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The Heartbreak Hotel
Listening Length: 10 hours and 16 minutes
A bed-and-breakfast for the brokenhearted might hold the key to another chance at love in this achingly hopeful debut romance.
Louisa Walsh emerged from a tumultuous childhood with a degree in counseling, a wealthy boyfriend, and her sunny outlook on life mostly intact. But that optimism is tested when she’s dumped and left unable to afford rent on their gorgeous house in the mountains of Colorado. Even with her life in disarray, Lou knows losing the one stable place she’s ever called home is not an option.
Her plan: ask her reclusive landlord, Henry Rhodes, to let her stay for free in exchange for renting out the house’s many rooms as a bed-and-breakfast. She’s shocked when he agrees to her terms, and even more surprised to discover Henry is a handsome thirtysomething veterinarian with silver at his temples and sadness in his eyes. One who does not take it well when Lou starts marketing her B and B as a retreat for the recently heartbroken.
But as the Comeback Inn opens its doors to its weary, hopeful guests, Lou and Henry find themselves dancing around both their undeniable connection and the closely held secrets that threaten to topple this fragile new start. A chance at love, here, could be too close to home…or it could be exactly where their hearts finally heal.
A bed-and-breakfast for the brokenhearted might hold the key to another chance at love in this achingly hopeful debut romance.
Louisa Walsh emerged from a tumultuous childhood with a degree in counseling, a wealthy boyfriend, and her sunny outlook on life mostly intact. But that optimism is tested when she’s dumped and left unable to afford rent on their gorgeous house in the mountains of Colorado. Even with her life in disarray, Lou knows losing the one stable place she’s ever called home is not an option.
Her plan: ask her reclusive landlord, Henry Rhodes, to let her stay for free in exchange for renting out the house’s many rooms as a bed-and-breakfast. She’s shocked when he agrees to her terms, and even more surprised to discover Henry is a handsome thirtysomething veterinarian with silver at his temples and sadness in his eyes. One who does not take it well when Lou starts marketing her B and B as a retreat for the recently heartbroken.
But as the Comeback Inn opens its doors to its weary, hopeful guests, Lou and Henry find themselves dancing around both their undeniable connection and the closely held secrets that threaten to topple this fragile new start. A chance at love, here, could be too close to home…or it could be exactly where their hearts finally heal.
11 pages, Audible Audio
First published September 23, 2025
1093 people are currently reading
63013 people want to read
About the author
Ellen O'Clover
7 books530 followersEllen O’Clover writes stories about love, identity, and belonging for both teens and adults.
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September 24, 2025
જ⁀➴ 0 ✰
I deserve an award for finishing this horrible book.
When I picked it up, I was excited. Everyone was giving it glowing reviews and praising it as emotional, powerful, and beautiful, a moving story about grief, love, and healing. Naturally, I went in with high expectations. What I found instead was one of the most frustrating and tedious stories I have ever read. I kept waiting for the part that would make me understand what others were seeing in it, but that moment never came. From start to finish, this book was an exhausting disappointment. It tried to tackle deep, serious themes, but it did so in such a shallow, poorly executed way that I ended up hating it more with every chapter. I can honestly say this is one of the worst books I have ever read. The plot was unrealistic to the point of absurdity, the characters were frustrating and flat, and the writing itself was weak and unpolished.
⟢ What bothers me the most is that it feels like the author was not really interested in telling a good story. Instead, it felt like she was trying to throw in as many “big” themes as possible, as if to check boxes. Grief, family, love, loss, identity, mental health, healing—you name it, she tossed it in. But instead of being meaningful, it felt overwhelming and shallow. Nothing was explored with any real depth. It read more like a desperate attempt to seem important and relatable than an honest, well-developed narrative.
Louisa, the main character, is trying to run a bed-and-breakfast in order to stay in the house she once shared with her ex. She cannot afford the rent on her own, so she partners with Henry, the owner of the house, and decides to rent rooms to strangers. We see a ton of characters in this book since there’s always people entering and leaving the house, my main problem is that there isn’t any character growth FOR ANYONEEEE, not even the main characters. The entire story felt stagnant.
On top of that, the plot itself was deeply unrealistic. If I broke up with my partner, the last thing I would do is invite strangers into my home and then try to act like their therapist without a license. Yet that is exactly what Louisa does. The whole concept was so absurd that I struggled to take it seriously. Instead of feeling moved, I found myself constantly rolling my eyes. And vice versa, if I broke up with my boyfriend I doubt I would like to waste my money and rent a room in a stranger house, but I don’t know that could be just me.
⟢ The writing style only made things worse. The prose was awkward and often confusing, with sentences that felt poorly structured and transitions that lacked flow. There were so many times that I had to reread paragraphs just to figure out what the author was trying to say. It genuinely felt unedited, like no one took the time to polish the text before publication. On top of that, there was an incredible amount of repetition. For example, the situation between Louisa’s sister Goldie and their mother was brought up again and again, to the point where it felt like I was trapped in a loop. By the end, I was completely exhausted by how often the same conflicts were repeated. Another issue was the over-descriptive writing. I was constantly being given excessive detail about things that I did not give a fuck.
Now let’s talk about Louisa herself, because she is without a doubt one of the worst female main characters I have ever encountered. I could not stand being in her head. She constantly portrayed herself as a victim, she compared herself endlessly to her sister and best friend, and she seemed incapable of taking responsibility for her own life. She broke up with a boyfriend who was financially supporting her, but instead of taking that as a wake-up call to become independent, she immediately became infatuated with Henry. It was frustrating to watch her make one immature, shallow choice after another. I love reading about flawed characters when they are written with nuance, but Louisa was simply unbearable. She was not complex, she was just insufferable. Honestly, her ex dodged a bullet by leaving her.
⟢ What truly made me furious was her obsession with giving therapy to the house guests even though she was not licensed!!!. I am currently studying psychology, so this was something that really grabbed my attention. No matter how much she claims to know or how much she has studied, if she does not have a license then she should not be practicing, period. It is that easy. The book treats this as if it is sweet or noble, but in reality, it is reckless and unethical. There is a reason why therapists need licenses and ongoing training. Unauthorized practice is not only harmful to the clients, but also undermines the profession itself. Reading these scenes made me angry because they dismissed how serious and important professional qualifications are in mental health.
Even worse, Louisa kept forcing other people to open up about their problems, yet she refused to deal with her own issues. She wanted to “fix” everyone’s heartbreak while avoiding accountability for herself. She gave empty pep talks about how everything would get better, but she never followed her own advice. The hypocrisy was unbearable.
⟢ Henry, the supposed male lead, was equally disappointing. He barely did anything beyond fixing things around the house. He had no depth and no real presence in the story. He felt more like a side character than the love interest. Their romance was one of the most forced, awkward relationships I have ever read. Louisa went from crying over her ex one moment to drooling over Henry the next. It was pure insta-love, with no chemistry whatsoever. Nothing about their connection felt believable.
And of course, there was the dreaded third-act breakup. It was completely unnecessary and ridiculous, considering that Louisa and Henry were never even convincingly together to begin with. The conflict that caused it was laughable. Louisa accused Henry of keeping secrets from her, declaring that she could not be with someone who hid things. Meanwhile, she was hiding her lack of a therapy license from him the entire time. It was absurd, and it only highlighted how unlikeable and inconsistent she was as a character.
⟢ Anyways, I know there are people who will adore this book. Clearly, the glowing reviews show that many people connected with it. Maybe I am just a hater but I cannot ignore how poorly executed it was. From the shallow exploration of serious themes, to the unbearable main character, to the unconvincing romance, everything about this book felt wrong. For me, this was not just a disappointing read, it was one of the worst romances I have ever had the misfortune of finishing.
thank you Berkley and net galley for the arc!!
┆ ⤿ 🪽 ༝ pre-read:
Wild reverence left me feeling so hollow that I don’t think any book is going to keep my attention right now but a lot of besties have rated this 5 stars so I have high hopes of this being amazing!!🤞🏻💞
_____________
Berkley approving me an arc??? Let me get a lottery ticket rn🏃🏻♀️➡️🏃🏻♀️➡️
AAAA I’m so excited to read this soon after seeing so many good reviews🤭
I deserve an award for finishing this horrible book.
When I picked it up, I was excited. Everyone was giving it glowing reviews and praising it as emotional, powerful, and beautiful, a moving story about grief, love, and healing. Naturally, I went in with high expectations. What I found instead was one of the most frustrating and tedious stories I have ever read. I kept waiting for the part that would make me understand what others were seeing in it, but that moment never came. From start to finish, this book was an exhausting disappointment. It tried to tackle deep, serious themes, but it did so in such a shallow, poorly executed way that I ended up hating it more with every chapter. I can honestly say this is one of the worst books I have ever read. The plot was unrealistic to the point of absurdity, the characters were frustrating and flat, and the writing itself was weak and unpolished.
⟢ What bothers me the most is that it feels like the author was not really interested in telling a good story. Instead, it felt like she was trying to throw in as many “big” themes as possible, as if to check boxes. Grief, family, love, loss, identity, mental health, healing—you name it, she tossed it in. But instead of being meaningful, it felt overwhelming and shallow. Nothing was explored with any real depth. It read more like a desperate attempt to seem important and relatable than an honest, well-developed narrative.
Louisa, the main character, is trying to run a bed-and-breakfast in order to stay in the house she once shared with her ex. She cannot afford the rent on her own, so she partners with Henry, the owner of the house, and decides to rent rooms to strangers. We see a ton of characters in this book since there’s always people entering and leaving the house, my main problem is that there isn’t any character growth FOR ANYONEEEE, not even the main characters. The entire story felt stagnant.
On top of that, the plot itself was deeply unrealistic. If I broke up with my partner, the last thing I would do is invite strangers into my home and then try to act like their therapist without a license. Yet that is exactly what Louisa does. The whole concept was so absurd that I struggled to take it seriously. Instead of feeling moved, I found myself constantly rolling my eyes. And vice versa, if I broke up with my boyfriend I doubt I would like to waste my money and rent a room in a stranger house, but I don’t know that could be just me.
