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Love in Galway #2
Heart Strings
Not yet published
Expected 12 Aug 25A sizzling exes-to-lovers second- chance romance from the author of Morbidly Yours, the “sweet, spicy, and fabulous� (Abby Jimenez, #1 New York Times bestselling author) TikTok sensation
She doesn’t do second chances. But he's not done writing their song.
Cielo “Lo� Valdez doesn’t believe in second chances. Surviving cancer taught her life is too short to spend time on someone who wronged you. But Aidan O’Toole is determined to show her life is best spent together.
When the tough-as-nails Texan moved to Galway for medical school, she wasn’t looking for love. Aidan, a gorgeous, tattooed, mandolin-playing lawyer, slipped past her defenses. They each fell hard and fast. But when Aidan was given the opportunity of a lifetime—to move to London and record an album—he took it, breaking Lo's heart. Yet more than two years and a successful album later, every song he writes is still about her, the one he let get away. And every time Lo hears his voice on the radio singing about love, it’s an arrow straight to her soul.
Now they’re on a collision course as maid of honor and best man at a weekend-long Irish castle wedding. Are some mistakes worth forgiving? Can Aidan convince Lo their song wasn’t meant to end?
She doesn’t do second chances. But he's not done writing their song.
Cielo “Lo� Valdez doesn’t believe in second chances. Surviving cancer taught her life is too short to spend time on someone who wronged you. But Aidan O’Toole is determined to show her life is best spent together.
When the tough-as-nails Texan moved to Galway for medical school, she wasn’t looking for love. Aidan, a gorgeous, tattooed, mandolin-playing lawyer, slipped past her defenses. They each fell hard and fast. But when Aidan was given the opportunity of a lifetime—to move to London and record an album—he took it, breaking Lo's heart. Yet more than two years and a successful album later, every song he writes is still about her, the one he let get away. And every time Lo hears his voice on the radio singing about love, it’s an arrow straight to her soul.
Now they’re on a collision course as maid of honor and best man at a weekend-long Irish castle wedding. Are some mistakes worth forgiving? Can Aidan convince Lo their song wasn’t meant to end?
Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 12, 2025
9,370 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 237 reviews
March 8, 2025
There’s a lot to like about this book � the setting is lovely, the side characters are fun, the tropes are troping � but there were a few things I had a hard time overlooking: we’re told ad nauseam that Lo is strong, lively, generous, and patient, but all we’re shown is a neurotic mess with control issues who isn’t in any position to be in a relationship with anybody but her therapist. Aidan is painted as a passionate, soulful artist but he just seems boring and starry-eyed. The biggest sin, the one I simply can’t forgive, is that he sings during phone sex. I don’t kink shame, but if someone tried to sing to me during sex, I think I’d just give up and run away forever. Imagine someone singing during sex. Actually, don’t.
March 11, 2025
sigh, this was one of my most anticipated reads since i found out about it after absolutely loving morbidly yours and unfortunately i did not love it.
what started of promising died a very fast death around the 80% mark which i should have seen coming as “i love yous� were exchanged 76% in. as this was a second chance romance i tried not to think too hard into it, hoping that maybe wed just get fluff for the rest but i knew as soon as i read the end of 29 exactly what was coming lol.
what followed after was honestly my last straw with lo. i tried to keep pushing my feelings about her to the side, you know shes been through a lot but at what point are we going to call it what it is that she just simply isnt likeable. letting people rule your life the way she does is just insane at her grown age. she is everything that is wrong with the miscommunication trope. she lets nobody give their side of things before assuming the worst and shutting down. in all honesty aidan deserves better plain and simple.
i enjoyed this book for the most part, i loved getting to see cal and larks wedding shenanigans, i loved all things aidan but at the end of the day lo kind of spoiled it all for me. i had no interest in finishing the book after her thousandth melt down over easily avoidable things.
what started of promising died a very fast death around the 80% mark which i should have seen coming as “i love yous� were exchanged 76% in. as this was a second chance romance i tried not to think too hard into it, hoping that maybe wed just get fluff for the rest but i knew as soon as i read the end of 29 exactly what was coming lol.
what followed after was honestly my last straw with lo. i tried to keep pushing my feelings about her to the side, you know shes been through a lot but at what point are we going to call it what it is that she just simply isnt likeable. letting people rule your life the way she does is just insane at her grown age. she is everything that is wrong with the miscommunication trope. she lets nobody give their side of things before assuming the worst and shutting down. in all honesty aidan deserves better plain and simple.
i enjoyed this book for the most part, i loved getting to see cal and larks wedding shenanigans, i loved all things aidan but at the end of the day lo kind of spoiled it all for me. i had no interest in finishing the book after her thousandth melt down over easily avoidable things.
April 13, 2025
I got to the 50% mark fairly easily, but then it took me a while to finish it, so I would give it a 3.5, rounded up!
Firstly, from the book description, I thought Cielo was going to be a bitch, excuse my language. However, thankfully, I had misunderstood her severely. While I was reading, I realized that she has just been through so much and has a lot of expectations on her, both from the people around her, like her mother, as well as herself. She is an ambitious woman and I related so hard to her sometimes when it comes to expectations and even just overall, obviously minus the romance part 🤭. Her character, her demeanor, the way she handles the problems in her life was so inspiring.
Aidan was such a sweet guy. Honestly, giving goals! He wrote songs about their relationships which I think is so cute. The way he took care of his family was sweet and the way he wanted to just write songs.
The relationship dynamic was nice. I did feel a little bit of insta-love and insta-lust elements, but I didn't mind it too much. I wish there was more angst.
