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ccassidy98's review against another edition
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness and Grief
Moderate: Infidelity, Alcohol, Car accident, Death, and Alcoholism
lanayagraham's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I listened to this audiobook because I love the narrator and decided to take a chance on it despite mixed reviews. I am very torn over the ethics of this type of story. For me, the writing gets a 10/10: I loved the characters, their direct communication, and character development, as well as the writing style. The part I struggle with is that i just don't know how i feel about divorce in Anders' situation... I'd try another book by Paige Toon, but maybe check content warnings beforehand 🤷🏻♀️
TW: infidelity
TW: infidelity
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Mental illness, Alcohol, and Death
melissaslibraryy's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book was absolutely gut wrenching and made me ball my eyes out a couple times but I loved it nonetheless. One thing I will say is that both the mc’s are better than me bc I’m one petty mf and I’m the type to hold grudges until the day I die, so for them to be so forgiving and even APOLOGIZE to the people that wronged them made me want to jump into the book and slap some sense into them and the person hurting them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Death, Grief, Abandonment, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Chronic illness, and Cursing
Minor: Sexual content, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Pregnancy
ecravens's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Cursing, Alcohol, Child death, Sexual content, Car accident, and Infidelity
readingwithtrey's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Wow, this was heartbreaking and left me with so many mixed feelings. It's such a hard one to rate. But I've settled with 4 stars for one main reason: This book left me with so many questions around some of my core beliefs, and I LOVE books like that.
I really enjoy emotional reads, and I could tell from the first page (beyond the title) that this would be a tearjerker. What I didn't know was that it would bring up some philosophical questions and uncomfortable feelings. I don't want to give any spoilers, but the circumstances surrounding Anders' wife really gave me the ick. It's so hard to explain why without giving too much information, but the plot line really makes you think deeply about how far "til death do us part" goes. I think that one's feelings about that phrase could definitely impact how they feel about this book.
This wasn't a 5 star read for me because I just couldn't get behind Wren's actions after finding out the secret that Anders was keeping. I don't think it was her place to try to influence his decisions at all. She really laid the guilt on thick. And I think if the book ending differently (without the HEA) it would have been 5 stars. I actually had mentally prepared myself for that to happen because it seemed as though it was headed in that direction, and I think the story would have been that much more powerful. The ending also felt pretty rushed.
Overall, I would definitely recommend it. This one would be GREAT for book clubs because there are so many good talking points.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this arc! All opinions are my own.
I really enjoy emotional reads, and I could tell from the first page (beyond the title) that this would be a tearjerker. What I didn't know was that it would bring up some philosophical questions and uncomfortable feelings. I don't want to give any spoilers, but the circumstances surrounding Anders' wife really gave me the ick. It's so hard to explain why without giving too much information, but the plot line really makes you think deeply about how far "til death do us part" goes. I think that one's feelings about that phrase could definitely impact how they feel about this book.
This wasn't a 5 star read for me because I just couldn't get behind Wren's actions after finding out the secret that Anders was keeping. I don't think it was her place to try to influence his decisions at all. She really laid the guilt on thick. And I think if the book ending differently (without the HEA) it would have been 5 stars. I actually had mentally prepared myself for that to happen because it seemed as though it was headed in that direction, and I think the story would have been that much more powerful. The ending also felt pretty rushed.
Overall, I would definitely recommend it. This one would be GREAT for book clubs because there are so many good talking points.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this arc! All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Minor: Infidelity
catsandbookstacks's review against another edition
3.0
Paige Toon offers an emotional contemporary novel that searches for happiness while dealing with loss and change.
I liked how Wren came to terms with the narrative she's told herself over the years since her parents' divorce and setting down new roots that will help her to grow as a person and in her career. Her character arc felt quite natural to me. Anders and Jonah are quiet stern types but also adore their family's farm. Both are managing their own issues, though Anders' is quite over the top. There are a lot of characters who get page time, which isn't necessarily a bad thing because I really did enjoy Wren's family, but I wish there'd been more focus on Wren and Anders.
