Heart Strings was a sweet and spicy second chance romance book. While it didn’t fully hit all the notes, it was still an enjoyable read.

While this can be read as a standalone it is part of the interconnected series, Love in Galway. So I would recommend reading Morbidly Yours first for more backstory and context.

It’s dual POVs of the main characters, Cielo and Aidan, and there are some great tropes like forced proximity, a musician x med student, and a second chance romance.

The overall premise was lighthearted and fast-paced. There were some amusing, heartfelt, and emotional moments. The wedding, Ireland setting, and friendships throughout the story were amazing as well. The author also approached Cielo’s history with cancer with such care and sensitivity.

I will say, the angst between Cielo and Aidan wasn’t as intense or emotional as I had been hoping. Their connection felt a bit insta-love, and I wished there had been flashbacks or scenes from their past to help cement how deep their relationship really was.

The communication between them, especially from Aidan was one of my favorite parts though. I liked how early on they communicated and rehashed what happened in their breakup. It definitely made their reconciliation easier.

This is a second chance romance with them being separated for 2 years, so they both were with other people during that time but it was never serious. Once Cielo and Aidan get together, they’re devoted and committed to each other.

Their relationship and reconciliation was very fast-paced. Aidan knew what he wanted and went for it, which I liked. I also enjoyed all the banter between them and the open-door spice was so hot!

There was no third act breakup, which I appreciated. But the slight conflict at the end felt a bit rushed and I wished certain subplots, like her family issues had been more explored upon.

Overall, still just a fun and lighthearted romance read.

Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Heart Strings is a second chance romance following Lo and Aiden. Lo is a busy medical student and Aiden is a musician who broke her heart when he moved away to pursue his music career. Now they're stuck spending time together as the best man and maid of honor of their best friends' wedding. Lo is determined not to give second chances, but Aiden is determined to win her back.

Unfortunately this book did not work for me. I found both of the main characters to be unlikeable, but especially Lo. I get that she had been through a lot in her life, but it was so frustrating watching her absolutely refuse to communicate life a grown adult with anyone in her life. She could not express herself and just ran away from every problem.

The romance also just went form 0-100. I find with second chance romance that they work best if there's build up that really works through the emotions of their breakup, and that was non-existent here.

I did love the setting though.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the arc!

Ivy Fairbank’s Love in Galway series returns with another banger of a book in Heart Strings.

It’s official, I’m an Ivy Fairbanks fangirl. I absolutely adored her first book, Morbidly Yours, and I loved Heart Strings just as hard.

Delightfully, we return to Galway for this story, and the core cast of characters is the same. You can read this as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading Morbidly Yours first, as this book picks up in the timeline two years after the last one. You’ll have a better sense of all the backstories, including watching our feature couple for this book - Lo and Aidan- meet for the first time. Ivy’s cast of characters is so well done. I had the sense that I was catching up with a group of old friends, eager to learn of all the developments in their lives.

This is a second chance romance, which is one of my favourite tropes. In the first book, we had Lark and Callum’s love story. Now they’re getting married, and Lo and Aidan are the Maid of Honour and Best Man, respectively. The only problem is they haven’t talked in two years after their relationship ended badly. Now they’re forced together for the sake of the wedding. A lot has happened in the last two years. Aidan’s music career took off, and he’s now semi-famous. Lo is continuing her medical training on her way to becoming a doctor. But they haven’t stopped thinking about each other, albeit in different ways. Aidan has never stopped believing Lo’s the one that got away. He is determined to use the wedding as an opportunity to see if they could be good together again. If you love pining, you are going to love this book. Lo is definitely more of a hold-a-grudge type, so Aidan has his work cut out for him.

Both characters are really well developed. I enjoyed getting to know both of them better throughout the book. It’s a dual POV book, which I think is my favourite structure. I really enjoy the opportunity to get inside both characters’ heads. They both grow and learn a lot. I’m a sucker for a great character arc, and Ivy does this very well. Not only do we learn more about Lo and Aidan, but other characters continue to develop. Ivy is a master at setting up the next book, and I absolutely cannot wait for book three, which will feature Saoirse.

