Since it took so long to get into, and not in a sweet slow burn kind of way, I wasn't really a fan. I tried multiple times to get through it and it just took a while. Not terrible, but I don't think I'd recommend.

Welcome to Cinnamon Springs, where the donuts are fresh and old flames are reignited? The book follows Aston, Eva and Maddie- best friends, siblings and a missed connection.

I ate up every word of this book. I was invested from the very first chapter and thoroughly enjoyed the character dynamics and the dramatics. I did find a few parts of the book a bit wordy and not necessary. Overall, I loved the book and would definitely recommend!

A special thanks to NetGalley, Atria, and Kat T. Masen for providing me with a digital ARC copy in exchange for my honest thoughts on this novel.

Every person in this book (minus the dr) is an asshole, and they all deserve each other. Romance? Nah, this is a travesty and a train wreck. I made it 47% of the way through this book before nearly throwing my phone across the room in disgust. A romance is supposed to make you want to root for the main characters being together and I do, if only so they can make each other miserable because nothing on this Earth could convince that they could actually like each other.

The FMC is boring. Like she is set up to be this cool cafe owner who doesn’t really believe in love but wants to help out her best friend but in the actual interactions we see of hers with other people she has no other hobbies, she has nothing she seems to care for (supposedly it’s the Cafe, but that is never really demonstrated within the story) and she consistently doesn’t want to be anywhere near where she is in that moment.

The MMC is an asshole. He’s not grumpy, he’s an asshole. They are not the same thing. You can be grumpy and still not treat everyone around you like shit on the bottom of your $1000 loafers. You can blame his dad for his attitude all you want, at some point an adult (who I think is like 28) has to take responsibility for how they treat others. He either treats the FMC as if she’s the worlds biggest nuisance or like he owns her. HE DOESN’T EVEN KNOW HER. They knew each other (kinda) in high school, a decade ago. They are not the same people they are then and they haven’t had a single conversation about their current lives/likes/dislikes/ANYTHING but he’s like “no one else can touch you.” He can’t seem to talk to her without it just being “Wanna see my penis? You can’t touch anyone elses because even though we aren’t together in any way I want to control everything you do.”

The best friend/MMCs sister? Cannot stand up for herself about her own dang wedding. She doesn’t want a big wedding but has been bullied into this massive affair by her father and future in-laws. Supposedly at some point the FMC & MMC have to come together to “save” the wedding, let it burn. Let the poor girl take a stand for once (I am not going to attempt to continue to read this book to find out if she does, it’s not worth it).

The Dad? Lets just say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

The Mom? Absent. Like completely not there but refuses to divorce her asshole spouse so I don’t actually feel bad for her. Probably was neglectful of the characters when they were kids because she can’t be bothered to show up for her daughter without threats from her husband.

The people in this town? Shown to be mostly bitchy as one of the only things we hear from a conversation between 2 random women was them tearing down the FMC to make themselves feel better about not dating the hot dr.

The hot dr? The only person I feel bad for. Poor guy shows up in this new town thinking he can settle down and has no idea the woman he’s asked out on a date is so attracted to this other guy that she’ll probably ditch him for even though she doesn’t know the other guy. But also, I don’t feel bad for him because he dodged a bullet with that one. (For reference, I know she doesn’t end up with him because this isn’t a why choose novel and also I read a few other reviews after deciding to DNF because I needed to know I wasn’t the only person extremely disappointed in this book).

I appreciate that the publisher sent this to me for free for review, but I think they did not strike gold with this book at all.

This was my first read ever by this author and I am looking forward to reading more. I thought the premise of this book was interesting and one that I enjoy. It has two characters with an unresolved hostory and a strong attraction to each other who have to join forces to help plan the wedding of their best friend/sister. This was an easy and fast read. What wasn't easy to read was the parts with abusive father... I hated those parts. It read kind of like more youn adult but there definitley was some dun spicy sections that were not young adult. This book gave me a Gilmore Girls vibe and I loved it. I rated this a 4 star book on my Goodreads and look forward to reading more from this author. .