Overall, I definitely would recommend this book. It is book 2 in the series, but idk if it's standalone or not. I felt like I could understand everything, so maybe consider reading book 1 first for more info about some of the other characters.
Second chance is literally such a good trope and you couldn't ever tell me that it wouldn't hit!
Thank you to Ivy Fairbanks, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, and Netgalley for this arc! 💕
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pre-read: ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, stop. I just got the arc. One of my favorite tropes: second chance because it will alway SERVE....serve angst to be specific! I'm actually going to be dropping everything to read this.
Firstly, from the book description, I thought Cielo was going to be a bitch, excuse my language. However, thankfully, I had misunderstood her severely. While I was reading, I realized that she has just been through so much and has a lot of expectations on her, both from the people around her, like her mother, as well as herself. She is an ambitious woman and I related so hard to her sometimes when it comes to expectations and even just overall, obviously minus the romance part 🤭. Her character, her demeanor, the way she handles the problems in her life was so inspiring.
Aidan was such a sweet guy. Honestly, giving goals! He wrote songs about their relationships which I think is so cute. The way he took care of his family was sweet and the way he wanted to just write songs.
The relationship dynamic was nice. I did feel a little bit of insta-love and insta-lust elements, but I didn't mind it too much. I wish there was more angst.
Overall, I definitely would recommend this book. It is book 2 in the series, but idk if it's standalone or not. I felt like I could understand everything, so maybe consider reading book 1 first for more info about some of the other characters.
Second chance is literally such a good trope and you couldn't ever tell me that it wouldn't hit!
Thank you to Ivy Fairbanks, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, and Netgalley for this arc! 💕
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pre-read: ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, stop. I just got the arc. One of my favorite tropes: second chance because it will alway SERVE....serve angst to be specific! I'm actually going to be dropping everything to read this.
March 17, 2025
def liked this one more than the first!! there were tears and there was yearning and there were laughs and there were wholesome moments. basically, this did everything i could ever want a second chance romance to do. the characters are so so easy to root for while also feeling very realistic, the romance felt genuine, it was just all so amazing. my one complaint would be with the ending � felt a tiny bit rushed + left a little to be desired � but overall i had such a great time!
thank you to penguin & netgalley for the arc! all opinions are my own <3
thank you to penguin & netgalley for the arc! all opinions are my own <3
March 31, 2025
First of all, let’s take a moment to appreciate just how adorable this cover is. I absolutely love it! Second, this book truly pulled on my heartstrings (see what I did there? 😉).
I adore Lo. She’s the kind of FMC I’d love to meet for coffee and give a hug to, just to tell her how strong I think she is.
It was so easy to root for Lo and Aidan. Their journey toward love unfolds like a beautiful, heartbreaking melody, and it’s one I’ll definitely be coming back to time and time again.
If you haven’t already, make sure to pick up Ivy’s first book, Morbidly Yours. I love Ivy’s writing and how she brings difficult topics to light in such a beautiful way. Just like Heart Strings, that one deserves all the praise as well.
Overall, bravo Ivy! I can not wait for your next book and look forward to kicking my feet and crying uncontrollably all over again.
Heart Strings hits shelves on August 12th!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for providing an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
I adore Lo. She’s the kind of FMC I’d love to meet for coffee and give a hug to, just to tell her how strong I think she is.
It was so easy to root for Lo and Aidan. Their journey toward love unfolds like a beautiful, heartbreaking melody, and it’s one I’ll definitely be coming back to time and time again.
If you haven’t already, make sure to pick up Ivy’s first book, Morbidly Yours. I love Ivy’s writing and how she brings difficult topics to light in such a beautiful way. Just like Heart Strings, that one deserves all the praise as well.
Overall, bravo Ivy! I can not wait for your next book and look forward to kicking my feet and crying uncontrollably all over again.
Heart Strings hits shelves on August 12th!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for providing an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
February 24, 2025
i'm sad to say I didn't enjoy this book like I did with morbidly yours. i wish their love story was presented better and introducted in the first book. I frankly did not connect much with either character and the constant lust factor really took me out of it. i'm looking forward to whatever ivy puts out next but this was a miss for me. thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC!
Shelved as 'tbr-2'
April 6, 2025| | |
Thank you NetGalley and Putnam for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
Thank you NetGalley and Putnam for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
Currently reading
November 13, 2024This cover 😍
Cannot wait to get my hands on this one!
Cannot wait to get my hands on this one!
April 20, 2025
Overall, 3 stars, this was a lot spicier than I expected. Usually, I adore second chance romance books, this story was good, not great, I read the book instead of feeling the book. I may need to check out the audiobook when it comes out, Aidan's accent may add half a star. The characters were good, but I wanted better character development. I'm all about a flawed main character, but Lo would've really benefited from therapy. She had some amazing qualities, she's hardworking, ambitious, loyal, but she also had so much trauma, cancer survivor, overbearing mother, absentee father, stress, etc. I wanted better conflict resolution with Lo and her dad. I liked Aidan and his commitment to supporting his family, that was so dang sweet and admirable.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC!
Format: ebook
*Second chance romance
*Musician/med student
*Cancer
*Spicy!! (includes BDSM)
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC!
Format: ebook
*Second chance romance
*Musician/med student
*Cancer
*Spicy!! (includes BDSM)
March 11, 2025
3.75 ⭐️- another second chance romance to add to my collection 😈
this book took me right back to Galway after finishing Morbidly Yours, and at this point I think I’m hyperfixating on Ireland. Sue me. But we get little time jump a few years in the future, a few years after Lo and Aidan called it quits after six months of dating when he moved to London to pursue his dream of being a musician. Forced to reunite for Callum and Lark’s upcoming wedding, Lo and Aidan are also forced to reckon with their lingering feelings years after their painful breakup.
both characters had their reasons to give up on their relationship, but a few years later, with the opportunity to reconcile, these two must decide whether it’s worth putting their hearts on the line one more time.