⟢ The writing style only made things worse. The prose was awkward and often confusing, with sentences that felt poorly structured and transitions that lacked flow. There were so many times that I had to reread paragraphs just to figure out what the author was trying to say. It genuinely felt unedited, like no one took the time to polish the text before publication. On top of that, there was an incredible amount of repetition. For example, the situation between Louisa’s sister Goldie and their mother was brought up again and again, to the point where it felt like I was trapped in a loop. By the end, I was completely exhausted by how often the same conflicts were repeated. Another issue was the over-descriptive writing. I was constantly being given excessive detail about things that I did not give a fuck.
Now let’s talk about Louisa herself, because she is without a doubt one of the worst female main characters I have ever encountered. I could not stand being in her head. She constantly portrayed herself as a victim, she compared herself endlessly to her sister and best friend, and she seemed incapable of taking responsibility for her own life. She broke up with a boyfriend who was financially supporting her, but instead of taking that as a wake-up call to become independent, she immediately became infatuated with Henry. It was frustrating to watch her make one immature, shallow choice after another. I love reading about flawed characters when they are written with nuance, but Louisa was simply unbearable. She was not complex, she was just insufferable. Honestly, her ex dodged a bullet by leaving her.
⟢ What truly made me furious was her obsession with giving therapy to the house guests even though she was not licensed!!!. I am currently studying psychology, so this was something that really grabbed my attention. No matter how much she claims to know or how much she has studied, if she does not have a license then she should not be practicing, period. It is that easy. The book treats this as if it is sweet or noble, but in reality, it is reckless and unethical. There is a reason why therapists need licenses and ongoing training. Unauthorized practice is not only harmful to the clients, but also undermines the profession itself. Reading these scenes made me angry because they dismissed how serious and important professional qualifications are in mental health.
Even worse, Louisa kept forcing other people to open up about their problems, yet she refused to deal with her own issues. She wanted to “fix” everyone’s heartbreak while avoiding accountability for herself. She gave empty pep talks about how everything would get better, but she never followed her own advice. The hypocrisy was unbearable.
⟢ Henry, the supposed male lead, was equally disappointing. He barely did anything beyond fixing things around the house. He had no depth and no real presence in the story. He felt more like a side character than the love interest. Their romance was one of the most forced, awkward relationships I have ever read. Louisa went from crying over her ex one moment to drooling over Henry the next. It was pure insta-love, with no chemistry whatsoever. Nothing about their connection felt believable.
And of course, there was the dreaded third-act breakup. It was completely unnecessary and ridiculous, considering that Louisa and Henry were never even convincingly together to begin with. The conflict that caused it was laughable. Louisa accused Henry of keeping secrets from her, declaring that she could not be with someone who hid things. Meanwhile, she was hiding her lack of a therapy license from him the entire time. It was absurd, and it only highlighted how unlikeable and inconsistent she was as a character.
⟢ Anyways, I know there are people who will adore this book. Clearly, the glowing reviews show that many people connected with it. Maybe I am just a hater but I cannot ignore how poorly executed it was. From the shallow exploration of serious themes, to the unbearable main character, to the unconvincing romance, everything about this book felt wrong. For me, this was not just a disappointing read, it was one of the worst romances I have ever had the misfortune of finishing.
thank you Berkley and net galley for the arc!!
┆ ⤿ 🪽 ༝ pre-read:
Wild reverence left me feeling so hollow that I don’t think any book is going to keep my attention right now but a lot of besties have rated this 5 stars so I have high hopes of this being amazing!!🤞🏻💞
_____________
Berkley approving me an arc??? Let me get a lottery ticket rn🏃🏻♀️➡️🏃🏻♀️➡️
AAAA I’m so excited to read this soon after seeing so many good reviews🤭
November 19, 2025
This book is so tragically beautiful and romantic!
An absolute MUST read.
The Heartbreak Hotel is exactly what I need in a romance. Trauma in all the right places, emotional depth for days, breathtakingly beautiful prose, so much TENSION, and YEARNING! OH MY!
I have not read Ellen O’Clover before, but now I need to devour everything she’s written. If her other books are even a fraction as good as this one I will be OBSESSED.
This book does lean a little more women’s fiction than romance, however I find that I enjoy books where the FMC is able to explore their self-identity in greater depth without everything being about the MMC.
This definitely achieves that.
We get so much to love with this book…
- found family
- family dynamics + family forward story
- emotional maturity
- characters with depth for DAYS
- swoony romance
- stunning prose
- stoic MMC
- THE TENSION
- THE YEARNING
- THE HURT
- age gap (26/34)
- Colorado Mountain setting
What’s not to love…
- NOTHING THIS BOOK IS SO PHENOMENAL!
- GO READ IT NOW!
Please note: Check your trigger warning with this one - there are some heavy topics within
🌶️ - Peeked door, ambiguous and something I’d be ok with my teen niece reading. Will update with chapters soon, I forgot to sync my kindle! whoops!
5⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
An absolute MUST read.
The Heartbreak Hotel is exactly what I need in a romance. Trauma in all the right places, emotional depth for days, breathtakingly beautiful prose, so much TENSION, and YEARNING! OH MY!
I have not read Ellen O’Clover before, but now I need to devour everything she’s written. If her other books are even a fraction as good as this one I will be OBSESSED.
This book does lean a little more women’s fiction than romance, however I find that I enjoy books where the FMC is able to explore their self-identity in greater depth without everything being about the MMC.
This definitely achieves that.
We get so much to love with this book…
- found family
- family dynamics + family forward story
- emotional maturity
- characters with depth for DAYS
- swoony romance
- stunning prose
- stoic MMC
- THE TENSION
- THE YEARNING
- THE HURT
- age gap (26/34)
- Colorado Mountain setting
What’s not to love…
- NOTHING THIS BOOK IS SO PHENOMENAL!
- GO READ IT NOW!
Please note: Check your trigger warning with this one - there are some heavy topics within
🌶️ - Peeked door, ambiguous and something I’d be ok with my teen niece reading. Will update with chapters soon, I forgot to sync my kindle! whoops!
5⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
November 10, 2025
I’m going 3.5/4 stars on this one. I liked the story & some of the characters. But I do wish there was more character development. A lot of the important themes in this book barely grazed the surface. I would’ve loved to see more depth but overall it was cute.
July 2, 2025
✩ 5 stars ✩
What to Expect:
➼ Age Gap
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Love After Loss
➼ Heartbreak & Healing
➼ He Falls First
➼ Female Friendships
➼ Veterinarian/Animal Lover MMC
➼ Colorado Setting
➼ 3rd Act Break Up
➼ Bed & Breakfast for the Heartbroken
➼ First Person POV
I tend to fly through books, but I savored this one. I loved it so much that I didn’t want it to end and I kept starting new books just to put off finishing it. Going into this, I was hopeful Ellen O’Clover would become a new go-to author for me, and I’m happy to report that I will be first in line to read her future works! If you’re a romance lover, this needs to be on your TBR!
This isn’t Ellen’s debut novel, but it is her first adult romance and she absolutely knocked it out of the park. From page one the story had me hooked and I was immediately invested in Louisa finding her happily ever after. This is an emotional read with lots of sad themes of grief, loss, and family trauma, but Ellen handles every topic so gracefully that they never felt too heavy. Even when there was miscommunication it felt completely valid and understandable based on their lived experiences.
At first glance it seemed like this story would be about bouncing back and finding love again after a break up, but each of their traumas went much deeper. Break ups were a part of each of their journeys, but there was so much more hiding beneath the surface. Both MC’s had been trying to handle everything on their own for so long that it was no surprise they made a few missteps along the away, but with time and vulnerability, their walls began to crumble piece by piece.
I absolutely adored both MC’s. These are the kind of perfectly imperfect characters that you can really see yourself in. I have never struggled with people pleasing tendencies like the FMC, but I am a perfectionist who holds myself to insanely high standards and struggles to ask for help when I need it. As a counselor myself, there was a lot about Louisa that I found relatable. In our role, we have to set aside our personal feelings in order to stay neutral and objective. We are not supposed to show too much of ourselves or share personal anecdotes which is how most people connect. It becomes second nature to hide pieces of yourself and I sometimes find it hard to add myself back into the conversation even when I’m among friends. I default to listening and asking questions and have to be very intentional about surrounding myself with people who will check-in on me and not allow me to fade into the background. Her struggle to allow herself to be vulnerable and put herself first really resonated with me.
Louisa’s ex was a taker, pure and simple. He never saw her clearly and barely noticed when their connection began to fade. Even if I could set aside the cheating, he was not there for her physically or emotionally and was really just a comfortable choice for her at the end of their relationship. Henry in contrast was someone who ALWAYS showed up for her, setting aside his own grief and discomfort to be what she needed from one moment to the next. After everything is revealed, you will look back and see just how much he sacrificed to be near to her. They were like the sun to each other after being trapped in the dark for years. Such a beautiful connection. 💖 And the tension between them... slow burn at its finest! 🤌🏻🔥
I’m not usually this far ahead on ARC reads and it will be excruciating waiting on September 23rd. I know you guys will fall in love with this book just like I have! Do yourself a favor and preorder this one, you won’t want to miss it!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Starting another ARC! 🤸♀️🤸♀️
This is a new to me author, fingers crossed she’ll be a new favorite! 🤞🏻
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
Connect with me on Instagram
What to Expect:
➼ Age Gap
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Love After Loss
➼ Heartbreak & Healing
➼ He Falls First
➼ Female Friendships
➼ Veterinarian/Animal Lover MMC
➼ Colorado Setting
➼ 3rd Act Break Up
➼ Bed & Breakfast for the Heartbroken
➼ First Person POV
I tend to fly through books, but I savored this one. I loved it so much that I didn’t want it to end and I kept starting new books just to put off finishing it. Going into this, I was hopeful Ellen O’Clover would become a new go-to author for me, and I’m happy to report that I will be first in line to read her future works! If you’re a romance lover, this needs to be on your TBR!
This isn’t Ellen’s debut novel, but it is her first adult romance and she absolutely knocked it out of the park. From page one the story had me hooked and I was immediately invested in Louisa finding her happily ever after. This is an emotional read with lots of sad themes of grief, loss, and family trauma, but Ellen handles every topic so gracefully that they never felt too heavy. Even when there was miscommunication it felt completely valid and understandable based on their lived experiences.
At first glance it seemed like this story would be about bouncing back and finding love again after a break up, but each of their traumas went much deeper. Break ups were a part of each of their journeys, but there was so much more hiding beneath the surface. Both MC’s had been trying to handle everything on their own for so long that it was no surprise they made a few missteps along the away, but with time and vulnerability, their walls began to crumble piece by piece.
