The love these two have for one another is epic and they have to take a journey, literally to get to where they need to be. This book made me tear up several times both for being sad and for being truly happy. You will still get the funny, sexy back and forth banter you are used to with a Lauren Blakely book but you are going to get so much more. In this book she shows us how to hurt and it be ok to just hurt and then how to pick ourselves up and start the healing process. To understand we are the only one that can make us happy again, nothing or no one can do that for us. To also understand life has difficult choices we all have to make and we have to make our own decisions. No one can choose for us and we can’t choose our path for someone else, and in the end we have to be at peace with those decisions. This is my favorite book so far for 2018. I received an early copy to read and review. 10 stars for sure on this one. I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it
Dear Lauren Blakely,
I’m sure while you were writing Andrew and Holland’s story that you felt a wide range of emotions, not only for what your characters were going through but also perhaps due to an array of memories of what you and those closest to you have had to deal with when it comes to grief, depression, loss, and loneliness, death, and cancer. These are not easy subjects to discuss or explore, but I can assure you that they desperately need to be; because if society talked openly about these topics then perhaps people could breathe easier…feel more comfortable to share their pain and their thoughts with others to prove just how alike they are and how their hearts struggle and break just like everyone else’s do.
I have firsthand experience with what cancer, death, and grief can do to a family; I live with its effects still, almost on a daily basis, and it’s heartbreaking and emotionally draining, but it helps to know that I’m not alone in this fight or in these feelings and I gain strength from knowing that others stand beside me.
Andrew and Holland’s feelings for one another resonate from the pages of Unbreak My Heart, but so do their individual dreams and goals, and while, at times, they find themselves off balance, contemplating what their next moves should be and how they’ll fit into each other’s lives, they slowly find their way…find the path that’s meant for each of them alone as well as the one that will allow them to finally get it right, find a balance, and be together in every way possible.
Another valuable lesson that Unbreak My Heart teaches readers is that life is not easy and people can’t control other people’s actions, which sometimes means that they must deal with things that they never wanted to endure, but that doesn’t mean that life stops…that love stops…it just means that it needs to be handled in a way that allows forward movement, even if there are set backs and it almost feels impossible.
What’s most intriguing and worthwhile about this story is how Andrew learns to live…learns to accept the circumstances that he’s in…learns to forgive himself and others for past misdeeds because in the grand scheme of things, focusing on regrets and painful moments forces Andrew to simply exist when he’s meant to flourish and to enjoy life’s precious moments.
While readers may be used to and adore your romantic comedies, I’m so grateful for this story…for these characters…for your ability to tell, what has to be one of the most profound love stories that I’ve read in a long time, because it’s a love that has multiple categories and layers – love of self…love of family…love of friends…and the deepest love that can be felt between two people despite time apart and the struggles that occur.
Some readers may feel that a heart cannot be unbroken…that once it’s fractured, it’s impossible to heal or be whole again, but through Andrew and Holland’s story, it’s clear that a heart most definitely can be repaired, and while all of its pieces may not fit into their old places, a new overall structure can be created, solidifying all parts, perhaps bending some in order to fit, but leaving not a single piece completely broken.
Thank you for telling Andrew and Holland’s story…for having the courage to write something that your readers may feel is too different from what they’ve come to expect from you because this book is a beautiful reminder to live every moment of every day in the best way possible because despite life’s difficulties, it offers limitless opportunities to grow, to love, and to cherish all that life alters.
4.5 Poison Apples
I don’t know what kind of trickery or wizardry or whatever you want to call it that Ms. Blakely pulled with this book, but it’s now my new favorite of hers. This book was so unexpected! I was warned I’d need tissues but I really didn’t think Unbreak My Heart would, in fact, break my heart. But OMG it did! I don’t think I was even 10% in and I was already holding back the tears. And then I gave up on trying to contain them and just let the tears flow. I loved this beautiful, breathtaking, heartbreaking, life affirming book so, so much.
