First I want to say thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book for my honest opinion.

I wanted to love this book. I've never read Nicola May, but had seen good things so I was really excited. I also don't like writing ''bad'' reviews because what may not work for me may work for someone else. However, I almost DNF this one.

The beginning of this book had me hooked, but this quickly became a frustrating read for me. Things just did not make sense and Gracie behaved so immaturely that I forgot she was nearly40.

***SPOILERS***

Gracie did not grow.

Instead of focusing on healing and learning to recognize her own value she spent all of her time trying to decide which man she should be with.

You had Lewis who essentially manipulated her into missing him so he could get her back after cheating. Leo who acted as if he had never seen or spent time with a ''natural woman'' and who had already slept with and had a child with her sister. Ick factor for me. And Ed.

Ed who seemed charming until we find out he was accused of rape. Why would he be flirting with a woman he does not know, talking dirty to her, bringing her to his apartment alone, while awaiting his rape trial? Who was the woman in the bar on their first date? Why was he so dismissive of her on their trip? He was only flirting with Skye because she was a ''pretty girl''. Ew. And the ending where he puts his fists in the air while the woman screens ''He did it'' while being forced from the courtroom! What??

Her boss wants to sleep with her. Her therapist thinks and even talks about how pretty she is.

Gracie acts as if she is nothing because she can no longer have children, She never gets to the point where she can see that a woman's value is not about how many children she has. She never heals or truly grows. She ends up where she started and that was a huge miss for me.

This story has a nice mix of emotional and lighthearted moments. The book is about a woman named Grace who has to overcome some pretty traumatic experiences and then rebuilds her life in the aftermath. There are some touchy subjects dealt with in the storyline, loss and betrayal to mention but two. The author doesn’t pull any punches while dealing with the character’s emotions these bring forth and she makes the narrative feel very authentic.

Some of the more lighthearted moments felt almost comedic, and while some people may like this to balance out the heavier topics, it kind of turned me off as it waters down the emotional impact. There is a bit of spice that was entertaining and worked well with the humorous moments. But I wanted more from the heavier side of things.

I did like the main character's growth throughout the book and her journey from her struggles to ultimately finding happiness. I loved her relationship with her sister and the new friends she met along the way. These side characters added multiple layers to the story.

If you’re looking for a more serious book, you’ll be disappointed. I read other reviews saying the reader cried, and I did not find it like that at all. The book is mostly a feel-good story that takes on some serious topics with a touch of romance. It does deliver in the escapism sense but lacks the depth I was looking for. If you're after a feel-good read that isn’t over complicated, then this would be the book for you.

Unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me. I made it to 48% before deciding to DNF. The premise had potential, but the characters’ decisions and the plot twists felt increasingly unrealistic and difficult to follow. The pacing, dialogue, and emotional shifts weren’t believable, which made it hard for me to connect with the story. I think this book may appeal to readers who enjoy highly dramatic, fast-paced romances, but it wasn’t the right fit for me.

"How to Fix a Broken Heart" by Nicola May is a touching, emotionally rich story about grief, healing, and second chances. After a devastating loss, Gracie Davies sets out to rebuild her life with the help of quirky friends, a supportive sister, and unexpected love interests.

Nicola May blends heartbreak, humor, and warmth with ease, making Gracie’s journey feel both real and uplifting. It's a story full of charm, self-discovery, and just the right amount of spice. Perfect for anyone who’s ever needed a fresh start.

This is a five-star read that will fix you back together. Nicola may just have this amazing way of bringing characters together who shouldn’t work, but they really do all pull together and create this amazing tapestry of life. Not everyone will love them all, as some behave appallingly, but that’s the fun facts of life, we are all different and some people do behave appallingly, and it just adds to the richness of life. Gracie really has hit rock bottom, but she manages to really pull it all and be so much stronger than so many others. The loss she faces is just insurmountable, and how she manages to bring it all around will just make you smile so big. This story is a great reflection of life, and how we all need to see more than just the usual one dimension that we see. If you take some of the characters on first view you would hate them with a passion, but as we follow the story and see them all interconnect, you start to see different sides of them, and maybe start to like them, or maybe not, as sometimes the more we see the less we want to see.

It had an ambitious scope, but for me, the number of perspectives made it difficult to connect deeply with any one character -- even our FMC. I would have preferred a tighter focus on one or two protagonists. This is also probably why I didn’t find myself rooting for any of the MMCs, which made the romantic plotlines less engaging

To reiterate a lot of reviews, the rape accusation plotline didn’t sit well with me. On the other hand, the miscarriage storyline was incredibly moving. I appreciated the representation and found it to be one of the novel’s strongest elements—I almost wish it had been explored even further.

This novel had a great Bridget Jones-esque side characters, and I can totally see it being turned into a series surrounding the other characters!

It had so much potential and ai loved the premise, but there were too many narrators and the psychologist grossed me out.

This sweet book was emotional and touching. Couldn’t put it down! So many layers to this one. Also, tons of wit and charm!

