I wanted to love this book and I think the knowledge that there was a "shocking twist" coming ruined it for me. I really loved the character development, the descriptions of the town and the farms, and the dialogue between characters. After the twist, I feel like I was reading a completely different book that was over dramatized and essentially lost interest in the characters.

I enjoyed Only Love Can Hurt Like This. I feel like it kept a steady pace throughout the story and kept the reader’s interest. I don’t think this was a super favorite of mine compared to other romance reads I’ve read, but I would push this forward to other readers who need a fun, cute, and quick read. Thank you for my ARC! <3

This is my first Paige Toon novel. I was hesitant at first to read it because the blurb compared the book to Colleen Hoover, and I wasn't feeling angsty love. Thankfully, the angst wasn't smushed in your face. I was also nervous about the looming secret we were barreling towards. Fortunately it was presented with grace and understanding. I think the best part of this book was the description of the farms where the story took place. I didn't get a strong sense of characters and the romance was not swoony. I may check out another book by this author and see if this is an outlier. Thank you to Putnam and NetGalley for the ARC!

This story was so much. Heartbreak, love, angst, smiles, tears and more. I was hooked from the start and I fell for all of these characters as well as Paige Toon's writing style. Very good!

This is the story of true love with a deep secret that could be life-changing. Wren lives in the UK and one day finds out that her fiance is in love with someone else. To give herself a break, she plans a trip to the U.S. to stay with her father and step-family on their farm in the Midwest. Very early into her visit she runs into Anders, the neighbors' son who is home or a short visit. Wren and Anders soon have something more brewing between the two of them and start to dream about what a future may bring. But, Anders has a secret that could turn everything on its head.

𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲’𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐡, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲’𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲’𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐭 𝐮𝐩 𝐦𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐰, 𝐬𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠.

When a sudden wrench in her plans leaves Wren single and looking for an escape, Indiana doesn’t sound too bad. Despite leaving most of what she knows behind in England, Wren is excited to see her dad and his family and spend time away from her past life. What she doesn’t account for is the introduction turned infatuation with Anders and all his mysteries. Determined to heal, Wren is convinced she doesn’t need Anders but for some reason she can’t seem to stay away — even if he’s hiding a secret that could change everything.

This book did indeed break my heart. I was so enthralled with the love story of Wren and Anders. I was rooting for them to the max. There were also so many forms of love in this book, from platonic to familial to romantic. I really enjoyed the different themes and takes on love, as well as how different characters processed different emotions. The magnitude in which some emotions and scenes were done really blew me away!
My only quip is that the timeline got confusing. I felt like there were a lot of random jumps in time that didn’t make much sense. However, they were pretty easy to digest and push through.

This was my first book by Toon but it won’t be my last. I am just sitting here swimming in a sea of quotes from this book as well as pure joy for reading such an incredible story from the first page to the very last! This story was exquisitely told from Wrens point of View and the reading pace was fast and flawless. The side characters were loving, funny and added great depth to the storyline. Anders was withholding some key information from Wren and when she finds out the whole truth - her world comes crashing down again. THIS is a book I wish I could read for the first time again - it was that good!
Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy for an honest review.

This one will get your eyes welling with tears!
Being new to author Paige Toon, I didn't know what to expect when diving into Only Love Can Hurt Like This. What unfolded in the pages of this story involved heartbreak, feelings of inadequacy, family dynamics, falling in love, and discussion on the meaning of commitment.
This book is not perfect. There are pacing issues throughout and transitions of time can make the story feel as if it's being told out of order, which causes sections of the text to seem clunky and disjointed.
What this author does well, is dive into our main character's psyche to allow the reader to empathize with her struggles. The main character's inner monologue and flip/flopping decision making can lead to a bit of whiplash, but that is, in a way, realistic.
The side characters in this story are enjoyable. The overall plot is fun and brings in romantic tropes (small town, will they/won't they) that many readers will be excited about. And that twist? You just don't see it coming and it breaks the reader's heart when it does!
If you're looking for a story about coming-of-age/finding yourself in your 30's with a romantic through line, this is the book for you!

3.5 stars - Thanks to Net Galley and Putnam for the advanced copy. This book just started incredibly slow for me. I forced myself to finish it, and I noted it didn't pick up until around 60%. That is a lot longer than I normally give a book that doesn't interest me. The ending picked up, but the conclusion felt rushed. I needed more of a conversation between Anders and Wren at the end to make it feel earned. Props to Wren though, because she put up with more than most people would. I definitely didn't see the plot twist coming, so props for that. Did the book earn this title? Maybe.

