Love and Other Lost Things

by Melissa Wiesner

‘I loved it!... Totally heartbreaking page-turner… Grabbed my attention from the very first page!... I went on a rollercoaster ride of emotions… Beautiful… Captivating, heart-wrenching… Had me crying… Whew!... I was glued to the pages… Highly recommend!… did not want to put this down’ Open Book Posts, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A completely heart-wrenching, tear-jerking, and unforgettable romance, perfect for fans of Colleen Hoover and Paige Toon. When two lost souls are thrown back together, is it far too late to fix their broken hearts?

High school seniors Jane and Nik are inseparable. Best friends who share all their hopes and dreams—and one day, their first stolen kiss. But that day soon becomes the best and worst of Jane’s life…

Because there’s one thing Jane has never been able to share with the truth she carries about a devastating family secret. To protect Nik, Jane is forced to make a heartbreaking choice. Stay in town and risk Nik’s life being destroyed. Or run far, far away and never see him again…

Ten years later. After news reaches Jane of her father’s death, she finally comes home, where bittersweet memories of Nik wait on every quiet street. And when she bumps into him, the years melt away in a single instant.

Nik is broad-shouldered now and stands over six feet tall, but his deep brown eyes are just the same. Jane takes in Nik’s blue scrubs and doctor’s ID badge, happy that at least one of them got to live their dream. And when he breathes her name and caresses the fresh bruise on her cheek—like he can’t help but touch her—her heart speeds up just like the first time they kissed.

But Nik still doesn’t know the real reason she left town. Or who put that bruise on her cheek…

Jane knows the truth would destroy him. So why can’t she stay away from the boy who broke her heart? And when the past comes calling, will it tear them apart forever?

Love and Other Lost Things will shatter your heart, make you sob with joy, and remind you of the beautiful pain of lost love.

Read what everyone’s saying about Love and Other Lost Things:

‘Prepare to have your heartstrings tugged and your laughter lines deepened!... Heart-wrenching, tear-jerking, and unforgettable… With tears streaming down my face, I found myself completely captivated… you won’t be able to put down… Grab a box of tissues.’ Nessas_book_reviews

‘I haven't stopped sob crying… LOVED IT!... Rollercoaster of emotions… Heartbreaking… Bingeworthy… Tears BIG time… All the feels.’ coffeeandpages2021, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Wow… Incredible… Broke me and put me back together again… Fabulous.’ ashlees.reads

‘Do you love a book that rips your heart out and has you reaching for the tissues? This was it... Loved.

Genres: Romance, Second Chance, Contemporary, Friends To Lovers, Fiction, Suspense, Abuse

330 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 6, 2024

About the author

Melissa Wiesner’s mother didn’t allow her to watch much TV as a child and instead, made her play with paint, colorful pipe cleaners, random bits of fabric, and all manner of other crafty things. This set Melissa up for a lifetime of creative pursuits, and it was only a matter of time before things took a bookish turn.

A night-owl, Melissa began writing novels when her early-to-bed family retired for the evening. She is the award-winning author of both emotional women’s fiction and romantic comedies. Melissa’s book, His Secret Daughter was an Amazon bestseller, The Second Chance Year was a Book of the Month add-on pick, and It All Comes Back to You will soon be translated into almost a dozen languages.

Along with her charming husband and two adorable children, Melissa splits her time between the big city of Pittsburgh, PA and rural West Virginia.


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Website: melissawiesner.com
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Reviews

[Debra - can't post any comments on site today grrr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving, gripping, beautifully written and hard to put down! I loved it! ❤️❤️Love and Other Lost Things: A totally heartbreaking page-turner grabbed my attention from the very first page! I was fully invested in this book as I went on a roller coaster ride of emotions while reading. I found this book to be a beautiful love story that examines different forms of love. There is falling in love, loving your child, loving your parent and even learning to love yourself in this book. This book tackles many difficult subjects with grace and care. Love and Other Lost Things: A totally heartbreaking page-turner is a captivating, heart wrenching and moving second chance romance that had me rooting for the characters, crying for them, worrying for them and cheering for them.

