I went in expecting a cute and fluffy romance, but this book turned out to be more emotional and heavy than I anticipated. There were parts that I really loved, but there were also parts that didn’t quite land for me, which made my overall feelings about the story a bit mixed.

Louisa Walsh’s life is turned upside down when she’s dumped and can’t afford her home in the Colorado mountains. She convinces her reclusive landlord, Henry Rhodes, to let her stay in exchange for renting out rooms as a bed-and-breakfast. As the Comeback Inn opens its doors to heartbroken guests, Lou and Henry navigate their growing connection while dealing with secrets that could threaten their fragile new start.

I will start by saying that I did like this book. I just didn't love it as much as I thought I would when I started. There were many aspects that I really enjoyed. It is a beautifully written book with characters, a storyline, and an atmosphere that just draws you in. I finished this book in like a day. From the very first chapter, you feel for Louisa and what she's going through. I loved the idea for the comeback inn. I thought it was so unique, and I can see how something like that would be appealing. I absolutely adore the guests who stay at the inn, especially Nan and Rashad.

I feel like this book had a lot of potential, and while there were some heavy topics, they were for the most part handled well. It just felt like the story was tackling a lot, and some things started to feel a bit rushed. Especially when it came to the romance. I was really enjoying the building relationship between Lou and Henry until the halfway point, where it started feeling a little insta-lovey. I really like Lou and Henry together, but it just felt rushed to me, especially after learning about his grief.

The inn was one of my favorite parts of the storyline, and I wished we could have spent more time there and with the guests. All of the guests added something special and brought a whole new perspective on heartbreak and healing. To me, it felt like the inn was glossed over a bit.

This was overall enjoyable. It was a quick read despite some of the heavy topics, and I would give it about 3.5 stars. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy contemporary romance with emotional depth and a touch of charm from quirky, lovable characters.

I went into this with a lot of hype built up so I was a little worried. Happy to report that I wasn't disappointed at all. I flew through this book so fast because it was so good.

Lou is phenomenal at taking care of people which was so heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. I'm glad that she was able to realize that she needed to stop running away from taking care of herself. She learned to be kind to herself and ask for help even though that process was very difficult. Before that, when she was crying as a response to everything, I was going a little crazy.

In some ways, I wish there was more of this character growth woven into the story instead of crashing down all at the end. I think dealing with Nate was supposed to be stressful in the beginning and dealing with her mom at the end, but Nate really had no impact at all that it was almost irrelevant. The source of trouble have easily just been her mom. But I am extremely biased against parents who abandon their child only to come back when they need money... so maybe that's why I feel so strongly about that conflict.

Everything about Henry was great to me except the part where he already loved Lou from the moment he saw her at the rental agreement signing years back. That part was a little creepy. But because he didn't cross any lines, held back until they had a relationship, and he continued to be cautious due to personal reasons, I greatly enjoyed the slow burn/yearning between Henry and Lou. He kind of reminded me of Xavier but that might be because they're both vets.

I think this book's pacing is slightly off because there are times when it's just Lou hosting guests at the inn. It's fun in a found family aspect but I wanted more of what Lou grew into by being more self-possessed and confident in her career path. But honestly, every time Henry said "Louisa" I swooned and that was perfectly fine with me.

First, thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Um, I am not emotionally well enough to put my full thoughts into words. I’ve been emotionally steamrolled. It was so good and so sad. My heart hurt in the best of ways and I cannot wait to get my hand on a physical copy. This one is probably going to stick with me for a while.

Lou was such a great learning experience. To see her evolution from heartbroken, to soft caretaker to gentle but firm when she’s standing up for herself was inspiring. And I loved seeing her reignite her passion for providing care for others.

Henry was chef’s kiss. Absolutely perfect. No notes. We love a man who says no toxic masculinity here! And the tattoo? I’m in shambles. That SHATTERED my heart. I cried on a plane, in a bathroom, and on a shuttle trying to get through that. All around unwell.

But chef’s kiss. This was SO good.

