How to Fix a Broken Heart

by Nicola May

‘Heartbreakingly sexy. The last chapter had me sobbing! Enormously funny, sad and very spicy. An absolutely fantastic read.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A heart-wrenching and life-affirming story of love and loss from number one bestselling author Nicola May

Gracie Davies is at an all-time low. After a devastating loss, the last thing she needs is a colleague hinting over coffee that it’s time to lose her baby weight. Then her boyfriend betrays her, and her world totally falls apart.

Rebuilding her life from scratch – with the support of her free-spirited sister, an unorthodox therapist, and a feisty new friend – Gracie finally begins to get her mojo back. Add in a passionate fling with handsome landscaper Ed, a fairytale encounter with a Hollywood film star and the persistence of her adulterous ex, and life is anything but predictable…

Soon she finds that community, purpose, and perhaps even new love might be the perfect prescription for a broken heart.

But can a heart that’s been so utterly shattered ever trust again?

Warm, witty, wildly sexy and deeply moving, Nicola May's unforgettable novel is perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes, Marian Keyes, and Amanda Prowse.

How to Fix a Broken Heart was previously published as The Women of Wimbledon Common and The SW19 Club.

Readers love How to Fix a Broken Heart:

‘Pure escapism… warm, funny, just a perfect read!’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘What an amazing book. I was lost in this book for a few days and I’m still thinking of it… an incredible, touching story.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I was in tears, this is an emotional rollercoaster ride of book, you had better strap in!’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Beautiful, emotional… I highly recommend that you read this, but have a box of tissues at hand! You may cry!!!’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Nicola May triumphs… A moving, mature, gutsy story… Superb! Women (and those who love them) will devour this book.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A heartfelt, enjoyable read, I loved it!’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Beautiful… full of tears, romance and heartbreaking sadness! I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a feel-good chick lit with a deeper meaning.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Written from the heart… a rollercoaster ride of emotions. It is packed full of heartbreak but is also an exceptionally uplifting read.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Absolutely brilliant read. I read it in a day. So many twists and turns…’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I just could not put this book down… so enjoyable and heartwarming.

Genres: Romance, Womens Fiction, Audiobook, Contemporary

326 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 16, 2025

About the author

Hello, I'm Nicola May, author of 18 romantic comedy novels.

I look forward to sharing all my heartfelt and fun books with you.

For further information on me, my books and to read reviews please do go to www.nicolamay.com.

Happy Reading!

Reviews

[Shelley's Book Nook · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Reviews Can Also Be Found On:
The Book Review Crew Blog

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

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

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

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

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

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

TRIGGER WARNING'S
~Miscarriage~
~Cheating~
~Fertility Issues~
~Mentions of Rape~

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[TheConnieFox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was heartbreaking. It is about loss, motherhood, miscarriage, and grief. The beginning of this book was hard for me to read, it does pick up and gets heartwarming. This author really knows how to write a book! I had felt many intense emotions while reading it. It is about love, healing, and friendship. It’s about moving on in life, even after traumatic situations happen. I really enjoyed the main female character of this story and felt everything she was feeling. Not all things in life are rainbows and sunshine and this book shows just that. However, we can move on and be happy again.

How To Fix a Broken Heart is about a woman named Gracie, who goes through the loss of her twins and betrayal from her Husband Lewis. She has to have a hysterectomy and is upset to know she will never have a baby. She ends up putting her life back together, after what all she went through. It’s not easy to do, but she does get it done. This is a must read for anyone that has gone through something similar or knows someone that has. It sheds light on a topic that I feel should be talked about more! I give this book a 5 out of 5 star rating!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Nicola May, and Storm Publishing for this advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This is set to be published on April 16, 2025!

[elizabeth rose · Rating 1 out of 5]

I rarely give 1-star ratings, but How to Fix a Broken Heart was deeply disappointing. What could have been a moving story of self-discovery and healing instead promotes a reductive and outdated message: that a woman’s road to recovery is only complete with men and motherhood.

Rather than focusing on Gracie’s personal growth, the narrative centres on her entanglements with deeply flawed, often misogynistic men. From cheating to emotionally manipulative behaviour, nearly every male character displays red flags — yet the story continually frames romantic relationships with them as part of Gracie’s “healing.” Even Lewis, who betrayed her, is rewarded with a second chance he didn’t deserve.