Unbreak My Heart is such a departure from Ms. Blakely’s usual m.o. of hot, sexy, funny stories that I’m kind of at a loss here. Seriously at a loss. I keep typing and deleting, typing and deleting, because nothing I’m trying to say makes any sense. Usually with her books I can talk about how fun it was, how sweet the love story was, how swoony the hero was. But with this book I just want to wrap it in my arms and hide under the covers with it. See, no sense at all. Unbreak My Heart is so much more than just a second chance romance. It’s a story of hope, of survival, of healing through heartache. It’s a story of love and friendship and family.
When I finished reading Unbreak My Heart I had tears running down my face and a heart so full of love I thought it would burst. Andrew really did a number on me. I loved taking this journey with him. It’s no secret I fangirl hard for Lauren Blakely, but with this book it’s been taken to a whole new level.
5 Unbreakable Stars!!!
For the first time in as long as I can remember, Lauren Blakely has made me cry while reading one of her books. I say this with so much respect and admiration for her words. Why you ask, because when I pick up a book written by Ms. Blakely for the most part I know I’m going to be laughing and swooning and fanning myself with the heat she’s so phenomenal at creating between her characters. But with Holland and Andrew it was a completely different experience.
The opening alone of this book had my heart hurting for Andrew. This man is really so broken and everyone around him wants to help him, but he’s so engrossed in his despair, there’s really only one person that he wants and that’s Holland. But even with her, he’s not being his true self…he has secrets that could destroy what he so badly desires with this woman.
This book is so beautifully written. The angst of our H/h was so palpable, I could feel it in every fiber of my being. My heart was so heavy with how much I connected with Andrew and Holland. I could feel every shudder of Andrew’s grief and every nuance of Holland’s love for this man.
The way their story progresses was so natural and beautiful, while also being heartbreaking at times in its path to their second chance. They definitely had some obstacles in their way but leave it to Ms. Blakely to be able to bring us to our lowest point in this story as they fought their way to finding the love they so very much needed, deserved and desired. She is a master storyteller and has proven once again with this book that my passion and need for her words are not only justified but a part of my being who I am as a reader and lover of books.
5+ Unforgettable Stars!
Unbreak Your Heart isn’t just a love story, it is so much more. It is a story of hope and the strength of love. It is a story of grief and heartache. It is a story of strength and never giving up. It is a story of finding yourself again after the darkness tries to take over. This story will tear out your heart and then put it back together again.
Holland & Andrew’s story was such a powerful and moving read. The writing was phenomenal. The author didn’t just make me feel the book. She made me live it, experience it and breathe it. I was able to connect with the story and characters in a way that I never thought was possible. I loved each and every swoon worthy, heart fluttering, heartbreaking, painful and devastating moment. In the end, I was left with the happiest of tears and the fullest of hearts. This left my emotions a mess in the best possible way. It gave me all of the feels and I couldn’t possibly ask for more. This story is one that will touch everyone’s life and take you on the most amazing journey.
When I’ve read Lauren Blakely’s other books, I was laughing. This isn’t one of her rom-coms. I knew it wasn’t before going it. I was in the mood for a tear jerker, so I thought this would give me all the feels.
While I did feel bad for everything that Andrew had to go through because of Ian’s death, and I was sad, and felt for him, it just didn’t give me the feels I wanted.
This is a second chance with a past love story, it’s also about finding yourself and moving on with your life.
Holland and Andrew have known each other for a very long time. They had one summer where they were together. Their university and studies took them to different parts of the world. So they did end things on good terms. This book is a few years later and them finding themselves again. They both still love each other. But, Andrew’s grief is in the way right now.
I did like the characters, but I just wasn’t connecting with them how I love to while I read. This is very well written and the story line is decent.
Having lived in Japan for 3 years, I loved reading about places that I’ve been to.
I would say give this a chance and read it.
I give this a 3.5
If you think this is the typical feel-good romcom we’ve seen from Lauren Blakely, think again. Filled with heartbreak, angst, and a deeper meaning Unbreak My Heart breaks new barriers. Reeling from the loss of his beloved brother, Andrew is adrift. Misplaced anger and frequent trips down memory lane are filled with pain and longing. Through it all his first and last love comes back to town. Reminiscing with Holland brings back more painful memories of loss. But the chance to make new ones with her become an addiction that Andrew can’t shake.
