I give this one a soft two stars. I wasn’t aware that this was the same author as Morbidly Yours when I started, but I really didn’t enjoy that one either so I’m thinking I must just not vibe with this particular author. Something about the writing style feels like cardboard to me.

Ivy Fairbanks has done it again for me. I absolutely ADORED Morbidly Yours so I was stoked to see her sophomore book coming out. She did NOT disappoint. Aiden (who I lovingly endured through the first book) hit it big and is a full-time singer/songwriter. Lo is a med student and cancer patient in remission. They had a whirlwind romance and then broke it off when Aiden had to move to London while Lo stayed in Galway. But they're thrust (pun intended) back together for their friend's wedding (Callum & Lark from Morbidly Yours) and figure out whether or not they might give it another go.

You'll love this book if you enjoy:
- he falls harder
- bondage and consensual kinks
- open communication (they're adults and actually communicate)
- second chance romance
- steamy scenes (such good steamy scenes!)
- black cat/golden retriever
- curvy girl
- he'd do anything for her

Can't recommend this book enough. What a second book! Congrats Ivy. Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin, and Ivy Fairbanks for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've been looking forwarded to going back to Galway since reading "Morbidly Yours."

Medical student Cielo fell in love with Irish lawyer turned singer-songwriter Aidan on her trip the Galway years ago. When his fledgling music career started to take off, Cielo disillusioned by her need for hyper-independence pushes him away. Aidan, taking Cielo at her word, leaves, pouring everything about their relationship into his debut album. The two reunite at their mutual friends' wedding to find that some heart strings are not so easily cut.

It was a joy to see Callum and Lark again and get a little glimpse of a potential couple for book three. There were some beautiful moments between Cielo and Aidan. I enjoyed the dual POV, getting to see how both of them followed this journey back to one another. I appreciated the sensitivity in which Cielo's character was written with regards to how she navigates her life as a cancer survivor in remission. Especially the way in which intimacy and her relationship with her own body was explored.

I found myself wishing that in the beginning we could have had more insight into Cielo and Aidan's relationship the first time around. Perhaps an extended prologue or some dual timeline moments would have helped with feeling more invested in them as a couple. This might just be a personal preference of mine, but I enjoyed the story nonetheless.

I picked this book because it was cute but it was exactly the kind of book that I needed. Sometimes you need to escape into a book and drown in it a bit. That’s what I was looking for— a book that allowed me to sink into it and allow everything else to melt away.
Aidan and Los story has so many facets to it. Second chance at love, musician/ non musician relationship, cancer scare, best friends playing matchmaker. Every word of this story was tightly packed with hope, fear, heartbreak, but everything had an undercurrent of adoration between the two characters.
I did not read Callum and larks story prior to this, and I think that would have helped to provide a lot of context especially in the beginning. But it did not keep me from enjoying it overall.
Also worth noting, the spicy scenes in this book are UNIQUE. And I mean that in the best way possible. Outside of Ali Hazelwood’s Deep End, I don’t think I have read a rom com that dives into aspects of very light BDSM. Also the hearse scene 😅 damn it was a good one and the ending made me giggle (IYKYK).

I loved this book so much it was unbelievably sweet and relatable and refreshing and UGH SO GOOD! I loved morbidly yours so I expected nothing less but she outdid my expectations! This book has my whole heart and soul

I love a second chance romance. I so enjoyed getting a chance to revisit some characters again from Morbidly, Yours!

I wish we got a little more insight into the first time they were together. Lo and Aiden gave up on each other the first time around but fell right back into old habits as they came together for the wedding of Lark and Callum.

While reading the book, I almost couldn’t see how they were going to make it back together emotionally (physically, they seemed to be able to do that just fine). But of course, glad to have them finally commit together in the end.

There were a lot more steamy scenes than I expected, and I felt maybe some of them didn’t exactly move the plot forward. But overall I thoroughly enjoy this author and the stories she tells.

