4.5 stars rounded to 5

This book is a YA contemporary gem! It was utterly charming and so ridiculously adorable. I was completely enamored with how cute and fluffy and wonderfully entertaining it was and cannot stop thinking about that swoony ending that left me smiling and wanting more.

I read Shuffle, Repeat a few years ago and absolutely enjoyed the chemistry between Oliver and June. I smiled, laughed, and even teared up a bit in the end. I knew then that Jen Klein would be one of my go to YA contemporary authors when I want something lighthearted, fun, and cute. I haven’t gotten the chance to read Summer Unscripted since I’ve been playing catch up with my TBR, but when I saw this book and the cover on Netgalley, I just couldn’t resist. My feedback ratio is still around the 50ish percent, so I didn’t really set my hopes up too high. BUT, to my surprise, I actually got it! I squealed (internally of course since I was at work when I was checking my inbox) and was super excited when I received the approval email. I had to get through a few more books for reviews, but when I finally started reading Hearts Made for Breaking, I was completely smitten!

This book had everything… and I mean EVERYTHING I love in YA romances. It was interesting, nostalgic, heartfelt, funny, swoony, and realistic. There were a few cheesy moments that may make other readers cringe, but to me, they were actually kind of fun. If I’m being totally honest, sometimes cheesy works and I’m a hopeless romantic, so I like them more than I don’t. I thought the pacing was good and if I didn't have work or adulting to do, I easily could have finished this in one sitting. The romance was one of the cutest I've ever read. I liked the twist with the prom, the tag scene, the texts between Lark and Ardy, the meet-cute in Ikea, and all the other adorable and amusing moments in the story. The ending may have seemed a tad bit rushed, but it was absolutely gooey, sweet, and adorkable. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I was really looking forward to an epilogue (because I wanted more Lark and Ardy moments), but I was quite happy with the conclusion.

I loved that both Lark and Ardy were perfectly weird, relatable, and likeable characters. I liked that there was something offbeat about them which I thought made them even more interesting and lovable. I also liked their easy-going chemistry and just how effortless and real it felt. Sure, they were a bit awkward at times, but the fact that both of them seemed to be acting that way together was super adorable. Nothing felt forced between them and I liked the way their relationship developed. They had so many cute and deliciously swoony moments that made my heart melt over and over. Of course they also had their own drama, tension, doubts and heartbreak, but they’re all part of what made their relationship so realistic for me. I totally shipped them so hard and to me, they were really great together.

I have to talk a bit ARDY because I absolutely loved him with all my heart and soul. I never understood why he was being labeled “undateable” or why him being a little different or weird makes him that. He was irresistibly sweet, caring, kind, loving, honest and just a really good person. I loved how he introduced himself to Lark’s mother and what he said to her. I loved that he respected boundaries and never pushed. He was a true gentleman and I adored him so much.

The other characters were interesting and entertaining enough. I wasn’t too fond of Katie or Cooper in the beginning, but I definitely liked Cooper more. I did really like Hope and thought she was sweet and such a great friend to Ardy. All in all, none of the side characters really stood out for me, but they made the story a bit more fun with their personalities, quirks, and drama.

Hearts Made for Breaking was just too charming and adorable! I swooned more than I expected and smiled like a dork who’s falling in love for the first time. With lovable characters, an addictively engaging storyline, and meaningful coming of age lessons, this book was a truly delightful, fun, and heartwarming story. I can't wait to read Summer Unscripted and whatever else Jen Klein comes out with next.

If you love reading sweet, swoony, and lighthearted teen romance stories, then this book might just be perfect for you.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts, opinions and swoons are my own.

Hearts Made for Breaking by Jen Klein is a sweet young adult romance. Lark is an expert at not getting hurt by boys. She only dates them a short time, than have them break up with her. When Lark's two best friends, Cooper and Katie challenge her to date one boy and risk falling in love. When Lark agrees to the challenge, she sets her sights on Ardy the new boy, who has been labeled undateable. What does Lark do when she realizes she has feeling for Ardy. I love this genre, there is something so innocent about first loves. I love the quirky people and situations in this book, and watching the characters grow. I found this book to be a quick read, and recommend it to all readers who enjoy a sweet romance.

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you.

