4.5 stars

Thank you Gallery Books and Netgalley for a gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Why doesn't this book have more buzz!? This enemies to lovers book was so funny, I could not put it down! Mark (hello nerdy sexy professor) and Brinkley (heroine trained to take down the assholes of the world) have insane chemistry and hilarious banter. The shenanigans these two got into had me rolling on the floor laughing.

Fans of The Hating Game, pick this one up!

This was one of those rare books where I really just...did not like anything about it. I went into this one SO excited because I had really enjoyed Hartl's YA debut, but pretty quickly into this one I knew it was not going to be for me. I even went so far as to DNF this my first time through, but decided to grab the audiobook and try again to see if that would help because I really truly did WANT to like this. Unfortunately, something about the writing itself just really didn't jive with me and I even found myself physically cringing at some points because the secondhand embarrassment I felt for our main character Brinkley was THAT real. I always feel bad leaving negative reviews for books that I didn't enjoy, but I have to be honest: this just..... was not for me. Big big womp.

Thank you so much to Gallery Books and Netgalley for letting me read an eARC of Heartbreak for Hire! This book came out on July 27th, so make sure you go grab it as soon as you're done reading my review!
Heartbreak for Hire 5/5 Stars
Summary from Goodreads:
Brinkley Saunders has a secret.
To everyone in the academic world she left behind, she lost it all when she dropped out of grad school. Once a rising star following in her mother’s footsteps, she’s now an administrative assistant at an insurance agency—or so they think.
In reality, Brinkley works at Heartbreak for Hire, a secret service that specializes in revenge for jilted lovers, frenemies, and long-suffering coworkers with a little cash to spare and a man who needs to be taken down a notch. It might not be as prestigious as academia, but it helps Brinkley save for her dream of opening an art gallery and lets her exorcise a few demons, all while helping to empower women.
But when her boss announces she’s hiring male heartbreakers for the first time, Brinkley’s no longer so sure she’s doing the right thing—especially when her new coworker turns out to be a target she was paid to take down. Though Mark spends his days struggling up the academic ladder, he seems to be the opposite of a backstabbing adjunct: a nerd at heart in criminally sexy sweater vests who’s attentive both in and out of the bedroom. But as Brinkley finds it increasingly more difficult to focus on anything but Mark, she soon realizes that like herself, people aren’t always who they appear to be.
I really liked this book- like honestly, I was surprised by just how much I enjoyed reading Heartbreak for Hire! I devoured it super fast- it took me less than an afternoon to read it because I was so hooked on it! I really liked Brinkley as a main character. She went through a lot and was jaded towards men in general, so I think Heartbreak for Hire (the company) was the perfect place for her. I loved seeing her grow throughout the book and seeing her and Mark interact and grow together was so cute! I felt like Margo was super predatory (which is how all corporations are, but so many people in their 20s forget that) so I loved seeing how Brinkley dealt with that. I really hope that Sonia Hartl writes more books set in this world because I would love to see what happens to Charlotte, Emma, and Allie. I definitely, highly recommend reading Heartbreak for Hire! Such a fun, cute, adorable, funny book!

“I like your mess. Sometimes I think you could never be into me. Then you do something totally insane, and I think I might actually have a shot.”


I liked this book so much, the characters, the plot, the romance!!! Just amazing.


A long time ago, Brinkley was trailing her path to academic success, although it was never her passion. After a bumpy breakup, she starts working at Heartbreak for Hire, and she’s good at what she does.

Brinkley is charismatic and smart, she’s creative and I enjoyed her character so much, you can see her struggles to decide which path to take, her love for art and how her mind battles with fear of not being able to be successful in the path she chooses.

Working at Heartbreak for Hire, Brinkley has a rule: she never gets involved with a “victim”, until, of course, Mark.

Oh, Mark.

Beautiful, smart, and very very hot Mark.

The thing about this book is, and I say this in the best way possible, it’s that the story focus a lot on the female character. Yes, there is a LOT of romance (and it’s amazing), but you can also see the female character growing a lot throughout the story, and I loved it so much.

This was a fun book, the characters are amazing, the romance is excellent. I enjoyed sooo freaking much.