Jane McCaffrey left town after high school and thought she would never return. But after her father's death, she returned and was reunited with her mother but also with Nik, her first love. The attraction is still there but Jane has secrets ranging from why she left town to how she got the fresh bruise on her cheek....

Whew! This moving book had me feeling all kinds of emotions. I was glued to the pages and did not want to put this book down. As I mentioned, this book does touch on some difficult subjects, including domestic violence, but they are all handled with care. I adored both Jane and Nik and was rooting for them the entire book. I found this book to be well thought out and engaging. This book also touches on motherhood, friendship, love, resiliency, abuse, trauma, music, trust, and starting over.

This is the second book which I have read by Melissa Wiesner. The first being It All Comes Back to You which has heart and soul. If you have not read that book, I highly recommend it as well.

Moving, beautifully written, hard to put down and gripping. Highly Recommend!


Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not an easy book to read, but it’s inspirational and eye-opening for both those who have experienced domestic violence and those who can’t understand a victim’s perceived lack of action.

I read it in small chunks and was rooting for Jane McCaffrey, a single mom, as she journeyed from surviving to striving with the help of family and friends. Leaving her husband and returning home took fortitude and foresight. I applauded her road to recovery. Nik stole the show for me.

The author warns readers of her focus and offers help for those who need it.

I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Lindsay (pawsomereads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️
Love and Other Lost Things was an emotional second-chance romance that balanced heartbreak with hope. Jane and Nik’s history was both tender and tragic, and the story captured the intensity of first love as well as the complicated realities of adult life. I think the dual timelines could have been balances a bit better, but I did appreciate being able to see the characters in the past and present, revealing the depth of their bond and the weight of the secrets Jane carried. The small-town setting amplified the nostalgia and made their reunion all the more poignant. This was a touching, bittersweet story about love, loss, and the courage it takes to face the past.

[jenny reads a lot · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ | TikTok |

This book had one of the most satisfying endings I've ever experienced. 15/10 would recommend reading for that aspect alone.

This is a heavy read, but worth it. It flips back and forth between present and past and follows Jane from the day she escapes her abusive father, to returning to her small town after his passing.

What I loved...
- Spectacular example of generational trauma
- realistic and eye-opening story of DV and the struggles relevant to today
- A++ mother-daughter relationship
- second chance romance
- small town setting
- found family
- un-put-downable narrative that will having you wanting to stay up way too late!

If these topics feel a bit too heavy for you but you still want to give Melissa Wiesner a try, I highly recommend her magical realism romcoms The Second Chance Year and Wish I Were Here

Thank you to Melissa Wiesner for the gifted copy all opinions are my own.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a family drama that covered the topic of domestic violence. In fact it reminded me of the book It Ends With Us. Finding out that her father has died Jane is able return her home which she fled a decade ago, bringing along her own secrets! I loved how this book explored the relationship between Jane and her mum and also the sub romance plot! I was also surprised by a little twist that came near the end! Everything wrapped up beautifully in this one, I really recommend it!

[jordan εїз · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars 🌟 book about abuse are always tough to get through and i think melissa did a really good job portraying how manipulative and hard it can be to leave a relationship like the one jane had to suffer from and grow up around 🥲💔

i wish i could say i connected with the characters but i really didn’t. i felt for jane and scarlett, her mother too but when it came to connecting with nik i felt like i knew nothing about him ☹️ i wanted to see more depth to all of the character but the fact that they don’t even get together 80-85% into the book also dragged this rating down for me

i think this was well written and i read it pretty fast but it was lacking in a lot of areas and i think i was expecting something different

[cyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[Sue Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this amazing book

what i liked first about this book was the fact the author gives you a warning about triggers.... for anyone that has suffered domestic abuse or any other forms of abuse.... so i was able to relax as i had been forewarned and boy was i glad to have had that warning

its not an easy read but it also is... there are some very good moments in between the harshness of certain scenes

but man that ending.... never saw that coming in a month of sundays....

but i was captivated with how the author wrote this book as its not an easy subject to write about and how it was all dealt with

will be keeping an eye out for more of this authors books

[Katelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this if you like:
•second change romance
•emotional reads
•single mom
•Small town
•childhood friends to lovers

I am a sucker for emotional romances. This deals with some heavy topics but oh is this story so beautiful. Thank you Melissa Wiesner for the copy!

