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The Callaghan Sisters #4
How Much Wine Will Fix My Broken Heart?
Are you suffering from a broken heart? Searching for the right medicine? Staring down the barrel of being single and not knowing where to start? Learn from Grace Callaghan! She’s done it all:
Wine is the answer. Some serving-size suggestions include: a glass the size of your head, a bathtub, an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Best served chilled, and with a straw.
Friends with benefits is always an option. Be prepared for side effects such as the guy saying ‘baby’, crying out his ex’s name and preferring to keep his socks on.
Going ‘out out’ helps banish the blues. It may involve breaking into replica ships from the fifteenth century, screaming ‘Aye-aye, Captain!’ and accidentally falling off the plank.
Karaoke makes everything better. Best enjoyed singing Enrique Iglesias, followed by an extra-large serving of fries.
Three years ago, when Grace’s heart was blown to smithereens, she made a promise to protect herself. But has she gone too far? Has she played it too safe? Should she take a leap into the unknown, messy business of the heart? Because maybe, just maybe, she could learn to love again…
This hilarious and totally gripping tale is for anyone who’s questioned their qualifications at life, and learned that a little bit of wine goes a long way! Fans of Shari Low, Sophie Kinsella and Why Mummy Drinks, be warned: prepare for odd looks when reading this in public due to the ugly laughing it induces.
Wine is the answer. Some serving-size suggestions include: a glass the size of your head, a bathtub, an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Best served chilled, and with a straw.
Friends with benefits is always an option. Be prepared for side effects such as the guy saying ‘baby’, crying out his ex’s name and preferring to keep his socks on.
Going ‘out out’ helps banish the blues. It may involve breaking into replica ships from the fifteenth century, screaming ‘Aye-aye, Captain!’ and accidentally falling off the plank.
Karaoke makes everything better. Best enjoyed singing Enrique Iglesias, followed by an extra-large serving of fries.
Three years ago, when Grace’s heart was blown to smithereens, she made a promise to protect herself. But has she gone too far? Has she played it too safe? Should she take a leap into the unknown, messy business of the heart? Because maybe, just maybe, she could learn to love again…
This hilarious and totally gripping tale is for anyone who’s questioned their qualifications at life, and learned that a little bit of wine goes a long way! Fans of Shari Low, Sophie Kinsella and Why Mummy Drinks, be warned: prepare for odd looks when reading this in public due to the ugly laughing it induces.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 28, 2021
285 people are currently reading
480 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
December 2, 2022
I was so pleased to dive into the world of the Callaghan sister. The book focuses on Grace and her life after she lost her husband and adopted two children. This time there is more sorrow than in the books before, but it was balanced so well out with humor that it was possible to process it along with Grace.
July 6, 2021
So much love and laughter. Amazing look at grief - with the best message: take your time; there is no right way to grieve.
Grace is raising two adopted daughters on her own. Well with the help of the sisters - four women who lend reality, humor, kindness, love, understanding and best of all encouragement.
A few years earlier, Grace's husband died from cancer. Tom left letters and voice messages for those dearest to him. For Grace, Tom sent her around the world, to travel in his steps.
Joyce, Tom's mother, asks Grace to help arrange a memorial. And to write a book recounting Tom's travels and their correspondence.
And so begins Grace's story. Overflowing with love, laughter, sorrow, pain and so much love.
Loved this book.
Grace is raising two adopted daughters on her own. Well with the help of the sisters - four women who lend reality, humor, kindness, love, understanding and best of all encouragement.
A few years earlier, Grace's husband died from cancer. Tom left letters and voice messages for those dearest to him. For Grace, Tom sent her around the world, to travel in his steps.
Joyce, Tom's mother, asks Grace to help arrange a memorial. And to write a book recounting Tom's travels and their correspondence.
And so begins Grace's story. Overflowing with love, laughter, sorrow, pain and so much love.
Loved this book.
July 4, 2021
Favorite Quotes:
I could weave you a friendship bracelet made of hair. I decided against it. It has a serial-killer quality to it, though it’s useful if you want to go down the voodoo route.
‘The playground mafia has been around for years,’ Joyce carries on. ‘In my day it was Jeanie McGovern. I had her son round to play and he came to my house and crapped in a drawer. When I told her, and I was discreet about it, she told me I’d made it up and then spent years spreading rumours around about Tom.’ ‘What sort of rumours?’ I ask, mortified at the thought of someone defecating in a drawer. ‘It was such a bizarre reaction. She made him the centre of every nits outbreak for years. It ended with me slapping her in the playground.’
‘You joined the PTA?’ she asks. ‘Emma told me it would be a good way to make friends.’ ‘Never listen to Emma. Her girls are in a private school where everyone wears padded gilets and eats pheasant. Their PTA raffles off cars. Mine raffles off dusty bottles of cherry brandy. I won a bottle once that was half-drunk.’
You forget about the cascading effect of social media in these playground battles. One moment you tell a group that your son has a rash and the next he’s a social pariah with possible leprosy.
‘Gracie,’ she says, softly. ‘We lost Cam, her dear Olivier and our wonderful Tom. We will never replace them. That light has gone out. We shouldn’t replace them. But never think people can’t come in, that we’ve lost some capacity to love. We’re still alive, it does our loved ones no justice to be sitting here in darkness.’ And there it is. This is why I welcomed Linh into my world. Beautiful turns of phrase like that soothed my tired and confused soul; they still do. And she’s right. We lost three amazing people but, through their loss, our lives all became entwined.
My Review:
I savored every perfectly chosen word of this riotously humorous yet poignant tale. I adore Kristen Bailey and of the handful of books I’ve read, this may be her best yet. The crisp storylines were rife with every type of rib-tickling humor from wry and acerbic wit to ribald comedy. I smirked, chortled, and giggle-snorted my way through although there were also just as many thoughtfully written, insightful, and heart-squeezing scenes of great loss, vulnerability, grief, anger, and betrayal. Ms. Bailey hit all the feels and plundered every emotion with agility and finesse.
As always, her characters were fully inhabited and enticingly intriguing and curiously alluring. I am eagerly anticipating Lucy’s story and cannot wait to see what this clever scribe does with the inner musings of the last remaining Callaghan sister’s tale. I had a feeling she would be saving the best, and most outrageous character of Lucy, for last.
One can only hope she is currently locked in the attic scribbling away. Please write quickly, Ms. Bailey, you won’t even need to leave home for sustenance as your devoted fangirl can have offerings of gin and Marmite winging your way.
I could weave you a friendship bracelet made of hair. I decided against it. It has a serial-killer quality to it, though it’s useful if you want to go down the voodoo route.
‘The playground mafia has been around for years,’ Joyce carries on. ‘In my day it was Jeanie McGovern. I had her son round to play and he came to my house and crapped in a drawer. When I told her, and I was discreet about it, she told me I’d made it up and then spent years spreading rumours around about Tom.’ ‘What sort of rumours?’ I ask, mortified at the thought of someone defecating in a drawer. ‘It was such a bizarre reaction. She made him the centre of every nits outbreak for years. It ended with me slapping her in the playground.’
‘You joined the PTA?’ she asks. ‘Emma told me it would be a good way to make friends.’ ‘Never listen to Emma. Her girls are in a private school where everyone wears padded gilets and eats pheasant. Their PTA raffles off cars. Mine raffles off dusty bottles of cherry brandy. I won a bottle once that was half-drunk.’
You forget about the cascading effect of social media in these playground battles. One moment you tell a group that your son has a rash and the next he’s a social pariah with possible leprosy.
‘Gracie,’ she says, softly. ‘We lost Cam, her dear Olivier and our wonderful Tom. We will never replace them. That light has gone out. We shouldn’t replace them. But never think people can’t come in, that we’ve lost some capacity to love. We’re still alive, it does our loved ones no justice to be sitting here in darkness.’ And there it is. This is why I welcomed Linh into my world. Beautiful turns of phrase like that soothed my tired and confused soul; they still do. And she’s right. We lost three amazing people but, through their loss, our lives all became entwined.
My Review:
I savored every perfectly chosen word of this riotously humorous yet poignant tale. I adore Kristen Bailey and of the handful of books I’ve read, this may be her best yet. The crisp storylines were rife with every type of rib-tickling humor from wry and acerbic wit to ribald comedy. I smirked, chortled, and giggle-snorted my way through although there were also just as many thoughtfully written, insightful, and heart-squeezing scenes of great loss, vulnerability, grief, anger, and betrayal. Ms. Bailey hit all the feels and plundered every emotion with agility and finesse.
As always, her characters were fully inhabited and enticingly intriguing and curiously alluring. I am eagerly anticipating Lucy’s story and cannot wait to see what this clever scribe does with the inner musings of the last remaining Callaghan sister’s tale. I had a feeling she would be saving the best, and most outrageous character of Lucy, for last.
One can only hope she is currently locked in the attic scribbling away. Please write quickly, Ms. Bailey, you won’t even need to leave home for sustenance as your devoted fangirl can have offerings of gin and Marmite winging your way.
June 30, 2021
Review published in: https://diagnosisbookaholic.blogspot....
Excuse me a moment while a dry my tears… I knew that Grace’s story was gonna make me cry! What I did not know was that not all those tears were gonna be sad ones.
The Callaghan sisters are back and it’s like meeting back old friends. Three years have gone by since we last saw them, Grace is now living in Bristol with her two daughters while still grieving the death of her love, Tom.
Even though it may look like just a sad and heart wrenching story, it is written with so much love, tenderness and humor that even in the gloomiest moments you find yourself with a smile on your face. It shows how there’re several ways to deal with the grief of losing a loved one and how, even though you may feel alone, there’s always someone around to help you carry on. And Grace has a lot of wonderful people around (not you Carrie Cantello!). From her sisters to Lihn, Joyce or Sam, they were all adorable.
