Aidan and Cielo broke up 2 years ago when he left to follow his dream. They are reunited for Callum and Lark's wedding. Cielo is under tons of pressure being a medical student, having an overbearing mother and having the cloud of cancer hanging over her head. Aidan is struggling with his artistic integrity thanks to a lousy manager and label. The kicker, they're both still hopelessly in love with each other. She fights it initially, but Aidan is determined to at least try to get back into her life. The spark is still there and they give in pretty easily, although Cielo still has her guard up. she's fiercely independent and doesn't share what she should. luckily, a good friend helps her after a breakdown and things fall into place. After reading Morbidly Yours, it was really sweet to see Callum and Lark's wedding. I enjoyed this one as well. Very much looking forward to book 3.

There were a lot of positive things about this book that I really enjoyed, along with a few aspects that I think could have been done a little better. Let’s start with the positives!

First off, the cover is absolutely adorable—it’s actually what drew me in and made me apply for the ARC in the first place. The chemistry between Lo and Aiden was sweet, and I found myself rooting for them throughout the story. I appreciated how time and distance didn’t pull them apart but instead made their connection stronger. It was refreshing to see how they supported each other’s dreams in a meaningful way.

That said, there were a few elements that didn’t quite work for me. I was expecting the FMC to be a bit different than how she turned out—she was kind of a mess, and honestly, I don’t think she was in the right place to be in a relationship. It made it harder for me to fully connect with her journey. Also, I found it a bit odd when Aiden would start singing during phone sex. I’m all for unique character traits, but it pulled me out of the moment and felt a little odd. Not trying to yuck anyone’s yum—it just wasn’t my vibe.

Overall, this book had a lot of heart and charm, and while some moments didn’t land for me, I still appreciated the story it was trying to tell.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ivy Fairbanks is officially one of my favorite authors! Heart Strings felt like coming home after falling hopelessly in love with Galway in Morbidly Yours. Lo and Aidan are FIRE. Their chemistry and adoration for each other is magnetic. I laughed and cried and was rooting for them on every page in every chapter! The banter was top notch 🙌🏻 and the romance made me feel things 🥹. I absolutely cherished the fact that Callum and Lark were huge roles in this book and weren't just an afterthought. So, so, so grateful 🙏🏼

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Five stars hands down.
I'm ready to start it all over again

Thank you to Putnam and Netgalley for access to this eARC. I always appreciate the opportunity to read and review ahead of release day!

A second-chance romance between exes taking part in their best friends' wedding is a classic for a reason, but Heart Strings truly brought a new level of romance to the trope. The Irish singer-songwriter had to choose between career- and financial security for his family -or staying in Galway with Cielo, and two years later his album that's largely inspired by their whirlwind romance is a hit. Cielo is in medical school, avoiding her ex's songs on the radio and working hard to become a pediatric doctor after surviving cancer as a teenager. Add in the wedding that brings them back together and you get a touching love story with family drama, some Irish countryside hijinks, and yearning at its absolute best.

Every potential miscommunication is handled beautifully, every strained moment met respectfully and patiently. Themes of trust, respect, and vulnerability show up even in the intimate scenes - these characters have tangible history and Ivy Fairbanks does such a great job of working it into every vulnerable moment, reinforcing how your person is always the one that knows how to take care of you even if you've never actually asked them to.

I rated Heart Strings 4.5/5. I would recommend this to any contemporary romance fan that enjoys a musician romance (particularly if you're a Hozier fan, in my opinion) and that enjoys a second chance romance. As a huge bonus, there's minimal miscommunication / silly drama once it gets going. However, do proceed with caution if cancer is a triggering topic, as being a survivor, having to worry about it returning, and the impact on her family is a defining characteristic for the FMC.

I thought this was a cute read and I really liked the second-chance romance aspect. I found myself connecting to the story right away and loved the setting. I think our romance book club will really like it, so we will add that to our list of purchases.

What a stellar second chance romance. Cielo and Aiden were hilarious and perfect. It was impossible to not be giddy and smiling while reading this.

I didn't realize this was a following up book, but I think it stood great all on its own! I didn't feel lost by reading this out of order. A really cute, second chance love story about exes finding their way back to one another. I loved the characters and enjoyed reading them falling back in love with one another. I will definitely be checking out the first book, too!!

I loved Morbidly Yours so was fully expecting to adore Heart Strings, but something about it didn't work for me. I couldn't get invested in the characters' relationship with this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

ARC Review: Heart Strings by Ivy Fairbanks
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.25/5)

Heart Strings was a truly wonderful follow-up to Morbidly Yours! Ivy Fairbanks once again delivers a heartfelt, emotionally rich story that left me completely invested in the characters' journeys.

I loved the second-chance romance at the heart of this book. Lo’s story felt authentic and deeply moving, especially as she navigated not only love but also the healing of complicated familial relationships with her parents. Fairbanks did a beautiful job illustrating how timing, forgiveness, and prioritizing the people who matter most can change everything.

This was a touching, well-paced story full of hope, growth, and genuine emotion. I highly recommend Heart Strings to anyone who loves character-driven romances with plenty of heart!

3.5⭐️ Firstly, I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book! This book follows Cielo and Aidan, who are exes who have to work together to plan their best friend's weddings. Cielo survived cancer and doesn’t believe in second chances, while Aidan is determined to show her that they can spend their best life together. I didn’t read the first book in this series,e s but I had heard so many good things, so I was excited going into this. I thought this book was fun and easy. It was super fast-paced, and the characters were great. Some scenes in the book gave me the ick, but overall it was good! I recommend it if you want a second chance, a fast-paced and easy romance read!

