First ARC read ever and I am so excited it was for this book! I was able to snag an ARC copy from the 'Read Now' section on NetGalley and I am eternally grateful I got to experience this book in this moment. First and foremost, I want to YELL from the tops of buildings about how much I love Lou. As someone who is aspiring to become a therapist, her inner thoughts and imposter syndrome shone through and resonated with me. As someone who is also expected to be at a certain place in her life after receiving her degree, I felt seen. Lou navigated her heartbreak in the best way she knew how, by helping others navigate it as well. She opened up an Inn for the heartbroken. She was kind, empathetic, charismatic, chaotic, HUMAN, and so incredibly amazing. I fell in love with her and her empathy and felt connected with the way she cared for guests at the Inn.

But the part that had me swooning, screaming, and sobbing was The Comeback Inn's amazing (and hot) landlord, Dr. Henry Rhodes!! I'll give you a second to enjoy the 'Dr." title, I know I did. His exploration of his grief and subsequent healing was so beautiful to see unfold in real time. I don't know what I was expecting from his what his grief would have been but ultimately sobbed when it was revealed. The way both MC's handled their own grief and in turn helped each other navigate their own was such a beautiful thing to read.

My heart ached for them both and my heart aches to get a physical copy of this book upon its release! I need this as a book trophy, not only because it was my first ARC but also this book spoke to me in ways I wish to remember when I see in on my shelf.

This was such a sweet story, and I enjoyed every second of this (relatively quick) read! What really stuck out to me about this book was the way it described all types of relationships - there is a lot about friendship, about sisterhood, and about our relationship with our parents outside of just romantic relationships. Lou and Henry are so sweet together, and really helped each other heal.

I saw a lot of myself in Lou, which is honestly something I wasn't expecting. Lou is the definition of someone who keeps everyone else's world spinning while feeling like her own in crashing down. When you are constantly expected to help everyone else with their feelings, and there's no space for your own, it's incredibly isolating. And having that quiet support, of having someone who will help you when you ask for it, no questions asked, like Henry did for Lou, is something that everyone who is like Lou needs. Carrying everything alone is exhausting, and I loved seeing the growth of Lou throughout this story.

This book was not exactly light-hearted, but emotionally very impactful, and dealt with some rather serious topics for a romance novel. But I think all of the issues were handled with care, and I would highly recommend this book. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Berkley Publishing for the chance to read this eARC!

This one was unexpected. I mean, I read the description, but it unfolded differently than I was anticipating. It was quite good. There were some really interesting characters and it made the story more interesting for sure. Lou has some good support in her best friend, but her sister wasn’t a great character for most of the story. I like how the guests are brought in to move the story along and provide so many great opportunities to fill out the story in a genuine way. Henry was a good MMC and his arc felt real - the grief was dealt with well and enough time had passed between the end of his marriage to make that situation more believable as well.
3.5 stars, rounded up.

I couldn’t put this book down. So much so that I read it in one day and stayed up until 1am to finish it. YA. First off - Louisa’s ex boyfriend…TRASH. We hate him. Louisa’s best friend Mei…WE LOVE HER.

I didn’t expect the depth that this book gave. It explored grief, family trauma and heavy topics in a way that will leave these characters engrained in my mind for a very long time. The friendships created were perfection. I loved every guest who came to the house. This is “found family” PERFECTION.

The balance of heaviness and humour was exactly what I needed. Not many books can get me to actually laugh out loud…but Louisa and Mei getting drunk and the power going out? I was giggling through this whole scene.

Louisa and Henry…I loved their connection. At first I wasn’t sure because Henry was giving boring grumpy guy but when you learn his whole story it all makes sense. Their tension was slow and honest. They balance each other out in the best way.

I didn’t want this to end. Honestly I would’ve kept reading if this book was twice as long. I can’t wait to read what Ellen O’Clover writes next. This being her first adult romance is WILD. I. Need. More.

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group and Ellen O’Clover for the ARC!

This is one of my favorite books I’ve read this year. The characters, the romance, the setting, everything was so well done. Louisa and Henry’s romance was slowly built up. It was full of yearning and was so sweet and tender. Henry was a sweetheart. It takes a lot of the story to get to know him and understand his past. I loved Louisa as a character. I understood her being a people pleaser and her complicated relationship with her sister and mom due to her mom’s BPD. The side characters (Mei, Nan, really all of the guests, etc) and the setting (the hotel, Colorado) made it even better. This book is so much more than someone dealing with the grief of the end of a relationship. Do check trigger warnings!! I could go on and on about how much I loved this.

Thank you so much to Berkley, the author, and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my free and honest review.