[Emily | emilyisoverbooked · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Bookouture and Melissa Wiesner for the copy of this book!

A very bingeable and heartbreaking read, LOVE AND OTHER LOST THINGS is a book in the veins of Colleen Hoover and Paige Toon.

Jane left her small hometown of Linden Falls, NY years ago at the age of 18. Now, she’s finally going back, prompted by the death of her father and her mother’s need for help cleaning out the house. Also back home is Nik, the boy Jane fell in love with long ago and hasn’t stopped thinking about.

I don’t want to say too much more about the storyline because it’s best to keep it vague, but I thought this was such a good narrative on generational trauma and cycles, domestic abuse, and single parenting. It is a very emotional read and while some parts are predictable… WHEW not everything is!!! An excellent read.

Read this if you’re looking for:
- heart clenches and tears
- sweet kiddos / single mom rep
- second chance romance
- a small town setting (Western NY)
- a shocking twist

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fast moving book that I finished in one day.
Domestic abuse is always hard to read about. I felt for Jane and her Mom. It’s a well written book with a surprising secret at the end. One I didn’t see coming.
Definitely recommend

[Els · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every child deserves the best possible childhood, but unfortunately some parents do not seem to agree with that. When you are young, you don't have a choice and you have to try and make the best of it, but when the situation escalates, you flee. On the one hand to protect yourself, but to protect others too even if they don'r realise it and rather feel like you have left them behind. 

It is not easy to try and build a new life, but when you are determined enough, it seems like the sun is shining on you again or it is just a smoke screen?

I loved Jane. Even though she is still young, she is very mature, because of the decision she makes. I felt every emotion she went through and this can only mean one thing: the author did a splendid job in describing them and making me feel like I was standing next to her.

There are quite a few people who are the victim of one abusive person, whether they suffered directly or indirectly. It had an impact on their life which resulted in pain, sadness and anger.

This is an emotional story about lost love and second chances of lost friendships and becoming firm friends again, of making up and seeing things from a different angle.

It'shard for me to understand how some people can be so cruel, and enjoy it, to other people, but sadly it's the harsh reality. 4 stars

Thank you

[Nadene (Totally Addicted to Reading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.In "Love and Other Lost Things," Wiesner presents a potent, heartwarming, and emotional story. A story which focuses on healing, redemption, self-discovery, and a second chance at love. Once begun, it becomes a tale hard to set aside. Brace yourself for a journey that will simultaneously shatter and mend the heart, whilst tackling subjects that may challenge some readers. The characters are crafted to resonate with readers in various ways, ensuring full investment in their lives.

"Love and Other Lost Things" showcases Jane McCaffery's struggle to reclaim her life. The story leads readers to empathize with her pain of leaving home and the man she loves to flee an abusive situation. A decade later, a tragic event leads her back home, where she reunites with her mother and her first love, Nik. Despite this, Jane intends to leave again, but this time, she is not planning to escape by herself.

This story led me on a nerve-wracking and heartbreaking journey. It compelled me to read into the early hours, eager to discover whether Jane would finally find freedom and happiness. As the tale unfolded, one cannot help but cheer for Jane and Nik. They both deserved a shot at happiness and the opportunity to be rekindle what they lost ten years ago.

"Love and Other Lost Things" delves into the issue of domestic abuse. It showcases the challenges victims encounter while trying to leave such situations. It's common to hear people blame the victims for not leaving. However, this compelling narrative sheds light on the struggles they endure. It also demonstrates the extreme measures they must sometimes take to break free from their abusers.

This book provided my first experience with Melissa Wiesner's writing and it assuredly won't be the last. Love and Other Lost Thing takes readers on compelling, sincere, and emotional journey through generational trauma and the quest to break the cycle of abuse.This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5 Stars) Thanks to the author for an advanced reading copy of this powerful story. Below is my honest review.

