I adored Morbidly Yours and was so, so excited to get this ARC. Heart Strings is a delightful follow-up to the previous book. I adored Aidan and his emotional, romantic personality. I wanted a little bit more from Lo in terms of roundness of character, but I still very much enjoyed her. Fairbanks's writing style is witty, cozy, and sexy and I can't wait to read the third book!

I loved this! It was so fun and cute and spicy. I loved seeing Lark and Callum again, and getting to know Lo and Aidan. I loved the second chance romance aspect and how they came back together.

I loved this!!! I immediately requested after finishing Morbidly Yours, and I fell in love. I love that we got to see Cal and Lark's wedding. I can't help but love a man who is as down bad as Aidan is for Lo, and loved watching her allow herself to let him in again despite her fears. I do wish we got more backstory on their relationship between Morbidly Yours and Heart Strings, but overall, I loved seeing them fall back in love with each other. I loved the forshadowing for Saoirse and hope we get to see her happily ever after next!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy of this book!

I was excited for this book after reading Ivy’s first book morbidly yours. While I enjoyed the book overall I wish we got more backstory on when they were first together, maybe it was in the last book? I didn’t remember that though. I did like that MMC was obsessed with her the whole time.

Ivy Fairbanks has done it again. She has transported the reader back to Galway for a steamy romp. At first, I wasn’t sure how easily I’d be able to connect with the main characters in comparison to first novel but I really loved the both of them. The chemistry between our two leads is electric and I was so pleased with the lack of a third act break up. I also think she did a great job elaborating on the cast dynamics from the first book though I would’ve loved to have seen more interactions with the Morbidly Yours leads. All in all, I’d highly recommend this book to fans of the first novel and I’m very excited to read Saoirse’s story in the following series entry.

Ivy is one of my favorite authors EVER! Each book is a hit. She has a way of writing that immediately captures you by the first few pages. This was such a beautiful story. Dare I say this is her best book yet! Forever my fave!

Thank you to NetGalley, and Ivy Fairbanks for this advanced copy of Heart Strings.

Overall: 4 stars out of 5

I will start off by saying second-chance romance is not my favorite, so I definitely went in a little worried. But the love between these two characters and the reason for their separation was enough to keep me interested.

Heart Strings tells the story of Cielo and Aiden, two exes that reunite at the wedding of their best friends. They split two years earlier due to Aiden signing a record label, and Cielo being unwilling to try long distance. But the feelings for each other never went away and reignite at the wedding.
Overall I felt the story was sweet, though a little slow at points. It didn’t have the same quirkiness that Morbidly Yours had. The ending though is beautiful and redeemed the slow beginning. I will definitely read more of Ivy Fairbanks.

I was so excited to go back and see more of Callum and Lark, the setting was so very Irish. Loved the descriptions, reading about all these places in Galway just has me dying to go back! I loved Aiden and Lo, and their character development. The pacing felt good too. The hearse scene was honestly perfect, while also being simultaneously cringey-in a good way!

I absolutely adored this couple!!! Lo was the best. I loved how hard they played with each other. They were so cute. I loved the complexities with Lo's parents. All the characters had depth and I loved seeing characters from the past book in this as well. Loved, loved, loved!!!

This book was amazing! I thoroughly enjoyed having a Mexican American woman who was curvy as the MC. It really allowed me to immerse myself in the story. Going back to Ireland as well after the first book was great and picturing Lark and Callum’s wedding was the icing on top. The story moved along at a great pace and the themes talked about were dealt with in such a caring manner. Absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy. 🥰

I was so excited to get this book early on Netgalley because I absolutely loved her first book Morbidly Yours. I highly recommend reading that book first!

I enjoyed this book and lot and I really hope that there are more books in this series. I appreciate that the characters have challenges in their lives and are not just cookie cutter people. It was easy to form a connection with the characters and I was satisfied with the HEA. Please give us readers an update of our favorite characters in the next book. I am hoping it's Saoirse's then for a HEA next!