Each time I read a book in this series I think “ok, this one is my favorite sister”, and right now Grace is my favorite sister! Those letters at the beginning of each chapter were a total gem. You could see how much they loved each other even when they were apart.
Her dealings with Carrie and the playground mafia were absolutely hilarious, finding myself in stitches more than once, and the perfect balance to the most poignant parts of the story.
How much wine will fix my broken heart? is a touching tale of grief and loss, but most of all, a celebration of life.
Now it’s Lucy’s turn and knowing Lucy (look at me talking about her like she was a real friend) her story promises to be a hoot!
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Excuse me a moment while a dry my tears… I knew that Grace’s story was gonna make me cry! What I did not know was that not all those tears were gonna be sad ones.
The Callaghan sisters are back and it’s like meeting back old friends. Three years have gone by since we last saw them, Grace is now living in Bristol with her two daughters while still grieving the death of her love, Tom.
Even though it may look like just a sad and heart wrenching story, it is written with so much love, tenderness and humor that even in the gloomiest moments you find yourself with a smile on your face. It shows how there’re several ways to deal with the grief of losing a loved one and how, even though you may feel alone, there’s always someone around to help you carry on. And Grace has a lot of wonderful people around (not you Carrie Cantello!). From her sisters to Lihn, Joyce or Sam, they were all adorable.
Each time I read a book in this series I think “ok, this one is my favorite sister”, and right now Grace is my favorite sister! Those letters at the beginning of each chapter were a total gem. You could see how much they loved each other even when they were apart.
Her dealings with Carrie and the playground mafia were absolutely hilarious, finding myself in stitches more than once, and the perfect balance to the most poignant parts of the story.
How much wine will fix my broken heart? is a touching tale of grief and loss, but most of all, a celebration of life.
Now it’s Lucy’s turn and knowing Lucy (look at me talking about her like she was a real friend) her story promises to be a hoot!
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 11, 2021
This was a lovely book. Funny, and very poignant as the main character, Grace, goes to a memorial for her husband Tom, who died at 28 of testicular cancer. The school where he taught has dedicated a wing to him, and Grace invited all the people whose lives touched his. He was a great traveler, and had friends all over the world. Grace adopted 2 little girls from Vietnam after his death, their deceased parents were friends of Tom’s. Grace is still grieving, but she has her girls and her sisters to help her, and she’s learning that there’s no timetable for grief to finally pass.
There were really funny moments, as well as some painful ones. I thought the title didn’t do the book justice. The writing was great, it really flowed. I highly recommend this book, 4 stars.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
There were really funny moments, as well as some painful ones. I thought the title didn’t do the book justice. The writing was great, it really flowed. I highly recommend this book, 4 stars.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
July 1, 2021
How Much Wine Will Fix My Broken Hearts is the fourth book in the Callaghan Sisters series by Kristen Bailey. When I first picked up this book I had not realized it was part of a series, but even though it is part of a series it can definitely be read as a standalone. Although, after reading this one, I am definitely going to have to go back and read books 1-3.
Grace Callaghan lost the love of her life, her husband Tom, to cancer three years prior. Since then, life has been much different for her. She now has two adopted daughters, some crazy PTA friends and a semi relationship with a divorced father. Grace is navigating through life, a life that looks much different for what she originally planned with her husband Tom. Will Grace finally learn how to be at peace while learning how to live once again?
OMG The prologue of this story! Wow, it had me in tears and yet there were these little sprinkles of laughter mixed in with the sadness. Which I may add, seemed to be a recurring theme for me throughout the entirety of this story. Kristen Bailey has the right amount of sadness and laughter mixed in and sometimes you will find yourself doing both at the same time. This is a heartwarming story and even though it centers around the death of a partner, there are a lot of lighter moments that stop this book from becoming way too dreary. Everyone processes grief differently and Bailey did such a wonderful job of showcasing the ups and downs that Grace experienced in such a realistic way which made Grace all the more of a well rounded fleshed out character that I could bond with and root for.
If you love a laugh out loud story with heartwarming and tender moments then you definitely will want to pick up a copy of How Much Wine Will Fix My Broken Heart by Kristen Bailey.
Grace Callaghan lost the love of her life, her husband Tom, to cancer three years prior. Since then, life has been much different for her. She now has two adopted daughters, some crazy PTA friends and a semi relationship with a divorced father. Grace is navigating through life, a life that looks much different for what she originally planned with her husband Tom. Will Grace finally learn how to be at peace while learning how to live once again?
OMG The prologue of this story! Wow, it had me in tears and yet there were these little sprinkles of laughter mixed in with the sadness. Which I may add, seemed to be a recurring theme for me throughout the entirety of this story. Kristen Bailey has the right amount of sadness and laughter mixed in and sometimes you will find yourself doing both at the same time. This is a heartwarming story and even though it centers around the death of a partner, there are a lot of lighter moments that stop this book from becoming way too dreary. Everyone processes grief differently and Bailey did such a wonderful job of showcasing the ups and downs that Grace experienced in such a realistic way which made Grace all the more of a well rounded fleshed out character that I could bond with and root for.
If you love a laugh out loud story with heartwarming and tender moments then you definitely will want to pick up a copy of How Much Wine Will Fix My Broken Heart by Kristen Bailey.
August 15, 2021
It seems strange to describe this as a comedy, but it really is, despite that it is about grief, loss and life. Grace was devastated when her husband, Tom, was diagnosed with testicular cancer and died soon after. He was always such a cheerful person, making the most of life’s opportunities and he’s determined Grace will do the same after he has gone. He leaves her a letter, challenging her in a positive way and giving detailed instructions for her to follow…..
There’s no time limit to grief and it isn’t the same for any two people. This is the story of how Grace, her family, friends and Tom. It is shared through his letters to Grace, discussions of past events and planning for the future. Her two adopted children are key to many of the encounters, adding their own support and interpretation to everything. This is an inspirational story about moving on, opening your heart, remembering loved ones and being willing to risk loving again. With marvellous memories, wonderful wine, great friends, loving sisters, delightful children and lots of support, maybe Grace can learn to live again.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.
There’s no time limit to grief and it isn’t the same for any two people. This is the story of how Grace, her family, friends and Tom. It is shared through his letters to Grace, discussions of past events and planning for the future. Her two adopted children are key to many of the encounters, adding their own support and interpretation to everything. This is an inspirational story about moving on, opening your heart, remembering loved ones and being willing to risk loving again. With marvellous memories, wonderful wine, great friends, loving sisters, delightful children and lots of support, maybe Grace can learn to live again.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.
June 6, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the 4th book of the Callaghan Sisters series and I've read each of them on NetGalley. The series is very enjoyable and generally light and funny. This book did take on a more somber and somewhat depressing storyline, with not near as many laugh out loud moments, but it was just as good overall. The sisters have such different personalities and lives and Kristen Bailey writes each perspective with these distinctions.
I am looking forward to the 5th book in this series and can only imagine the hilarity that sister Lucy will provide.
This is the 4th book of the Callaghan Sisters series and I've read each of them on NetGalley. The series is very enjoyable and generally light and funny. This book did take on a more somber and somewhat depressing storyline, with not near as many laugh out loud moments, but it was just as good overall. The sisters have such different personalities and lives and Kristen Bailey writes each perspective with these distinctions.
I am looking forward to the 5th book in this series and can only imagine the hilarity that sister Lucy will provide.
July 5, 2021
Although this novel is classified in the humour genre I guessed that this would also be a sad story and it certainly was.
How Much Wine Will Fix My Broken Heart? is the fourth tale in a series about the Callaghan sisters and this time around it's Grace's turn. The first three books, 'Has Anyone Seen My Sex Life?', Can I Give My Husband Back? and Did My Love Life Shrink in the Wash? featured three of Grace's other sisters, Megan, Emma, and Beth.
Thirty-one-year-old Grace is living in Bristol with her two daughters, Cleo and Maya while still grieving the death of her love, Tom. The heart-wrenching story is written with tenderness and mirth and even in the gloomiest moments I still managed a smile or three. Everyone has their own way of processing grief and Kristen Bailey really showcased this in such a realistic way which made Grace a character that I bonded with. Grace has a lot of fabulous people in her life who were mostly adorable. I also liked the letters at the beginning of each chapter which were an inspired addition and an absolute gem. The author had me in stitches on a number of occasions and had the perfect balance in the most poignant parts. A touching tale of life, grief, and loss, How Much Wine Will Fix My Broken Heart? is a treat of a novel. I'm looking forward to catching up with books 1 to 3, and I am eagerly anticipating Lucy’s story. Happy reading!
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Bookouture via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
How Much Wine Will Fix My Broken Heart? is the fourth tale in a series about the Callaghan sisters and this time around it's Grace's turn. The first three books, 'Has Anyone Seen My Sex Life?', Can I Give My Husband Back? and Did My Love Life Shrink in the Wash? featured three of Grace's other sisters, Megan, Emma, and Beth.
Thirty-one-year-old Grace is living in Bristol with her two daughters, Cleo and Maya while still grieving the death of her love, Tom. The heart-wrenching story is written with tenderness and mirth and even in the gloomiest moments I still managed a smile or three. Everyone has their own way of processing grief and Kristen Bailey really showcased this in such a realistic way which made Grace a character that I bonded with. Grace has a lot of fabulous people in her life who were mostly adorable. I also liked the letters at the beginning of each chapter which were an inspired addition and an absolute gem. The author had me in stitches on a number of occasions and had the perfect balance in the most poignant parts. A touching tale of life, grief, and loss, How Much Wine Will Fix My Broken Heart? is a treat of a novel. I'm looking forward to catching up with books 1 to 3, and I am eagerly anticipating Lucy’s story. Happy reading!
