I've taken the longest time ever to finish this book. For some reason, I was having issues connecting the characters. It was confusing because there were just questions and questions with no answers. And when I couldn't digest, I stopped reading. The first quarter of the book IMO was full of confusion. There was a lot going on... Kat, Rhys, Daniel, Susan. Each of these characters came with their heartaches and emotional baggages. There were also many times when Kat irritated me with her rigidness and insistence. I wish Daniel's story was told more completely. I still couldn't fully understand the reason for his death.

Anyway as said in the synopsis, it's a compelling, heartbreaking, complicated story that I began to really enjoy after struggling through the initial quarter of the book. It is really an emotional book that is also about forgiveness, healing and love. I've yet to read a book that has this many characters intertwined one another and Anna Mansell has written well (despite my earlier confusion), adding a strong element of suspense and a satisfactory closure that is true to life.

This is my first book by Anna Mansell and I'm intrigued to check the rest of her books out.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the review copy of this book.

I really do feel like a worn out record saying this, BUT, if you think the cover hints that the storyline is a candyfloss type of chic lit/romance novel where the ending signifies walking off into the sunset, stop right there. Now, I adore the cover as it's simple, pretty, and very eye-catching in a very intriguing way. However, all you really need to focus on with the cover is the title and the author as this storyline contains more grit than the front cover could ever hold. By all means, admire the cover, but don't let yourself get hung up over it or try to question what lies behind the cover. How to Mend a Broken Heart has a storyline which needs to be savoured word by word, line by line and page by page...

I had a little nose at some of the reviews which have already been posted on Goodreads, before I started writing my review and a lot of readers have the cover as a talking point. Just like many others, my first reaction to the novel was based on its cover and an assumption. But, as soon as I got stuck into Anna Mansell's novel, I quickly realised how my initial reaction to the book could not have been further off the mark if I tried.

The novel introduces the three main characters, Kat, Rhys and Susan pretty early on in the storyline, even though it is quite clear that things aren't quite as simple as they first seem. Kat is nursing her broken heart after being dumped by her long-term boyfriend. Rhys heart got completely smashed when his brother committed suicide. And then there is Susan, her heart has been broken for many, many years and she is stuck in her own emotional jail. Which one of the characters, if any, will be able to find the right key to free Susan from her turmoil?

As soon as someone says that they've had their heart-broken we automatically assume it's to do with a relationship. I know I do. I mean, the only way you get your heart broken is when your partner dumps you, right? Completely WRONG. Before I read Anna Mansell's novel, my mindset was the same as the above, yet the complexity of each character within the storyline, opened my eyes to the fact that a lot of things can break someone's heart; such as suicide, any other death related circumstances or horrific events involving people you know, love or care about, just to name a few. Every human being will have their own trigger where their heart is concerned, just like Kat, Rhys and Susan. Three individual people with one big thing in common; they all have had their heart broken yet no-one else will understand their own personal pain.

This storyline had me pinned against the sofa with a little voice whispering in my ear, 'don't you even think about putting this book down!'. Even if I wanted to put it down (which I didn't), I couldn't tear myself away from the emotional orb I had found myself temporarily residing. Even though the book contains a lot of intense moments, it also contains many, many heart-warming and uplifting scenes; it was as though you were walking the journey with the characters and holding their hands for comfort. Does that make sense? I love how Anna Mansell has been able to acknowledge heartbreak in various different forms, highlighting the fact that everyone's life journey is exactly that...their own. I truly believe that a lot of readers will be able to relate to the three main characters as they all have such a powerful presence within the storyline.

It really blows my mind that 'How to Mend a Broken Heart' is Anna Mansell's debut novel, as she has such a distinctive writing style which automatically made me feel as though I already knew her. I could tell that Anna Mansell has poured her heart and soul into every single line of the book, as though she had published 123248347 books previously.

'How to Mend a Broken Heart' made me wear my heart on my sleeve (for an Ice Queen that is unheard of), due to its intense, emotional and raw situations. I cried whilst reading this, more than once, and I'm not ashamed in the slightest. Anna Mansell, if I could hug you right now I would, truly!

A spellbinding novel full of love, tears and heart ache, How to Mend a Broken Heart not only shows how the heart can be broken, it also shows how broken hearts are mended with the right love, care and attention. To you that 'thing' may be small, but to another person it may just be the one 'thing' they have been searching for to fix their broken heart. Don't judge, just love. Absolutely fantastic novel, Anna Mansell has set the bar incredibly high with her outstanding debut novel, How to Mend a Broken Heart.

Thank you Bookouture.

Where do I start? I've been looking forward to reading this book for quite a while now, having gotten to know Anna a bit on social media and I did a little happy dance when it appeared on my kindle. Reading a debut by someone you consider a friend can be really daunting for a book blogger. We don't want to hurt the authors feelings but we have to do our job and be honest.