I’ll be honest, I really didn’t like the book. I mean in general I’m not a big fan of second chance romances and it just felt really…boring. The story fell flat for me and didn’t seem to really have a plot except the romance. The book seemed to compile a gazillion tropes into one book to make “the perfect man,” but ended up being a little tacky. This is my personal opinion, and I’m sure that this could’ve been a fun read for someone, just not me,

What you’ll find:
- Second chance romance
- Best friend’s brother
- Happy ending

3.5⭐️ I don’t know where I convinced myself this was a cute little small town romance but I was wrong. This was spicy! The characters aren’t always relatable and some of the pacing was a little off for me. I also think a lot of the backstory comes at the end which makes some of the beginning rushed/not make sense. Overall I was pleasantly surprised with this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

This was good, not great. Very standard romance with a very mid FMC and MMC. I didn’t really feel a connection with either of them but was interested in the drama with the MMC’s family and craved donuts after reading about the pineapple donut 🍩. The resolution of the MMC’s family conflict though was very predictable and felt very rushed. I was not a fan of a lot of the MMC’s actions, and a lot of the story felt disjointed and like throwing a bunch of tropes together. Overall, it was good for a light and quick romance read, but I won’t think about it further than this review.

This book follows Aston — a billionaire CEO who’s always done whatever it takes to protect his little sister, Madelina, even if it means putting his own happiness on hold. And then there’s Everleigh (Eva), the small-town café owner and Madelina’s best friend. Aston and Eva have known each other since childhood, always toeing the line between friendship and something more — until one unforgettable kiss at Aston’s senior year party changed everything… and sent them on separate paths for nine long years.

Now, fate brings them back together as Madelina prepares for her wedding. With just one month to pull it off, Eva is the maid of honor and Aston is the best man — and old sparks quickly reignite. Eva’s sass meets Aston’s signature smugness, resulting in hilarious bickering, undeniable tension, and a whole lot of unresolved history. But beneath the banter lies a deep connection that neither of them can deny.

This book had everything — second chances, slow-burn chemistry, and a love that felt earned. I especially loved the cameo from Lex Edwards — a familiar face from Chasing Love and Chasing Us. His role as a savior in this story was a perfect full-circle moment. Aston and Everleigh are the definition of soulmates, and their story sets the bar high for the rest of the series. Truly unforgettable!

This book brought together so many of my favorite tropes—small town charm, a swoony billionaire, best friend’s older brother, and yes… even a love triangle. Now, I usually can’t stand love triangles. They tend to fall flat or feel forced—but not this time. From the opening chapter, I was hooked. The story pulled me in and held on tight, delivering drama, unexpected twists, and a love story that unfolded with just the right intensity and pace.

What truly stood out to me was the emotional growth of the characters as they navigated the weight of living up to their parents’ expectations. Watching them slowly break free to find their own paths—with the help of deeply loyal friendships—was both moving and empowering. Eva’s role in guiding both Madelina and Ashton was particularly touching. She’s the kind of friend everyone deserves: honest, supportive, and a catalyst for growth.

As a fan of enemies-to-lovers, I was thrilled with how well this trope played out. The chemistry, the snarky banter, the lingering glances—it all felt so natural and alive, like something you’d witness between real people. I often turn to books for a break from reality, but in this case, the emotions and characters felt so authentic that I forgot I was reading fiction.

And I have to mention the delightful surprise—connections to Masen’s Dark Love and Forbidden Love series! Those little callbacks felt like finding hidden gems, a true treat for returning readers.

Ok I’ll be honest I only made it through the prologue but I can tell the writing is cheesy 😭 in that first chapter our fmc says she thinks her best friends brother is hot (does not mention any history or real feelings for him) then they kiss and she expects to have sex with him?!?! I know this is a high school girls brain but it does not feel realistic. Then you’re telling she's gonna hold a grudge for 8 years and say her heart is broken because of one kiss that she walked away from?? No

How to Break My Heart is an easy, well-paced read with moments of genuine vulnerability and tension. While the romance didn’t quite hit the mark for me --I was hoping for a bit more spark or connection -- the story still kept me engaged! Masen's writing is smooth, and the characters are layered enough to carry the plot. A solid 3.5 stars

This book had really good potential, but it fell a little short for me.

I needed a little more backstory on how and why the connected in the past, just one little scene from the past was not enough for me to feel connected to their connection.

I felt that the MMC was acting kinda juvenile and a little immature and that really turned me off. I get the jealousy and all that but i don’t think it came across as it was wanted.

For me also I also did not like all the details and plot of her planning the wedding and causing all of that stress. AND for me the best friend was not giving best friend vibes and did not worry about all the stress she was causing her.

Some scene felt unnecessary and redundant, but the story overall had some good scenes and plot, but for me it did not come across really good.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read the ARC of this book!

