I am so happy to have Lo's story. She felt to relatable throughout most of this story. Aiden was giving goldretriever energy and I was so here for it.

I adored Morbidily Yours and was so excited to get more of Cal and Lark too.

The tension, desire and yearning of a well written second chance romance will do me in every time and this book had it all!

WHEW!! I was not expecting such strong feelings towards this book but I loved it! I thought Morbidly Yours was so quirky and cute and this follow up was great! This is a second-chance romance meets "rockstar" meets best friends wedding, add in some heaviness with the stresses of medical school and being a "pediatric" cancer survivor and you have Heart Strings! If you loved Morbidly Yours, you'll love the little glimpses into the "Where Are They Now"! Fairbanks knew what she was doing with this one!

3/5

Heart Strings by Ivy Fairbanks is an interconnected standalone romance book that takes place two years after Fairbanks’ first novel, Morbidly Yours. This book follows a third year medical school student, Cielo, and an international singer-songwriter star, Aiden. Cielo and Aiden dated two years prior to the start of this book, but broke up due to distance and poor communication. The two are involved in the same wedding party, which forces them to work through their issues and ultimately end up together.

After reading Morbidly Yours, I was very excited to learn that there would be a sequel. Fairbanks did a great job transitioning from one story to the next with references and explanations to get the reader up to speed.

The story is told through Aiden’s and Cielo’s alternating points of view. This style of storytelling worked well to slowly reveal how Cielo and Aiden got together, what their relationship was like and why they broke up. The reader experiences Cielo’s anger towards Aiden for leaving the country to pursue his music career and Aiden’s anger towards Cielo for not fighting for their relationship and trying to continue seeing each other long distance. Both arguments are understandable and valid and Fairbanks does a great job thoroughly explaining both sides.

While the beginning and end of the book had plot drivers, the middle completely lost the plot. By the time the wedding weekend arrived, Cielo and Aiden had softened up to each other enough that the original problem, their anger towards each other, was no longer an issue. The book started to drag around 40-50% in and it felt like Fairbanks didn’t know how to keep the story going. There were numerous instances where Cielo and Aiden ran into obstacles that they had to work together to solve in order to keep the wedding running smoothly. These road blocks were completely random, repetitive and simply boring. I would’ve preferred if there was one overarching problem than a dozen insignificant issues they had to figure out. After the wedding weekend, the book picked up again, but it really dragged for a bit.

Heart Strings was a good sequel to Morbidly Yours and I really enjoyed reading about Cielo and Aiden’s story. Although there were a few heavy themes, Fairbanks balanced it by including witty humor and pop culture references. I appreciated the follow up on Callum and Lark’s romance, which rounded out their story well. I wish there was a little more plot to drive the story forward, but it began and ended well, which made the overall story enjoyable.

Heartstrings is a second chance romance between a Texan medical student and her Irish musician ex. They’re forced to be friendly while at the wedding events for their close friends - where they discover there is still a spark between them.

While I enjoyed the read, it relied on miscommunication and awkward family antagonists. Not quite as charming as book one in the series, but a nice light romance that’s great for those who like second chance and friends-to-lovers.

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.

After reading Morbidly Yours, I eagerly awaited book 2 in this series! Ivy Fairbanks has me wanting to uproot my life to Ireland to join these characters in Galway. I swooned over Callum in Book 1 and, oh boy, did I get all starry-eyed for Aidan in this book. This story was not an over-the-top Second Chance Romance, with star crossed lovers and secrets to unveil. It felt real and captured me from the first page.

WHAT I LOVED MOST:
- Aidan (duh.) - He was everything you'd want in a golden retriever, celebrity musician. He loves his mom. He sings at a kids hospital. His favorite bandmates are his old friends. And he's head over heels for someone and has a new determination to get her back. SWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON.

- HOLY MF'n BANTER, BATMAN! - The back and forth between Aidan and Cielo is hilarious and angsty and yummy.

- Cielo - FMCs are important to me, but I don't always go gaga over them like I do a hot MMC. Cielo is someone I'd want to be besties with. She's driven, kind, and guarded and being in her POV during pivotal moments in the story really made her so relatable.

FAVORITE QUOTES:
I was so deeply engrossed in this story that I may have missed highlighting my most favorite parts but there was so much to love about this book...

- "Every little freckle on her nose is still right where I left it."

- "His optimism threatens my cynical tarnish, gently buffing away layers of resentment until he reveals a soft glow."

- "Seventeen-year-old me was determined to finally get some pleasure out of a body that knew the insides of MRI machines before it knew intimacy."

