After a bad breakup derails her life, Brinkley is offered a unique opportunity to become a heartbreaker at a secret service for women looking for revenge. Brinkley is tasked with humiliating egotistical men who've wronged the women that hire her. But after one night with a target goes terribly wrong, she starts to doubt the purpose of her job. And to make matters worse, the target has become her new coworker...
I like how Brinkley at first used her job as therapy to get over her breakup. The whole idea of H4H is a setup for some truly hilarious situations. But I'm glad Brinkley finally let go of the revenge and found the courage to go after her own dreams.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was unexpected in the BEST of ways. The nuanced storyline had me hooked from start to finish - I absolutely LOVED it! I loved how distinctive and unique it felt, with a story that gets richer and more complex as it progresses. It's funny and sexy, lighthearted and subtle - while still packing an emotional punch that makes an impact. The contrasts and shifting perspective make for such a rich, intricate read. And the romance? Is my favorite kind of "enemies" to lovers scenario, with a side of instant attraction and plenty of sexual tension. Our sweet, cinnamon roll of a hero is a hot professor who wears sweater vests, blushes at compliments, and growls during a few seriously steamy scenes. This slow emotional burn is one of the more unique romances that I've read this year, and I devoured it in one sitting.

The story follows Brinkley, a woman who started an unconventional job after a breakup left her raw and hurting. At Heartbreak for Hire, Brinkley is paid to take men's egos down a notch, at the request (and compensation) of those they've hurt along the way. But when Brinkley feels an immediate attraction to one of her targets - who seems to be a genuinely sweet, interesting guy - she's forced to readjust her perspective on the job. Is she really helping others, or just adding more hate into the world? And when Brinkley's former target, Mark, becomes her new co-worker, the friction between them sparks into something that has the potential to be a whole lot more.

So this definitely wasn't the book that I was expecting from the somber cover and interesting blurb - it was better. Lighter, steamier, funnier, richer. Brinkley doesn't make the most reliable narrator, and her skewed perspective allows the story to unwind in such an interesting way. This starts out sexy and focused on H4H, but the romance and personal growth are front and center throughout. I loved that Mark is such a major part of Brinkley's journey, but she also finds strength and confidence within herself. Difficult subjects like gaslighting, sexual harassment, and more play a big role in the story, but this somehow doesn't feel heavy. Brinkley is jaded and hurting when the book begins, so her thoughts and feelings evolve as the book progresses. There's an intentional shift and that was great to see. I also loved Mark and Brinkley together - their chemistry is pretty powerful, and there are a few fan-worthy scenes here. The steam is sprinkled throughout the book, and every situation is important to their development as a couple. That first intimate moment reveals SO MUCH about both characters, and the subtlety is so well done. All in all, this is a refreshing, fascinating read - and I couldn't put it down. I was lucky enough to receive an early copy and am voluntarily leaving a review of this intelligent romance.

Mein Leseerlebnis

Da ich den Klappentext durchaus interessant fand - er ließ mich einen lustigen, smarten Liebesroman erwarten - habe ich dem Buch eine Chance gegeben. Leider konnte mich das Buch nicht voll überzeugen, was eher an meinen persönlichen Vorlieben lag und weniger am Buch.

Von Anfang an fand ich die Grundstimmung der Geschichte nicht ganz so leicht und lustig wie erhofft. Einige Details vom Heartbreaker-Geschäft fand ich spannend, andere wiederum befremdlich. Kann man damit insgesamt mehr anfangen, sollte die Geschichte für einen besser funktionieren.

Die beiden Hauptcharaktere fand ich interessant, aber emotional haben mich ihr Leben und ihre Liebesgeschichte nicht mitreißen können.

Mir wurde nach einigen Kapiteln klar, dass das Buch nicht für mich als Leserin bestimmt ist. Daher habe ich nach gut acht Kapiteln angefangen, einige kürzere und auch längere Passagen zu überspringen und bin in der zweiten Hälfte des Romans mit einem großen Satz zum Ende gesprungen. - keine Bewertung -

Für wen?

Wen die Grundidee der Geschichte anspricht und wer keine allzu locker-flockige Liebesgeschichte erwartet, für den könnte der Roman etwas sein.

Ms. Hartl is another new author for me who cleverly tickles your funny bone while getting some well-deserved revenge on some egomaniacs, players, cheaters, and grifters on behalf of betrayed women everywhere.