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Bookouture via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
July 16, 2021
I wasn't aware this is a book included in the Callaghan Sisters series. You dont have to have read any of those before because I wasn't aware there were others until after reading this one, so it's a perfect stand alone as well.
While labeled as a humerous womens fiction, this was so much more! Grace Callaghan is a young widow with two adopted daughters. Throughout the story, we find that Grace lost her husband Tom to prostate cancer two years ago. Grace has always played it safe while Tom was an adventurer. They had taken a break for a few years for Tom to travel the world before settling down. Grace had stayed behind and began her career. A few years after their marriage, Tom was diagnosed with cancer. When he died, he left friends and family letters and videos letting them know how much he loved them. For Grace, he also gave her a trip around the world to follow in his steps. While in Vietnam, Grace met two baby girls she fell in love with and adopted.
This book was such a perfect mix of humor and heart. Me and the author could be best friends easily! She writes hilarious situations that are believable while also exploring honest situations someone like Grace would find herself in. From having another single sad on the side to meet her needs, to being a single mom of two little girls, every thing is explored with depth and sincerity while also laughing her way through it. This kept my attention the whole way through and now I can't wait to read the rest of the series! Five BIG stars!
☄☄☄☄☄
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Kristen Bailey for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
While labeled as a humerous womens fiction, this was so much more! Grace Callaghan is a young widow with two adopted daughters. Throughout the story, we find that Grace lost her husband Tom to prostate cancer two years ago. Grace has always played it safe while Tom was an adventurer. They had taken a break for a few years for Tom to travel the world before settling down. Grace had stayed behind and began her career. A few years after their marriage, Tom was diagnosed with cancer. When he died, he left friends and family letters and videos letting them know how much he loved them. For Grace, he also gave her a trip around the world to follow in his steps. While in Vietnam, Grace met two baby girls she fell in love with and adopted.
This book was such a perfect mix of humor and heart. Me and the author could be best friends easily! She writes hilarious situations that are believable while also exploring honest situations someone like Grace would find herself in. From having another single sad on the side to meet her needs, to being a single mom of two little girls, every thing is explored with depth and sincerity while also laughing her way through it. This kept my attention the whole way through and now I can't wait to read the rest of the series! Five BIG stars!
☄☄☄☄☄
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Kristen Bailey for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
July 2, 2021
Author Kristen Bailey says that she “hopes her novels have fresh and funny things to say about modern life, love and family.” Her hope is definitely reality, especially with How Much Wine Will Fix My Broken Heart?. As the title hints at, this book combines humor with grief, and it is done with a perfect dose of both! Oh, how I laughed, and how I wept, while reading this. I was hit with emotion but I enjoyed every sucker punch thrown. I adore the Callaghan sisters and their quirky personalities, and they were able to provide the comfort, shoulders, and sometimes distractions that Grace needed while coping with her loss. I absolutely love the raw dry humor in this book, especially the pokes of fun at fellow school moms, and can relate because I, too, lean towards this when I am stressed, scared, or sad. OK, I admit I resort to wine sometimes, too.
Kristen Bailey is such an amazing author and her talent shines yet again her latest book. I highly recommend it, I bet you will enjoy it as much as I did!
Kristen Bailey is such an amazing author and her talent shines yet again her latest book. I highly recommend it, I bet you will enjoy it as much as I did!
April 17, 2024
I adored this book. It's written with such humour and warmth, and the story is so touching. As ever with Kristen's books, reading was — and I'm trying hard not to sound like Forrest Gump — like eating a box of chocolates: delicious, comforting and you're finished way too quickly. I also just love all the characters — Maya and Cleo are faves, but Doug ain't far behind — and I think this may be my favourite Callaghan book yet, even if I was blinking back a fair few tears at certain points. Highly recommend! 🥰
June 27, 2021
I didn't expect this book to be written this way. I fully went into this thinking it would be much lighter and I found it really heavy and deep, not in a bad way.
What a wonderfully eye opening book about life. This books teaches you to go out and enjoy life and it was such a feel good book even if it was based on such an upsetting time.
Very cleverly written and I will definitely be looking out for more books by the author.
What a wonderfully eye opening book about life. This books teaches you to go out and enjoy life and it was such a feel good book even if it was based on such an upsetting time.
Very cleverly written and I will definitely be looking out for more books by the author.
June 30, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. The idea that a book revolving around grief and finding solace from a loved one's death has to be chronically sad is thrown out by Kristen Bailey. I found myself laughing out loud at many parts of the book. Bailey's writing style is fun and light-hearted even with a hard topic. It was such a lovely book to read, and one that I was able to devour in two days. How much wine WILL fix a broken heart? I'm not sure- but the love and laughter from Bailey sure helps too.
July 11, 2021
For anyone that has lost a loved one, a line from this book “take your time there is no right way to grieve”. I identified with Grace as I would give anything to have had more time with my husband, done things differently, before cancer took him.
July 2, 2021
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'How Much Wine Will Fix My Broken Heart?' by Kristen Bailey.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Kristen Bailey, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 30th June 2021.
This is the first book I have read by this author.
I was originally drawn to this book by its intriguing cover and its hilarious sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'Fans of Shari Low, Sophie Kinsella and Why Mummy Drinks, be warned: prepare for odd looks when reading this in public due to the ugly laughing it induces.' I am a huge fan of Sophie Kinsella and the so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue, 21 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in England, UK 🇬🇧 . I always enjoy when books are partly or fully set in the UK as I'm from Wales and have sometimes visited areas mentioned in the book. This makes it easier to picture where the scenes are set at times. I have in fact visited and gone on holiday in England on many occasions so am looking forward to possibly recognising name places.
This book is written in first person perspective and the main protagonist is Grace Callaghan. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them.
'How Much Wine Will Fix My Broken Heart ' discusses some topics that may trigger some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Kristen discusses/includes strong language and sexual content. Due to these I would recommend reading age of 16 plus.
OMG!!!! I CANNOT REMEMBER THE LAST TIME I LAUGHED SO MUCH!!! What an absolutely page turning, refreshing, laugh a minute read!!!! It is perfectly written to hook the reader in and the title, cover and synopsis is perfect for the storyline.
I absolutely loved this book which got me hook, line and sinker!! I absolutely devoured it in one reading and was completely absorbed throughout!! I loved that each chapter starts with a Letter/email from Tom and then the chapter is related to what the letter was about. I coinldnt stop laughing from the first page to the end. I adore the fact that although there are quite sad moments and emotional times that within minutes Kristen has you laughing until you are in tears again. As a parent myself I can completely relate to this storyline and to many of the parents, especially to the school gate bi##h brigade!! This book is a complete breathe of fresh air and is the perfect mix of 'P.S I love you', 'Bridesmaids' and 'The Hangover' and 'Bridget Jones Diaries' but funnier!!!! I genuinely couldn't recommend this book any more!!!!
The characters were all an eclectic mix and each one of them were realistic and strong. I was completely invested in them especially Grace who I thought was a fantastic female role model!!! Much more realistic than many romances I have previously read. I love the fact that Grace is such a down to Earth and realistic character and I genuinely felt like I bonded with her. I felt so sorry for her on several occasions especially when she found out more about Tom during the duration of the book. It wasn't only Grace I was invested in nor Tom's story alone. I also really enjoyed 'meeting' Pall 'the sisters', Joyce, Sam, Doug, Helen and Linh. I absolutely adored Grace's relationship all her sisters, Linh and Sam. I would love to have such amazing sisters around me!!! Each sister had such a unique personality with their own pros and cons and they are each going to be hard to forget. Orlagh, Carrie and Liz are just typical school mum cowbags that are realistically portrayed. Apart from those 3 idiots I really am going to miss this fantastic gang and would love to meet them all again.
A MASSIVE WELL DONE to Kristen on a HUGE success!!! I loved every page of your book and I cannot wait to read more past and future. Welcome to my top 3 favourite romcom authors list!!
Overall a laugh a minute, heart warming, addictive genuine page turner that will have you crying with laughter.
Some of my favourite quotes in this book include the following:
😂 "‘Don’t be. My mum has, like, five. CLEO, LET’S GO AND SEE IF I CAN FLY DOWN YOUR STAIRS!’"
😂 "I hope you go swimming and a crab swims up your actual bum."
I could go on and on!!!
Genres covered in this book include Romance Novel, Humorous Fiction, Contemporary Romance and Domestic Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of JoJo Moyes, Cecilia Ahern, Sophie Kinsella, 'P.S I love you', 'Bridesmaids', 'The Hangover', 'Bridget Jones Diaries' and anyone looking for one hell of a laugh!!!
288 pages.
This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#HowMuchWineWillFixMyBrokenHeart? #Bookouture #KristenBailey #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@KristenBailey @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
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Review for 'How Much Wine Will Fix My Broken Heart?' by Kristen Bailey.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Kristen Bailey, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 30th June 2021.
This is the first book I have read by this author.
I was originally drawn to this book by its intriguing cover and its hilarious sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'Fans of Shari Low, Sophie Kinsella and Why Mummy Drinks, be warned: prepare for odd looks when reading this in public due to the ugly laughing it induces.' I am a huge fan of Sophie Kinsella and the so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue, 21 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in England, UK 🇬🇧 . I always enjoy when books are partly or fully set in the UK as I'm from Wales and have sometimes visited areas mentioned in the book. This makes it easier to picture where the scenes are set at times. I have in fact visited and gone on holiday in England on many occasions so am looking forward to possibly recognising name places.
This book is written in first person perspective and the main protagonist is Grace Callaghan. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them.
'How Much Wine Will Fix My Broken Heart ' discusses some topics that may trigger some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Kristen discusses/includes strong language and sexual content. Due to these I would recommend reading age of 16 plus.
