Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for allowing me to read this ARC! I was going to read it for the cover alone to be honest, it's just so pretty!
After a breakup leaves Louisa Walsh without a home, she convinces her landlord, Henry Rhodes, to let her stay rent-free in exchange for turning his mountain house into a bed-and-breakfast for the heartbroken.
As guests arrive at the newly dubbed Comeback Inn, Lou and Henry navigate an undeniable attraction and the emotional baggage they’ve both kept hidden. I really wanted to enjoy this one, but unfortunately it just didn’t work for me. The beginning felt too slow and didn’t manage to hook me, while the ending was packed with too much drama all at once (please check the TW). Most of all, I struggled to feel any real chemistry between the main characters, which made it hard to stay invested in their story.

Thank you to @berkleyromance @berkleypub via @netgalley for the eARC!

As the title suggests, Lou runs a hotel catering to the recently brokenhearted. O’Clover reminds us we can withstand heartbreak, and it can be an unexpectedly beautiful way for us to come together as a community.

I struggled with Lou’s character in the beginning because it’s everything I was taught to avoid as a child (becoming reliant on your partner for financial security). O’Clover’s writing throughout the book turned my annoyance into empathy and, like Lou, I realized Lou’s ability to care for others before herself is actually a strength and not a flaw.

Henry’s own trauma makes him a perfect match for Lou, and their tension and drama unfolds naturally.

I adored Lou & Henry and I know you will too.

Do yourself a favor and preorder (or place that @libby.app hold!) this tender, compassionate story today. Your heart will feel so much fuller afterwards, I promise ❤️‍🩹

The Heartbreak Hotel comes out September 23, 2025.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me with this ARC of “The Heartbreak Hotel” (to be published September 23, 2025) and giving me the chance to review it!

It’s not often that books have so much intensity in their writing that it feels like a sucker punch to the gut, and this one definitely had that. It actually had all the feelings: heartbreak, happiness, grief, love, anger, hope… and it all starts with our main characters.
After Louisa Walsh—our FMC—gets her heart broken by her longtime boyfriend, she refuses to give up the one home that has ever felt like home to her; the only way to do that: turn it into an inn for those in need of healing after heartbreak. All she needs to do is convince her landlord, Henry Rhodes, but it seems, he may actually be in need of those services himself.
If you like a good slow burn romance and the idea of found family/strong friendships, this book is definitely the one for you. If you also like handsome, yearning veterinarian landlords, this is also the book for you. However, it did have strong themes, such as death of a loved one off-page and cheating in a relationship, so be warned of that while reading.
I do admit, certain parts and topics of the books could’ve been fleshed out and expanded on, but you could still feel the emotions Ellen O’Clover was trying to convey on every page.
“The Heartbreak Hotel” was such an emotional rollercoaster, and I mean that in a good way. No doubt, would definitely read again!

✩ 5 stars ✩

What to Expect:
➼ Age Gap
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Love After Loss
➼ Heartbreak & Healing
➼ He Falls First
➼ Female Friendships
➼ Veterinarian/Animal Lover MMC
➼ Colorado Setting
➼ 3rd Act Break Up
➼ Bed & Breakfast for the Heartbroken
➼ First Person POV

I tend to fly through books, but I savored this one. I loved it so much that I didn’t want it to end and I kept starting new books just to put off finishing it. Going into this, I was hopeful Ellen O’Clover would become a new go-to author for me, and I’m happy to report that I will be first in line to read her future works! If you’re a romance lover, this needs to be on your TBR!

This isn’t Ellen’s debut novel, but it is her first adult romance and she absolutely knocked it out of the park. From page one the story had me hooked and I was immediately invested in Louisa finding her happily ever after. This is an emotional read with lots of sad themes of grief, loss, and family trauma, but Ellen handles every topic so gracefully that they never felt too heavy. Even when there was miscommunication it felt completely valid and understandable based on their lived experiences.