Jane and Nik were inseparable best friends throughout childhood and planned to attend college together. But Jane has been harboring a dark secret about her family. When everything boils over in a dramatic confrontation with her parents, Jane disappears, leaving Nik with heartbreak and unanswered questions. Ten years later, Jane is caught in old patterns, and with the death of her father, she returns home to help her mother. She’s shocked to run into Nik, who had always wanted to escape their small town. Now a local ER doctor, Nik’s life is upended when the only person he ever loved returns, but he also wants the truth about why she left. As truths are revealed, this heat-wrenching book takes readers down some very unexpected paths.

This is a compelling, heart-breaking and unputdownable book about domestic violence, the patterns parents create for their children and the battles children have to fight to break free from those same patterns. Told in a dual timeline between the present and flashbacks from the last decade, we see the world through Jane and Nik’s POVs as their lives go on wildly different trajectories from what they had planned in high school. The story addresses the complexities of how to extricate yourself from a dangerous relationship - and why some people stay. It also deals with the anxieties of potentially opening yourself up to healthy relationships (both romantic and friendship) and learning to trust again. You may think this sounds like a CoHo book recently made into a movie, and it does have elements of that, but some significant twists make this a unique and uniquely satisfying read.

The audiobook is exceptionally well performed by Kate Handford, who expertly conveys a range of emotional performances.

[The Book Review Café · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love And Other Lost Things is the first book I’ve read by Melissa Wiesner and I have to say I’m impressed. This is an emotional story about lost love and second chances and resilience. This book deals with the difficult and heartbreaking subject of domestic abuse. The author deals with a tough subject with sympathy and although some scenes are upsetting they are fitting to the story without going overboard. I found myself hoping that Jane and Scarlett would get their “happy ever after” with Nik and although the ending was predictable I thought it was a good read.

[Nicole Bibliolau19 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melissa Wiesner is truly one of my favorite writers. If she writes a new book, there's no doubt I'm reading it, and though Love And Other Lost Things was a bit of a heavier read and more of a departure from her typical romances, it gripped me just as hard. This story was raw, vulnerable, and touching, and I was rooting for Jane, Scarlett and Nik from the outset.

A story of generational trauma and breaking the cycle of abuse, Love And Other Lost Things both broke my heart and put it back together. I was so proud of both Jane and her mom for their bravery, grit, and determination to create better lives for their children. It is not a story that goes easy on the heart, so heed the trigger warnings and prepare yourself for a gripping, propulsive novel that will keep you flying through the pages until the very end.

This second-chance romance packs a punch and hits shelves in just five days, so get those pre-orders and library holds in now!

[Ang Hoehner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man another 5 star book for July!!! Love when I'm on a good run with my reads. This one was just heartbreaking. Sucked me in from page 1 and my heart was racing for the final 60 pages. WHOA! I can't say anything else other than I loved this story. Nik Andrino...a small town, second chance romantic who is a doctor that gives AEDs away and teaches groups CPR? I mean it's obvious where this guy ended up right? What a spectacular, emotional story!

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

TW: DV

[Claire Egan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

[Elise Keskpaik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raske oli seda raamatut käest panna, mulle meeldis!

[Sybrenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of those books that I just didn’t want to put down. The writing was so good and i was literally hooked from page 1. My heart truly hurt for Jane and her mom as those topics were heavy. But i was lowkey GAGGED by Jane’s mom at the end 👀 Also I am such a stan of Nik 🥹

[Joanna Lambert · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the cover and the title of this book. Together, they held my attention and with the synopsis made me anticipate an emotional roller coaster of a read, where I would find myself glued to the story and unable to put it down . Disappointingly, that did not happen. The subject matter (abuse) was well handled and generally I found the story interesting, but I didn't find myself involved with the main characters (Jane and Nik) and their journey as much as I usually do with novels of this kind. I'm not sure whether it was the way the characters were portrayed, or the writer's voice, or that it simply lacked the kind of plot to keep me on track, but it simply didn't grip the way I had expected it to.. No doubt there are fans of the author who will enjoy this, but sadly it wasn't for me.

