This book started off strong for me. I was intrigued with where it was going. As I got to the middle though, things started to drag for me, not much was happening and I wasn’t really connecting with any of the characters. I will say that I preferred the second half to the first half, and I support the way the ending unfolded, I just didn't feel the same level of investment in Wren and Anders as I have for other book couples. Still, Toon is undoubtedly a talented writer, and I look forward to checking out more of her work!

I'm glad this book was about more than just Wren getting over a broken heart. It gave her more depth and made her a more interesting character. Her rocky childhood definitely affected how she saw herself, and not always in a good way. The trip to Indiana was a life-changing experience for her, her family, and Anders and his family too. It was great to see their relationship develop over time. It felt natural and I enjoyed the journey. except for the fact that it made me cry. The ending was a stunning revelation.

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All the above opinions are my own.

Such a heartfelt story of finding love again and losing love. This story was about finding love in the craziness of the world but also having to let go of past love to truly give yourself to the new love in front of you.

I enjoyed reading a book that has a midwest, rural setting! We need more of these!

The story is about a woman that thought she found forever love but then realized he loved someone else more. She was then in a place without purpose. She was unhappy with her job and needed time away. While spending time with family and working remotely, she was able to repair family bonds and build her own self-esteem which led to her being able to dream of a fruitful future. New dreams lead to new adventures!

Okay, I wanted to like this more than I did. It had the bones of something great. But I was not totally invested until 80% in!!! I would've loved a dual perspective or to be let in on the big secret before too late in the novel. I also laughed to myself as I thought I was starting a British women's fiction read, but we ended up in rural Indiana. All in all, it was a beautiful story but I feel like we could've spent more time exploring the bittersweet seemingly impossible circumstances instead of rushing to patch it up by the end of the book.

This was my first Paige Toon book, but I'll be going back now to read them all. I don't think any other book has given me such Colleen Hoover vibes in a good way. The twist in the book is gut-wrenching and unexpected, but so beautiful at the same time. I adored this book!

Thank you Penguin Group Putnam and Netgalley for an ARC of Only Love Can Hurt Like This in exchange for an honest review.

When things don’t seem to be going well for Wren, her fiancée left her for another woman and the job she was working on was handed to someone else, she decides to go visit her father and stepmother in the US. It turns out that that was exactly what she needed in her life. To build a relationship with them and her half sister, Bailey.

There, she also meets Anders and Jonas. The brothers who live on the farm next door to her father’s. Anders lost his wife 4 years ago and hasn’t given himself the chance to find happiness. Wren and Anders begin to develop strong feelings for each other, but Anders has a secret that he is not willing to share yet.

I really enjoyed this book about love, loss, family, and forgiveness. The characters were all very likable.

🎶Only Love Can Hurt Like This🎶

So tough to think about this book and not sing the title like Paloma Faith's Only Love Can Hurt Like This! Paige Toon broke my heart in tiny little pieces with this one. Such a strong and emotional story! I loved all the characters and how raw, real, and complex their relationships were.

Lovely love story where both protags have experienced loss of different types secrets that wound. At times, cliche, but endearing.

When describing this book, the first thing that comes to mind is "if a Colleen Hoover book was set in a Lifetime movie." The idyllic setting was the perfect backdrop for two unexpected acquaintances to fall in love– but not without some heart-breaking family secrets coming to light in the process. Toon introduced readers to an easily lovable cast of characters that you couldn't help but root for, even as they attempt to come to terms with what "moving on" truly means.

This was such an enjoyable read, and one that I honestly didn't want to end! I wanted to spend time with Wren, Anders, Bailey, and Jonas forever. This was my first book by Paige Toon and it certainly won't be my last. Only Love Can Hurt Like This follows Wren, who lives in the UK and is on holiday visiting her dad in rural Indiana right after her fiancé tells her that he's in love with someone else. While there, she meets Anders, who is struggling to move on after his own loss of his wife four years prior. And well, this is a romance novel so you can put two and two together! Such an amazing book and highly recommend.

Wren is blind-sighted when her fiance suddenly tells her he has fallen for someone else. Everything they had planned together in this small town in England is thrown off course, and Wren desperately needs to get away. She decides to visit her father's family in Indianapolis, where she encounters the neighbors' two friendly but mysterious sons.

This romance story is filled with interesting and likable characters and the family dynamics represented are relatable and very complicated, as real families always are. Toon is adept at evoking serious emotion, like the gut-wrenching pain Wren experienced from her fiance's betrayal, and the feelings of hurt and abandonment from her father when he decided to start another family.

Even though a lot of the story has a lighthearted tone, there are very serious topics that play a major role in the central conflict, and the emotions that are conveyed are powerful and deeply resonant. The end result is a well-balanced, easy-to-read, but still very impactful story. The ending was a little too neat and tidy to be realistic, but it was still a satisfying conclusion to the story.

A heartbreaking story, I was hooked from the beginning. My heart was so invested into these MCs it hurt so much. The writing was excellent, kept me reading the suspense of finding out the secret was torture.

If slow-burn romance is your thing, this book will be a solid choice. The action doesn't happen until the end of the book and getting there is tedious and redundant. The writing is nice and I appreciate the setting, but the pacing wasn't exactly my preference.

Ask me if I like romance books and I'll so no. Then ask me if I liked this book. Also no, because I loved it! This was some serious small town sadness and I was here for every heartbreaking moment of it. This book will tear you apart and piece you back together! Again, I don't read much romance but I wanted to read this in an attempt to expose myself to different genres. That being said, I don't have much to compare it to in the way of romances but I did really enjoy this and will read more contemporary romance in the future.

Thank you Netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for my ARC of Only Love Can Hurt Like This. These opinions are my own.

3.5 stars
Didn’t hate it. Didn’t love it.
Super emotional but also overdramatic at times. MIT seemed to rush to a finish but then the epilogue was a mini book of its own.

This book wasn't for me. I found very little chemistry between Wren and Anders. They hardly spent time together and there conversations were always dull. No sparks whatsoever! The twist at the end seemed callous.

This was my first time reading a book by Paige Toon, but it won't be the last
This book was beautiful, just exquisitely written and full of heart. I loved all the relationships in the book: lovers, friends, family. But the main love story...talk about a long, slow burn. I loved it and just had to keep reading.
Thank you Netgalley for the complimentary eARC. All opinions are my own.

I wanted to love this book. I enjoyed the characters & felt they were well developed. The twist in the plot lost it for me & the overall cheese factor at times.

Thank you Net Galley & to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 4/5⭐️
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Summary: When Wren realises her fiancé is in love with someone else, she thinks her heart will never recover. On the other side of the world, Anders lost his wife four years ago and is still struggling to move on. Wren hopes that spending the summer with her dad and step-family on their farm in Indiana will help her to heal.
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Review: What a tear-jerker, This book cut right to the core for me. I knew going into it this book was going to be a HEA moment but I also knew (from the title this was going to bring every emotion I have through it all). I really enjoyed it. I think it also ended at the perfect point. The author didn't drag it out and I appreciated that.