a billionaire x small town romance. I had a lot of mixed feeling while reading this book, but it was overall a cute read. Eva and Aston were kind of a chaotic couple, a very hot, but chaotic couple. I enjoyed the second chance aspect of their relationship, but I think I would have preferred them to work on their communication a bit more before getting together at the end.

Aston’s whole family was soooo messy, but I’m curious to read about the rest of the characters.

Oh gosh… where do I even begin? I wanted to DNF (Did Not Finish) this book so many, MANY times. I kept convincing myself there would be light at the end of the tunnel… but sadly, I was left in the dark, blindly searching for any reason to care.

Was it the worst thing I’ve ever read? No. But it definitely wasn’t my cup of tea and I love the tropes this book was advertised with.
I struggled with the main characters and felt there just wasn’t enough chemistry between them. I disliked the MMC’s personality and found myself frustrated with the FMC. Like girl… it was YEARS AGO.

Here’s the thing: it had all the tropes I typically enjoy:
• Small town
• Billionaire
• Best friend’s brother
• Enemies to lovers

But the “enemies to lovers” angle especially fell flat. I was expecting more banter and tension for a book marketed that way.

Overall, this one just wasn’t for me.


I want to thank Netgalley, Atria Books and Kat T. Masen for the eARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This was full of tropes:

~ Small town
~ Second chance
~ Best friends brother
~ Billionaire
~ Forced proximity
~ Slow burn
~ Dual POV

First of all, I really do not like Aston and Maddy's father, he is overbearing and controlling his family to a rude extreme. Aston was definitely a jerk in the beginning, but as the story continued you see a different side of him, sweet and jealous but whew the possessive side of him. He gets a lot more on page time, and it was really sad/frustrating some of the things he had to deal with.

Eva (Everleigh) is a donut shop owner in a small town named Cinnamon Springs. Aston broke her heart 8 years ago and she has not gotten over it yet. Eva is a strong character, hardworking, and very loyal to her best friend Maddy. Maddy is getting married, and has tasked Eva and Aston to help pull everything together for the wedding. Eva definitely steps up to the task much more the Aston.

I loved the tension and banter between Eva and Aston. Eva wanted to avoid him but Aston was not going to let that happen. I was here for every moment. Just be aware that this is a spicy good time.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read this book early. All of my opinions are my own.

4.5 Stars... This was everything I needed in a book! All my favorite tropes: best friend's brother, billionaire, small town, second chance, enemies to lovers. Loved the writing style, easy to follow, decent-sized chapters. Loved every character but Harvey. The author did a great job of writing one of the best characters you love to hate. Can't wait to buy this to have a shelf trophy and enjoy with my book besties.

2 stars.

I did not like "How to Break My Heart" by Kat T. Massen. It started fine. I was even enjoying myself early on, especially where the small-town elements were concerned, but the longer it went on, the more I disliked it. I love a best friend's brother romance, but this one is severely lacking. I felt little to no chemistry between the main characters, Eva and Aston, beyond the very first kiss they had when they were in high school. In fact, there were times when I straight-up *hated* Aston, to the story's detriment. After eight years apart, Aston is back in Cinnamon Springs to help plan his sister's wedding. His sister Maddie is Eva's best friend, and she has no idea they kissed years ago. His possessiveness and jealousy out of nowhere were a complete turn-off to me. I have read plenty of books with possessive main male characters, but Aston reads more "gross creep." He is mean, nasty, rude, and that makes him unattractive. But sure, Eva, go for him anyway even though you know exactly who he is from the get-go! There were several times when I actually shouted at my book when Eva was trying to decide if she liked Marco, the doctor in Cinnamon Springs. Yeah, Eva, why choose the sweet, caring, attractive, nice, pleasant doctor when you could have the brooding, jealous, controlling, clingy billionaire? Oh yeah... $$$$$$$. Their connection is shallow at best. No emotion, no zing, no spark. In fact, most of the story is shallow. There are far too many subplots and side characters for my liking. Some of the plot points feel yanked straight from other books I have read, like, down to intricate details. Everything is wrapped up way too quickly and far too easily. It's not particularly long, but it sure felt like it was. Yeah... I struggled with this one. I do not recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kat T. Masen, and Atria Books for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

When Maddy, Eva’s best friend, asks her to be her maid of honor, she’s confident in her abilities to help with all things wedding planning. However, her confidence wavers when she discovers that she must work closely with the Best Man, Maddy’s brother, and the same man who shattered her heart years ago. As Eva and Aston help with the wedding plans, one moment of weakness leads to sparks flying and the chemistry between them getting hotter! But as the time ticks closer to the wedding, will they be able to just walk away as friends, or will they learn how to break each other’s hearts all over again.

Eva and Aston were an absolute delight, and I throughly enjoyed them. Their banter had me laughing out loud many times, and I was honestly rooting for them from the beginning. The more they tried to be “just friends,” the more their tension and chemistry radiated through the pages.