I settled into read a few chapters and just couldn't stop chomping my way through this book. I read it all in one go and cried at the right moment and felt joy and hope at the right moments too. This is a book that takes a topic - miscarriage - and makes a book out of all the people that touch those involved and builds the story by weaving the broader impact on those around Gracie. Gracie is flattened by bad news, and the book shows her slowly refilling with air and getting herself onto her new road with effort and care.

Unfortunately had to DNF this book. I will not put myself through reading a book where one of the MMCs has rape allegations. I totally see where May was going with this story of female empowerment and new beginnings, unfortunately I just couldn’t get past the strange male POVs and underlying misogynistic tone.

This book may be good for some readers but I didn’t work for me.

Thanks to Net Galley and storm publishing for this arc.

A spicy , very sad at time but gripping story. All the characters are interconnected in a way you would not believe . I loved it. Some amazing twists and I loved how love can conquer all. A brilliant ending. So much I can’t say, it is sad at times Read it . You will love it . I can’t wait for friends to read it to see if they think as I do re the ending .

How To Fix A Broken Heart written by Nicola May was definitely very heart breaking, raw, real, gut wrenching, powerful, and deeply emotional. When I first saw that beautiful cover, I thought this book was going to be cute and silly, but boy was I completely wrong, it completely changed my life. How To Fix A Broken Heart is a life affirming novel of love, grief, sorrow, and loss from Nicola May. I know the pregnancy trope isn't very popular, but I wish fertility was talked about a lot more in books. This book does deal with very heavy topics, so please check the trigger warning's before picking this one up, they will also be listed in my review, so if any of them are triggering for some readers, please read this book at your own caution. First and foremost, after reading Nicola May's author note, I just want to send you all of my love, thank you for sharing your powerful and personal story with all of us. This story touched my heart in a way that's never been done before, it's the type of emotional turmoil that will leave a lasting impact on you. I thought chocolate and tubs of ice cream were always the remedy for a broken heart, but this book taught me that there's always going to be people in your corner no matter how alone you feel. For anyone struggling with fertility issues, I hear you, I see you, you are NOT alone, I love you.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND STORM PUBLISHING FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!!!

TRIGGER WARNING'S
Miscarriage
Cheating
Fertility Issues
Mentions of Rape

"Motherhood is not just a title; it is a force, a calling, a bond that goes beyond biology and beyond boundaries".

"It's my body, it's my problem. If I don't want to lose weight, then I won't".

"Daffodils- they are just such a bright and happy flower. They make me think of spring, of new beginnings".

"It's hard when you lose little souls that you didn't even meet. It's not like you can miss them as people because you never knew them, touched them, and smelt them. They were just inside me, little bundles of energy that I knew were there, but weren't".

"Your heart is bruised at the moment, but someone will come along and fill it with love again one day".

"Tears are words that have been trapped in your heart".

"Men can't deal with irrational women at the best of times".

"Did you need to have anything in common to be in love with someone?"

Gracie Davies and Lewis Blair have been together for seven years and have been trying to get pregnant. It took three rounds of IVF for Gracie to get pregnant, at five months pregnant with twins, Gracie has a miscarriage. It was so bad and horrific that Gracie had to have a hysterectomy and now she can't have babies anymore. Gracie has been through hell and back after suffering from a miscarriage, she now has a hysterectomy scar across her stomach and doesn't feel pretty anymore, and now Lewis is finding it difficult to love Gracie as she was because they don't have sex anymore. If you were to look up the definition of "dick", you would see Lewis Blair's picture. One night after an argument and telling Gracie to lose her baby weight, Lewis decides to go out and have an affair with Annalize Good. Annalize and Gracie worked together at Lemon Aid which organizes charity events. Lewis used being drunk as an excuse for having an affair with "Madame Perfect". After Lewis cheated, Gracie decided to call it quits on their relationship and move in with her sister, Naomi. I absolutely love Naomi for being so sweet and taking Gracie under her wings. Lewis deserves to be single for the rest of his life, there's no need to cheat on your significant other just because they won't have sex with you.

Gracie decides to go to therapy so she can talk about how she's feeling and she also joins a running group where she meets other kind hearted women. Gracie decides to move in with her sister Naomi and her nephew, Jack. After a few months, Naomi and Gracie take a nine day vacation in St. Lucia where it's tropical, there's beautiful beaches, happy people everywhere, a never ending supply of cocktails, together Naomi and Gracie tan in the sun and read on the beach. My heart goes out to Gracie, she struggles with the thought of never being able to get pregnant again. Gracie is the type of person who always runs away when she has to face confrontation. After a few more months pass, Gracie meets Ed. Edward Duke is a thirty two year old landscaper that works at Wimbledon Common. Edward and Gracie met at a dog park and continue to be each other's sexual fling. Gracie wants to be more, but when she learns Edward is being wrongly accused of rape, everything changes. Edward is a charmer that has a big heart, but Gracie only uses him as an escape from the real world. Edward is always so gentle with Gracie, he always surprises her with flowers before their dates, so why does Gracie only want to have a sexual fling with him? I adored Gracie, but some of the choices she made just didn't sit right with me. I appreciate Edward for treating Gracie with so much care and gentleness, but I also think they could have gone without their sexual fling, but that's just my opinion.