- "At the end of our conversations, I love you stays lodged in my throat. We’re not there yet. A pause rests in its place where we can both feel its absence. It feels like an unfinished song."

- "Plus, it would be a shame to deprive the world of how hot you look in a white coat and rubber clogs."

I could go on and on but I'd end up copy and pasting the entire book to gush about. Read this book, you won't be disappointed... however you might book a flight to Ireland. You've been warned.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ivy Fairbanks for opportunity to read this e-ARC in returned for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and PutnamBooks for an arc of this novel - all opinions are my own.

Heart Strings is the 2nd book in the Love in Galway series, and after absolutely LOVING book 1 (Morbidly Yours) I was SO excited to read Lo and Aiden’s story!

Each book in this series focuses on a different couple, but I would recommend reading them in order. You’ll be introduced to Lo and Aiden in Morbidly Yours, and the main characters from that one (Cal and Lark) make appearances in this one as well.

The writing in this book was easy to read. Fairbanks does a great job at keeping things moving, and I loved Aiden’s character.

I loved Lo when I met her in book 1, but I did not love reading her POV in here. I felt incredibly empathetic for her… but she was a super frustrating character, and I was a little disappointed that I didn’t love her and Aiden together as much as I thought I was going to.

Despite those complaints - I loved going back to the world Fairbanks created, and this is a series that I will absolutely continue on with. It also perfectly set up book 3, which I’m VERY excited about.

PUB DATE: August 12, 2025

RATING: 3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

SUGGESTED SNACK PAIRING: skittles

“If anyone else's grubby paws had been all over my candy, I'd throw the whole bag away.
But Aidan remembered my fondness for Skittles, all except those disgusting purple ones—and also how neurotic I am about food contamination.”

TRIGGERS: cancer, medical content, sexual content, death (briefly mentioned), abandonment

I was so captivated by Heart Strings by Ivy Fairbanks that while cruising through Bermuda this week, I completely forgot to snap a beachy book pic—consider that the ultimate compliment. This second installment in the Love in Galway series did not disappoint. Aidan and Cielo's story was an emotional rollercoaster in the best way—equal parts heartwarming, heartbreaking, and oh-so-steamy.
I found myself cheering Aidan on with every swoony gesture (and muttering "don’t mess this up, man!" more than once). Ivy Fairbanks has a gift for blending emotional depth, spicy tension, and laugh-out-loud moments—especially when those irresistible Irish phrases are sprinkled in.
I especially appreciated the authentic representation in Cielo—a curvy heroine with a history of cancer. It added so much depth and relatability to her character. Plus, can we talk about the chemistry? Big, brawny Irishman + real, strong woman = pure magic.
I devoured this in just a few days and now I’m counting the minutes until book three. Ivy, don’t keep us waiting too long!
Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and Ivy Fairbanks for allowing me the opportunity to read this advance copy and to provide my honest feedback.

I enjoyed it, but not as much as some other similar authors. I appreciated the depth of the characters and don't feel like I wasted my time, but it didn't really hook me.

I was ecstatic to read the latest installment of the Love in Galway series, after loving "Morbidly Yours" and I was not disappointed.

I rarely read second chance romance and though this one started out glacial--both in pace and in Cielo's feelings and demeanor towards Aiden-- I found myself actually believing that they could and should work out as a couple. Their interactions felt natural and it was nice to see the trust they had previously built slowly return. Though their wedding dalliance was the catalyst in regaining this trust, their was plenty of conversations and situations that solidified their belief in each other and made the payoff all the more worth it.

The only thing holding me back from a five star rating was the hastily resolved family drama. The texts Cielo's mother sends about Aiden near the end, are downright emotionally abusive. It's hard to believe a mother would speak like that to her adult daughter and even harder to forgive. While it was important for Cielo to learn to forgive more easily, I think she should have sought out some form of therapy instead of letting her mother even further into her life.

I would wholeheartedly recommend reading Heart Strings and look forward to the next book!

Loved this one just as much as the first. We finally get Lo and Aiden's story and a checkin with Callum and Lark. Lo and Aiden met in the previous book and a relationship bloomed. The two split after Aiden took a record deal. Now, these two are reunited for Callum and Lark's wedding. It's angsty and sweet and there is healing for Lo and Aiden. Look forward to any other books by this author.

Loving the curvy rep! The first half dragged a little but overall loved Lo and Aiden’s love story. I have my suspicions about the next peek in to Galway.