Thank you again to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I liked the idea, loved the setting and the writing was good too.
I loved that the story played in Ireland, it just gives it a bit more personality and gives it a family vibe. I liked their professions. She an ongoing Doctor and him a musician. I also think that second chance romances can be done beautifully.

But I do have to say that this took me forever. The first half of the book felt so dragged out. I couldn't connect to them as a couple at all. Lo's first reaction towards him had me pretty annoyed. It felt very childish. And because of that, the quick turn felt... almost unrealistic.
I also wasn't the biggest fan about how Lo was described as very strong, but often reacted very immature.
The second part of the book was better. It picked up in pace and got a bit more interesting. It was a bit cliche but that really isn't something bad.
The sex scenes weren't for me. At all, but that's a personal preference.

I think my expectations were a bit too high and I might have been in the wrong headspace. This wasn't bad at all, just maybe not 100% for me.

Ivy Fairbanks delivers a heartfelt, vivid second-chance romance in Heart Strings, a follow-up to her standout debut Morbidly Yours. Readers who enjoyed Lark and Callum’s story will appreciate the familiar faces woven into this novel, as well as the rich setting and careful attention to the portrayal of illness.

While Heart Strings offers a moving and emotional journey, the story did fall slightly short for me. Lo, the heroine, was a challenging character to connect with at times. Her tendency to project the mistakes of her father and her first boyfriend onto Aiden—and her unwillingness to allow Aiden the opportunity to prove himself—created a dynamic that occasionally felt frustrating. Her expectations for others, which she herself didn’t consistently uphold, added to the difficulty in fully rooting for her.

That said, there is still so much to love about this book. Aiden is a charming, flawed hero who brings a great deal of heart to the story. Fairbanks once again excels at depicting chronic illness with sensitivity and nuance, making the emotional stakes feel authentic and relatable. The second-chance romance is tenderly crafted, the characters are well developed, and the setting is brought to life through vivid descriptions.

The cover design deserves special mention—it’s bright, whimsical, and perfectly captures the story’s emotional tone.

Heart Strings is a recommended pick for readers who enjoy emotional, character-driven romances and second chances. I'm eager to see what Ivy Fairbanks delivers next and hope we continue to explore more stories within this world.

Thank you to Putnam and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy

Heart Strings is a beautifully written, emotional follow-up to Morbidly Yours, and Ivy Fairbanks has once again delivered a story full of heart, healing, and hope. I loved getting to see glimpses of Lark and Callum again—it felt like revisiting old friends! Aiden was an absolute gem (flaws and all), and the second-chance romance at the center of this book was so well done.

While I truly enjoyed the story, it fell just short of a full 5 stars for me, but not enough to bring down to a 4 stars rating. Lo, our heroine, was a little insufferable at times. I struggled with her expectations of others while not always holding herself to the same standard, which made it harder to fully connect with her. That being said, this was the only real flaw for me. The portrayal of illness was once again handled with so much care and authenticity, much like Ivy’s previous book. The character development was strong, the plot kept me hooked, and the vivid scenery descriptions made the story come to life.

Also, I have to mention—this cover is absolutely adorable and so beautiful! Heart Strings was a wonderful read, and I’m already excited for Ivy’s next release. I’m hopeful we’ll get to see more from this world and maybe even dive into another beloved character’s story!

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC!

Honestly the phone sex scene dropped a star for me. I definitely was a big fan of Aidan but didn’t love Lo as much as I did in the first one. Glad to see some old faces and it was overall an alright read.

I loved the first Galway novel so was definitely eager to read Lo and Aiden's story. So full of emotion right from the beginning and definitely vibe with a strong independent female lead. Love the character growth between the two. Can't wait for the next book in the series!

I struggled a bit to connect with this story but may need to return to it another time! Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

“Heart Strings” is a sweet and emotional story about love, hope, and finding connection. Ivy Fairbanks writes with warmth and heart, making this a comforting, feel-good read.

i enjoyed the plot of this book! it has the “exes having to get along because they’re maid of honor and best man of their mutual friends’ wedding” trope, which was fun. i do think this book would benefit from having a dual timeline! i would have loved to see more from their past together, and also cielo’s past with her parents. then i might have felt more of a connection between them, and would have found it more understandable why they didn’t try harder to make it work when aidan left. the characters just felt more one dimensional to me compared to lark and callum in morbidly yours.

i did expect to enjoy this a little bit more than i did, but i still recommend! ivy fairbanks has an easy-to-read writing style and her books so far are quick and cute palette cleansers.

there were hints at the characters for a (possible?) next book and i’m excited for it if it’s happening!

thank you g.p. putnam’s sons & netgalley for the free eARC

4.5 ⭐️ for me! The beginning was a little bit slow but I really came to like Lo and A's story. I'm a sucker for second chance romances and this one really worked by the end.

I appreciated the drama and how it was handled - the conversations echo things I wish I could have said to people I care for, and it just came together well. I also appreciated that while there was drama, we avoided a third act breakup!

Really good story. Fun characters. Sweet romance and well written spicy scenes!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

3.75/5

Heart Strings is the perfect feel good romance with just enough back story to understand why they started in the place the book began. I really enjoyed their growth through the story and watching them fall back in love. Overall, for a feel good romance this was a great book and I love the way Ivy Fairbanks writes so it was a good read.

I would definitely recommend this to my audience and would encourage them to go check it out on release day.

Thank you to Netgalley for the e-arc of this book before release day!