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melbie 's review for:
How to Mend a Broken Heart
by Rachael Johns
UConsidering we can't travel at the moment, this book was a great way to get a dose of overseas without leaving the house! I was drawn to this novel because of its New Orleans setting, and I was impressed by the attention to detail that Johns has included in regards to the Crescent City. I loved the descriptions of the city, and having been to many of the same places, found that I was transported to the streets and architecture of NOLA, in a way that was comforting. I know that some reviewers have said they felt that it was a bit "touristy" and generic in descriptions at times, but I felt that it was clear that the author had been to the areas mentioned and that there was a great passion for the city shown in the way in which she wrote about the destination. I really felt like I was in amongst the happenings of Flick's time in the place. I didn't realise that this was a follow up novel, so it is testament to the author that this book could be read as a standalone. The characters were well rounded enough that you didn't have to know about their past lives to understand their relationships with each other or their motivations. I liked that Flick was a taxidermist! Of course, it was somewhat clear where the story was heading on several different fronts but that didn't make it any less enjoyable. I found that I liked Flick's side of the story better than Zoe's, as I didn't particularly like Zoe as a character until about two thirds into the book, when she became less annoying. I think there was a lot happening in the book so it was quite long for the genre, and when I had finished I thought that maybe less might have been more. For example, once Aurelia was introduced it could have been another book in itself rather than part of this one. I also thought the Flick/Sofia saga was a bit out of place, especially once I realised that aspect had already been dealt with in the previous book. I didn't dislike it but I felt it was a bit tacked on to cause drama that didn't need to be there. Maybe. A couple of times i just thought that I would have liked to just read about Flick's trip without the addition of others. The romance was corny but in a good and not unexpected way, and the loving relationships between all the characters, including supporting ones like Toby, Emma and Neve, was at times a bit too saccharine! That said, I did enjoy this novel, and its positivity, especially as a comforting read during these crazy times!