"Heartbreak for Hire (H4H) is an undercover operation that specializes in a variety of revenge schemes for jilted lovers, annoyed coworkers, and frenemies."

Brinkley Saunders is an aspiring artist who has worked for H4H for the last two years after her douchebag of an ex cheated and gaslighted her to the point of destroying her self-esteem and causing her to drop out of college. Now she is one of four Heartbreakers. They were brought on because they had all been broken at one time or another by the type of men they targeted. Brinkley specializes in egomaniacs who need to be taken down a few pegs. No one knows about her undercover job, even her mother, a professor at Northwestern, and her worst critic about how Brinkley is wasting her life. But Brinkley’s job is getting a little stale and she’s not enjoying it as much after her last cute-meet with a target named Mark who just didn’t seem to fit the profile. In fact, she almost broke rule number one of don’t sleep with your target until a phone call got her out of that mess. But did it, really? Apparently, with protests from her current employees, Margo, owner of H4H, has an unpopular idea to bring male Heartbreakers into the mix, and guess who Brinkley is partnered with? Yes, you guessed it, her former target, Mark, and he’s not happy. Let the games begin.

Professor Mark Cavanaugh is a sweater vest, tweed-wearing anthropologist (think Indiana Jones) who has worked hard to be where he is at in the cutthroat world of academia, but it’s not his true passion. He just wants to teach middle school kids and not deal with university politics, but he wanted to make his grandfather proud so he aimed higher.

Brinkley and Mark are so good for each other despite their misunderstandings and bad decisions. Mark listens to Brinkley and notices things that are important to her. Something that she has not experienced before and it frightens her. She doesn’t want to fail in a relationship again. Their witty banter and hot chemistry are entertaining, and as their attraction slowly builds into a passionate bond they push each other and discuss their dreams. Though Mark disappointed me toward the end, he fixes his mistake with a cute gesture involving her tortured cat, Winnie.

There are a number of supporting characters including Margo, Brinkley’s boss, a woman Brinkley looked up to until she sold out to money. Emma, Brinkley’s fellow Heartbreaker, is a supportive friend who gets out of the job first and moves on with her life. Brinkley’s selfish and unsupportive mother is my least favorite character. She made her daughter feel unworthy all those years when she was carrying a secret that was more egregious and hypocritical than anything Brinkley did. And last but not least there is Brinkley’s poor angry cat, Winnie, who is forced to wear clothes. In my opinion, Brinkley deserved every scratch and bite she got.

I recommend this unique and funny rom-com filled with smart, sassy, messy characters dealing with self-worth, forgiveness, and following their passions.

Thank you to Ms. Hartl, Gallery Books, and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

Brinkley Saunders left the academic world behind and now works at Heartbreak for Hire (a secret company that enacts revenge on men who need to be taken down a notch) while she is saving up for her own art gallery. Her boss decides to add male heartbreakers to the mix and Brinkley’s new partner is her former target, Mark, who she hasn’t been able to get out of her mind.

I’m not exaggerating when I say this book had me laughing from the start. I’m sure we’ve all wished we could use company like H4H at some point. The relationship between Brinkley and Mark had the perfect amount of steam and truly showed people are not always what they appear to be at first. This was easily 5 stars and I cant wait to read more by Sonia Hartl.

When Brinkley’s confidence and self-esteem were at an all-time low, she was made an offer she couldn’t refuse. She was invited to join the ranks of Heartbreak for Hire, an agency that specialized in revenge. What better way for her to get over her own heartbreak than to inflict it on others?

I was one of those fangirls screaming about Hartl’s Have a Little Faith in Me, and therefore, very excited to hear she was writing an adult contemporary. I thought this was fabulous. The premise was compelling, and the story was infused with a lot of humor, heart, and personal growth.

I won’t pretend that I didn’t enjoy seeing those slimy men get what was coming to them, but revenge plots can be a bit much for me. Thankfully, Hartl made some great decisions for her characters with respect to that aspect of the story. I appreciated the way they reflected on their profession, and how their views had evolved over time.

There was actually a lot of self reflection, exploration of future needs, as well as complicated family dynamics. But you know what else? The book was funny and cute, and I laughed and smiled a whole lot. I can only commend the author for having the ability to combine all these elements in such a successful way.

Now, let’s talk about what I really came here for – the romance! There were sparks, chemistry, and connection, but it was complicated. I so wanted it to get uncomplicated and fast because these two were fantastic together. The banter was top notch, but it was more about the way they understood each other, the comfort they found in each other. When you learn about their backstories, you will understand how important it was to me that they found their “someone” in each other.