Nothing in this book makes sense. It starts out quite heartbreaking but I thought this would grow to be something heartwarming, and cute. However, that's not what we're getting.

I did not finish at 20% after waiting for the story to begin. All the characters apparently get their chapter but it's all a mess with no real structure. All the characters are horrible.

Gracie was thinking about having sex with her husband after his horrible, red-flag comments? Wtf, throw the whole man out immediately. And then saying she still loved him even after he cheated on her with her COWORKER? both horrible.

The professor? Horrible. The barrista? horrible.

I knew I had to stop reading when she continued glorifying pregnancy as a woman's only purpose. The entire thing was misogynistic, and I get it, there are some women who want kids, but guess what, your life doesn't stop at them.

Saying she wasn't a woman anymore because she couldn't have kids was infuriating. Also, what's with the false rape accusation subplot? It came out of nowhere, the barrister knew the person was randomly innocent, with absolutely no details about the case.

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the advanced e-book copy.

Absolutely brilliant! I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy, I will definitely be recommending it.

How to Fix a Broken Heart is a great read.
Please read the trigger warnings for this book! T

he cover looks cute, The story is emotion, heartbreaking, gut retching even. I did enjoy this read but it will be a very hard read for some readers with topics of pregnancy loss and loss of fertility. How much heart break can one person go through is how you feel reading this but this is the very sad reality for lots of women. I enjoy reading this book that's relatable as far as having trouble getting pregnant and loss. Also the BF is a POS.

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the advanced e-book copy.

Trigger warnings: How to Fix a Broken Heart revolves heavily around miscarriage and infertility.

Gracie Davies's life turns upside down when she loses her twins. Gracie’s boyfriend, Lewis, commits the ultimate betrayal, which leads to the demise of their relationship, making everything so much worse. She tries to rebuild her life, but is healing possible for her when she’s gone through so much trauma?

I overall enjoyed this story despite the difficult subject matter. There was drama happening left and right, and it felt like I was getting whiplash. I think it would have been better if the story focused on the main plot vs. adding multiple subplots.

I just finished reading this book. The plot was absolutely fantastic! It was quite the page turner, and I could nor put the book down once I began reading it. I cannot wait for it to be released. I will recommend it to everyone I know!

*How to Fix a Broken Heart* by Nicola May is a poignant yet uplifting story about love, loss, and the healing journey. Gracie Davies, after experiencing a miscarriage and a hysterectomy, is emotionally shattered. She faces the added blow of her boyfriend's betrayal. As she begins to rebuild her life with the support of her free-spirited sister Naomi, a quirky therapist, and a lively new friend, Gracie slowly starts to regain her confidence and sense of purpose.

Throughout her journey, she navigates grief, finds new relationships, including a passionate fling with landscaper Ed, and unexpectedly encounters a Hollywood film star. These experiences lead her to discover that community and love can be the key to mending a broken heart.

While the book tackles heavy themes, it maintains a light-hearted tone, mixing humour with heartfelt moments. Though some characters felt unnecessary or confusing, the bond between Gracie and her sister Naomi stood out. The ending, while seen as predictable by some, left the reviewer dissatisfied as it didn’t match their expectations of a happy conclusion. Despite this, they appreciated Nicola May’s writing style and the thoughtful exploration of sensitive topics.

Overall, *How to Fix a Broken Heart* is a heartfelt and engaging read, though it left the reviewer wishing for a more fulfilling resolution to Gracie’s journey.

Thank you to Net Galley, Storm Publishing, and author Nicola May for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!

I had high hopes for this book when I began! I really enjoyed Nicola May's writing style and enjoyed a lot of the banter between the characters throughout the book.

This story follows Gracie who has recently experienced a miscarriage and a hysterectomy. Gracie is navigating this journey and finding new ways to process her grief through friendship, dating, and sisterhood. Nicola May was very intentional in the way she wrote about such sensitive topics. While heavy topics were a theme throughout this book, Nicola May was somehow still able to make this a "light-hearted" read.

As I mentioned before, when I first began this book I had high hopes. I found myself laughing out loud at various points throughout the beginning of the book. There are many different characters introduced throughout, however I did not enjoy many of these new characters. As I was reading I often found myself getting lost in some of the plot points, I wasn't always sure where things were headed or why some of these characters were relevant to the story. I loved Gracie's relationship with her sister Naomi specifically, and enjoyed reading about Gracie finding community to help navigate her grief.

While others may say that the ending of the story seemed predictable, I was frustrated with the way it ended. I was not anticipating it ending that way, I personally wanted Gracie's end of her journey to look different. It wasn't my version of a happy ending, but I can see why it would be for others.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and Nicola May's writing! There were just parts of this book that fell flat to me and had me wanting more from some of the characters.

Thank you to Net Galley, Storm Publishing, and author Nicola May for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review!

This was a heartfelt, touching read to a point. I liked the overall message of the plot but there was too much cheating for my taste and the plot was kind of everywhere at times.