My Review:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5 stars

This one was an unputdownable rom-com from the start. I read this all in 1 day! The characters exuded so much chemistry and their dialogue, perfectly fun and flirty. I love an enemies to lovers trope - and this was it! Brinkley Saunders had a terrible relationship with a man - and now works for Heartbreak 4 Hire where she can enact revenge on other men. Got a creepy, egotistical boss at work? She’s your girl to embarrass and expose these creeps. Until her boss starts hiring male heartbreakers, this agency was supposed to be a safe place for women, working and supporting each other. Enter Mark, who she tries her hardest not to fall for - even though they immediately gravitate towards each other. I hope there is a sequel for the other women at Heartbreak 4Hire - this was a perfectly fun romance /beach read!

Thank you to Gallery Books and Netgalley for the advanced e-copy in exchange for my honest review!

Heartbreak for Hire by Sonia Hartl fell flat for me. An agency, Heartbreak for Hire (H4H) where women pay to get revenge on their exes or workmates who have wronged them? Sounds petty to me, but I can see where some would value that. But the concept goes horribly wrong when Brinkley's mark (named Mark...really?) gets hired by H4H when the owner decides to bring men into the female-centric business, blowing up the business for the female employees who saw this as a safe space, after promising them she would never let men in and would support them as women who had been wronged by men in the past. Lousy move on her part.

Brinkley is teamed with Mark, after engaging in a quick romantic interlude with him and things go bad from there. She can't keep him out of her mind, or her hands off of him. She also has problems with her academic mother, who it turns out will be working with Mark at her university. And just for fun, they throw in issues with Brinkley's lack of a father figure which blow things wide open. It's definitely a page turner, but the quick ending to the book left me wondering if I missed something...it was all wrapped up so neatly, so rapidly it made my head spin.

Thanks to the author, Gallery Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Thoughts: Enemies-to-lovers romance fans are going to enjoy the character chemistry, originality, and humor in Sonia Hartl's Heartbreak for Hire. Brinkley has quite the unique job -- a revenge-for-hire "operative" at a company that specializes in giving backstabbing men what's coming to them for an all-female clientele. This is a first for this reader! I thoroughly enjoyed Brinkley's assignments and almost wish this kind of company really existed... And the chemistry between Brinkley and Mark is on fire! I loved their banter and the sarcasm was perfect! It felt like Brinkley's issues with men were a bit redundantly explained at times (she was jilted by her ex-boyfriend, we got it!), but she was a relatable character who was totally kick butt at what is probably every jilted woman's dream job. We also get a peek into Mark's life, which isn't all sunshine and rainbows, making him more realistic and relatable, as well. I do think some added character development would've helped make the secondary characters more interesting -- with the exception of Brinkley's mother, it felt like there was some missed potential with a few of the characters. Overall, this was a fun enemies-to-lovers beach read with an interesting premise, some kick booty feminism, and plenty of chemistry to keep readers interested.

As far as romances go, I have read better, and I have read worse. This one really falls in the middle for me, and ultimately, I don't even think I will remember these characters' names at the end of the week. Is there a market for this book? Absolutely! I can see the five stars rolling in. However, my standards for workplace enemies to lovers are a little high thanks to books like The Spanish Love Deception and The Hating Game. I would say that what was promised in the synopsis of this book wasn't really delivered on in the ways I had hoped, and for that reason, this fell just a bit flat for me, unfortunately!

This book is for all of the people out there who secretly wish they could get revenge on someone! Publishing on July 27th, Sonia Hartl’s new book, Heartbreak for Hire, shows just what happens when you mess with the wrong people, and sometimes the people aren’t quite what they seem…

This book was so funny and adorable!! I was immediately intrigued by the Heartbreak for Hire business and how Brinkley did her job, but the addition of the drama and antics of the men joining the company took the plot to the next level. I also really liked how even though this was a romance book (and we got a little bit of spiciness), the emphasis was really on Brinkley and how she grew as a person and learned to take more risks in life and allow herself to put her dreams into action. Also, seeing the sleazy guys throughout the novel get their comeuppance is quite satisfying and funny to read about!

If you’re looking for the next binge-worthy romcom, this is the book for you! I know I’ll definitely be checking out Hartl’s other books in the future.

*I received an ARC from Gallery Books via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

3 stars

Heartbreak for Hire aims to please fans of Christina Lauren and Sally Thorne with its story of a professional heartbreaker who is forced to take a look at her life when one of her former targets becomes her coworker. The premise certainly grabbed my attention amidst all of the other romance books on NetGalley, prompting me to put in a request.