Though I really adored the romance, it was Brinkley’s personal journey that captivated me. It was a pleasure seeing her grow, evolve, and discover so much about herself. It was beautiful seeing her finally picking up those pieces, undoing the damage others had inflicted on her, and making her dreams a reality.

Overall: A solid adult debut filled with hilarity and heart.

Read this as a rom-com. Brinkley's working for a company that carries out revenge fantasies for women. Not murder or anything really awful but revenge commensurate with what they experienced. Only once was she unable to carry through- and that was with Mark, who was just not what she expected- and now he's been hired to do the same thing for me. And she's training him. There's a small plot hole here but never mind, go with it. Brinkley's been working to a goal, she's fending off er obnoxious mother, and now she's falling for Mark. There are some sour notes but this mostly a hopeful tale. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good beach read.

I’m really over publishing putting up cute covers with a fun sounded synopsis and then getting something different.

I liked Brinkley well enough to stay mildly interested, even though I can’t come up reasons why I liked her. Mark was an odd mix of slightly aloof and charming, but his clear interest for Brinkley was refreshing. There are a good amount of characters here and it’s all a mess with no real depth to anyone.

Plot wise, I don’t know. I didn’t care for the H4H work, Margo was creepy, and it felt like we were missing a vital piece to why this business existed. Brinkley’s mom and their relationship are horrible and the twist slash reveal felt unnecessary.

Overall, I kept reading because I wanted to see the HEA and how parts of it played out. Instead I’m left wanting more than I got with a feeling that I won’t remember much of this book when I wake up tomorrow.

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**

I really enjoyed this unique and fresh romance novel from new-to-me author, Sonia Hartl. The set up was intriguing, the banter was hilarious, and the steam was fantastic.

After a difficult breakup two years ago, Brinkley starts working at Heartbreak For Hire - a Charlie’s Angels-esque arrangement where the women scheme to take down bad men. For two years, they’ve told themselves they’re doing this to protect and promote women so when their boss hires men to join the crew, it throws the Heartbreakers for a loop. It doesn’t help that Brinkley’s new partner is a former target of her - the one and only time she let her guard down and crossed a line. Mark is a hot nerd, professor type who knows how to push all of Brinkley’s buttons. She tries to remain professional but the two of them can’t help but get under each other’s skin.

I really liked Brinkley and Mark - they both had depth to their story that made them sympathetic and likable main characters who I found myself rooting for. They also had family baggage that played out well in the story without dragging it down in lots of history. I also loved the relationship between Brinkley and her fellow Heartbreakers.

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to others by this author. Thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

When Brinkley was spurned by her boyfriend and left grad school behind, her life took a turn. Her personal relationships with her mother and her friends suffered drastically and she simply felt like she couldn’t trust men anymore. When offered a position at Heartbreak for Hire, a revenge business solely run by women, for women, Brinkley takes it and hasn’t looked back since. When her newest target changes everything for Brinkley, she starts to question her place at Heartbreak for Hire. Is it time for a change?

This was a fine enough little contemporary romance, but I just felt like so much was left unresolved by the end of the story. Too many little twists that needed more detailed page time were introduced right at the end and wrapped up within one chapter. I think it is pretty expected for contemporary romance to have quick resolutions, but the main character had more than just romantic problems that were kind of glazed over. I think this could have had a much stronger ending if there were a stronger focus on the resolution beyond the romantic element.

Heartbreak for Hire is a hate to love rom-com with an unusual premise. Brinkley is a clerk at an insurance company as far as her mother knows. She actually works at Heartbreak for Hire, a woman run firm with operatives that work to get revenge on men who have wronged women. She is doing this to save the money she needs to open her own art gallery. One of the men she is hired to get revenge on is Mark, and she feels an undeniable attraction to him. When he turns up the next week as one of the firms first male employees sparks fly. This was often hilarious, and sometimes sometimes silly, and occasionally poignant. It was fun to read and I felt compelled to finish it in one sitting.
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

With such a unique concept for a book--a woman who works at a heartbreaking agency (Heartbreakers for Hire, or H4H) to get revenge on the scummiest of men--you have to suspend a little bit of disbelief for the book to work. It reminds me of Too Good to Be Real, in that way--another book I love. Once you get on board with the premise, this book has a number of hilarious moments, off-the-charts sexual tension, and heart-opening moments to make it a winner.