I would like to thank Bookouture, the author and Netgalley for an ARC of Love and Other Lost Things in exchange for an honest review.

[erin_leigh_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happy Publication Day Melissa Wiesner. Love And Other Lost Things might just be my favourite romance book of the summer. I stayed up into the wee hours of the morning just to finish this beautiful yet heartbreaking tragic love story. Told from the perspective of Jane in present time and 10 years earlier. It follows 18 year old Jane as she flees her traumatic childhood escaping her abusive and narcissistic father. Fast forward 10 years later, Jane returns to her small home town with her 10 year old daughter, after the death of Jane’s father. Jane’s plans to help her mother pack up and move but her main goal is to escape her current abusive relationship. While in town Jane bumps into her former best friend and love of her teenage years Nik. But Jane has plans that do not include rekindling her romance with Nik. But sometimes the heart wants what the heart wants.

Love And Other Lost Things is perfect for lovers of Colleen Hoover, whom I adore. That being said, I’m not going to lie, this book deals with very heavy topics such as domestic abuse, but done in a very sensitive way. The author includes a note at the beginning of the book forewarning readers of the content of abuse and also offers information at the end of the book where to get help if you are in need.

Thank you so much @melissawiesnerauthor and Sarah & @bookouture for sending me a copy of Love And Other Words. It is a story that will sit with me for a long time.

Pub Date: August 6th, 2024
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Lauren Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ten years ago, Jane fled her small hometown without a word to anyone. She found her way to Los Angeles, thinking she could potentially have a career in music. Instead, she wound up with an abusive partner, much like the father she grew up with, and despised her mother for not leaving. After the death of her father, Jane returns home with her nine year-old daughter Scarlett, under the guise of helping her mother. Her plan is to finally leave Scarlett’s abusive father and never return to LA. She runs into her best friend from high school Nik and realizes their feelings for each other never faded, even after all this time. Will Jane keep running, or will she confront her past head-on, with help from the most unexpected person?

WOW! This was an emotionally complex book, and not what I was expecting after reading Second Chance New Year in January. I think it’s amazing that the author can write such vastly different books, and have them both be great. This one was hard to read at some points because of the domestic and emotional abuse that Jane and her mother suffered throughout their lives, but it was so good to see them both come out on the other side eventually. It was so nice to truly be able to root for characters. I enjoyed the dual POV of both Jane and Nik - his outside perspective of Jane definitely lent to her character’s development throughout the story. This story takes place at Christmastime and is a great one to snuggle up and read!

[Lynda Brooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay book…Jane McCaffrey has never understood how her mother can stay with her abusive father, and one night her father turns on her and also threatens her boyfriend Nik, so Jane runs away to Los Angeles, where she meets a club owner Mateo. Trying to forget her past she hooks up with Mateo, who is handsome but also an a user. Nine months later, she gives birth to a daughter, Scarlet. For 10 years, Jane stays with Mateo, afraid to try to escape, but when she learns that her father has died of a heart attack, Mateo allows her to go help her mother. Jane’s plan is to run away to Canada, where she hopes Mateo won’t find her, but once she is back with her mother and the friends she left behind, she doesn’t want to keep running, especially when she realizes Nik still loves her. This was an okay book, but some of the events in the plot were somewhat unbelievable to me, especially when it came to Jane’s actions. I understand her running away, but I didn’t understand her hooking up with Mateo the very first day she meets him, even though I know she’s only eighteen and stupid. I also know that abused women often feel they can’t escape, but I think if she had confided in someone who worked in the club where she worked, that person would have helped her. The ending was also just kind of meh for me.

[Jen Altman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hoping to leave her traumatic past behind her, Jane finds herself trapped in the same cycle of domestic abuse she grew up watching her mother endure. Wanting better for her own daughter and after over a decade, she finally returns to the hometown she left behind but is she ready for the old wounds it’ll re-open?