Loved this one as much as the first! Second chance isn’t my jam, but I loved this sweet story. Tender and sweet and another beautiful story by Ivy Fairbanks.

thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

this book was cute, but it was pretty average and not as great as the first one in the series

the best part of it was seeing callum and lark again, i love those two so much, ugh

while this was a second-chance romance, it still seemed very insta-lovey to me? they moved very fast and smoothed things over before the 40% mark, with the rest of the book being mostly family drama/misunderstandings/sex.

lo was a hot mess. she was constantly saying how independent and tough she is but her whole personality is being terrified of abandonment and not wanting to be a burden and isolating herself from her loved ones then blaming them for it.

overall, i liked seeing old characters and i love love, so this get a solid 3 stars.

i will definitely read anything ivy writes, her style is writing is great!

IVVYYYYYY. I love this book! I will defend Lo with my whole chest. Love love love! I can not WAIT for book three

Ok I’m staring off with Lo had no business being in a relationship… “strong independent woman who is in control of everything” girl where. Like yes I understand what she has been to, and she pushes away anyone who threatens to mess with her fragile heart. But girlfriend we need to stick with a professional relationship with our therapist not a romantic relationship with our ex rn. 😂

Aiden- who sings during phone sex??! I would have hung up so fast.

Very much insta lust/love but i wanted more pining. Work for it! Yearn more!! It just felt like they got back together so quickly and then immediately jumped back into saying I love you. The pacing just didn’t track for me but that’s my preference. 🤷🏻‍♀️

•second chance romance
•traumatic experience survivor
•he leads the charge at getting them back together

Overall, a cute and easy read!

Thank you to NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts are my own and are in no way influenced by early access to this title.

I really liked the story line but did fell like some parts moved a bit too slow for me. At first I didn't understand the back and forth since I hadn't read the first book but as I got further in I was able to connect the dots very well. I would def recommend reading the first book first.

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of Heart Strings! As a sucker for second-chance romances and anything set in an Irish castle (who isn’t?), I had high hopes for this emotional, music-infused love story. And while it hit a few sweet notes, it didn’t quite make it to a full-blown encore for me.

The setup is undeniably swoon-worthy: Cielo “Lo” Valdez is a fierce, no-time-for-BS Texan cancer survivor, and Aidan O’Toole is a tattooed, mandolin-playing Irish lawyer-turned-musician who left Lo for a once-in-a-lifetime record deal. Now, years later, they’re maid of honor and best man at the same castle wedding—because of course they are—and sparks (and unresolved feelings) are flying all over the place.

Let’s start with the good: the Irish setting is chef’s kiss, and the wedding-weekend vibes were deliciously dramatic. I also enjoyed the musical touches—Aidan writing love songs about Lo after their breakup? It’s giving tortured artist in the best way.

But here’s where the rhythm fell off for me: Lo and Aidan’s chemistry didn’t quite leap off the page. Their banter lacked the heat and tension I crave in an exes-to-lovers story, and their emotional arc felt a bit rushed. Lo’s walls are understandably high, but the payoff for their reconciliation didn’t feel earned enough to make my heart ache in that satisfying romance-novel way.

Still, Heart Strings is charming, heartfelt, and perfect for readers who love emotionally mature characters and a dash of musical melancholy. It’s just not quite a chart-topper for me.

Would I read another book by this author? Absolutely. I’m always here for angsty vibes, emotional healing, and men with guitars making grand romantic gestures.

I absolutely loved Lo & Aiden together, the chemistry between them was crazy. The whole time i was just rooting for them to immediately get back together

Lo is so strong & such a badass, I loved her so much & the way she was with Aiden’s family was so beautiful

Thank you to NetGalley & Putnam Books for this ARC!

Heart Strings releases August 12th!

Heart Strings by Ivy Fairbanks is a second-chance contemporary romance following Cielo and Aidan. They dated in the past, but after Aidan's music career takes off the relationship falls apart. When their best friends decide to get married two years after they break up, Aidan (the best man) and Cielo (the maid of honor) have to be together and work together all weekend long. Will this wedding rekindle the spark they once had in the past?
Overall, I enjoyed this book. The banter between the characters was witty and fun. I love that our female main character was plus-size but her being plus-size wasn't the main focus of her storyline. The spicy scenes were creative, to say the least, but I still had a good time. My only qualm with this book was that it wrapped up too quickly. I wanted Cielo to have a longer/serious conversation with both her dad and Aidan but it just felt a little too surface-level.
I haven't read Morbidly, Yours but I will pick up the book soon and I'm hoping book three (if book three is in the works) follows Saoirse whose story might be one of my favorites.

Thank you NetGalley for this advance readers copy.