I loved Lo and Aidan together. Their chemistry is smoking hot, but also filled with so many sweet and tender moments. There is a depth and level of care in their relationship that I really appreciated. But it’s also very spicy. Best of both worlds if you ask me. There is some light kink, so if closed-door romance is your thing, this is not the book for you.

Heart Strings is another fantastic book by Ivy Fairbanks. I cannot recommend it enough.

Aiden and Lo🎶🩺

I’ve been a fan of Ivy Fairbanks since she was in her indie era and was so honored to be given the opportunity to read Heart Strings! I loved Morbidly Yours and have been eagerly awaiting Heart Strings’ arrival ever since!!!

Aiden and Lo are some of the best written characters I’ve ever encountered and I am honestly so sad the book is over 🤣 They had the best banter, the best story, the best chemistry, everything. Ivy did an INCREDIBLE job fleshing out these characters, making them feel so real. Their raw emotions were so powerful, it made me have visceral reactions.

Everyone deserves a second chance, ESPECIALLY these two.

Heart Strings comes out August 12th, and you definitely don’t want to miss this!

* I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this book. All thoughts are my own.

I think I’m stuck in some sort of rut or a reading slump or something because I couldn’t get into the beginning of this book. I started to enjoy the second half (more so after the wedding) but I didn’t love Lo and Aiden’s relationship. I just don’t think that it would last past this book. The first book was better in my opinion, and I will probably pick up the next book because I do lobe Galway and would like to continue with this group of characters.

Another cutie from Ivy Fairbanks! While Morbidly Yours was my fave of the two, this was still a fun, more angsty younger sister. I loved being able to get to know Lo and Aidan better while making the trip back to Galway. A pining musician who can’t move on from his muse?! Sign me up. The spice spiced and the story is fast paced (I swear I blinked and it was done). There were parts where my heart really broke for Lo and the fierce independence she placed on herself when she needed a shoulder (tldr: I wanted to shake the hell out of her mom). Overall, a cute addition to this series and I can’t wait for Saoirse’s story next.

The tonal shift between Morbidly Yours and this is large, but it still is unmistakeably Ivy Fairbanks at heart. The way she's able to write such different stories that still contain her style at their essence is what I love about her works. They're cozy, soft, with a bit of sadness that really ties the whole thing up in a neat bow (storyline related pun not intended, iykyk), and this one does not miss. I loved Aiden and Cielo, and am just as happy that she's the type of author to hint towards another book and then actually plan on delivering. A non third act breakup romance was just what I needed, and Aiden was not only a whimperer, but a groveler too, and it made him even more likeable. He stood up for himself and took what he wanted, and that makes him an admirable MMC. Cielo learned to let her walls down and invite people in, and stand up for herself against the people who tried to control her life because they were afraid of losing her. She's the epitome of a strong FMC but I love that Fairbanks let her be vulnerable too. All around wonderful sophomore novel. Can't wait for more.

Fantastic second chance romance!

Heart Strings was really the perfect title for this because that's what this book tugs on. Firstly, the chemistry between Lo and Aidan was everything. The yearning from Aidan was *chef's kiss*. I mean she's the inspiration for all his songs (just call him the male Taylor Swift lol). Lo tries hard to fight her feelings but their connection and chemistry cannot be denied. These two were so great together. I got yearning and angst, all the emotional pulls I want in a second chance romance but also the chemistry and steam too. The romance here just really worked for me. I couldn't get enough of these two.

Plus the setting is Ireland (yay!) but also Lark and Callum's wedding! What a treat it was to see a glimpse of them.

The pacing is great and the writing captivating.

Would recommend!

Heart Strings is a beautifully written, heartfelt romance that blends healing, Irish charm, and sizzling reconnection. Perfect for fans of emotional second-chance love stories that leave you feeling both uplifted and deeply moved.

Thank you to NetGalley and @PutnamBooks for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Heart Strings is a super sweet second chance romance, emotional, angsty in the best way, and full of that will they won’t they tension that will keep you glued to this book.

Lo Valdez (our FMC) isn’t exactly a believer in second chances, and honestly, you can’t blame her. She’s been through it. So when she ends up stuck in the same wedding party as her ex, the now famous musician Aidan O’Toole things get complicated fast. The history between them is messy and painful, but also electric. Their chemistry jumps off the book from the start, even when they’re pretending not to care.