Thank you to Penguin and NetGalley for this ARC!

Heart strings is one of those books that hits you right in the feels. It’s all about second chances, forgiveness, and whether love can survive when someone totally messes up. Cielo “Lo” Valdez is tough as nails after surviving cancer, and she’s got no time for people who hurt her. That includes Aidan O’Toole, the tattooed, mandolin-playing lawyer who broke her heart when he left her to chase his dreams of recording an album in London. Now, two years later, Lo is still hearing his songs on the radio, and it feels like an emotional gut punch every time.

Fast forward to the present, and Lo and Aidan end up at the same wedding in an Irish castle—she’s the maid of honor, he’s the best man. Talk about awkward. But the chemistry between them is still off the charts, and Aidan is determined to show Lo that their story isn’t over. The tension between these two is chef’s kiss, and honestly, watching them work through their issues feels like a rollercoaster ride. Can Aidan win her back, or are some things just too broken to fix?

What I loved about this book is how real the characters feel. Lo is so relatable with her trust issues and walls up after getting hurt, while Aidan is genuinely sorry and still in love with her, but he’s got his own stuff to figure out too. The setting in Ireland is the perfect vibe, and the whole wedding weekend gives this slow-burn tension that keeps you hooked.

It’s a story about learning to forgive, finding the courage to love again, and realizing that sometimes, people do deserve second chances—even if it’s hard. If you’re into those second-chance romance vibes with a mix of heartache, growth, and sizzling chemistry, this book will totally have you hooked.

I ADORED this continuation of the Love in Galway series!
I felt the support, love, empowerment, and encouragement between Aidan and Lo 🥹. I love how powerful and strong Lo is and how Aidan never tries to take that away from her. The author took some fun risks with the spicy scenes and they were a blast to read 🤩.

“Her smile lights up the most shadowed places of my heart. Where I wonder if I’m good enough. Talented enough….The places that have felt incomplete since that fateful night two years ago. It feels right to walk by her side.”

“Sometimes perfect is more about who you’re with than the circumstances you find yourself in.”

While I am still partial to Lark & Callum’s story, I know that Adian & Lo will resonate with so many readers.

And did I spy a hint of who the next couple in the series may be?? Saoirse & Gabe?? A little enemies to lovers? 😍

Needless to say, this author has moved directly to my ‘must-read’ list!

I adored this book! I’m sad we don’t get to see Aiden and Lo fall in love the first time. This is the only type of second chance romance I can get behind!

I absolutely loved this book. I didn’t realize at first that this was book two. I was pleasantly surprised by the storyline and how it was developed. It was a little slow for me in the beginning and then it sucked me in. I can’t wait to see what comes next from this author. Pick this one up. It’s a great read.

In a deeply satisfying follow up to Morbidly Yours, Heart Strings is a beautiful second chance romance! It follows Aidan (try and tell me this hot, down bad man is NOT Hosier, just try) and Lo, who broke up when Aidan hit it big as a musician and Lo's schedule as a med student kept them from working things out. When they're maid of honor and best man in their friends' wedding, they're forced together. From the moment they were on a boat and watching each other tie knots lustily I KNEW this was on, and the book delivered in all the ways. It was loving, it was emotionally beautiful (what a rollercoaster of feelings in the best possible way) and it was hot as hell.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Putnam, and Ivy Fairbanks for a copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I definitely need to read morbidly yours. This was my first intro to Ivy’s work and I did enjoy it. I was rooting for Lo and Aiden 🥹💕 their stories. I do wish we got more insight into their past. Overall a good story.

I absolutely adored Morbidly Yours, so I was thrilled when I was approved for Heart Strings! There were a lot of things I enjoyed about this book. The setting was beautiful, the characters were fun, and I loved getting to see Lark and Callum again.
The second chance aspect just didn’t really work for me and I had a hard time with the third act breakup. I will say there was some fantastic yearning though!!