OMG!!!! I CANNOT REMEMBER THE LAST TIME I LAUGHED SO MUCH!!! What an absolutely page turning, refreshing, laugh a minute read!!!! It is perfectly written to hook the reader in and the title, cover and synopsis is perfect for the storyline.
I absolutely loved this book which got me hook, line and sinker!! I absolutely devoured it in one reading and was completely absorbed throughout!! I loved that each chapter starts with a Letter/email from Tom and then the chapter is related to what the letter was about. I coinldnt stop laughing from the first page to the end. I adore the fact that although there are quite sad moments and emotional times that within minutes Kristen has you laughing until you are in tears again. As a parent myself I can completely relate to this storyline and to many of the parents, especially to the school gate bi##h brigade!! This book is a complete breathe of fresh air and is the perfect mix of 'P.S I love you', 'Bridesmaids' and 'The Hangover' and 'Bridget Jones Diaries' but funnier!!!! I genuinely couldn't recommend this book any more!!!!
The characters were all an eclectic mix and each one of them were realistic and strong. I was completely invested in them especially Grace who I thought was a fantastic female role model!!! Much more realistic than many romances I have previously read. I love the fact that Grace is such a down to Earth and realistic character and I genuinely felt like I bonded with her. I felt so sorry for her on several occasions especially when she found out more about Tom during the duration of the book. It wasn't only Grace I was invested in nor Tom's story alone. I also really enjoyed 'meeting' Pall 'the sisters', Joyce, Sam, Doug, Helen and Linh. I absolutely adored Grace's relationship all her sisters, Linh and Sam. I would love to have such amazing sisters around me!!! Each sister had such a unique personality with their own pros and cons and they are each going to be hard to forget. Orlagh, Carrie and Liz are just typical school mum cowbags that are realistically portrayed. Apart from those 3 idiots I really am going to miss this fantastic gang and would love to meet them all again.
A MASSIVE WELL DONE to Kristen on a HUGE success!!! I loved every page of your book and I cannot wait to read more past and future. Welcome to my top 3 favourite romcom authors list!!
Overall a laugh a minute, heart warming, addictive genuine page turner that will have you crying with laughter.
Some of my favourite quotes in this book include the following:
😂 "‘Don’t be. My mum has, like, five. CLEO, LET’S GO AND SEE IF I CAN FLY DOWN YOUR STAIRS!’"
😂 "I hope you go swimming and a crab swims up your actual bum."
I could go on and on!!!
Genres covered in this book include Romance Novel, Humorous Fiction, Contemporary Romance and Domestic Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of JoJo Moyes, Cecilia Ahern, Sophie Kinsella, 'P.S I love you', 'Bridesmaids', 'The Hangover', 'Bridget Jones Diaries' and anyone looking for one hell of a laugh!!!
288 pages.
This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#HowMuchWineWillFixMyBrokenHeart? #Bookouture #KristenBailey #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@KristenBailey @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
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June 29, 2021
“It’s people,not places, that make every day an adventure”
That’s one of the biggest lessons learned by Grace Callaghan, one of the five sisters who feature in Kristen Bailey’s absolutely brilliant laugh out loud series which I cannot recommend highly enough. How Much Wine Will Fix My Broken Heart is book number four and it’s Grace’s turn to tell the story of her relationship and marriage to Tom Kennedy before death from testicular cancer prized them apart. We catch up with her during her long road to recovery as she manages her grief and slowly learns how to live, laugh, love (and dance!) again, with the help of the rest of the Callaghan clan and a few new faces as well.
With the distant voice of Tom constantly echoing in her ear Grace’s story proves there’s no right or wrong way when it comes to the grieving process. Neither is there a quick fix for mending a broken heart but if part of Tom’s legacy is to force Grace to connect with her more adventurous, fun loving side then it’s mission accomplished. This is a woman who favours spreadsheets and keeping a spare pair of knickers in her handbag over spontaneity but honouring Tom’s memory by embracing his zest for life and spirit for adventure takes Grace out of her comfort zone into a world full of new experiences, new friendships and new beginnings. So out of a tragic loss come immeasurable gains, none more so than in the shape of Grace’s adopted daughters, Vietnamese sisters Cleo and Maya who alongside Callaghan sisters Meg, Emma, Beth and Lucy coax (not always gently!) Grace back into the land of the living.
If you’re looking for some light comic relief then you’ve come to the right place although this novel is definitely more poignant and profound than Bailey’s previous offerings. Kristen Bailey, in m opinion, is a queen of the comic one liner. Still full of the banter, giggles, naughtiness and innuendo that I’ve come to expect from this author’s writing the narrative is punctuated by more genuine words of wisdom relating to sadness, loss and grief but is never maudlin or depressing. I was either howling with laughter or choking back a tear or two. It’s impressive how this author can swiftly switch up the mood within the blink of an eye recognising exactly the right moment to rein in the witty repartee in favour of more serious and heartbreaking dialogue and vice verse. Uplifting too, this novel definitely has all the feels!
Not many characters can live up to the sheer brilliance of the Callaghan sisters in terms of their warmth, humour, bawdiness and risqué, playful hijinks but in this outing there are a few who can give them a run for their money. Kristen Bailey has created her best supporting cast yet with ‘friend with benefits’ Sam, snake at the school gates Callie and Linh, Cleo and Maya’s maternal grandmother who lends gravitas to the proceedings one minute and who is stirring the pot mischievously the next! It seems unfair to single out a favourite character because they all either made me laugh, smile or boo and hiss! However it has to be the children, Cleo, Maya and the whirlwind that is Isaac who triumph in this storyline thanks to their wonderful insights into the world of adults, pulling no punches when it comes to commenting upon the conversations they overhear and/or the situations they inadvertently get caught up in. All three are adorable additions to Grace’s story and capable of melting your heart in a way that only children can. It’s a perfect, hopeful ending to a beautiful, comical and inspiring storyline.
As you can probably tell I’m a Callaghan super fan having read this series from the beginning. I love these sisters without reservation and with only Lucy’s story remaining how will I fill the gap these fabulous, feisty, loyal, loving and game for anything women leave in my life? Has Kristen Bailey left the very best until last with Lucy who is the most absurdly happy, chaotic and unpredictable sister of them all? She’s certainly the instigator of the biggest, loudest laughs in these novels and I can’t wait for her spot in the limelight. I just hope the author doesn’t choose to transform her into a sensible, mature adult! I never want Lucy to ‘grow up’! Obviously it remains to be seen what path Lucy wanders down but on the off chance that the author is looking for future inspiration after book number five dare I suggest a spin off series featuring the younger generation, starting with Cleo and Maya and schoolfriend Isaac?
Don’t delay. Pick up this book today! It doesn’t matter if you’re new to the series or not, time spent in the company of the Callaghan sisters is joyful, hilariously entertaining and an absolute treat. Join the fan club and decide for yourself which sister is YOUR favourite.
My thanks as always to the publisher Bookouture and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.
That’s one of the biggest lessons learned by Grace Callaghan, one of the five sisters who feature in Kristen Bailey’s absolutely brilliant laugh out loud series which I cannot recommend highly enough. How Much Wine Will Fix My Broken Heart is book number four and it’s Grace’s turn to tell the story of her relationship and marriage to Tom Kennedy before death from testicular cancer prized them apart. We catch up with her during her long road to recovery as she manages her grief and slowly learns how to live, laugh, love (and dance!) again, with the help of the rest of the Callaghan clan and a few new faces as well.
With the distant voice of Tom constantly echoing in her ear Grace’s story proves there’s no right or wrong way when it comes to the grieving process. Neither is there a quick fix for mending a broken heart but if part of Tom’s legacy is to force Grace to connect with her more adventurous, fun loving side then it’s mission accomplished. This is a woman who favours spreadsheets and keeping a spare pair of knickers in her handbag over spontaneity but honouring Tom’s memory by embracing his zest for life and spirit for adventure takes Grace out of her comfort zone into a world full of new experiences, new friendships and new beginnings. So out of a tragic loss come immeasurable gains, none more so than in the shape of Grace’s adopted daughters, Vietnamese sisters Cleo and Maya who alongside Callaghan sisters Meg, Emma, Beth and Lucy coax (not always gently!) Grace back into the land of the living.
If you’re looking for some light comic relief then you’ve come to the right place although this novel is definitely more poignant and profound than Bailey’s previous offerings. Kristen Bailey, in m opinion, is a queen of the comic one liner. Still full of the banter, giggles, naughtiness and innuendo that I’ve come to expect from this author’s writing the narrative is punctuated by more genuine words of wisdom relating to sadness, loss and grief but is never maudlin or depressing. I was either howling with laughter or choking back a tear or two. It’s impressive how this author can swiftly switch up the mood within the blink of an eye recognising exactly the right moment to rein in the witty repartee in favour of more serious and heartbreaking dialogue and vice verse. Uplifting too, this novel definitely has all the feels!
Not many characters can live up to the sheer brilliance of the Callaghan sisters in terms of their warmth, humour, bawdiness and risqué, playful hijinks but in this outing there are a few who can give them a run for their money. Kristen Bailey has created her best supporting cast yet with ‘friend with benefits’ Sam, snake at the school gates Callie and Linh, Cleo and Maya’s maternal grandmother who lends gravitas to the proceedings one minute and who is stirring the pot mischievously the next! It seems unfair to single out a favourite character because they all either made me laugh, smile or boo and hiss! However it has to be the children, Cleo, Maya and the whirlwind that is Isaac who triumph in this storyline thanks to their wonderful insights into the world of adults, pulling no punches when it comes to commenting upon the conversations they overhear and/or the situations they inadvertently get caught up in. All three are adorable additions to Grace’s story and capable of melting your heart in a way that only children can. It’s a perfect, hopeful ending to a beautiful, comical and inspiring storyline.