I absolutely adored both MC’s. These are the kind of perfectly imperfect characters that you can really see yourself in. I have never struggled with people pleasing tendencies like the FMC, but I am a perfectionist who holds myself to insanely high standards and struggles to ask for help when I need it. As a counselor myself, there was a lot about Louisa that I found relatable. In our role, we have to set aside our personal feelings in order to stay neutral and objective. We are not supposed to show too much of ourselves or share personal anecdotes which is how most people connect. It becomes second nature to hide pieces of yourself and I sometimes find it hard to add myself back into the conversation even when I’m among friends. I default to listening and asking questions and have to be very intentional about surrounding myself with people who will check-in on me and not allow me to fade into the background. Her struggle to allow herself to be vulnerable and put herself first really resonated with me.
Louisa’s ex was a taker, pure and simple. He never saw her clearly and barely noticed when their connection began to fade. Even if I could set aside the cheating, he was not there for her physically or emotionally and was really just a comfortable choice for her at the end of their relationship. Henry in contrast was someone who ALWAYS showed up for her, setting aside his own grief and discomfort to be what she needed from one moment to the next. After everything is revealed, you will look back and see just how much he sacrificed to be near to her. They were like the sun to each other after being trapped in the dark for years. Such a beautiful connection. 💖 And the tension between them... slow burn at its finest! 🤌🏻🔥
I’m not usually this far ahead on ARC reads and it will be excruciating waiting on September 23rd. I know you guys will fall in love with this book just like I have! Do yourself a favor and preorder this one, you won’t want to miss it!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Starting another ARC! 🤸♀️🤸♀️
This is a new to me author, fingers crossed she’ll be a new favorite! 🤞🏻
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
Connect with me on Instagram
September 14, 2025
“𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒔 𝒎𝒆 𝑳𝒐𝒖.” 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒉𝒆’𝒔 𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒆𝒕, 𝑰 𝒑𝒖𝒍𝒍 𝒎𝒚 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔 𝒖𝒑 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒊𝒔. 𝑩𝒍𝒖𝒆, 𝒃𝒍𝒖𝒆, 𝒃𝒍𝒖𝒆. 𝑼𝒏𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆. 𝑯𝒆����𝒓𝒚’𝒔 𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒐𝒇𝒕𝒍𝒚. “𝑴𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒆 𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”
This healed me 🥹 The funniest part about that sentence is that I’m literally in a happy relationship, but many of you have probably experienced some type of loss.. friendship, relationship, even yourself and this book touches on all of those in the most beautiful way. I didn’t expect to feel so reflective and low-key get a bit of self-closure with my own past 🫂
“𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒃𝒊𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒈𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒇, 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒈𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒇 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒔 𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒔. 𝑺𝒐.”
A summary as always hehe: Louisa Walsh, after being with Nash for 6 years, gets dumped 💔 She wants to do everything she can to keep the house, so she decides to convert it into a Bed and Breakfast hotel for the brokenhearted. Luckily, she convinces the landlord, Henry Rhodes, to let her.
Henry Rhodes aghhhhh, what a man 😮💨 He’s quiet, a man of few words, but his actions speak so loudly. I’m such a fan of quiet love, which is probably why I was obsessed with him. Louisa, on the other hand, she’s a gentle soul, hurting but healing. Sometimes I rolled my eyes because I’m such a “speak my mind” girlie and she was the opposite… but honestly, that was the point, and it made sense for her character so I just gotta shut up and take it (hahaha lmao)
Overall, the plot was about grief and healing, layered beautifully with their romantic relationship. Everything was woven together so well, and to be honest, I was super impressed because it was realistic. I love when fiction still brings in real situations that could happen in real life, which is why I definitely related in some way or another to some of the guests that entered the hotel.
I already said it, but this book HEALED me, so I hope it heals you too in one way or another 💖🫂
“𝑵𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆’𝒔 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆’𝒔.”
⚠️ Also, a note: this book does deal with some heavy topics, and in my ARC there wasn’t a trigger warning list. So I’ll include that here just in case, for anyone who may need it.
mention of: child loss, spouse loss and traumatic mother upbringing
tropes
🩷first pov
🩷slow burn
🩷strangers to lovers
🩷forced proximity
🩷emotional pasts
🩷"please stay" "okay"
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
➳ 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ my friend are all raving about this book and I just got the earc so DUTY CALLS 🫡
Thank you Berkley Romance for my eARC
This healed me 🥹 The funniest part about that sentence is that I’m literally in a happy relationship, but many of you have probably experienced some type of loss.. friendship, relationship, even yourself and this book touches on all of those in the most beautiful way. I didn’t expect to feel so reflective and low-key get a bit of self-closure with my own past 🫂
“𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒃𝒊𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒈𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒇, 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒈𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒇 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒔 𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒔. 𝑺𝒐.”
A summary as always hehe: Louisa Walsh, after being with Nash for 6 years, gets dumped 💔 She wants to do everything she can to keep the house, so she decides to convert it into a Bed and Breakfast hotel for the brokenhearted. Luckily, she convinces the landlord, Henry Rhodes, to let her.
Henry Rhodes aghhhhh, what a man 😮💨 He’s quiet, a man of few words, but his actions speak so loudly. I’m such a fan of quiet love, which is probably why I was obsessed with him. Louisa, on the other hand, she’s a gentle soul, hurting but healing. Sometimes I rolled my eyes because I’m such a “speak my mind” girlie and she was the opposite… but honestly, that was the point, and it made sense for her character so I just gotta shut up and take it (hahaha lmao)
Overall, the plot was about grief and healing, layered beautifully with their romantic relationship. Everything was woven together so well, and to be honest, I was super impressed because it was realistic. I love when fiction still brings in real situations that could happen in real life, which is why I definitely related in some way or another to some of the guests that entered the hotel.
I already said it, but this book HEALED me, so I hope it heals you too in one way or another 💖🫂
“𝑵𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆’𝒔 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆’𝒔.”
⚠️ Also, a note: this book does deal with some heavy topics, and in my ARC there wasn’t a trigger warning list. So I’ll include that here just in case, for anyone who may need it.
mention of: child loss, spouse loss and traumatic mother upbringing
tropes
🩷first pov
🩷slow burn
🩷strangers to lovers
🩷forced proximity
🩷emotional pasts
🩷"please stay" "okay"
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
➳ 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ my friend are all raving about this book and I just got the earc so DUTY CALLS 🫡
Thank you Berkley Romance for my eARC
April 2, 2025
NO BECAUSE THE WAY THIS NEEDS TO BE ON EVERYONES TBR FOR SEPTEMBER!!!! I did not expect this book to take me hostage, but the moment I started it I couldn’t put it down!! Also silly me to think that a book with the word heartbreak wouldn’t have me crying my eyes out at 1am and yet it did!! The romance in this?! UNWELL!! The buildup and the tension?? SO SO SO GOOD!!
Truly my favorite books have elements of grief + romance and this hit the spot!! Such a surprise read for me and I will be thinking about it for days to come!!
More thoughts closer to release date!!
Truly my favorite books have elements of grief + romance and this hit the spot!! Such a surprise read for me and I will be thinking about it for days to come!!
More thoughts closer to release date!!
September 29, 2025
This was SUCH a good read! I wasn’t sure what to expect from this one but, I really really enjoyed it! 🫶🏼
The romance was so refreshing and honestly didn’t completely overwhelm every aspect of the story which I really loved! The fmc was so kind and caring, and I loved the mmc too!
I also didn’t expect this book to have so much emotional depth (even though it’s literally called the heartbreak hotel 💀) but it was so emotional and really covered so many different life experiences. All of the different guests at the hotel had similar but very different experiences and I loved how they all bonded through their heartbreak.
If you know me, you know I love Emily Henry books and this one had such a similar writing style and feeling as her books. If you also enjoy Em Hen then you will probably love this one too!!
some fave quotes! <3
"Because that's the thing, about hearts-broken or aching or otherwise. They don't belong to any one time or place. We carry them with us: bruised and scabbed over, healing and changing, always and inherently our own."
"You never know, is the truth—what people are going through, or what you mean to them."
“Every broken heart keeps beating, in the end.
So will mine; so will his. So will yours.”
The romance was so refreshing and honestly didn’t completely overwhelm every aspect of the story which I really loved! The fmc was so kind and caring, and I loved the mmc too!
I also didn’t expect this book to have so much emotional depth (even though it’s literally called the heartbreak hotel 💀) but it was so emotional and really covered so many different life experiences. All of the different guests at the hotel had similar but very different experiences and I loved how they all bonded through their heartbreak.
If you know me, you know I love Emily Henry books and this one had such a similar writing style and feeling as her books. If you also enjoy Em Hen then you will probably love this one too!!
some fave quotes! <3
"Because that's the thing, about hearts-broken or aching or otherwise. They don't belong to any one time or place. We carry them with us: bruised and scabbed over, healing and changing, always and inherently our own."
"You never know, is the truth—what people are going through, or what you mean to them."
“Every broken heart keeps beating, in the end.
So will mine; so will his. So will yours.”
August 30, 2025
I was enjoying this at first. Then we come across a conversation where two adults are teaching a young child what non-binary means. That’s when I lost interest in finishing the book.
Expected Release Date: 09/23/2025
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the early access. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Expected Release Date: 09/23/2025
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the early access. All thoughts in this review are my own.
October 15, 2025
3.5⭐
Genre ~ women’s fiction mostly
Setting ~ Colorado
Publication date ~ September 23, 2025
Publisher ~ Berkely
Est Page Count ~ 347 (37 chapters)
Audio length ~ 10 hours 16 minutes
Narrator ~ Brittany Pressley
POV ~ single 1st, present tense
Featuring ~ broken hearts all over the place, found family, grief, age gap, slow burn, closed door steamage
Louisa (Lou) (26) is more heartbroken over potentially losing her home than her breakup with rockstar boyfriend of 6 years Nate. So she’s off to bargain with landlord Henry (34) to make a plan for her to stay since she can’t afford it on her own. She wants to open a bed and breakfast, and offer therapy, for those that have recently been heartbroken, hence the title, however she ends up calling it The Comeback Inn. (Still wondering why the book title is different.)
