A cozy read for the hopeless romantics. Be prepared to want to check in at the "Heartbreak Hotel" yourself, with the vibrant descriptions of the Estes Park home. With a story line that doesn't feel forced, unrealistic, or too farfetched, its the perfect comfort read.

4.25 stars for this sad-girl romance.

Strong character development not only in the MCs but in many of the side characters as well. The house becomes a character of its own and O'Clover's scene and setting development allows the reader to picture each room in the now B&B with clarity. O'Clover also does well in her treatment of the struggles of each character and their personal heartbreaks.

Overall a great fall read!

I absolutely loved this book. The writing, the trauma, the characters, the love and the healing was beautiful. Reading about Molly had me crying into my pillow and watching Lou crave for acceptance and just want to be told that she’s going a good job struck a chord in me I didn’t realize. While i felt like the second half was a little rushed with one problem after another occurring and I would’ve loved another 30-50 pages to smooth the plot out a bit, this book is an absolute must read for anyone struggling with their feelings for any reason.

What a beautiful, cozy book about learning how to love yourself
Blurb: Louisa experiences a breakup with her long term famous band boyfriend. Realizing she has been coasting through their relationship, and that she really doesn't want to give up her beloved rental home in the Colorado woods, She makes a deal with her handsome landlord to rent it out as a retreat for the newly heartbroken.
Review:
These characters were oh so lovely!
Rashad was the spicy, strong retreat patron Louisa needed to get her confidence going!
Nan was the unexpected mother figure she needed.
Also, Can we all be like her in our 70s?
Mei and Goldie, loved them learning how their own life lessons along the way too
Henry is the secretive landlord, with a heart of gold!
The perfect handyman, landlord, vet and getaway for Louisa to finding herself! One big surprise twist caught me off guard when reading, but it totally made sense in hindsight! The sprinkle of spice was just what this book needed!
This book really resonates with me, as a people pleaser and giver. A very quirky but accurate quote from the book I found was 'I think it's like on airplanes", "You have to put your own oxygen mask on first-even if other people are struggling around you"' A good reminder to 'Take care of yourself first’.
Thank you to the Author, NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for allowing me the pleasure of reading this lovely book!

Tender, heartfelt and beautifully poignant ✨

The Heartbreak Hotel is a stunning addition to what has become a a personal favorite genre of mine: sad girl romance :)

Ellen O’Clover‘s writing style is so fitting to readers who love Jessica Joyce, Cara Bastone and London Sperry. Her delivery puts emphasis on self reflection & growth surrounding real life issues as the story unfolds and that’s sometimes where I find myself being impacted by most while reading.

This story highlights characters dealing with a parent diagnosed with BPD which is very personal to me. Scenes & dialogue are depicted very realistically but handled delicately and with so much grace. I really appreciated how the author approached this and hope readers who can relate to this experience will resonate with these characters as positively as I did.

I think the romance could’ve been introduced a bit earlier on as I didn’t feel entirely sold on their chemistry but still enjoyed some of those tension building moments.

Thank you to PRH Audio for a gifted listening copy! Brittney Pressley did a fantastic job giving voice to this story.

And of course my thanks to Berkley Romance 🫶🏻

The Heartbreak Hotel is a tender, emotional love story for the broken hearted. This novel is steeped in the longings we dream of sharing with family and friends...and sometimes complete strangers.

Henry and Lou's connection was pulsating. These two meet at a time when both are reeling with an ache in their chest. They reach for each other to help the other heal.

I enjoyed this read very much as it tackled tough topics such as loss of a child, infidelity and trust. Together, Henry and Lou learn to love again for a special happily ever after.

Highly recommend this read for the lovers of this genre.

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley

When Lou's famous boyfriend cheats on her, she only wants one thing from him: the house. After a rocky childhood, the beautiful house in Estes Park, Colorado is the only place that's felt like home to Lou, and she'll stop at nothing to keep it....including hatching a scheme to turn the house into a B&B in return for free room and board. Henry, her landlord, isn't hard to convince, but does get very upset when he learns it will be a B&B for those who've suffered heartbreak. The Comeback Inn starts welcoming guests into its beautiful halls, and Henry and Lou grow closer, but both have things in their past that are keeping them from relationships, and they'll have to break old patterns and let go of the past to be together.

I really enjoyed this book. All of the characters were so delightful (besides the ones that are supposed to be awful) and the setting is amazing. I wasn't familiar with Ellen O'Clover's work - this is her adult romance debut and she has quite the task trying to beat The Heartbreak Hotel.

