Things That Break

by H.R. Jones

Things That Break is a devastatingly intimate story of love, loss, and the invisible battles fought in silence.

Tierney “Tini” has only ever relied on one Declan “Ducky,” the boy next door with a crooked smile and a heart too big for the weight he carries. He’s her protector, her safe place, and eventually, her first love.

But life has a way of breaking even the strongest bonds.

Declan rises from back-to-back small-town tragedies to college football stardom and an NFL contract, while Tini builds a life of her own as a writer. When they reunite, it feels like the happy ending they both deserve—until a single violent night rips everything apart.

Told through Tini’s journal entries as they grow up together, Things That Break is a raw, heart-wrenching exploration of childhood love that grows into something unshakable, only to be tested by grief, addiction, family curses, and the brutal silence around men’s mental health.

For fans of If He Had Been With Me, this is not a fairy tale—it’s a tragic love story that asks what it truly means to hold on… and what it costs to finally let go.

240 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2026

About the author

Hello!

My name is Hunner Ricketts aka HR Jones. I'm a registered vet tech (RVT) for the state of Ohio turned housewife and stay-at-home mom. I've had a love for reading since I knew how and a love for writing since I realized authors were just people with ideas who decided to write them down. So here I am- a person with an idea who wrote it down and uploaded it somewhere, calling myself an author.

When I'm not writing (or drowning in editing), I spend my time reading dark romance novels myself, hence my pull to write one. I have a love for Penelope Douglas, Runyx, HD Carlton, Shantel Tessier, Avina St. Graves... You name it, I've likely read it.

That is when I'm not chasing after my rambunctious 2 year old. She's usually chasing our cat, Keanu (Reeves), and we're all chasing my soon-to-be husband, Jacob Jones. AKA my motivational powerhouse and biggest cheerleader.

I do my marketing (and editing, cover design, blurbs, etc.) myself and have platforms with my pen name for TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram if you'd like to follow for updates there!

'If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.' – Toni Morrison

Reviews

[Kateena A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things That Break
!! ARC REVIEW!!

So much more than a love story!

Things That Break by H. R . Jones is a beautifully heartbreaking love story that you definitely need tissues to clean up the tears.The character connection between Declan and Tierney is undeniable and one you you can feel to your bones. You can literally feel every emotion, every event, every smile, every laugh and every tear as the story unfolds. I appreciate the author's insight to the mental health issues that the characters face throughout the book. It was raw and real, and had the emotional depth that most people process during grief. Tierney's character I found inspirational, life is messy and we can remain stuck or find our purpose and rise up with hope knowing our person is with us always!

[Tisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could feel the characters and their story in every word I read. Amazing story filled with love, tragedy, and hope. Tierny and Declan share something we have all felt inside which makes it so hard to put this book down once you start reading it.

[Delilah Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was absolutely fascinating It made me feel all the emotions that the characters were experiencing and that is amazing to me and the plot was great and the characters were written so beautifully I loved it 😍