I liked the bond Lou had with her bff, Mei, and some of the guests. By the end it seemed like they would remain friends for years to come. As for Lou and her sister Goldie's relationship, that was a bit strained at times. Wasn't a fan. I did, however, love her dedication to her nephew, Quinn, whenever she got to spend time with him. He’s very well behaved, too, woo hoo! Lou is too much of a people pleaser and saves her mother one too many times for me. While Mom seems appreciative nothing ever changes and I was over that whole side plot pretty quickly.
As she and Henry begin to spend more time together the sparks begin to fly. Your heart will hurt for him once you hear his backstory. I’m hiding it so as to not give anything away, but also because it could possibly be triggering for some, so read at your own risk ~ . A bit of a twist I hadn’t seen coming led me to race to find out how that would all play out. And it did just how you would assume it would.
Overall, not sure I really felt their connection, but I liked how two heartbroken souls were able to find a second chance with each other, even if it took a long time to get there.
Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the above info for reference. No doubt Brittany knocked it outta the park, though.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ X
Genre ~ women’s fiction mostly
Setting ~ Colorado
Publication date ~ September 23, 2025
Publisher ~ Berkely
Est Page Count ~ 347 (37 chapters)
Audio length ~ 10 hours 16 minutes
Narrator ~ Brittany Pressley
POV ~ single 1st, present tense
Featuring ~ broken hearts all over the place, found family, grief, age gap, slow burn, closed door steamage
Louisa (Lou) (26) is more heartbroken over potentially losing her home than her breakup with rockstar boyfriend of 6 years Nate. So she’s off to bargain with landlord Henry (34) to make a plan for her to stay since she can’t afford it on her own. She wants to open a bed and breakfast, and offer therapy, for those that have recently been heartbroken, hence the title, however she ends up calling it The Comeback Inn. (Still wondering why the book title is different.)
I liked the bond Lou had with her bff, Mei, and some of the guests. By the end it seemed like they would remain friends for years to come. As for Lou and her sister Goldie's relationship, that was a bit strained at times. Wasn't a fan. I did, however, love her dedication to her nephew, Quinn, whenever she got to spend time with him. He’s very well behaved, too, woo hoo! Lou is too much of a people pleaser and saves her mother one too many times for me. While Mom seems appreciative nothing ever changes and I was over that whole side plot pretty quickly.
As she and Henry begin to spend more time together the sparks begin to fly. Your heart will hurt for him once you hear his backstory. I’m hiding it so as to not give anything away, but also because it could possibly be triggering for some, so read at your own risk ~ . A bit of a twist I hadn’t seen coming led me to race to find out how that would all play out. And it did just how you would assume it would.
Overall, not sure I really felt their connection, but I liked how two heartbroken souls were able to find a second chance with each other, even if it took a long time to get there.
Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the above info for reference. No doubt Brittany knocked it outta the park, though.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ X
September 9, 2025
3.5 rounded to 4 for GR! this romance debut was soooo cute!
what you can expect:
💛good vibes
💛creative
💛funny at times
🎧good on audio (narrated by Brittany Pressley, one of my faves)
💛a great setting
💛more than just a romance—fam drama, grief, dealing with heartbreak/finding your path
you have a girl Louisa who is dealing with heartbreak and doesn’t want to lose her house so what does she do? makes it an Airbnb for fellow heartbreak people! buttttt there’s something about her landlord 👀
i thought the cute little hotel was adorable. there was a lot of family drama / side plots there that i didn’t necessarily love and wish we had more romance than fam drama but it all tied together well at the end. this is definitely a cute romcom but covers heavier topics like grief and mental health.
and the setting of the cute house in like the woods during the fall?! maximum vibes!
it wasn’t a WOW book but if you need a feel good romance you’ll like it. if you got this from Sept BOTM you'll be pleased!
what you can expect:
💛good vibes
💛creative
💛funny at times
🎧good on audio (narrated by Brittany Pressley, one of my faves)
💛a great setting
💛more than just a romance—fam drama, grief, dealing with heartbreak/finding your path
you have a girl Louisa who is dealing with heartbreak and doesn’t want to lose her house so what does she do? makes it an Airbnb for fellow heartbreak people! buttttt there’s something about her landlord 👀
i thought the cute little hotel was adorable. there was a lot of family drama / side plots there that i didn’t necessarily love and wish we had more romance than fam drama but it all tied together well at the end. this is definitely a cute romcom but covers heavier topics like grief and mental health.
and the setting of the cute house in like the woods during the fall?! maximum vibes!
it wasn’t a WOW book but if you need a feel good romance you’ll like it. if you got this from Sept BOTM you'll be pleased!
October 1, 2025
"The Heartbreak Hotel" by Ellen O’Clover is the kind of book that sneaks up on you—what starts as a sweet, slow-burn romance turns into something deeper, a story about healing, second chances, and the messy beauty of human connection.
Louisa Walsh is still picking up the pieces after a bad breakup when she gets the chance to stay in the one place that’s ever felt like home—but there’s a catch. Her gruff, emotionally closed-off landlord, Henry Rhodes (who also happens to be a veterinarian with his own scars), agrees to let her live there only if she helps turn the house into a bed-and-breakfast. As they work side by side, their walls start to come down, and what unfolds is a romance that feels real—full of quiet longing, sharp banter, and those small, vulnerable moments that change everything.
What I loved most was how the story balanced romance with deeper themes. Yes, the chemistry between Louisa and Henry is fantastic (slow burns forever!), but the book also shines when it explores grief, self-doubt, and the way life can surprise you when you least expect it. The supporting cast—guests at the B&B, friends, and even a delightfully meddling neighbor—add warmth and humor, making the cozy Colorado mountain setting feel even more alive.
If I had one tiny critique, it’s that the story leans a bit more toward women’s fiction than pure romance (Henry’s POV is limited, and the emotional journey sometimes outweighs the swoon). But that’s also what makes it stand out—it’s a love story, yes, but also a story about finding yourself after loss.
Final thoughts? Heartfelt, immersive, and full of quiet magic. I’d give it a solid 3.5, rounded up to 4 for the way it stuck with me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the early copy! All opinions are my own.
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Louisa Walsh is still picking up the pieces after a bad breakup when she gets the chance to stay in the one place that’s ever felt like home—but there’s a catch. Her gruff, emotionally closed-off landlord, Henry Rhodes (who also happens to be a veterinarian with his own scars), agrees to let her live there only if she helps turn the house into a bed-and-breakfast. As they work side by side, their walls start to come down, and what unfolds is a romance that feels real—full of quiet longing, sharp banter, and those small, vulnerable moments that change everything.
What I loved most was how the story balanced romance with deeper themes. Yes, the chemistry between Louisa and Henry is fantastic (slow burns forever!), but the book also shines when it explores grief, self-doubt, and the way life can surprise you when you least expect it. The supporting cast—guests at the B&B, friends, and even a delightfully meddling neighbor—add warmth and humor, making the cozy Colorado mountain setting feel even more alive.
If I had one tiny critique, it’s that the story leans a bit more toward women’s fiction than pure romance (Henry’s POV is limited, and the emotional journey sometimes outweighs the swoon). But that’s also what makes it stand out—it’s a love story, yes, but also a story about finding yourself after loss.
Final thoughts? Heartfelt, immersive, and full of quiet magic. I’d give it a solid 3.5, rounded up to 4 for the way it stuck with me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the early copy! All opinions are my own.
medium.com
November 19, 2025
“There’s power and being the person someone needs, but there’s power in accepting what you need too.” 🥹😭
December 9, 2025
3.5 Stars
This was really sweet and had some hard hitting moments and quotes. I felt connected to Lou and her relationship with Goldie in a visceral way I won’t get into. But overall it was a little bland and I never felt fully invested in the characters, despite really enjoying them. There was just something missing. I would read more from this author, however. It felt thisclose to greatness.
This was really sweet and had some hard hitting moments and quotes. I felt connected to Lou and her relationship with Goldie in a visceral way I won’t get into. But overall it was a little bland and I never felt fully invested in the characters, despite really enjoying them. There was just something missing. I would read more from this author, however. It felt thisclose to greatness.
November 10, 2025
this had SO much potential 😭 this was gorgeous and so cozy, so sweet, so lovely- for the first 50%. but then the actual romance began and that’s when everything seemed to fall apart…there are some dark themes in this book that i think were attempted to be handled with levity due to it being a trad romance but i think some topics here needed more nuanced balance and discussion because if your fmc is an *aspiring* therapist, wouldn’t she have handled this with more care for someone that she loved and is trying to begin something with?? idk why it didn’t sit right with me 😕
thank you to netgalley and berkley for the arc!!
thank you to netgalley and berkley for the arc!!
January 23, 2025
I’ll be thinking of the last three words in this book for the rest of my life.
official blurb (which says the same thing, but longer):
The Heartbreak Hotel is a perfect book. Ellen O'Clover is brilliant, writing tenderness, longing, and tension so viscerally that I felt like I was holding my breath the entire time I was reading. Lou and Henry have broken hearts whose edges match up perfectly, and the way they navigated their losses together was, quite simply, transformative. I'll be thinking about the last three words in this book for the rest of my life.
official blurb (which says the same thing, but longer):
The Heartbreak Hotel is a perfect book. Ellen O'Clover is brilliant, writing tenderness, longing, and tension so viscerally that I felt like I was holding my breath the entire time I was reading. Lou and Henry have broken hearts whose edges match up perfectly, and the way they navigated their losses together was, quite simply, transformative. I'll be thinking about the last three words in this book for the rest of my life.
October 26, 2025
4.5-5⭐️ Fresh off a breakup and wielding a counseling degree, Louisa Walsh develops a plan to turn her rented apartment into a bed and breakfast for the heartbroken. Even more, she is shocked when the landlord and resident veterinarian, Henry Rhodes, agrees to her arrangement. When this new plan places them into each other’s orbits, they are surprised to find they have more in common than either expected.
Some books seem made to be read in the fall, and this is one of them. Set in the mountains of Colorado, in perhaps one of the most picturesque little book towns, this romance with a heart of gold is brimming with all of the autumnal charm a girl could want. Our characters each shine through independently of one another, but together they are magic.
The slow-burn nature of the story allows the reader to develop an emotional connection to their love story, particularly because the character building is so strong. It becomes impossible not to root for Louisa and Henry to get their HEA, particularly Henry after all he had endured. There are heavier themes in this one, so if you are trigger-sensitive, please take care when reading.