More jarring, however, was the false rape accusation subplot. Depicting such a rare and serious issue so carelessly — especially in today’s #MeToo era — felt tone-deaf and insensitive. It added nothing meaningful to the narrative and instead detracted from any attempt at genuine emotional depth.

The overwhelmingly child-centric narrative added to my frustration. The plot is saturated with pregnancies, miscarriages, and fertility struggles, which are discussed at length but with little sensitivity or nuance. It became overwhelmingly focused on motherhood as the ultimate marker of fulfilment, which made the portrayal of womanhood feel somewhat narrow and outdated. The absence of any content warnings in the blurb was irresponsible, as readers grappling with fertility issues or pregnancy-related trauma could find these themes unexpectedly painful.

On top of the problematic themes, the writing style itself felt rushed and disjointed. The narrative skips over significant time periods, making it hard to connect with the characters’ emotional journeys. The rushed epilogue crams in two major life events, reducing what should have been meaningful moments to mere afterthoughts.

While the bond between Gracie and her sister offered brief glimmers of warmth, it wasn’t enough to redeem the book.

Ultimately, How to Fix a Broken Heart felt reductive and out of touch, with damaging messaging, unlikeable characters, insensitive plot choices, and a shallow portrayal of healing that made it a deeply unsatisfying read.

[Kassandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

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

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

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

[BONNIE SMITH · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to Fix a Broken Heart will:
1. Break your heart
2. Heal your heart
3. Make you laugh
4. Make you cry

Ok, so are you ready to feel a fictional characters hurt so deep in your heart you want to crawl into the book and hug her?

This one deals with some heavy topics about pregnancy, fertility, miscarriage and rape. So read the trigger warnings. With that said, it is a beautiful book about loss, hope and support. I recommend to those that love Jojo Moyes or Jodi Picolt novels and the way they weave happiness and tragedy. Nicola May also has a stunning way of pulling on heartstrings and healing us with her words. Set for release on April 16th, pick up some tissues and chocolate, they will will pair nicely with this one!
Thank you Storm Publishing and the author for an advance reader copy, I enjoyed every minute!

[Meddings_Musings: Erin Meddings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so glad I stumbled upon this book and this author! This was a delightful yet tearful story of a woman, Gracie, who finds herself in the depths of grief after losing her twins five months into her pregnancy.

Trying to cope, she isolates herself from her partner Lewis who, in turn, makes a terrible mistake.

During her time of mourning, she seeks counseling from a professor named Mr. Princeton. And despite his genuine attempts to help Gracie, his own life is quite the mess - of his own making.

I appreciated how the characters were all tangentially connected without everyone knowing it. And I appreciated the strength and confidence Gracie experienced by spending a year healing, being kind to herself, and learning to demand more for herself.

This was a remarkable story that I feel many will be able to connect with due to the various themes including: pregnancy, miscarriage, betrayal and loss along with friendship, sisterhood, hope, and love.

Thank you NetGalley, Nicola May, and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read this marvelous five star novel in exchange for a review.

[Wendi Flint Rank (WendiReviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicola has once again tackled a serious issue, drizzled options and
come around to a heartwarming conclusion. Her niche is satisfying
and heartwarming.

[Navile Ponton · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had a lot of potential. The topic is not one I come across very often and I do feel it is important to discuss and present in different formats. Infertility struggles are more common or at least more actively discussed today than it was a decade ago, and it is still not spoken about enough.

The problem I had with this novel was the more character based. I didn't like any of the characters, did not feel any connection to them and honestly, they felt a bit stereotypical at times. I have never been to a therapy session as an adult, but I was in therapy as a child. Not once did my therapist ask over and over "and how does that make you feel?". This just sounds like a character in a movie who is thrown into the role to cover for their actual therapist friend while not knowing anything about being a therapist.

Then there are the stereotypical and heavily misogynistic men. The cheating boyfriend who made a drunken mistake and happens to be rip roaring drunk at a bar where the MC's co-worker (who she hates by the way) also happens to be there and they have sex. But it will never happen again because I truly love you (after the horrible things he said to her about the loss of the pregnancy and body shaming her). My eyes could not have rolled more towards the back of my head if I tried.

There is the male boss who is oh so sympathetic and basically let's our MC run with her own schedule even though she is the only employee there, and takes some comment she makes out of context and kisses her because his wife has been turned off of him. What?!?