YES YES YES! 5 stars all the way! Paige Toon sent my heart all over the place with Only Love Can Hurt Like This. A heartbroken women, Wren, goes to visit her dad in the states from the UK. She happens upon racecar engineer, Anders. How do I explain this without spoiling it?? Let’s just say that Anders is the true definition of a loving, caring, committed gentleman. At the climax, a guarded secret surfaces. Well it’s not really a secret but just a miss interruption. Anders is dealing with so much and Wren just wants him to break free but he can’t given some unfortunate circumstances. Let’s say that you will want to snag this book on April 25th! (HEA, 0-1 on the spice level)

I was hearing great buzz about this book so was so happy to be approved to read it! This book was so unexpectedly delightful.

Anders and Wren's romance, one centered around coming home and healing, was a slow-burn that felt so rewarded by the time it reached its conclusion. Both characters had experience moments of loss and doubt and guilt, stumbling into each other's lives when neither was even thinking about finding a life-long partner. The connection they built gave way to such a wonderful bond, a bond that both comforted and terrified them.

Only Love Can Hurt Like This had some really great side characters and plot twists that kept my attention the whole way through. And the epilogue was just the sweetest thing! I had a smile on my face the entire time. Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons & NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review

A tear jerking love story that will tear your heart apart and put it all back together again. Wren’s fiancé realized he’s in love with someone else, so she decides to spend a couple weeks in America in Indiana with her father, step mother, and half sister to get a change of scenery and try to start healing. Her dad left their family when Wren was a child, so there’s a lot to unpack there. She meets Anders, a neighbor and his brother. The three of them, with her sister, become pretty good friends as two weeks turns to a whole summer. But there’s secrets in Ander’s life. Big ones. When Wren finds out Anders biggest secret, will love prevail?

Great writing, slow burn love and romance, and secrets. Such a good book! I’d love to read it for the first time again!!

I absolutely loved this book and couldn't put it down. Wren and Anders both go through such heart breaking situations and really make quite remarkable breakthroughs, albeit not at the same speed. However, the author writes in such a way that you feel like you know these characters inside and out and that the gut wrenching is happening to you as well, in the most beautiful and authentic way. I highly encourage everyone to read this and let yourself feel all the emotions, because it will run the gamut.

Wow. This book was a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Paige Toon writes the most heart wrenching love stories. Only Love Can Hurt Like This had me hooked and reading late into the night. I fell in love with all of the characters and felt so invested in each one of them that I’m sad to let them go after finishing the book. I will say this particular book really surprised me near the end (you’ll know what I’m talking about once you’ve read it), but it made the story all the more beautiful and emotional. Thank you so much to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam Sons for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Ahhh, this book is a heartbreaker! It drew me in from the first page and kept me wanting more until the end. “Watching” Wren flea to meet her dad and his family left me with so many emotions and kept me reaching for the tissues. Beautiful story and so well written

Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this ARC**

When Wren finds out her fiancé is no longer in love with her, she decides the best way to get over a breakup is to fly and visit her dad and his “new family” in the States.

While trying to find her purpose in life and how she can fit in a small midwestern town; she meets her neighboring farmers and never thought she would fall in love.

This romance was a breath of fresh air and was not predictable in any shape or form.

Wow, this was heartbreaking and left me with so many mixed feelings. It's such a hard one to rate. But I've settled with 4 stars for one main reason: This book left me with so many questions around some of my core beliefs, and I LOVE books like that.

I really enjoy emotional reads, and I could tell from the first page (beyond the title) that this would be a tearjerker. What I didn't know was that it would bring up some philosophical questions and uncomfortable feelings. I don't want to give any spoilers, but the circumstances surrounding Anders' wife really gave me the ick. It's so hard to explain why without giving too much information, but the plot line really makes you think deeply about how far "til death do us part" goes. I think that one's feelings about that phrase could definitely impact how they feel about this book.

This wasn't a 5 star read for me because I just couldn't get behind Wren's actions after finding out the secret that Anders was keeping. I don't think it was her place to try to influence his decisions at all. She really laid the guilt on thick. And I think if the book ending differently (without the HEA) it would have been 5 stars. I actually had mentally prepared myself for that to happen because it seemed as though it was headed in that direction, and I think the story would have been that much more powerful. The ending also felt pretty rushed.

Overall, I would definitely recommend it. This one would be GREAT for book clubs because there are so many good talking points.

My review will be posted to my bookstagram, @Readingwithtrey on Wednesday, March 29.

