Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the early read of Heartbreak Hill This one is a tough one to rate because it is sad. If you’re not in the mode for a sad book, this may not be for you. I’m okay with reading something a bit sad but this one made me cry. It was thought provoking for sure. Overall it was a very interesting and emotional read.

I believe that the world-building and character development could have been a little stronger and realistic, especially on Nadia's part. The immediate plot points made it difficult to sympathise at the beginning of the book, however, this was slightly redeemed by the later writing.

This is a story about grief and healing that may not be for everyone. I, however, am a sucker for a story that makes me feel. This story had me in tears and taking breathing breaks.

We follow the story of Grayson and Reid, who are best friends who are also in love with one another. However, secrets almost ruin any chance they have to be with one another. After a medical episode in which Grayson ends up with a new heart, he begins to view his life differently. As the months pass, he starts experiencing emotions he can't explain, and it threatens his relationships with Reid.

We also follow Nadia and her children. She tragically loses her husband and makes the selfless decision to donate his organs. We experience her struggle to find a new normal for her and her daughters. Her pov is absolutely gut-wrenching and realistic. I sobbed for her and her girls.

Through a web , secrets, and miscommunication, these three lives become intertwined. I had moments when I was absolutely gobsmacked at what these characters were experiencing and hiding, and more than once, I was worried the ending would crush my soul. What happened instead was a beautiful reconnecting of my heart.

As stated by the author This book started with a what if “what if a heart transplant patient has feelings that didn’t belong to them” a term known as “cellular memory” where “patients have personality changes after surgery, including new preferences, emotions, and memories that are similar to their donor’s” I actually googled cellular memory myself to learn more about it because that was fascinating to me.

If you don’t like loss and grief in your stories, then this book is not for you.

This book was just written in such a way where I didn’t really connect with the characters or the story that much and the whole thing just came off just kind of this big cheesy attempt in trying to tell a moving story about heart transplant.

This book is also about characters, which I didn’t mind. I just felt like the author tried to cram a lot of stuff into the story, unnecessary characters, unnecessary information that we didn’t need and it just came off as too much.

Grayson and Reid, our first main characters. Now the story starts off just jumping right into things, Grayson is at the rec center playing basketball and that’s where he has a heart attack and Reid thought he was joking at first because she knows nothing about his heart condition. These first couple of chapters, the author tries to cram so much in, and when a new side character is introduced, she just gives you a big information dump, their likes, their dislikes their history, just too much telling sometimes and not enough showing, and not gradually revealing stuff.

Then we have Rafe and Nadia. And I found myself liking Nadia‘s part more than Grayson and Reid’s. Grayson was at times so ridiculous, it made no sense why he never tells Reid about his heart condition and they’re supposedly so close and the best of friends. He just gave a lot of stupid reasons and just explanations that made no sense for not telling her. There was a lot of stupid dialogue on his part like after his heart transplant when he tells his mom why he hasn’t been taking his heart medication, was it because it caused him negative effects that interrupted his day-to-day life, no folks it was because taking his life saving medication made him feel like less of a man, made him feel weak, smh. It was at that point that I was just over this character. There’s a lot more just ridiculous repetitive dialogue. I’m not gonna spoil too much, but it was a struggle to get through some parts of this book.

The romance between Grayson and Reid was just bla to me. Didn’t connect with them, didn’t care enough so just skipped over that.

Like I said, I did enjoy Nadia’s part, watching her navigate all that she had to deal with after the accident and her kids, trying to get on with her life, those scenes I did care about and wanted to see her story more.

Also, as I stated, just too many side characters, I couldn’t keep up with all of them so I didn’t even bother trying.

As for the portion with the cellular memory stuff and how that part of the story was done, it was over the top cheesy but I wasn’t mad at it. I did enjoy Grayson‘s interactions with Nadia‘s two daughters.

Overall, I didn’t hate it, and I didn’t love it. I did enjoy Nadia’s view points more than the rest. It wasn’t a terrible read. I did struggle with some parts, too many unnecessary repetitive details and side characters, but it wasn’t terrible. I did enjoy some moments in this book.