I enjoyed the first 50% of this book, the second half kind of slowed down for me and it did take longer to get finished but i enjoyed the characters and the plot. it was well written.and i did enjoy it and the ending.

The first 50% of this book I was EATING it up, but in the second half it just fell so short.

I love the plus size rep(and guess what y’all she isn’t hyper fixated on her weight nor is it a topic at all) YAY. That was a big win for me. I know we all have our insecurities, but I love that it wasn’t the prime point in this book. I love that our girl is also Latina. Nail on the head.

Our MMC is super cute and he is def the sunshine to her grumpy.

I just feel like with this second chance romance we had all of this build up and then their conversations when it came to forgiveness and moving forward were so surface level. There was so much opportunity for depth and I just didn’t feel it.

Thank you #netgalley and penguin group for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putman for this ARC! All opinions are my own 🤍

While the first book was better, this one was okay. I've teetered between 3 and 4 stars, but overall, I don't think this one is very memorable. 3.25⭐️

It was a little distracting how this book jumped right into 2 years post-breakup, when we didn't see any of the initial relationship on page. I kept thinking I was missing something, which took me out of the story a bit, so I wish there was more of it in the first book.

Something just felt off for a lot of the book. The characters' actions didn't always match what we were told about them. The relationship took a very sudden turn from avoidance to infatuation again. Even with the forced proximity trope, it didn't feel very natural. And the spice was... creative. Not terrible, but definitely unique.

Lo's mom had me raging. I think she was meant to be written as a caring albeit overbearing mother, but she was selfish and didn’t care how Lo felt about anything, and Lo mostly let her act this way.

The whole time reading, I kept wishing Aidan was real so I could hear his music! It was described well and made me feel like he was a real artist that I could play while reading.

I enjoyed getting to see Cal and Lark's wedding, but I wish they had made an appearance at SOME point in the second half of the book. That's quite the honeymoon 🤨

I'm looking forward to Saoirse's love story in the next book (with the event planner!?!) 😍

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!
I really enjoyed this book. I love second chance romance and the spice was 3/5. I didn’t find myself loving the characters as much as in Morbidly Yours. The story did feel kind of rushed. I found myself wanting the book to start from the beginning of the relationship, just to add a little more depth.
Over all it was a good read. I am looking forward to book 3 in the series!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! Honestly I flew through the first book in this series, I felt more attachment to those characters and the plot than this one. This one wasnt bad I think it was just a little predictable and slower paced than I was in the mood for, which is to be expected to an extent with most romcoms, there is a formula they follow especially with certain tropes that make it predictable and also comforting, but I think my vibe was maybe not in it. Regardless it was a good story, I liked the MCs and it was fun to see Lark and Callum as side characters for their wedding.

🌶️ 3/5 – Spice in this was good, I liked the bondage and the second chance romance with some switchy control dynamics.

As a huge fan of Morbidly Yours - the writing, characters, and plot were fantastic - I was thrilled to get the ARC for the next book in the series, and it didn't disappoint! Aidan was top-tier MMC - I adore a sweet, sensitive guy who pines for the FMC and a FMC who is independent and strong, and this book delivered on both counts! Loved getting a peek into Callum and Lark's lives as we read the unfolding of Cielo and Aidan's story, too!

Heart Strings by Ivy Fairbanks was a decent read, but it didn’t fully hit the mark for me. The second-chance romance concept had a lot of potential, especially with the exes-to-lovers dynamic and the emotional weight of Lo’s past. The chemistry between Lo and Aidan was strong, and I did enjoy their banter, but I found their back-and-forth a bit frustrating at times. I get why Lo struggles to forgive him, but the constant push and pull started to wear on me.

While I liked the Irish setting and the music theme, there were parts where the pacing felt slow, and I wasn’t as invested in their reunion as I hoped I’d be. Overall, it’s a sweet, spicy romance with some emotional depth, but it didn’t quite grab me in the way I expected. If you’re a fan of second chances, you might enjoy it, but for me, it was just okay.