As you can probably tell I’m a Callaghan super fan having read this series from the beginning. I love these sisters without reservation and with only Lucy’s story remaining how will I fill the gap these fabulous, feisty, loyal, loving and game for anything women leave in my life? Has Kristen Bailey left the very best until last with Lucy who is the most absurdly happy, chaotic and unpredictable sister of them all? She’s certainly the instigator of the biggest, loudest laughs in these novels and I can’t wait for her spot in the limelight. I just hope the author doesn’t choose to transform her into a sensible, mature adult! I never want Lucy to ‘grow up’! Obviously it remains to be seen what path Lucy wanders down but on the off chance that the author is looking for future inspiration after book number five dare I suggest a spin off series featuring the younger generation, starting with Cleo and Maya and schoolfriend Isaac?
Don’t delay. Pick up this book today! It doesn’t matter if you’re new to the series or not, time spent in the company of the Callaghan sisters is joyful, hilariously entertaining and an absolute treat. Join the fan club and decide for yourself which sister is YOUR favourite.
My thanks as always to the publisher Bookouture and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.
June 12, 2021
Grace Callaghan knows a thing or two about getting her heart broken in the worst possible ways. And in the last three years since she lost Tom, she's learned a lot ...
" 1) Wine is the answer. Some serving size suggestions include: a glass the size of your head, an Olympic-sizedswimming pool. Best served chilled, and with a straw.
2) Friends with benefits is always an option. Be prepared for side effects such as the guy saying 'baby', crying out his ex's name and preferring to keep his socks on.
3) Going 'out out' helps banish the blues. It may involve breaking into replica ships from the fifteenth century, screaming 'Aye-aye Captain!' and accidentally falling off the plank.
4) Karaoke makes everything better. Best enjoyed singing Enrique Iglesias, followed by an extra-large serving of fries."
And while the new rules she's put on herself have managed to protect her from being hurt again, she's lonely. As she works on a memorial for Tom and relives their adventures both together and apart - she wonders if she really could be brave again and get ready for another epic story.
"To Feel their loss means those people meant something to you. You loved them. They loved you."
The Callaghan sisters are back - again! As usual, I was caught up right away by that trademark Kristin Bailey charm and the familiar friends that my favourite sisters have become over the last few books. I was so excited to catch up with them and see how their lives had grown since I saw them last.
I adored Grace as I did her sisters, she was vibrant, headstrong and so very real. Trying to balance her own losses and fears with being a single mum to two adorable adopted daughters, I think any woman who's questioning who on earth let them be an adult would automatically relate to her. As we learn more about her history with Tom, we learn the good and bad, the smiles and the tears that led to their love story, and their all too short Happy Ever After.
A heartbreaking and heart wrenching adventure about discovery and acceptance, about the many ways you can lose the person you love - this could have been a dark and depressing tale but Kristin always finds a way to find the smallest spark of hope in the gloomiest circumstances and sets it alight.
"Who isn't perfectly flawed? Whose life follows some straight and narrow path the whole way?"
How much wine will fix my broken heart? is a story about losing and finding love but not in the way you'd expect - with every emotion possible from despair to maniacal happiness and laughter, this kept me going until I ran out pages as usual.
I've loved the Callaghan sisters individually and as a beautifully mad family and I cannot wait to see what Lucy gets up to when it's her turn!
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to Kristin Bailey, Bookouture and Netgalley for this ARC in return for an honest review.
" 1) Wine is the answer. Some serving size suggestions include: a glass the size of your head, an Olympic-sizedswimming pool. Best served chilled, and with a straw.
2) Friends with benefits is always an option. Be prepared for side effects such as the guy saying 'baby', crying out his ex's name and preferring to keep his socks on.
3) Going 'out out' helps banish the blues. It may involve breaking into replica ships from the fifteenth century, screaming 'Aye-aye Captain!' and accidentally falling off the plank.
4) Karaoke makes everything better. Best enjoyed singing Enrique Iglesias, followed by an extra-large serving of fries."
And while the new rules she's put on herself have managed to protect her from being hurt again, she's lonely. As she works on a memorial for Tom and relives their adventures both together and apart - she wonders if she really could be brave again and get ready for another epic story.
"To Feel their loss means those people meant something to you. You loved them. They loved you."
The Callaghan sisters are back - again! As usual, I was caught up right away by that trademark Kristin Bailey charm and the familiar friends that my favourite sisters have become over the last few books. I was so excited to catch up with them and see how their lives had grown since I saw them last.
I adored Grace as I did her sisters, she was vibrant, headstrong and so very real. Trying to balance her own losses and fears with being a single mum to two adorable adopted daughters, I think any woman who's questioning who on earth let them be an adult would automatically relate to her. As we learn more about her history with Tom, we learn the good and bad, the smiles and the tears that led to their love story, and their all too short Happy Ever After.
A heartbreaking and heart wrenching adventure about discovery and acceptance, about the many ways you can lose the person you love - this could have been a dark and depressing tale but Kristin always finds a way to find the smallest spark of hope in the gloomiest circumstances and sets it alight.
"Who isn't perfectly flawed? Whose life follows some straight and narrow path the whole way?"
How much wine will fix my broken heart? is a story about losing and finding love but not in the way you'd expect - with every emotion possible from despair to maniacal happiness and laughter, this kept me going until I ran out pages as usual.
I've loved the Callaghan sisters individually and as a beautifully mad family and I cannot wait to see what Lucy gets up to when it's her turn!
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to Kristin Bailey, Bookouture and Netgalley for this ARC in return for an honest review.
July 6, 2021
Holy cow! Yet another Callaghan sister has won my heart. What a heartbreaking and inspiring book about loss, motherhood, and family. Right from the very first page with a letter written by a dying husband to his wife, this book will grab you and never let go. You will ugly cry and laugh so hard you’ll wet yourself as Grace Callaghan takes a journey to survive her loss and conquer motherhood like a warrior all with the great advice from the sisters Callaghan and the many friends she has met through her beloved husband, Tom.
Grace battles her grief for her charismatic and loving husband, Tom, every day as she reads the letters he wrote her on his around-the-world teaching excursion. A three-year hiatus after college when he left her alone to find himself not knowing what would come of them. His dying wish was for her to travel to those same destinations to meet the friends he made and during one of those meetings at the age of twenty-eight, she adopted two Vietnamese girls Maya and Cleo who had lost their parents. Maya and Cleo’s grandmother Ba Linh would save Grace from sinking into a black hole of grief and helped her to find purpose. Grace returns home and puts all her energy into motherhood and her relationship with the girls is uplifting and funny as Grace deftly deals with school-gate and bullying PTA members.
In typical Kristen Bailey fashion, there are several LOL moments from the school biting incident to the swimming pool throwdown. I love Grace’s quiet and firm confidence. She is honest and tactful as well as playful and kind. She even has a man friend with benefits and nothing more. Grace’s friends and family are fierce and would do anything for her as evidenced when a ceremony celebrating a new school wing in Tom’s honor brings all of them together.
If you haven’t picked up a Kristen Bailey book, you are missing so much. I have read all of her books on the Callaghan sisters and each one is better than the next…okay, that’s a lie…they’re all fantastic reads. See my reviews at Has Anyone Seen My Sex Life?, Can I Give My Husband Back?, and Did My Love Life Shrink in the Wash?.
I highly recommend you take a life-changing journey with Grace as she battles her grief, becomes a kickass mother, and finds peace in her life.
Thank you to Ms. Bailey for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
Grace battles her grief for her charismatic and loving husband, Tom, every day as she reads the letters he wrote her on his around-the-world teaching excursion. A three-year hiatus after college when he left her alone to find himself not knowing what would come of them. His dying wish was for her to travel to those same destinations to meet the friends he made and during one of those meetings at the age of twenty-eight, she adopted two Vietnamese girls Maya and Cleo who had lost their parents. Maya and Cleo’s grandmother Ba Linh would save Grace from sinking into a black hole of grief and helped her to find purpose. Grace returns home and puts all her energy into motherhood and her relationship with the girls is uplifting and funny as Grace deftly deals with school-gate and bullying PTA members.
In typical Kristen Bailey fashion, there are several LOL moments from the school biting incident to the swimming pool throwdown. I love Grace’s quiet and firm confidence. She is honest and tactful as well as playful and kind. She even has a man friend with benefits and nothing more. Grace’s friends and family are fierce and would do anything for her as evidenced when a ceremony celebrating a new school wing in Tom’s honor brings all of them together.
If you haven’t picked up a Kristen Bailey book, you are missing so much. I have read all of her books on the Callaghan sisters and each one is better than the next…okay, that’s a lie…they’re all fantastic reads. See my reviews at Has Anyone Seen My Sex Life?, Can I Give My Husband Back?, and Did My Love Life Shrink in the Wash?.
I highly recommend you take a life-changing journey with Grace as she battles her grief, becomes a kickass mother, and finds peace in her life.
Thank you to Ms. Bailey for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
June 30, 2021
(The publisher, Bookouture, kindly granted me a digital copy of “How Much Wine Will Fix My Broken Heart?”, via Netgalley, in exchange for my honest review.)
I’ve found it hard in 2021.
Now, for regular readers of Kristen Bailey’s excellent series about the Callaghan girls, this statement probably sounds like something Lucy, the youngest of the five sisters, would giggle wildly at.
But, I’ve not been feeling myself lately. Cue more wicked grins from the sisters. I’ve been discombobulated, out of sorts, unable to take pleasure from my usual activities. Most years I read between thirty-five and fifty books. Not a huge number compared to some folk but it’s certainly more than the single novel I’ve finished so far in 2021. And June is almost over.
So, it was with a combination of great delight and keen trepidation that I greeted the arrival on my Kindle of an advance copy of Ms. Bailey’s latest book. Delight because I have thoroughly enjoyed her previous three books and trepidation because, for many months now, I haven’t been able to focus or concentrate on any story I’ve started. I was worried my current uneasy frame of mind would spoil my enjoyment of an author whose work I have begun to greatly look forward to.
