A beautiful book. Incredibly sad and hopeful at the same time. I felt like these characters were people I knew and when I closed the book I hoped they’d be okay

This was such a cute, heartwarming story! Henry initially seems grumpy and standoffish but he is such a soft character and it was a delight to watch him fall for Louisa. This book is for anyone who is going through a transition and needs a soft place to land for a bit before they get back on their feet. It does deal with some complex family dynamics which were difficult for me to read about because of my own personal experiences but overall this book read like a warm hug. I'm sure many will fall in love with this optimistic, cozy story.

This book was so sweet! I connected with Louisa right away. I’ve been in that place where everything feels like it’s slipping through your fingers, and you’re just trying to hold on to something that feels like home. Her determination to stay, to rebuild, to make something beautiful out of the mess really resonated with me. I loved watching the “Comeback Inn” come to life. It was such a unique concept, and it was fun to see how it would unfold. Henry was amazing. My heart ached for him, and I felt every bit of his quiet grief and guardedness. Their slow-burn connection was perfect. I kept hoping they’d let themselves be vulnerable, even when it felt risky. This book reminded me that starting over doesn’t mean forgetting the past, it means learning how to carry it differently.

If you are looking for an emotional and unique romance, then check this one out.

<b>”You didn’t remember me, but I couldn’t forget you. Not in all this time.”</b>

Hopelessly in love with this book. A tender, glowing story I’ll be holding close for a long time. Completely swept away!

✨THINGS AND STUFF ✨
-bed & breakfast aka heartbreak rehab
-small town Colorado
-he’s a vet & her landlord
-she’s a therapist
-found family
-age gap
-yearning!!!
-grief, mental health, family dynamics
-finding acceptance in the aching
-#IsThisAKissingBook open door

Thank you berkley romance for the advanced copy.

Reeling from heartbreak and unable to afford her Colorado home after a breakup, Louisa Walsh convinces her landlord Henry to let her stay by turning it into a bed-and-breakfast for the heartbroken. As the Comeback Inn opens its doors, Lou and Henry are drawn together even as secrets threaten their fragile new beginning.

The Heartbreak Hotel is the first book I’ve read by Ellen O’Clover. Unfortunately, this was a miss for me. The story started off strong, but by the midpoint the pacing slowed and the plot took an odd turn. I did enjoy the vivid Colorado setting and the cozy details of the house which gave the book some charm. The story is told entirely from Lou’s perspective. Her chemistry with Henry is nonexistent. Lou’s character growth is nonexistent which was frustrating. I wanted much more depth from Henry. The supporting characters and their personal journeys were the only aspects that held my interest. This book should also come with clear content warnings which were noticeably absent. Overall, this one is skippable.

Despite this story centering around heartbreak of so many people, in many ways, the problems of the main characters felt low risk. I mean this in a good way because it's clear that Louisa and her landlord, Henry, have an instant attraction. Yes, at first, Lou thinks he must loath her because of Henry's cold attitude but that's because the two are so lousy about sharing their feelings. After all, Lou is a "failure to launch" therapist so she's bound to be bad at communicating feelings in some way and Henry has a sadness in his past that has him staring into space before he rushes off so he doesn't get asked questions. What better way to start a relationship...right?!?

Lou has been dumped by her long term musician boyfriend, the guy she thought she's marry, and they'd get to keep living in the gorgeous, large, old rented house in Colorado. When he dumps her, he lets her "keep" the house but she can't afford the rent and couldn't even if she had been able to start her therapist career. That's why Lou needs Henry's help since he owns the house. When Lou suggests she turn the house into a hotel that she runs so she can continue living there, Henry agrees.

It is obvious to me that the two have an insta-love thing going if only they would open their eyes and face their feelings. But Lou has so much pressure, from trying to make the hotel work and her stalled career to her family problems. Lou has a mother who cannot control her impulses and will always be a ticking time bomb and Lou also has a big sister who is a master at slathering on the guilt and trying to shame and berate Lou into doing what she (the sister) wants Lou to do. I spent most of the book being mad at the sister, a sister who hates men and thinks they aren't worth the air they breath and will tell the world at the drop of a hat, never mind that her five year old son gets to hear this over and over. He even blurts out, "I'm a man!" Yet Lou deems her sister is a great mother so I do think she needs to work on her therapist skills.