Lo was incredibly relatable in this book. A hyper-independent girlie who thinks she can do/fix anything herself, never wants to burden her loved ones by needing their help, and cutting off anyone who’s wronged her to try and preserve her heart that’s really quite fragile underneath the walls shes built. Aidan has to try and tear those walls down to get back the love of his life, and seeing these two grow and change and learn from the mistakes of their past was so gratifying.
I felt the writing improved a bit from Morbidly Yours, but I do still think there was some dialogue/moments that felt a bit disjointed/unrealistic. I decided to give this 3.75 stars but all around it was a really lovely book and I’m HOPING that miss Saoirse maybe gets a book next 👀
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the advance copy to review!
this book took me right back to Galway after finishing Morbidly Yours, and at this point I think I’m hyperfixating on Ireland. Sue me. But we get little time jump a few years in the future, a few years after Lo and Aidan called it quits after six months of dating when he moved to London to pursue his dream of being a musician. Forced to reunite for Callum and Lark’s upcoming wedding, Lo and Aidan are also forced to reckon with their lingering feelings years after their painful breakup.
both characters had their reasons to give up on their relationship, but a few years later, with the opportunity to reconcile, these two must decide whether it’s worth putting their hearts on the line one more time.
Lo was incredibly relatable in this book. A hyper-independent girlie who thinks she can do/fix anything herself, never wants to burden her loved ones by needing their help, and cutting off anyone who’s wronged her to try and preserve her heart that’s really quite fragile underneath the walls shes built. Aidan has to try and tear those walls down to get back the love of his life, and seeing these two grow and change and learn from the mistakes of their past was so gratifying.
I felt the writing improved a bit from Morbidly Yours, but I do still think there was some dialogue/moments that felt a bit disjointed/unrealistic. I decided to give this 3.75 stars but all around it was a really lovely book and I’m HOPING that miss Saoirse maybe gets a book next 👀
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the advance copy to review!
April 16, 2025
idk why but i could only picture aiden as harry styles
Want to read
November 25, 2024CAL AND LARK. I will be reading this mostly because I need an update
April 17, 2025
What to expect from this book:
✂️ He wrote an entire album about her
🎶 Cancer survivor who is going to school to be a doctor
✂️ Exes to lovers
🎶 She’s in control but he’s possessive
✂️ Binding kink
🎶 Dual first-person POV
✂️ 5 open door spicy scenes
“To the ones worth waiting for� 🥂
This is the second book in the Love in Galway series. While it could be read as a standalone, it makes more sense if you read book 1 (Morbidly Yours) first. Heart Strings takes place 2+ years after the end of Morbidly Yours.
Cielo “Lo� is an American living in Ireland while she goes through Med School. Aidan is a singer/songwriter from Galway (born in Cork), and Lo’s ex.
Since their breakup, Lo has done her best to avoid all traces of Aidan…which is hard to do since he has a song (written about her) that is on the radio. But when Lo’s cousin Lark marries Aidan’s friend Callum, Lo and Aidan are bound as maid of honor and best man—bound being the operative word! 🥵
Still guarded with hurt surrounding their breakup, Lo and Aidan decide if giving it another go would be a good idea or if they should leave the past in the past. What will become of their apology tour?
—ĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔ�
You know what? I wasn’t into this book for the first 30%. It wasn’t bad or anything, it just wasn’t clicking with me for some reason. But that changed during the last 70%. I liked the dynamic between the two main characters. The relationship conflicts between Lo and her parents was a nice side plot. The book isn’t without faults, but overall I thought this was a fun read. I even liked this book more than the first.
Thank you to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons and Ivy Fairbanks for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
✂️ He wrote an entire album about her
🎶 Cancer survivor who is going to school to be a doctor
✂️ Exes to lovers
🎶 She’s in control but he’s possessive
✂️ Binding kink
🎶 Dual first-person POV
✂️ 5 open door spicy scenes
“To the ones worth waiting for� 🥂
This is the second book in the Love in Galway series. While it could be read as a standalone, it makes more sense if you read book 1 (Morbidly Yours) first. Heart Strings takes place 2+ years after the end of Morbidly Yours.
Cielo “Lo� is an American living in Ireland while she goes through Med School. Aidan is a singer/songwriter from Galway (born in Cork), and Lo’s ex.
Since their breakup, Lo has done her best to avoid all traces of Aidan…which is hard to do since he has a song (written about her) that is on the radio. But when Lo’s cousin Lark marries Aidan’s friend Callum, Lo and Aidan are bound as maid of honor and best man—bound being the operative word! 🥵
Still guarded with hurt surrounding their breakup, Lo and Aidan decide if giving it another go would be a good idea or if they should leave the past in the past. What will become of their apology tour?
—ĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔ�
You know what? I wasn’t into this book for the first 30%. It wasn’t bad or anything, it just wasn’t clicking with me for some reason. But that changed during the last 70%. I liked the dynamic between the two main characters. The relationship conflicts between Lo and her parents was a nice side plot. The book isn’t without faults, but overall I thought this was a fun read. I even liked this book more than the first.
Thank you to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons and Ivy Fairbanks for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 5, 2025
4.5 stars
Another heartwrenchingly beautiful book from Ivy Fairbanks! I loved Cielo and Aidan soso much. This book sees these exes reunited as maid of honor and best man at their friends� wedding and it brings back all the feelings. The chemsitry between these two was everything. Time and distance only made the heart grow fonder for these two despite their best intentions. I loved seeing Lo and Aiden reconnect and grow to fit both their dreams. I think my only detraction was there a bit more tell than show and I think if we’d gotten a bit more of their past relationship as scenes it would’ve helped connect even more to the characters. But otherwise, definitely enjoyed this and can’t for more in the series!