I needn’t have been so anxious.
From the opening pages, I found myself once more in the company of the familiar and much-loved characters that Ms. Bailey brings to life with her crisp, snappy prose and her punchy, witty dialogue. I didn’t know it but it was her tight-knit gang of warm and caring, quirky and funny sisters that I needed to give me a little nudge back to being…well…to being me.
“How Much Wine Will Fix My Broken Heart?”, the fourth in the series,tells the story of recently widowed Grace Callaghan. Grace is learning to live, and love, again without her husband, Tom. The other Callaghan girls are on hand to offer advice – some of it actually quite useful! – and assistance to Grace as she navigates her mourning while raising the two little girls she adopted after Tom’s death.
This is another highly engaging and immensely enjoyable read from a young writer who is growing in confidence and quality with each new book she pens.
I very much enjoyed the brief glimpses into Grace and Tom’s romance that begin each chapter. These little snippets of letters and emails between the young couple really brought them to life as we witness them explore and understand their relationship. For me, this was a tremendously clever technique employed by Ms. B.
While still comic and crude in equal measure, I felt these traits were far subtler and more gentle than in the previous three books. Perhaps it was just my current troubled mind and my daily duo of little pills that lent me that impression? I suspect it has far more to do with Ms. Bailey’s skill in “connecting” fully with her characters and her ability to portray their emotions and to give vivid voice to their feelings.
Maybe, just maybe, the more tempered vibe of this novel is merely the lull before the storm? Because, the next Callaghan book will be about the fifth sister, and my favourite, Lucy.
And we just know that will be one wild, crazy, chaotic ride.
Postscript:
I read “How Much Wine Will Fix My Broken Heart?” in just a few days. And, in the following two weeks, I’ve started – and finished – another two novels.
I’m not much of a wine drinker- I much prefer a pint of Guinness – if I took a small glass of wine, it would likely be Malbec rather than Chardonnay – and I’m currently feeling a little lost rather than suffering from a broken heart (I’m very lucky to have the love of a good woman by my side). But, nonetheless, this book has been a balm to me and has given my spirits a lift when one was desperately needed.
So, thank you, Ms. Bailey, for helping soothe my broken mind.
I’ve found it hard in 2021.
Now, for regular readers of Kristen Bailey’s excellent series about the Callaghan girls, this statement probably sounds like something Lucy, the youngest of the five sisters, would giggle wildly at.
But, I’ve not been feeling myself lately. Cue more wicked grins from the sisters. I’ve been discombobulated, out of sorts, unable to take pleasure from my usual activities. Most years I read between thirty-five and fifty books. Not a huge number compared to some folk but it’s certainly more than the single novel I’ve finished so far in 2021. And June is almost over.
So, it was with a combination of great delight and keen trepidation that I greeted the arrival on my Kindle of an advance copy of Ms. Bailey’s latest book. Delight because I have thoroughly enjoyed her previous three books and trepidation because, for many months now, I haven’t been able to focus or concentrate on any story I’ve started. I was worried my current uneasy frame of mind would spoil my enjoyment of an author whose work I have begun to greatly look forward to.
I needn’t have been so anxious.
From the opening pages, I found myself once more in the company of the familiar and much-loved characters that Ms. Bailey brings to life with her crisp, snappy prose and her punchy, witty dialogue. I didn’t know it but it was her tight-knit gang of warm and caring, quirky and funny sisters that I needed to give me a little nudge back to being…well…to being me.
“How Much Wine Will Fix My Broken Heart?”, the fourth in the series,tells the story of recently widowed Grace Callaghan. Grace is learning to live, and love, again without her husband, Tom. The other Callaghan girls are on hand to offer advice – some of it actually quite useful! – and assistance to Grace as she navigates her mourning while raising the two little girls she adopted after Tom’s death.
This is another highly engaging and immensely enjoyable read from a young writer who is growing in confidence and quality with each new book she pens.
I very much enjoyed the brief glimpses into Grace and Tom’s romance that begin each chapter. These little snippets of letters and emails between the young couple really brought them to life as we witness them explore and understand their relationship. For me, this was a tremendously clever technique employed by Ms. B.
While still comic and crude in equal measure, I felt these traits were far subtler and more gentle than in the previous three books. Perhaps it was just my current troubled mind and my daily duo of little pills that lent me that impression? I suspect it has far more to do with Ms. Bailey’s skill in “connecting” fully with her characters and her ability to portray their emotions and to give vivid voice to their feelings.
Maybe, just maybe, the more tempered vibe of this novel is merely the lull before the storm? Because, the next Callaghan book will be about the fifth sister, and my favourite, Lucy.
And we just know that will be one wild, crazy, chaotic ride.
Postscript:
I read “How Much Wine Will Fix My Broken Heart?” in just a few days. And, in the following two weeks, I’ve started – and finished – another two novels.
I’m not much of a wine drinker- I much prefer a pint of Guinness – if I took a small glass of wine, it would likely be Malbec rather than Chardonnay – and I’m currently feeling a little lost rather than suffering from a broken heart (I’m very lucky to have the love of a good woman by my side). But, nonetheless, this book has been a balm to me and has given my spirits a lift when one was desperately needed.
So, thank you, Ms. Bailey, for helping soothe my broken mind.
August 14, 2021
We have reached the time to learn Grace’s story, as we last saw her returning with the two little girls she adopted in Vietnam after a round-the-world trip arranged to help her deal with the grief after losing her husband Tom. Tom arranged the trip, paid for it and set the itinerary – determined that Grace (who should have travelled with him after Uni) would meet and bond with the people and places he found while traveling before coming back to adulthood and Britain and teaching.
Grace is still grieving, and has put ALL of her energy into raising the two girls she’s been entrusted to care for. From dealing with the other school-gate parents, to the PTA, and adjusting to living in a new place without her beloved Tom, she’s understandably stressed and struggling. And what I love about this series is the sisters – willing to drop everything to push, cajole, support and simply love on Grace and her girls – because they are family. This one is full of surprise laughs (because really, those sisters have mouths on them) and some really outrageous (but always amusing) ways of looking at situations, the world around them and even for Grace. With the understanding and support of the girls’ birth grandmother Linh who returned to England to help, the oft irreverent and always amusing youngest sister Lucy, some solid sistering from both Emma and Meg and a bit of drama from the usual gossip around the school gates, the story shows Grace growing, gaining confidence and being an all-around wonderful character – full of flaws, concerns and questions (like we all have) but pushing through despite them all in hope for more.
I love this book, and the Callaghan sisters – a group of ride or die supportive sisters with a Mum who is always frustrating to the sisters, but one who never lets the outside world see that she doesn’t support them fully and completely – the series is full of people you want to know, need to know, and wish you had the support and love from. For they love deeply, completely and unconditionally, even when they don’t fully comprehend your manner of going about things. One of my favorite series that focuses on family – the good, the bad, the messy and most of all the love.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
Grace is still grieving, and has put ALL of her energy into raising the two girls she’s been entrusted to care for. From dealing with the other school-gate parents, to the PTA, and adjusting to living in a new place without her beloved Tom, she’s understandably stressed and struggling. And what I love about this series is the sisters – willing to drop everything to push, cajole, support and simply love on Grace and her girls – because they are family. This one is full of surprise laughs (because really, those sisters have mouths on them) and some really outrageous (but always amusing) ways of looking at situations, the world around them and even for Grace. With the understanding and support of the girls’ birth grandmother Linh who returned to England to help, the oft irreverent and always amusing youngest sister Lucy, some solid sistering from both Emma and Meg and a bit of drama from the usual gossip around the school gates, the story shows Grace growing, gaining confidence and being an all-around wonderful character – full of flaws, concerns and questions (like we all have) but pushing through despite them all in hope for more.
I love this book, and the Callaghan sisters – a group of ride or die supportive sisters with a Mum who is always frustrating to the sisters, but one who never lets the outside world see that she doesn’t support them fully and completely – the series is full of people you want to know, need to know, and wish you had the support and love from. For they love deeply, completely and unconditionally, even when they don’t fully comprehend your manner of going about things. One of my favorite series that focuses on family – the good, the bad, the messy and most of all the love.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
June 30, 2021
HOW MUCH WINE WILL FIX MY BROKEN HEART? is the fourth installment of the Callhaghan Sisters. While I did not read books 1-3, I had no problems diving into this book.
HMWWFMBH is a heartwarming, raw tale of a young widow, Grace, still trying to grasp life three years after losing her husband, Tom, to testicular cancer. The book shares snippets of letters sent back and forth between the couple whilst Tom left to travel the world after they graduated from university. Before his death, Tom left Grace a travel agenda and plane tickets to follow in his footsteps after his passing. Grace was sent on an adventure, meeting Tom’s friends and walking the same streets he did all of those years ago. And Grace ended the trip with a start of a new adventure - adopting two little girls to take back with her to Britain. Now, Grace has weekly PTA meetings with a Harry Potter-obsessed, mean-girl PTA president and the casual hook-up with one of the recently-divorced dads from her kids’ school. But with an impending memorial for her late husband, Grace’s grief is brought back to the surface and she must confront the loss all over again.
This book did a beautiful, solid job of discussing grief and all the 3D, multifaceted sides to it. I do not know how Kristen Bailey wrote such a masterpiece of a book discussing tough topics like losing a spouse while also pouring out the witty jokes on the page and making me laugh and smile. I know laughing and crying are sometimes one, but I did not expect to feel the two together so many times throughout this read. We experience the different facets of grief in Grace’s story. I think that’s the most beautiful aspect of this book - Bailey did such a great job of expressing how grief is not just one emotion. It is not just sadness, but it also anger, gratefulness, heartache, and even sometimes happiness.
