Two-Damage My Heart

Nerds of Happy Valley #2

by C.N. Holmberg

Broken hearts meet foam swords in a new contemporary romance novel by bestselling author Charlie N. Holmberg.

Eight years ago, Rue Thompson fell in love with her brother’s roommate. From across the country, he started writing her letters out of the blue—letters that encouraged her, amused her, and healed her.

Then he ghosted her and broke her heart.

Fortunately, Rue’s now stone-cold heart protects her from anything that dare make her feel, except when she’s live-action roleplaying with her friends in the park. When in costume and wielding a foam sword, Rue can be whatever she wants.

But then the boy—now most definitely a man—suddenly reappears in her life and shows renewed interest. The catch? He doesn’t recognize her. Apparently eight years and new hair masks all wounds. But Rue remembers everything. No amount of make-believe can change that. She’s taken enough damage, thank you very much.

But this time, Landry Harrison plans to convince Rue he’s leveled up—even if it means dressing up in tights and a cape to prove it.

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Fiction, Contemporary, Clean Romance, Nerd, Second Chance

234 pages, Paperback

Published June 28, 2022

About the author

Charlie N. Holmberg is a Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author of fantasy and romance fiction, including the Paper Magician series, the Spellbreaker series, and the Whimbrel House series, and writes contemporary romance under C. N. Holmberg. She is published in over twenty languages and is a Goodreads Choice Award, ALA, and RITA finalist. Born in Salt Lake City, Charlie was raised a Trekkie alongside three sisters who also have boy names. A BYU alumna, she discovered in her thirties that she’s actually a cat person. She lives with her family in Utah. Visit her at www.charlienholmberg.com.

Reviews

[chantalsbookstuff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Old broken hearts and finding each other again. Quirky, nerdy and a little bit of humor. I liked You're my IT from this series a lot more than this one. Still a fun and quick read.

[Ta || bookishbluehead · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two-Damage my heart is the second book in the Nerds of Happy Valley series. I really enjoyed the first book in the series, ‘You’re my I.T.’ and was excited to start the second book.

Rue is a strong female character that doesn’t take shit from anyone. She struggled with mental health in the past, but she learned how to deal with it and that she shouldn’t be ashamed of who she is and what she loves. Landry was so bland; I really didn’t like him. If you picture a standard salesperson, you have Landry. I didn’t think there was much chemistry between these two characters, I liked it a lot when Rue was showing Landry her cold shoulder, but once she fell for him again, that’s where the book lost me.

The inevitable conflict before the happy ending was so obvious that I knew a long time before we even got there what it would be. The route the book was taking was just so rough, that I was wondering why Landry and Rue didn’t see it coming. But that Rue fell for the ruse was even more baffling.

What I did like about this book was the LARP aspect. I don’t have much experience in that field, but I think it was thought through and interesting to read.

[Sherry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not big on Holmberg's modern writing

I've liked almost everything I've read by Holmberg before now, but apparently when she writes in a modern setting, it rubs me the wrong way. Not sure why, since I read plenty of other books with this same vibe. It may be the aspects she chooses to focus on that aren't for me, but either way, this one did not do it for me. Maybe the weird emphasis on Mormons and religion in this one? I know she lives in Utah, and the previous book was set in Utah also, but this one came off so... pointed. I got weird vibes. Probably just gonna stick to her fantasy from now on if she writes anymore of that genre.

[A.A.B · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is well written and enjoyable, but, unfortunately, suffers from the unlikable hero syndrome. He is too much of a used car salesman in his behavior and values. I was able to appreciate the heroine only as far as she called him out on his BS, but as soon as she stopped, I stopped being able to root for them and even just for her. The fact that the author has chosen an actual stalker to present as comparison point for the hero is not helping the situation. Because, yes, that's about the only comparison in which the hero comes out on top, but setting the bar so low is not really the point, especially when the heroine started off being awesome.
I did enjoy the letter writing though.