Love and Other Lost Things carefully examines how the past always finds a way of catching up with us. With deeply complex issues explored such as love, loss, forgiveness, and domestic violence, this book is as inspiring as it is emotional. The powerful yet beautifuly written storyline has a way of drawing you in and keeping you hooked by pivoting between unbreakable family bonds, suspense, and heart-shattering secrets. Can true love really survive anything?

You’ll love this book if you enjoy the following themes:
💖 Enduring power of love
💖 Heavy secrets
💖 Intense emotional depth
💖 Well-developed complex characters
💖 Second chances/forgiveness
💖 Mother/daughter relationships
💖 Small town setting

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Marie Girulat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to @melissawiesner, @bookouture and @bookedwiththeemilys for the gifted e-book.

I was truly captivated by the book. It tells the story of Jane, who left home suddenly at 18 without telling anyone. Ten years later, she returns home to help her mom after her father's passing. There, she rekindles her love with Nik, but she's holding onto a secret and planning to disappear. Will being back home and seeing Nik change her plans? The way the author portrays the emotions made me feel like I wanted to reach through the pages and hug Jane and her mom.

This book truly captivated my heart. Jane's resilience and determination gripped me from the very beginning. The story's dual timeline kept me on the edge of my seat as Jane's secrets and past were unveiled. The unexpected twist at the end added a delightful layer of depth to the story. It beautifully portrayed the struggles of abuse survivors and the choices they make to protect themselves and their loved ones.

If you're a fan of emotional romance with a happy ending, this book is a must-read for you.

Tropes:
🌸 Second chance romance
🍄 Childhood friends to lovers
😢 Emotional reads
🌻 Small town
💔 Who hurt you?”

[Karen B · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars Whoosh…what an heart wrenching, emotional story-the topics addressed were surely not easy to read but I think the author did indeed treat them with sensitivity. A decade has passed since Jane ran from a terrible situation-she returns to her hometown with her little girl in tow-trying to escape another abusive relationship. She struggles with the decision to stay and lean on the people who love her. Told in dual, third person points-of-view in a then and now format, there is exceptional characterization of both heroes and villains, and as the plot progresses…one cannot help but root for the childhood friends to lovers, second chance romance of Jane and Nik. The few twists revealed towards the end of the book adds even more emotions to the mix. Although the storyline deals with ugliness, I appreciate the overriding message of seeking help, perseverance, self-discovery and love.
*Please check the content warnings-mental health is important
Thanks to Booked With The Emily’s, the author and Bookouture for the #gifted eARC

[Emily | booksandbedtime · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Thank you to Melissa Wiesner for the copy of this ARC. This is my third book by Melissa Wiesner, and she’s an autobuy author for me now. Her range is outstanding.

Short Synopsis:
Jane left home quietly and mysteriously when she was 18 years old. It’s now a decade later, and she’s suddenly back with bruises on face. Her former best friend, Nik, just wants to know why she left and why she’s finally back.

My Thoughts:
This book will gut you in the best way. It’s heartbreaking and sad. It’s such a binge read that you won’t want to put down.

And when Melissa says there’s a twist you won’t see coming, boy was she right!!!

Just an excellent book overall for readers who love sad romances like I do!

What You’ll Find:
💕Second chance romance
🥰 Childhood friends to lovers
🏘️Small town
🤕Emotional
👧🏼Single mom/awesome kid
❤️‍🩹Some heartache

TW: Domestic violence. Take care of yourselves first. 🫶

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this book down. Love and Other Lost Things is a powerful, gripping story that pulls you in from the very first page and doesn’t let go. Melissa Wiesner handles incredibly heavy and emotional topics—like domestic abuse, trauma, and second chances—with care and depth, making the characters feel heartbreakingly real.

Jane’s journey was raw and emotional, and I truly felt for her every step of the way. The dual timeline was done so well, slowly revealing the pieces of her past while building a deeply layered story in the present. The small-town setting, the mother-daughter dynamic, and the rekindled romance with Nik all added richness and heart.

Even though some moments felt a little predictable, it didn’t take away from the impact or emotional pull of the story. It’s one of those books that stays with you, long after you finish. Highly recommend—just be ready for an intense and moving ride.