Another heartwrenchingly beautiful book from Ivy Fairbanks! I loved Cielo and Aidan soso much. This book sees these exes reunited as maid of honor and best man at their friends� wedding and it brings back all the feelings. The chemsitry between these two was everything. Time and distance only made the heart grow fonder for these two despite their best intentions. I loved seeing Lo and Aiden reconnect and grow to fit both their dreams. I think my only detraction was there a bit more tell than show and I think if we’d gotten a bit more of their past relationship as scenes it would’ve helped connect even more to the characters. But otherwise, definitely enjoyed this and can’t for more in the series!
Want to read
November 13, 2024OBSESSED with the cover and cannot wait to go back to Galway and read Aiden and Lo’s story🥲🧡
February 4, 2025
Thank you so much Ivy, Putnam, and Netgalley for an advanced copy of Heart Strings. All opinions are my own & are completely honest. 💚
I was a little scared going into this book because of my own personal traumas with cancer and cancer treatment. But Ivy hasn't let me down yet with how she handles sensitive subjects. Seeing Lo grow and accomplish things, seeing her really live post treatment, healed something that broke in me after I lost my best friend. Lo faced the worst and came out the other side, not necessarily unscathed but more determined to make a difference with the second chance at life she was given.
I was so glad when she finally stepped away from what she considered safety to fully embrace what life is, even in the face of the unknown and scary. She's so incredibly strong and resilient. I really related to her need to not be a burden and her hyper independence.
I loved the way Aidan showed up for Lo, big or small. Once he realized he had the opportunity at a second chance, he listened, he cared and he showed it. The small things he does for Lo warm my heart so much and it's so incredibly beautiful to see a person love someone so loudly.
The side characters are so vibrant and full of life. They each have their own distinctive personality that really shines, even when they aren't the main focus. They don't outshine the main characters but they compliment them beautifully.
Ivy's writing is so genuine, so real, and full of heart and her characters, story and world reflect that. This book makes you feel like you know each one of them personally, they feel like home and comfort.
Heart Strings is a beautiful, magnificent, love story that will fill your heart to the brim. This is going to be one of those books that I'll never shut up about. 💚
I was a little scared going into this book because of my own personal traumas with cancer and cancer treatment. But Ivy hasn't let me down yet with how she handles sensitive subjects. Seeing Lo grow and accomplish things, seeing her really live post treatment, healed something that broke in me after I lost my best friend. Lo faced the worst and came out the other side, not necessarily unscathed but more determined to make a difference with the second chance at life she was given.
I was so glad when she finally stepped away from what she considered safety to fully embrace what life is, even in the face of the unknown and scary. She's so incredibly strong and resilient. I really related to her need to not be a burden and her hyper independence.
I loved the way Aidan showed up for Lo, big or small. Once he realized he had the opportunity at a second chance, he listened, he cared and he showed it. The small things he does for Lo warm my heart so much and it's so incredibly beautiful to see a person love someone so loudly.
The side characters are so vibrant and full of life. They each have their own distinctive personality that really shines, even when they aren't the main focus. They don't outshine the main characters but they compliment them beautifully.
Ivy's writing is so genuine, so real, and full of heart and her characters, story and world reflect that. This book makes you feel like you know each one of them personally, they feel like home and comfort.
Heart Strings is a beautiful, magnificent, love story that will fill your heart to the brim. This is going to be one of those books that I'll never shut up about. 💚
April 28, 2025
3.5⭐️Firstly, I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book! This book follows Cielo and Aidan, who are exes who have to work together to plan their best friend's weddings. Cielo survived cancer and doesn’t believe in second chances, while Aidan is determined to show her that they can spend their best life together. I didn’t read the first book in this series,e s but I had heard so many good things, so I was excited going into this. I thought this book was fun and easy. It was super fast-paced, and the characters were great. Some scenes in the book gave me the ick, but overall it was good! I recommend it if you want a second chance, a fast-paced and easy romance read!
Thank you again to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you again to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
April 13, 2025
I was invited to read this book early, and let me tell you—I’m so glad I did! I loved Morbidly Yours, but I actually liked this one better! I think it’s totally doable to be read as a standalone, but you should still read the first one for my favorite meet cute of all time. Second chance romance isn’t always my favorite, but I really liked this story. And that hearse scene…amazing! 😂 I loved the way they grew together, and this book not only had the humor mixed in that I loved, but it was also very emotional. Loved it!
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
April 26, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ for me! The beginning was a little bit slow but I really came to like Lo and A's story. I'm a sucker for second chance romances and this one really worked by the end.
I appreciated the drama and how it was handled - the conversations echo things I wish I could have said to people I care for, and it just came together well. I also appreciated that while there was drama, we avoided a third act breakup!
Really good story. Fun characters. Sweet romance and well written spicy scenes!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
I appreciated the drama and how it was handled - the conversations echo things I wish I could have said to people I care for, and it just came together well. I also appreciated that while there was drama, we avoided a third act breakup!