Grayson collapsed while playing basketball. His heart is too damaged and he needs a transplant.
At the same time, a man in Boston suffers a terrible accident. This book is about the connection between these two men.
I liked the way Grayson faces his life after the transplant.
The book is ok. A little slow in some moments and the end was weaker than I expected.

This book starts with a bang, with our two characters Reid and Grayson introduced to the reader as forced proximity lovers that made me love them. I will say that the sudden introduction to them made it hard to empathise at such an early point in the book, but as the characters developed further in the book it became easier.

On the other side of the story, we have our other story that involves Nadia and her husband who is forced into a tragic accident that will bring tears to your eyes. Following this part of the story becomes increasingly more and more sad, definitely with how the family copes with this loss.

Throughout the book, you slowly see these two stories tie together through the process of organ transplant, a topic I think is not often talked about in books and thank the author for including it.

I would say that I found the story to be quite slow and think that if it was to be more fast-paced it would definitely attract younger audiences or also get sold out fast in bookstores. It remains a very good and quick readthat will make you shed a tear and think about it for a bit.

Finally, thank you to NetGalley and the author Heidi McLaughlin for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

A truly heartbreaking story and I felt like I needed something to have a good cry to and this definitely did it for me! I do feel it would've been better in first person but I did enjoy this book.

Ugh, this book heart my heart so bad. It had me ugly crying numerous times throughout. I knew it was going to be a tearjerker but jeez🥺.

This is my first book by Heidi and I loved her writing style. It kept me engaged the whole time and I loved how it jumped to each persons POV throughout. It really added to the story reading from everyone’s perspective.

My only reason for it not being a 5 star is the fact that what happened towards the end was just excepted straight away with no questions. If someone from my past randomly turned up at my house trying to be close to my child I’d find it very odd. BUT I’m glad it did happen for the ending.

Incredibly emotional and poignant, this story deals with organ donation, and incredible heartbreaking circumstances.

In Washington, DC, Greyson has always had congenital heart disease, and even though he loved Reid with all his heart, he kept her in the friend zone because he felt he didn’t have much to offer. Meanwhile, in Boston, Rafe Karlsson plans to run a 10-mile run, determined to win the cup; instead, he died in a tragic accident, saving a woman from an out of control car, leaving behind a brokenhearted wife and two daughters.

Greyson collapsed after a basketball game with his friends, taken to the hospital, where he was kept in deep coma waiting for a new heart because his own had given out. And in Boston, Nadia was taking the difficult decision to donate her husband’s organs.

To say this book was emotional would be an understatement. I lived Nadia’s heartbreak over losing her husband, how the days went by and she had a hard time grasping the fact that he wasn’t here anymore. Her family was very supportive, but this is a road that you travel alone, the heartbreak is yours alone. And still, she had to somewhat function for her little girls, who were as heartbroken as she was.

We deal with Greyson’s feelings too, as he has a second chance at life, at how his future opened up and he could take up all his goals. It’s a tragic story on one side, and a love story on this side, but there’s survivor’s guilt, sadness that someone died in order for him to get a new heart and a new lease of life, a gratitude that had nowhere to go, until Greyson had strange feelings that had no reason to exist.

The book takes some very interesting and heartfelt turns as a father’s heart, beating on a stranger’s body, takes Greyson on a journey to reunite with his little girls. I can truly say that I cried a river reading this book, and I feel fortunate to have travelled this journey with Nadia, Reid and Greyson.

This is a five-star read that will break your heart in two, but it will also put it back together again. Although there is tragedy in this story, there is love as well, a love that transcends everything, and it may not be the love that you expect, but it’s a love that shines through. If you need an emotional reset then this is the story for you, honestly it will be one of those stories that will stay with you, it will grab your heart and never let go. I love how the author brings up tough emotional storylines that challenge some, but shine a light for others and hopefully a light that will shine through for many, and hopefully change even one opinion on organ donation, as even one extra donation can change so many lives. Pick up this story and find a depth you cant even imagine.