Everyone had their own struggles they were dealing with while also trying to figure out what they wanted out of life. I loved watching them navigate it individually, but also, how much they contributed to each other’s development along the way.

This was the perfect fast paced, small town, contemporary romance and is an absolute must read. The dual POV rounded out the story and gave both perspectives throughout the story. This book brings heart, heat, sarcasm, and all the banter. I’m excited to see what else Cinnamon Springs has in store for us!

Thank you so much to Kat Masen, Atria Books and NetGalley for the gifted copy! My review is honest and voluntary.

It was a quick read, and there were parts I was really into, but there were also areas that felt a little juvenile. I mean, their drama took place in high school, and they still aren't over it? Come on... Other than that though, I did like many elements of the story, and it did get pretty deep. I loved the drama! lol There were even some parts that I was surprised by. I also thought it was a great level of spice for the content. Plus, I love a possessive man... 🤷🏼‍♀️ It's a good option if you want something quick and heartwarming with small-town vibes.

I'll be posting it on Instagram on the 23rd for release day!

How to Break My Heart by Kat T. Masen absolutely delivers on its title—but don’t worry, the HEA more than makes up for the emotional rollercoaster.

Eva and Aston’s chemistry is undeniable. Every scene they share crackles with tension, the kind that makes you want to race through the pages just to see what happens next. The dual POV really shines here, allowing us to see Eva’s emotions while Aston is acting on his own—such an effective way to build their story.

The “best friend’s brother” boundary, their complicated history, and the forced proximity setup combine into a romance that is equal parts angsty and steamy. I’ll admit the family drama felt a bit familiar compared to other romances, and I wished for more development of Eva and Aston outside their relationship. Still, the story kept me engaged from start to finish.

Romance readers looking for tension, drama, and a swoon-worthy payoff will find plenty to enjoy here. The heartbreak is real, but the happily ever after makes every bit of it worth it.

Grateful to Atria Booksfor my advance copy for review. All opinions are my own.

Beautiful cover but the writing and the story were just okay and felt shallow. It didn't feel very cozy when we hardly got to know the town and the people of the town, nor the main characters, whom the author barely covered one level deep from the surface level...

Eva’s best friend is getting married which means she’ll be face to face with Aston, her best friend’s brother, for the first time since he broke her heart.

I struggled with how to review this book because I didn’t realize what I was getting myself into. I agree with another reviewer that the cover is not a good fit. I expected a more emotional story and got A LOT of spice (as in probably 50% of the book). Ultimately, I was disappointed with the backstory for the couple and the conflict. It might be a better fit for the readers on Booktok as the author mentioned but it wasn’t my cup of tea!

Thank you to Atria Books for providing a free ARC for review via NetGalley.

This is a spicy read that leans pretty hard into the spicy aspects, if that makes sense. For me personally (and yes, this is a me issue, not necessarily a you issue), the MMC was just not "it". He was just a little too mean and a little too harsh and that is just not my vibe. I know many of ya'all dark romance ladies like this type of thing, but it's just not my jam. When he sort of flips the script, it seems out of nowhere.

I think the story would have been served to give a little more background on what Ashton liked about Eva to make the love story a little more believable. There just was very little depth to their romance.

I liked the setting and background characters. I also thought the spice was fairly well done; I just really wasn't hooked at the romance/love.

If you are looking for a smutty-esq read and like a small town setting, I would recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for access to this ARC.

If you're a fan of older brother best friend love stories this would be right up your alley!

Huge shoutout to my favorite publishers over at Atria books! Thank you also to NetGalley and Kat for the eARC!

What To Expect:
⭐ Best Friends Older Brother
⭐ Billionaire Hero
⭐ Forced Proximity
⭐ Hidden Relationship
⭐ Slow Burn Romance

My Thoughts:
While labeled enemies to lovers in the synopsis I honestly didn't feel that. I will say there were some really great parts of the story and the writing and then there were things I didn't love hence my 3 star review. Also I didn't understand where the "he broke her heart in high school" came from. So there were definitely some things I originally thought the story was going to be about, but it didn't quite align with the blurb. At times I really struggled to want to root for main character Eva. I had a hard time with some of her ideas, thoughts or maybe even emotions. Her past connection with Aston doesn't seem all that deep and she has held on to that thread for a long time holding it against him. As a grown "settled" woman there were just parts of her story that felt childish or not emotionally mature. I tried to love it all and the sub characters i just really struggled to get there.

Synopsis:
Eva Woods is perfectly content with her quiet life in the picturesque town of Cinnamon Springs, where she owns a café infamous for its mouthwatering donuts. There’s even a cute new doctor in town that has caught the eyes of everyone, Eva included. But when her best friend, Maddy, asks Eva to join forces with her brother for the sake of her upcoming wedding, Eva’s quaint life is upended. Cold and rigid, Aston is the man who broke Eva’s heart back in high school. He’s also one of the country’s hottest billionaires.