And finally, I saved the worst for last. The extremely cringe, can't stop winking at you because I think it's sexy and it makes me look sexy, no one knows what his real job is, younger Ed who is also being charged of rape. This subplot was not necessary. It did not add anything to the story. He could have been all of the above things without the rape charge. His interconnection to some side character in the story could have easily been interwoven some other way.

The book reeked of stereotypes, failed or missed subplots, and everyone all of a sudden was pregnant and either facing a loss or had faced a loss. EVERY WOMAN SIDE CHARACTER ended up in some way shape or form pregnant at some point. That was also not necessary.

There was too much going on and nothing of substance or anything adding true value to the story. The writing did not flow. The characters were all over the place. There is no timeline between events so you can't really tell how long has passed from one event to the other. The transitions from events were not clear either. The book was all tell and no show and didn't provide any emotional depth to these characters at all which is a shame because I think if this had been flushed out a bit more, it could have been great.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars: Gracie Davies and her partner, Lewis, have wanted to have children for years, and even took out a loan to try IVF. She became pregnant with twins and everything looked wonderful, until she had a miscarriage at five months. She spiraled into a depression and things became difficult between them. On one drunken night, Lewis did the unthinkable. Gracie is devastated and couldn't forgive him. She moved in with her sister and young nephew, and had to try and start over. She continues to go to therapy, which helped, and made a new friend, the feisty barista at the local coffee house. She starts to exercise, finds a new job and begins to get her mojo back. She dates, but still loves Lewis, even though she isn't sure she can ever trust him again. Finding purpose in her life with her job as an events planner and setting up a group called "Miscarriage Matters" she begins to heal and figure out what she really wants out of life.

This was a great story that deals with several women's issues. I have to say that miscarriage is also the father's issue, so even though I feel this book is women's fiction, men play an important role. I liked Gracie, although not always what she did or said. She has low self-esteem and often puts herself down. I didn't like the emphasis on weight, not losing the baby weight, being undesirable etc., but, unfortunately in our lives, this is still something that is looked down on. I did like that a couple of the men she dated told her she was beautiful and women with curves were more real than the skinny models. Grace's therapist was an interesting character. He really does help her, but he has problems of his own. Her sister Naomi (aka Nom) was everything I loved about a healthy sisterly relationship. She supported her, but also made her question whether she really knew what she wanted. Jack, her nephew is a delight. This is a story with themes of infidelity, infertility, miscarriage, dating, new beginnings and more. I am not a fan of books with infidelity in them, but it was an important part of this story, and it was also something that the characters learned from and helped to develop their character. If you enjoy books that deal with women's issues, women growing and changing from their experiences, new beginnings and yes, second chances, then I recommend you pick up How to Fix a Broken Heart.

[Susanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic. After the first few chapters, I was a little unsure of where the story was going as there are a lot of connections between the core group of characters. But it all works out beautifully and, in a way, those connections are vital to the story. Gracie and her partner well and truly lose their way after Gracie's miscarriage. Both of them hurting and lashing out. Gracie ultimately draws strength from her loss through the help of some amazing friends, her wonderful sister, a change of direction in her career, and a Hollywood hottie! Once again the author has dealt with a very difficult subject with sensitivity and compassion. A wonderfully told story.
Thsnks to Netgalley, Storm Publishing, and Nicola May for the free ARC. All opinions are my own.

[emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

i’m gonna rate this a 4 star.

i honestly really liked this book. it was so fast paced & i was hooked from the first minute. the different pov’s you get in this story make you so more connected and hooked on the book, i loved reading about every single character. gracie & lewis went through so so much that i can’t even imagine going through but they found their way back together in the end with a baby as well. i’m so happy she didn’t end up with Ed though, did not like him at all.

[Monica Miller · Rating 1 out of 5]

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

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

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

The professor? Horrible. The barrista? horrible.

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

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

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

[Wendy Ann Neels · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really couldn't put this book down, I was hooked from the beginning. wonderful and a must read

[Fruzsina Bagin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of the book thanks to Storm Publishing via NetGalley, and the following review is entirely my own voluntary, and honest opinion.

This novel strikes a fine balance between depth of emotion and lighter, humorous moments. At the heart of the story is Gracie Davies, who goes through severe loss and betrayal, and then slowly but surely rebuilds herself and her life.