Overall, the story is cute, the two main characters are interesting and we do keep getting reminded what a hunk blue eyed, dark haired Henry is and I can see why he'd be such a catch. He's a veterinarian, loves kids, and owns this great house! Because the house becomes a hotel, we get a lot of characters coming and going, to add flavor to the story.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley, Elisha, and NetGalley for this ARC.

3.5-4 stars. I want to start by saying I don’t think there’s anything inherently wrong with this book at all. I’ve seen a talk of readers talk about how powerful this story was for them, and I can totally see why. It was well written, and I think it will resonate with people who have experienced heartbreak and grief.

As someone who has never truly experienced romantic heartbreak, I felt a bit of disconnect from it all, though I loved the idea of a heartbreak hotel and the cast of characters who came through the Comeback Inn.

I also just personally have a very hard time not being triggered by family drama, and overbearing and/or irresponsible sisters/mothers in general, and I didn’t enjoy reading central parts of the book because of that.

Again, I think this is a great book. It just wasn’t for me!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book hit all the right notes for me. A bad breakup, an inspirational friendship, and a complex love interest. The house and setting were a dream and Lou was easy to root for as she navigated personal, career, and family dramas.

I loved the idea of a “heartbreak hotel” where people could go to grieve and connect. The philosophy and openness of it appealed to me and felt authentic. I also loved that some of the Comeback Inn visitors became more than just guests passing through. Every person served a purpose and Lou seemed to get as much as she gave.

I adored the relationship between Henry and Lou. There were predictable elements which is to be expected with a romance and there were some tragic elements that totally caught me off guard. While hard for me personally to read, the tragedy added so much depth to this novel and will really make it stick with me.

Lou’s growth within her personal/familial relationships and within her career were also a nice touch. I think many people can relate to experiencing failure and a fear to pick yourself back up. A fear of facing judgment from loved ones is genuine and can be crippling. Lou grappling with this situation as she faced the devastation of a breakup and the crushing pressure from a sick mother all helped create real characters with complex and authentic issues.

All in all, O’Clover nailed this book and I’m excited to check out more by her. If this one isn’t on your radar, it needs to be! Thank you to Berkley for the advanced copy!

If you’re looking for a cozy yet emotional fall read, look no further! I absolutely loved the idea of an inn for people dealing with heartbreak to connect with others going through the same thing. Not to mention the beautiful Colorado mountains setting. Lou and Henry were both great and it was really fun to meet all of the inn’s different guests.

This made me laugh a lot at the beginning and it was looking like a five star read. However I was a little surprised by how quickly the romance developed. I really appreciated all of the emotional/healing aspects, but there were kind of a lot of heavy things going on at once. All in all I did really enjoy this and it had me getting teary-eyed multiple times. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more from Ellen in the future!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.✨ (4.5 stars)

What a beautifully written and moving debut novel by Ellen O’Clover, The Heartbreak Hotel was simply stirring in the way it evoked so many feelings while reading it. Lou has just been dumped by her somewhat famous boyfriend, and in the break-up demands she keep their house they’ve rented together. However, there’s one little problem – she can’t necessarily afford the rent on her own, so she comes up with an idea to rent out the rooms in the house to others that are going through heartbreaks and struggles of their own. Henry is her very delectable landlord, who is also going through his own problems and past.

Oooooof the way these two slowly tiptoe around each other, and the combustion we get from the slow burn was *chef’s kiss* – really perfect pacing in the development of their friendship and then relationship. The cast of characters who come to the Comeback Inn to stay each bring their own different heartaches and issues, which ultimately help Lou and Henry to work towards their own growth and healing. Overall, I really loved how the theme of everyone handles things in their own way and no one way is right – applied to break-ups, family issues, lost loves and was just really well handled. I’m ready to pack my bags and head to Estes Park to stay at the Comeback Inn, and look forward to seeing what other books the author writes in the future.

I’d definitely say this one is a must read! My only gripe is the 3rd act breakup, but everything was just soooo good!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided to me through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Ellen O'Clover and Berkley for giving me the opportunity to read this book!

This is such a beautiful book 🧡 i went in expecting more of a romcom, and it gave me hope and tears (which i loved). Lou was an easy character to love and understand, and would love to give her a hug and get to stay at that beautiful inn.
I would just have really appreciated the trigger warnings being mentioned in the beginning, but other than that it’s a great book and I’m happy I got to read it.

This book was fine but it had potential to be so much better. Each chapter felt so stilted and like a bunch of little stories that the book didn’t flow. The side characters were better than the main characters and it wasn’t a strong romance but not a strong literary fiction either it just fell flat. It had the potential for so much depth and to be such a beautiful story and romance and it was just very meh.