[Kristie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as enjoyable as the first book, I’m afraid. The whole LARP world was just too out there for me. Rue was much less likable than she was in Book 1 as a supporting character.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlie Holmberg, keep writing romance! I read this practically in one sitting. I love the quirky, feel good vibes of this series.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. It was a cute and sweet little story, and the oddity of LARPing added to the intrigue. I really felt for Rue, and completely understood her feelings toward Landry. I love how she stayed firm, refusing time and time again to give in to him when he did everything in his power to win her over. And oH! Landry! He was so sweet, and his humor absolutely killed me. The way he went above and beyond to apologized to Rue and try to mend their friendship was really great—albeit slightly stalkerish. The pen pal aspect of the story was fantastic, and I loved seeing their old letters to each other. It gave a real feel to how they were with each other without doing a full flashback.

While I enjoyed the first book in this series, I felt this one was much better done. I loved the development of Rue and Landry’s relationship, which I felt was lacking in book #1. I tried to find a storyline that could possibly continue this series while I was reading, and I’m interested to see if we’ll get more.

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
.
This was so funny and cute! You do need a bit of Utah/Mormon culture knowledge to get some of it, but the author does a good job explaining some of the lesser known bits
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I loved all the LARPing scenes, and the second-chance romance was really sweet. It was also fun to see the characters from You're My I.T., even if it was briefly.
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"I dug deep, deep down into my soul for my extrovert panties and pulled them on. They pinched."

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute book, nice and nerdy. I felt like the ending was rushed and a bit abrupt. I didn't feel quite satisfied. I do like her writing, though, and I enjoyed reading it overall.

[Taylor M · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one just didn’t work for me. I don’t love the writing. And again, I don’t love the names.

Content-
Spice: closed door
Language: strong

[readundancies · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25 stars

I did not enjoy this read purely because I did not enjoy Landry, the romantic interest.

Why did I not enjoy Landry, you ask?

Well not only did he just drop Rue like it’s hot when they were teenagers, leaving her to wait at an event they had agreed to meet at for like AN ENTIRE DAY, but Landry also needs to be taken out with the laundry and aired out because his spelling is atrocious and I was aggravated to the nth degree because of it.

Like I genuinely could not focus on anything storywise because there were so many back and forth letters between Rue and Landry and his spelling was so bad, it’s abhorrent.

I think he was forgiven much too easily and I wanted him to squirm way more for Rue’s acceptance than he did.

Not a fan.

[Maren Dennis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun, quick read. It was cool to learn more about LARPing. Fun to have a story take place in Utah, a locale near and dear to my heart. And it made me smile.

It wasn't as strong, imo, as the other book in the series. The ending felt a little rushed and unbelievable to me--I figured things out before the MC did.

And it took me a while to see why Landry liked Rue. I liked Rue. But I wasn't sure why he did.

As a Latter-day Saint, it was weird to read about a seemingly active LDS character (Landry) being romantically involved with a person who is not LDS (Rue) and to not have their religious differences addressed at all. I felt tension about that, but it never came up as an issue for the characters. I guess that's just what I was bringing to the text as a reader.

[sarah ✨ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yeah no I didn't like this book. I tried. I liked book 1. I couldn't get into the "nerd" part of this book. There's a whole Utah sub section of this book with the main character being Missionary/Elder. I couldn't connect to either of the two characters and their stories like I could in book 1. Then the last 5-10% of the book, what was that?

[Stephanie Augustine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being able to beta read for one of my favorite authors is a dream come true. Even though I read an early copy the story was so much fun just like the first I easily fell in love. Make sure this is on your watchlist!!

[Naoé · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yeah no it just didn’t do it for me the religious reference and the fact that the main character is really bland were not really my thing

[Rowan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, following You're My I.T., Two-Damage My Heart didn't meet my expectations and hopes.

In Two-Damage My Heart, Blaine's old roommate Ruth has a man that broke her heart almost a decade beforehand suddenly show back up in her life - and can't seem to stop running into him. Or thinking about him.

My main issue with the book, is as the romance with the male lead ramps up, so does the jealousy from one of Rue's male friends from her LARP group - a male friend who is set up from the start to be very interested in Rue, and maybe a little over-enthusiastic in trying to become something more.

But as this character's uncomfortable behavior escalated, I couldn't help but compare some of his actions to some of the male lead's. And find that... there really wasn't that much different between their interactions with Rue until the very end. I would say the only difference is Rue's reciprocation, except.... the male lead spends at least half the book trying to get her to forgive him and talk with him again despite her clear and justified anger for how he'd treated her in the past.