🎧 I absolutely loved this book on audio. Narrator Brittany Pressley hits it out of the park per usual and does an absolutely masterful job making each character wholly their own.
Read if you like:
▪️age gap
▪️small town
▪️found family
▪️love after loss
▪️bed and breakfast life
▪️emotional depth
Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥
Thank you Berkley Romance and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.
Some books seem made to be read in the fall, and this is one of them. Set in the mountains of Colorado, in perhaps one of the most picturesque little book towns, this romance with a heart of gold is brimming with all of the autumnal charm a girl could want. Our characters each shine through independently of one another, but together they are magic.
The slow-burn nature of the story allows the reader to develop an emotional connection to their love story, particularly because the character building is so strong. It becomes impossible not to root for Louisa and Henry to get their HEA, particularly Henry after all he had endured. There are heavier themes in this one, so if you are trigger-sensitive, please take care when reading.
🎧 I absolutely loved this book on audio. Narrator Brittany Pressley hits it out of the park per usual and does an absolutely masterful job making each character wholly their own.
Read if you like:
▪️age gap
▪️small town
▪️found family
▪️love after loss
▪️bed and breakfast life
▪️emotional depth
Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥
Thank you Berkley Romance and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.
December 24, 2025
4.75💫
beautiful. emotional. heartbreaking. healing. all of the above and i loved it.
this book packed such an emotional punch and i was not prepared for it. the grief that these characters went through was so heartbreaking, but it was so healing seeing how everyone came together and built such a close bond with one another.
this is one of those romances that sticks with you for a while. louisa and henry built such a special and safe relationship with each other that warmed my heart so much. their story was so beautiful to follow and i fell in love with them so hard🤍🤍
beautiful. emotional. heartbreaking. healing. all of the above and i loved it.
this book packed such an emotional punch and i was not prepared for it. the grief that these characters went through was so heartbreaking, but it was so healing seeing how everyone came together and built such a close bond with one another.
this is one of those romances that sticks with you for a while. louisa and henry built such a special and safe relationship with each other that warmed my heart so much. their story was so beautiful to follow and i fell in love with them so hard🤍🤍
June 30, 2025
Louisa finds out that her popular musician boyfriend, whom she’s been with for six years, has been cheating on her. She doesn’t want to leave the beautiful house in the Colorado mountains they once shared, but she can’t afford to pay for it on her own. That’s when an idea strikes her—to turn the house into a hotel for people going through breakups. The landlord agrees, and soon the two of them start spending more and more time together.
This book is a true gem—from the stunning cover to the feelings it leaves you with after the final page❤️🩹
I absolutely fell in love with the characters—Louisa is such a kind and genuine person who always puts others first. And Henry completely stole my heart and soul. He’s a wonderful vet, a handyman, and the kind of guy who always shows up when you need him. Trust me, you’ll fall for him too!
It’s a beautiful, deep, and heartbreaking story. Some of the plot twists hit me so hard I read through tears. But despite the heavy topics the author touches on, this book feels incredibly comforting and warm—like a ray of sunshine on an autumn day.🥹
I’ll definitely return to this story again, and I highly recommend it to everyone! I can’t wait to read more from Ellen!
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓slow burn
✓he falls first
✓age gap
✓trauma & healing
✓found family
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group (Berkley) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This book is a true gem—from the stunning cover to the feelings it leaves you with after the final page❤️🩹
I absolutely fell in love with the characters—Louisa is such a kind and genuine person who always puts others first. And Henry completely stole my heart and soul. He’s a wonderful vet, a handyman, and the kind of guy who always shows up when you need him. Trust me, you’ll fall for him too!
It’s a beautiful, deep, and heartbreaking story. Some of the plot twists hit me so hard I read through tears. But despite the heavy topics the author touches on, this book feels incredibly comforting and warm—like a ray of sunshine on an autumn day.🥹
I’ll definitely return to this story again, and I highly recommend it to everyone! I can’t wait to read more from Ellen!
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓slow burn
✓he falls first
✓age gap
✓trauma & healing
✓found family
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group (Berkley) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 27, 2025
If Emily Henry and Jessica Joyce had a child book, it would be this masterpiece right here.
October 11, 2025
Louisa gets dumped, broke and basically turns her landlord’s house into a bed and breakfast for the heartbroken. Not exactly the five year plan but it makes for a addictive storyline.
daddy Henry the landlord, is sad, quiet and carrying enough emotional baggage to fill the guest rooms. every time we got a glimpse of his past, I was ready to ugly cry at any second.
Even though parts were heavy, the whole thing felt oddly refreshing and effortless to read. Nothing about it bothered me, it just didn’t scream 5 stars but if you’re looking for something equal parts tender and entertaining, this one’s a solid choice.
Thank you Alyssa for buddy reading this with me!🧡
Thank you Netgalley for the arc!
daddy Henry the landlord, is sad, quiet and carrying enough emotional baggage to fill the guest rooms. every time we got a glimpse of his past, I was ready to ugly cry at any second.
Even though parts were heavy, the whole thing felt oddly refreshing and effortless to read. Nothing about it bothered me, it just didn’t scream 5 stars but if you’re looking for something equal parts tender and entertaining, this one’s a solid choice.
Thank you Alyssa for buddy reading this with me!🧡
Thank you Netgalley for the arc!
September 23, 2025
5 / 5 Stars
This book was everything I wanted it to be and more. I loved it so, so much. Quick synopsis: Louisa and Nate have been dating for six years until she finds him cheating on her backstage at one of his shows. And while being cheated on sucks (even if they had been growing apart for years), potentially having to move out of their house sucks even more. Their house in Colorado became Louisa’s home and she does not want to give it up, even though she can’t currently pay rent for it. So she makes a pitch to the landlord: turn the house into a bed and breakfast in exchange for staying for free. Henry, her landlord, isn’t against the idea surprisingly. And also surprisingly, Henry is very handsome and quiet and unreadable. Lou decides to market her bed and breakfast as a place for those going through heartbreak and loss, which Henry doesn’t love, but goes along with. As guests arrive, Henry and Lou’s chemistry is undeniable but are both of them ready to love again?
You will probably like this book if you like:
🏡 Veterinarian MMC x therapist/inn keeper FMC
💔 Yearning, swooning, tension, chemistry
🏡 Fun cast of hotel guests
💔 Female friendship
🏡 Acts of service love
💔 Age gap (26/34)
🏡 Beautiful setting in Colorado
💔 Healing from heartbreak and grief
I felt so deeply taken care of with Ellen’s writing. This is a romance but there are heavy topics around heartbreak and grief in many forms (make sure to read the content warnings) and through everything, I felt held and cared for. Every topic was written with thought and carefulness but without shying away from the ugly parts. And the prose is the perfect balance of simplicity and lyricism. The writing is rich without being dense. You get beautiful details about the setting and the home so that everything feels alive and then you get the perfect analogy or metaphor or simile for a feeling. Just beautiful.
Lou and Henry. Ughhh, I love them so much. You get to read two people become inevitable. Henry is gentle, sturdy, kind, and patient. Lou is soft, empathetic, funny, and caring. Their chemistry was off the charts. The tension between them was crackling and bubbly. It felt magnetic and exciting and scary and fun. I genuinely got butterflies and the man said two words tops. Oh, and he perfectly articulates why Lou matters to him and it isn’t all about her looks (like what a revolutionary idea!).
All of the side characters were so fully developed too. Mei, Lou’s best friend, is a wonderful example of female friendship. Goldie, Lou’s sister, is complex and complementary and antagonistic to Lou. Their relationship was flawed but exactly how it should be given their childhoods. The guests at the house were all tiny treasures and even those that only have a small appearance felt alive. Quinn is a precocious child and who doesn’t love a tiny, adorable child in a book?!
Because the characters are so well written, Ellen was able to take two of my least favorite tropes and make me buy into them (no spoilers, DM me if you want to chat about it). There are no flaws in the characters’ logic, so all of their actions make sense. Even if I didn’t want them to do something, it was the exact right thing for them to do.
Lou’s journey was really special too. She gives more than she takes but she needs to be needed which is a vicious cycle. And unfortunately, the cycle is comfortable in its pain (the devil you know kind of thing). She is a mental health counselor so caring for others feels right, but watching her grow into herself and figure out her boundaries and her needs was really lovely.
Basically, I inhaled this book and couldn’t put it down. I hope it speaks to those who need it because it was a true gift for me. I already preordered my paperback copy.
Thank you Ellen O'Clover and NetGalley for providing this eARC.
Publication Date: September 23, 2025
________________________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: I am so deeply, deeply excited to read this. I thought there was absolutely no way I would ever get an ARC for this book but Ellen was so kind to provide one (Ellen O'Clover is truly a gem of a human and a mensch). I have a good feeling about this one. 🤞🤞
Thank you Ellen O'Clover and NetGalley for providing this eARC.
Publication Date: September 23, 2025
This book was everything I wanted it to be and more. I loved it so, so much. Quick synopsis: Louisa and Nate have been dating for six years until she finds him cheating on her backstage at one of his shows. And while being cheated on sucks (even if they had been growing apart for years), potentially having to move out of their house sucks even more. Their house in Colorado became Louisa’s home and she does not want to give it up, even though she can’t currently pay rent for it. So she makes a pitch to the landlord: turn the house into a bed and breakfast in exchange for staying for free. Henry, her landlord, isn’t against the idea surprisingly. And also surprisingly, Henry is very handsome and quiet and unreadable. Lou decides to market her bed and breakfast as a place for those going through heartbreak and loss, which Henry doesn’t love, but goes along with. As guests arrive, Henry and Lou’s chemistry is undeniable but are both of them ready to love again?
You will probably like this book if you like:
🏡 Veterinarian MMC x therapist/inn keeper FMC
💔 Yearning, swooning, tension, chemistry
🏡 Fun cast of hotel guests
💔 Female friendship
🏡 Acts of service love
💔 Age gap (26/34)
🏡 Beautiful setting in Colorado
💔 Healing from heartbreak and grief
I felt so deeply taken care of with Ellen’s writing. This is a romance but there are heavy topics around heartbreak and grief in many forms (make sure to read the content warnings) and through everything, I felt held and cared for. Every topic was written with thought and carefulness but without shying away from the ugly parts. And the prose is the perfect balance of simplicity and lyricism. The writing is rich without being dense. You get beautiful details about the setting and the home so that everything feels alive and then you get the perfect analogy or metaphor or simile for a feeling. Just beautiful.