Despite the heavy topic, as mentioned before, this is still a light, fast read. Bailey provides plenty of humor and wit. I will definitely be reading the first three books in this story!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
[As an afterthought, there was one, small part in this book that was medically incorrect - the mistake was a simple sentence but the pathologists’ assistant side of me was screaming. You do NOT biopsy suspected testicular cancers! DO NOT! Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.]
HMWWFMBH is a heartwarming, raw tale of a young widow, Grace, still trying to grasp life three years after losing her husband, Tom, to testicular cancer. The book shares snippets of letters sent back and forth between the couple whilst Tom left to travel the world after they graduated from university. Before his death, Tom left Grace a travel agenda and plane tickets to follow in his footsteps after his passing. Grace was sent on an adventure, meeting Tom’s friends and walking the same streets he did all of those years ago. And Grace ended the trip with a start of a new adventure - adopting two little girls to take back with her to Britain. Now, Grace has weekly PTA meetings with a Harry Potter-obsessed, mean-girl PTA president and the casual hook-up with one of the recently-divorced dads from her kids’ school. But with an impending memorial for her late husband, Grace’s grief is brought back to the surface and she must confront the loss all over again.
This book did a beautiful, solid job of discussing grief and all the 3D, multifaceted sides to it. I do not know how Kristen Bailey wrote such a masterpiece of a book discussing tough topics like losing a spouse while also pouring out the witty jokes on the page and making me laugh and smile. I know laughing and crying are sometimes one, but I did not expect to feel the two together so many times throughout this read. We experience the different facets of grief in Grace’s story. I think that’s the most beautiful aspect of this book - Bailey did such a great job of expressing how grief is not just one emotion. It is not just sadness, but it also anger, gratefulness, heartache, and even sometimes happiness.
Despite the heavy topic, as mentioned before, this is still a light, fast read. Bailey provides plenty of humor and wit. I will definitely be reading the first three books in this story!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
[As an afterthought, there was one, small part in this book that was medically incorrect - the mistake was a simple sentence but the pathologists’ assistant side of me was screaming. You do NOT biopsy suspected testicular cancers! DO NOT! Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.]
July 1, 2021
This review was originally posted on Star Crossed Reviews I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to bookouture for my copy of this book via netgalley and for letting me take part in this tour. I absolutely love Kristen's writing and The Callaghan sisters so this book was a must-read for me! This is the 4th book in the series but I feel like you could read them in any order and still enjoy the books just as much.
This story follows Grace and picks up a few years after the previous books in the series. Grace’s husband Tom died from testicular cancer 3 years ago. This book shows us how there is no right way to grieve.
Don’t go thinking this book is all maudlin and depressing though. While there were some sad parts there were also some absolutely hilarious parts. I was probably crying for 70% of this book but they weren’t all sad tears. This book has lots of laugh out loud moments.
In this book we meet so many people whose lives were touched by Tom. He was a special man. He was one of those people that you could only meet once but you wouldn't forget. He had such a zest for life and it was amazing to see how he touched so many people.
I really liked the letters at the beginning of each chapter. It was so lovely to read Grace and Tom’s story through their own words, even when they were at odds you could feel the love coming through.
I absolutely devoured this book. I read 60% of it in one sitting. I just couldn’t tear myself away from Grace, her girls and her sisters. I also loved Linh. She is a real inspiration to us all.
This was an excellent read that I would recommend to anyone who needs a good laugh. I read this after a crappy day and it just lifted my spirits so much. I cannot wait for Lucy’s book. I just know she is going to be so much fun!
This story follows Grace and picks up a few years after the previous books in the series. Grace’s husband Tom died from testicular cancer 3 years ago. This book shows us how there is no right way to grieve.
Don’t go thinking this book is all maudlin and depressing though. While there were some sad parts there were also some absolutely hilarious parts. I was probably crying for 70% of this book but they weren’t all sad tears. This book has lots of laugh out loud moments.
In this book we meet so many people whose lives were touched by Tom. He was a special man. He was one of those people that you could only meet once but you wouldn't forget. He had such a zest for life and it was amazing to see how he touched so many people.
I really liked the letters at the beginning of each chapter. It was so lovely to read Grace and Tom’s story through their own words, even when they were at odds you could feel the love coming through.
I absolutely devoured this book. I read 60% of it in one sitting. I just couldn’t tear myself away from Grace, her girls and her sisters. I also loved Linh. She is a real inspiration to us all.
This was an excellent read that I would recommend to anyone who needs a good laugh. I read this after a crappy day and it just lifted my spirits so much. I cannot wait for Lucy’s book. I just know she is going to be so much fun!
October 7, 2024
Grace Callaghan is a widow in her 20s. Her late husband Tom leaves her a letter telling her to go out and enjoy life and includes a world trip ticket for her to begin her adventure. Three years later and she is helping to organise a memorial but will this finally heal her heart...?
How Much Wine Will Fix My Broken Heart? is a wonderful mix of humour and heartbreak. The letter from Tom at the beginning grabbed my heart and squeezed it so tight. His fun personality radiates through his 'goodbye letter' to his beloved wife, but the tinge of sadness almost had me blubbing in the opening pages!
The richness of the nuances of love and life are brilliantly evoked over the course of the book. The first person narrative of Grace as well as the letters she and Tom wrote to each other while he was travelling bring both characters to life vividly.
Grace and Tom did not have the perfect relationship but their love resonates through the pages. His final gift of a world trip gave Grace the unexpected opportunity to be a mother and to make unlikely friends, but she has still not moved on from her grief.
Despite the poignancy, there are wonderful turns of phrase and humour which make this a truly uplifting book. There are brilliant run ins with the head of the PTA, playground politics and family bickering that feels so natural and will have you smiling.
This is the fourth book to feature the Callaghan sisters and I loved the previous one Did My Love Life Shrink In The Wash? The sisters have a great relationship with each other and support each other whilst also teasing each other relentlessly.
How Much Wine Will Fix My Broken Heart? is a genuine, warm novel that manages to make you both happy and sad as you read.
How Much Wine Will Fix My Broken Heart? is a wonderful mix of humour and heartbreak. The letter from Tom at the beginning grabbed my heart and squeezed it so tight. His fun personality radiates through his 'goodbye letter' to his beloved wife, but the tinge of sadness almost had me blubbing in the opening pages!
The richness of the nuances of love and life are brilliantly evoked over the course of the book. The first person narrative of Grace as well as the letters she and Tom wrote to each other while he was travelling bring both characters to life vividly.
Grace and Tom did not have the perfect relationship but their love resonates through the pages. His final gift of a world trip gave Grace the unexpected opportunity to be a mother and to make unlikely friends, but she has still not moved on from her grief.
Despite the poignancy, there are wonderful turns of phrase and humour which make this a truly uplifting book. There are brilliant run ins with the head of the PTA, playground politics and family bickering that feels so natural and will have you smiling.
This is the fourth book to feature the Callaghan sisters and I loved the previous one Did My Love Life Shrink In The Wash? The sisters have a great relationship with each other and support each other whilst also teasing each other relentlessly.
How Much Wine Will Fix My Broken Heart? is a genuine, warm novel that manages to make you both happy and sad as you read.
August 25, 2023
This is the forth book in this series and I have to say it was very good. It has been a while since I read one of these so I really enjoyed it. I was slightly concerned that these would begin to get a little repetitive, but each sisters story is different and unique.
I love the connection between all the Callaghan sisters and how they all look after each other. Although this story was based on a tragedy there were still some happy, funny moments throughout and the sisters often a played a part in those moments. I loved watching Grace grow and work through an incredibly difficult time.
Check your trigger warnings as this whole novel is based around a death but it is very tastefully done. It is a little bit of an emotional rollercoaster for Grace though.
I would absolutely recommend these novels however, if you are going to read them make sure you start at the beginning.
Blurb
Have you ever suffered from a broken heart? Welcome to Grace’s heartbreak survival guide.
It involves a lot of wine (the more, the better), wild Friday nights with a bar of chocolate and a crime drama, and never looking men directly in the eye.
But Grace has got a little too comfortable in her comfort zone, and her sisters challenge her to shake things up.
Suddenly, Grace is off the sofa. She goes ‘out out’ and does the robot on the dancefloor. She sings karaoke, even though she’s out of tune. She learns about friends with benefits, with a guy who likes to say his ex’s name in bed.
Yet Grace doesn’t want to let her guard down because she knows just how badly you can get hurt. Can she risk it all and believe in love again?
I love the connection between all the Callaghan sisters and how they all look after each other. Although this story was based on a tragedy there were still some happy, funny moments throughout and the sisters often a played a part in those moments. I loved watching Grace grow and work through an incredibly difficult time.
Check your trigger warnings as this whole novel is based around a death but it is very tastefully done. It is a little bit of an emotional rollercoaster for Grace though.
I would absolutely recommend these novels however, if you are going to read them make sure you start at the beginning.
Blurb
Have you ever suffered from a broken heart? Welcome to Grace’s heartbreak survival guide.
It involves a lot of wine (the more, the better), wild Friday nights with a bar of chocolate and a crime drama, and never looking men directly in the eye.
But Grace has got a little too comfortable in her comfort zone, and her sisters challenge her to shake things up.
Suddenly, Grace is off the sofa. She goes ‘out out’ and does the robot on the dancefloor. She sings karaoke, even though she’s out of tune. She learns about friends with benefits, with a guy who likes to say his ex’s name in bed.
Yet Grace doesn’t want to let her guard down because she knows just how badly you can get hurt. Can she risk it all and believe in love again?
June 10, 2021
Firstly I want to thank netgalley, Kristen Bailey and Bookouture for the chance to read this book as an ARC, I am so glad I didn't have to wait until publishing day to read the next installment, I love this series!!