Really good story. Fun characters. Sweet romance and well written spicy scenes!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
March 23, 2025
I heard he sings to her during phone sex
� DNF 10%, also I don't seen how you can realistically attend medical school, including all your clinical rotations, in Europe and expect to match into a US residency and/or work in the US as a physician. please do your research before writing a romance novel about a medical student.
thank you G.P. Putnam's Sons for the arc in exchange for an honest review
platform: netgalley ebook arc
� DNF 10%, also I don't seen how you can realistically attend medical school, including all your clinical rotations, in Europe and expect to match into a US residency and/or work in the US as a physician. please do your research before writing a romance novel about a medical student.
thank you G.P. Putnam's Sons for the arc in exchange for an honest review
platform: netgalley ebook arc
March 30, 2025
3.5-4 ⭐️
The first book in this series, Morbidly Yours, is one of my personal favorites so it is probably no surprise that this was one of my most anticipated releases of this year! I loveee a second chance romance (especially with a Dual POV). I was SO thrilled to have the opportunity to read this one early!
I enjoyed getting to get more of a glimpse into Lark and Callum’s happily ever after in this book as we read about their wedding shenanigans. This book, like the first, had plenty of humor and heart with a hefty dose of quirkiness! While Lark and Callum still have my heart, Cielo and Aidan charmed me in their own way! As a Cancer survivor, Cielo is really resilient. I liked that this book explored what it is like for Cancer survivors to worry that it might come back and how it can affect the relationships in their lives. I think she will be relatable to many people with her hyper-independence, not wanting to burden others with her problems, and having walls up to protect herself from hurt. It was nice to see her learn to allow herself to lean more on others.
Aidan was sweet and so committed to trying to win Lo back and proving himself to her. After learning from the mistakes of their past, he became a great example of “if he wanted to, he would�. I loved seeing how well he shows up for her once she’s back in his life! Plus, the yearning?? The groveling?? Yes, please.😍 I liked how the book explored how people grapple with how much they are willing to compromise their values and shift priorities in the name of money and fame/success. He seemed to have a good set of values and a deep commitment to his friends and family despite all of his success. He was just a good guy all around! He’s definitely a softer, sweeter, more sensitive MMC, but he still has hot guy tattoos for a bit of edge haha. 😉
“Sometimes…The right person is standing directly in front of you. It might not be how or when or who you expect, but when it’s right, you feel it.�
These two certainly were a case of when you meet your person, you just know. It was clear they never stopped loving each other. They say distance makes the heart grow fonder and this seems to have held true for them. I like that they seem to bring out the best in each other and that she is his muse! 🥰
My only complaints for this book were that: I didn’t connect as well with these main characters quite as much as I had connected with Callum and Lark in Morbidly Yours. Lo, in particular, I found to be pretty frustrating at times due to her not setting boundaries or communicating well. I was a little frustrated by a certain character’s overstep toward the end (trying to stay vague to avoid spoiling things for others) because I felt like it took away from what could’ve been a moment of growth for Cielo. I also personally didn’t love how the spice scenes were written in this book. The way they talked to each other in these scenes just didn’t really work for me. This is a super subjective complaint though. What doesn’t work for me may very well work for others! (THAT SAID, I will say that I appreciated how these scenes helped Lo explore her relationship with control and learning to let go a little bit and trust more.) My main complaint with this book was that I felt like there was more telling than showing. I would’ve appreciated a dual timeline or flashbacks to their past in memories or something, but I had trouble feeling super invested in their relationship because we mostly just get their present and not much insight into their past relationship. Generally, for me, second chance romance tends to work best when we get more of a juxtaposition between the past and present which helps you feel more connected to them as a couple and more invested in their relationship. In this one, I was missing most of the background and context of their past relationship and wanted to see more of how good they were together before things didn’t work out so I would’ve rooted for them more when they re-entered each other’s lives.🤷♀�
Despite these complaints, I still enjoyed it overall. I’m definitely looking forward to Saoirse’s book next! I already am loving the little glimpse we got into the dynamics of the MCS! 😍
Thank you to Ivy Fairbanks, NetGalley, and Putnam Books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The first book in this series, Morbidly Yours, is one of my personal favorites so it is probably no surprise that this was one of my most anticipated releases of this year! I loveee a second chance romance (especially with a Dual POV). I was SO thrilled to have the opportunity to read this one early!
I enjoyed getting to get more of a glimpse into Lark and Callum’s happily ever after in this book as we read about their wedding shenanigans. This book, like the first, had plenty of humor and heart with a hefty dose of quirkiness! While Lark and Callum still have my heart, Cielo and Aidan charmed me in their own way! As a Cancer survivor, Cielo is really resilient. I liked that this book explored what it is like for Cancer survivors to worry that it might come back and how it can affect the relationships in their lives. I think she will be relatable to many people with her hyper-independence, not wanting to burden others with her problems, and having walls up to protect herself from hurt. It was nice to see her learn to allow herself to lean more on others.
