My Thoughts

Imogen Finch has never found a way to keep her romantic relationships from ending.

Her most recent one was far from perfect but at least it lasted longer than a year, only because Imogen herself put forth the most effort to keep it going.

This pattern of behavior started when she was in college and has continued throughout her entire dating life.

Breakup 17 now barely in her rearview Imogen gets a second wind when first crush Eliot Swift comes home for the first time in ten long years.

Imogen and Eliot are the kind of characters one cannot help but enjoy, she is all about family obligations, relationships with friends and making a life in their small coastal town.

Eliot on the other hand is not wired to stay in one place for very long before his desire to move on is stronger than his desire for Imogen.

Building on itself as it goes this is the second book that I have enjoyed written by the author and it in turn made me smile then made me cry before smiling again as it came full circle with a positive ending-new beginning for Imogen and Eliot.

Their journey is well thought out as both main characters and the secondary characters that support them proved to be interesting as well as entertaining to me from start to finish.

There is a saying that goes, “If you love someone, set them free; if they come back to you, it was meant to be.” This phrase implies that relationships should not be forced or a product of guilt or manipulation.

This sentiment applies very well to Imogen and Eliot perfectly.
[EArc from Netgalley]

On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

The Predictable Heartbreaks of Imogen Finch is was fun and charming read. Imogen has never come in first, ever. She's always the girl the boys date before they find the one. She has been through many break ups and she can't figure out if she's cursed or just has bad luck. When her friend and childhood crush, Elliot, comes back into town for his fathers funeral, he encourages her to try anything and everything to get a win. I had a great time reading about Imogen and Elliot trying to break her curse and reconnect along the way. This was such a cute read!

Second chance love, fun and romantic, if you like this kind of trope this is definitely for you, the story pasting is good and the book overall is great

I absolutely loved this one! Very different from Firkin's previous adult romance but equally addicting. This one was such a soft, tender, friends-to-lovers romance filled with humor, heart, so much pining, and a little bit of magic! I'm a fan!

I adored this book. It was a little slow getting into it at first but without too much effort it was very difficult to put down. The story is beautiful, tragic, funny, and uplifting all at once. The characters are well fleshed out (even the minor ones). Jacqueline Firkins is a true storyteller. I need to go check out her other books now.

Cute and different romance book about a group of friends in a small town. The characters took me a big to get use too the mom is definitely a character. It would be interesting to have a conversation with her.

Lots of family drama and some nasty family members

I sent a review in error. Still want to read this novel but I don’t know how to clear a review. I will resubmit a review once I finish book.

The Predictable heartbreaks of Imogen Finch is a simple second chance rom-com that turns into so much more. It follows Imogen, who is working half a dozen jobs supporting her mother in a small town. She’s had a bad history of relationships and has only ever been in love once, with her unrequited crush and best friend in high school.

This seemed like a very light hearted book, the beginning was quite slow and very predictable but as the romance between Elliott and Imogen grew deeper so did the book. It tackles self love and acceptance just as much or possibly even more than romance. I was very pleased with the end of this book. Too often romance books are very quickly resolved within the last chapter. This book shows a realistic resolution to the main conflict, which made it so much more satisfying then other romances!

Fun, quick rom-com. Nothing over the top. It has it's quirky characters and the guy that got away. Enjoyable and makes you laugh at some of Imogen's adventures

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC.

“The Predictable Heartbreaks of Imogen Finch” by Pernille Hughes is a poignant and beautifully crafted novel that explores the complexities of love, loss, and personal growth. Hughes’ writing is heartfelt and evocative, drawing readers into Imogen Finch’s world as she navigates the ups and downs of relationships. Imogen’s character is relatable and endearing. I loved it!

If Jacqueline Firkins doesn't turn this into a series about Pitt's Corner, I'm going to riot.

I thought this was just going to be another cute rom-commy contemporary, but The Predictable Heartbreaks of Imogen Finch is anything but predictable. It's a snarky second-chance romance, a small town romance for skeptics that's equal parts sassy and sweet (okay, maybe it's more like a 60-40 split.) The dedication--"for the boy who left. And never came back."--should've clued me in that this wasn't going to a sparkly, sappy, head-in-the-clouds kind of a love story. It's messy, serious-ish, and angsty, and I loved it so much I was lying in bed, squinting at my kindle well past midnight trying to fight off sleep and the annoying voice that kept yammering, "you have work tomorrow" because I couldn't put it down.

THE PREDICTABLE HEARTBREAKS OF IMOGEN FINCH by Jacqueline Firkins does not come out until Halloween (tysm @stmartinspress for approving my request on NetGalley, I love you forever) which means you are all very unlucky because you have to wait and it is SO GOOD.

This book is like if Homer's The Odyssey and Looking Glass's song "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" did a contemporary romcom collab. And I mean that in the most complimentary way possible. That song is one of my all time top 10 songs.

I shan't write an essay about it (unless I finally start that substack I've been joking about??) but there is a prophecy, a curse, a man who traveled for ten years before returning home, a swoony bit about knitting (i.e., WEAVING). The ocean is practically a character. There's pining and longing and fingers brushing in a way that any Jane Austen fan would melt. Also I cried.

Long story short (too late!) I thought it was just lovely. And it did make me listen to Brandy and least three times.