Unfortunately, I did not connect well with this book, which is a huge disappointment for me because I was really looking forward to reading it. It's been hailed as an emotional, but ultimately rewarding story about lost love, self love, and the lengths you're willing to go to keep love, but I was sorely disappointed. The syntax felt so monotonous at times that even when intense scenes were unravelling, I was bored, and it felt like our MC was too.

It was incredibly dialogue-heavy, with almost no exposition that helped us get to know our main character better. I spent a lot of time wondering what the hell was going on in Wren's head, and wishing she would shut up for long enough to have a single interesting thought about the situation. Especially being that this book is written in first person, I'd expect to have a tiny window into the mind of the main character, but apparently that was deemed unnecessary for this book.

4.25/5⭐️

I enjoyed this one, maybe not greatly but a solid good.

Wren, a 32-year-old architect in the UK, flies to her dad’s in small town Indiana for some healing time following a breakup with her fiancé. She meets brothers Anders and Jonas from a neighboring farm and along with her half-sister Bailey, begins to foster friendships with them. As she begins to develop deeper feelings for Anders, she learns a devastating secret that could change everything.

This story touches on several things. There are misunderstandings and feelings of not belonging to your parent’s new family, growing relationships on limited time together, living up to a parent’s expectations, maneuvering through a minefield of emotions when a heartbreaking situation is revealed, etc.

I liked the characters here, especially the way the brotherly bond was portrayed (I almost ended up liking Jonas’ character more than the lead Anders’), however I was totally thrown by the secret (75% in) and actually surprised by the character that it centers around and a bit perturbed at its not being disclosed sooner. Also I felt that character’s subsequent guilt/emotional breakdown was too overdone and out of character for them. But the wrap up was lovely and left lots of warm fuzzies with it.

An enjoyable story with a few peeves.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for providing the free early arc of Only Love Can Hurt Like This for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

Only Love Can Hurt Like This ARC
Paige Toon
Stars: 3/5
Spicy Level: 3/5

I received this book as an ARC from the publisher, and it was good, but I struggled a bit getting into it. My favorite parts were the character growth and development of interpersonal relationships. You get to see the female main character (FMC), Wren, connect with her family, make new friends, and fall in love with a hot Scandinavian farmer/ NASCAR engineer. This is a bonus, especially after Wren's crappy ex has an emotional affair and tells her that even though they've been together for years, the younger woman who works with him is actually his soulmate.

Although this story is mainly about Wren, I liked seeing the full cast of characters change and adapt as situations arose. This was especially important at the beginning since the side characters kept me interested while Wren irritated me. She just felt very I'm not like other girls, I'm a cool city girl who doesn't belong. Wren whined a lot about how her little sister Bailey was prettier and showed up very obviously overdressed to everything. Over time though, she did improve and come into herself as she began to understand who she wanted to be and where her priorities lay. I especially loved watching the relationship between Wren and Bailey develop. It was cute seeing them grow close, support each other, and bond in silly ways. A bit Hallmarkesque, but Wren realizes being in the country and spending time with her family is where she belongs.

The pacing of this book is slow. So if you’re looking for a quick romance, this is not the one to choose. Once I hit the 50% mark, and things started to pick up, I found it an interesting romance, but before then, the pacing was lagging. I still didn’t mind reading it, but very little happens plot-wise until page 150/302. This also means that the ending jumps around and rushes, making it hard to follow and feeling a bit incomplete. The story has heart, grit, and complicated relationships, but the main parts are crammed into a very small space.

Overall it was a pleasant read, but not necessarily something I’d seek out again. Moments between Wren and Anders felt sweet, funny, and realistic, but there wasn't as much as I wanted. The romance was good, but I wanted more of Anders. The book is from Wren’s POV until the end when we suddenly get Anders's POV. It’s a bit abrupt and makes you feel like you didn’t get to know him. I know that he helps out on his family’s farm, loves his brother, and is an engineer for NASCAR, but there aren’t a lot of real moments where you get to know him like you do Wren. I would've liked to see deeper moments with him throughout so the characters/relationship felt balanced. I was absolutely stunned by the plot twist though so that was fun in a very stressful way.

I think, overall, this is still one that I’d recommend. The relationship between Wren and Anders is sweet, and there’s an interesting and supportive cast of secondary characters. While the pacing is a little slow, it’s interesting, and once the secrets start to unravel things really pick up. If you’re a fan of Colleen Hoover's books and haven’t heard of Paige Toon before, this is definitely one to read.