At first glance it seemed like this story would be about bouncing back and finding love again after a break up, but each of their traumas went much deeper. Break ups were a part of each of their journeys, but there was so much more hiding beneath the surface. Both MC’s had been trying to handle everything on their own for so long that it was no surprise they made a few missteps along the away, but with time and vulnerability, their walls began to crumble piece by piece.

I absolutely adored both MC’s. These are the kind of perfectly imperfect characters that you can really see yourself in. I have never struggled with people pleasing tendencies like the FMC, but I am a perfectionist who holds myself to insanely high standards and struggles to ask for help when I need it. As a counselor myself, there was a lot about Louisa that I found relatable. In our role, we have to set aside our personal feelings in order to stay neutral and objective. We are not supposed to show too much of ourselves or share personal anecdotes which is how most people connect. It becomes second nature to hide pieces of yourself and I sometimes find it hard to add myself back into the conversation even when I’m among friends. I default to listening and asking questions and have to be very intentional about surrounding myself with people who will check-in on me and not allow me to fade into the background. Her struggle to allow herself to be vulnerable and put herself first really resonated with me.

Louisa’s ex was a taker, pure and simple. He never saw her clearly and barely noticed when their connection began to fade. Even if I could set aside the cheating, he was not there for her physically or emotionally and was really just a comfortable choice for her at the end of their relationship. Henry in contrast was someone who ALWAYS showed up for her, setting aside his own grief and discomfort to be what she needed from one moment to the next. After everything is revealed, you will look back and see just how much he sacrificed to be near to her. They were like the sun to each other after being trapped in the dark for years. Such a beautiful connection. 💖 And the tension between them... slow burn at its finest! 🤌🏻🔥

I’m not usually this far ahead on ARC reads and it will be excruciating waiting on September 23rd. I know you guys will fall in love with this book just like I have! Do yourself a favor and preorder this one, you won’t want to miss it!

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

I really enjoyed the premise of this one and the cast of characters- particularly the main character, her best friend and the guests in her hotel. I was a little disappointed to see our FMC rent out the house and stop the hotel that she was so passionate about in the end. I thought it was such a cool concept

This was absolutely BEAUTIFUL. It was everything I was hoping it would be and so much more. It was SO tender and so romantic and so heartbreakingly beautiful. The way Ellen wrote grief was SO GOOD. It was real and so honest and I just felt SO MUCH while I was reading it. I don’t think I’ll ever be over this book.

Louisa, a girl after my own heart. I absolutely loved her and her soft heart so much. I loved that she was able to take her heartbreak and do something for herself, for others. I loved her journey throughout the book. Her and her sister kind of broke my heart and put it back together simultaneously. I did love them, and I loved that we got to see them struggle and make up and figure things out!! I also LOVED watching her fall in love with Henry. It was both easy and so difficult but SO beautiful.

HENRY RHODES! I love a man who YEARNS! I love a sad boy! I love a complicated man! I LOVE A HOT VET!!! I love him. The tension between Lou and Henry was absolutely DELICIOUS. It was a pretty slow burn!! But also it was very clear straightaway where we were headed!! I LOVED him and Lou. They were two broken hearted souls and finding each other was exactly what they needed.

Thank you so much to Berkley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

this had SO much potential 😭 this was gorgeous and so cozy, so sweet, so lovely- for the first 50%. but then the actual romance began and that’s when everything seemed to fall apart…there are some dark themes in this book that i think were attempted to be handled with levity due to it being a trad romance but i think some topics here needed more nuanced balance and discussion because if your fmc is an *aspiring* therapist, wouldn’t she have handled this with more care for someone that she loved and is trying to begin something with?? idk why it didn’t sit right with me.

4.75 stars
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Content Warnings: Death, Grief, Child death, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders
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I urge you to add this to your TBR, it's an absolute must-read if you're a fan of slow-burn romances with a heavy influence of women's fiction.