The book is definitely readable with good banter, steamy sex, and quite a cast of colorful characters. However, I never felt like the book decided on what type of tone it was going to set. There are definitely some fun and sexy scenes, but the entire concept of the Heartbreak for Hire company is based around some incredibly serious issues that women face and I never felt that the severity of their situation was fully addressed. Both halves of our leading couple also have some intense baggage which leads to misunderstandings between them that are wrapped up far more efficiently for me. While I still enjoyed the book, I definitely think it could have been more fleshed out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

I wasn’t sure I was going to like this but it was really good. There were many laugh out loud moments for me. I adored the strong female friendships between Brinkley, Emma, Allie and Charlotte. The mother daughter relationship that was a struggle but found forgiveness and love was heartwarming. And the love story between Brinkley and Mark was steamy and touching.
Thank you Netgalley and publishing house for the early copy to review.

A great, quick read! It was a fantastic pick me up for the reading slump I was in. I loved the character depth and plot development considering the book is a chick-lit novel, and I'm excited to see more from the author.

Harlequin Junkie Recommends!

Heartbreak for Hire was a feel-good romantic comedy with a modern premise and a lovely offbeat cast. Sonia Hartl’s whip-smart, hilarious dialogue made this reader chuckle almost as much as the predicaments our heroine Brinkley often found herself in.

Although I loved Sonia Hartl’s writing voice, I was honestly a little iffy on the whole revenge premise. It made me worry that some of Heartbreak for Hire’s (aka H4H) “customers” could use it to be petty and get what they wanted, not that they had necessarily been wronged by a man. Plus, would it actually teach the guy a lesson–or humiliate him and then he’d be even more bitter or mean? I also had to wonder if the company’s owner, Margo, was truly helping her Heartbreakers heal and move on, or was she feeding their animosity? So many questions!

The good thing was that Brinkley–and some of the other Heartbreakers–eventually questioned the same things. And that’s when I became fully invested in what happened at H4H. I was already hooked on the chemistry between Brinkley and Mark, thankfully. Things started off on the wrong foot between them, so it was awkward when they were forced to work together. But the attraction was there from their first meeting. And where there were both sparks of desire between them *and* sparks of frustration/anger, we had lots of yummy fireworks going off. That really amped up the tension between Mark and Brinkley, making for some memorable moments.

The conversations Brinkley had with Mark, her best friend Emma, her mom, and really, everyone else we met in the story, were ridiculously fun. She basically had no filter, so whatever she thought was what she said. It actually came in handy for Brinkley where she had to think things up on the fly while doing her job as a Heartbreaker–every case was quite different. I have a feeling her outrageous comebacks will be a highlight for a lot of readers. Just like you’ll be hard pressed to *not* giggle over Brinkley’s cat Winnie who hated her–well, except for when they were bonding over feline fashion. (Wait until you read those scenes, lol)

If you’re looking for a beach read that will keep you laughing and give your heart something to flutter over, Heartbreak for Hire will be just the book for you.

Heartbreak for Hire by Sonia Hartl is a romance novel following Brinkley, a woman who left academia after a devastating breakup to start working for a secret agency, Heartbreak for Hire, which helps women get the justice against the women who wrong them. Brinkley is working along a group of women who also have a history in relationships that influence what type of "mark" they have: The Egos, Cheaters, Players, and Grifters. Brinkley leads The Ego division and has a new assignment, an male adjunct professor who has wronged a female colleague. The assignment quickly takes a turn when Brinkley and her target Mark hit it off but Brinkley runs off thinking that will be the last time she sees him. However, Chicago is smaller than she thinks and she finds Markus as a group of men who have been newly hired to join the H4H team. Now Brinkley is forced to train Mark who is not happy with how Brinkley left things, which certainly makes for a messy workplace.

The premise of this story is 10/10 and I was so happy to be able to read this fantastic plot. However even though the plot hooks so there is so much more to this book. I appreciated seeing how Brinkley's various relationships such as with her mom and her boss influenced her. At times I was frustrated with her mom's behavior and while I do think there could have been a little bit more explored with that I still enjoyed watching it unfold. I also appreciated the topic of how people are constantly putting their lives on hold doing something they don't enjoy when they could do things without necessarily needing the interests to be their job.

As for the characters, Brinkley was entertaining and I loved her humor. I also appreciated that the writing was able to help the reader understand why she did things that were not necessarily good for her. Mark was also fun and I loved that he was feisty with Brinkley. They had great banter which made their chemistry obvious. I do think certain characters could have had more nuance like the mother and her previous co-worker Eve since it was very obvious they were intended to be villainous. I also would love to see more from the author women working at H4H because they were so fun and I am sure they would have compelling backgrounds.

Overall I really enjoyed this novel and recommend it for those that want a fun romance with an unique premise and plenty of steamy scenes!

