Oh my heart. This was a lovely story about two old friends and their journeys to overcome a lifetime of trauma and habits. The characters are all wonderful and the story heartbreaking and beautiful.

This was so cute and yes, I can see this as a hallmark movie. I loved it and it completely hooked me from the beginning and I was enchanted by it til the very end! I loved it!
I just reviewed The Predictable Heartbreaks of Imogen Finch by Jacqueline Firkins. #NetGalley
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Imogen has a curse wherein guys date her only to then end up cheating on her with their soulmate. They end up happily married while her series of bad luck continues. Her “curse” kind of reminds me of the one inflicted on Dane Cook’s character from the movie Good Luck Chuck. Although Imogen’s curse all started with her best friend from childhood choosing to take their other best friend to prom over her and then pretty much abandoning her after their high school graduation. To the fantasy reluctant readers out there, let me assure you there is no magic or scorned fairy involved in the story so don’t let the concept of a “curse” put you off the novel.

At front and centre is a second-chance and friends-to-lovers romance, with the return of Eliot to their hometown following his estranged father’s funeral. It’s a story about self-exploration and heart but best of all with a little humour. Imogen is an entirely relatable individual. She’s found herself stuck and settling in most aspects of her life. She’s entirely a people pleaser and has just kind of found a way to exist instead of live life. Although we don’t get scenes from Eliot’s perspective, his character still takes quite a journey despite being told through Imogen’s eyes. He’s lost in his own way and coping as best he can. He struggles to stay in one place and cuts ties with almost everything, down to his minimum possessions.

It feels a little corny to say but from a single girl's perspective, it was kind of beautiful to read about two people, who at the bare minimum just want someone out there to prioritise them, to see them for who they are and what they have to offer. For two people to pick each other above all. Yet their expectations for how that happens is just so vastly different. As humans it is in our nature to want love. It seems like a simple thing but instead it is this complex combination of emotions and actions that looks so different to every person based on their experiences, values and personality. It is also how we show love to ourselves which is not only the most important relationship we have but oftentimes the hardest one. This was an absolutely great exploration of all these concepts and leaves a little hope that love is out there for us all and it might not look the same for all of us.

I may have made this sound like a heavy novel but it still manages to be above-all a romantic comedy. There’s witty dialogue, steamy scenes, and fun encounters. I have fallen head-over-heels for Jacqueline Firkins writing with this second home run of a novel. This is the kind of novel I want to grab copies of and hand them to all my favourite people just so we can dissect it all together.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Really enjoyed this one - a lovely blend of almost-magical predictions, heartbreak, and friendships. Throughout the book, I found myself unsure of how it would end, in a way that made me surprised by the actual ending. It was a delight!

What a cute and entertaining romance novel or scratch that, magical romance novel. I fell in love with the characters immediately and Imogene really takes the stage in this one. Her character is so well developed and courageous enough to try new things when all else seems to fail. After seventeen failed relationships, Imogen thinks that she will never be first to anything or anyone. Atleast that is what she was told by her mother. Then someone comes back into her life and changes everything. Eliot Swift tells her that she can be first and they decide to try her hand at swimming and trivia games. Yet it seems that there is something more important waiting on her. This is a rooting for the protagonist story that will have you cheering the whole way. I am not usually reading in this genre but I love this book. The author does a great job to allow the reader to feel as though they are a part of the story.



5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author/publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

I really enjoyed this sweet and thought-provoking story. The characters are deep and well-written, and their complex histories raise more questions than answers. The author handles all of this with a deft touch that kept me turning pages, and I genuinely did not know how things would turn out. I especially appreciated how the author populated the complicated interaction between the protagonists with an array of really nice friends, neighbors, and relatives. It was so relaxing to slip into an imaginary town where people support and help one another with ease and love, A great reading experience.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book.

I received this ARC for an honest review. This is my first book by Jacqueline Firkins. Over all I enjoyed the book, but my only complaint is sometimes she over explains the situations. I like the characters and the quality of writing.
As you might has guessed, this story is about Imogen and how she always comes in second due to a curse. Imogen is tired of being second to every guy she dates. She wants to be someone’s first.
Her best friend (Eliot) came back home for his dad’s funeral, and the crush she had back as a teenager came back with Eliot’s arrival.
This book is about Imogen’s self discovery and how she can make herself happy. There are plenty of emotion in is story.
I will be reading another Jacqueline Firkins’ book.