Louisa is reeling from a painful breakup with her famous musician boyfriend. While heartbreak alone is devastating, the greater loss looms in the form of her beloved home. Unable to afford it on her own, Louisa pitches an idea to her landlord: transform the sprawling manse into a bed-and-breakfast. With her counseling background, the B&B soon evolves into The Comeback Inn - a retreat for those nursing broken hearts. Though Henry isn’t entirely convinced of the plan, his growing presence at the inn helps both him and Louisa find unexpected healing.

This romance/women’s fiction novel explores grief in many forms, woven through an ensemble cast set against the cozy, Gilmore Girls-esque backdrop of an inn. Readers will enjoy watching Louisa rediscover her strength post-breakup, while also being charmed by the rotating cast of heartbroken guests. The story balances heaviness with heart, and a touch of humor softens its themes of loss and renewal. While a few plot turns stretch believability, the strong writing and sense of community at the inn shine.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 perfect stars!

OH MY was there anything about this book I didn’t love? It was damn near perfect! This was such a unique concept and story.

I loved the writing style. It was an easy read but covered so many different topics from grief to career challenges to finding your place and of course all types of love. All of these topics (and more) were handled so delicately but warmly and I flew through this! I loved the author’s descriptions of the setting; from the town to the inn and the nature around them. It was so easy to see why Louisa would love that place. I didn’t want the book to end but I was so swept up I had to keep reading.

I loved all of the characters from different walks of life and all of their stories. The overarching theme of “everyone handles things differently” was so well done and handled beautifully with the inn! All of the friendships and love that came from Louisa’s time running the inn made the story that much better.

I loved the pacing of the romance. I don’t think I’d categorize it as a slow burn because it just felt so perfect? Definitely not rushed. Also not slow. Just right in time for these two perfectly imperfect humans. The romance was so tender and felt so real, the chemistry flew right off the page and into my hopelessly romantic heart.

I love a cover that reflects the book and this cover is not only gorgeous, but gives the perfect image of Louisa and Henry in the cozy inn in the woods!

I want to pack my bags and head to the heartbreak hotel IMMEDIATELY. I am not heartbroken or sad but to be clear.. If I ever get the chance I’m there!

Definitely recommend picking this one up when it releases on September 23!

Thanks so much NetGalley and Berkley Romance for the e-ARC in exchange my honest review!

3.5 stars

I loved the concept. A girl opens a retreat for the heartbroken, whether from a breakup or grief, after going through her own heartbreak. Meeting all the different characters and personalities passing through the inn was really enjoyable. The overall story was intriguing and kept me engaged. Lou’s family situation was definitely aggravating. I was frustrated for her but glad it was resolved in a satisfying way. I was absolutely rooting for Lou to find happiness after everything she had been through.

I really liked learning about Henry through the trust that slowly built between him and Lou. That said, Henry’s feelings for Lou kind of came out of nowhere, even though the build-up of the romance itself was well done. I just couldn’t quite figure out what made him so attracted to her. He says he liked her from when they first met to sign the rental agreement, but that wasn’t really expanded on and felt a bit random to me. Maybe adding his point of view would have helped explain it, though I understand that might have spoiled some of what he was going through.

I also felt like the author was trying to juggle too much in the second half, which made the ending feel rushed. My biggest gripe, though, was definitely the miscommunication, which felt handled in the worst way possible. It seemed like it was added just for the sake of conflict, which I thought was unnecessary. It was frustrating to see Lou overreact and freak out for no real reason. Considering she is supposed to be a therapist, it just didn’t feel believable. I wish there had been more healthy communication between Lou and Henry.

Overall, I enjoyed the emotional core of the story and the cast of diverse characters, but some of the pacing and romance choices left me a bit frustrated. If you like contemporary romances with heart and a mix of emotional moments, this one could be worth checking out.

Thank you, NetGalley, and Berkley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Beautiful! Heartbreak Hotel is a story about grief, friendship, and the messy, nonlinear process of moving on. The characters feel truly authentic, and I appreciated how all the relationships (romantic and platonic) were given equal care and attention. I loved that Lou and Mei’s BFFL moments were just as compelling as Lou and Henry’s storyline - both relationships were rewarding to read.