Heart Strings in number 2 in the A Love in Galway series, and if you haven't already read "Morbidly Yours", I highly recommend reading it first. This book is set a little ways after the first book and the events are set around the wedding of Lark and Cal from Book 1. This isn't one that has a short cameo by the prior book characters. They are all in it, and they are awesome, so you will enjoy Heart Strings even more if you read book 1 first.

Thanks to Penguin Group Putnam for the digital ARC of Heart Strings. I am always here for a good romance, and I know you aren't supposed to judge a book by the cover, but honestly, this may be the prettiest romance cover I've ever seen. Just looking at Aiden and Lo, I knew I was going to love them. Cielo "Lo" Valdez moves to Ireland for medical school. She is extremely tough, having survived cancer and the rigors so far of med school. Aiden is a dreamy singer-songwriter player who is following his dreams of making a living with his mandolin. They meet in book one of the series, and when book 2 starts have broken up when Aiden got a record deal that involved him moving when Lo wasn't willing to chance a long distance romance.

Now they are back in each other's orbit due to the wedding, and find they still have the same chemistry they always did. It didn't work the first time though, so is it worth a second chance? I really enjoyed this book. Lo is very relatable- the type to not trust again once she's been burned, and with walls that may be higher than the castle Lark and Cal are getting hitched in. She has a good heart, and loves Aiden, her family and her dreams of being a doctor who helps others get through cancer. Does she have her priorities straight though? Relationships take trust.

Aiden has just put out a successful album and is working on the second. Unfortunately his first album was all about Lo, and without her love his song writing inspiration seems to have run dry. Now he is with her again for a few days- can he convince her to try their love again? Can he convince himself to trust his instincts with his career?

So many questions before we get to the promised HEA, but I really enjoyed the ride. My absolute favorite romances are ones with lots of open and honest communication, and the road here was less straightforward than that. I can't wait to read Saoirse's romance, which I think will be next! The series isn't complete yet, but I definitely recommend it to romance readers.

3.5 stars

I did not love this one as much as Morbidly Yours. I'm not sure what it was but, something was missing for me and it might have been the connection I felt for Aiden and Lo. It was a cute and emotional second-chance romance. We do get a little back story of their past relationship break up and that they have not seen each other for 2 years. I loved getting to reconnect with Cal and Lark with the first half of this book taking place during the lead-up to their wedding and their wedding weekend. It leads to some spicey reconnections. The two face the challenges of Lo's doctor career and Aiden's road to becoming a star musician. I loved that there was no miscommunication between the two once they met back up and decided to reconnect. Aiden was all in while Lo was still trying to take care of her heart and the shock of a health scare of the chance that her cancer has returned. Overall I did enjoy the book and would recommend it. I am excited for book 3 and to read all about Saoirse's story!

Thanks to Netgalley, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, and Ivy Fairbanks for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley, Ivy Fairbanks, and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

I enjoyed this book more than the first book. I wasn’t sure this would be for me because of the second-chance romance. But it’s starting to become a favorite. I especially love the way this one turned out. Lo is such a strong FMC. She is a cancer survivor. She has been through more in her life than most. Something I feel like this book shows well is how people react to any diagnosis. It can make people run away or cling on too tightly. Of course, there is the latter as well. I did hope that her mother would apologize for her behavior. I understand her intention but taking vitamins and eating healthy foods does not guarantee there will not be a relapse. The romance between Lo and Aidan was beautiful. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.

I wanted to love this one with all my heart like I did her first but I didn’t and that breaks my heart. Still a well written book and love story, just not the one for me. I am not one who is good with second chance romance sometimes and this one just sat awkward for me at times. I also did not connect with the characters. There were times I had to take a small break from reading and come back to the story. I still enjoyed it, and look forward to the next, as I do love the setting, and writing, this one, was just not for me.

Thank you NetGally and the Publishers for the chance to read this one early.

Thank you to NetGalley and GP Putnam’s Sons for this advanced reader copy!