The book is a powerful, life-affirming story of love, grief, and new beginnings. Gracie has been in a relationship with Lewis Blair for seven years, and after several failed IVF treatments, she finally gets pregnant. But at five months pregnant, she loses her twins and undergoes a hysterectomy due to subsequent complications. This tragedy takes a toll not only physically but also emotionally: she loses her sense of femininity, her self-confidence, and their relationship hits rock bottom. Lewis can't connect with her as he used to, and ends up cheating on Gracie with a colleague, Annalize – ‘Madame Perfect’, who is everything to Gracie that she no longer feels about herself.

This is the breaking point that sets Gracie on the path that is truly the heart and soul of the story: the path to recovery. Crushed but determined, she moves in with her sister Naomi – whom I particularly grew to like throughout the story because she is warm, supportive, and provides a safe place for Gracie during this difficult time. This is where a fresh start really begins. A new job, a supportive psychologist, new friends, and relationships all contribute to Gracie finding her way back to herself. While I didn't agree with all her decisions, she grew on me – as did many of the other characters who added colour and layers to the story.

Nicola approaches difficult topics very sensitively: infertility, miscarriage, the challenges of childbearing, adoption, abortion – all topics that are painfully real. Through the stories of Gracie and the supporting characters, the author approaches these issues with depth, yet with subtlety and empathy. It was particularly moving to know that the author's own experiences are reflected in the novel – it made the narrative even more authentic.

At the same time, the mood of the book never becomes depressing. Alongside the serious themes, there are humorous and amusing scenes, and even some spicy ones, which balance the more painful ones. This is what makes the story so real and human.

Overall, “How to Fix a Broken Heart” is a hopeful, honest novel about how even after the greatest losses, there is a way out and that it is possible to rebuild a life – differently, but not necessarily with less. Once again, Nicola May has proved that she can write with sensitivity and care about the most difficult human experiences.

[Ana Paula Moraes · Rating 2 out of 5]

How to Fix a Broken Heart had an interesting premise, but unfortunately, the execution fell short for me. While I appreciate stories about resilience and self-discovery, this book felt rushed, making it difficult to connect with the characters and their emotional journeys.

From the very beginning, the pacing felt too fast—scenes flew by without giving the characters or their emotions room to breathe. As a result, many of the interactions, especially the dialogue, felt unnatural and overly scripted. Instead of an organic development of relationships, everything either happened too perfectly or too dramatically, making it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story.

The protagonist’s struggles were undeniably heavy, but her emotional responses often felt frustrating. Rather than engaging in meaningful conversations, she tended to avoid difficult discussions, which made her growth feel stagnant for most of the book. Additionally, a central aspect of her journey—tied to her identity and self-worth—had the potential to be explored in a deep and meaningful way, but instead, it remained surface-level. I kept waiting for more introspection and personal growth, but it never fully materialized.

A particular situation involving Ed (one of the key characters) was also handled in a way that felt insensitive and out of place, especially considering the book’s lighter tone. Some themes require a more thoughtful and nuanced approach, and that wasn’t quite achieved here. This specific issue was the reason I took a whole star off my rating, as it significantly impacted my experience with the book.

That said, for readers who enjoy a light, emotional read without focusing too much on deep character development, this book might still be enjoyable. The story wraps up in a predictable yet cohesive way, making it a quick and easy read. However, for those looking for a more emotionally rich and authentic journey, this one may not fully deliver. Sorry, but this is not my cup of tea!

** Thank you to NetGalley, author Nicola May, and Storm Publishing for this advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This is set to be published on April 16, 2025!

[Shyanne · Rating 1 out of 5]

Listen, I rarely give one star reviews, because writing a book is hard, but this book bothered me for so many reasons.
Let’s start with the lack of trigger warnings. This book does have mention of miscarriage, sexual assault, eating disorders, and fertility trauma. I for lack of better words hated that a false rape-accusation was apart of the subplot. It served no real purpose or drive to the plot itself other than the fact that no one seemed particularly that bothered by it.
Which leads me to my next issue, Gracie was continuously in a loop of juggling (and sometimes overlapping) men who were always the problem. I mean it was just her jumping from one bad to another. And every issue she had with a man, she’d resolve within a few pages no matter what it was. There was no emotional depth to her (probably because she went to therapy once a quarter).
Speaking of every few pages, the commentary on Gracie’s body was so excessive. All she talked about was how much she hated her body, and once she started losing weight, then she, along with everyone around her, started commenting on how much better she looked CONSTANTLY. At one point she actually said that [exercise] ALLOWED her to eat [food]. That line really solidified the one star read for me. Spoiler alert, that is an eating disorder!! This is nearly as bad as giving false SA allegations a platform.
Next issue: This book gave no emotional investment into any of the characters. I think it was written very passively, in a tell-not-show, sort of way. Everything was written so bluntly or matter-of-facts. There was no dots to connect because everything was stated so frankly. “She was feeling sad because he said that.” type sentences. There’s huge jumps in time and narration where you’re often confused on who is narrating and what they’re referring to in what timeline.
I get the point of this book was to highlight the various factors of being pregnant, but it was doing way too much and yet not enough. And frankly, I don’t think her broken heart ended up being healed. She threw herself into any distraction that became available and kept ghosting her therapist.
This was deeply disappointing to put it simply.