I loved loved loved this friends to lovers story. Imogen was raw and real. She struggled with her moms vision of her “fate” to always come second in everything. It was an adorable backdrop for Eliot to swoop in and try to prove her wrong. It set up for silliness and seriousness. I adored the character growth throughout the book, but especially at the end. Imogen did what was right for her and finally accepted who she was fully. This book was well written, got you attached to the characters, and left me desperate for more follow up.

Second chance romance, mutual pining, small-town, deeper than I expected!

Hint of steamy, but so much more than that. Multi-dimensional characters who you can do nothing but root for! Pick this up if these tropes are for you.

I really enjoyed this story. Second chance, friends to lovers. It took some time to get there and you get some wisdom along the way.

Imogen is so relatable to me. Always putting the needs and happiness of others before herself. Believing her mother's prophecy that she would never be first at anything or to anyone and just accepting it.

Imogen and Eliot finding their way back to each other takes time. This is a slow burn. You do get an open door.

I felt bad for Dutch, it felt unnecessary to throw him in at the end.

Overall, cute read with some life lessons.

I loved this friends-to-lovers, second-chance romance novel from Jacqueline Firkins—so much so that I could not put it down, and read it in less than 24 hours. A story that could have felt familiar and overdone was in fact fresh, new, and completely compelling, thanks to the storyline of the curse, the clear and honest communication between the characters, and the growth each experienced on their own.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an eARC of this book via NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating: 5/5 Stars
Publishing: October 31, 2023
Series: N/A
Pages: 352

This is a second novel that I have read by Jacqueline Firkins and thought it was very enjoyable…so much so that I read it in one sitting. A trope of friends-to-lovers and second chance romance, you have Imogen Finch who believes she is somehow cursed as she has come in second most of her life and have gone through numerous breakups…always left for someone better. She thinks she will never come in first at anything and has returned to her hometown to deal with an ailing mother who is for the most part psychic.

She has become acceptable to the life she has working various jobs to keep a roof over her head until fate has it that her high school secret crush returns to attend his father’s funeral. Eliot Swift has never stayed in one place for the most of his life and has never known what love is…at least not from his parents who on occasion returned to their seaside estate to entertain their lovers. While Imogen has been a constant via texting, Eliot, YouTube superstar, on the other hand has been non-communicative and absent. A chance meeting at his family mansion has the two reminiscing of the past, catching up on the current and eventually making plans to conquer what Imogen believes to be her curse.

Is there attraction between the characters? Yes, and it is a bit slow burn until they find themselves falling in love with one another while trying to put themselves first at something…anything. I loved that Eliot and Imogen kept things real and honest in their relationship. The story was well-written and had sub-characters that were relatable, and the story progressed. There are comically moments, especially with her quirky mother and best friend. I did feel a little sympathetic to Imogen’s plight with trying to prioritize herself first, however with Eliot not bringing closure to his issues, she still felt like a doormat in their relationship…putting his above hers based on her compassionate and empathetic nature. Also, not the ending I anticipated as Imogen still experienced heartbreak with her first love. Although Eliot returned after eleven months, was he there to stay for the duration? I think this is where the author seemed to have difficulty with the outcome of the ending…not quite HEA. There is a sense of longing to be first and for Eliot and Imogen, theirs was love and patience.

Insightful, delightful, and enjoyable read that makes it all the important to love yourself, accept all that life has to offer, including the messes, and pursuing the things that makes you happy by putting yourself first. Recommended read.

Imogene Finch has a lot going on in her life that makes her who she is and why. She never comes first in anything she has done in her life. I wanted her to have things go her way, but it never seemed to happen. This is one of the main reasons that this book was a slow read for me.
Thank you NetGalley, Jacqueline Firkins and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of The Predictable Heartbreaks of Imogen Finch.
This is my personal review.

I received a copy of this ebook from NetGalley.

Honestly, I think I'm being over generous this week, but I have read two books that I would normally rate 4 stars and I'm giving them fives because I can't really see any reason not to. I typically save my five stars for books I would read again, and I don't think I would read this book again, but it's not because it's not a great book. It is!

Imogen Finch is cursed. She is doomed to come in second in anything and everything. Second in contests, and second in love. She has been dumped by 17 men...all who have left her for someone else, with the exception of like, one who left her for a cult. Awesome.

She's also been in love with her childhood best friend since...well...childhood. They haven't spoken in years, but a funeral brings him back to town.

They catch up, they reconnect, and they learn that some bonds can't be broken by time. But can Imogen's curse be broken? Or are they doomed?

More importantly, can Imogen learn to put HERSELF first?

This was a nice read on a day off. It tugged at your heartstrings. There were eccentric characters. There were friendships and character growth.

And at the end of the book, you don't know if Eliot and Imogen are going to end up together. Maybe they aren't each other's first choice? Maybe they were just meant for a time. Maybe maybe maybe. Who knows? Not me, not Imogen, not Eliot. Maybe Imogen's psychic mom....

Anyway, this is a solid 4 star book, but due to my current niceness, and the fact that there really weren't any miscommunications or toxic tropes, this book is getting a 5.

I can totally see Imogen and Eliot's love story turned into a movie. The plot is so easily enjoyable and the characters so sympathetic that I can't help but highly recommend.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin, and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.