I can say, hand on heart that How To Mend a Broken Heart is one of the finest debut novels I have ever read. It's captivating, compelling, mesmerizing, sad and so beautifully written. It really is hard to believe that it's a debut. Anna has a wonderful way of developing characters. The dialogue flows so smoothly (I admire that as I am rubbish at writing dialogue!) and you just feel completely drawn into this story.

An unbelievable debut novel by an author I am keen to read more from!

I'm really pleased to be part of the Blog Tour for How to Mend a Broken Heart by Anna Mansell.
The cover instantly drew me to this book- so pretty. This is a debut novel by Anna Mansell and I will definitely be keen to read more by this author.

We meet the three main characters early on and they have a tenuous connection and are all suffering some degree of heartbreak. Kat recently broke up with her long term boyfriend, Rhys lost his brother to suicide and Susan is in hospital refusing to speak .

When Kat finds Rhys telephone number is Susan’s handbag the connection between the three characters starts. He was her plumber but when he gets the phonecall, thinks that the lady in hospital might be his mum and rushes to see her.

When he realises that he vaguely remembers her he then feels a sense of responsibility that seems unusual and his feelings are triggered by the fact that she seems so vulnerable and alone. There are some touching scenes when he visits.

We hear from each of the three characters point of view which gives us a greater insight into how they all feel and more about their history.

With a daughter who has selective mutism I felt drawn to the character of Susan and we want to learn more about why she’s refusing to speak and what has happened to her.

I loved the way that the characters developed as the relationship between them continued. I’ll admit that this wasn’t the type of book I was expecting from the cover- but I was instantly drawn into its pages and couldn’t put it down until I discovered what happened to them all.

With many thanks to Bookoutre and Net Galley for an Arc of this book which I voluntarily read.

Thank you for letting me receive an early copy of this book. I am not reviewing it at this time as I has some trouble staying connected with the storyline and the characters. I will however advertise it on my blog. I understand that just because I didn't love it, doesn't mean others won't love it.

This was an altogether different type of read than what I was expecting it to be. From the blurb/cover combination I assumed that it would be a lighthearted, chick lit type of read, but instead it was heavier, dealing with darker subject matter than I was expecting. It was a very emotional read, one that moved me and touched my heart.

There are three main players; Kat a nurse who has just been dumped by her boyfriend of several years who she saw as her future husband, Susan a new patient of Kat’s who refuses to utter a word, and Rhys a plumber who is the only connection anyone can find in Susan’s life. All three are dealing with their own heartaches, losses and loneliness and I was eager to see how their lives would intertwine.

Mansell delves into several heavy issues from suicide, adoption, loss, forgiveness, and ultimately love. I felt some sort of attachment to all three of the characters, they were all able to tug at my heartstrings. Kat is so lonely after her breakup and needs to find her way again. Rhys lost his brother and the grief is overwhelming, I wanted to hug him so many times. Susan was visibly broken and after learning why she’s so devastated I shed some tears. All of them have detached themselves from the world for different reasons and it was easy to understand why. Ultimately they lean on and learn from each other in order to begin to heal. As much as I love a tidy ending, I appreciated the way Mansell left things. There was closure, but it was messy and true to real life. While this was a highly emotional read, in the end it was inspiring and left me with a smile on my face.

"How to Mend a Broken Heart", a stand alone debut novel that promises to be uplifting and emotional. From the cover alone I presumed this would be a whimsical, chick-lit read, maybe even a chuckle here and there. The cover was misleading and frankly mismatched the direction this book took. I sometimes wish I could be a fly on the wall witnessing the thought process and rational as to why certain authors choose certain book covers. As a reader, many times I am simply baffled.

The book started off immediately introducing three major characters with three different POV's. The crux of the plot, and the one thing that kept me engaged in the story was trying to piece together how these three strangers are connected. A practitioner, a patient and a plummer. These characters were nicely developed. I must admit two of the three I actually liked. The third character, the patient, frustrated me as I tried to find her story redeeming. I didnt, and felt her involvement and behavior self serving and manipulative.

I will also comment that this book should not be shelved as a romance. Another misleading description. I played out in my head many directions in the plot the author could have taken to truly give the readers a proper romance. Once again I feel it fell short in this area, for no good reason I could think of. I had high hopes for this read, but it left me dissatisfied instead of uplifted.

The first thing that grabbed my attention was the cover of this book. It is beautiful, and as I came to find out, sometimes you can judge a book by its cover, because the story told in the pages were also beautiful.

I must admit that I didn’t fully take in the synopsis before starting to read. I was expecting a light story of someone who has had a break up and has to get back on her feet. But what I found was far more than that. It was deeper, more heartfelt and compelling.

