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.

What a unique concept! I would actually love to work for H4H, I think. I have some revenge I'd like to exact on a few people......anyways. Back to the review. I really enjoyed Brinkley as a character. I thought her chemistry with Mark was really well written. and I enjoyed getting to know both of them.

Heartbreak for Hire was an interesting book for me. Honestly, I didn't love the story itself. There was a lot going on, a lot of moving parts that were bizarrely intertwined, and I didn't love the idea of the main business. That being said, I loved the two main characters and thought their banter was amazing. Even though I didn't love the book, I did find myself smiling and laughing throughout just because of the banter and back and forth jokes between the two main characters.
So overall, not my fave book, but maybe worth a read for a laugh.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

📖 Q: what’s your current read? I’m about 44% into Roan Parrish’s Lights on Knockbridge Lane.

Sonia Hartl’s Heartbreak for Hire was an interesting read for me for lots of reasons, including the fact that there are things I really liked about it & some things that didn’t quite work for me.

It’s bold & wry & comes out swinging at cutthroat academia—there’s also some quality steam, a hot + nerdy professor hero, & a heroine who’s adept at disguises & has a few epiphanies about her life & the direction it’s going in.

Brinkley Saunders wants to own her own gallery where she can sell her artwork but in the meantime she’s helping pull off revenge schemes at Heartbreak for Hire. She targets Egos (men whose professional egos have gotten out of control & who have grossly wronged their female coworkers), although her judgmental, emotionally unavailable mom—chair of a psychology dept—thinks she’s an admin assistant.

Then Brinkley is hired to target professor Markus Cavanaugh but she’s won over by his conversation & against her better judgement they end up hooking up. Until she runs away, reminded of what her job is.

Later, he shows up at Heartbreak for Hire, one of its newest hires.

I love how HRH goes after so many important topics including verbal & emotional abuse, toxic masculinity in the workplace, parental disappointment, & damaging behaviors & culture in academia. Also on my Very Much Enjoyed List is how Brinkley is snarky & daring—except when it comes to her gallery & confrontation—& Markus eats it up.

But the book doesn’t have quite the emotional resonance I wanted in some moments & the reconciliation feels somewhat rushed (& also I was a little bothered by how some of it comes about.)

On the whole I really enjoyed this one & Hartl’s style & I’m excited to see what she writes next!

4 ⭐️. Release date: 07/27

[ID: a person wearing a white & blue linen dress holds a copy of the book next to a bed of colorful zinnias.]

I absolutely adored this book! I really liked Brinkley and thought it was great that she was doing what she could to pursue her dream of painting and opening a gallery and not living the life her mom or past friends thought she could do. Heartbreak For Hire was such a great idea for a company. 4 women who make sleezeball men pay for using women to get ahead really thrilled my little feminist heart! The secrecy and word of mouth reminded me of the movie Hitch. It's so creative and fun. And Mark, whew!! There are some very steamy parts in this book! And then I loved Winnie the cat, so hilarious! This book was such a fun read. I will be looking for more books by Sonia Hartl in the future!