Scan barcode
A review by cleansetolovers
The Heartbreak Handshake by J.R. Hart
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
CW: discussions of Real-life aviation disasters resulting in death, Autistic character faces unkindness for being autistic, Referenced ace-phobia
“I like that you’re here. And I like who I am when we spend time together. I… feel safe with you.”
The Heartbreak Handshake by @jrhartauthor just made me cry with how lovely it was to watch these two humans come together. This no-spice romance takes place in the lovely Clover Hill universe, the small queer town of your dreams. Our couple in this book is a M/NB pairing, both of whom are neurodivergent and with both being on the Ace spectrum.
The story goes like this, Paxton, Clover Hill’s local ride-share driver/handyman is constantly getting badgered by Mrs. Sawyer to find a partner. Remi, Mrs. Sawyer’s child, has also been dealing with their mother’s constant match-making and gentle pushes to move back to Clover Hill. Seeking a solution, Remi and Paxton agree to fake date to get Mrs. Sawyer of their backs and give themselves a chance to get to know one other before Remi leaves town. Over apple picking and watching videos about plane disasters, Paxton and Remi start to open up to each other in ways that neither had expected to, and begin to see if their is a way to grow their partnership that works for them.
Paxton and Remi’s fake dating story is just such a trip! This is the first romance I’ve read with one of characters being a sex-repulsed Ace, and getting to learn more how Remi’s experiences navigating their desires and relationships as a sex-repulsed Ace is super cool. Paxton’s experiences as dating as autistic person also really resonated beautifully, and with his declaration that Remi is the first person that Pax has ever felt safe with really just caught me in the feels. As I’ve said about previous Clover Hill books, I just love the way the world operates and it’s always a pleasure to come back in for a spell.
“I like that you’re here. And I like who I am when we spend time together. I… feel safe with you.”
The Heartbreak Handshake by @jrhartauthor just made me cry with how lovely it was to watch these two humans come together. This no-spice romance takes place in the lovely Clover Hill universe, the small queer town of your dreams. Our couple in this book is a M/NB pairing, both of whom are neurodivergent and with both being on the Ace spectrum.
The story goes like this, Paxton, Clover Hill’s local ride-share driver/handyman is constantly getting badgered by Mrs. Sawyer to find a partner. Remi, Mrs. Sawyer’s child, has also been dealing with their mother’s constant match-making and gentle pushes to move back to Clover Hill. Seeking a solution, Remi and Paxton agree to fake date to get Mrs. Sawyer of their backs and give themselves a chance to get to know one other before Remi leaves town. Over apple picking and watching videos about plane disasters, Paxton and Remi start to open up to each other in ways that neither had expected to, and begin to see if their is a way to grow their partnership that works for them.
Paxton and Remi’s fake dating story is just such a trip! This is the first romance I’ve read with one of characters being a sex-repulsed Ace, and getting to learn more how Remi’s experiences navigating their desires and relationships as a sex-repulsed Ace is super cool. Paxton’s experiences as dating as autistic person also really resonated beautifully, and with his declaration that Remi is the first person that Pax has ever felt safe with really just caught me in the feels. As I’ve said about previous Clover Hill books, I just love the way the world operates and it’s always a pleasure to come back in for a spell.