Lou and Henry. Ughhh, I love them so much. You get to read two people become inevitable. Henry is gentle, sturdy, kind, and patient. Lou is soft, empathetic, funny, and caring. Their chemistry was off the charts. The tension between them was crackling and bubbly. It felt magnetic and exciting and scary and fun. I genuinely got butterflies and the man said two words tops. Oh, and he perfectly articulates why Lou matters to him and it isn’t all about her looks (like what a revolutionary idea!).
All of the side characters were so fully developed too. Mei, Lou’s best friend, is a wonderful example of female friendship. Goldie, Lou’s sister, is complex and complementary and antagonistic to Lou. Their relationship was flawed but exactly how it should be given their childhoods. The guests at the house were all tiny treasures and even those that only have a small appearance felt alive. Quinn is a precocious child and who doesn’t love a tiny, adorable child in a book?!
Because the characters are so well written, Ellen was able to take two of my least favorite tropes and make me buy into them (no spoilers, DM me if you want to chat about it). There are no flaws in the characters’ logic, so all of their actions make sense. Even if I didn’t want them to do something, it was the exact right thing for them to do.
Lou’s journey was really special too. She gives more than she takes but she needs to be needed which is a vicious cycle. And unfortunately, the cycle is comfortable in its pain (the devil you know kind of thing). She is a mental health counselor so caring for others feels right, but watching her grow into herself and figure out her boundaries and her needs was really lovely.
Basically, I inhaled this book and couldn’t put it down. I hope it speaks to those who need it because it was a true gift for me. I already preordered my paperback copy.
Thank you Ellen O'Clover and NetGalley for providing this eARC.
Publication Date: September 23, 2025
________________________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: I am so deeply, deeply excited to read this. I thought there was absolutely no way I would ever get an ARC for this book but Ellen was so kind to provide one (Ellen O'Clover is truly a gem of a human and a mensch). I have a good feeling about this one. 🤞🤞
Thank you Ellen O'Clover and NetGalley for providing this eARC.
Publication Date: September 23, 2025
November 8, 2025
**Many thanks to Berkley and Ellen O'Clover for an ARC of this book provided via NetGalley!**
🚨OUTLIER ALERT! 🚨
"Well, since my baby left me
Well, I found a new place to dwell
Down at the end of Lonely Street
At Heartbreak Hotel..."- "Heartbreak Hotel", Elvis Presley
Louisa Walsh never expected to be 'so lonely, she could die'...but life has thrown her a couple of massive Disappointment Curveballs lately. After her boyfriend (who just so happened to be a ROCKSTAR and who wrote a song inspired by her) pulls the completely expected 'cheating on her while on tour' gambit, the pair split up. To make matters worse, Louisa is an aspiring therapist who has completed all of her training...but managed to fumble her big licensing exam (after waiting up because of said rock star ex, of course). With the supposed 'love of her life' gone, their shared property is at risk; Louisa isn't making her counselor's salary just yet (for obvious reasons) but she loves the mountain air and can't bear the thought of losing this incredible property...but HOW can she make ends meet?
Well...if there's one thing Louisa apparently has in spades, it's gumption. She approaches veterinarian-and-landlord in one, Henry Rhodes, with a proposition that certainly raised MY eyebrows...in exchange for not paying rent, she will rent out the rest of the B&B, now called the Comeback Inn, to those suffering from their own heartbreak and provide a sort of free therapy in the meantime by way of emotional support. 🙄 (Yeah, we'll get into it later...no comment for now.) Not only does hunky Henry go along with this proposition, he is ALL in...and slowly becomes enchanted by Louisa and her wiles. But as the pair grow closer and Louisa begins to wonder if this is her heart's chance to truly heal, she finds out that Henry has a lot more than a mysterious aura...he has a PAST and deep heartbreak of his own. Once all of the secrets of Henry and Louisa's respective pasts are revealed, will they grow even closer? Or will the shocking revelations be TOO much for them to overcome together...and drive Louisa BACK down Lonely Street...for good?
First of all, I had seen SO many early 5 star gushing reviews for this book, it was difficult to keep my expectations in check. After all, this is Ellen O'Clover's adult debut (not that I was familiar with her YA books, but still), and I thought the cover and title were enticing and clever. (Any book that gets me singing a song is usually off to a solid start...unless it's a song I don't LIKE, of course! 😉) I figured this would be an emotional journey, at the very least, and I was excited to start the journey.
By about the third chapter, though, I realized that I was the one heartbroken...heartbroken that there were still SO MANY CHAPTERS left to go before I could check out of THIS hotel. And by the way?
No refunds.
Let's start with Louisa. I'll try to say this as kindly as possible, but this is yet another MC with next to NO self-respect or sense of identity. She had trouble establishing boundaries, let herself be COMPLETELY wrapped up in her rock-star boyfriend's life, to the point where she actually ended up inadvertently sabotaging herself and her very important exam...for a guy. Granted, she's also a character in her mid-twenties so hopefully these are some of the foolish choices you make in your twenties and it can be chalked up to that. Honestly, I might have even GIVEN her that grace...if she hadn't turned around and willingly walked into what feels like a would-be codependent relationship. But this isn't the most egregious aspect of this book... and the one that honestly sent me over the edge.
There is absolutely NO WAY, especially in the year 2025, that a landlord would randomly let a tenant TAKE OVER their entire property, run it, and essentially try to take away their profits. WHY ON EARTH would Henry agree to this?!? It was honestly to the point where I thought it was going to be revealed that Louisa had some sort of dirt on Henry and was blackmailing him into agreeing to this arrangement. (Okay, maybe I've read too many thrillers...but still!) On top of this, I guess Louisa essentially thought she was going to 'practice' being a therapist without ACTUALLY being a therapist...and all ofthe poor suckers, I MEAN GUESTS, were going to be her guinea pigs? Talk about ignoring your OWN trauma! This was the kind of situation where in another romance, Louisa would have moved to a new city, reinvented herself, and had the world's largest glow-up...but there was no glow to be found here, folks.
Then there's Henry, the MC we are *supposed* to swoon for...but as someone almost 10 years OLDER than Louisa, you sure wouldn't know it. Not only does he sort of go along with Louisa's schemes, he's more like a friendly yet stoic handyman that sort of pops up from time to time...I'm still not sure why he even needed to be a vet? Once I found out his big secret, I had an even HARDER time liking him at all...let's just say choosing to keep this sort of secret from her took away any sort of integrity I thought the character had...and HE honestly needed therapy more than anyone at the Inn! I didn't understand WHY he was infatuated with Louisa (other than the fact that he is meant to fall for her), and I think he should have spent more time business planning and less time swooning. If he's that easily taken with Louisa, he pretty much has "swindle me, please" written on his forehead...which, again, is not the most attractive quality in the world. (But honestly, with how easily he AND Louisa are both fooled, maybe they ARE a perfect match!) Throw in snotty and inconsistent sister Goldie, and a bunch of interchangeable characters who stay at the Inn ( I couldn't tell you a SINGLE one of their names a month later ), and not only was it hard to find someone to root for, but the plethora of sob stories felt like just that - melodramas worthy of Lifetime, rather than emotional, layered tales of growth and self-discovery.
But while this Heartbreak Hotel might have been known as the Comeback Inn, the only thing I felt 'come back' to me (eventually) was my sanity.
Well...after I finally got to check OUT, anyway. 🏨
3 stars, rounded up from 2.5
🚨OUTLIER ALERT! 🚨
"Well, since my baby left me
Well, I found a new place to dwell
Down at the end of Lonely Street
At Heartbreak Hotel..."- "Heartbreak Hotel", Elvis Presley
Louisa Walsh never expected to be 'so lonely, she could die'...but life has thrown her a couple of massive Disappointment Curveballs lately. After her boyfriend (who just so happened to be a ROCKSTAR and who wrote a song inspired by her) pulls the completely expected 'cheating on her while on tour' gambit, the pair split up. To make matters worse, Louisa is an aspiring therapist who has completed all of her training...but managed to fumble her big licensing exam (after waiting up because of said rock star ex, of course). With the supposed 'love of her life' gone, their shared property is at risk; Louisa isn't making her counselor's salary just yet (for obvious reasons) but she loves the mountain air and can't bear the thought of losing this incredible property...but HOW can she make ends meet?
Well...if there's one thing Louisa apparently has in spades, it's gumption. She approaches veterinarian-and-landlord in one, Henry Rhodes, with a proposition that certainly raised MY eyebrows...in exchange for not paying rent, she will rent out the rest of the B&B, now called the Comeback Inn, to those suffering from their own heartbreak and provide a sort of free therapy in the meantime by way of emotional support. 🙄 (Yeah, we'll get into it later...no comment for now.) Not only does hunky Henry go along with this proposition, he is ALL in...and slowly becomes enchanted by Louisa and her wiles. But as the pair grow closer and Louisa begins to wonder if this is her heart's chance to truly heal, she finds out that Henry has a lot more than a mysterious aura...he has a PAST and deep heartbreak of his own. Once all of the secrets of Henry and Louisa's respective pasts are revealed, will they grow even closer? Or will the shocking revelations be TOO much for them to overcome together...and drive Louisa BACK down Lonely Street...for good?
First of all, I had seen SO many early 5 star gushing reviews for this book, it was difficult to keep my expectations in check. After all, this is Ellen O'Clover's adult debut (not that I was familiar with her YA books, but still), and I thought the cover and title were enticing and clever. (Any book that gets me singing a song is usually off to a solid start...unless it's a song I don't LIKE, of course! 😉) I figured this would be an emotional journey, at the very least, and I was excited to start the journey.
By about the third chapter, though, I realized that I was the one heartbroken...heartbroken that there were still SO MANY CHAPTERS left to go before I could check out of THIS hotel. And by the way?
No refunds.