I did find the novel to be overwritten at times and just wanted the plot to move along. There was a sort of repetitive nature in Wren's first person POV that could've been tightened up.
I'd recommend Only Love Can Hurt Like This to those who enjoy an emotionally driven contemporary love story about fighting for those you love (that does have an HEA) but also has a wide focus on family.
I liked how Wren came to terms with the narrative she's told herself over the years since her parents' divorce and setting down new roots that will help her to grow as a person and in her career. Her character arc felt quite natural to me. Anders and Jonah are quiet stern types but also adore their family's farm. Both are managing their own issues, though Anders' is quite over the top. There are a lot of characters who get page time, which isn't necessarily a bad thing because I really did enjoy Wren's family, but I wish there'd been more focus on Wren and Anders.
I did find the novel to be overwritten at times and just wanted the plot to move along. There was a sort of repetitive nature in Wren's first person POV that could've been tightened up.
I'd recommend Only Love Can Hurt Like This to those who enjoy an emotionally driven contemporary love story about fighting for those you love (that does have an HEA) but also has a wide focus on family.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Infidelity, Ableism, Death, Grief, and Alcoholism
rereadsromance's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Only Love Can Hurt Like This is the first book I’ve read by Paige Toon and I already cannot wait to read more of her work. I devoured this story in one sitting.
Wren flees her small English town with a broken heart and a lifelong worth of hurts and insecurities that are exacerbated when she arrives at her Dad and stepmom’s house in America. She has always felt like an outsider within the family her dad created with her stepmom and half sister, when he left her mother. Wren is in Indiana trying to heal her wounds after her fiance confessed to being in love with another woman and is protecting her heart from further damage by keeping an emotional distance from her dad, stepmom, and sister, Bailey.
On a night out with her sister Bailey, Wren meets Anders and his brother Jonas who become quick friends, but her attraction to Anders is immediate. Unfortunately, Anders is also broken-hearted and not looking to start a romance with anyone, anytime soon.
Slowly, Wren starts to lower her walls around her sister and begins to realize that her childhood heartbreak and feelings of abandonment have caused her to act as an outsider with her family, even when they were genuinely trying to show her affection.
Anders has become important to Wren and helps her understand that she does not see herself clearly and that she is worthy of love and admiration from her family. All the while its obvious that they are falling hard for each other, but Anders is quick to retreat as soon as he feels he is getting too close to Wren. It’s frustrating, but their affection for one another never wavers. Eventually, we learn the true extent of Anders’ heartbreak and why it's keeping him from Wren.
Wren and Anders’ story broke my heart and then pieced it back together. I loved every page of their story. I loved watching Wren heal her relationship with her family, I loved watching her grow her relationship with her sister, I loved the friendship she formed with Jonas, I loved watching her heal her broken heart and risk it all with Anders even knowing it would probably devastate her. Also, the epilogue was perfect.
Wren flees her small English town with a broken heart and a lifelong worth of hurts and insecurities that are exacerbated when she arrives at her Dad and stepmom’s house in America. She has always felt like an outsider within the family her dad created with her stepmom and half sister, when he left her mother. Wren is in Indiana trying to heal her wounds after her fiance confessed to being in love with another woman and is protecting her heart from further damage by keeping an emotional distance from her dad, stepmom, and sister, Bailey.
On a night out with her sister Bailey, Wren meets Anders and his brother Jonas who become quick friends, but her attraction to Anders is immediate. Unfortunately, Anders is also broken-hearted and not looking to start a romance with anyone, anytime soon.
Slowly, Wren starts to lower her walls around her sister and begins to realize that her childhood heartbreak and feelings of abandonment have caused her to act as an outsider with her family, even when they were genuinely trying to show her affection.
Anders has become important to Wren and helps her understand that she does not see herself clearly and that she is worthy of love and admiration from her family. All the while its obvious that they are falling hard for each other, but Anders is quick to retreat as soon as he feels he is getting too close to Wren. It’s frustrating, but their affection for one another never wavers. Eventually, we learn the true extent of Anders’ heartbreak and why it's keeping him from Wren.
