Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the ARC.

5 stars

Story about exes to reluctant friends to lovers. A fun second chance romance between Cielo (Lo), a med student with her own complicated medical history, and Aiden, an up and coming Irish musician, who had a budding relationship before he left to pursue his career.

The two are brought back together for Lark and Callum’s wedding weekend. Lo is determined to give Aiden the cold shoulder and grit her way through the weekend. Aiden wants to test the waters and see if there could ever be something between them again. They have some funny but also some very real challenges to face to see if they can make a relationship work.

I loved this book! Morbidly Yours was an incredible story and the follow up did not disappoint. I found myself rooting for this couple very early on. I laughed, I teared up, and I ultimately had a lovely time reading Ali and A’s story.

This book is definitely spicier than I remember Morbidly Yours being. Definitely open door romance.

I loved this book and series. I am looking forward to more books in this series and from the author. I really enjoy the humor. Loved hearing from Lark and Callum. Makes me feel any to travel to Galway.

Aiden and Cielo parted ways two years ago when he got the offer of a lifetime to pursue his music career, which required him to leave Galway and move to London. Lo didn’t want long distance so they ended things (not amicably). When they are forced back into each other’s company as the best man and maid of honor at Callum and Lark’s wedding, they have to learn to be around each other again and quickly realize their flame never really went out. They try to keep things sexy just for the wedding weekend but love don’t work like that. They both want to try again but she’s afraid he’ll abandon her and he’s trying to figure out how to balance his music career when she is his number one priority.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

I liked this one but found the second half of the book to be disappointing. All the scenarios that would make it go south for me largely came to fruition, which was a bummer.

What did I like? Well, loved being back in Galway and seeing Lark and Callum again. I genuinely liked these characters although Cielo’s ever-wavering outlook got frustrating in the second half. I appreciated that they both were trying to balance their careers and make space for what they wanted. The grand gesture in this one is pretty substantial, bless sweet sweet Aiden. Also there’s a running gag with a ventriloquist dummy that delighted me.

What I didn’t love was the constant miscommunication and Lo’s failure to be honest, especially with very important information. Her ability to self-sabotage while simultaneously blaming her past experiences AND withholding information became expected maybe worst out of people was pretty annoying after a while. In the first half of the book, she’s obviously pretty angry with him still for their breakup but the book never explains the anger. I guess it’s cause he didn’t fight for their relationship? It was unclear even by the end.

Now the thing is that her parents SUCKED and fucked her up pretty good, which I can relate to. The thing that pissed me off there is that she had to either ignore them or be the adult in the relationship, so say HELLO to all my triggers. So part of me gets why she was so wishy washy about being independent and self sabotaging. But in a book, you want a little more growth for the characters and I didn’t get enough from Lo.

Overall, it was… fine, if not a bit unremarkable.

🫡 Tropes deployed: second chance romance, musician MMC, miscommunication, healthcare rep, complex family dynamics

This was a lighthearted and enjoyable read, though I didn’t love it as much as Morbidly Yours. While I’m usually not a fan of dual timelines, I think this story could have benefited from one—I wanted more insight into how their romance began, rather than feeling left in the dark. This made it harder to connect deeply with the characters. Their chemistry was strong but leaned more toward physical attraction than emotional depth, and I found myself wishing for more character growth. Still, despite not fully hitting the mark for me, it was an easy, engaging read, and I’m excited to see what Ivy comes out with next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this ARC!
I really enjoyed this book! The author did a great job at combining heavy + realistic topics with a romantic and fun story! The forced proximity of the two main characters was so enjoyable to read about. I do wish the ending was a little bit more fleshed out, as it felt a little rushed. Regardless, this was an amazing read, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a second chance romance, Ireland, a girlboss medical student FMC, and a man who YEARNS!

This was a delightful second chance romance! Aidan was delicious with the perfect amount of groveling and subjugation! Cielo was fierce and headstrong. This book has a bit of spice with a touch of kink. I really enjoyed their relationship and the way they chose to support each other!

