Heartbreak For Hire follows the daily work of Brinkley Saunders at H4H, where she's hired to play out revenge fantasies of jilted women for a fee. Coming from the world of academia, Brinkley joined H4H to save up for her dreamed future of operating an art gallery in Chicago. As she's on the cusp of getting there, H4H changes their hiring policy to include men. One of the male H4H'ers just so happens to be Brinkley's former target (and the only one where she broke the company's "no real feelings for the target" policy)!

This book was a quick weekend read, with just the right amount of characters, twists & turns. The pacing of the first half of the book felt different from most Rom-Com reads: the main characters have a quick love scene very early on, only to back up into enemies to lovers territory for the latter half. I quite enjoyed how their relationship did a bit of a love sforzando, and was completely persuaded of Mark's feelings after Brinkley's abrupt departure.

As with some reads, there were a number of details and characters decisions that I didn't quite believe. I know it's not a well-crafted critique, but I think this book didn't hook me enough that I could glance past some of these details (H4H, a company of 5 people having their own workplace app? Mark showing up outside with Brinkley's indoor cat and letting it just hang out?) That all said, I did enjoy the relationships of the women at H4H and would be totally down to read a sequel!

If you enjoyed - Rescue Me by Sarra Manning, This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens, The Cul-de-Sac War by Melissa Ferguson, Why I Held Your Hand by Augusta Reilly, 99 Percent Mine and The Hating Game by Sally Thorne and The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang - you'll like Heartbreak for Hire by Sonia Hartl!

Heartbreak for Hire follows Brinkley, whose specialty is Ego, as she helps other women take revenge against men who have wronged them. This is very rewarding for her. Until, one of her past assignments becomes her co-worker.
I was immediately drawn to this plot. I read this book in less than a day because I could not put it down. Brinkley has a sense of humor that made me laugh aloud so many times. The humor in this book was so on par and helped add to the story. I also felt myself connecting with Brinkley’s character and her struggle with her love life. I found myself cheering her on throughout the plot and was very excited to see her character development.
The chemistry between the main characters in this plot was astounding. I could see the talent the author had in finding that unique connection between two characters. I loved Mark’s character and his banter with Brinkley so much.
Altogether I felt that this book was well written and addictive. I would definitely recommend it to all Romance readers!

This was a light, cute read with a quirky heroine and her delightful friends. The plot was somewhat unique, but the Heartbreak for Hire concept seemed a bit mean-spirited to me. I didn't care for Margo,, the owner, as she didn't seem to care about anyone, but the heroine was entertaining and had a good character arc. I enjoyed the witty dialogue and how the relationships between the characters were developed..

This is a well-written, fun book. I enjoyed it from cover-to-cover. I liked seeing women being strong and taking issues into their own hands. I recommend it. And the cover is fantastic! Thanks to Netgalley and Gallery Books for the arc. The opinions are my own.

I’m always jazzed when I spot a romcom with a new twist on the enemies to lovers trope. I snagged the #arc and dove right in.

I appreciated Brinkley’s point of view and loved her untraditional job, but things started to go pear-shaped for me about halfway through. The drama shot up so fast that it felt like we were racing toward to wrap everything up.

This was a fun rom-com that has a very interesting plot. I really wanted to love this one but had a hard time connecting with the characters. Many of the things that fell flat for me, were redeemed by the end of the book. I felt that the love story had progressed fairly quickly and did not feel that there was much development. I did not like Margo (Brinkley’s boss), she felt borderline abusive and manipulative.

I love enemies-to-lovers and Sonia Hartl does an excellent job with the banter. Brinkley and Mark were very cute together but their romance fell flat for me. Overall, this was a cute read.

A decent rom com that ended satisfactorily, but hit some bumps along the way.

I like some angst, I don't always mind when one half of the couple acts unreasonably, because that usually means we get a good grovel lately. I know the beat structure of the genre and I'm willing to go with it, but lately I've been feeling frustrated over the usual conceit of the man entering the woman's life and just like...taking over. It hit me harder here and I don't know why. Marc joins Brinkley's job, her livelihood, and she has to figure out if she is able to work with him, but he acts like she is evil for having lied to him? The only lie she did was the aspect of her job? Like, should she have quit her job out of some moral high ground as soon as she met a guy she was attracted to? I feel like if the premise of the book is a honey pot situation then she shouldn't have to defend it constantly. Marc shows up to jobs in a very fake wig and she never tells him "hey thats dumb you really are going to blow my cover" although from the one Ruth Reichl book I've read, food critics might actually go out to eat in disguise semi-regularly. I just don't like when a man barges into a woman's job or area of expertise and doesn't do a great job but it's never addressed. He immediately psychoanalyzes Brinkley and talks down to her about her fear and how he feels she isn't moving fast enough at her dream for the future. He barely knows her. [ So for him to come in and make it likely that she will flat out quit because she can't work with her one night stand who is constantly needling her over a paper he wants to write, that angers me. It's not even his job vs her job, he is writing the paper in the hopes of improving his other job, his actual career. But like, she needs to make rent. Don't ruin her life. And when that paper is published, I don't care if it is dry writing in an academic journal, it absolutely will destroy the company and her job. That sort of thing gets picked up as clickbait for newspapers all the time, and the rumors will swirl and the targets will have some idea that a thing like this exists. Did Margo give informed consent? That's not clear. Brinkley sure as hell did not. So it was really important to me that Marc withdrew the paper and I'm glad we got there, but the road to it was rough for me. I also wish he withdrew it for some of the academic ethics reasons as well, but it was more like he was able to do this thing she wanted because he didn't want that career anymore, not because she asked him to or because he realized he was wrong. (hide spoiler)]