1 star

[charmette.books · Rating 4 out of 5]

How To Fix a Broken Heart is a heart-warming story about a woman's search for healing and identity after a traumatic miscarriage. Gracie is heartbroken after losing twins halfway through her pregnancy, going through IVF, and discovering that her partner has been unfaithful. She is struggling with her grief and heartbreak, and this book tells the story of finding herself again.

Gracie has been through a terrible tragedy, and is heartbroken after a miscarriage results in an emergency hysterectomy, which feels like the death of her dreams of becoming a mother. She is struggling through her grief in every way, and then learns that her partner Lewis has cheated on her. She leaves him and sets off on a quest to change her life. She starts a new business, meets several new men, and moves in with her sister. I loved how she slowly rebuilt her self-esteem and committed to improving her life.

This book would be a great read for anyone who has lost a baby, or gone through the betrayal of infidelity. Or just gone through difficult things in life. (everyone!). The characters are going through major issues, but the author keeps the tone light overall. I wasn't crazy about any of Gracie's love interests, and would have liked to see her end up with someone truly selfless and devoted to her. I also found some of the side plots with minor characters distracting but not very engaging. The relationship between Gracie and her sister was wonderful, and it was so enjoyable to read about all of the positive changes and experiences Gracie had after going through such heartbreak and disappointment. Overall, this is a fun read about a woman putting her life back together (and having fun!) after a series of tragic events.

Thank you to Nicola May, Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this advance reader's copy in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Tiffany ✨️ Bergamot Book Reviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gracie is rebuilding her life from scratch. After twin child loss and catching her partner betraying her, she isn't sure where she stands, until she decides to start over again and get her life back.

*****

I wanted to love this one so much. It had all of the makings of the perfect redemption story of a woman choosing better for herself through personal growth. Unfortunately that redemption came about in the complete opposite way that I anticipated it. The consistent theme of unfaithful male leads and using false assault reporting against a man (which is an extremely rare occurrence and doesn't need support in a romance novel) left the general idea of recovery from child loss and personal growth instead feel like a male-centric read with an intense amount of drama and roots in misogyny.

The entire book just had too much going on that took away from the main thread of the story. All of the subplots woven into it distracted instead of enhanced it, and I found myself wondering why certain characters were included and what their impact would be, and getting distracted from the story in and of itself. I also felt that for such deep topics, this wasn't handled with much depth. The characters didn't have chemistry, light-hearted moments felt off, and loss was handled in a way that felt performative. This novel instead felt like a love note to the patriarchy of how women can only be fulfilled with children and a man - even as those men are horrible people.

Also that ending? That was not what I would identify as an HEA. This book was a disappointment, from a topic that could have been so impactful.

*****

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Meg Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicola May’s How to Fix a Broken Heart is one of those novels that lingers long after you’ve turned the final page. It’s heartbreaking, yes—but also deeply uplifting.

Gracie Davies thought she had it all figured out: a loving partner, the dream of becoming a mother finally within reach after IVF, and a future full of promise. But when tragedy strikes in the most devastating way and her relationship with Lewis crumbles, Gracie finds herself at rock bottom—grieving, betrayed, and forced to start over.

What makes this book stand out is the honesty with which Nicola May tackles subjects that are often whispered about but rarely explored so openly in fiction: miscarriage, infertility, infidelity, and the slow, complicated road to self-acceptance. Gracie’s voice is raw, flawed, and real—you feel her heartbreak, her anger, her tentative steps toward healing, and eventually, her rediscovery of joy.

The supporting cast brings light into the darker moments—her wonderfully loyal sister Naomi, her cheeky nephew Jack, and the new friends who remind Gracie that life is still worth living. Therapy, running, laughter, and even a bit of romance all become part of her rebuilding process. And while Lewis is endlessly frustrating (and frankly infuriating), his mistakes push Gracie toward growth and self-realization.