Morbidly Yours, Book 1 in the Love in Galway series, absolutely captivated my heart when I read it in 2023 and again this past St Patrick's Day. When I received an advanced copy of Heart Strings, following the solicitor who saved the day at the end of Morbidly Yours, Aidan, and Lark's best friend, Cielo, I squealed a squeal of pure joy!

Here's a brief rundown of the basics:
--Dual POV
--Second chance romance
--Callum and Lark's wedding weekend!!
--She's a medical student with a history of leukemia and parent issues
--He's a rock star who chose following his career dreams over staying with Lo in Galway
--Emotionally mature and honest MCs-no miscommunication tropes here!
--3 chili pepper spice (moderately explicit open door scenes, but nothing that distracts from the plot)

I can't say enough wonderful things about this book. First off, readers of Morbidly Yours will love the focus on Callum and Lark's wedding weekend-although they are decidedly side characters, their presence is infused throughout the story as Lo and Aidan work together to make the weekend as magical and fulfilling as possible.

As a "reader of a certain age", I really responded to Aidan and Lo's relationship. I tend to dislike miscommunication, third act break ups, and immature characters with too much internal relationship conflict, and so reading a story about two people who hold so much love and respect for each other re-connecting after a period of separation was so wonderful. There was such honest introspection that was then met with real change to avoid repeating the same mistakes. There was dedication and devotion to each other, and to the idea that now that they know what it's like to be apart, they know that what they have is worth fighting for. I was struck by their willingness to acknowledge their past mistakes, and work to understand what the other one needs now that perhaps they didn't receive before.

The external conflicts that they had to face felt realistic, and they handled them with such grace, giving and receiving space, reassurance, and quiet loyalty. The impact of Lo's leukemia on her family and Aidan's struggles with his career both inform how they view a current relationship and what they feel they can give to and take from the other. I loved the recurring theme that you have to give people a chance to surprise you-by anticipating a negative response, refusing to be a "burden", or trying to be everything to everyone, we fail to give the people around us a chance to show us that they love us, setting them up to disappoint us before they've even had a chance to rise to the occasion.

A quick shout out for Saoirse's meet-cute-gone-wrong that seems likely to be the foundation for book 3!! Cannot wait!

Favorite Quote:
"Just because you're independent enough to get by on your own doesn't mean you don't deserve someone who will hold your hand when you're scared, or wipe your tears when you're sad, or cheer you on when you have to do something hard."

I loved Morbidly Yours but Lo and Aidan are so special. I loved the banter and the second chance romance. The way Aidan just wanted to prove himself to Lo was so good. I adored this book from start to finish.

All the stars for this love story Ivy Fairbanks has given us! Lo and Aidan love story is such a good second chance romance! Truly two people finding their way back is something I love to see, especially when the way they ended was not bad or wrong. Circumstances tore them part, and I loved how they found a way back to each other. Ivy thank you for FMC who is strong and independent, but is also relatable! Lo is one of those woman who thinks can do/fix anything herself, never wants to burden her loved ones by needing their help, and that is an independence that can runs deep.
I respected how she protects herself from those who in the past may have wronged her and I respect how Aidan came in to help LO over come that. His role in Lo life in her life, was so important to helping them come together, he supported and championed her, but also created a room for her to be real and vulnerable and he showed her how to let those walls down. I loved how Aidan saw his window of opportunity and came back to right his wrongs and help Lo know her love is still here for her and to love her!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the advance copy to review!

5 stars for Lo and Aidan love story! 5 stars for Ivy Fairbanks and giving us a book about a strong FMC who is strong and independent! She was also relatable on a deep level, because of how she thinks can do/fix anything herself, never wants to burden her loved ones by needing their help, that independence runs deep. We also respect how she protects her self from those who have wronged her. We also respect Aidan and his role in Lo life, they fell in love fast and hard, and crazy circumstances tore them apart. I loved how Aidan saw his window of opportunity and went with it! He came back to right his wrongs and how they fall back in love, and how they grow from their past and their mistakes was beautiful to read. I believe this is one of those stories that gives you hope.

We Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the advance copy to review!

Since I read a LOT of romance books, one of the things I appreciate the most is when an author varies what I expected. Who doesn’t love an unexpected surprise?! Ivy Fairbanks gifts us with an innovative take on second chance, ensconced in the FIRE of enemies to lovers. And let me tell you! The spice is UNEXPECTED and EXCITING. All of this is set in a gorgeous description of an Irish Castle wedding (of course this weaves in forced proximity❤️‍🔥).

A great continuation of the Love in Galway series! Lo and Aidan are starkly different characters from Lark and Cal in Morbidly Yours, and she built these characters and their plot up to be just as unique and diverse as Morbidly Yours. Being able to pivot effectively the way the author did here solidifies her as an auto-read author for me!

I believe this story would’ve benefitted from a slower burn, and more communication. Since this is a second chance romance, for a couple to get back together, I need there to be some serious dialogue in order to pave the way towards a true HEA. Lo and Aidan had a few short conversations about how they interpreted their breakup and what they’ve been feeling since the split, to pretty quickly reconciling their relationship. As though it’s evident they never lost feelings for one another, with Lo being painted as a take no shit grudge-holder, she shouldn’t have taken him back as easily as she did. Had the story let the budding relationship simmer more, I think this set back could’ve been tweaked to perfection.

All in all, I would recommend this series and find myself itching for more books in this series! Ivy Fairbanks I’m BEGGING for Saoirse and Gabe’s story next! Thank you so much to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

After really enjoying my time in Ireland with Lark and Callum in book 1 of this series, Morbidly Yours, I was excited to return to Ireland once again for their wedding, and join Ceilo and Adian in their quest to find love again. This second chance romance features Ceilo and Aidan, who broke up two years ago and never got over each other, and now reconnect at Callum and Lark’s wedding weekend. Ceilo harbors resentment and anger over their breakup, and Aidan is determined to make it up to her and prove they are worth another chance.

While the setup for this one was intriguing, and I usually enjoy a good second chance, this one fell a little short for me, specifically due to the lack of a past timeline, flashbacks, or any other scenes letting us experience their love as it first played out two years ago. SO much of their feelings are wrapped up in how they felt back then, what they lost, and why it fell apart, and we’re not really privy to any of it, which made connecting to their story a little difficult for me.

The conflicts in this one held Ceilo back from so much, and yet by the end of the book I didn’t feel like many of them were actually resolved. This is a case where I wanted Ceilo to get a therapist, and by the end we were instead just told that she had gotten over her past and the things holding her back from believing in her and Adian’s love story.

Aidan was fine, but I found him to be a bit of a pushover and the helpless romantic in him made it hard to believe that he would do much when things actually got tough for them. Sometimes the MCs who are absolutely blind to everything except their love for the other MC are difficult for me to connect with, as they seem to ignore the real world and that always comes back to bite them at some point.

Also, the spice got to be a bit too....creative for me, which was a surprise based on the spice I was expecting after reading book 1.

I would have bought into their story a little more had I been able to see how they fell in love, and how it actually felt in the moment to lose each other, but unfortunately all of that happening off page, combined with some of the frustrating aspects of our MCs’s personalities, held me back from really connecting with this one. I think a lot of people will really like this one, but it just missed the mark for me.

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam through Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This author is new to me, but I will be keeping an eye out for anything else they publish. I loved the story and the characters. The pacing of the story was great and the characters were relatable.

Another fantastic book in her Love in Galway series!! This latest exes to lovers second chance romance picks up following Morbidly yours and sees Lark and Callum preparing to get married with the help of their friends and former exes, Lo and Aiden.

Former lawyer turned star singer-songwriter, Aiden has never gotten over his first love, Lo - the inspiration for all his songs. Lo, however, is a Leukemia survivor turned med student and has no time or desire to give Aiden another chance to break her heart.