I really enjoyed this book! If you are a Sarah Dessen, Kasie West or Natasha friend fan you will love Jen Klein! Lark and Arty are your typical star crossed lovers. Lark has watched her parents argue and fight her whole life .So she never lets anyone get too close to her. In fact she has had a lot of boyfriends, but she always lets them end the relationship first. Always as friends. Then there's the bet! The one that Lark makes with her BFF's Katie & Cooper. She bets them that she can put her heart on the line and actually date a boy for real. So she decides she likes and wants to date the "Undateable" Arty. So you see that Arty truly is different, but can Lark be brave and put her heart out there? Read Heart Made For Breaking and find out if Arty takes a chance on Lark. A Must read!!!

Ardy first peaks Lark's interest in an IKEA, where she is mourning the end of another relationship. Even though she was the initiator of the break up. Lark is a repeat offender, she loves em and leaves em to avoid getting hurt, but there is something different about Ardy.

So when her friends challenge her to date someone "undateable," Ardy immediately comes to mind. What began as a challenge, turns into something more.

I love teen romcoms. I love the way it brings back all my feelings from high school. The nerves of kissing someone new, of experiencing things for the first time, of being ready to burst from your life and spread your wings. This author has brought that in every book I have ever read by her. And I love it!

4.5/5 stars rounding up to 5.

**This book was provided to me by the publisher, in exchange for an honest review**

3.25 stars!

[ARC Provided Generously in Exchange for an Honest Review]

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. Truly, I did. This book was, unfortunately, a lukewarm like from me.
I think anything that is advertising themselves as a contemporary YA romance that is along the lines of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is intriguing in and of itself. This book does not follow that vein though.
The protagonist, Lark, is an attractive adolescent who is pretty bored with her life and hates listening to her parents constantly fight. Ardy Tate is the boy that changes it all for her. Or so we think. I found the way she treated Ardy to be extremely wishy-washy at times. Ardy was a character that I consistently was trying to figure out. I do not know if I ever did. I guess I forget what it is like to be a teenager at times, so it is hard for me to relate, but I still feel like the characters within this book made so much of a mess out of their lives from small problems that when they tried fixing things the characters' redemptions felt hollow in the end. Was the book entertaining? Yes. Would I read it again? Probably not.

I received this ARC for an honest review.

HEARTS MADE FOR BREAKING is about Lark, a girl that forces boys to break up with her before things get serious. When her friends make a deal with her to get in deeper with a new guy (at least three months), enough time for the break up to matter, Lark chooses Ardy, a boy who has been deemed undatable.

I love this story. It was funny and relatable. I even wanted to cry a couple of times! It takes excellent emotional writing for that to happen.

My only issue with this is that I felt like the ending was resolved too quickly. The characters acted a little too mature about things. But it was a cute ending, so I am still giving it five stars!


Thank you to the Random House Team for the ARC of HEARTS MADE FOR BREAKING.

I was provided with an eARC of this book in exchange for a fair review.

I have said it once and I'll say it again, I love a good contemporary. Hearts Made For Breaking was a great feelsy read that will def go into my reread lineup! I loved the "How to Lose a Guy..." vibe, and knew from the get-go that Ardy and Lark were perfect for each other. I also loved Lark's bffl Cooper, who was all sorts of fabulous, and Ardy's bffl Hope, who was so ready to add Lark into her life. Overall, a fun and enjoyable read for when you just need some HS angst in your books!

3.5/5 stars

I read the description of this book on NetGalley and knew I had to read it. It sounded like the kind of quirky YA romance that is right up my alley. And I was definitely not disappointed. There were many great, more thoughtful moments, interspersed with humor and fun personalities. I am glad I read it, and would definitely like to try others by this author!

The premise: Our main character Lark never lets herself get in to deep with boys. She loves making out with them, but never lets it get beyond the surface level as far as getting to know each other, and she always finds some excuse to get the boy to dump her before things go too far. But it's her senior year, and she isn't feeling so satisfied with this pattern anymore. Her best friends challenge her to get in deeper with a guy, one who is different from her usual "type," and to make him love her, and then break his heart. In other words, have a relationship where there are actual real feelings involved. So Lark picks Ardy, the new boy at school, who she is intrigued by even though he is labeled as "undateable," has a best friend he might possibly be in love with, and there are rumors flying around about his past relationships at his old high school.

Doesn't this sound a little like a YA contemporary romance version of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days? Yes, yes it does. And I was so here for it! I really liked the main character Lark and found her easy to relate to. And Ardy was adorable, though I did think some of the rumors swirling around him were pretty harsh and it surprised me that he didn't bring them up right away when he started dating Lark. Like a big elephant looming in the closet. Though him bringing them up would have ruined the plot. *Shrug*

I liked the way things played out, and it was painful to watch Lark put her foot in her mouth and totally screw things up, but it all came to a satisfying--if somewhat unrealistic and, okay, maybe a little cheesy--ending.