Let's start with Louisa. I'll try to say this as kindly as possible, but this is yet another MC with next to NO self-respect or sense of identity. She had trouble establishing boundaries, let herself be COMPLETELY wrapped up in her rock-star boyfriend's life, to the point where she actually ended up inadvertently sabotaging herself and her very important exam...for a guy. Granted, she's also a character in her mid-twenties so hopefully these are some of the foolish choices you make in your twenties and it can be chalked up to that. Honestly, I might have even GIVEN her that grace...if she hadn't turned around and willingly walked into what feels like a would-be codependent relationship. But this isn't the most egregious aspect of this book... and the one that honestly sent me over the edge.
There is absolutely NO WAY, especially in the year 2025, that a landlord would randomly let a tenant TAKE OVER their entire property, run it, and essentially try to take away their profits. WHY ON EARTH would Henry agree to this?!? It was honestly to the point where I thought it was going to be revealed that Louisa had some sort of dirt on Henry and was blackmailing him into agreeing to this arrangement. (Okay, maybe I've read too many thrillers...but still!) On top of this, I guess Louisa essentially thought she was going to 'practice' being a therapist without ACTUALLY being a therapist...and all of
Then there's Henry, the MC we are *supposed* to swoon for...but as someone almost 10 years OLDER than Louisa, you sure wouldn't know it. Not only does he sort of go along with Louisa's schemes, he's more like a friendly yet stoic handyman that sort of pops up from time to time...I'm still not sure why he even needed to be a vet? Once I found out his big secret, I had an even HARDER time liking him at all...let's just say choosing to keep this sort of secret from her took away any sort of integrity I thought the character had...and HE honestly needed therapy more than anyone at the Inn! I didn't understand WHY he was infatuated with Louisa (other than the fact that he is meant to fall for her), and I think he should have spent more time business planning and less time swooning. If he's that easily taken with Louisa, he pretty much has "swindle me, please" written on his forehead...which, again, is not the most attractive quality in the world. (But honestly, with how easily he AND Louisa are both fooled, maybe they ARE a perfect match!) Throw in snotty and inconsistent sister Goldie, and a bunch of interchangeable characters who stay at the Inn ( I couldn't tell you a SINGLE one of their names a month later ), and not only was it hard to find someone to root for, but the plethora of sob stories felt like just that - melodramas worthy of Lifetime, rather than emotional, layered tales of growth and self-discovery.
But while this Heartbreak Hotel might have been known as the Comeback Inn, the only thing I felt 'come back' to me (eventually) was my sanity.
Well...after I finally got to check OUT, anyway. 🏨
3 stars, rounded up from 2.5
October 6, 2025
This pulled me out of my months long reading slump. I loved it from start to finish and read it in a day. Could not put it down.
The plot felt original and unique, I loved all of the characters, and the found family. Two emotionally mature main characters, hallelujah.
The writing and storytelling were fantastic. It was reminiscent of an Abby Jimenez book and I think Ellen did a beautiful job with this one.
The plot felt original and unique, I loved all of the characters, and the found family. Two emotionally mature main characters, hallelujah.
The writing and storytelling were fantastic. It was reminiscent of an Abby Jimenez book and I think Ellen did a beautiful job with this one.
October 22, 2025
3 stars
The Heartbreak Hotel is the story of Louisa, a young woman in her late 20s who just broke up with her famous musician boyfriend. Faced with not being able to afford her rent after letting her ex financially take care of her, Louisa strikes up a deal with her landlord Henry to turn her rented house into a small hotel that she runs. Hence, The Comeback Inn is born and quickly becomes a haven for the brokenhearted.
I liked this book and can see why people love it, but some very big issues missed the mark for me. I felt after such a devasting breakup, Louisa sure got over her ex really fast and her falling in love with Henry in such a short time gave me whiplash. Because of this, I never really felt like their connection was a true love connection, more like a trauma bonding one for the both of them. Would have loved to see more of why they fell in love with each other instead of just being told they did. I've seen some reviews saying this is chick lit, I would disagree it was definitely a little more romance heavy (which is not a bad thing), it just had heavier topics than we normally see. A good book from Ellen O'Clover and I would be willing to try more, but very much a 3 star read.
The Heartbreak Hotel is the story of Louisa, a young woman in her late 20s who just broke up with her famous musician boyfriend. Faced with not being able to afford her rent after letting her ex financially take care of her, Louisa strikes up a deal with her landlord Henry to turn her rented house into a small hotel that she runs. Hence, The Comeback Inn is born and quickly becomes a haven for the brokenhearted.
I liked this book and can see why people love it, but some very big issues missed the mark for me. I felt after such a devasting breakup, Louisa sure got over her ex really fast and her falling in love with Henry in such a short time gave me whiplash. Because of this, I never really felt like their connection was a true love connection, more like a trauma bonding one for the both of them. Would have loved to see more of why they fell in love with each other instead of just being told they did. I've seen some reviews saying this is chick lit, I would disagree it was definitely a little more romance heavy (which is not a bad thing), it just had heavier topics than we normally see. A good book from Ellen O'Clover and I would be willing to try more, but very much a 3 star read.
April 8, 2025
This is my first book that I’ve read by author Ellen O’Clover and it won’t be my last! This book has all the warm and fuzzy feelings to it. It is a fictional romance novel that not only has a beautiful cover, but also has a beautiful story! The setting is in gorgeous Colorado. It comes spice, which I was both shocked and happy with! The author did an amazing job with the vivid descriptions in this book and it was extremely well written!
It begins with the female main character named Louisa getting broken up with her long time, wealthy boyfriend. She has nowhere to go, so she comes up with a plan and fast! She asks her landlord named Henry if she can stay there for free, as she promises him to rent out the rooms and takes care of guests there. As they meet, Henry is reclusive and seems to be a grump. However, the more the story goes on, we begin to learn more about him and respect him. Henry happens to be a wonderful veterinarian! They start talking and learning more about one another, then feelings start to arise between the two of them! This book is about healing, trauma, emotional depth, chemistry and human connection. Some of the themes and tropes include a slow burn, grumpy and sunshine, age gap, a second chance at love and complex family dynamics. Be sure to read the content warnings before delving into this book. Overall, I rate this book a 5 out of 5 beautiful stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Ellen O’Clover and Berkley Publishing Group for this digital advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book is expected to be published on September 23, 2025!
It begins with the female main character named Louisa getting broken up with her long time, wealthy boyfriend. She has nowhere to go, so she comes up with a plan and fast! She asks her landlord named Henry if she can stay there for free, as she promises him to rent out the rooms and takes care of guests there. As they meet, Henry is reclusive and seems to be a grump. However, the more the story goes on, we begin to learn more about him and respect him. Henry happens to be a wonderful veterinarian! They start talking and learning more about one another, then feelings start to arise between the two of them! This book is about healing, trauma, emotional depth, chemistry and human connection. Some of the themes and tropes include a slow burn, grumpy and sunshine, age gap, a second chance at love and complex family dynamics. Be sure to read the content warnings before delving into this book. Overall, I rate this book a 5 out of 5 beautiful stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Ellen O’Clover and Berkley Publishing Group for this digital advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book is expected to be published on September 23, 2025!
October 21, 2025
▹TL;DR Review: I love it when an author writes emotional healing and romance as parallel threads that complement each other beautifully, as is done within the pages of this wonderful book. 💜💛
▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★★.25 out of 5
▹Format: 🎧Audiobook (Narration rating: 5/5)
─────────────────────────
○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○
– About: Louisa was recently cheated on by her college long-time boyfriend who is now a rock star. All she asked for in the breakup was for their rented mountain home in Colorado, but she’s unable to pay on her wages alone (because she’s technically unemployed). But then she has an idea: she needs to convince her reclusive landlord Henry to let her stay rent‑free—provided she turn the home into a B&B for the recently heartbroken. Henry reluctantly agrees, and as the “Comeback Inn” opens its doors, Lou and Henry dance around their attraction while each carries their own pain and secrets.
– FMC: Louisa (aka “Lou”). Has a counseling degree, but has had issues getting certified. Loves helping people, but struggles accepting or asking for help. Had an unstable childhood due to a mom with mental illness issues and an older sister who took on the “mom” role. Tries to meet everyone’s expectations, but struggles making expectations of herself.
– MMC: Henry. Veterinarian. Carrying around heavy grief from his past. Has a hard time saying “no” to Louisa, but respects her boundaries. Is a “chocolate brownie” ice cream man. He has the most heartbreaking, but sweetest tattoo
– Location: Estes Park, Colorado
– POV: Single first-person
– Spice: A few fade-to-black spicy scenes (one might be open door, I can’t remember, but it wasn’t crude or overly explicit)
– Tropes: age gap, slow burn, found family, second-chance at love, grumpy/sunshine (but not as contrasted as others of this genre), healing, she’s a counselor/he’s a veterinarian
– Content warning: grief (death of a young person), divorce, heartbreak, cheating (not by a MC), financial issues, unstable parent (caretaking, enabling, but not totally within their control)
– Representation: binary relationship (secondary character), single parenting by choice (secondary character)
─────────────────────────
↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺ 1:00 ──ㅇ────── 4:12
Now Playing: A Good Man Is Hard to Find by Sufjan Stevens
─────────────────────────
★○ If You Like the Following, You Might Like This Book ○★
➼ The movie The Holiday but want something not set during “holiday” times
➼ Books that have romance, but also deal with various forms of heartbreak, like Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone, You Are Here by David Nicholls, and If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia
➼ Gentle romance stories that are secondary to the other themes of the book, in this case: healing heartbreak (and not just romantic heartbreak)
➼ Putting a pause on your life to open a temporary B&B for people who are going through heartache, and finding love in the process
─────────────────────────
⍟»This or That«⍟
Character Driven———✧————————Plot Driven
Fast Burn—————————✧——Slow Burn
Sweet———✧————————Spicy
Light/Fluffy————————✧———Heavy/Emotional
─────────────────────────
🎯 My Thoughts:
My gal Lina read and loved this so you know I had to read it, too. 😊 and as a surprise to no one that knows me even a little bit, I very much enjoyed this one.
I am a romantic at heart. I will romanticize nearly ANYTHING if you’ll allow me (and even if you won’t). But the stories that really last with me are the ones where the romance is just one thread of the greater yarn. And when the rest of the yarn is flawed characters who have been through some shit and are healing from it, that’s my bread and butter.
My only minor ick, was the “twist” near the end. It wasn’t much of a twist—and maybe it wasn’t intended to be—but I’m not sure it was handled in a way that felt as fluid as the rest of the book. I kind of wish it happened earlier in the book and that the 3rd-act conflict was something else.