The blurb tells you what you need to know about the book without giving too much away, and that is part of what I found powerful, not knowing the characters stories, and having them revealed to me as I read. Yes, ok, it isn’t too long before you put the pieces of the jigsaw together, but for me it didn’t take away from the book as this is a work that as described on the cover is an emotional, uplifting page turner about love, loss and hope. I felt all those emotions during the course of the story, and as I write this review, just hours after finishing it, I find myself feeling that I have taken a message away that will stay with me.

Susan is a complex and troubled character and like Rapunzel, trapped in a tower of her troubled and sad life, she needs rescuing. When an event happens Rhys is the only contact number they can find on her and so Rhys gets a call which leads to him racing to the hospital thinking his Mum has been injured. Whilst relieved that his family is ok, he is compelled by Susan, and having lost his brother he has an urge to see if by helping Susan he can bring some closure and answers to his grief.

One character not mentioned in the blurb is Kat who is a nurse working at the hospital. She is also key to the story and I loved her. She has her own past that she is battling, but she is strong, caring and compassionate. A little bit of a lost and damaged soul I could relate to her.

I wasn’t initially sure how I felt about Susan and Rhys. Whilst I was reading the words and could understand them it took me time to get inside their heads and emotions, but for me it was worth the wait. Their stories are moving and absorbing, as is Kats. I loved the way that the author has made each of their situations and feelings compliment eachother.

Each chapter is narrated by a different character which gave it an added dimension for me as I was able to look at the how the story evolved from each of their perspectives, in particular Kat and Rhys. Susan is definitely far more closed and surrounded by more mystery which by the end really left me wondering how things would pan for her. I would love to hear her story with her as narrator.

I have just seen that this the debut novel from Anna Mansell which didn’t even occur to me whilst reading. Full of character, depth and emotional writing this book is fantastic, and I can’t wait to read more of her work.

Based on the cover of this book I was expecting a light hearted read, but it was so much more, without any spoilers the story is about three main characters who don't know each other but their lives are about to become intertwined in ways that will impact their lives forever. The story deals with sensitive subjects, but done in a respectful way. If your in the mood for a light read, then maybe this one isn't for you, but if your wanting to read something that will make you think, then i highly recommend you read this book

*Book provided by the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

I’d like to start this review, by saying how beautiful this cover is, just stunning!

Well, now let’s move on to the story of Susan and Rhys. Susan is refusing to talk, is in her own world and tries to deal with everything that happened to her. Rhys, is grieving his brother's death and he ist he only person Susan connects to. She had a tough past and a lot of secrets. He is trying to get behind them and at the same time both oft hem are trying to move on with their lives.

It’s time to live again and that’s exactly when they need each other most. We got to read from different points of view and that was really interesting, because it allowed us to see inside several characters.

Then there is also Kat, how is getting over her break-up and her boyfriend cheating on her. She is intrigued by the newest patient and we get to read her story as well.

It’s a heavy, sad and touching read, full of emotions and hope. However, it took my quite a while to warm up to the story and the characters, I guess my mind wasn’t in the right setting for it. I really liked parts of the story and then there were parts, I couldn’t connect with. Anna Mansell has a wonderful style of writing, it’s very uplifting and moving.

I did not finish this book as I did not engage with this story at all.

A massive thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for a fair and honest review. I did really enjoy this novel and read it quickly and without putting it down. However it was not the light fluffy chick lit I had expected. Instead it was an extremely well written multi faceted emotionally engaging novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. If this is a debut novel l definitely look forward to reading more!

Book Review: How To Mend A Broken Heart.

My first thought after finishing Anna Mansell’s debut novel, How To Mend A Broken Heart, was “wow” – it is, quite simply, stunning.

I am in awe of the way this compelling story comes together, especially as certain elements keep you guessing right to the end.

The main characters, Kat, Susan and Rhys, are exceptionally well written and stick with you long after the last page has been turned.

On the surface it would seem like they have nothing in common but, as the story develops, I saw that on more than one level they are kindred spirits.

Before I say any more, here’s the blurb:

Life is good for nurse Kat. That is until the man she intended to marry legs it, she’s unexpectedly promoted to a position with too much responsibility, and a patient arrives on her ward under strange circumstances.

Susan is a mystery. She refuses to speak or interact with anyone, she’s obsessed with a book of fairy tales, and the only name in her diary is that of Rhys – a plumber she barely knows.

Down-to-earth Rhys is trying to get his life back on track after the death of his beloved brother. His mum is his priority, and she needs him as much as he needs her. Or at least she did, until she starts disappearing, leaving him to find comfort in the form of his brother’s girlfriend.

Complicated is an understatement.

As the lives of these three lost strangers intertwine, will they find a way to lay ghosts past, present and future to rest? And when the chance comes to mend their broken hearts, will they be brave enough to take it?

It does tackle some difficult subjects but Anna writes about them in an understanding and sensitive manner and, at its heart, it is an uplifting book – although I certainly needed some tissues on hand.