I know there's more to why he got hired, Margo has some plan, even if it is as simple as "I bet they would make a cute couple", but I would have loved some show of how Marc is pretty clearly not going to be successful as a solo agent at H4H. It would have been nice to see a little more of him realizing Brinkley is good at her job, and his smarts and natural good looks don't automatically make him good at it.

Otherwise, by the end I liked them together, and while Brinkley forgave her mother for years of emotional abuse pretty quickly, it seemed like that was because of her growth, not because of bad writing, and it was tentative enough to be believable.

Interesting concept , ideal for people who are looking for a new quick contemporary romance about a group of strong woman

I absolutely cannot say enough about this book, and I’m already shouting out to the rooftops that everyone should buy this. I loved the premise — so unique!!! — and the relationship was fire! I can’t wait to see what comes next!

2.5/5

Heartbreak for Hire is an undercover company that specializes in one thing: revenge. A secret service for the broken hearted or long suffering coworker. Brinkley Saunders is one of three agents tasked with carrying out the clientele’s revenge plans, but from an outsider perspective she’s just an administrative assistant working for an insurance agency. While the job might not be exactly what she envisioned for herself, she knows it's a safe way to save for a down payment on an art gallery. That is, until her boss announces that the company will be hiring male heartbreakers. Worse, that one of the new hires is a target she was tasked with taking down, but instead ended up going home with. Brinkley would rather do anything other than take Mark under her wing for training, but as the two begin to spend more time together it becomes apparent their growing connection; and the fact that people don't always turn out how they initially seem.

This is a romantic comedy that had so much potential from the get go, one that ultimately fell a little flat in the execution. A company specializing in heartbreak/revenge and two agents that fall in love seemed like such an interesting concept, it just got lost in the scuffle of everything else that was happening in the novel. Unfortunate given how much I was looking forward to reading this. What I did like though was the commentary on workplace and romantic relationships that was interspersed in the beginning of the book. This focused specifically on Brinkley’s clientele, but it really should have carried through to the rest of the book when that part of the plot was abandoned. I would say that that was what my main issue with this boiled down too. There were far too many different side plots undertaken that didn't end up being wrapped up in the way they all deserved. Particularly the conflict with Brinkley and her mother, which didn't feel concluded in any way. Add to the fact that the pacing was all over the place and you get to the reason why I struggled to enjoy this one more. I did like the main couple and the romantic development between the two characters, but there was definitely a feeling of insta-love from how fast the relationship actually developed. The two of them certainly had chemistry, it just felt a little rushed from my perspective which did impact how much I connected to the characters. Between the commentary on misogyny in the workplace that was only briefly touched on, to the overwhelming amount of different side plots, it's clear why the premise ended up being kind of a let down. Maybe if the author had condensed the elements focused on here and instead used the plot to make a larger commentary I would have liked it more. An entertaining enough read that is not without its problems.

Trigger warnings: misogyny, sexism, emotional/verbal abuse, toxic parental relationship

4.5 rounded up to 5 stars

I thought this was a very fun, different romcom. I thought the idea of Heartbreak For Hire was well developed and had gold character development and background. It was the perfect amount of enemies to lovers.

**beware this has a lot more steam than your average romcom!!**

As with all romcoms there is usually an issue that arises halfway through the book and the couple needs to work through it. In this book it happened at the very end, so the resolution of the conflict ended really quickly. Everything was wrapped up a little too fast for my liking. I wish we had another chapter or two or and epilogue.

Overall I really enjoyed the banter and the amount of steam in this book! I can't wait for everyone to read this!

Thanks to Berkley and Netgalley for my early copy on exchange for a honest review!

This was such a fun, easy to read rom com that had many great laugh out loud moments. I love the flirty banter between the characters and their chemistry. It's a light, easy going read that makes you smile and laugh out loud.