All I can say is Kristen Bailey does it again!!! I love the Callaghan sisters and with every book I read, I love them even more especially Lucy! I can't wait for the next one but I am slightly worried that this maybe the last in the series!!! I won't think about that right now!
Grace is a widow who has been travelling after losing her husband Tom at the age of 28. Grace is not the kind of person that enjoys travelling but Tom buys her a ticket to travel after he has gone. This opens a whole new world for Grace, especially when she returns home with 2 little girls, Maya and Cleo.
The characters in the book are so special, everyone is different and you grow to love them all in their own way. The Callaghan sisters bond is so well written and the love they have for each other is felt as you read the book. It is so nice to be able to hear about how the other sister's lives are progressing and how life events bring them together in every book.
This is a must read, I am so pleased I have read it. The books will stand on their own so you don't need to have read the other books but it would be a shame to to start from book 1 if you haven't read them yet. You definitely won't be disappointed!
All I can say is Kristen Bailey does it again!!! I love the Callaghan sisters and with every book I read, I love them even more especially Lucy! I can't wait for the next one but I am slightly worried that this maybe the last in the series!!! I won't think about that right now!
Grace is a widow who has been travelling after losing her husband Tom at the age of 28. Grace is not the kind of person that enjoys travelling but Tom buys her a ticket to travel after he has gone. This opens a whole new world for Grace, especially when she returns home with 2 little girls, Maya and Cleo.
The characters in the book are so special, everyone is different and you grow to love them all in their own way. The Callaghan sisters bond is so well written and the love they have for each other is felt as you read the book. It is so nice to be able to hear about how the other sister's lives are progressing and how life events bring them together in every book.
This is a must read, I am so pleased I have read it. The books will stand on their own so you don't need to have read the other books but it would be a shame to to start from book 1 if you haven't read them yet. You definitely won't be disappointed!
June 30, 2021
Hello, Callaghan sisters. It’s so nice to see you all again.
Four sisters down which means there is only one left after this book. It’s very very sad indeed, because I am going to miss them terribly. They all have busy lives, but when one of them needs TLC or support in any way, they drop everything and join forces.
This book is about Grace’s story. It’s a mixture of happy and sad things which made the happy and sad tears blend together on my cheeks.
I loved the evolution Grace went through. It’s nice to see her become stronger and blossom and her family and friends stand by her every step of the way.
Tom on the other hand was a lot more outgoing. He loved doing fun things and everybody seemed to love him. I am convinced he embraced live with both arms and I applaud him for that. But I did not quite like him. I found him rather selfish, a bit sneaky and sometimes not very kind. So, no I was not a member of his fan club. 😉
It’s true you have to chase your dreams and you should not let anyone hold you back, but on the other hand it felt a bit like he was expecting too much from Grace and did not really respect her wishes. Maybe there was a way in the middle where they could have met? Both have to give and take, but I felt like Tom was taking a lot more than he was giving.
Anyway it’s, once again, a great book and I would not have missed it for the world. Book 5? Yes, please! 5 stars.
Thank you, Kristen Bailey and Bookouture
Four sisters down which means there is only one left after this book. It’s very very sad indeed, because I am going to miss them terribly. They all have busy lives, but when one of them needs TLC or support in any way, they drop everything and join forces.
This book is about Grace’s story. It’s a mixture of happy and sad things which made the happy and sad tears blend together on my cheeks.
I loved the evolution Grace went through. It’s nice to see her become stronger and blossom and her family and friends stand by her every step of the way.
Tom on the other hand was a lot more outgoing. He loved doing fun things and everybody seemed to love him. I am convinced he embraced live with both arms and I applaud him for that. But I did not quite like him. I found him rather selfish, a bit sneaky and sometimes not very kind. So, no I was not a member of his fan club. 😉
It’s true you have to chase your dreams and you should not let anyone hold you back, but on the other hand it felt a bit like he was expecting too much from Grace and did not really respect her wishes. Maybe there was a way in the middle where they could have met? Both have to give and take, but I felt like Tom was taking a lot more than he was giving.
Anyway it’s, once again, a great book and I would not have missed it for the world. Book 5? Yes, please! 5 stars.
Thank you, Kristen Bailey and Bookouture
July 6, 2021
Kristen Bailey does it again with this endearing and hilarious novel. I am forever grateful for having stumbled upon Kristen Bailey and this series. I love the characters, their stories, and the genuinely funny nature of Bailey's writing.
The story follows Grace Callaghan as she struggles with grief and the every day adventures of being a single mom, fitting in, and fighting against the school mom cliques. Of course the Callaghan sisters are there to back her up. There is so much love in this story.
The overall arc of the story is about Grace and the loss of her husband, Tom, to testicular cancer. In preparation for a memorial event we learn of Grace's grief and the impact that Tom had on everyone he met. Each chapter begins with an email/text/memory of the relationship between the two. We learn the beginnings of their story, the turmoil, as well as the heartache, love, and acceptance they share along the way. While this is a very sad story of loss and grief, it is sprinkled with humor, honesty and kindness. We witness the love and devotion that Grace has for her children and her fighting spirit when confronted with those who wish to knock her down. Overall, the book is great. It's a wonderful addition to the Callaghan series and easy to follow for those who haven't read the other books.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful addition to the Callaghan sisters series.
The story follows Grace Callaghan as she struggles with grief and the every day adventures of being a single mom, fitting in, and fighting against the school mom cliques. Of course the Callaghan sisters are there to back her up. There is so much love in this story.
The overall arc of the story is about Grace and the loss of her husband, Tom, to testicular cancer. In preparation for a memorial event we learn of Grace's grief and the impact that Tom had on everyone he met. Each chapter begins with an email/text/memory of the relationship between the two. We learn the beginnings of their story, the turmoil, as well as the heartache, love, and acceptance they share along the way. While this is a very sad story of loss and grief, it is sprinkled with humor, honesty and kindness. We witness the love and devotion that Grace has for her children and her fighting spirit when confronted with those who wish to knock her down. Overall, the book is great. It's a wonderful addition to the Callaghan series and easy to follow for those who haven't read the other books.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful addition to the Callaghan sisters series.
June 9, 2021
How Much Wine Will Fix My Broken Heart? by Kristen Bailey is the 4th in the series of books about the Callaghan sisters. This book focuses on Grace the 4th youngest sister who sadly lost her husband, Tom, to testicular cancer and later went on to adopt her two daughters from Vietnam.
We get to experience both Grace and Tom’s journeys as they travelled the world, him straight from Uni and her after his death. Tom’s mum organises a memorial and many of Tom’s friends are travelling in from all around the world, so we get to hear their side of the experiences too.
This story is extremely moving. As with the three previous stories, it’s a great mix of sadness, real life experiences, and laugh out loud moments. You do not need to have read the other three but I highly recommend you do as they are all brilliant.
As an only child, this book makes me wish I had sisters. What a great relationship they have with each other. I love reading about them. I’m so looking forward to the next one which I presume will be about Lucy, the loose cannon😂.
How Much Wine Will Fix My Broken Heart? is a very easy 5 star read. You can find my reviews of all three previous books by Kristen Bailey on my blog. I read this as an arc on Netgalley.
We get to experience both Grace and Tom’s journeys as they travelled the world, him straight from Uni and her after his death. Tom’s mum organises a memorial and many of Tom’s friends are travelling in from all around the world, so we get to hear their side of the experiences too.
This story is extremely moving. As with the three previous stories, it’s a great mix of sadness, real life experiences, and laugh out loud moments. You do not need to have read the other three but I highly recommend you do as they are all brilliant.
As an only child, this book makes me wish I had sisters. What a great relationship they have with each other. I love reading about them. I’m so looking forward to the next one which I presume will be about Lucy, the loose cannon😂.
How Much Wine Will Fix My Broken Heart? is a very easy 5 star read. You can find my reviews of all three previous books by Kristen Bailey on my blog. I read this as an arc on Netgalley.
June 29, 2021
💔Heartfelt but depressing🙁
3.5🌟 stars
Although her two adopted daughters bring some brightness and hope to Grace Callaghan's story, this novel had little to make me even chuckle, let alone LOL! It's moving but maudlin at times and definitely not a beach read!
Grace lost her husband Tom at a very young age and spent a good deal of the brief time they had trying to carry on a long distance relationship. Poor Tom is dead but as his travels and extreme enthusiasm for new experiences and life were revealed I grew to like him less and less. And I found over-the-top Lucy, Grace's youngest sister, was just downright annoying!
Throughout the story, Grace battles school gate bullies and fights sadness at her husband's untimely death three years earlier. A planned memorial service gathering Tom's acquaintances from around the globe keeps the focus on Tom and what Grace lost. There's real emotional content here but it left me wanting. Wanting what? Well maybe those LOL moments promised on the cover to lighten the grief and regrets Sorry, but the drunken escapades did not tickle my funny bone.🙄
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
3.5🌟 stars
Although her two adopted daughters bring some brightness and hope to Grace Callaghan's story, this novel had little to make me even chuckle, let alone LOL! It's moving but maudlin at times and definitely not a beach read!
Grace lost her husband Tom at a very young age and spent a good deal of the brief time they had trying to carry on a long distance relationship. Poor Tom is dead but as his travels and extreme enthusiasm for new experiences and life were revealed I grew to like him less and less. And I found over-the-top Lucy, Grace's youngest sister, was just downright annoying!
Throughout the story, Grace battles school gate bullies and fights sadness at her husband's untimely death three years earlier. A planned memorial service gathering Tom's acquaintances from around the globe keeps the focus on Tom and what Grace lost. There's real emotional content here but it left me wanting. Wanting what? Well maybe those LOL moments promised on the cover to lighten the grief and regrets Sorry, but the drunken escapades did not tickle my funny bone.🙄
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
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