Aidan was sweet and so committed to trying to win Lo back and proving himself to her. After learning from the mistakes of their past, he became a great example of “if he wanted to, he would�. I loved seeing how well he shows up for her once she’s back in his life! Plus, the yearning?? The groveling?? Yes, please.😍 I liked how the book explored how people grapple with how much they are willing to compromise their values and shift priorities in the name of money and fame/success. He seemed to have a good set of values and a deep commitment to his friends and family despite all of his success. He was just a good guy all around! He’s definitely a softer, sweeter, more sensitive MMC, but he still has hot guy tattoos for a bit of edge haha. 😉
“Sometimes…The right person is standing directly in front of you. It might not be how or when or who you expect, but when it’s right, you feel it.�
These two certainly were a case of when you meet your person, you just know. It was clear they never stopped loving each other. They say distance makes the heart grow fonder and this seems to have held true for them. I like that they seem to bring out the best in each other and that she is his muse! 🥰
My only complaints for this book were that: I didn’t connect as well with these main characters quite as much as I had connected with Callum and Lark in Morbidly Yours. Lo, in particular, I found to be pretty frustrating at times due to her not setting boundaries or communicating well. I was a little frustrated by a certain character’s overstep toward the end (trying to stay vague to avoid spoiling things for others) because I felt like it took away from what could’ve been a moment of growth for Cielo. I also personally didn’t love how the spice scenes were written in this book. The way they talked to each other in these scenes just didn’t really work for me. This is a super subjective complaint though. What doesn’t work for me may very well work for others! (THAT SAID, I will say that I appreciated how these scenes helped Lo explore her relationship with control and learning to let go a little bit and trust more.) My main complaint with this book was that I felt like there was more telling than showing. I would’ve appreciated a dual timeline or flashbacks to their past in memories or something, but I had trouble feeling super invested in their relationship because we mostly just get their present and not much insight into their past relationship. Generally, for me, second chance romance tends to work best when we get more of a juxtaposition between the past and present which helps you feel more connected to them as a couple and more invested in their relationship. In this one, I was missing most of the background and context of their past relationship and wanted to see more of how good they were together before things didn’t work out so I would’ve rooted for them more when they re-entered each other’s lives.🤷♀�
Despite these complaints, I still enjoyed it overall. I’m definitely looking forward to Saoirse’s book next! I already am loving the little glimpse we got into the dynamics of the MCS! 😍
Thank you to Ivy Fairbanks, NetGalley, and Putnam Books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
April 17, 2025
I really liked Morbidly Yours, so I was excited by the prospect of reading the next installment. Unfortunately, this book did not live up to my expectations whatsoever. The premise is based on the FMC being upset/jaded/haunted by her ex, who become a C-list celebrity based on his love and breakup songs about her. So you'd be expecting a little bit of groveling on his end when they get back together, or even a sit down to discuss what went wrong, right? Nope. They get back together after about .2 seconds, barely mentioning the reason they broke up in the first place, but letting it continue to hang over their heads for the next 60% of the book. This is coupled by the fact that there's little to no backstory/flashbacks/etc to give us any sort of context or tension between them, so you aren't really given a clue as to why she was so jaded (for the first 30 pages, anyways), nor do you feel any spark between them when they abruptly get back together like nothing was wrong. Basically, the whole buildup portion is nonexistent, which is why I usually want to pick up this genre in the first place.
On top of that, there are way too many plot lines and conflicts that the FMC is dealing with (most of which could've been solved by her being an adult and talking with everyone) that made it hard for me to really take her seriously- she has issues with her mom, her dad, her health, the MMC, the MMC's manager, and herself. All of these kept interrupting the very bare bones romance that was already having a hard time keeping me interested.
Lastly, the writing felt extremely stilted and "tell-not-show." I had this issue with Morbidly Yours as well, but the plot held up by itself (and I loved the MMC) so it wasn't as big of a deal.
While not a 100% disaster that necessitates any lower of a rating, I was really hoping for this to match Lark/Callum's story, and was pretty bummed that it didn't.
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC in exchange for an honest review 🐑
On top of that, there are way too many plot lines and conflicts that the FMC is dealing with (most of which could've been solved by her being an adult and talking with everyone) that made it hard for me to really take her seriously- she has issues with her mom, her dad, her health, the MMC, the MMC's manager, and herself. All of these kept interrupting the very bare bones romance that was already having a hard time keeping me interested.
Lastly, the writing felt extremely stilted and "tell-not-show." I had this issue with Morbidly Yours as well, but the plot held up by itself (and I loved the MMC) so it wasn't as big of a deal.
While not a 100% disaster that necessitates any lower of a rating, I was really hoping for this to match Lark/Callum's story, and was pretty bummed that it didn't.
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC in exchange for an honest review 🐑
April 20, 2025
I was so excited when I got the approval on Netgalley for this ARC.
I loved the second chance trope and the fact that majority of the book took place at Lark and Callum's wedding. You can tell that Aiden and Lo are meant for each other and it just takes time for them both to realize that (even tho Aiden knew we were just waiting on Lo). This was a very easy read in my opinion and I had so much fun with this story. I can't wait for book three!
HEART STRINGS COMING 8/12/2025!!!
—ĔĔĔĔĔĔĔ�
thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and Netgalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review. all thoughts are my own.
I loved the second chance trope and the fact that majority of the book took place at Lark and Callum's wedding. You can tell that Aiden and Lo are meant for each other and it just takes time for them both to realize that (even tho Aiden knew we were just waiting on Lo). This was a very easy read in my opinion and I had so much fun with this story. I can't wait for book three!
HEART STRINGS COMING 8/12/2025!!!
—ĔĔĔĔĔĔĔ�
thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and Netgalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review. all thoughts are my own.
March 12, 2025
As always a huge thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for this arc. Much like Morbidly Yours, I absolutely loved this book. The appearances of past characters was a super fun addition to the story, and I enjoyed the premise. Two people who used to have a romantic history being forced to work together for their friends romantic event? Sounds soooo good, and it was! Not to mention the cover on this one is yet again adorable and definitely makes you want to pick it up! You should definitely check this one out!
March 12, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group, and Ivy Fairbanks for the ARC in return for my honest review.
I did not read the first book, Morbidly Yours, and this worked for me as a standalone. I really liked the tropes, the wedding shenanigans, *the car/sheep scene*, the struggles(emotionally with family dynamics and burnout). The ending was a little generic for me, but it was still very sweet.
I would love to see a book for Saoirse. She deserves her own love story!
I did not read the first book, Morbidly Yours, and this worked for me as a standalone. I really liked the tropes, the wedding shenanigans, *the car/sheep scene*, the struggles(emotionally with family dynamics and burnout). The ending was a little generic for me, but it was still very sweet.