This isn’t just a book about loss—it’s about resilience, finding strength in vulnerability, and learning that happiness can look different than what we once imagined. With a balance of humor, honesty, and emotional depth, Nicola May has written something both powerful and hopeful.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A moving, memorable read I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys women’s fiction that doesn’t shy away from real-life struggles but still leaves you with hope.

[Mika Vartiainen · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

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

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

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

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

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicola May delivers a deeply emotional and uplifting novel with How to Fix a Broken Heart, a beautifully written story of love, loss, and self-discovery. Gracie Davies is at rock bottom—reeling from a heartbreaking loss, stung by a thoughtless comment about her weight, and blindsided by her boyfriend’s betrayal. With her world shattered, she is forced to rebuild from the ground up.

With the support of her free-spirited sister, an unconventional therapist, and a fierce new friend, Gracie embarks on a journey of healing and rediscovery. Along the way, she finds unexpected romance with a charming landscaper, a chance encounter with a Hollywood film star, and persistent attention from her regretful ex. As she navigates love, heartbreak, and self-worth, she realizes that community and purpose might be the key to mending even the most broken heart.

May’s writing is heartfelt and evocative, perfectly balancing humor with raw emotion. Gracie’s struggles are deeply relatable, making her journey all the more inspiring. The novel explores themes of grief, body image, friendship, and the courage to open one’s heart again. Readers will laugh, cry, and cheer as Gracie reclaims her happiness on her own terms.

With its engaging characters, witty dialogue, and an empowering message, How to Fix a Broken Heart is a must-read for fans of emotional, feel-good fiction. Nicola May once again proves why she is a master of contemporary women’s fiction.

[Ritu Bhathal · Rating 5 out of 5]

TW: Miscarriage/Loss/Grief/Rape
Oh, what an emotional read!
I'm used to slightly more lighthearted small village stories by Nicola May, but this one still had a community feel and a deeper thread.
Gracie, the FMC, is reeling from a tremendous loss and feels that she doesn't have the support of her partner, Lewis. A betrayal from him is the last straw, and she starts from scratch in her 30s.
I don't want to sit here and regurgitate the story, but it is a beautifully sad story with an uplifting ending.
Gracie is going through such a tough time, and it resonated with me, as I expect it will with many other women out there who have suffered a miscarriage. The grief from that can take a long time to overcome. She became a character who supported other women in a similar situation and hammered home the message that miscarriage, whether an early loss or a later one, hits hard for all.
Throughout the story, she meets several people, and one is Ed, whom she begins to date. His situation is precarious. (Again, I'm not saying anything because - SPOILERS!) But he is a person who helps build her back up again.
We also have a parallel story of Maya and her psychiatrist lover, which weaves in and out of Gracie's with ease as hidden connections are revealed.
All in all it was a great read, and I championed Gracie from the off!

[Kirsty (BookBlogger) · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to Fix a Broken Heart by Nicola May

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Gracie Davies is at an all-time low. After a devastating loss, the last thing she needs is a colleague hinting over coffee that it’s time to lose her baby weight. Then her boyfriend betrays her, and her world totally falls apart.

Rebuilding her life from scratch – with the support of her free-spirited sister, an unorthodox therapist, and a feisty new friend – Gracie finally begins to get her mojo back. Add in a passionate fling with handsome landscaper Ed, a fairytale encounter with a Hollywood film star and the persistence of her adulterous ex, and life is anything but predictable…

Soon she finds that community, purpose, and perhaps even new love might be the perfect prescription for a broken heart.

But can a heart that’s been so utterly shattered ever trust again?

My Opinion

Nicola May has done it again. How to Fix a Broken Heart is a powerful and emotional novel. Nicola handles some very difficult topics in such a delicate way. Whilst this was not an easy read, I sat and read this in one sitting. Nicola May is a must read author for me, and with books like this it is easy to see why.