Holland knows there’s no future between her and Andrew. With an ocean now between them, this short trip home feels like losing him all over again. What’s worse is trying to help him heal from the loss of his brother while dealing with the loss herself. But as new memories overlap old ones, neither of them are prepared for the clues Andrew’s brother left behind before his death. In a city that feels like home despite the 5000 mike difference, Andrew and Holland investigate his brothers last months in the city that introduced them.
This romance is unlike any other I’ve read. True to Blakely novels, the otherworldly descriptions of a Japan pull the reader into every scene. Fresh for readers is Blakely’s darker approach to romance. Not all heroes are happy, but all romances go the way you’d expect. A palate cleanser from the funny but still reminding readers of Blakely’s quick wit, the couples’ chemistry flies of every page. Prepare for a deeper meaning than just true love and second handed with this new romance!
Unbreak My Heart is like no other book by Lauren Blakely. Yes they all have all the feels, but Unbreak My Heart is more of everything. It´s not the typical rom com, the story made me laugh, it made me cry, I was angry at some point and then it made me cry again. You´ll need tissues, be prepared.
Unbreak My Heart is the heartwrenching story of Andrew and Holland.
Andrew is a man who suffered great losses. He´s tired, angry, all alone and simply doesn´t care anymore.
Holland is back after 3 years away, she´s now a nurse, but maybe she leaves again, soon. Both had a summerfling years ago. But Andrew needs Holland, only he doesn´t know it.
Favorite Quote: ” If “fine” were a dude, he´d be a bachelor. ” This sums Andrew up. He´s his own island.
Unbreak My Heart is beautifully thought out, beautifully written and beautifully told. I can´t express how much I loved the story and the characters. I recommend Unbreak My Heart and give 5,5 stars.
Unbreak My Heart is a different story than what Lauren Blakely usually writes. I struggled on what rating I should give this book as I honestly couldn’t get into it until 82% in. I consider it to be a good and well written book however it wasn’t what I expected. I felt sorry for Andrew as he was so broken after the death of his brother, Ian. He struggled tremendously and had a hard time coping with the loss. His childhood friend and former girlfriend (they ended their relationship because she left for nursing school) returns to California after living in Tokyo for three years to take care of Ian and to help Andrew through this difficult time. Andrew, Ian and Holland lived in Tokyo briefly when they were younger and were close since their parents were good friends. Andrew and Holland ended their relationship on good terms and never stopped loving each other.
When Andrew discovers that Ian recently spent some time in Tokyo and did certain things prior to his death, he sets out on a journey with Holland to find the answers. During this time in the story, I felt like it was missing passion and romance. There was potential to be so much more between them and it fell flat. I felt like the majority of the story was more about Ian and than Andrew. However, once Andrew found the answers, it lead to a better understanding of Ian’s actions and gave him the closure he needed. That made me very happy and my heart was full.
I really loved the ending and the epilogue. They were filled with heartwarming, emotional and uplifting moments. Although this wasn’t one of my favorite Lauren Blakely books, I do encourage readers to give it a try.
* A review copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review *
Unbreak My Heart is unlike anything we have read from Lauren Blakely in a long time. This book was filled with intense, and raw emotion. I will say this book was kind of sad and depressing, heartbreaking if you will, to read in the beginning, but you’ll understand why once you read this story. But as the story goes, this is so much a story of healing and finding your happy.
I was so looking forward to this book, it was one of my most anticipated reads of 2018. I wanted to see a new side of Lauren that we haven’t seen in awhile. I wasn’t disappointed. Now don’t get me wrong we did get some of what we expect from a Lauren Blakely book, but this was also something new and fresh. Like I said, your emotions will be all over the place with this story. Your heart will break, but in the end your heart will be healed and you will be left with a smile on your face and a warm feeling in your heart.