My favorite quote:
▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★★.25 out of 5
▹Format: 🎧Audiobook (Narration rating: 5/5)
─────────────────────────
○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○
– About: Louisa was recently cheated on by her college long-time boyfriend who is now a rock star. All she asked for in the breakup was for their rented mountain home in Colorado, but she’s unable to pay on her wages alone (because she’s technically unemployed). But then she has an idea: she needs to convince her reclusive landlord Henry to let her stay rent‑free—provided she turn the home into a B&B for the recently heartbroken. Henry reluctantly agrees, and as the “Comeback Inn” opens its doors, Lou and Henry dance around their attraction while each carries their own pain and secrets.
– FMC: Louisa (aka “Lou”). Has a counseling degree, but has had issues getting certified. Loves helping people, but struggles accepting or asking for help. Had an unstable childhood due to a mom with mental illness issues and an older sister who took on the “mom” role. Tries to meet everyone’s expectations, but struggles making expectations of herself.
– MMC: Henry. Veterinarian. Carrying around heavy grief from his past. Has a hard time saying “no” to Louisa, but respects her boundaries. Is a “chocolate brownie” ice cream man. He has the most heartbreaking, but sweetest tattoo
– Location: Estes Park, Colorado
– POV: Single first-person
– Spice: A few fade-to-black spicy scenes (one might be open door, I can’t remember, but it wasn’t crude or overly explicit)
– Tropes: age gap, slow burn, found family, second-chance at love, grumpy/sunshine (but not as contrasted as others of this genre), healing, she’s a counselor/he’s a veterinarian
– Content warning: grief (death of a young person), divorce, heartbreak, cheating (not by a MC), financial issues, unstable parent (caretaking, enabling, but not totally within their control)
– Representation: binary relationship (secondary character), single parenting by choice (secondary character)
─────────────────────────
↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺ 1:00 ──ㅇ────── 4:12
Now Playing: A Good Man Is Hard to Find by Sufjan Stevens
╰┈➤ ❝I once was better, I put off all my grief; and so I go to hell, I wait for it, but someone’s left me creased…❞
─────────────────────────
★○ If You Like the Following, You Might Like This Book ○★
➼ The movie The Holiday but want something not set during “holiday” times
➼ Books that have romance, but also deal with various forms of heartbreak, like Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone, You Are Here by David Nicholls, and If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia
➼ Gentle romance stories that are secondary to the other themes of the book, in this case: healing heartbreak (and not just romantic heartbreak)
➼ Putting a pause on your life to open a temporary B&B for people who are going through heartache, and finding love in the process
─────────────────────────
⍟»This or That«⍟
Character Driven———✧————————Plot Driven
Fast Burn—————————✧——Slow Burn
Sweet———✧————————Spicy
Light/Fluffy————————✧———Heavy/Emotional
─────────────────────────
🎯 My Thoughts:
My gal Lina read and loved this so you know I had to read it, too. 😊 and as a surprise to no one that knows me even a little bit, I very much enjoyed this one.
I am a romantic at heart. I will romanticize nearly ANYTHING if you’ll allow me (and even if you won’t). But the stories that really last with me are the ones where the romance is just one thread of the greater yarn. And when the rest of the yarn is flawed characters who have been through some shit and are healing from it, that’s my bread and butter.
My only minor ick, was the “twist” near the end. It wasn’t much of a twist—and maybe it wasn’t intended to be—but I’m not sure it was handled in a way that felt as fluid as the rest of the book. I kind of wish it happened earlier in the book and that the 3rd-act conflict was something else.
My favorite quote:
╰┈➤ ❝Every broken heart keeps beating at the end; so will mine, so will his, so will yours.❞
October 9, 2025
4.5⭐️
what a sweet and tender read this was. i loved every second of it, i couldn't put this down 🤭
with louisa, she was soft, kind, and relatable and i adored her so much. what she went through and how she decided to move forward to turn her home into a "safehaven" for the broken hearted was admirable. the fact that she was able to be strong for her guests and eventually herself really showed her true character. honestly, i could relate to lou for several reasons. and don't even get me about sweet henry. though he appeared to be always grumpy, he was just a big sofite. i loved the way he constantly showed up for lou and how he never even hesitated to be there for her when she needed. their chemistry was through the roof, which was another reason i could not put this book down.
i wanted to talk a bit about her guests because why were all so lovable?! i adored the found-family aspect of this and it really tugged at my heartstrings the way they came to seek comfort and received even more than that after staying with lou. 🥹
thank you so much to berkley for the ARC!
what a sweet and tender read this was. i loved every second of it, i couldn't put this down 🤭
with louisa, she was soft, kind, and relatable and i adored her so much. what she went through and how she decided to move forward to turn her home into a "safehaven" for the broken hearted was admirable. the fact that she was able to be strong for her guests and eventually herself really showed her true character. honestly, i could relate to lou for several reasons. and don't even get me about sweet henry. though he appeared to be always grumpy, he was just a big sofite. i loved the way he constantly showed up for lou and how he never even hesitated to be there for her when she needed. their chemistry was through the roof, which was another reason i could not put this book down.
i wanted to talk a bit about her guests because why were all so lovable?! i adored the found-family aspect of this and it really tugged at my heartstrings the way they came to seek comfort and received even more than that after staying with lou. 🥹
thank you so much to berkley for the ARC!
September 17, 2025
The Heartbreak Hotel by Ellen O'Clover
Book Blurb: A bed-and-breakfast for the brokenhearted might hold the key to another chance at love in this achingly hopeful debut romance.
Rating: ****
Feels: Crashing, Amusement, Fun, Adornment
Style: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit
First published September 23, 2025 : 352 pages
All the feels and fun in this sweet read. Louisa Walsh is such a relatable FMC I really loved the story being centered around her and her friends/family. I enjoyed following her story as she navigated life changes that were difficult and reached out to help those around her. It was really heartwarming to see all the people that entered the story, how they all healed or grew as they talked and interacted and the fun that everyone got up to. The MMC was really just someone that was perfect for Louisa. Watching the two of them as they found each other and experienced heartbreak hotel today was just such a sweet and heartfelt read.
Favorite Quote: "I think you should have some water."
I cross my arms. I feel feisty. I feel free. I feel like I'm on fire. "I think you should stay and make me."
This book has:
Slow burn
He falls first
Age gap
Trauma & healing
Found family
Small Town
Grief & Loss
Lovable side characters
Cozy setting
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Ellen O'Clover for this gifted ARC copy.
Book Blurb: A bed-and-breakfast for the brokenhearted might hold the key to another chance at love in this achingly hopeful debut romance.
Rating: ****
Feels: Crashing, Amusement, Fun, Adornment
Style: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit
First published September 23, 2025 : 352 pages
All the feels and fun in this sweet read. Louisa Walsh is such a relatable FMC I really loved the story being centered around her and her friends/family. I enjoyed following her story as she navigated life changes that were difficult and reached out to help those around her. It was really heartwarming to see all the people that entered the story, how they all healed or grew as they talked and interacted and the fun that everyone got up to. The MMC was really just someone that was perfect for Louisa. Watching the two of them as they found each other and experienced heartbreak hotel today was just such a sweet and heartfelt read.
Favorite Quote: "I think you should have some water."
I cross my arms. I feel feisty. I feel free. I feel like I'm on fire. "I think you should stay and make me."
This book has:
Slow burn
He falls first
Age gap
Trauma & healing
Found family
Small Town
Grief & Loss
Lovable side characters
Cozy setting
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Ellen O'Clover for this gifted ARC copy.
September 15, 2025
Wow, wow, wowww what a heartwarming cozy read. If you love romance with more serious undertones, and for fans of Abby Jimenez especially, this one’s for you.
Admittedly, insta-love is not my favorite romance trope but I loved witnessing the romance unfold between the FMC/MMC and I obviously loved Henry.. that dreamy, adorably fake grumpy man!!!
The trauma both characters had was realistic and believable, and written in a way that made the central conflict make sense for me (which I personally needed given the insta-love).
The cozy vibes were PERFECT - need this inn in real life?! And you know I’m always a sucker for a found family bonus!!!!
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Admittedly, insta-love is not my favorite romance trope but I loved witnessing the romance unfold between the FMC/MMC and I obviously loved Henry.. that dreamy, adorably fake grumpy man!!!
The trauma both characters had was realistic and believable, and written in a way that made the central conflict make sense for me (which I personally needed given the insta-love).
The cozy vibes were PERFECT - need this inn in real life?! And you know I’m always a sucker for a found family bonus!!!!
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
December 14, 2025
3.5
Louisa Walsh is nursing a broken heart. The love of her life has dumped her—not only was he cheating, but now, on her own, she can’t afford the rent on their beautiful home in the Colorado mountains. She risks losing the place she’s poured countless hours into making her own.
But Louisa doesn’t give up. She hatches a plan to turn the large house into a bed-and-breakfast. The only hurdle? Convincing her landlord, Henry Rhodes, to agree.
Louisa had always assumed Henry was older, but when she visits him at work to pitch her idea, she discovers her mistake. Henry is young—and the local veterinarian.
The more Henry helps with the chores around the property, the more he and Louisa realize they share a real connection.
I really enjoyed this love story. Both main characters were healing from heartbreak and found common ground in that shared pain. I loved that Louisa had a strong support system and that she chose to pay it forward by helping others who were hurting just as she had been.
Cliffhanger: No
3.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley Romance via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Louisa Walsh is nursing a broken heart. The love of her life has dumped her—not only was he cheating, but now, on her own, she can’t afford the rent on their beautiful home in the Colorado mountains. She risks losing the place she’s poured countless hours into making her own.
But Louisa doesn’t give up. She hatches a plan to turn the large house into a bed-and-breakfast. The only hurdle? Convincing her landlord, Henry Rhodes, to agree.
Louisa had always assumed Henry was older, but when she visits him at work to pitch her idea, she discovers her mistake. Henry is young—and the local veterinarian.
The more Henry helps with the chores around the property, the more he and Louisa realize they share a real connection.
I really enjoyed this love story. Both main characters were healing from heartbreak and found common ground in that shared pain. I loved that Louisa had a strong support system and that she chose to pay it forward by helping others who were hurting just as she had been.
Cliffhanger: No
3.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley Romance via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
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