I loved this book! It had such wonderful emotional depth and the pacing felt very consistent. I really enjoyed the characters and how they interacted; the guests brought some fresh personalities every so often and I liked how each one taught Lou something different. And Henry!!!!! What a sweet, sweet man. He was so grumpy at first but Lou so quickly broke through his tough exterior and found that soft, loving center. I always say that I love it most when a book makes me feel like I've been punched in the stomach and this one did that over and over. The slow reveals of details and the characters' reactions, the depiction of different kinds of dysfunctional families, etc. I felt that the epilogue wrapped things up so nicely and the happily ever after certainly felt earned.

4.5⭐️
Thank you so much to Berkley and Netgalley for this arc of the book.
Omg this book was incredible! I am so sad I just finished it but so happy to have experienced Ellen O’Clover’s incredible storytelling.
Our FMC has such a large heart and sometimes feels like she gives her heart out to everyone but herself. This was so relatable and I loved how the author talked about how tough finding the healthy balance of loving and caring for others, while also remembering to love and care for yourself too.
Our MMC has had a lot of loss in his life and struggles to open up to others because of his difficult past. Though when he meets Lou and grows closer to her, he finally sees someone he could put the love and trust in he needs.
There was a big subplot of family drama and difficult dynamics between Lou, her mom, and her sister. I appreciated how the author addressed the dynamics of these characters and didn’t go for a quick fix to sew up the plot. The struggle between the sisters always having to provide for their mom and the strain it put between them wasn’t something that could be solved overnight and I liked that we slowly had these big moments and conversations between them to help work it out and help heal their bond.
There are so many side characters that stood out like Mei, Nan, Rashad, and more that I can’t even mention them all. But, they all touched my heart throughout the book and connected me to the story even more.
This book definitely has some sad moments and topics like loving after loss, strained family members, and life after heartbreak. But I think the book does a great job of tackling them all and having lighthearted moments that make you laugh and kick your feet.
This is the perfect book to pick up this fall season as it sets the perfect cozy autumn mood and tells an amazing story about love and healing.

Read this book if you like:
Slow Burn ❤️‍🔥
Love After Loss 💕
Grumpy Sunshine ☀️
First Person POV 💁🏻‍♀️
He falls first and harder 😆
You will love this book!

This was the CUTEST book! I loved the concept of The Comeback Inn, Lou was just the sweetest main character, and all of the guests were so loveable. But can we talk about Henry? He was such a gem, came off as grumpy at first, but was so kind and wonderful. I truly enjoyed reading this book and will recommend it to all my romance reading pals!

I didn't expect this book to be exactly everything I needed. I felt like I spent a week relaxing and finding myself again at The Heartbreak Hotel. I appreciate that this isn't the type of romance where the main characters have so much baggage, but just ignore it. The awkward moments (the margarita mishaps), the banter, the people we meet along the way - it was all fantastic. Every aspect of this book felt so real that I wish I could book my stay now.

This debut romance was such a cute second chance story! Louisa and Henry were layered, imperfect characters, and I loved how their relationship unfolded against the cozy Colorado setting. The bed and breakfast element also added charm. The chemistry and heart in this book definitely makes it great for romance lovers!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the gifted copy.

This is so much more than a romance, it is closer to a woman's fiction. This book encaptures healing on your own terms, loving and putting yourself first, and finding joy in what you want to do. Louisa Walsh is still picking up the pieces after a bad breakup when she gets the chance to stay in the one place that’s ever felt like home—but there’s a catch. Her gruff, emotionally closed-off landlord, Henry Rhodes (who also happens to be a veterinarian with his own scars), agrees to let her live there only if she helps turn the house into a bed-and-breakfast. As they work side by side, their walls start to come down, and what unfolds is a romance that feels real—full of quiet longing, sharp banter, and those small, vulnerable moments that change everything. This starts off sweet and then develops into so much more in terms of what the book delivers to the reader. This is my first book that I’ve read by author Ellen O’Clover and I am already looking up more to read. Perfect read for the beach or in front of a fire. Thank you to NetGalley, author Ellen O’Clover and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity.

THE HEARTBREAK HOTEL is for people in progress. For readers who know grief, or heartache, or loss, or the necessity of starting over. It's cathartic and cozy with a dash of drama following Louisa's break-up to build-herself-back-up journey.

