The Broken Hearts Book Club - Lynsey James

I made a comment on Twitter that the entire time I was reading this book I kept saying, "how cute!" It is entirely true now, a couple days after completion, that I think this book is one cute read. The Broken Hearts Book Club by Lynsey James was released yesterday. If Autumn weather puts you in the mood to cuddle up in a blanket and read a happy book, this one is for you. Plus, the cover is really cute. I would hang it as a print in my office if I could.

3 Stars
Published: October 2015
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my review.

Goodreads Amazon

Lucy has been running from her past for 8 years, avoiding her hometown of Luna Bay even during Christmas. Her Nana Lily's passing has brought her home and nothing is keeping Lucy there, not even the new handsome bar owner, Jake. However, things don't ever seem to work how Lucy plans them. Nana Lily's will leaves Lucy her Rose Cottage and The Broken Hearts Book Club. Lucy didn't intend to get wrapped up in The Broken Hearts Book Club, but something keeps her around and as life keeps moving on, Lucy may find herself at home in Luna Bay.

Lucy is a riot, not only is she the most random character whose POV I have read from, but she does some strange things that make me question her sanity. That said, she's genuine and watching her life, and the puzzle pieces it was left in, come together is a joy. I enjoy her interactions with her friends, her family, and all the members of the book club. I like reading about a character who solely thinks of others happiness, even when their happiness is hanging on a thread, off a cliff, ready to dive into the ocean at any time. The book club is a fascinating group and even though their stories aren't detailed, I grew to enjoy them and Lucy's interactions with them all, even the snarly ones. Reading about their trials and how they move on makes this book that much more enjoyable. There are some twists that you won't expect and that I won't give away, but will surprise you and help you understand why Lucy acts how she does. This is a book about loving yourself, forgiving yourself, and learning to let others in.

The Broken Hearts Book Club is a quick read and while I struggled to get through the first 30%, I found myself turning the pages as fast as I could after that. I struggled quite a bit at keeping Lucy's thoughts arranged, it was almost easier to picture her doing odd things than reading them from her POV. I like a character I can understand and I didn't get Lucy at all at first. She did grow on me a lot though and her quirkiness became a quality I liked. The romance in this book moved at the speed of light, at one point I thought I might have missed something during an argument between two characters. While I enjoyed the romance aspect, and reading about Lucy's happiness, I couldn't quite picture the couple together because I never had a firm grasp on them from their first meetings and non-date. I like a romance that forms over time, and while this one had its struggles through the entire book before a conclusion, it never once played out in my head as a romantic story.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading books about books and just about anyone going through a hard time in life looking for a pick me up. There are mentions of books that the book club is reading and if you're anything like me, you'll write them all down and read them too. It's a relaxing book and will lift your spirits reading about the characters facing their broken hearts one at a time.