Things also escalate in the last 10-15% of the book in a way that the ending feels incredibly abrupt and, in some ways, unresolved. I saw the set-up for this pretty early on and spent a big chunk of the book waiting for things to escalate, which wasn't the kind of romance read I was hoping for either.

The parts that I liked, I really liked. I love nerd culture, I love the connection, I can relate so hard to Rue's agonizing over whether or not to risk being hurt again. I can even relate to having a not-so-close male friend becoming extremely jealous when he witnesses someone else entering her life (though luckily I haven't had to deal with that level of escalation). There's a lot to enjoy in here, but what I mentioned above pretty much completely sours it all for me.

[S. E. Drummond · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Oh, my holy Batman, Landry didn't know who I was."

The line that cinched it for me--this was going to be a fun ride. The whole story, while sometimes requiring a bit of a stretch to the imagination, is completely that: fun. Nothing too stressful or serious, just a fun story about a guy ghosting, the girl reinventing herself, their reunion years later, him clueless about her (but she sure as heck remembers him), and the shenanigans that follow.

I haven't had any experience with LARPing so that was a fun thing to learn about as the story went along. I'm also not Mormon so the little touches of it (understandably, given that the story's location is right there near Salt Lake City) were new to me, but not overbearing where it was an annoyance or distraction to the story.

I loved the way Rue was written. Sarcastic and strong-willed but sensitive underneath it all. You might read that and think she falls under some "tough girl" stereotypes, but I found her well-rounded and authentic. Her backstory alone and how she developed after that makes sense. If it were not for a slight lapse near the end of the story, where I felt she was slightly out of character with a massive jumping-to-conclusion instance, I would give this five stars just for her alone. She's the type of character I wish I could meet in person because I just know we'd be bffs.

So really, if you're looking for a light read with some romance, revenge (maaaaybe?), and role-playing (the fantasy kind), this is a quirky book that definitely meets the mark.

[Hillary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing the Nerds of Happy Valley series, Two-Damage My Heart by C. N. Holmberg tells the story of LARPer, Rue, and salesman, Landry. At first glance, the two couldn’t be more different. Rue is an introvert who struggled throughout her childhood to find her confidence and own her identity, which includes a love for LARPing and roller derby. Landry is an extrovert who seems to ooze confidence, giving the impression of a popular guy who has life figured out. Yet, as these two interact, opposites attract in entertaining ways, creating a fun, flirty second chance romance. I have to say, it took me a bit to get into the story. Rue is passionate and came on strong at first, but she grew on me as I came to better understand her story. By the end, I was cheering for both Rue and Landry, thoroughly engrossed in another entertaining novel by C. N. Holmberg.

Title: Two-Damage My Heart
Author: C. N. Holmberg
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

*Thank you to C. N. Holmberg for a gifted digital copy. All opinions are my own.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute story, but not nearly as good as You're My IT, the first book in the series. I think my favorite parts of Two-Damage My Heart were when we got cameos from Blaine and Lysander.

I did like Rue very much. She was feisty and independent, and as you would expect from a Holmberg leading lady, she really carried the story. Landry I could take or leave. The conflict twist at the end also fell very flat to me. Especially compared to YMIT.

I loved learning more about LARPing, however. Let’s be honest, none of us had probably heard of the word before it featured in last year’s MCU Hawkeye series on Disney Plus, and this book fills out details in a fun way. Does Charlie LARP herself, or did she just do her homework?

[Energy Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Because Charlie is one of my fav authors, I wanted to keep going with this series even though book 1 wasn’t a total homerun. But I think the series just isn’t the right fit for me, and that’s okay. A major part of this book centers on LARPing and playing it out through the text, and that’s not something I care to read through. I might have enjoyed it more had it not played out in such detail. Some readers might really enjoy that, so I don’t want to dissuade potential readers from what could be their next favorite book.

I also feel that the ending was unrewarding. It sort of just ended, and I only knew it was going to be ending because of the page count in the book. It was abrupt and not all that fulfilling. But, again, these are just my preferences. Charlie will continue to be one of my favs, and I encourage other readers to give this a chance.