Grayson had a terminal heart condition and is in a coma seeking a heart transplant. Rafe drastically passes away in an accident and donates his organs. I wanted to love this book especially due to the heavy content however it wasn’t for me. I didn’t feel a real connection to the characters. Had slower moments and was hard to keep engaged , overall an okay read

I loved all the varying perspectives per each chapter. Seeing the entire view of Nadia, Greyson & Reid’s lives was an incredible experience!! I think falling for the dead husbands best friend is my new favorite trope?! Heidi always sweeps me off my feet! This one was great 🤩

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The plot, which focuses on different impacts on people regarding chronic heart diseases and organ donation, was quite enjoyable! I really liked the different perspectives of the characters of Reid and Grayson compared to Nadia; it kept make me wonder if they would cross paths. I also love slow-burn, so I valued that romantic subplot, although I think it could've been expanded on a little more.

I believe that the world-building and character development could have been a little stronger and realistic, especially on Nadia's part. The immediate plot points made it difficult to sympathise at the beginning of the book, however, this was slightly redeemed by the later writing.

Overall, it was quite a short read and a heart-warming story, so it's quite easy to get into!

Omg, I'm a huge fan of this author and I absolutely loved this book! Thanks Netgalley and to the publisher for this ARC

Heartbreak Hill by H. McLaughlin, published by Montlake is a full length, stand alone.
An emotional read, drama laden, sometimes a bit cheesy.
Grayson, Reid, Nadia and Rafe are connected in a way nobody could have dreamed off. Tragic, beautiful and emotional.
Blurb: Grayson Caballero born with a heart defect, he’s been living on borrowed time. The uncertainty of tomorrow makes him push people away.
Then he meets Reid Sullivan and falls madly in love. The two work together. They even live in the same apartment complex. But Grayson continues to keep his distance, despite their obvious attraction. And Reid’s not interested in waiting around.
When Grayson collapses at a basketball game, Reid learns he’s been keeping secrets from her. Now his life hangs in the balance…and a stranger from Boston holds the key to his survival.
Nadia Karlsson makes a life-changing decision after her husband, Rafe, is involved in a tragic accident near Harvard Square. Her choice will unwittingly alter the course of Grayson’s future—and tie his fate unexpectedly to her own.

I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy from NetGalley.

The first half of the book is heart wrenching and Nadia’s suffering is beautifully written. I really liked how the author wrote about the complex medical issues and the process of organ donation.

The story switches between Nadia/Rafe & Grayson/Reid which gives the reader significant insight on what is going on within separate storylines but then brings them together and full circle in the end.

The third person POV threw me off at first but I was quickly able to adjust and realized that it was essential in giving us a raw view of what the characters were experiencing.

Overall a good easy read that will have you feeling an array of emotions. Thank you NetGally for the opportunity to read this book!

With a touching look into chronic heart conditions, Heidi McLaughlin introduces readers to Grayson Caballero and his fear of falling in love. When his neighbor and HR employee continues to pop up around, Grayson can no longer keep his distance nor attraction at bay. This is a story of fear and love and how they are two sides of the same coin. Fear of love is love of fear and Grayson and Reid both work on their fears as they fall in love. I was surprised by the twist at the end and the intricate tie to Nadia, a stranger, who's choices alter Grayson and Reid's future forever. A look at time, fear, and love, as futures hang in the balance- McLaughlin brings the tension, timing, and torment at heed in Heartbreak Hill. I look forward to future releases from this author.

What a great book. I hope Heidi McLaughlin keeps up the great work and I can’t wait for her next book! Loved it!

Wow, this book took a lot of unexpected turns and left me with a lot of mixed feelings.

In the beginning the story loved it and made me cry many times. I loved Nadia and her daughters, but I hated Grayson a little bit for his attitude with everyone.

Fortunately he knows how to take advantage of his second chance in life and at the end of the story he ends up winning me over.

Sad book but felt very rushed and fast paced. You didn’t get a chance to know the characters before tragedy happened so it was kinda like oh well they’re hurt i don’t know them. You get to know them over time but at the beginning it’s just go go go go, and you don’t feel very settled into the story yet.