OMG THIS BOOK😭
I loved everything about this book even the fact that IT BROKE MY HEART. I loved Lou and Mei's friendship, it reminded me a lot of my friendship with my best friend. I absolutely loved Henry, he made it to my small list of perfect book boyfriends. I loved the BPD representation. Knowing someone with BPD made this book hit a little too close to home, but it was worth all the pain. I loved every secondary character that was introduced. This story was beautifully written and handled heartbreak so well. Ellen broke my heart and then put it back together with this one. 10/10 recommend (have tissues nearby)

At twenty-six, Louisa Walsh is still trying to get her life together after her relationship with her boyfriend of several years crashes and burns. Nate has become a successful musician who turns into the cliché of a cheating rocker boyfriend. Because of a chaotic and difficult childhood, Louisa decided to become a counselor helping people deal with life’s problems particularly grief and loss. After breaking up with Nate, Louisa desperately wants to keep the house they share but cannot afford the rent. She comes up with the idea to turn the house into a B&B for the lovelorn and those grieving the loss of a relationship.

The house owner, Veterinarian Henry Rhodes, agrees to give Lou a chance to make a go of her idea though he is not totally on board. The house he owns hold too many difficult memories of which he is unwilling to share. Once the Comeback Inn is up and running with mostly women for guests, Louisa begins to feel she is doing something right in helping these women put their lives back together since she has been there and is doing just that. Louisa has a secret about her not exactly licensed career.

The relationship between Lou and Henry is slow burn with a lot of stops and starts. Louisa’s small family of a very needy mother and an overbearing sister keeps her wrapped up in their drama while she is trying to figure out how to be with Henry. Henry has his own complicated issues so they both have to learn to overcome numerous obstacles.

This story has quite a bit of drama, angst, and teary times not surprisingly for the subject matter. Louisa allows herself to be taken advantage by her mother’s issues and her complicated sister. There is some amount of levity and a few entertaining guests lighten the load; however, this is still an emotional ride of a story.

Very cute and Hallmarky. To some extent, Henry and Lou give me Lorelai and Luke vibes. I really enjoyed the coziness and particularly Henry's character.

My biggest qualm: I wasn't necessarily a fan of the ending and there were a couple of things I felt could have been better wrapped up.

Triggers:
-Mentions of loss of a child
-Parent with mental illness
-Grief

Louisa and her long-time boyfriend of six years break up, and all she wants is to continue living in their beautiful, spacious house. The only problem is that Louisa does not have a job. Her ex-boyfriend had been the one paying the rent. She decides to meet with the landlord and present him with a proposal: she will turn the six-bedroom home into a bed and breakfast while keeping one room for herself. Her handsome veterinarian landlord hesitantly agrees and gives her six months to make it work.

I enjoyed many aspects of this book. I think the idea of opening a bed and breakfast is so fun, and the fact that it is designed specifically for people going through heartbreak makes it even more unique. I was drawn into the story quickly because I really felt for Louisa. She has a complicated relationship with her mother, and her older sister almost treats her as if she is the parent. Louisa is also a therapist who has failed her licensing exam but is working on retaking it.

The romance between her and Henry is definitely a slow burn. This book tackles several tough topics, and while I think they were handled fairly well, some parts felt rushed. I also found the miscommunication frustrating and, honestly, I rolled my eyes. Louisa is a therapist, yet she struggles to communicate properly with Henry? That did not make much sense to me.

However, I did enjoy all the guests who stayed at the Comeback Inn and the friendships Louisa formed through starting the bed and breakfast.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for giving me this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Be prepared to cry! 🙃

What an emotionally rich book that delves into not only romantic relationships, but also familial and friendly relationships.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley for the ARC!

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for this ARC. The description pulled me in. The characters kept me there. Lou, Henry, Nan, Mei, Goldie, & Quinn- people you want to spend time with. I wish there was more of Custard! But knowing he was there was enough.

Lou is a giver. She gives of herself in her relationships and her space. She makes it her own and welcomes you in. As she grows past her heartbreak from her family and her boyfriend (not a fan!), she struggles with knowing who she is without that grief. But she wants to help those around her and meets some fun characters while doing so.

Henry has his own struggles. But who doesn't love a kind-hearted veterinarian? I too wanted to smooth that bump between his eyebrows and kiss his scar. His heart was hidden underneath his flannel, but what a heart!

Although a quick read, it isn't one at the same time. Spend time in Estes Park. Cuddle up with a blanket and a cup of tea on a fall day and enjoy this special place.

I received a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley.

This book is ridiculously good. I felt a little lukewarm on the plot summary at the time this ARC was offered to me but ultimately decided to give it a go and I'm glad I did.

First things first: let me rave about the characters. I loved every single one of them (well, not Nate). And I really, really loved the friendship between Lou and Mei because it was one of the most realistic depictions of female friendship that I've seen in a while. Everyone just felt so real and alive and charming. The dialogue was masterful. Seriously. None of it felt unnatural or clunky to me.

The plot is incredibly well-paced. A slower burn, a twist here or there. In fact, one twist in particular felt like a sucker punch to me. I put the book down and sat with it for 5-10 minutes before continuing on. It really was a beautiful combination of light and fun reading alongside heavier and more emotional content.

This was my first read by O'Clover and I will be checking out her other stuff. I just feel like she gets me, ya know?

Louisa is a bit of a heartbreak expert, coming off a recent break up and can no longer afford her beautiful mountain home. After some scheming, Louisa presents an idea to her reclusive landlord, Henry. She turns the home into a bed and breakfast for the broken hearted, calling it the Comeback Inn. Lou finds that Henry, a handsome veterinarian, seems to have a connection to the home just like she does. As she welcomes guests in, Lou and Henry begin to connect over loss and hope.

Louisa was such an inspiration. Using her own heartbreak, difficult relationship with her mom, and counseling degree to create a safe and welcome space for weary, sad, and broken guests. I appreciated her honesty and her ambition, and even if putting others first was her "flaw," she was able to grow and become her best self - with the help of guests, and Henry. His own heartbreak was devastating, and as they worked together on the inn, they allowed their walls to come down bit by bit. Henry set aside a lot of his own emotions and time to be there for Lou when she needed him, which was the opposite of her experience with her ex. Themes of loss, grieving and trauma are handled with care in this story of bouncing back and opening your heart.

This tender, sweet, heartbreaking gem of a book. Ugh. Crying over the Atlantic Ocean right now. I have so many feelings, all of them glowing out of my chest.

I really liked the idea of this book-- a B&B for the brokenhearted is such a sweet and hopeful premise. Lou was a character I rooted for, but at times it felt like the story was juggling a lot (the romance, her family drama, the inn, etc.), and some parts dragged for me. The real standout was Henry-- I adored him! Quiet, thoughtful, a little wounded…he completely stole the show. Overall, a sweet read about love and healing, even if it felt a bit crowded at times.

This book was very well written! It was more emotional than I expected, but it handled themes of grief thoughtfully. I’d almost consider it more women’s fiction than romance, though the romance element is still present. I really liked the concept of the inn, and the lighthearted moments (mostly near the beginning) helped balance out the heavier themes. Overall, I really enjoyed it and will definitely keep an eye out for future books from this author!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

What an absolutely beautiful book. I physically couldn’t put it down and it’ll be such a great fall read!

I loved the unique storyline. Running a B&B to avoid losing your home and try and help people. I really enjoyed Louisa’s character. I feel like all of us can relate a little to feeling like you give others more of yourself than you get in return. I absolutely loved the messages about grief and love in this book. How heartbreak is a type of grief and how it’s not something trivial and there’s no right way to grieve or heal. Louisa’s relationship with her mother, and how she basically had to parent her parent, was also difficult to read but in a very REAL way.

Henry was such a sweet and real mmc. Another great example of how people deal with heartbreak differently but no way is necessarily right or wrong. The story kept me very intrigued and I was rooting for Henry and Lou the whole time.

Trigger warning: death of a child (off page)

Thank you for the ARC!

Thank you, NetGalley, Ellen O’Clover, and Berkley Publishing Group for an e-ARC of this stunning novel.

What a delightfully unexpected read! Ellen O’Clover’s The Heartbreak Hotel is a beautiful, deeply human story that feels like it was written straight to the heart. Every character is so well-rounded and layered, it’s impossible not to feel connected to them—each one carrying their own heartaches, joys, and hopes in ways that mirror real life.

Louisa (Lou) in particular stole my heart. Her own grief and heartbreak could have closed her off to the world, but instead, O’Clover shows us how she finds strength in helping others, even as that same kindness becomes part of her own healing. It’s such a powerful reminder of what it means to be human: that even in our brokenness, we can still hold space for others, and in turn, let them help carry us too.

The writing is nothing short of gorgeous. It’s poetic without being overdone, tender without shying away from the rawness of loss. O’Clover captures emotions so precisely that I often had to pause, reread, and simply sit with her words. And the setting in Estes Park, Colorado is painted with such a gorgeous atmosphere that I felt like I was already there, wrapped up in the beauty of the mountains and the ache of what it means to live and love fully. Reading this just before traveling there myself for my best friend’s wedding made the story feel even more intimate and timely.

The Heartbreak Hotel is more than just a novel; it’s a beautiful and gentle reminder of our shared humanity, of the way our stories weave together in grief, joy, and everything in between.

The Heartbreak Hotel is a beautiful and tender love story. The setting, both in Colorado and the house, was special, and I felt that they added a wonderful touch to the book. I loved Henry, the MMC of this book! He definitely starts out giving us Grumpy vibes. But as the story unfolds, we see the pain and longing underneath that exterior. He's gentle, thoughtful, and knows exactly what he wants - our MFC.

On the other hand, our FMC, Louisa, is still finding her way. Starting over after a breakup and trying to find a way to keep the house that has become her home, Louisa starts The Comeback Inn, aka The Heartbreak Hotel. We see Louisa trying to balance starting an inn, recovering from her own trauma, navigating complicated family dynamics, and pursuing her career goals as a therapist, all while falling for her landlord.

Both Louisa and Henry have experienced a great deal of heartbreak in their past. They are both navigating how to heal and move forward after trauma and loss, but know they want to do it together. Their story unfolds in a way that had me wanting to laugh, cry, and cheer for this romance to make it. Overall, I really enjoyed this story and thought it was a fantastic fall read!

I was so impressed with this book! The characters truly came alive.

Lou and Henry’s story is layered with grief and old wounds, and watching them slowly let each other in was beautiful.

I loved how her background in counseling tied into the creation of the Inn! At its heart, the book is about finding strength in community, and the way it explored grief was done so well!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.

If this is a debut, it has ruined all of the other debuts for me because wow. This was emotional, romantic and I hoped the Comeback Inn actually existed. I don't understand why it's not called the Hearbreak Hotel just like the title, tho! I loved this novel. Very, very much.

The Heartbreak Hotel by Ellen O’Clover
Narrator: Brittany Pressley
Rating: 5 stars
Pub date: 9/23

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Romance for my advanced copy and to PRH Audio for my complimentary audiobook.

This is my first book by Ellen O’Clover, but it won’t be my last! From the very first chapter, I was rooting for Louisa Walsh, an optimistic counselor whose life is turned upside down when her wealthy boyfriend dumps her, leaving her without a home. Determined not to lose the only stability she’s ever known, Lou strikes a deal with her landlord, Henry Rhodes: she’ll turn his house into a bed-and-breakfast for the brokenhearted in exchange for rent.

This is one of those romances that sneaks up on you and grabs your heart in the best way. It’s achingly real and quietly hopeful, and I loved every second of it.

What I loved most is that this book isn’t just about bouncing back after a breakup. Both Lou and Henry have layers of grief and trauma, and watching them slowly let their guards down was so rewarding. Even the miscommunication felt totally believable here.

Louisa’s people-pleasing tendencies, her struggle to put herself first, and her hesitancy to let others see the “real her” all felt so relatable. And then there’s quiet, thoughtful Henry, who’s the kind of man who shows that love is about showing up, even when it costs him something.

Brittany Pressley narrates the audiobook and she did such an amazing job bringing this story to life.

The slow burn tension, the healing, the found family all come together to make this a must read romance. Definitely pick this one up on pub day in September!