Heartbreaker Brinkley meets her target, Mark, and he doesn't seem to be the normal mark (see what I did there?). When she comes dangerously close to falling into bed with him before a work call interrupts her, she runs away hoping to never see him again. But when she finds out her boss, Margo, is hiring male heartbreakers for the first time ever, and Mark is one of them, she can't figure out what to do.

There are a number of plot holes or points of issue that don't get fully sorted by the book's end (Why did Selena hire H4H?) but I still enjoyed the book immensely. Maybe because dirty-talking hot professor Mark is very much my type... if he's yours, too, then I'm sure this book will be a winner for you as well! But seriously, it's funny and it's sexy and it's rare to do both of those things well!

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 8/10

Heartbreak for Hire is definitely a unique concept, with the MC working for a company that is paid to get revenge on men that harm women in 4 different ways - Egos, Cheaters, Grifters, and Players. Four women take out their targets and head up each division based on the way they were hurt before as a form of therapy. Brinkley's newest target doesn't seem like the typical Ego she deals with, and when he finds herself breaking all the rules and hooking up with Markus, she has no idea what's going on. And further, when Markus shows up as her new work partner, things get really interesting...

I overall enjoyed this romance, which is a bit heavier than your typical rom com. However, I feel like too much was tackled within this book - from Brinkley's issues with her mom, dad, Margo, and her career goals - there was so much happening and the plot flitted back and forth without much structure. The concept was totally cool, and I loved the relationship scenes and the somewhat insta-love connection between Brinkley and Markus - and the oh so steamy scenes - but there were definitely side plots that could have been cut.

I also really wanted Margo to be taken down a notch and for there to be an epilogue. I personally feel that epilogues are required in romance books. Again, I really enjoyed this book outside of the critiques listed, it was entertaining and kept my attention even with the back and forth.

**Thank you to Gallery Books and Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review**

3-3.5⭐️

This book is a hate to love/forced proximity romance that was pretty dang cute!

This was a solid romance that kept me entertained! This deals with a company that’s whole goal is to exact vengeance on men who have wronged women... sounds fun and funny in theory, but I definitely just felt like it was such an unfulfilling and low-blow job. What was meant to empower women just left a really bad taste in my mouth...

What I did love about this was the realistic mindsets of the characters and struggles they were going through. It made them feel all the more relatable that they both had very adult problems which caused some misstepping to occur on both sides throughout the book. Them both finding their way and finding love for each other despite things that happened to them was cute and sweet to read about. And the sexy times weren’t too bad either. 😉

Overall, this was a solid romance. It ended very abruptly and I had a few minor issues with the main character Brinkley and her job, but none of it was enough to overpower my enjoyment of this book!

*Thank you Netgalley and Gallery Books for giving me an arc in exchange for an honest review.*

Have you ever wanted revenge so badly you would hire someone to get it? If so, this is the book for you. I really enjoyed these revenge jobs and laughed out loud several times. I also really loved Brinkley and seeing her with Mark was so fun. Her boss Margo gave me serious Aunt Lydia vibes so I was eager to see what would go down.  ⭐⭐⭐⭐ this was a fast fun read.

I read this book very quickly, in one day, and would give it 2.5 stars.
The plot was ok to me, and it was readable.
I did not like the concept of the Heartbreak for Hire and the trope of “all men are evil.” I’m just tired of reading about people getting revenge on others and letting it drag on for years unresolved.
The MC said she had been to therapy, which I appreciated the mention of therapy, but she should’ve asked for a refund because she was still stuck in so much toxicity.
The conflict between her mother and love interest at the end felt so forced and rushed, and then the resolution was so fast.
The final thing that put me over the top was how vulgar it was. Was it really necessary for the sex scenes in the beginning? I thought that was ridiculous and made me dislike the characters from the get go.

Overall, a swing and a miss for me.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC for my honest review.

Everyone thinks that Brinkley is an administrative assistant at an insurance agency, but she really works for Heartbreak for Hire - a top secret agency which specializes in revenge. Been cheated on? Been used? Been misled? Had a horrible boss? Had a horrible co-worker? Have you been the victim of sexual harassments? Then this is the agency to turn to in order to turn the tables.

Brinkley knows a thing or two about being cheated on. Her own heartbreak led her to make changes in her own life. She dropped out of graduate school and is working to save money to one day fulfill her dream of opening an art gallery.