In this story we follow the story of Andrew and Holland. This story is truly Andrew’s story and the people that are in his life. It’s his journey to healing and finding love again. Andrew is all alone in the world after he brother’s recent death. Struggling to move on and find his happy again, Andrew turns to his friends and the people who knew him and his brother best. But mixed into all of this is also a second chance romance with Holland. Andrew and Holland had a summer romance 3 years ago, until she moved to Tokyo with her family for school. Now three years later and she is back. Can these two reignite their passion?? What happens when distance threatens to tear them apart again?? Can they finally get their HEA and find their happy?? Read this story to find out.
Unbreak My Heart is a standalone novel that is told in Dual POV. I thought the flow of the story worked well. I did however find the pace a little on the slower side than I like, but I still thoroughly enjoyed this book. I will say this, you do have to be in the mood for an emotional read when you go into this book. If you aren’t in the mood for this type story then I don’t think you will enjoy it as much as others.
I would recommend this book to all readers who love Lauren Blakely’s books. Also if you are a fan of a second chance romance this is one you should add to your TBR list.
Oh my did Lauren Blakely break my little heart with this unbelievable love story.
I haven’t had one of these in a while and it felt good to feel all these emotions. I was sad, happy, cried out and emotionally spent. I don’t think I’ve felt all these together in a while now.
Unbreak My heart was an adventure in its true self. You get a hero who is lost and broken and his heroine is a woman who knows how to glue him back together. You will feel everything these characters are feelings as you’re reading it. That’s how real it feels.
This was an emotionally raw and devastatingly beautiful read that will leave you breathless.
I couldn’t get enough of these beautiful words and of these beautiful characters in this book.
Second chance novels are a weakness of mine and I devour these suckers in a few hours time.
I absolutely loved everything about this poignant and breathtaking story about hope, healing, and finding a beautiful life. It begins with Andrew heartbroken after suffering major loss. He’s so wrapped up in his own sorrow, he struggles to find the energy to live the life he has worked hard for. When he receives a call from a friend of his brother’s in Japan, it raises many unanswered questions. He decides to go there, not understanding why he needs these answers so desperately. When Holland, the only woman he has ever loved and who broke his heart 3 years ago, pays him a visit, he is excited that she offers to go along with him to Japan. Andrew and Holland embark on a journey, looking for answers that aren’t easy, and many are for Andrew alone to discover. I really loved Andrew and Holland. They know each other so well, supporting each other unconditionally, and their chemistry is so explosive it leaps right off the page.
This story is an exploration of life and happiness that is individual to all of us. It is a journey more and more of us face today and Ms Blakey addresses it all so honestly and with great empathy. I loved that it still has Blakely’s signature wit and banter, which add much needed levity. It moved me and took my breath away making me cry from both sorrow and joy. This is a true testament to the masterful way Blakely weaved this beautiful story. She has a magical way of making us feel like we are there on this journey with them. This second chance love story is as real as it gets. I would love to give it more stars if I could! You really need to experience this for yourself!
Wow!! Lauren Blakely is known for her RomComs, but she completely left me speechless with Unbreak my heart! I am so in love with this story! It was so much more than a romance story! I am absolutely in love with everything about this story!! Five stars are nowhere near enough!
Lauren Blakely is brilliant in her newest passion project Unbreak My Heart!! Whilst different from ANYTHING we’ve ever read from her, this story will literally break you heart and slowly piece it back together. I finished this book right before bed and, as the tears streamed down my cheeks, I felt so grateful to experience this journey.
this is a story of healing, and love, and grief and understanding. Each just as important as the other. this second chance love story becomes the catalyst for all other ways to heal the heart.
Andrew and Holland are completely perfect is both their journeys to love and discovering themselves outside of their love for each other. They were both willing to set it free to be whole, but choosing each other every day and their willingness to move mountains to make that happen filled my heart SO FULL!!!
Andrew’s journey of self healing was incredible. I felt so grateful to read this story. One of the best stories of the year!!
“I love you so much it hurts, and it hurts so good. Keep making it hurt. I need it. I need you.”
Lauren Blakely carried my delicate heart in her hands the whole way through with Unbreak My Heart. This delicious, sexy, and emotionally draining second chance love story was as pure of a romance that you could get. Trust that Holland and Andrew’s happily ever after will be WELL WORTH the many tears you will shed throughout their journey.