Heartbreak Hill is a tear jerking, contemporary romance novel that centers on the lives of two couples after a tragedy. The book is told through a third person perspective and is narrated by the four (technically three) main characters; Nadia, Rafe, Grayson, and Reid.

The story opens in a filmesque style with long-time friends, Reid and Grayson, at a community rec center after a game of basketball where they argue, which sets off the catalyst of the book. Grayson is rushed to the hospital and undergoes emergency surgery on his heart, then placed into a medically induced coma. Then we have Rafe, husband of Nadia and a father of their two little girls, who joins in a race where he is tragically killed. His organs are donated to those in need and his heart is transplanted into Grayson. But, ironically, Grayson is involved with Rafe’s family in more ways than just having his heart.

I like how the story started and appreciated that the ‘big moment’ happened at the end of the very first chapter to jumpstart the rest of the book. The bond between Reid and Grayson was cute—I love how they started as friends before they started going out and loved how they supported each other through everything. Nadia’s first chapter had me in chills (and almost brought me to tears) the entire time!! I knew it was coming but I was just astounded by how beautifully written (and how heartbreaking) the entirety of her chapter was. Kiran was so good for Nadia from the moment he was introduced in the book and always stood by her and her children. I wasn’t annoyed by him like I was with Grayson, who only made me cringe almost the entire time.

There weren’t many things I disliked about the book, but one of them was the way Grayson acted toward Nadia’s children?? I understood the premise of the book before requesting it and thought it sounded so cool, but toward the end of the book, all Grayson could do was talk about he needed those girls—children he only met once briefly; the daughters of his ex-girlfriend from high school and the man who donated his heart—in his life. He insisted it was the only thing that could make him happy in life and I was just weirded out . . . Anyway, everyone was just cool with the idea of this. That, and him taking one of the girls to a father-daughter dance (this was during their second or third encounter by the way, because of a connection they all felt). I did find the book to be pretty flat between the midway point to about the 22-25 chapter mark when things really started to get going again. And then I was kind of disappointed in the epilogue. It was just another basic happy ending for a generic romance novel.

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake Publishing for the free advanced copy of this book for an honest review.

Heartbreak Hill will break your heart.
This book is so apty named.

I would have liked to have given this 5 stars. However, the book being written in the third person was distracting. That being said, it was definitely an emotional Rollercoaster. And I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The story follows Grayson, who has a heart defect, so he keeps everyone at arms length. Especially Reid. The woman he loves. When an unexpected tragedy causes him to be hospitalized and in need of a new heart, he changes his view on life. And what's to make the most out of his second chance.

Reid is a mature, strong character who has loved Grayson immensely. She learns quite fast that he's been keeping a secret from her.

Nadia and Rafe. Okay, so if you thought that Grayson and Reid had a sad start. It's nothing compared to Nadia and Rafe. He tragically dies in a freak accident, and Nadia makes the difficult decision of giving the gift of life to many.

This irrevocably ties Grayson to Nadia.

Nadia was a lovely character. I had to stop reading many times because of the tear fest from her point of view. Her grief was palpable and done tastefully. Believable.

I would have liked a little bit more of a story towards the end. Because after I was done. I was like , "So that's it?".

This is a story about loss, forgiveness, perseverance, hope, and making the most out of every situation using the hand you've been dealt.

A lot of unexpected twists and turns in Heartbreak Hill. The book is mainly two separate stories that form a connected thread. I enjoyed this book but i think i would have liked the story a little bit more if the plot was split into two separate books and then connected in the second book.

Heartbreak Hill is a heartbreaking story. I truly have to give the author kudos for her writing style. This story had me on an emotional roller coaster ride and I have to say that if feels as if you have to be prepared to read this story. I wasn't ready for this! This is not the type of story you read when you are not emotionally ready. I expected there to be heartbreaking moments within this story, but I expected more moments that would make me laugh and lighten things up. I thought I was ready for this story, but I don't think I was actually ready to read a story this emotional at this time. It wasn't a bad story; I just think I read it at a bad time if that makes sense.