Things are going smoothly until she is hired to take down a target who presents as nice. Very nice. Not like the other marks. He works in academia and doesn't set off any bells on her creep meter. In fact, she is drawn to him...

Imagine her surprise when her employer decides to hire male heartbreakers and Mark, the charming and handsome man who was her nice guy target she was paid to take down, walks through the door....

So, romance readers usually know the drill when reading these books. There is a meeting, usually some kind of conflict, and a resolution. The journey is everything in these books for me. How will the author take us from their Meet-cute to the conclusion?

I enjoyed this book and both main characters. I silently gasped with Brinkley when Mark walked in the door. There is instant attraction between them that lingers and ignites in this book. I had to put aside my feelings about a revenge/destruction agency while reading this. But I am not so naïve to believe that these things don't exist. I'm sure they do.

I did like the path the characters went in pushing each other and discussing their dreams. I enjoyed their witty repartee and chemistry. For me this was a fun, entertaining read! My big gripe with romance books is that they take the entire book to build the story only to end so suddenly that I feel as if I hit a brick wall. This wasn’t so abrupt and yet, I felt a little more would have been nice. I This is a book where I wanted an epilogue.

Fun, sexy and entertaining!

3.5 stars rounded up


Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

HEARTBREAK FOR HIRE caught me by surprise in the best way. I hadn't read this author before and hadn't heard buzz about this book, so I went in blind.

Brinkley is funny, snarky, and very likable, although sometimes her lack of backbone is frustrating to read. Her snarky banter with Mark is awesome! And how much did I love her cat? Yes, the cat is hilarious and totally adds to the story!

Mark is a perfectly dreamy, sweater-vest wearing, academic with a smoking bod and a filthy mouth in bed and I👏🏻am👏🏻here👏🏻for👏🏻it! You will fall in love with this guy!

This book had truly wonderful character growth from beginning to end of the story and I loved how realistic the portrayal of the complex family relationship was and that it's resolution seemed true. Not everything instantly fixes after a good conversation and the changed relationships were still flawed, but moving in a better direction. And I am ALWAYS thrilled when a romance includes a positive portrayal of clinical therapy!

HEARTBREAK FOR HIRE is a really fun read that has complex family relationships, great female friendships, some laugh-out-loud moments, and...I can't remember...did I mention that elevator scene?

You should add this book to your TBR! It's fun, not too heavy, and seriously swoony.

This was my first experience reading this author's work and I look forward to more from her in the future. This was like no other book I've ever read. The premise was quite unique and different and that's exactly why after reading the blurb, I requested an ARC from NetGalley and it certainly didn't disappoint. After reading the first chapter I did have some reservations about the idea of these women working for a company that specialized in revenge. I'm not a proponent of revenge -- I think you reap what you sow and all things work for the greater good, so I wasn't sold on that aspect of the plot, but once I got into it and became invested in the characters, I was able to understand where it was all headed and I appreciated that love prevailed. The relationship between Brinkley and her mother was very well written and well developed. I adored the slow burn chemistry between Brinkley and Mark and how they navigated their relationship. The push-pull between them and the snark and sass had me in stitches at times! Most of all I liked that there were underlying messages that were thought-provoking and inspiring -- "This was how I lifted women up now, by creating beauty and a sense of purpose that had nothing to do with tearing down other people." Well said. I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC for NetGalley.

Firstly, I’d like to thank Netgalley and the publishers of Heartbreak for Hire for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.


Plot: 4⭐️
The concept of this book was quite unique and interesting and I liked how the characters were introduced. The romance was also great and I liked the build-up between the characters. I do think the last quarter part of the book happened too quickly. It felt like the major conflicts came into the story too quickly and they were resolved too quickly as well.

Pacing: 3.75⭐️
I think the pacing was good for the first part of the book, but I wish the ending wasn’t so rushed.

Character Development: 4.5⭐️
I liked the chemistry between Mark and Brinkley. There was great banter and steamy scenes felt believable. I also liked the way Brinkley’s relationship with her mom was written. The trauma that was related to Brinkley’s childhood had definitely taken a toll on her self-worth and I liked how she was able to work on that throughout the book.

Writing Style: 5⭐️
Sonia is definitely great at writing romance scenes. I will definitely be on the lookout for her next book.

Would you recommend it?
I would recommend this book to all contemporary romance book lovers.