I absolutely adored this story. Ellen O'Clover has a gift for mixing truly heart-wrenching writing and character insights with hope and comedic banter. Lou pulled me in right away and I was desperate to see how she grew and recovered throughout the book. Ellen covers several different aspects of grief, and handles each character's reactions with a genuine tenderness that hits hard. The romance develops sweetly and the supporting characters really build a full world for the story. This is one of the most heartfelt and wonderful stories I've read this year, and a great introduction to this author!

4.5 stars! This was such a warm, cozy read. I loved Ellen O’Clover’s latest YA novel, THE SOMEDAY DAUGHTER, so I was super excited to see what she had in store for her adult romance debut. THE HEARTBREAK HOTEL was a definite hit for me, with its creative premise, crackling chemistry between Lou and Henry, and contemplative exploration of topics like healing, grief, growth, second chances, self-discovery, and resilience. Plus, did I mention there are some cute dogs, too?

The writing style was one of my favorite aspects of the book! The way O’Clover describes the story’s setting and the interactions between the characters is really beautiful and almost poetic. The Comeback Inn, nestled within the Colorado mountains, sounded so idyllic, like the perfect place to land after experiencing a heartbreak. I loved learning about all of the guests who come for a visit, each with their own unique stories. In general, all of the side characters felt very real, from the guests and neighbors to Lou’s friends and family members. They also provide plenty of funny and heartwarming moments amidst the heavier themes that the book covers.

Lou was such a well-developed main character, and it was a joy watching her tackle her people-pleasing tendencies and learn how to ask for help, especially when she was so used to taking care of everyone and everything on her own. O’Clover masterfully shows how her breakup with her long-term boyfriend Nate and complicated relationships with her mom and sister Goldie have impacted Lou and shaped her journey. The relationship between her and Henry was so sweet, and it was lovely to see them help each other heal and begin to navigate that whole process together.

If there’s one minor “complaint” I had, I did feel like the romance kind of feels like a secondary part of the book sometimes. I really liked the focus on Lou and her personal growth, and how much emotional depth the story has, but I wished we had gotten a tiny bit more development surrounding her and Henry’s relationship. I mainly say this because the book is marketed as a romance and it does feel more like women’s fiction to me. Which I still loved, but thought I would mention for those looking for a read that’s more purely romance, if that makes sense. Overall, I really enjoyed this one and can’t wait to read more from Ellen O’Clover! Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.

This is my favorite read of the year so far!! I’ loved all of the characters, the concept of the bed and breakfast, the romance. It hits perfectly and deal with loss and grief in such a relatable way. I would totally read a sequel!

Omg this book was SO tender. So raw. I read it in less than two days, it just had me so invested from the very beginning. I really enjoyed this one.

Another, this was delicious I need more! I love a good heartbreak turned happy ending and this hit the spot!

Lou, fresh off a breakup and unable to make rent designs a B&B for the brokenhearted to heal. Then enters, Henry, Mr. Fox-it and the landlord. Suddenly heartbreak turns to heartthrob and healing through love. This rom-com with real heartbreak and grief concerns was a good read with real life characters. Love can heal all! Enjoy! 💜

This was such a sweet surprise! It’s about a woman who’s fresh off a breakup with her pop star boyfriend. She can’t afford to stay in their shared home, so she convinces her landlord to let her turn it into an Airbnb...with a twist. It becomes a “heartbreak hotel” for people going through breakups!

I loved the mix of romance and deeper meaning seeing how everyone who stayed there was healing in their own way really added to the story. It was more than just a love story it’s about growth, resilience, healing, and second chances.

It dragged a bit toward the end for me. But overall, I really enjoyed it and definitely recommend! 💔🏨✨

Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing & Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my review!

Unfortunately I didn't connect with the female main character at all and found a lack of chemistry between two the main characters. Overall it was a mediocre read for me.

This was such an emotional read, these characters will stick with me for quite a while!

The storyline was both heart-warming and heart-wrenching, filled with complex characters who are navigating their journey through the different stages of grief and/or heartbreak. Their personal stories tugged at my heart strings and a few nearly brought me to tears. I loved the friendships formed, bonding experiences and healing atmosphere.

I spent most of this book hoping Henry (MMC) and Louisa's (FMC) would get a HEA ending, their character growth was exceptional. I loved watching their relationship develop and grow.

I'll be recommending this book and I can't wait to read more from this author. This gets an easy but very deserved 5 ⭐ rating from me!

Thank you Ellen O'Clover, Net Galley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

4.25

The Heartbreak Hotel was equal parts a story of romantic love and self acceptance, and I really loved it. Lou and Henry felt like the warmest hug. Their story was full of longing and tension and I flew through this book way too quickly and even though I could have used another 30-40 pages of their story, the ending was absolutely perfect. The last page wrecked me in the best way.

Heartbreak Hotel touches on forms of grief throughout the book and I felt like they all had a place and were also equally explored in different parts. Every single side character felt necessary and I loved all of them so much!