Many thanks to the publisher Gallery Books and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

I really liked Hartl's new novel Heartbreak for Hire. At times I found the protagonist Brinkley a little too defensive and maniacal, but this eased as the book went on and I really enjoyed her relationship with Mark. I do wish it had been drawn out a bit more as the ending seemed abrupt, but I was definitely fully immersed in the story from start to finish.

I thought the premise of this book was really cute. There were times I found some of the things going on a little childish, but still overall funny. I liked Brinkley as a main character and loved her “meet cute” with Mark. I liked how secure she was in herself and the banter she brought to the table.

Overall this is a cute and quick romcom!

I couldn't put this book down, but sadly its not because I loved it. I just...couldn't look away.

Brinkley (yes...Brinkley; no this isn't set in California) is a paid "heartbreaker." Her specific department is Egos: taking a-holes down a notch after they fuck with female co-workers' careers. The opening scene of this novel was a revenge fantasy dream come true: I was HERE FOR IT.

Then, she meets her mark, Mark. Who not only doesn't seem to fit the Ego profile but also is obviously very very sexy. The takedown goes south (after he *ahem* does that for her) and shortly thereafter B's boss announces they're hiring male heartbreakers. Who's in the Ego department? None other than Mark himself. Shenanigans and (many) sexy times ensue.

Listen, the whole femme fatale using men's biases against them thing is kind of awesome. It's so rare we women get to see that! Unfortunately, the execution in H4H lacked nuance. I found the depictions of gender extremely 1D and transphobic. Mark was The Good Guy and everyone else was shit...except he also pulled a bunch of shit moves from making fun of her for mistaking who opened his door to the final twist.

I also struggled with the writing—it felt like a lot of telling and not as much showing and honestly the sex scenes left me a bit confused. I'm still wondering how they got the paint out of her vagina... Others have commented that the geography didn't make sense but I was confused by the number of Ubers she took and her giant apartment...

Ultimately, I found myself thinking of other books and media that "did it better," from Uptown Thief (women taking charge of their lives and getting revenge after being underestimated) to Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (revenge fantasy) to Get a Life Chloe Brown (cranky cat) to Never Been Kissed (...I won't spoil this part), the MCU (Natasha in every movie EXCEPT Black Widow...) to name a few.

I will say, the final twist and conflict caught me by surprise which was a delight, as was the way in which Mark and B reunited. However, this book also fell into the trap of a rushed and unsatisfying conclusion and no epilogue. Even B's gallery success felt hollow and unconvincing because it felt too unrealistic...

All in all I really WANTED to like this book. Parts of it were delightful and fun (her takedown of old friends! All the sex!) and I'd give this author another chance because she hooked me in with the story.

CWs: toxic parenting, psychological and emotional abuse
Sex tags: cunnilingus fingering, PIV, dirty talk, blow jobs, public sex (ish), paint play

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a Hate to Love Romance/Rom-Com. I have to say that I was super excited about this book, but then I was scared to pick it up. I am happy to say I really loved this book, and I could not put it down. This book had so many cute and funny moments in this book. I found myself laughing so many times during this book. I loved the two main characters in this book. I found this book to be unique and nothing like the other books I have read. The idea you can hire someone to put someone else in their place is also very unique. The two main characters in this book kept pushing each other away then they would pull each other in. They built up tension between each other the whole book, and they broke it with one big kind of steamy moment. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Gallery Books) or author (Sonia Hartl) via NetGalley, so I can give honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

The central romance is solid, and Hartl does a great job of immediately building a connection between Mark and Brinkley that pulls in the reader. Their tension is palpable from the get-go, and they sizzle as they (well, Brinkley) try to avoid giving in. And when they finally do? The heat radiates from the page.

Their relationship is definitely the highlight of this book. The plot is a little contrived, as is the central conflict that's keeping our main characters from true happiness until the very last pages. I believe each character is struggling with their own baggage, sure, and the arcs they go on are pretty complete and satisfying, they just don't feel like proper relationship obstacles. All in all, a fun read, with highs outweighing the lows.

Heartbreak for Hire is a contemporary romance with tropes like hate to love but it can also be considered women fiction. First of all, let me just say I LOVE and ADORE animated covers and this was is no different. It's such a symbolic and subtle cover with very pretty colors and the way the characters are dressed basically represents their style. Moving onto the plot, this was my first book by Sonia Hartl and I actually really liked it even though after reading the blurb I had way more expectations, but it was a cute romance.