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akiikomori's review against another edition
3.0
This was more of a break filler book between everything I’ve been reading – I honestly didn’t think I’d get to reading this book, but here we are.
Very similar to the first novel, Hector and the Search for Happiness, the story follows Hector’s story as he searches for the secret to love and the components of love. Love is a very complicated thing so I’m surprised they managed to put it in a book.
This book gives a unique insight to love and notes about love but I wouldn’t take them too much to heart, perhaps use them as references if at all.
Hector is a psychiatrist and has noticed that a lot of his patients come to him about love – how to find it, how to get over it, how to keep it, how to deal with it.
After being invited to a pharmaceutical meeting, he is sent on a journey to find a professor that’s currently studying love and how to bottle it into a drug. He believes love can make people happy, and the company believes this will be something that people will spend money on. But Hector believes that love is more complicated than people can understand, however he is interested in people’s views and perspectives of it.
First, this book is a lovely follow-up and addition to the series, however, I feel like perhaps it lost its lackluster in comparison to the first novel.
There was something magical about it, like someone reading the book to a child for a bedtime story, told in a very innocent tone that was calm and soothing. This book has that same similar tone but just different – not as whimsical as the first novel.
It definitely made a lot of good points that were backed by science (although how accurate the science is, I don’t know since I’m not a science major), but it seemed pretty cohesive to me.
Hector spoke about the five components of heartbreak as well, which I won’t talk about because spoilers, but it isn’t until the very end that the components of heartbreak, which seem negative, are turned into a more positive light.
Overall the story was very interesting and did shed a certain light about the aspects of love and what love could mean to some people, but it’s hard to really have an opinion when you remember that this book is fiction, even if it was written by a psychiatrist turned author. I get what message he’s trying to relay but love is so complex that I don’t think it’s something you can explain and bottle in a book.
This book was still entertaining and was easy to follow – a quick read, and somewhat informative.
It was a good filler book but I wouldn’t put too much stock in it or take the book too seriously.
3/5 Hearts of Love
Very similar to the first novel, Hector and the Search for Happiness, the story follows Hector’s story as he searches for the secret to love and the components of love. Love is a very complicated thing so I’m surprised they managed to put it in a book.
This book gives a unique insight to love and notes about love but I wouldn’t take them too much to heart, perhaps use them as references if at all.
Hector is a psychiatrist and has noticed that a lot of his patients come to him about love – how to find it, how to get over it, how to keep it, how to deal with it.
After being invited to a pharmaceutical meeting, he is sent on a journey to find a professor that’s currently studying love and how to bottle it into a drug. He believes love can make people happy, and the company believes this will be something that people will spend money on. But Hector believes that love is more complicated than people can understand, however he is interested in people’s views and perspectives of it.
First, this book is a lovely follow-up and addition to the series, however, I feel like perhaps it lost its lackluster in comparison to the first novel.
There was something magical about it, like someone reading the book to a child for a bedtime story, told in a very innocent tone that was calm and soothing. This book has that same similar tone but just different – not as whimsical as the first novel.
It definitely made a lot of good points that were backed by science (although how accurate the science is, I don’t know since I’m not a science major), but it seemed pretty cohesive to me.
Hector spoke about the five components of heartbreak as well, which I won’t talk about because spoilers, but it isn’t until the very end that the components of heartbreak, which seem negative, are turned into a more positive light.
Overall the story was very interesting and did shed a certain light about the aspects of love and what love could mean to some people, but it’s hard to really have an opinion when you remember that this book is fiction, even if it was written by a psychiatrist turned author. I get what message he’s trying to relay but love is so complex that I don’t think it’s something you can explain and bottle in a book.
This book was still entertaining and was easy to follow – a quick read, and somewhat informative.
It was a good filler book but I wouldn’t put too much stock in it or take the book too seriously.
3/5 Hearts of Love
jmj697mn's review against another edition
3.0
Oh Hector. I guess the best part of this book was the last 15 pages. I'm sure I'll read the next one because I'm starting to like Hector.
gertrude314's review against another edition
5.0
This book was a continuation of Hector and the Search for Happiness, which I loved. It's written in this simple style, which I find quaint. It's a cute story with a blurry ending, but still left me satisfied. I love the little seedlings and his perspective on love. Great, easy book.
clare_tan_wenhui's review against another edition
2.0
I had just reviewed the first book in this series [b:Hector and the Search for Happiness|8257435|Hector and the Search for Happiness|François Lelord|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1347471539s/8257435.jpg|13105229], saying that the sleaziness was still bearable, and not overdone to spoil the charm of the fable. Here it has unfortunately gone overboard. It does not help that the story smacks of a incoherent jungle adventure in style of Indiana Jones, horribly mashed with a soap opera romance. I serious hope the third book of [b:Hector Finds Time|13648309|Hector Finds Time|François Lelord|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1336957339s/13648309.jpg|27262640] in this series which I'm going to start on, will revert to the first.
fuckthisshit's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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? No
4.0
Wonderful insights into love and romance. A real joy to read. Highly amusing and entertaining
sarahannedipity's review against another edition
3.0
While Francois Lelord's first Hector book, Hector and the Search for Happiness was one of the best (new) books I've read in a long time, Hector and the Secrets of Love disappointed. The charming qualities that kept me laughing in Search for Happiness were missing from Search for Love. I found myself having to push myself to finish the book. I kept hoping that something redeeming would happen, but alas I found myself happy that the book had finally come to a close.
elysareadsitall's review against another edition
5.0
I liked this second installment of Hector's adventures just as much as the first. I can't pick a favorite yet. The simple, fable style writing really is a great way to explore complex emotions. On top of that, it was a fun story with a lot of surprises.
rainbowbookworm's review against another edition
5.0
Hector's life complicates itself significantly in another self-help narrative which teaches us about relationships.
teawithdee's review against another edition
3.0
This book as a novel would be like a 2. The plot, the characters, the pace of the book (for a little book, it took forever to read this).
But as a self help book it was like a 4.
I find myself at a certain age and stage where my 20 year old married love sometimes feels a bit insecure. Reading about oxytocin and dopamine made me ponder (and google) further.
Then my favourite advice comes at the end and it is in a language I really appreciate.
Love is Fulfilment (other side of neediness)
Love is Giving (other side of guilt)
Love is Gratitude (other side of anger)
Love is Self Confidence (other side of low self esteem)
Love is Serenity (other side of fear)
To me that so perfectly explains love that I am going to write this in my journal and keep it near me to remind myself what to seek and what to avoid. #3 and #5 hit close to home for me.
But as a self help book it was like a 4.
I find myself at a certain age and stage where my 20 year old married love sometimes feels a bit insecure. Reading about oxytocin and dopamine made me ponder (and google) further.
Then my favourite advice comes at the end and it is in a language I really appreciate.
Love is Fulfilment (other side of neediness)
Love is Giving (other side of guilt)
Love is Gratitude (other side of anger)
Love is Self Confidence (other side of low self esteem)
Love is Serenity (other side of fear)
To me that so perfectly explains love that I am going to write this in my journal and keep it near me to remind myself what to seek and what to avoid. #3 and #5 hit close to home for me.