Wren and Anders’ story broke my heart and then pieced it back together. I loved every page of their story. I loved watching Wren heal her relationship with her family, I loved watching her grow her relationship with her sister, I loved the friendship she formed with Jonas, I loved watching her heal her broken heart and risk it all with Anders even knowing it would probably devastate her. Also, the epilogue was perfect.
Content Warnings
Minor: Infidelity and Death
skudiklier's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This might sound weird, but this book was exactly the right amount of devastating. I probably should have expected some pain from the title, but I didn't expect how *real* this book would feel. It was sad, and there were some dramatic revelations of course, but it felt so--I don't know how to put it. Reasonable? It felt like real people making real decisions in a really tough, complicated situation that can easily be seen from very different perspectives.
I would definitely recommend Only Love Can Hurt Like This to fans of romance, drama, contemporary fiction, and character-focused stories. I loved this book and definitely want to read more of Toon's work now. Thank you to Netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the chance to read and review this ARC.
I would definitely recommend Only Love Can Hurt Like This to fans of romance, drama, contemporary fiction, and character-focused stories. I loved this book and definitely want to read more of Toon's work now. Thank you to Netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the chance to read and review this ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Alcohol
Moderate: Grief, Sexual content, and Death
Minor: Car accident, Child death, Pregnancy, Death of parent, and Ableism
what_karla_reads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
5/5 stars
1/5 spice
An intense love story full of heart break and hope. I was hurting right up until the last couple of chapters.
Tropes:
Forbidden love
Close proximity
Friends to lovers
Hurting / Healing
Found family
I think the author did an amazing job keeping the reader on edge the entire time. Anders and Wren's love story was a slow burn laced with tragedy, but you just couldn't help holding out hope that things would turn around for them. It was excruciating but so honest and raw. I was dying for Anders' POV. I never expected to read his POV, so when it came at the end when everything was so tense it was an amazing surprise and very emotional.
I loved the whole cast of characters and felt that Wren was such a relatable heroine. All the emotional damage she had from feeling her father's neglect, her ex's betrayal, feeling less than compared to her sister, Bailey... it was all expressed so well that you could really feel what she was going through. The growth Wren experienced outside of her story with Anders was nice to see. I'm happy she repaired her family relationships and made new friends that would give her that sense of community.
This wasn't a fully closed door romance since there was one full scene, but I rated it low because it wasn't very detailed. It wouldn't have made sense to have more in the story and I'm very satisfied with how the author handled that part.
Overall a great read with lots of angst, pining, and heart wrenching moments. Highly recommend for fans of forbidden romance and slow burn friends to lovers.
I was given an ARC by Netgalley and Penguin Group. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered freely.
1/5 spice
An intense love story full of heart break and hope. I was hurting right up until the last couple of chapters.
Tropes:
Forbidden love
Close proximity
Friends to lovers
Hurting / Healing
Found family
I think the author did an amazing job keeping the reader on edge the entire time. Anders and Wren's love story was a slow burn laced with tragedy, but you just couldn't help holding out hope that things would turn around for them. It was excruciating but so honest and raw. I was dying for Anders' POV. I never expected to read his POV, so when it came at the end when everything was so tense it was an amazing surprise and very emotional.
I loved the whole cast of characters and felt that Wren was such a relatable heroine. All the emotional damage she had from feeling her father's neglect, her ex's betrayal, feeling less than compared to her sister, Bailey... it was all expressed so well that you could really feel what she was going through. The growth Wren experienced outside of her story with Anders was nice to see. I'm happy she repaired her family relationships and made new friends that would give her that sense of community.
This wasn't a fully closed door romance since there was one full scene, but I rated it low because it wasn't very detailed. It wouldn't have made sense to have more in the story and I'm very satisfied with how the author handled that part.
Overall a great read with lots of angst, pining, and heart wrenching moments. Highly recommend for fans of forbidden romance and slow burn friends to lovers.
I was given an ARC by Netgalley and Penguin Group. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered freely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Grief
Moderate: Abandonment and Alcohol
Minor: Infidelity, Death, Toxic friendship, and Sexual content
ems_rxlibrary's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Infidelity and Cursing
Minor: Sexual content