I don't think this was the best time for me to read such a sad book. The story is heartbreaking and difficult to stop crying, reading it at some points. The author really knows how to write! I so appreciate the ARC from NetGalley.

Nadia y Rafe han estado juntos por una década aproximadamente, son felices y tienen dos hijas una 8 y otra de 6 años. Rafe participaba anualmente en un maratón, ese año todo parecía normal hasta que pasó una desgracia y la vida de los cuatro cambio para siempre.
Reid y Grayson han sido amigos por mucho tiempo, ambos se aman, pero él no permite que pase nada más porque tiene un problema en el corazón y en cualquier momento puede dejar de latir.

Los capítulos de Nadia son muy tristes, me la pasé llorando.


Contiene spoilers ⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️
No me gustó que Grayson fuera a buscar a Nadia cuando se enteró que Rafe era su donador y sobre todo cuando explicó que ya se conocían, además de que no le dijera a Reed. ¿Qué hubiera pasado si Nadia fuera la razón por la que le dolía y no se sentia completo? Se me hizo egoísta, puso en peligro su relación.



Me espantó esta parte:
Her choice will unwittingly alter the course of Grayson’s future—and tie his fate unexpectedly to her own

Todos los libros que he leído en donde el esposo, novio o prometido muere y dona su corazón, quien recibe el trasplante termina amando a la mujer del donante, afortunadamente esto no pasó aquí.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters and the plot were believable. I recommend this book.

Honestly, this book left me speechless at times. It was so sad and I related so much to the depiction of grief that I even cried. And that doesn't happen often.

This is a beautiful and complex story about Greyson, a man who has a heart defect and tries not to get too close to people because he knows his life is fragile. At the same time we have Nadia, whose husband has suffered an accident and she has to donate his organs.
This is how the lives of both are intertwined, one completely affected by loss and the other one open to a new, full life that he has never imagined before.

This story, although it is not a romance, is romantic. It's also tragic and I think that was the best part. How you could see their damaged minds and still think there was a little bit of hope for them.
The ending really completed this journey for me and made it perfect.

I need everyone who likes sad books to read this. Anyone who feels alone in their sadness will find company and hope and, oh, so many feelings you don't want to feel but know you need to at the same time.
Let's just say it really hit me. But I loved that.
The writing is also very beautiful, just the right amount of poetic.

I definitely need to read more from this author!

*Thanks to NetGalley uk, the publishers and the author for the ARC*

McLaughlin's storytelling prowess shines through, making this book an absolute must-read for anyone who craves a story that will leave their heart full and their emotions tangled in the best possible way. Simply loved this.

A man dies in a tragic accident and he donates his organs. This book was about the impact of his death on the ones who loved him and one of the people who got one of his organs.

This book is extremely sad and depressing for the first half and may not be for everyone, keep that in mind. The details of the grief of his wife are heartbreaking.

I think the biggest thing I didn’t like about this book was that it was in 3rd person. I felt like it would have been better told in 1st person- more powerful and less boring parts. I did find it hard from about 1/2 way through the book to about 3/4 of the way to stay connected to the story.

The ending was very heartwarming and made me wonder if people who get organs ever actually experience these feelings. It did have a somewhat happy ending where everyone comes together, so that definitely made it less depressing overall.

A truly unforgettable story.
I cant even imagine the truth in this. It seems so unreal that it has to be false.
Reid and Grayson have both felt so much for each other but have never gone past the friend zone. Despite one night of passion between them. Reid hoped that Grayson would change his mind and finally be her one true love.
Grayson had his own secrets he kept.  A life changing, life altering secret.
When the truth finally come out,(under extreme circumstances) things go from bad to worse.
One person's death can change so much for so many. If you have the gull to be a donor.  Just when you think you've got this story sorted it takes you for a twist like the biggest tornado can. The unimaginable happens. When past meets present.   Under these tumultuous circumstances  Nadia makes the hard decision to donate her husband's organs after a horrible accident. All to make someone's life better. Unbeknownst to them if would also heal their hearts too.
This is one intense, sweet, unbelievably beautiful story.
A must read.
All. The. Feels.
5 stars.