With both Aston and Eva trying to outdo each other and stake claim as Maddy’s right hand man, the competition heats up. As their annoyance grows, so does their attraction, eventually culminating in a steamy night together in Aston’s New York penthouse. When Eva realizes her feelings may be a little harder to ignore than she had originally thought, she slips back to Cinnamon Springs and leaves Aston wondering what happened.

When the wedding day finally arrives and brings more than just flowers and cake, Eva and Aston are forced to finally reckon with their undeniable chemistry—and attempt to save a marriage.

✨ARC REVIEW✨
How to Break My Heart
Kat T. Masen
September 23, 2025
Cinnamon Springs # 1

Tropes
♡ Dual POV
♡ Best Friend’s Brother
♡ Second Chance
♡ Enemies to Lovers
♡ Billionaire Romance
♡ Small Town Romance

Genres / Moods
♡ fiction
♡ contemporary
♡ romance
♡ emotional
♡ funny
♡ lighthearted

Rating: 4.75/5⭐
Spice: 4/5🌶️
3 Emojis: 🍩 👰‍♀️ 🐸

Book Details
♡ September 20, 2025 - September 21, 2025
♡ eBook
♡ 262 pages
♡ Prologue + 32 chapters + epilogue
♡ NetGalley

Review:
I did not want to put this down. The family drama and angst were so good. Both the FMC and MMC had to deal with their own realizations about relationships and how they wanted to live life. I like how there were two major plot lines, the couple, and the wedding planning they are paired up to help with. They push each other but are also there to hold each other up when there's too much going on.

Summary:
Eva owns a café in Cinnamon Springs. She is tasked to help plan her best friend's wedding in a month. The problem is that she has to work with the bride's brother, Aston, who broke her heart in high school. Aston and his family are rich, rich. The dad is obsessed with money and power.

As they are trying to plan this wedding, they become physically closer. They have to keep it a secret since Eva doesn't want to add more stress to her best friend. The wedding plan is getting out of control. The families are adding more people, trying to make it a business event.

When things come crashing down and secrets are revealed, Aston and Eva need to figure out what they want from life, their families, and each other.

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this book early! I thought I would love this book, it is filled with all my favorite tropes. I unfortunately had a hard time getting through it. A few weird sexual scenes, some confusing plot lines, and a MMC I didn't enjoy. It is a beautiful cover though!

I found out something about a lot of romcoms with smut: once it starts, it doesn’t stop, I said that before in one of my reviews for an ARC and I feel the exact same thing happened in this book. I’ll say the first 10% was enjoyable, normal-setting contemporary romance like most typical of that genre, with a best friend’s brother, second-chance.
And I think once someone has a problem with a main character, the book doesn’t get all enjoyable anymore, which is exactly what happened with me, aside from the few lines that made me cringe.
I feel like this book is either a yes or a no, so there’s 100% chance you’ll like it, but that is just how I personally feel about it.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange of a honest review.

This book was really cute. I loved the characters and the relationships in this story. The friendships were great and so was the love story. I'm always a sucker for a best friend's brother romance trope. There were some slow parts, but it was easy to push through those moments. I love this setting of Cinnamon Springs. These small towns have such a charm and I just can't get enough of it.

This was such a cute book! Checked all the boxes for a small town romance. I loved the references to romance tropes as well.

Cafe owner and billionaire who is also the best friends brother. I was instantly sold. I was giggling throughout the entire book.

I will be recommending this to all my friends who love a cozy romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC of this. The female main character was a tad bit annoying at some point, but you get over it and you learn to move past it. It’s also said to be an enemies to lovers which I do love but this didn’t really come off as enemies to lovers. At least not how I was imagining, maybe a little bit of dislike or discomfort but yeah. I feel like Eva and Ashton had moments where their chemistry was good but for the most part, it felt like a little bit off like they were missing some of that wondrous attraction that really makes you love a couple. They just didn’t have that to me. I mean it was so cute but it felt like it was just missing a little something.

I absolutely enjoyed my time reading this novel. The MMC (Aston) comes off very strong and controlling and this was off putting. As the story goes on as a reader there was definitely a softer spot for him. There was a twist at the end that I was not expecting or saw coming. I would definitely recommend this is you like enemies to lovers, second chance/billionaire/ small town romances.

*I received a copy of this book as an ARC. This review and thoughts are mine alone.*

Rating: 2.5⭐️
Spice: 🌶️

Where to start.

First of all, this was listed as enemies to lovers, I did not find that to be the case at all.

Second, the FMC was beyond annoying and I found myself wanting to skip her parts entirely, and she was the main character.

Third, the cover and blurb didn’t seem to fit the story at all.


Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for access to the ARC in exchange for this honest review!