There are some awesome quotes about love, relationships, and heartbreak too, but I failed to highlight them on my Kindle as I was reading, so I can't put them in this review. Doh!

Anyway, if you like YA contemporary romance and/or you loved How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, this book will probably be appealing. Likeable main and side characters, interesting (if somewhat predictable) plot, and great chemistry between the main characters. Check it out!

4.5/5 Stars

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy at no cost from the publisher. All opinions in my review are my own. This review MAY contain spoilers.

I am seriously smitten with this book! It delighted me to no end. Earlier this year I read Shuffle, Repeat by Jen Klein and I absolutely adored it! It is one of those books that I could read again and again. This book measures much the same in feels. It grabbed me from the start and had my heart pounding until the last sentence.

These flawed characters really do make this book stand out. The characters are written so beautifully and unapologetically. They are real. So very real. I wouldn't say that I found myself relating to the main character because of her actions, but she was extremely captivating. I wanted to hear her story and live in it with her. While I didn't like the way that she strung boys along or accepted the bet from her friends, I found myself wanting to know why she did those things. I wanted to figure her out. Ardy was even more intriguing than Lark. He was a bit more mysterious. I liked that he wasn't the average teenage boy. He had unique interests and was all the more unique for them.

The romance was in your face cute. For real. I adored Lark and Ardy together. They definitely had great chemistry and they really brought out the best in each other. I thought that it was too adorable that the boy was the hesitant one at the beginning of the relationship. Sex is a topic that came up a lot, not just with Ardy and Lark but with other characters as well. The conversation that Hope and Lark had about "not being ready" for sex was an important one. I also loved how Ardy always asked Lark "is this okay?" anytime he touched her. It was beautiful that he respected her and her consent so much. I also liked how Ardy and Lark actually talked about it instead of leaving things unsaid as so many teenagers would have. Oh, and I have to add that I adored the memory that Lark has of first talking to Ardy at school. He had some of those markers that smell like fruit and she lets Ardy color her hair with them while he sits behind her in English class. Too cute!

I really like the overall theme of not buying into rumors, living on your own terms, not letting your past or your family define you and learning from your mistakes.

The reason that this book wasn't a five star read for me is not because of anything in the book because it was all wonderful, but rather because of what is left unsaid. There are many missed opportunities with this book. Ones that can make a book go from "wow" to "oh my god!" One such missed opportunity is Lark's parents and her home life. It was touched upon, yes, but the author barely scratched the surface. And honestly, it was pretty obvious that Lark's boy problems, the way that she constantly ditched boys before any real relationship could happen, hence the entire plotline of the book, stemmed from her parents' constant fighting and lack of a functional relationship. The fact that there wasn't more depth to this was a little disappointing. The same can be said for Ardy and his mostly absentee mother. Ardy is an adorable character that I loved greatly, but he was definitely not the average teenage boy. He acted differently and as you read about him you could sense that there was something more to him, but nothing was ever really explored other than his horrible nickname and the ex-girlfriends from his old school. I also felt that Lark's friendships could have been explored more. She only had two real friends at school, both of whom didn't like one another, no less, and everyone else liked her well enough but never went out of their way to include her. It was like she kept people at arm's length and didn't put in an effort to really be friends with anyone else. Which could stem from her sucky home life. But social status and friendships play an important part in shaping a person and who they become just as much as their home life. So in short, this book is fine the way it is but there was so much more that could have been said.

Overall, this is such a refreshing read. This book is definitely not what I was expecting and I loved every moment of it! If you love young adult contemporary romance then I highly recommend this book. It has powerful characters that are flawed and finding their own way, an engaging plot that will keep you entertained, and a romance that will make your face hurt from smiling so much. It's truly a wonderful book and I am totally on board for the next Jen Klein novel! This is two for two for me so I can safely say that I am a fan now.

I was SO EXCITED to get approved for this book!

I adored every page. This book was so up my alley.

A contemporary in which there's a flawed main character who has to confront her own vices and realize she needs to make a change? YES. PLEASE.

I loved watching Lark have to confront the realities of what she's been doing in each of her relationships, and watching her squirm as she has to face the truth. Also. THE LOVE INTEREST. Need I say more?

Honestly, this book is a great fast paced read that can be devoured in one sitting. Please. Read. ASAP.

A solid teen romance about a girl who tricks boys to break up with her so that she doesn't seem like a bad person. I think that it will find a strong audience with tweens and teens who enjoy romance and predictable reads.