Louisa is a stellar main character. You meet her the moment her life derails - catching her rock star partner cheating on her - and faces so many unknowns. We see her plan and execute her survival. But there are some old hurts that don't stay swept under the rug just because she has a new project. Moreso, she's attached to her role as a helper instead of focusing on her own needs. She has the biggest heart but she needs to start living for herself.

Henry. The quiet calm in Louisa's upturned life. Swoony silent type that will flip competency kink switches. But mysterious too. He carries a sorrow though that weighs heavily on his sturdy shoulders.

The developing romance is so beautifully paced. The period of Louisa and Henry working together, acknowledging their potential, but resisting their chemistry is the best kind of slow burns. They are gloriously strangers and we see the work on page of them falling in love.

A highlight too are the guests of Louisa's (and Henry's) B and B. They check in seeking relief from their own heartbreak, but they all leave a lasting impact on Louisa long after they check-out. She's healing and gaining life lessons right along side the guests. It's very charming.

I highly recommend THE HEARTBREAK HOTEL for its hopefulness in the midst of sorrow. It's a challenge to take a chance on yourself - to not give into the rot - but it's still you that does the work. Louisa does the work, finds her voice, and sets off on a new path of her own making. And that's the beauty of this book.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the advance copy to read and review.

I think readers are really going to love this one. I can’t wait to stock it on the shelves and start sharing it with everyone once it hits stores on pub day

This one will stick with you!

I was so so captivated by this story, I found myself thinking about it randomly throughout that day and champing at the bit to get back to reading it! Very biased but the Colorado setting was GIVING! Not only was this a delicious romance but it also brought in emotional, real life themes. I love when a book can leave you gutted and hopefully in the same breath. Beautiful, easy to read and a novel that should be on your radar in September!

If you enjoy Cara Bastone, I think The Heartbreak Hotel will be perfect for you!

I enjoyed this. I really liked the characters and rooted for them. It was cute. I didn’t love the twist but it didn’t ruin anything for me.

Ahh, Louisa & Henry have my heart. Despite the heartbreak, how they were able to come together & fall in love was beautiful. I highly recommend this book!!

After approximately 5 chapters into the book I knew this was gonna be a 5 star read!! I absolutely loved this book and the story premise. I felt myself going through the grieving journey with all these characters.

Heartbroken people escaping to collectively heal at ‘The Comeback Inn’, a place where Louisa, the resident “therapist”, offers to help mend their broken hearts after she gets dumped herself. She convinces her reclusive landlord Henry to let her open this retreat, he reluctantly agrees, and keeps showing up in moments she needs help. Their connection is undeniable, but can they get over their own heartbreaks to open it up to potentially get hurt again?

There’s so much healing and growth in this book. Every character goes through their own journey in some way and you realize it’s the power of community that helps you through this pain. Louisa was like a breath of fresh air and full of sunshine, even when she felt like she was feeling too much. She was so selfless the whole time while sacrificing her own emotions. Henry was the perfect mmc. Quiet, guarded, but always kind and ready to help. He had so much depth to him that makes you feel ALL the feelings. Watching their connection grow while healing something in each other felt so special.

“maybe all healing requires is a taking of turns, leaning on whoever has the strength in each fleeting moment”

This book is a journey of self-discovery and recovering through heartbreak. HIGHLY recommend you check it out! Thank you Berkley for the arc in exchange for an honest review 💚 Pub date September 23rd (mark your calendars!!!)

Louisa’s sunny outlook takes a hit when her boyfriend breaks up with her, leaving her unable to afford rent on their shared home. But inspiration often strikes in unexpected places, and Lou comes up with an idea that just might turn things around, if she can convince her reclusive landlord, Henry, to go along with it. As the Comeback Inn opens its doors to weary but hopeful guests, Lou and Henry find themselves navigating their undeniable connection and the secrets they’ve both kept tucked away.

The Heartbreak Hotel is a hopeful, slow-burning, second-chance romance. Louisa and Henry’s chemistry sparked from the very beginning; like two magnets drawn to each other, their pull was impossible to ignore. I loved how their relationship unfolded as both characters faced the weight of their pasts while learning to open up to something new.

This story isn’t just a romance. It’s a heartfelt journey through loss, forgiveness, and healing. It’s about setting boundaries, rediscovering joy, and finding the courage to embrace second chances.

This is my first book by Ellen O’Clover, but it definitely won’t be my last.