For the most part, I loved this book. The sexual tension leaps off the page, the writing is stellar, and Brinkley is so very real and relatable. I felt her pain, I understood her so well, I should maybe address it in therapy. Overall, it was a great read. There were a couple of little things that bugged me, though - namely that I couldn't suspend my disbelief over Margot hiring a former target to work for her company. I kept waiting for her to reveal that she secretly did it to help Brinkley and Mark fall in love or something. Otherwise, a terrific book and I'm so glad I got to read it.

Review based on ARC.

Heartbreak for Hire drew me in with the concept. How could I not be intrigued by a secret service that offers revenge for ex lovers, frenemies, and co-workers?

Heartbreak for Hire was a cute rom-com, with relatable characters. The premise that drew me in was fresh and original.

The chemistry between Mark and Brinkley was undeniable and instantaneous. I wasn’t prepared for it to get steamy so quick. I thought that the enemies to lovers trope worked well and wasn’t forced.

Watching Brinkley heal from her past was touching. I loved how real her emotions were and I just wanted to give her a big old bear hug.

I wish that Brinkley’s bestie, Emma, had been a little more developed because she seemed like someone that I would want as my bestie.

This was a new perspective on one of my favorite tropes!

I really enjoyed this one, the characters were really fun and very relatable. i loved the whole concept of the book it was very unique in its way, the way they purposely broke peoples hearts as their job?! i mean it was very cool to say the least. I love that they found a way to find safety with each other, they really helped one another see what they could do and helped each other achieve their dreams.

Brinkley is such a sassy and independent woman, she refuses to let ayone close that is until she meets Mark a guy whose heart she was supposed to break except, she ended up becoming attached to him and got her feelings involved, while that happens she ends up living some evidence behind and she has no idea the changes that one mistake is about to bring.

though is it a mistake? when it brings her closure and someone she has fallen deeply in love with.

This was such an awesome book! I loved Brinkley from the very beginning. She's smart, sassy, and doesn't back down. She held onto her dreams despite her mother’s pressure and nagging to go back to academia for her master’s degree. She grows a lot throughout the book and really finds herself at the end. It was refreshing to see her take on the world without fear and go after what she wants. Her inner-monologue and quick wit comments were hilarious! I really did love Mark and Brinkley together. Mark and Brinkley have an UNDENIABLE connection and the sexual tension between the two was sizzling on the page. They bring the steam to their sex scenes! This was a great story and such a delight to read. It was the perfect combination of sweet, smart, and sexy. I read it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down! This is a love story, as well as a story about finding out who you really are and deciding what you truly want. This has the vibes of ‘Hating Game’. If you loved that book, you will probably love this one as well. This is the first book I’ve read from Sonia Hartl and I am hoping that she’ll continue to write sexy, funny rom-coms for me to enjoy. If you love well written rom-coms that have hilarious and witty banter, sparking chemistry and STEAMY scenes with a great storyline, add Heartbreak for Hire to your TBR pile.

I am obsessed with the cover of this book. It’s probably one of my favorite drawn covers. The cover does slightly oversell the story as a romance when the cover literally says “A novel” which is a telltale sign of a women’s fiction book. I loved the premise behind it and really wish my job was as cool as Brinkley’s (and my job’s pretty dang cool).

Brinkley and Mark had a really fun meet cute and I loved combination of instant attraction to enemies to lovers. As I noted above, this book does straddle the line between romance and women’s fiction. Yes there are characters that fall in love, but it is equally if not more-so a story of Brinkley’s growth in her relationship with her mom as well as reaching her personal goals.

My biggest complaint is that some things wrapped up too quickly, and one major thing was left without any closure. The book is first person, past tense and told entirely from Brinkley’s perspective. This p.o.v. worked for this book because this book is women’s fiction and some of the plot wouldn’t have worked if we had Mark’s perspective. I will happily read another book by Sonia Hartl.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute campy rom com. I do love the premise though., Brinkly works for an agency that specializes in sending women out to break hearts of men who did their clients wrong. OMG I would have been this agencies number one client back in the day! :)

Th company was a women's only workplace, but then Brinkly's boss had an ephiany (if you will) and decided to hire male heartbreakers. What a great equal opporutnity boss!


This was a cute if somewhat predictable romance but still was a light hearted easy read. Cute and sweet characters and a fun plot.

Thank you so much to Gallery Books and #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

This was fine. I didn't particularly care for any of the characters, as Brinkley was miserable and depended too much on other people's opinions for her self-worth and Mark was a liar. They had insta-love based on deceit, which is icky. All of the storylines came together in a convoluted messy way and then wrapped up way too neatly. Also the relationship with Brinkley's mom took up too much space and was way too cleanly taken care of in the end.

Overall the writing was fine, but the story was not for me.

I went into this book not knowing much beyond the title and really enjoyed the time I spent in the world of Brinkley. She took her bitter and made it work for her but it was nice to see her refunding herself and making changes. Mark was great as a hero, the right combo of swoony and flawed. My biggest issue was a very abrupt ending. Give a girl an epilogue!