Heartbreaks have never been so deadly…one more and Sare will have her heart stop forever…

This story is very interesting and absolutely will keep you enthralled start to finish! Mysteries, secrets, celestial beings…what will happen? I enjoyed meeting our characters and seeing there growth! This books is very insta love vibes, a great romantasy book when you are looking for a quick read!

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This one had so much potential but then was ultimately a let down. There were some really good parts like the take on Turkish myths and generational trauma. I also did like the characters and their relationships. Unfortunately it was all overshadowed by the need to be quirky with the bureaucracy of angels and devils and having to read them email back and forth. This part completely took me out of the story and cheapened it for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story was fun. Loved the world building and characters. Also liked that the book revolves around the the theme of heartbreak in a new way.

I really enjoyed this! I was drawn to the description but mostly the setting and middle eastern influences. I love books that follow a sort of quest/journey and felt it was really well done and intriguing in this book! what I liked the most was the theme of heartbreak/the curse her family has. The FMC Sare had gone through so much pain in her relationships, family and friendships. But she kept going and had alot of self exploration / growth throughout the book.

It was slow at different parts enough I had some trouble getting through it but overall a really good read

I can totally see the comparison to The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue or Laini Taylor, I would definitely recommend trying this if you enjoyed that kind of story.

This is a slow-burn romance that has more than just a romantic relationship at the forefront. Honestly, it feels like all of the other relationships are just as important, if not more so (in my opinion) than just the romantic one. I think that adds an another layer of depth to a character, if they have more going on in their life than just a love interest.

This was also formatted in a very unique way with references to the book and other moments in time. I don't think I've ever read a book with something like that, I always find that fun (even if I may not love that specific format, I do always find it cool to discover new ways someone can tell their story).

And it's inspired by Middle Eastern legends and stories and I always love that kind of book, especially if it means I get to learn new kinds of stories (I'm not familiar with too many Middle Eastern ones, so I don't have any preconceived notions about them, so I like that - clean slate).

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

The Book of Heartbreak follows a teenager named Sare, through many heartbreaks in her young life. She loses everything she comes to care for because of a centuries old curse that has been passed down through the generations of women in her family. Sare begins to seek a cure to the curse and this is where the story gets interesting.

The writing bounces between letter correspondence as the story unfolds. I felt that it could have been improved by not using letters but simply telling the other parts of the story. Overall, it was a read that was worth the time and I think that this book would be suited best for YA readers.

This was not quite a 4 for me but definitely not a 3.

Unfortunately I ended up DNFing this book at 14%.

I thought that the premise would be along the lines of Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber, and while there are SOME similarities it just doesn’t hit the way I thought it would.

It’s hard for me to connect to the characters. Our FMC seems … just naive and jaded. I mean sure, I understand her plight in the way that if she falls in love and gets her heart broken she dies. That would make anyone not want to get close to people, but it just didn’t translate well. She seemed a bit flat and one dimensional.

Her guardian was even worse. I honestly don’t know how our FMC hasn’t slapped this little spirit sprite thing halfway across the room. You can protect someone without being an absolute b.

I do love the emails though between the supernatural characters. Gave me some honest laugh out loud moments and it’s a unique way to help tell the story!


Regardless, while the plot did seem to be moving pretty quickly, I couldn’t really get into the book. I wish this author the best of luck and hope it finds the right audience!

What a lovely, slow burn romantasy. I thoroughly enjoyed this read, and struggled to put it down. It was an easy, comforting read which was just what I needed.

The beauty of the storytelling only exceeded by the character development. An excellent read.

A really sweet slow burn romance that I think romantasy fans, cozy fantasy fans and historical fiction fans alike will be able to embrace and enjoy. Istanbul is as much of a character as our protagonist Sare, rendered in lovingly vivid detail. Usually I'm not a fan of first person point of view, but Sare was pretty immediately likeable.

If you liked Harvest of Hearts earlier this year, I think you might connect with this one.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this early copy in exchange for my honest review.

I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did! It was emotional and funny!
I loved the relationship between Leon and Sare and the slow-burn romance!
I would definitely recommend this book!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

I thought this book was super interesting and original in a good way. I loved the take on the love curse and the consequences that develop when the FMC becomes too close to those in her life. I liked all of the characters, though I didn't feel super connected to them. I did think that they felt well thought out and complex, even the side characters. The setting was a major reason why I was drawn into this book, and the combination of the vibrant setting and the mystical vibes was so much fun to read. The writing style was very nice and didn't feel too basic or too extra.