Initial thoughts: It took me a few chapters but I ended up really getting into this story. The characters all hold so much depth and you feel the crushing weight of Imogen's curse as she always comes up second best. If you visualize while reading then this story is really fun because it plays out like a well scripted movie.

Once finished: Where do I begin... this book made me feel all the feels in all the best ways. Imogen's curse feels suffocating at times and you spend the whole time wondering how there can be a HEA with the curse in the way. It was all resolved in a beautiful, real way that makes sense for both the plot and the characters involved. This story involves all of the raw and messy parts of life and weaves them together in a way that still gives the reader hope. I don't want to give anything away so all I'm going to say is go read this!

🌶🌶/5 and really well written at that!

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

When I tell you I have zero complaints about this book. Zip. Zilch. Nada. From the very beginning, scratch that, from the moment I read the description, I fell in love with this book. Firkins has a way of gripping you with this story, the tale of Imogen Finch, cursed to never come first in her life, in anything. And yet, this book is not a pity party, it is not Imogen feeling sorry for herself. Instead, it’s a thoughtful exploration into what it means to be happy, how to come to terms with what you want and what you can give in a relationship. The pacing in this book was perfect, effortlessly page turning and gripping where it needed to be. The main characters’ history left nothing feeling rushed, and I found myself devouring the book—I literally read like 75% of it in one sitting. I fell in love with this narrator, with her relationships, and with the love interest in this book. It felt so real and raw in a way I don’t see often in fiction/romance novels. There’s moments of growth, acceptance, sweet friendships, family bonding, and steamy scenes that all blend together to create a lovely story. I will warn for a few minor spoilers here, but one of my favorite parts of this book has to be the end. I find often that, in romance novels, there’s a fault that the characters have to be 100% definitively together by the ned, and that results in one or both of them sacrificing a bit of their characterization to make it work, but that didn’t happen here. In a testament to Firkin’s talent as a storyteller, Imogen and Eliot acknowledge their love, their connection, while realizing…right person, wrong time. It’s still an HEA, don’t get me wrong, but the way it’s handled is so real, nuanced, and incredibly thoughtful. I genuinely loved this book and wholeheartedly recommend it for anyone looking for something to read.

Thank you again to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for this e-arc. This is an honest review, all opinions are my own.

I didn’t love this book, but I didn’t dislike it either. It was just ok for me. I liked it for the journey of self-discovery more than for any part of the romance plot line.

Imogen believes she’s cursed to always come in second in everything throughout her life due to a prediction her mom made when she was a child. Contests, school, relationships—she’s always a runner-up to someone. Shortly after her mom makes another prediction about her life, her long lost friend and the boy she was in love with as a teenager, Eliot, is forced to return home, and their reunion leads to all kinds of complicated emotions and challenges.

I could relate to Imogen’s people-pleasing nature in the name of taking care of everyone else while ignoring her own needs at times. She is firmly rooted in her community ever since she returned home after college to care for her mom. We read about many of her heartbreaks over the years, and it’s easy to come to the conclusion along with her that she’s been a bit of a doormat in her relationships. It’s nice to see her grow some resolve throughout the book and realize that no one else will put her first if she can’t even put herself first in her life. Eliot left town when he was 18 and essentially never looked back. He kept in touch for awhile, but eventually ghosted everyone. Upon his return, I felt like things went from zero to 100 too fast between the two of them and I never really felt confident in their relationship. Admittedly, for most of the novel, I think that was the point because neither did they, but it made it difficult to root for them.

*This part is going to be a little bit spoilery.*
I tend to shy away from anything that has even hints of a love triangle. It’s just not something I enjoy. Even if, as in the case of this book, one point of the triangle is unaware they’re in one. I didn’t enjoy the early dynamic between Imogen, Eliot, and Franny, and I really didn’t like that Eliot and Franny had a *history* from a time when Imogen felt she was in love with Eliot. There were plenty of events/situations/examples of her being a runner-up throughout the book without needing to make her one to her best friend with the boy she loved. It didn’t sit well with me and left a bad taste in my mouth for the rest of the book. I didn’t like that because of that, she felt second best to her best friend when Eliot returned in adulthood, even if she wasn’t. I know teenage boys are dumb, but I never really got past Eliot making those choices when he supposedly felt the same about Imogen as she felt about him, and it definitely played a part in me having a hard time rooting for their relationship.