The day Goodreads allows 1/2 stars will be a good day.
This had so much potential. But it felt insanely rushed and immature compared to her other series. I was SO excited to receive the ARC, but the story just fell so flat. It jumped so much and the “drama” just felt mediocre. There was a plot twist that I didn’t necessarily see coming. Long story short the “heartbreak” was nothing like what I was expecting for all this angst and trust issues.
Aston and Eva could’ve been one of my favorite couples. Details just seemed unrealistic when it came to their past. A kiss isn’t going to cause this much emotional damage to an adult. The banter was good in some parts. The found family aspect was not the greatest. Maddy seemed really immature for someone getting married.

The story was very choppy, it was hard to attach myself to the characters, and compared to her other series this fell completely flat. A better climactic event, aside from a third act breakup, would’ve helped.

Tropes:
Found Family
Best Friends Brother
Enemies to Lovers (?)
Family Trauma
Runaway Bride
Grand Gesture
Third Act Breakup

If anyone knows how to write a best friends brother trope its is Kat T. Masen. Eva and Aston are hot and cold from the beginning. They had chemistry off the charts. You get some of their background and they fast forward years later. They are thrust together by best friend/sister. This book has all the drama, angst, buildup, hotness and twist and turns you are looking for some you don’t see coming. The forced proximity of these two as they go head to head makes you want to keep reading. Billionaires getting what they want when they realize why they lost. Oh the guest appearances are icing on the cake. I can’t wait to see what the world of Cinnamon Springs brings us.

This was a cute story, not my favorite romance of all time, but cute. It was odd that she was still carrying a grudge from like 10 years prior over 1 kiss. I feel like it was a bit fast personally but I still enjoyed reading it, and I’d be open to reading others from the series and from the author.

2.5/3 stars. Easy to read small town romance. This book didn’t do it for me. The MMC was a jerk from the very beginning and I just in general wasn’t a fan of him. His father was the worst… but I honestly didn’t connect with any of the characters really. It was however an easy read.

i received this arc read, in exchange for an honest review, from netgalley + publisher! thank you millions for the opportunity to read this book!!

i plan on keeping my review short, purely because there isn’t much i have to say. while this was an easy read, it was not enjoyable for me. i only liked two characters, and they weren’t even the main characters….. from the authors note in the beginning, i had a bad feeling about this book. this writing lacked intentionality + it appeared to me that it was all fan service with the intent to make this a tiktok famous book. it felt awkwardly written + immature, and there was a lot of alarming qualities in both main characters. it felt like the author was attempting to romanticize abusive traits, which made me feel really uncomfortable. aston + eva severely lacked chemistry + it felt like the only attraction they had toward one another was sexual. and even that felt borderline abusive.

I’d call this a second chance at love with a lot of chaos and drama story. Eva, small town donut shop owner, is helping her best friend plan her wedding and thrust into having to see her first love who broke her heart before they could even get together. Aston was definitely a jerk throughout most of this book. He does get better once his world flips upside. This book was a bit of a roller coaster..

Best friends brother banter galor! 3.5 stars rounded up

He broke her heart at sixteen, but after 8 years her best friends brother is back in her life as they work together to plan the best friends wedding with only a month until “I do!”

Thoughts and potential spoilers:

This was a fun read! A lot of angst and built up tension! The banter and quick comebacks and sass between Everleigh and Aston were *chefs kiss*
I struggled a bit with their dynamic in terms of the “hating each other.” Sometimes it felt a bit much for me? From the prologue it didn’t seem like they had a bad relationship as teenagers, just that of an older brother who didn’t pay much attention to his sister or her bestie? But then throughout the book it was like their original dynamic was different than what the prologue lead us to believe.

Everything takes place 8 years later so the characters should’ve been between 24-26, but sometimes their life experiences felt older than that, but their dialogue read a bit younger and almost immature, though falling in to old habits with people from your past could also explain that, if that was the authors intent.

This is REALLY knit picky but sometimes the phrasing was odd to me. As an American living in NY I often thought “that’s a weird way to say that” but also saw the author was from Australia which would explain this

In all, I’d definitely be interested in reading more from this author and I believe this is the start of a series, and I’m curious to see where it goes!

Thank you Atria and NetGalley for this arc! All thoughts are my own!

this is a hard one to rate. I found some moments so special and endearing and the rest just kind of left me hanging. I wouldn't classify them as enemies and I definitely would not say they both had a hand in trying to plan the wedding. And the fact that she was so worried about her friend finding out about them, only for it to be a complete non-issue. These grown ups had some very teenage angst and feels about making sure they didn't step on any toes. The brother kind of floated in and out. I am however, excited about the books to come and all the characters that were introduced.