The emotions creep up on you in this one; what starts as a sweet romance turns into something with much deeper meaning. I appreciate when an author can include deeper meaning and topics into the plot and conversations, and for this one, it just works. Louisa Walsh is trying to find herself after a very public breakup; she's unsure what that even means, but the think she's certain about is that she doesn't want to leave the house she and her ex once shared - the one place that feels like home.

Knowing she can't afford to stay in the house, she quickly comes up with a plan to save herself (and help her landlord at the same time). Henry is her (attractive) landlord/veterinarian, with a few scars of his own. The plan? Louisa hopes to turn the home into a B&B so others can fall in love with it just as much as she has. Henry wouldn't have to do anything, and Louisa would stay there rent-free and take care of everything. The two agree to trial the project for 6 months. It isn't long before Henry starts turning up more and more to offer support, and you can't help but wonder if he's perhaps trying to see Louisa as much as he can.

What I loved most about this book is the idea of found family - there are so many secondary characters that you can't help but fall in love with as well! Our characters are witty, spunky, well-rounded, and just complete this perfect book. When a family emergency pulls Louisa away from the B&B, there's no hesitation from her guests, who will stay and help to look over the place so she isn't forced to shut down while she's gone. It's perfect! Although this book will give you all the warm and fuzzy feelings, I would suggest you glance over the content warnings, as there are a few that can come as a shock if you're not prepared for them!
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I would like to thank Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley, Ellen O'Clover, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of The Heartbreak Hotel in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The Heartbreak Hotel is set to be published on September 23rd, 2025, You can pre-order your copy today.

I thought this book was a little different than what I expected based on the blurb, but fairly enjoyable. It was much more emotional than I expected and I thought this might have done better as Women's Fiction and not Romance so that the author didn't have to worry about rushing the resolution with Lou's sister / mother in order to end by wrapping the relationship up in a nice bow. But other than that, the cast of characters was lively and full, and the hotel itself seemed to come about organically. An interesting ending, but again one that would fit a Women's Fiction title more so than a "typical" Romance ending.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for my advanced copy!!

3/5

The Heartbreak Hotel brought on the charm, complex family dynamics, and romance alongside a startling inquiry into grief that is sure to resonate with many. My first experience reading Ellen O’Clover and certainly not the last, The Heartbreak Hotel affirms her tremendous talent for writing romance in the adult space. This book really was delightful. The hotel setting was just so cozy and following Louisa’s arc alongside her various heartbreakers was the highlight of my reading experience. There were some pacing issues I felt deterred me from engaging with this to a greater extent, however, particularly the middle part of the novel. Certain bits were depicted in such a transient way, almost as if we were shifting through time without making an effort to slow down and really see how something happened in the moment. Telling was emphasized over showing time and time again, to my disappointment. The romance between Louisa and Henry was sweet and I did see why they connected, but I wish we had more moments with them overall. The discussions around grief, being a child of a parent with Borderline Personality Disorder, and caretaking were thoughtfully done and definitely the standout of this novel. Even with all of this, The Heartbreak Hotel is an enjoyable romantic getaway and I certainly don’t regret my stay.

Ellen O’Clover’s The Heartbreak Hotel is a sweet, smart YA romance about grief, self-discovery, and unexpected connection. When teen Evie is sent to a mysterious hotel for the brokenhearted, she expects drama, not the slow burn of healing—or the spark of new love. Witty, warm, and full of heart, this is a story that proves love can find you even when you’re not looking.

Oh, my HEART.

This book is a lil dose of therapy, of hurting & healing. The writing was absolutely beautiful. I love love love Louisa & Henry, & how even though their circumstances are wildly different, they share in their journey of love, loss, mental health, & what it means to advocate for yourself.

I don’t even have a sister, & I weeeeeept for Lou & Goldie’s complicated, but loving sisterhood.

The found family within the Comeback Inn, & how all of their stories meant a little something more to the big picture was so heart-warming.