So, I'm an idiot. I thought this would be a light, fun rom-com to make me feel warm an fuzzy inside. The Predictable Heartbreaks of Imogen Finch is so much more than that.

Firkins takes this rom-com and digs into questions of self-worth, self-confidence, and finding someone who makes the effort. I loved reading Imogen's story, she was sweet, kind, and almost painfully reminded me of my own insecurities. I also loved this quirky cast! They were all so much fun to read about and I loved the whimsy that Imogen's mom brought to the narrative.

Elias Swift, the love interest, was a different sort of hero. He conquers his own struggles without boxing Imogen in and a really appreciated that, it felt fresh and different to the typical rom-com tropes.

I did have to take a star away because personally, this book was too steamy for me. I feel like such a contradiction because I love rom-coms, but I don't like reading the steamy bits! I do my best to skip them lol.

Thank you to the publishers and to NetGalley for the arc in exhange for an honest review.

I couldn't get into this one, but I think in this case it's just personal taste rather than anything about the book. It's working very hard to be quirky; that plus the writing voice just didn't really jive with me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!

Poor Imogen! She has more bad things happen to her than anyone can even imagine.....except maybe her mom that predicts her future. When her best friend from childhood, Eliot comes back into her life she finally has a chance at a complicated but happy future. She has to decide what will truly make her happy and isn't that what we all have to do?

I enjoyed reading this, the characters are relatable and well developed. This book did have some spicy bits. Definitely would recommend to anyone looking for a fast-paced spicy read.

4/5 stars
2/5 spice

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

Super cute and a very enjoyable experience to read. Definitely one to consider if you like a good chick lit story that is perfect for the beach or pool side.

The Predictable Heartbreaks of Imogen Finch by Jacqueline Firkins

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley for review. My opinions are my own.

5/5 stars

This. Book.

If you’re looking for a second chance romance that has some legit substance, this is it. This book deals with some heavy subjects, such as family trauma and cheating but it does it in very sensitive way.

Imogen is a 20-something who lives at home with her mom when it becomes clear that her mom can’t care for herself, abandoning her own dreams. The bright side is that her best friend, who is also the guardian of her 15yo niece, also lives in their hometown, so she has plenty of support.

Eliot is the missing link from their trio. After moving away after high school, imogen has lost touch. However, he returns home after a family tragedy.

Add to the story that Imogen is living with a prophecy that she will never be first in anything - games, jobs, or relationships. Prior to Eliot returning home, she has just suffered from breakup 17.

Guess you’ll have to see if Imogen and Eliot break that prophecy…

I enjoyed reading The Predictable Heartbreaks of Imogen Finch by Jacqueline Firkins. It's a great read if you like the friends to lovers / second chances trope! This story is about Imogen and Elliot – good friends who pine for each other in high school but don’t get together. Elliot then goes off traveling the world and documenting it all on social media. Imogen stays at home with her mother and believes that she is cursed based on the predictions of her mother’s “inner eye.” Elliot returns home temporarily upon the death of his father and sees his good friend Imogen again. Their relationship progresses but Elliot wants to get back on the road. The story is full of angst, cute events and funny small-town happenings. It’s about Imogen slowly learning how to put herself first in life rather than always second or last to take care of everyone else’s needs. Elliot, with the help of a therapist, must learn to stop running away.

A big “Thank You” to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for providing me with an advance copy in return for an independent, honest review.

great! has things i love—second chance, friends-to-lovers—that are done really well. both imogen & eliot are complex and well-rounded. honestly, all of the characters are fun and interesting, even the small bit ones. good story; eliot returning after such a long time away and the events it sets in motion i really liked.

#netgalley

This book was so cute and heartwarming. I loved all the characters and how the book was laid out. It made me laugh and cry and made my insides feel all warm and fuzzy. I thought the character development was excellent and it went deeper than your general rom-com which I liked. I did feel like it was a bit rushed in the end and I wish we knew the story behind his tattoos. But all in all it was an excellent read. One I know I’ll reach for again soon and I’ll recommend to all my friends. (Also he needs glasses on the cover of the book. 😉)

This was a light and quick read. While entertaining, it was often predictable. I found the story line about the mother‘s prophesies to be distracting.