Lo is guarded, sharp, and unapologetically tough. Her walls feel earned. Aidan, on the other hand, is all charm and regret, and it’s clear he’s still in love and trying to make things right. The way he shows up for her (especially through music) was honestly swoon worthy.

Ivy Fairbanks knows how to create a nice balance between heavier emotional beats and lighter, fun moments. The wedding party setup makes for the perfect bit of forced proximity, and I really liked how we got glimpses of their past woven into the present. It made their slow reconnection feel believable. Some of the emotional push and pull did feel a little repetitive at times, but it didn’t take away from the overall impact.

If you love a good exes to lovers romance with heart, heat, and healing, this is the book for you. There’s angst, banter, chemistry, and a couple you can’t help but root for.

4.25 Stars!

#NetGalley, #IvyFairbanks, #HeartStrings, #PutnamBooks, #LoveinGalway

This was cute but not my favorite second chance romance. I didn't buy the relationship between the two MCs but I did love Aidan's family and could have read an entire book about them. I wish I could put my finger on what didn't work for me with this story but we just didn't mesh.

This was a really sweet novel that follows Cielo and Aidan, introduced to us in Morbidly Yours. If I'm being completely honest, it didn't hit the way MY did for me, but I think it has more to do with the way I strongly identified with Lark in ways I couldn't really identify with Lo. I felt more like a passenger reading about our two MCs rather than sitting in the driver's seat with them.

That being said, it was still a quick, light, fun read. The spice was hot (and a little creative), the settings were lovely, and seeing the characters together again made my heart happy. Lo, despite my struggle to connect with her, was still vibrant and believable. Her and Aidan's chemistry was palpable and I loved watching them evolve into a truly supportive couple who learned how to give and take and trust.

I'll gladly come back to Galway anytime Ivy invites me (and I've got a pretty good feeling about who's next).

I liked but didn't love Morbidly Yours, and I would say the same about Heart Strings. We meet Cielo and Aidan in the present, a while after they last dated and inexplicably broke up, and Cielo swears she won't get back together with him since he broke her heart. A few interactions later, she's ready to reignite a physical relationship with him and possibly more, without working through any of their previous issues. (I finished the books a few weeks ago so my memory might be a bit fuzzy, but that is the impression I got.) They just keep having intense sexual encounters until they admit that they want more than that. Personally, I didn't enjoy reading all that open-door stuff because the emotional intimacy was missing behind it. It got better by the end of the story, and I loved Aidan's grand gesture, but this couple just did not move me. They didn't discuss the past that much, and the present was a little lacking in connection. They felt like real people with real problems, but I was not sold on their soulmate-ism. I did love seeing the main couple from Morbidly Yours get married! 3.5/5 stars.

This one was super cute! I loved the writing style and how the narrative moved quickly. I also loved seeing Callum and Lark from Morbidly Yours. Aiden was such a swoony MMC.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

2.75 stars

I'm sad to say this wasn't for me.

I remember enjoying the first one and liking the Galway setting. This one seemed like a huge departure from the first.

There wasn't much chemistry between the two characters and there wasn't much emotional depth in general. Everything just seemed very two dimensional and the writing was sterile. Just nothing really to get the reader attached and invested in what was going on.

And there wasn't much flow to this book. Chapters seemed to end abruptly, conversations went back and forth with a lot of back to back dialogue, and again, there wasn't a lot of emotion in some of these hard conversations. At times felt like the author was trying to get from A to B in the fastest way possible.

So not a win for me unfortunately 💚

After reading Morbidly Yours, I was thrilled to find out we were getting another book in the series!

I love these characters and the world that Ivy has built in Galway around them. Seeing the melding of cultures between Lo’s Mexican American heritage and Aidan’s Irish roots was wonderful and it’s not just cultures, but all of Ivy’s characters feel so tangible and real. There are characteristics and personality traits, diagnoses and family dynamics that everyone can find a common thread to grab ahold of.

You can expect:
- Second chance romance
- Leukemia survivor FMC who is also a badass med student
- Irish singer-songwriter MMC
- Forced proximity (she’s the maid of honor, he’s the best man)
- No third act breakup

We also get a sneak peek into the next book in the series and I am SO READY for it!