[Ashley Smashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok. So I genuinely love this series. It’s getting me
In touch with my inner nerd, and that makes me smile and happy. While this one wasn’t quite as fixated as You’re My I.T. was on looks (thank you…), it also lacked any real movement until the end. Ugh, I’m so frustrated because I love Rue, and her story. I even love Landry! But the fact that we are stuck in this dance of why didn’t he go see her, e-mail her, call her, etc. for so long… It ended up feeing a little stale, and when he finally did explain, I felt like the scene fell a little flat.

That being said… I would read it again. I would absolutely read another in the series and it doesn’t challenge my love for Holmberg’s books at all.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Contains: kisses, some mild language, some mentions of religion/God

This is the first time I’ve ever read my actual home town mentioned in a book! That was pretty exciting. This was an interesting read. I feel like I get LARPers a bit better now. I don’t know about Landry and Rue though. I feel like he never really adequately apologized or felt remorse for ghosting her. I also thought the villain story line was perhaps unnecessary and very over the top.

The only other thing was Landon is LDS, he attends church and spent 2 years proselytizing but since the book isn’t religious, that whole part of his personality is glossed over. In fact, apart from the letters that they’d sent to each other years ago, the MCs have a pretty surface level relationship.

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a bit mixed with my review on this book. I really liked the LARPing (my adult sons are really into stuff similar to that) and other "nerdy" elements of the story. I wish she did not portray being a "mormon" as more of a cultural thing, than a religious choice based on deep convictions. Poking fun at the "Utah Mormon" culture as a little side thing that pops up a bit in social situations is understandable (considering they live in Utah). My issue was making one of the main characters (and others) supposedly "active" members without it being reflected in some of their choices that would not have been made if they truly were "active" in their church. I know this is not a Christian romance, but a fun rom-com, but it could have been done without bringing religion into it at all (the first book of the series managed it). Beyond all of that, I did enjoy the book. The characters were varied and entertaining, the dialogue was engaging and clever. It was fun. For those who like to know, there is some mild swearing and body comments that may not fall under "squeaky clean" for everyone.

[Lydia · Rating 1 out of 5]

The first book in this series was funny and good and, most importantly, believable. This was not. The switch flipped way too fast and it was really annoying how the FMC went to this scientifically proven method, then proceeded to not do it properly (or really at all), but we're supposed to just believe that it worked anyways. Then when the truly major conflict occurred, it was so obvious that I couldn't actually believe that she fell for it. Like I said, it wasn't believable, neither story nor characters. It's a shame, I usually like this author.

[Kevin Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable. The main characters are good. The final mystery isn't so much, but the book ends well. Mostly, it's short, and light reading when one doesn't feel like reading anything else.
The previous book was extra weird, like Charlie had set herself a challenge to write a book set in Utah County without mentioning the Church or its members (and that's hard to do, to the point of feeling fake). This one was less weird, but a touch in the same direction.

[Suellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

July HOOPLA App from CCPL. I really liked the Paper Magic series by this author.

This was a fun adventure with the challenges for adults holding on to pain from the teenage years.

Read as an audiobook that is not listed as an edition in Goodreads. Narrators are Tim Paige and Kelsey Navarro.

I really enjoyed the narration by Ms. Navarro.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another winner for me. I am not generally a straight-up romance person, but these Nerds of Happy Valley books are where it's at for me. I was fully invested in the relationship of Rue and Landry, so much so that I got angry towards the end of the book for a few minutes. It was great! This was a really fun and thoughtful read about relationships, maturing, and putting yourself out there.

[Lisi Bee (Beth) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't finish this one, I had a really hard time engaging in the story. While I was invested in Rue, Landry seemed superficial and not worth caring about enough to see if he redeemed himself for Rue. I'm a bit disappointed, I liked the first book in the series so much and this one was a let-down for me. But I still want to join the roller derby!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the kind of book I would normally read. It’s an LDS-ish romance novel. It was kind of fun having LDS cultural things woven into a book that has nothing to do with being LDS. I’m not typically a fan of romance novels, LARP-ing, or Renaissance fairs. However, I still felt like I could follow, relate, and enjoy the things in the book.

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is honestly my first DNF book ever. Felt tricked into the Mormon love story. Really feel like there should have been some tag, or heads up about it. If I'd been told up front I might have read it, but the blurb goes out of the way to make it ambiguous and that felt deceptive. Real shame cause I liked the first in the series.