After loving Morbidly Yours so very much, I was so excited to delve into the sequel and revisit some of my favorite characters!

Heart Strings follows Lo and Aidan, reunited after several years following an emotional breakup. Their chemistry is undeniable, and being forced to celebrate their respective best friend’s wedding together has them questioning why they broke up in the first place.

I won’t lie: I spent a lot of this book confused about why they weren’t together anymore. The reasons weren’t super clear or didn’t seem concrete enough to warrant the devastating breakup they experienced, and us readers did *not* experience. It seemed like a weak reason to breakup.

That said, the SPICE. WAS. SPICING. 🥵 I do not remember the first book being this spicy and I was HERE FOR IT. The chemistry between them was palpable right off the bat.

While I absolutely preferred Morbidly Yours, I am already foaming at the mouth to read the third in this series!

Overall:
⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Oh man, as someone who utterly fell in love with the characters of Morbidly Yours, I was so excited for this book but tried to tamper my feelings so I could read without expectations.

I didn’t need to! Oh my lanta, Ivy Fairbanks does it again!

She has a way of creating such relatable characters and depicting such heartbreak and love so beautifully. I can see myself in the characters, flaws, anxieties, wants…. I feel like she’s able to put a piece of everyone into her works.

Ivy Fairbanks is forever one of those authors that I will buy the new release on pre-order every time.

This was a beautiful story that I think everyone can relate to: trusting someone enough to give every bit of yourself to, even if you’ve been let down before. Cielo is a strong willed, highly independent woman who I can relate to far more than I care to admit. Aidan allows her to be who she is while showing he’s is all in, after taking her words at face value before. He truly see’s her and calls her out when she needs it while staying true to who he is as well.

They’re not quite Lark and Callum but they’re not far behind 💚

Now I’m patiently waiting for Saoirse and Gabe’s book 😏

I adored the first book in this series so I was excited for this one. The author did a great job at including the wedding of the characters from the first book while not taking attention away from Cielo and Aiden. Cielo is an incredible character who was easy for me to connect with. Great read!

I don’t typically reach for books where one or both main characters are musicians. Don’t ask me why—it’s just not my thing. HOWEVER, Morbidly Yours was one of my favorite reads of 2024, so I happily made an exception for Heart Strings.

One thing I really enjoy about Ivy’s work is how relatable her characters are. Whether they’re navigating parental conflict, struggling with grief, or dealing with relationship challenges, I always find myself connecting with them and empathizing with their experiences. That’s especially true for Aidan and Cielo—their relationship feels real. Unlike some stories where you question whether the couple should even be together, their growth is evident, and they prove their dedication for each other without a forced third-act breakup.

Overall, this story was heartwarming, a little emotional, plenty spicy, and a compelling portrayal of love.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

This book was a fun and easy read and it was a great way to continue exploring the world and characters from Morbidly Yours.

The book follows Cielo, a med student and cancer survivor who is trying her best to be the best that she can be. And then there’s Aiden, a former solicitor turned musician. The two used to date before his new found fame and are now forced to spend time together for their friend’s wedding.

I enjoyed that the timing/pacing of the book wasn’t too dominated by the wedding. The wedding was a great reason to bring them together but I think it was more realistic for the story to span into the after as much as it did. Some second chance romances can really sit in the will-they-won’t-they tension for a bit too much for my liking but this didn’t. We spent more time diving into the complexities of the relationship and the break up more.

Cielo can be rough around the edges but I really resonated with her drive to be the best anything she could be to the people in her life. That and her need for control made her a very relatable character. It was frustrating at times, but I think that makes her all the more real. Because who hasn’t gotten frustrated as someone (or even themselves) at times.

The exploration of control/power was a surprise but one I ended up really liking. The dynamic exchange of power and control in the bedroom really helped to show the shift in their relationship as a whole. Also who doesn’t love a man who isn’t afraid to grovel a little?

As always, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange of an honest review.