Thank you Putnam Books for this early copy!

Heat Strings is the second book in Ivy Fairbanks’ Love in Galway series and it follows Aidan and Cielo as they reconnect following their breakup that coincided with Aidan’s musical career launch. Cielo is no stranger to hard work and being a med student means long hours and stressful situations so when her role as maid of honor in Lark and Callum’s wedding means she will have to spend time with the best man aka Aidan again, she buckles down and tries to harden her heart again. Aidan found musical success with his first album full of songs about loving Cielo and not fighting for them but this time around Aidan is determined to win a second chance with Cielo and to show her he’s ready to fight for them this time around.

I really liked Aidan and Cielo and how they both recognized their roles that led to their original breakup and how they communicated their willingness to try again. Aidan laid his heart on the line early with Cielo and understood it would take time for her to give him a second chance but he was determined to see it through and to show her is everything to him. Cielo definitely had some unresolved issues from her past that crept up on them and caused her hesitation but Aidan helped her find a solution through his unwavering support.

It was great to see Lark and Callum happy and still so much in love as they celebrated their wedding festivities. I’m really hoping there’s another book in the series in the works that involves a certain florist and potential know it all event planner.


Thank you publishers and netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Morbidly Yours, so I was excited going into this one, but Lo and Aidan just really didn’t interest me as a couple.

Lo needs to be in therapy (girl has a lot going on and a lot of childhood trauma) and Aidan’s only personality is being obsessed with Lo, in all honesty.

It was just painful to read them fall into the same mistakes, the same patterns over and over again. While they do get their happy ending, it was hard for me to get through the book to get to that point.

I’m very happy we got to see Lark and Callum again (and their wedding was so sweet) but ultimately, Lo and Aidan just didn’t rise up to the standards we got from them.

I was so, so sad and confused by how much I didn’t like this book because I absolutely loved the author’s debut. This one felt like it was a completely different author. I tried to read this book for 2 months in the hope that it would get better. The writing was obvious and overstated. The entire story was being told but not shown. The characters make up around 40% and it still felt rushed. I was in no way rooting for them. The things we are told about the characters and their actions are very misaligned.

Review will be sent to Goodreads after the publication date.

Is this... Hozier fanfic? Irish singer/song-writer that got famous for music that worships women... Hmmmm 🤔

Release Date: Aug. 12 2025
Rating: 2.5/5 ⭐️
Tropes:
• Second Chance Romance
• Forced Proximity
• Best Man x Maid of Honor
• Rope Play (light)
• Submissive MMC with a bossy streak
• Phone Sex
• Cancer & Abandonment Issues

What I Liked:

Honestly seeing Lark and Callum again might have been my favorite part of this book. We get a nice set up for a rivals to lovers book around the halfway mark, which is similarly one of the few things I was excited about.

There wasn't a third-act breakup! Just all the frustration of miscommunication that usually comes with that trope.

What I Didn't:

I reallyyyy hate people agreeing to "temporary" or short-term relationships with the intention to change the other person's mind to be committed. That's manipulative no matter how nice the person doing it is.

Cielo was also obnoxiously unforgiving. She acknowledges the emotional differences between generations and how her father did not have the tools available to be emotionally available to her when she was going through treatment, but still refuses to heal. On top of that, she chooses to throw people away over and over again instead of letting anyone in, then goes and blames THEM for leaving. She doesn't do any self reflection about how unproductive and self-sabotaging that behavior is... And then is just ✨️fixed✨️ at the end without having done any of the work in healing.

Lo actively seeks out reasons to leave Aidan behind and does not stand up for either him or herself. She also refuses time and time again to let others in her life know what is going on, and takes away their choice to be there for her.

The sex scenes were fine at first (and came up much sooner in the book than expected!). But then quickly got to a point that I was making actually disgusted faces while reading them. "I only kiss and tell in the form of lyrics" Gross and cringe. Phone sex where she uses a speaker as a vibrator while he sings? Even more gross and cringe. Actually had to skip that scene because of how much I hated it.

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Overall: My negative feelings about this book wouldn't stop me from reading Ivy Fairbanks ever again, but I will be less likely to power through her books in the future.