Fans of Jessica Joyce, Abby Jimenez and London Sperry will love this book!

Thank you so much to Berkley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

3.5 stars, rounded down.

I really love the concept of this book: Henry the slightly grouchy landlord agreeing to let Lou run a B&B for the broken hearted after her boyfriend cheats on her, leaving her in a house she loves, unable to pay the rent.

We were introduced to a lot of great, complex characters throughout this book. It’s clear they were all very well thought out and their stories were all thoughtfully told. Mei and Nan really stood out to me.

While the concept of this book and the characters were all great, there was just something missing for me. I think there was just a lot going on and the book was a bit short for everything that happened, so everything felt a little rushed. This is especially true for the ending, when Lou and her sister have to go to Ohio to help their mom. We knew they had issues with their mom, but there wasn’t a lot to that until the end, thus making it a bit rushed.

The romance between Henry and Lou was sweet, but then it fell off a little towards the end. As I said, there was a lot going on, and sometimes that stuff overshadowed the romance. Which is okay, but with this book marketed as a romance, I will say it’s a little lacking, especially in the last quarter of the book.

And with all the stuff going on, a lot of it being heavier topics such as dealing with heartbreak, family issues, and parental trauma, it wasn’t handled all that well, especially with Lou being an aspiring therapist.

For the most part, this was a great book. It was written very well, the characters were all complex and well written, and it handled tough topics. I think a lot of people will love this book and have no issues with it—in fact, I’ve already seen lots of five star reviews—but, unfortunately, I didn’t love it as much as I thought it would.

This book could have been spectacular. I dont think i have ever related to a character as much as i did to Louisa. The breakup. The caring for people thing. Going to school for psychology.

However, Louisa clearly needed therapy herself. Seemed silly to talk about helping others first and that wasn't a thought to her ar all. Especially as someone who is on that field. I also feel the conflict with Goldie was resolved entirely too easily. There is no way she would have just finally understood where Louisa was coming from and actually listen to feelings.

The romance also just seemed a little off to me. It wasn't bad. It was fine. But it just seemed kind of rushed.

I will read more from Ellen as I did enjoy the story overall and I was hooked into it. Thanks so much to Netgalley for the e-arc

This was a truly awesome piece of work. Astory of second chance for Lou. Having gone through some tough things, she found some amazing new friends, a new man (Henry), and true friendship. This story touches your heart. You felt the emotional tugs and the joy.. what a wonderful cast of supporting characters

The Heartbreak Hotel
Ellen O’Clover

out 9/23!

this is such a sweet & heartfelt read!!

fresh off a break up, Louisa hobbles a plan run a heartbreak b&b so she doesn’t have to leave her current rental home

👋Louisa is newly broken up with her popstar boyfriend trying to now use her therapy degree
🙋‍♂️Henry is a hot! vet! and also landlord of the dreamy mountain house Lou lives in
❤️‍🩹explores heartache & grief, the things we do to avoid feeling it and the people we need to process it
🐶there’s a st bernard named CUSTARD

read this over a weekend and I loved the mountain house & the characters that filled this story! I found myself teary eyed at moments, you can really feel the heart behind the words 🥹💖

Actual rating: 4.25

A charming, incredibly atmospheric little love story that was so fast paced and addictive that I read the whole thing in two sittings.

Recently heartbroken Louisa Walsh knows that there’s one thing her cheating ex can’t take from her: the wonderful house they shared. Except she can’t afford it. So, she convinces her landlord (grumpy, silver-streaked, hot, veterinarian) to let her turn it into a refuge for the broken hearted. Except maybe she’ll heal her own heart too, and perhaps his as well.

I truly loved Lou in this book. She felt so real and actualized, and I appreciated her complexity with her sister Goldie and her relationship to her own work. The house as well felt so realistic, like I could imagine myself setting foot inside and curling up on the couch in front of a fire. Truly the most atmospheric little fall read (even though it’s July, this books comes out in September). Her scenes with Henry were dripping with tension, and the way he took care of her made me think I want to start dating again (a misguided choice, I’’m sure.) I’ve previously read O’Clover’s YA work, and I feel that she makes the jump into adult romance quite well, and I look forward to seeing what she does next.

In terms of things I didn’t like as much, I feel a bit as if the start of Henry and Lou’s relationship was very slow and then fast all at once. I didn’t quite see when they made the jump between a “professional” relationship and becoming interested in one another. But, and this is a big but, it feeling rushed could be user error because of the aforementioned reading it in two sittings. I also don’t know how pleased I am with the choice Louisa makes at the end, though I do maybe understand it, and that might be enough. I won’t spoil it here, but if you read the book, you know what I’m talking about about.

In all, a very lovely, enjoyable read. It makes me want a crisp fall morning and a cup of tea so badly I can’t even articulate it. Highly recommend.