Forced to work together to help with the wedding, the two can't deny that their electric connection and chemistry is still there but can they risk everything for another chance?? Steamy, emotional and full of heart, this was a quick, entertaining read that I didn't want to end! I can't wait for Saoirse's story next!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review! Highly recommended for fans of authors like Brooke Gilbert or Trish Doller. Ivy Fairbanks is a new auto-buy author for me and I can't recommend this enough for anyone wanting to visit Ireland through a good book.

I read this ARC voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I enjoyed reading another instalment by this author. Was great to see Callum and Lark again.
The spicy scenes were spicier than I expected, and I really liked how easily Lo and Aidan interacted as characters. It made it easy to read.
Writing about music stars has been done a lot, but I was surprised that the focus on cheating wasn't too heavy.
The cancer topic was a bit too close to home, so that's the only reason I had to take a star away. From personal experience, I didn't want to read about it due to bad flashbacks. But I'm glad Aidan made her his priority. That was beautiful to see.

Cielo is working hard in Ireland to become a doctor when her past collides with her for a weekend in the form of a tattooed, talented O'Toole, also known as her ex and the best man at her cousin's wedding. The two are forced to work together to support their friends in a second-chance trope-filled romance.

Ivy Fairbanks’s writing is as sweet as it is spicy, and her characters make this a delightful read for anyone who enjoys second-chance love stories with real emotional weight, especially set in Ireland!

Thank you, NetGalley, and Penguin Group Putnam, for this eArc out in August 2025!

ARC review

"Heart Strings" by Ivy Fairbanks is the second book in the "Love in Galway" series.

Thank you PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the advance review copy (via Netgalley).
Opinions from this review are completely my own.

I loved "Morbidly Yours" and I'm so happy that there are more books in the series.

Cielo and Aiden were together until he got the opportunity to record an album and moved to London.
She was just starting medical school in Galway and could not manage a long distance relationship.
More than 2 years later they are maid of honor and best man at Callum and Lark's wedding.

Even if Cielo doesn't usually give second chances (especially after she went through cancer at 17), Aiden could be the exception.

I like that the book takes us back to Galway and I enjoyed every small scene with Callum and Lark.
Cielo is an independent woman that does her best to protect her heart from breaking again.
She is a relatable character and I liked her story.
Aiden was so sweet and their relationship disserved another chance.

I liked that they had chemistry and knew how to banter. Also, the spice scenes were hot.

Even if I did not like the book as much as "Morbidly Yours", I recommend it and I might reread it before it comes out.

He’s a Hozier coded musician. She’s a fiercely independent med student.
Setting: Galway
Trope: Second chance romance
Tears: some
Yearning: immense

They couldn’t make it work the first time. Well, less couldn’t and more barely even tried. He was getting signed with a major label and moving to London. She was just starting med school in Galway and barely had time to eat, much less navigate a long-distance relationship with a rising star. Their decisions left them both feeling hurt.

Now, years later, a wedding brings them back together. Lo doesn’t waste time on second chances. But Aiden has spent the last two years writing songs about the one that got away and he’s not about to let her slip through his fingers again.

I enjoyed this one quite a bit. It sits firmly in the better half of my second chance romance pile. I love a man who yearns and Aiden delivered. I didn’t initially love Cielo but her arc had me warming to her by the end.

Lo’s mom was so annoying and the way Lo always conceded to her bothered me. There were a few scenes that were too cheesy for me (if a man ever took me to his bedroom at his PARENTS’ HOUSE to sing a song he wrote for me, I'd jump out the window). And the smut was not really my thing.

I will be absolutely coming back for Saoirse’s story.

Thank you Putnam and Netgalley for the eARC!

4.5 stars!!! This love story was absolutely adorable! I loved the culture and Irish aspects and seeing Lark and Callum again! This is a second chance, forced proximity story. The FMC is a fierce warrior determined to not ruin her cousins wedding by having to see her musician ex, she’s also a medical student so I love seeing the stem aspect. The MMC is an Irish musician who’s torn between his muse and his career but his love for her does stop and he is swoon worthy. Their story was sweet, fun, lighthearted, and pulled on my heartstrings. Highly recommend.