I would love to see a book for Saoirse. She deserves her own love story!
March 30, 2025
Omg I loved it.
This book was amazing. I went in expecting to be as good as the one before and somehow is better. I love how Ivy writes her characters and how relatable and easy to like they are. I loved Cielo characters since Lark book and her boom didn’t disappoint. If fun, is emotional and so damn cute. Aidan for his side , wow, this kid!! Talk about working to get your girl back . I adore how he show up for Cielo each time and really does try to show her how much he loves her . Definitely worth every page .
This book was amazing. I went in expecting to be as good as the one before and somehow is better. I love how Ivy writes her characters and how relatable and easy to like they are. I loved Cielo characters since Lark book and her boom didn’t disappoint. If fun, is emotional and so damn cute. Aidan for his side , wow, this kid!! Talk about working to get your girl back . I adore how he show up for Cielo each time and really does try to show her how much he loves her . Definitely worth every page .
April 20, 2025
ARC provided by NetGalley.
This book was amazing! I thoroughly enjoyed having a Mexican American woman who was curvy as the MC. It really allowed me to immerse myself in the story. Going back to Ireland as well after the first book was great and picturing Lark and Callum’s wedding was the icing on top. The story moved along at a great pace and the themes talked about were dealt with in such a caring manner. Absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy. 🥰
This book was amazing! I thoroughly enjoyed having a Mexican American woman who was curvy as the MC. It really allowed me to immerse myself in the story. Going back to Ireland as well after the first book was great and picturing Lark and Callum’s wedding was the icing on top. The story moved along at a great pace and the themes talked about were dealt with in such a caring manner. Absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy. 🥰
February 25, 2025
disclaimer: I CRIED MULTIPLE TIMES WRITING AND RE-WRITING THIS REVIEW. IVY, I'LL BE SENDING A BILL TO YOUR OFFICE.
�
some love stories don’t get a perfect ending the first time around. some loves are too big, too consuming, too real to fit within the narrow confines of timing and circumstance. she doesn’t do second chances. but he’s not done writing their song.
Cielo “Lo� Valdez knows the weight of heartbreak. she knows what it’s like to give someone your heart, only to watch them walk away with it. surviving cancer taught her that life is too short to waste on regrets or past hurts, and she’s lived by that rule—until now. because when Aidan O’Toole, the man who shattered her, steps back into her world, she’s forced to confront the truth: love like theirs doesn’t just disappear.
Aidan has it all—fame, success, an album that turned his dream into reality. but every song he writes, every lyric he sings, carries the ghost of the woman he left behind. two years haven’t dulled the ache, haven’t lessened the pull of Lo in his heart. now, fate (or a very unfortunate wedding seating chart) has given him one last shot to prove that their love story isn’t over. set against the breathtaking backdrop of an Irish castle wedding, this novel is a raw, heart-wrenching testament to love lost and found. it explores the way grief shapes us, the way wounds heal imperfectly, and how sometimes, forgiveness is the bravest thing of all.
THIS BOOK WRECKED ME IN THE BEST WAY. the chemistry between Lo and Aidan is electric, charged with years of longing and pain, but also with a love so deep it feels destined. the tension was super intense—the stolen glances, the lingering touches, the lyrics Aidan sings that hold a history only Lo can understand. their story is messy, beautiful, and achingly real.
i also loved Lo’s strength, her refusal to be a woman who settles for anything less than she deserves. and my man my man my man Aidan—God, Aidan. he is the kind of man who makes mistakes, but he learns from them. he doesn’t just want Lo back; he wants to earn her trust, her love, her forever. this isn’t just a second-chance romance. it's a story about PERFECT timing, about CHOICES. about how love can SURVIVE even when it’s been bruised and broken. it's about the songs we write for the people who shape us and whether, in the end, we get to finish them together.
if you’ve ever had your heart shattered and dared to believe in love again, this book will speak to your soul. and if you haven’t? well, this book will teach you what it means to love so fiercely that even time can’t erase it. beautiful writing, Europe, two less lonely people in the world.
5 stars 5 stars 5 stars. my favorite romance of the year.
thank you so much Penguin Group PUTNAM and Ivy Fairbanks.
�
some love stories don’t get a perfect ending the first time around. some loves are too big, too consuming, too real to fit within the narrow confines of timing and circumstance. she doesn’t do second chances. but he’s not done writing their song.
Cielo “Lo� Valdez knows the weight of heartbreak. she knows what it’s like to give someone your heart, only to watch them walk away with it. surviving cancer taught her that life is too short to waste on regrets or past hurts, and she’s lived by that rule—until now. because when Aidan O’Toole, the man who shattered her, steps back into her world, she’s forced to confront the truth: love like theirs doesn’t just disappear.
Aidan has it all—fame, success, an album that turned his dream into reality. but every song he writes, every lyric he sings, carries the ghost of the woman he left behind. two years haven’t dulled the ache, haven’t lessened the pull of Lo in his heart. now, fate (or a very unfortunate wedding seating chart) has given him one last shot to prove that their love story isn’t over. set against the breathtaking backdrop of an Irish castle wedding, this novel is a raw, heart-wrenching testament to love lost and found. it explores the way grief shapes us, the way wounds heal imperfectly, and how sometimes, forgiveness is the bravest thing of all.