☆ ☆ ☆

“Because that’s the thing, about hearts — broken or aching or otherwise. They don’t belong to any one time or place. We carry them with us: bruise and scabbed over, healing and changing, always and inherently our own… Every broken heart keeps beating, in the end.”


Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the e-arc!

The Heartbreak Hotel was such a lovely story!

Louisa has just gone through a breakup, has put her therapy career on hold, and is now grieving and needs a place to go, but doesn't want to leave the rental house she loves so much. She can't afford the rent alone though, so on a whim, she has a brilliant idea to turn it into a bed and breakfast for the brokenhearted. She will rent out rooms to those going through loss or a breakup, have therapy sessions, nature walks and coffee talks...the only catch is she has to get her grumpy landlord Henry on board. When she pitches her idea to him, he is hesitant because he doesn't want the quiet neighborhood infiltrated with strangers. But Louisa is insistent and Henry eventually relents.

As Louisa welcomes her first guests, she begins to see this crazy idea could work! As Henry watches Louisa help her guests deal with and work on healing from their heartbreak, his tough facade begins to crack, and little by little Louisa is able to see inside his hard exterior. What she finds is not only is SHE going through heartbreak, but Henry has suffered tragic loss as well.

Can her little Comeback Inn help heal her broken heart and the broken heart of her landlord?

A beautifully heartfelt and resonant romance about finding hope beyond grief. O’Clover delivers a story that balances Louisa’s inner journey of healing with a tender, swoony romance—and for readers who like depth woven into their love stories, this one absolutely fits the bill.

The supporting cast creates a cozy backdrop reminiscent of found-family. Some characters linger longer than others, but each one feels essential to the story. I also appreciated the casual, effortless diversity represented here—it made the story feel that much richer. O’Clover’s prose and the characterization of Louisa and Henry were so successful that their story brought tears to my eyes. (If I hadn’t been reading on my lunch break, I would have fully cried.)

As a Coloradoan, I have to say: the setting felt delightfully spot-on. I’m always a sucker for Colorado stories, but I especially love when it’s clear the author has done the work to render the setting authentically. That extra attention to detail really shines through here.

The only element keeping this from being a perfect five-star read for me was Louisa’s relationship with her mom. I kept waiting for a conversation—fraught or imperfect though it might be—where Louisa drew a clear boundary, saying she couldn’t keep swooping in to fix her mother’s mistakes. That moment never came. We did get a touching reconciliation with Goldie, but even though her mom checks into a treatment clinic for a month, nothing was meaningfully discussed about how they’d move forward, not even in the epilogue. The closest we get is a soft acknowledgment that “it’s too hard” to talk about. While I respect that growth and treatment aren’t linear and it might be more realistic to leave it open-ended, in a book centered on breaking cycles, healing trauma, and building new ways of being, it felt incongruent.

The long and short of it is this is a phenomenal read I will easily recommend to anyone looking for a romance with quality prose, compelling characters, and emotional depth.

4.75 Stars

The Heartbreak Hotel by Ellen O’Connor is a charming, heartfelt story filled with emotion, second chances, and a touch of humor. As an ARC, it’s clear this book will resonate with readers who love character-driven romance and stories about healing. It’s sweet, uplifting, and full of heart.

Easy 5 stars, what a beautiful debut novel by Ellen O’Clover! This is one of those books that is going to touch so many people. When I finished, I was in tears (in a good way) As the title hints, this book is about heartbreak, but it’s really about the power of friends, family, time and love to heal wounds. I love books about grief, and I found the many different explorations of loss be so engaging that it was hard to put this one down.

Our FMC, Louisa, is lost in a way I think many people in their 20’s can relate to: when your career and relationships aren’t panning out how you expect them to, and one thing happens that pulls the rug out from under your feet. I loved how she had a priority, staying in her house in Estes Park, CO, and with the help of her awesome BFF, she got creative to make it happen. She came out of her comfort zone, and in turning her house into a bed and breakfast for the broken hearted, touched the lives of all of her guests so deeply. One of the people who she helped is, of course, our MMC Henry. Henry was EVERYTHING! Like truly I wish Henry was my landlord LOL. Henry has his own way of caring for people (and animals, hello hot veterinarian), and he really shows up when Louisa needs him, and even when she doesn’t.

I loved both the family and found family developed in this book. Honestly, the entire story felt like a warm hug. I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes that sums up so much of this book:

“… I know now that home isn’t a place; it’s a feeling. It’s a rootedness that we make for ourselves. The deep knowing that no matter where we go, we belong.”

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.