As I mentioned, this is her debut novel and I actually cannot wait to read the follow up (no pressure).

Format: Kindle.
My rating: Five stars.

Thank you to Bookouture (via NetGalley) for the ARC in return for my honest opinion.

How to mend a broken heart by Anna Mansel.
When Rhys is called to the hospital to meet Susan, a woman he barely knows, he is compelled to help her. Still grieving the loss of his brother months earlier, Rhys knows all too well the feeling of loneliness.
There are years between them, but Rhys is the only person Susan will respond to, and when she asks him to bring her her most treasured possession, a book of fairytales, he is intrigued.
Hidden in the book is a clue to Susan’s past, and the painful regrets she carries with her. And as Rhys starts to unearth Susan’s secrets, he finds that his own grief begins to heal too…
Together, Susan and Rhys must learn to live again. Can they help each other to find happiness and finally mend their broken hearts?
This was a lovely, moving and emotional read. I liked the story. I loved the ending too. Perfect. Highly recommended. 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley.

I love nothing more than a book with a heart and this one had me emotionally engaged from the first page, and reading just another chapter every time I could pick it up.
The story is about three very different characters linked by an accident. First there is Susan who we meet on the first page, when she is knocked down on the road. Intriguingly she stays silent when taken into hospital. Nurse Kat is on the ward that day and finds one single phone number in Susan’s diary, a man named Rhys, who she contacts, having no other clue as to Susan’s next of kin. These three characters are linked by chance, and each of them has had their hearts broken by things that have happened in their lives.
This is an emotional story that feels warm and real. I liked the whole premise of this and was intrigued by Susan and what her story could be. I cared for all the characters who are each dealing with difficult things. Although there is a little romance this is far from fluffy. What I liked especially is that Anna Mansell keeps the story from becoming weighed down despite storylines around suicide and bereavement. The positive message it gives is that no matter what life throws at you there is a way through it. I left this book feeling warmed by it. I can see the comparisons to Lucy Dillon and Jojo Moyes but actually this book reminded me of Rowan Coleman for the emotion and life affirming feel. This is an exciting new author, I will be watching out for what she writes next.

Wow! This book was so enjoyable. It wasn't anything like I expected - from the cover and the description I guess I thought it would be more of a chick-lit novel but it was a lot more than that. All the heartbreak got to me, I got upset for them and anyone else who has gone through it. I liked the characters and the way they connected, and I loved that I kept guessing the whole way through. I thought a few times I'd guessed the story but it was always something else. Overall it was very uplifting and happy - there was a lot of hope at the end and considering it was quite intense throughout it was nice to have this ending, rather than what could have been. I will be posting a review on my blog in a few days and I will tweet you when it's up!

If you're looking for a fluffy chicklit, then this isn't the book for you!
Great tale, intertwining the stories of Kat - the brokenhearted nurse, Rhys - the brokenhearted brother and Susan - the distressed silent woman.

I guessed where the story would end up, but this didn't detract from the story which is gracefully told from the three different perspectives. Some heartfelt moments interspersed with some humour mean that Anna Mansell has again crafted an enthralling and engaging story.

My thanks to the publisher and netgalley for my advance copy.

This was a o.k. book for me. Not that it was a good story, it was for a younger crowd- 30's & single looking for true love.
Always thanking netgalley for the the books!

I have mixed feelings for this book -maybe because I needed a comforting book at the moment and that book is quite depressing.... all the characters of this book are facing quite hard times. One just lost his brother who committed a suicide, one has tempted to commit a suicide and is laying at the hospital and the last one is back to being single after a 5 years long relationship with the love of her life who just left her for another woman. Everything in this book felt heavy and that is why I didn't quite enjoy it as much as I wanted. Even the writing style was a bit heavy in my opinion.
But on the other hand, I really liked the relationships that build up between the main characters who were all strangers to one another at the beginning of the book. Even if the story is bit depressing, it's also a beautiful one full of hope. And that is why I also enjoyed it ;) Yes I really had mixed feelings for this one.

I was expecting a chick-lit, light-hearted read despite the title.
It’s definitely not.
What I found was a wonderful, deep story taking in some very serious topics.
Relationship break-ups, adoption, suicide. All tackled perfectly by the author.
Some very thought provoking situations.
I liked the pace of the story and the chapters told from the perspective of each of the main characters, and during a busy week I was able to pick it up and not lose my way.

The characters were really likeable and had good depth.
Things from the past were uncovered, and I felt I knew the path the story would take.
I was right, but in a good way I was glad I was. I don’t always want to read a twisty-turny story.
What the author gives is a story of friendship, kindness and a togetherness of strangers brought together.
I’m a great advocate of being nice to people and this shows it off to its full advantage.
Thank you Anna for writing such a lovely story.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the review copy.