Parts of the book, especially when it came to certain aspects of the FMC's heritage and the magic system. The romance also could have been a bit more drawn out to be more realistic, in my opinion, as it did feel a bit insta-lovey (even saying that as someone who does like a good insta-love situation).

Overall though, this was a very cozy fantasy that did a good job at exploring the themes of heartbreak, independence, and romance!

I really enjoyed the magical writing style and setting of this book! The story of the Maiden's Tower was fascinating, and I love how the story was constantly shifting and changing. Istanbul was the perfect setting for the story and the author's imagery and writing brought the setting to life.
While the narration was excellent, I struggled to connect with the characters. The romance between Sare and Leon was also more of an insta-lust situation and lacked depth and chemistry.
Overall, I think fans of Laini Taylor and Margaret Rogerson would love the intricate magic systems and whimsical setting of this book. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the eARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Book of Heartbreak is a compelling and emotional read, perfect for YA fans who love a story filled with tension, growth, and a slow-burn romance. Our main characters start off at odds, but who doesn’t enjoy watching a love story unfold from initial friction to something deeper? Their journey felt authentic, with moments of vulnerability and warmth that made their connection all the more satisfying.

The emotional depth in this book is where it truly shines. It explores heartbreak—not just in romance, but in friendships, family, and self-discovery. The writing beautifully captures the highs and lows of young love, making it easy to root for the characters as they navigate their feelings.

Overall, this is a heartfelt and engaging YA read that delivers on both angst and romance. Fans of slow-burn relationships and character-driven stories will definitely enjoy this one!

3.75⭐️
thank you Alcove Press for the e-ARC!

this was very interesting! the storytelling was beautiful and i just wanted to give Sare a big hug the whole time.. some parts got a little slow and dragged out, but if you enjoy folklore/urban fantasy this might be for you :)

The Book of Heartbreak is filled with adventure and kindling romance. I originally went into this book thinking it might have Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber vibes, but I was completely wrong- in a good way. We follow the main character, Sare, whose heart can only break 5 times before she turns 18, or she will permanently die. But here’s the catch: even if she makes it to 18 and breaks the curse, she will never be able to love again. Leon is a seer, good looking, and a potential threat to her heart. Although this book does get points for originality, I had a hard time connecting the dots at parts. While I do think that there were parts that were explained well, a lot of the information around the family and the curse were hard to put together.

Features -
- Reluctant allies to lovers
- Romantasy
- Fate
- Curses
- She’s grumpy, he’s sunshine
- Family issues

The plot was engaging and full of surprises, keeping me hooked from beginning to end. I felt like I was right there in the middle of the action.

What a fun book! It's a bit outside of my norm, but I enjoyed it. This story had a lot going on, but at the end, it was all neatly connected. It took a while to get in the groove with the email segments, but once you knew the characters better, they were a decent addition. The main female character had to grow up before a child should (partially due to her curse, partially due to her mom/lack of adult support.) While I generally like more romance, Sare is only 17 for much of the book, so I was fine with what occurred. She has a lot thrown at her but her development still made sense. I'm glad she gets an HEA (hope that isn't too spoiler-y). The only thing I personally did not like was how everyone was against her finding the truth. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity.

This was a fun fantasy! I loved the relationship between Leon and Sare. The setup and premise for this story was one that set the stakes high from the start. It had me gripping my seats in anxiety worrying about when things would go wrong. Forbidden love in the absolute sense of the word, no bigger consequence than death itself. I’ve never quite read anything similar to this, and honestly that was for the best. This could just exist as its own thing with no references to hold it to. The plot was fun, the romance was believable, and the characters were all well written as well.

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the e-arc!

This was such a delightful story. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Reading a book set in somewhere as vibrant and oriental as Istanbul felt wonderfully refreshing. The romance between the FMC and MMC was sweet, the mystery elements were satisfying, and the ending wrapped it up beautifully!

Oh man.. where to start?!

This book was so beautiful. I truly had no idea what I was in for when I started reading.. the journey this book took me on was magical, fast-paced and very emotional.

The book starts us off in London but transports us to Istanbul in which the author did such a BEAUTIFUL job at describing. The descriptions of the city were so vivid and detailed, I could picture everything so clearly in my mind.

The title of this book is SO fitting because my heart broke for Sare, the FMC, over and over again. In her 17 years of life she has been through so much already, so much more than the normal person should ever be able to endure in their lifetime, but she is SO strong, brave, and courageous and you can't help but cheer for her.

The book was fast-paced but in the best way, so many twists and turns and mysteries!! Although it may take an emotional toll on you throughout, the ending was SO satisfying and was SO worth the read.