Thank you NetGalley & Berkeley for this e-ARC, I thoroughly enjoyed it from cover to cover.

I loved the epilogue & where the story leaves us at. Overall, easy 5 ⭐️ for this incredible story of heartbreak & the beauty of what can come from it.

I absolutely loved this read! It was cute and cozy and I really enjoyed the concept and plot!
I loved watching Henry and Louisa fall in love 🤍 I really understood and related to parts of Louisa’s character, she has a way of putting others ahead of herself and doesn’t always know how to ask for help and because of that I really liked seeing her grow into herself and her relationship with Henry.
Overall a great read that I would definitely recommend in the cozy fall season ☺️
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Ellen O’Clover for the ARC of this read!

This is the perfect cozy fall read!! I just imagine this book would be perfect to read while curled up on the couch with a soft blanket and a warm cup of tea.

The story has the perfect amount of tension, yearning, and emotion. I just love Henry so much! The fact that he’s a veterinarian adds so much to his character. It was so much fun to watch the two main characters fall in love with each other. A beautiful read.

This was an interesting read. The concept of a heartbreak hotel (comeback inn) was something new to hear but the concept was very interesting and super important! I loved that Louisa learned things herself while also helping people and learned how to fall in love again. Henry was the most amazing guy to read about and was a great match for Louisa.

3.5 stars rounded up

I was LOVING this -- I was reading through it so quickly! I was loving Lou. I was loving the Comeback Inn and all the characters it brought to the story. I was LOVING Henry; he's so sweet and secretly charming. But I have to say, something happened at about 85% of the way through that made me disconnect from the story a bit and has brought my rating down. And maybe it's just me! But regarding the "twist", I really thought that was a messed up thing for Henry to keep from Lou... And I didn't like the way he was trying to justify it and turn it back around on her. And then Lou was like "I'll do a grand gesture" and I was just sort of like... why do YOU need to do a grand gesture...?? I don't know, I just think the 3rd act conflict could have been executed a bit better.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5/5 stars

Already a top 2025 read, The Heartbreak Hotel is an emotional romance full of vibes and swoonworthy home decor descriptions.

After going through a brutal breakup with her famous ex, the worst thing possible has happened to Louisa - she can’t afford her gorgeous home in the woods of Colorado. Desperate, she makes a deal with her (hot veterinarian) landlord, Henry. If he lets her stay for free, she will rent out rooms to make it a bed-and-breakfast. Lou advertises the house as a haven for the heartbroken, but soon finds her heart being healed by the person she least expected.

THIS WAS SO GOOD. I wanted to live in this book. It was cozy and perfect. I am desperate to reread it on audio. Out 9/23/25.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I liked the idea of this story, and overall I'd say I liked the book as well. It was interesting, and I had no trouble picking it up again to finish it. The pacing felt a bit off in some areas, but the book tackled some harder topics fairly well. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for review.

so good. ellen o'clover is so good at crafting a coming of age story with a good balance of romance and family drama.

thank you ellen o'clover, netgalley, and the publisher for my arc

Louisa has hit a rough patch in her life - she's dumped by her boyfriend, she can't afford rent, and she's lacking purpose in her life. In an effort to remain at her beloved rental house, she opens a bed and breakfast, catering to the heartbroken and sad. Working alongside her reclusive landlord, Lou finds comfort and purpose in helping those around her.

Overall, this was a sweet and enjoyable read. I loved the idea of a bnb, that is something that has always appealed to me! I think it would be so fun to meet people from all different walks in life. I loved the side characters that came and rented from Lou, they all made an impact on her. The romance between Henry and Lou was sweet as well! Not too over the top and sappy.

I can see why people love this book, it's easy to understand and follow, the characters are likeable enough and the depth in romance was great. I just can't give it more than 3 stars - I don't think this one will stick with me for any reason and compared to other romances, it won't leave a lasting imprint!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC!