Author: Lynsey James
Publisher: Carina
Publication Date: September 2015
Genre: Contemporary Romance / New Adult / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN
Description: Secrets never stay buried for long...
Lucy Harper has always been good at one thing: running from her past. But when her beloved Nana Lily passes away she has no choice except to return to the one place in the world she most wants to avoid...
Luna Bay hasn't changed much in the eight years she has spent in London. The little Yorkshire village is still just as beautiful, but the new pub landlord is a gorgeous addition to the scenery!
Lucy only intended to stay for a day, yet when she discovers that Nana Lily has not only left her a cottage but also The Broken Hearts Book Club, Lucy is intrigued. Her Nana never have mentioned the club and Lucy can't wait to get started, but walking into her first meeting she is more aware than ever that her past is finally catching up with her.
One way or another, Lucy must finally face the secrets she's kept buried for so long-or spend the rest of her life on the run...
My Thoughts: I thoroughly enjoyed this book on so many levels! This book is expertly character and relationship driven and I found myself finding it difficult to not like anyone. Even the odious Maggie and Rachel garnered some sympathy from me. This book touches on so many topics that pulled on my heartstrings so hard. Obviously, there’s grief, as the title alludes to and our protagonist Lucy knows a lot about that, having just lost her Nana as well as the horrible thing that happened to her best friend, Vicky, eight years ago.
There’s also forgiveness. Forgiving others is part of moving on, but often we forget to forgive ourselves and that is crucial to healing. There is an immense amount of forgiveness needing to happen in Luna Bay.
Letting go and opening ourselves up to another kind of life with another kind of happiness does not always mean forgetting the past, especially when you’re grieving the death of a loved one and I loved that Lucy wants the members of the book club to do that and even though her intentions aren’t all met with a spirit of acceptance or succeed as planned, Lucy doesn’t give up. Her flaw is that she gives up all too easily on herself, doesn’t open herself up to risks or chances when it deals with matters of the heart and is likely to sacrifice her happiness and run away. With the book club inheritance from her Nana, Lucy learns that she can open herself to second chances and new beginnings.
I loved all the characters, OK most of the characters. The ones I didn’t love, I had compassion and empathy for. The members of the book club were all so diverse and their grief journeys got me right in the feels.
The relationships in this book were fantastic to watch unfold. Lucy’s relationship with her parents, her best friend Elle, her roommate George and the members of the book club were lovely. I really loved Lucy and Jake both individually and as a couple and the fact that he’s a single dad added a great twist that was handled beautifully.
Lastly, I loved the book club’s reading selections and I wouldn’t be a true bookworm if I didn’t admit to wanting to be a part of this book club. Instead, I had to live vicariously through Lucy and join them in spirit, however my to be read pile is taller now, thanks to the books they chose to read. I want to read them too. I also want to read the other books in this series.
Lynsey James is an author you should add to your must-read authors list. This was my second book by her and I have one other on the list with the rest of her backlist on my wish list. Honestly, it’s authors like Lynsey James who are the reason why I will never get all of my books read, and that’s a good thing.
My Final Verdict: Overall, I highly recommend this book to readers who love stories that touch your heart, make you laugh, make you cry and make you want more.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The Broken Hearts Book Club from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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