Rating 4/5

[TrishAM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looking at the cover of this book I would have thought that it was going to be a light hearted romance with a bit of angst, light hearted it certainly wasn't.
This book has a main story with several sub plots, Grace Davis and Lewis Blair have been together for seven years, desperate to start a family they turned to IVF, even though it put them in debt, the pair were delighted when they discovered that Grace was pregnant with twins, sadly at five months tragedy happened when Grace not only lost the twins but also her chance of becoming pregnant again.
This story follows Grace's life as she hits rock bottom and her attempts to claw her way back up. Grace loses interest in everything, including Lewis who then has a drunken liaison, a liaison that Grace couldn't forgive.
Encouraged by her sister Naomi, Grace begins to face the world again, she has liaisons of her own and also finds a purpose that she throws herself into.
The author has covered some very emotive subjects with sensitivity including miscarriages, cheating, body shaming, infidelity and infertility.
I must admit that I was curious to see who Grace would end up with, if anyone, I did however think that the film star thread was a bit over the top.
On the whole an enjoyable story but with lots of triggers.
I received an ARC for this book and my review is voluntary.

[Nessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this has been an emotional, heartfelt and uplifting story from start to finish. It really was a beautiful and moving story, which was so very well written, I am literally in awe of the author, such an amazing job she has done.

The main character Gracie has been through so much already and as the story unfolds, it’s clear to see that life still isn’t easy for her and she still had lots of hurdles to overcome. But with the support of friends and her sister, she pushes forward with positivity despite a couple of stumbles along the way. I really liked Gracie and truly felt for what she was going through, the loss that she and her husband Lewis had to endear is certainly not an easy one, but then experiencing loss of any kind is always difficult.

Yes this story was fairly emotional at times, but there was plenty of uplifting moments, loads of drama and laugh out loud moments. I just couldn’t turn those pages quick enough.

The story didn’t just focus on Gracie and Lewis, you also got involved with other characters within the story, such as Gracie’s sister Noms, her friend Maya and her therapist Scott and two very hot guys Ed and Leo, the latter who also happens to be a film star.

I am already eagerly looking forward to Nicola’s next book when it comes out.

[Ethereal Amorist · Rating 5 out of 5]

☆5☆

Thank you Netgalley, Amanda Ashby, and Storm Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What an emotional roller-coaster this story turned out to be! From start to finish, I found myself completely invested in Gracie’s journey—cheering her on, worrying for her, and hoping she'd find the peace and happiness she deserved. Her character felt so genuine and heartfelt that none of the guys ever really seemed good enough for her. Her purity, strength, and quiet resilience made her stand out in every scene.

I also loved the way the point of views transitioned smoothly, covering the story from all the angles. Even when the storyline threw intense, sometimes painful twists our way, the pacing never faltered. It kept me on edge, constantly guessing, yet somehow never feeling rushed or dragged out. Each chapter built up beautifully, keeping the tension alive without overwhelming the heart of the story. I loved how the narrative managed to balance raw emotion with excitement. And while I had my doubts about how it might all end, I must say the conclusion felt incredibly satisfying. This book left a lasting impression on me—I’d definitely recommend it!

[Lina · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 / 5 Stars
This book had some really amazing themes, but there were other aspects that were just not for me. I think the writing about Gracie’s pregnancy loss, hysterectomy, and connection with other women who have miscarried or lost their pregnancies was incredibly beautiful. I think it will resonate with a lot of people dealing with fertility issues and make them feel really seen. I think that is an incredible gift.

However, other parts of the book were just hard for me to get over. There were three separate men who cheated on their partners and for me, that is just an irredeemable action, so I wasn’t interested or rooting for any of their relationships or connections. And the storyline involving Ed was hard for me to read. Without spoiling anything, Ed is accused of a crime and I wished that there was a discussion of how men are not falsely accused of this crime very often and how they are more likely to be victims of the crime instead of falsely accused. I just wasn’t sure why this was a part of his storyline and maybe fed into that discourse around the crime in a potentially negative way.

I enjoyed that the characters had shades of grey and that their storylines intertwined in a really interesting way.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.

[Rachael · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I am DNF-ing this book. This book had a very good premise, and I was excited to read, however, I had quite a few issues with the book upon starting. The beginning was a lot of information and not just in normal exposition ways. In the beginning I thought we were going to stay on the female protagonist and her romantic life and her dealing with grief however, when we explore her day-to-day life the story lulls. The POV switches are distinct in that I can tell that there is a new person speaking but not distinct that I can tell specifically who is talking. The world building is also confusing due this. Another thing I found difficult was the dialogue. Now, I am not from the UK, but I have watched a lot of UK shows and read a lot of books written by UK authors but some of the dialogue in this book was so clunky that I couldn't justify it. I think if we stayed with the main female protagonist and followed her through her life, I could've found a succinct through line through the story that would have been beautiful.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity!