Absolutely loved this cozy romance. It struck the perfect balance of swooning and actual story line. The characters were well developed, and likeable. I loved the relationship between Lou and her sister Goldie- the family dynamics felt real. And Henry! A lovely book boyfriend.

At its core, this book is about community and love after loss. Louisa (Lou) has just gotten out of a years long relationship and Henry is her landlord. Lou comes up with a plan to be able to stay in her rental home that has saved her in many ways and Henry agrees to a trial basis. With Henry’s okay and Lou’s best friend, Mei’s, help, the Comeback Inn is born.

Throughout this book, we see so many different people coming to the Inn and into Lou’s life, giving her perspective, and she in return, on different forms of grief. A few of the guests wiggle their way into Lou’s heart and expand her community of people.

The romance is not center stage in this book, and that was a perfect decision. Henry and Lou both have their own grief they are working through and they have to figure out how to work through it together in order for their relationship to be successful.

These connections and community Lou gains help her in navigating hard conversations with her sister and taking care of a mentally ill mother. Her childhood really put a strain on those relationships, but with support and gained perspective, we start to see some healthy growth in those relationships.

I loved this book so much! I feel like the grief topics that were covered, were treated with care and careful perspective. I would have loved to see a little more of the growth between Lou and her mom and where they end up with healthy boundaries established because at the end of the day, this is Lou’s book and her relationships.

I really loved Henry and how he gave Lou the balance she needed. I did not love the third act breakup (I am a third act breakup hater so I could just be biased). I felt myself getting frustrated with the way her sister spoke to her, or emotional over support she got from Nan, and loved how her friendship with Mei was unmatched. As an aunt, I really connected with her relationship with her nephew and how special that bond was. The dynamic between Lou and all of the characters in this story felt authentic.

The epilogue gives the readers a piece of closure, wrapping up Lou’s story nicely.

Overall, I rate it 4.25/5 stars. I do recommend checking the content warnings before reading, there are some heavy topics discussed throughout the book.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Romance for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

readers beware: this book will have you crying over wallpaper and fetishizing temporary tattoos

✰ 5 stars, pls sign my petition for more sad girl autumn romances

god, I love a traum dram.

thank you to Berkley for the arc in exchange for an honest review

4.5 ⭐️
1 🌶️

The Heartbreak Hotel is one of those rare romances that blends emotional depth, breathtaking writing, and slow-burn tension in a way that feels both raw and healing. It’s not only a love story, but also a journey of grief, resilience, and rediscovering joy after heartbreak.

Louisa is such a beautifully layered FMC—caring, selfless, and strong, yet quietly burdened by grief and expectations. I related so much to her struggle to let her guard down and allow herself to be cared for. Henry, on the other hand, completely stole my heart. He’s stoic but steady, thoughtful yet vulnerable, and his devotion to Louisa shines on every page. Their chemistry simmers with the perfect balance of tenderness and tension, making their romance feel hard-won and deeply satisfying.

🌿 What to Expect:

Age Gap (26/34)
Slow Burn + Unmatched Yearning
Found Family & Female Friendships
Grief, Healing, & Second Chances
Veterinarian MMC (yes, animals!)
Cozy Colorado Mountain Setting
Bed & Breakfast for the Heartbroken
3rd Act Break-Up (that hurts, but works!)
This story is definitely more than a “breakup recovery” romance. Both MCs carry heavy losses that shape them, and watching them slowly peel back their walls was as heartbreaking as it was beautiful. The missteps and miscommunications never felt like drama for drama’s sake—they felt real, shaped by the weight of their lived experiences.
The prose itself is gorgeous—lyrical but not overdone—and the pacing allows you to truly sit with the characters in their moments of doubt, vulnerability, and eventual healing. There were times I wanted to rush through to see them finally get their happy ending, but instead I found myself savoring every word, unwilling to let go of these characters.

💭 Final Thoughts:
This book is heart-achingly beautiful, with a romance that burns slow and deep. If you’re looking for a story that balances grief with hope, heartbreak with healing, and angst with swoon, The Heartbreak Hotel delivers it all. Ellen O’Clover has officially made it onto my auto-buy list—I cannot wait to see what she writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ellen O'Clover and Penguin Random House for this ARC!! 💖

First off, thank you so much to Berkley Pub and Netgalley for my early copy!

Secondly, I really loved the concept of a b&b for those looking to recuperate while repairing their broken hearts, and I'm pretty sure The Heartbreak Hotel altered my brain chemistry.

I loved this, like beyond words.

There are books that you know you’ll enjoy, and then there are books that find you exactly when you need them in life. For me, The Heartbreak Hotel was the latter! Ellen O’Clover created a place of comfort in her writing, both for Henry and Lou, but also for the reader. This book has been on my mind constantly since I finished because of the way it so carefully explores how grief and love intertwine in the heart 💛

The Comeback Inn offers a safe place to land for the brokenhearted. Its proprietor, Louisa, is also suffering from a broken heart, as is the owner, Henry. This is written as a romance but I felt that the individual character journeys, the friendships, and the familial discord shined more brightly than the romantic relationship. I appreciated the emotional depth and the exploration of grief. I recommend this for readers who enjoy romance novels with heavier topics: this is not a rom-com.

📣 a wonderful emotional contemporary that deals with tough topics

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

📖 where’s the last place you stayed that wasn’t home? For me, it was my in-laws’ this weekend. Before that, it was Gulf Breeze, Florida for family vacay.

I had heard that the Heartbreak Hotel by Ellen O’Clover was good, & boy, did it deliver. This was a book where both the heroine and hero were standouts for me, & where I wanted more of an epilogue just to see them in their full, nuanced life together after it all.

After being dumped by her longtime boyfriend, Louisa decides to turn the home she made into a haven for herself into a heartbreak b&b, where people can soothe their hurts. Her landlord is a mysterious, secretive type who is also clearly wonderful (to this reader!). They have so much emotional baggage to deal with, separately & together, & that’s what makes the book rich, sad, & hopeful.

With sterling friendship rep (seriously, can I get in this friend group), devotion, patience, & empathy, this book really shows how to be a better human & fall in love while doing it.

So much good heart-stuff, even amidst the sadness.

5 ⭐️, out 09/23.

CWs: mom with borderline personality disorder
& many issues that arise with her; grief over losing daughter; infidelity

[ID: Jess holds the ebook in front of a Lexington mural featuring two people slumped over & sleeping on each other at a table.]

I really enjoyed this book! I think the way it touched on grief was so special, and I fell in love with all of the characters. I think the concept of the Heartbreak hotel was very unique and I felt like we got to see a lot of growth and exploration throughout the book.

Oh me oh my! I just adored this book!! It’s sweet, tender and slow in the very best way. These two characters working through their past trauma was so perfectly done. And, the ending was just so realistic to the characters and their journey. It’s an adult debut. I love catching an author at the beginning of their journey - that way I’m never behind!

What to expect::
•Slow burn
•Individual healing
•Age gap(small one)
•Finding love again
•Amazing female friendships
•Great Colorado setting
•Bed and Breakfast
🔥Open door, mild details

this has total emhen vibes. a good, heart-wrenching story with a lovable main character cast that you want to root for. i would say it leans more women's fiction than romance, but still has a heavy romance plot -- another reason i think it resembles the soul of an emily henry book. the writing was simple, elegant and easy to imagine in your head. the cast of characters was lovable and added extra soul to the story of healing and grief. as someone who has been through a whirlwind heartbreak, i resonated with the various ways people heal from different types of heartbreak. definitely recommend reading and would make an amazing cozy fall or winter read!

thank you to berkley and netgalley for this ARC!

This was the perfect, captivating and emotional romance. I had never read this author before, but now I’m officially a fan. It made me feel all the feelings, and it was amazing.

This was such a sweet, cozy read! Louisa, fresh off a breakup, makes a deal with her reclusive (and very handsome) landlord, Henry, to run his place as a bed-and-breakfast for the brokenhearted. I loved the quirky cast of guests, the warm small-town setting, and the way the story balanced slow-burn romance with deeper themes of grief and starting over. Lou’s sister was the worst (no redemption there), but Henry completely stole my heart. I devoured almost the whole thing in one night. Perfect for cozy mountain getaway season!

My heart? Ruined. My soul? Restored. This is the kind of story I’ve been looking for! I love a complex character that grows and develops through out the story and that’s exactly what I got. The writing was easy to digest and the pacing was adequate for the most part. I did find some parts of the story that felt rushed or incomplete but overall the structure was pretty good. I enjoyed every moment I spent reading this book and loved the found family aspect of it. Really shines a light on the importance of community & how it plays a role in healing. There are some heavy topics and therefore I would definitely suggest reading trigger warnings.
The romance in this book was lovely. It did feel a little too insta love for me but overall it was enjoyable. I wish we could have gotten more of a POV from Henry and see him process his feelings.

Thank you Berkley for the ARC! I will definitely recommend this book to all my friends & followers

This was a soft, tender surprise of a book! Louisa, fresh off a six-year breakup, finds herself more worried over losing the rental home she has come to love more than the former boyfriend. Deciding to use her therapist degree to her advantage (and to also afford her rent!), she propositions the owner to let her reopen the home as a vacation refuge for those who are heartbroken. The only problem is her new landlord, the charming and slightly reclusive Henry, is not aware of the “heartbreak hotel” monicker and yet, may be hiding some heartache of his own.

The story was charming, heartfelt, and even had a few surprises along the way. It touches on some deep topics on how heartbreak can really shape us as individuals. I absolutely looooooved Henry’s affection to Louisa. And his repeated use of the phrase “hold still” when addressing her?!? 🥵

This book is heartfelt, cozy, and brimming with second-chance energy. Louisa, reeling from a breakup and desperate to keep her home in the Colorado mountains, strikes an unexpected deal with her reclusive landlord, Henry—a broody, silver-templed veterinarian with secrets of his own. Turning the house into a bed-and-breakfast for the heartbroken brings warmth, humor, and a cast of hopeful guests who add so much charm.

What really shines is the slow build between Lou and Henry. Their chemistry is tender yet electric, and watching them navigate their guarded hearts is as satisfying as it is emotional. With its mix of small-town comfort, romance, and personal growth, this story feels like wrapping yourself in a blanket on a cold day.

Oh my!

All the feels! This was a heavy read and I was there for it. Complex family dynamics and the three H’s.
Heartbreak
Healing
And Henry!

My favorite book so far by this author. This was so good!

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this as an ARC!

Cute and sweet but had a hard time jiving with the main female character. Felt like it was really repetitive especially in the beginning. Overall enjoyable.

Ellen O’Clover delivers a heartfelt romance that’s as much about healing as it is about falling in love. After a very public breakup, Louisa Walsh is left without a home, a plan, or much confidence. Her solution? Turn her Colorado mountain rental into a bed-and-breakfast for the brokenhearted. Her landlord, Henry Rhodes, is a guarded local veterinarian with his own reasons for keeping people at arm’s length.

The setup is charming, but the story’s real magic is in its emotional depth. O’Clover balances humor, tenderness, and vulnerability, giving us a romance that feels earned and deeply satisfying. Louisa’s journey from heartbreak to self-discovery is messy and real, and Henry’s slow unspooling of his past is both heartbreaking and hopeful. Their chemistry builds in a way that makes the payoff feel worth every page.

The supporting cast, especially the inn’s guests, add richness and warmth, and the setting is written so vividly you can almost smell the mountain air and see the aspens changing. The family drama adds layers. The pacing leans toward slow-burn, which works beautifully for the emotional tone, but those seeking instant sparks might need patience.

OH. MY. HEART!! ❤️ Don’t let the cutesy cover and Hallmark-y title fool you—this story is packed with deep emotions, heavy topics, and true heartbreak. But it’s also full of sweetness: found family, healing, hope, and love.

Did it make me cry? Yes.
Did it break my heart? Also yes.
Did it piece it back together in the most beautiful way? Absolutely YES.

And the lines… oh, the lines:
✨ "Maybe I don't want to call you what everyone else calls you."
✨ "Recovering from a broken heart isn't trivial, whether you believe it or not."
✨ "I've been inside out with wanting you."
✨ "I can hardly think about anything, anymore, that isn't you."
✨ "And sometimes we have to show people how to love us, or how to trust us, or how to care for us—by giving them that gift, first. It's not fair. But it's okay to go first. It's bighearted and brave."
✨ "Hold still."
✨ "I want to hold your hand at every crosswalk." IYKYK ❤️😭

This book is everything. Heart-wrenching and heart-mending in equal measure. I could not recommend it more.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with this absolute GEM in exchange for my honest review!