THIS BOOK WRECKED ME IN THE BEST WAY. the chemistry between Lo and Aidan is electric, charged with years of longing and pain, but also with a love so deep it feels destined. the tension was super intense—the stolen glances, the lingering touches, the lyrics Aidan sings that hold a history only Lo can understand. their story is messy, beautiful, and achingly real.
i also loved Lo’s strength, her refusal to be a woman who settles for anything less than she deserves. and my man my man my man Aidan—God, Aidan. he is the kind of man who makes mistakes, but he learns from them. he doesn’t just want Lo back; he wants to earn her trust, her love, her forever. this isn’t just a second-chance romance. it's a story about PERFECT timing, about CHOICES. about how love can SURVIVE even when it’s been bruised and broken. it's about the songs we write for the people who shape us and whether, in the end, we get to finish them together.
if you’ve ever had your heart shattered and dared to believe in love again, this book will speak to your soul. and if you haven’t? well, this book will teach you what it means to love so fiercely that even time can’t erase it. beautiful writing, Europe, two less lonely people in the world.
5 stars 5 stars 5 stars. my favorite romance of the year.
thank you so much Penguin Group PUTNAM and Ivy Fairbanks.
April 9, 2025
As a huge fan of Ivy Fairbanks� first book, I was beyond excited to read this book and even more over the moon to accepted to read the arc. However, I just don’t think I am the target market for this novel. I want to say first that the book, overall, was lovely. It had very fun moments and Lo and Aiden were a very cute take on the he falls first vibe / black cat and golden retriever. Yet, the main trope is second chance romance, which sometimes works but for me, it didn’t work in this one. A few reasons why:
1) I find it harder to believe the love that was lost was authentic after a 6 month “relationship� where she didn’t even tell her family about him.
2) When they did get back together, it was a lot quicker than I had assumed. I was expecting a lot of give and take but Lo, even tho she claimed to hate him, instantly fell back into his life and into a relationship with him after a long weekend? It feels very co-dependent.
3) Almost as fast as they got together, they were saying I love you.
I am not saying this type of love doesn’t happen, but it was just hard for me to enjoy seeing as second chance is on the bottom of my favorites list.
I will say, Ivy’s writing didn’t disappoint. She built a world and characters that are all very realistic from controlling moms, to silly siblings, to cousins who are more like sisters. I love this little Irish world and I was beyond happy to see a lot of Lark and Callum in this, even tho it wasn’t their story. Overall, three stars, just a cute average read.
I do want to thank NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the ARC. All these thoughts and opinions are my own.
1) I find it harder to believe the love that was lost was authentic after a 6 month “relationship� where she didn’t even tell her family about him.
2) When they did get back together, it was a lot quicker than I had assumed. I was expecting a lot of give and take but Lo, even tho she claimed to hate him, instantly fell back into his life and into a relationship with him after a long weekend? It feels very co-dependent.
3) Almost as fast as they got together, they were saying I love you.
I am not saying this type of love doesn’t happen, but it was just hard for me to enjoy seeing as second chance is on the bottom of my favorites list.
I will say, Ivy’s writing didn’t disappoint. She built a world and characters that are all very realistic from controlling moms, to silly siblings, to cousins who are more like sisters. I love this little Irish world and I was beyond happy to see a lot of Lark and Callum in this, even tho it wasn’t their story. Overall, three stars, just a cute average read.
I do want to thank NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the ARC. All these thoughts and opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2025
4.25⭐️ // 3🌶�
🩺American medical student
☘️Irish singer-songwriter
🩺second chance romance
☘️forced proximity at a castle wedding
🩺headstrong leukemia survivor FMC
☘️utterly infatuated MMC
Cielo “Lo� is a fierce, unforgiving American medical student living in Galway. She’s so happy for her cousin Lark’s upcoming nuptials and honored to be her maid of honor. Only problem is, the best man is her ex, Aidan. It’s been two years since they’ve spoken and it’s all she can do to get through Lark’s wedding.
“Aidan’s smile is infectious. Then again, so is tuberculosis.�
Aidan has poured his relationship with Lo into all of his music over the last couple of years. He’s down bad for Lo and he desperate to convince her to give them a second chance.
“I want her to understand how I feel and sometimes it’s easier to play than to speak.�
This was a sweet follow-up to Morbidly Yours. I loved seeing the characters in their lives a couple of years after that story left off. Cielo’s snark against Aidan is top-notch. She absolutely loathes him after he broke her heart. The way they came back together seemed really natural. However, Lo’s stubbornness can be a hinderance to her, not just with Aidan.
Thank you so much to Netgalley for the eARC of Heart Strings in exchange for my honest review. Morbidly Yours is one of my all time favorite books, so this was such a treat.
Heart Strings releases August 12, 2025!
🩺American medical student
☘️Irish singer-songwriter
🩺second chance romance
☘️forced proximity at a castle wedding
🩺headstrong leukemia survivor FMC
☘️utterly infatuated MMC
Cielo “Lo� is a fierce, unforgiving American medical student living in Galway. She’s so happy for her cousin Lark’s upcoming nuptials and honored to be her maid of honor. Only problem is, the best man is her ex, Aidan. It’s been two years since they’ve spoken and it’s all she can do to get through Lark’s wedding.
“Aidan’s smile is infectious. Then again, so is tuberculosis.�
Aidan has poured his relationship with Lo into all of his music over the last couple of years. He’s down bad for Lo and he desperate to convince her to give them a second chance.
“I want her to understand how I feel and sometimes it’s easier to play than to speak.�
This was a sweet follow-up to Morbidly Yours. I loved seeing the characters in their lives a couple of years after that story left off. Cielo’s snark against Aidan is top-notch. She absolutely loathes him after he broke her heart. The way they came back together seemed really natural. However, Lo’s stubbornness can be a hinderance to her, not just with Aidan.
Thank you so much to Netgalley for the eARC of Heart Strings in exchange for my honest review. Morbidly Yours is one of my all time favorite books, so this was such a treat.
Heart Strings releases August 12, 2025!
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