2.5 stars, rounded up.

Lark has a way with boys, getting what she wants and then convincing them to "break up" with her, thus keeping her hands clean. It's easy and simple and she never gets hurt. When her two BFFs challenge her to have a real, difficult break up with Undateable Ardy Tate, everything changes.

This book was pretty disappointing. The plot twists were all completely predictable or anti-climactic. Several plot points and story lines just served a quick purpose, but there were still so many questions and things felt very unfinished. It seemed disingenuous and took a lot away from the story. It was definitely a readable book and I liked the "will they" "won't they" kind of feel, but otherwise this book just didn't do it for me.

<i>*ARC provided by netgalley in exchange for an honest review</i>

<b>"reel him in. make him love me. break his heart."</b>

wow. okay.

this is the second book i've read from jen klein. shuffle, repeat was full of fluff and intense moments and this book was no different. the synopsis was so good i was very excited and curious about it being a girl doing the heartbreaking for a change.

this book was so refreshing i thoroughly enjoyed it. Hearts Made for Breaking follows Lark, a girl that refuses to get her heart broken so she comes up with all kinds of excuses to get boys to break up with her. her friends challenge her to date a boy for real and deal with an actual heartbreak.

this book was full of laughter... love... pain but it was worth it at the end. jen, sweetie, you've done it again thank you so much.

for the most part, the main character (lark) was a likable character even though i couldn't relate to her but the way she handled things with boys was so messy?????? anyways i want friends like cooper and katie (without the drama).

LETS TALK ABOUT ARDY!!!! i hated that people deemed him "undateable" (which btw was for a different reason that i originally thought) because he was SO SWEET AND PURE AND MUST BE PROTECTED AT ALL COSTS!!!!!!!! oh yeah hope was great too their friendship was so pure :')

i am truly a sucker for these types of books and i cannot wait to see what jen klein is planning next.

PLEASE READ THIS BOOK WHEN IT COMES OUT IN A FEW WEEKS!!!! YOU WON'T REGRET IT!!!!

The Quick Cut: A teen girl consistently skips out on relationships by lying to get the guy to break up with her. When her two best friends make a bet to break her bad habit, she falls for a guy deemed "Undatable".

A Real Review:
Thank you to Random House for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Labels are something we immortalize as a high school trend, but often it continues long after we leave the educational halls. It is something others give us and many times are a negative - which can be nearly impossible to shake. In this romance, a teen girl learns that some labels can be very wrong while others are rightfully earned.

Mark has perfected the art of dating high school boys. Keep them for a couple weeks, tell a few well placed lies, and then wait for them to break it off nicely so everyone stays friends. Its a process that has worked well for her until her best friend's Cooper and Katie dare her to break the pattern long enough to let someone fall in love with her. Unfortunately, the guy they agree for her to date is the mysterious new guy Ardy: someone with a reputation for being undatable. Even worse? Lark develops actual feelings for him.

For how complicated the setup is, the story is quite enjoyable. It's a quick and easy read that cpuld easily be done in a day. Lark isn't someone I would call relatable or likable even, but watching her squirm and figure her uncomfortable way through feelings is fun to read. Ardy isn't the easiest person to read either, but she does make it harder on herself than it needs to be.

As much as I enjoyed the romp, I got to the end and felt a gnawing at my brain with the questions left outstanding. Lark's parents fight because the dad doesn't get home on time, but this thread never really resolves. By the end somehow the parents come together for Lark as if they weren't struggling in their relationship.

Plus, Ardy reads as particularly ridged when it comes to socializing and conversation - which struck me. People from his present as past call him weird, but it's implied this is just about his hobbies. U might be reading too hard into it, but his behavior struck me as more than just typical social anxiety.

A curious couple at the center, this romantic tale is fascinating but leaves some threads unanswered.

My rating: 4 out of 5

I was beyond excited to be approved for this ARC because the synopsis immediately made me think of Always Never Yours—another YA contemporary romance which I adored. Unfortunately, it didn't quite meet my expectations. Maybe ANY was just so good that it ruined me for other YA romances, maybe not, either way—let's just say I had some issues with this. 

The novel has an abrupt start and throws you right into the plot without taking a moment to pull you into the story. Because of this, the novel has a very fast pace, which I consider a plus, but the pacing is also quite jarring, which I consider a negative. We don't get a naturally flowing pace until the midway point, but then we get an abrupt ending as well, without the characters actually solving their problems.

The writing—I'm not even sure what to think about the writing. This feels like it was written by two separate people. At times the writing is funny, but at others it's really cheesy. Same thing with the dialogue—totally realistic in one instance, cringey in the next. There's also weirdly transitioned time jumps in the first third, but the time jumps throughout the rest of the story transition naturally.

The main character, Lark, starts the novel off being (and I cannot stress this enough) so annoying. She's very judgmental towards nearly everyone she interacts with, and is pretty damn mean without it seeming like she's supposed to be a "mean girl" character. She also has a tendency to make awful assumptions about the people around her without any real basis for the assumption.

At first this really bothered me, but I kept an eye out for character development as I figured the character would have plenty of room to grow as a person, having started in such a bad place. By the conclusion of the novel Lark is a much better person, but despite this character growth, there's plenty of growth opportunities missed.

When faced with everything she's done wrong, Lark mostly mopes around about people being upset with her, and hopes they'll just decide to forgive her. I didn't feel she took the time to genuinely consider what she'd done wrong and experience the guilt that we, as the readers, are led to believe she's feeling.

The things I feel Lark does improve on are the minor details, rather than the key points of what should be her character development. At the start of the novel, for example, there's another girl who Lark dislikes for no reason, and the girl-hate trope was something that grated on my nerves until Lark grew out of it. However, Lark never acknowledges the uncalled-for girl-hate—she just decides she likes the girl, and moves on. The friendship that grew out of this was one of the better parts of the story.

This issue was my main problem with Lark as a character—her behavior changes so that by the end of the story she treats people better than before, but she never took the time to actually recognize that she was being a shitty person in the first place, or why it was wrong to act the way she had.

I'm going to segue into a little rant here. Aside from Lark not genuinely learning from her mistakes being frustrating from a reader's point of view, it's also annoying considering the ideals pushed on the reader by the author.

There are several instances where the author goes in pretty heavy handed to instill a specific ideal in the reader. I don't love when authors do this, but I understand it is common, especially in YA, and this is not the first writer to do this. However, if you're going to use your novel as a life lesson to youngsters, then you have to be consistent in what you teach your readers.

In this specifically there's a pretty clear message given to the reader on virginity (when is/isn't the "right" time, teen sex, and gender politics in relation to sex talks), for example, but no acknowledgement of the wrongness of things like internet stalking and teen drinking. Not even an "I shouldn't have done that".

My other big issue with Lark was her consistency in making terrible decisions. I understand this adds drama to the plot, but even so, it's annoying to see a character hurt the people around her repeatedly, just to learn nothing from those mistakes. And these actions are often inconsistent with her goals, so I don't even understand Lark's logic in getting from point A to point B.

The thing that really saved this for me was the romance. Despite the constant drama surrounding Lark, and how much I seriously hated the way she treated her love interest, her scenes with the love interest were some of the cutest YA romance scenes I've ever read. The characters have such a natural chemistry, and fit each other so well. In this aspect I was definitely reminded of ANY, which truly shocked me given how much I struggled with this. But as far as gooey, heart-melting scenes go, this is definitely the story for that. 

If you liked this, I highly recommend Always Never Yours—in case I didn't mention it enough—especially if you want the same cutesy romance, with a less problematic take.

If you are looking for a fluffy romance walk away. This is way more than that. It is deep, emotional, and the flawed main characters make for a romance with substance.
This book has more layers than Shrek. It has emotion, heartache, and each character has it's own back story.
So if you are looking for a book with romance and more than this will be perfect.

I received this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. This story was cute but not as I was hoping. I felt like there wasn’t a good flow throughout the book. I was disappointed with it honestly.

* I was given this E-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review"

5/5 Stars

I completely loved this book! It was cute and adorable, but also gave me the feels. I got everything I wanted from this book. I didn't even realized I had finished it until there were no more words. I'll admit that it is a contemporary so its a little predicable at times, but I loved it regardless. I've read two books by Jen Klein and have loved both of them! I'm very excited to read more from her. If you want a book that will give you a pick me up I definitely recommend her books!!

I really enjoyed this book. There was a few times I was laughing out loud or cringing. I liked seeing the development of Lark as the story progressed and things came out. I found myself really invested in Lark and all of the relationships that she formed. There were definitely some parts that were a little predictable but it didn't make the read any less enjoyable. I enjoyed the addition of some LGBTQ representation. Overall, it was a quick fun read. If you like rom-coms, this one is must read.

I loved this book. There were many times I was cracking up our loud. There was some serious parts into too that I loved. Ardy is the man you actually want in real life not just in fictional stories. I think even is Lark at some point. I think most people can relate to this book.