Thanks to Netgalley & Atria Books for the E-ARC! Loved so much! Cute characters & loved the setting. Made me cry several times too. Will read more from this author.

4.5 stars

How to Break My Heart by Kat T Masen was so much fun - this is a lighthearted piece overall that doesn't take itself too seriously. The story feels a bit ridiculous and over the top at time, but that's part of the appeal.

Eva owns a cute little cafe bakery in Cinnamon Springs -- her childhood best friend Maddy is getting married and would like Eva to help plan her wedding......with Madelina's older brother, Aston, who just so happens to be a billionaire and a childhood crush of Eva. Aston broke Eva's heart when he left and said he was looking for a real woman and there was nothing left for him in their hometown.

Now Aston is noticing that Eva is more than enough woman for him and the two of them can't seem to keep their hands off of each other.

This book is a fun distraction and escape from the reality that is living in the USA in 2025.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!! I hope to read more from the author.

I enjoyed the dynamic between Eva and Aston. In the beginning when he pushed her away it was heartbreaking, and it was really nice to see how he won her back. Their bickering and chemistry was through the roof and it’s what made the book for me.

⭐️ 5/5
POV: Dual, first person
FMC: Eva MMC: Aston
Timeline: Linear
Setting: Small town, Cinnamon Springs
MF Open Door Romance 🌶️ 4/5 (In first half of book too!)
Tropes & themes: enemies-to-lovers, best friend’s brother, toxic & dysfunctional family dynamics, billionaire CEO, small-town bakery owner!

Ohhh I loved this!! Kat T. Masen absolutely nailed the enemies-to-lovers, best friend’s brother setup in How to Break My Heart. Eva and Aston have that perfect mix of old wounds and new sparks, and every scene between them hums with tension. The small-town charm of Cinnamon Springs and Eva’s café added so much warmth, which balanced out Aston’s broody billionaire energy beautifully. The forced-proximity wedding planning kept things playful while the deeper emotional layers made their eventual connection feel earned.
There were times I was frustrated with the MCs (and side characters) with their complex character flaws but isn’t that how we all are in life?? We’re all a bit complex and flawed. This had real issues like toxic and dysfunctional family dynamics, relationship and friendship drama, workplace pressure, lots of tension, humor, and lots and lots of sexiness. If you like Abby Jimenez, Lucy Score, Carly Fortune you will enjoy this one too!! This was an easy five stars for me!

Thank you Atria Books for providing a copy of this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

A steamy, enemies-to-lovers romance that takes place in a small town and involves a billionaire? Sign me up! This book, while including a few tropes that are not my favorite, surprised me. I found myself enjoying the banter and growth of the relationship. While it had its slow parts, it made up for it with great spice and a loving relationship.

Thank you for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

How to Break My Heart by Kat T. Masen

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 2/5 🌶️🌶️

Thank you to Atria Books, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

How to Break My Heart is a fantastic enemies-to-lovers romance featuring a small-town café owner and her best friend’s billionaire brother as they work together to plan a wedding. With lots of romance, a multitude of tropes, and a bit of a love triangle, How to Break My Heart is a fast-paced read perfect for contemporary romcom readers!

Eva loves her quiet life in the small town of Cinnamon Springs, where she owns a café. A cute new doctor is in town that has captured Eva’s attention. But Eva’s thrown for a loop when her best friend, Maddy, asks her to work with her brother for the sake of her upcoming wedding. Suddenly, Eva’s quaint life is disrupted entirely. Aston is the reserved and cold man who broke Eva’s heart back in high school and he’s also a billionaire. Aston and Eva try to outshine one another and show that they should be Maddy’s go-to person for everything. As they compete and their annoyance grows, so does their chemistry. However, when they give into their attraction, Eva is not sure about where they stand after. With Maddy’s wedding happening soon, they’ll have to figure things out or Eva will find herself heartbroken again.

Overall, a cute and swoony read with lots of classic tropes, a romance with some depth, and wonderful supporting characters!

This enemies-to-lovers romance was really not for me, but having said that, I did gradually become invested enough to keep reading to the end. It is a light, entertaining read and would likely appeal to lovers of romance with a bit of angst and a lot of spice. To me, the characters, especially the villains of the story, are stereotypes rather than fully-realized individuals. The two main characters became more interesting as I got into the story, though, and I started liking the story more in the second half of the book. Not every book suits every reader's taste, and I'm sure this one will find readers who love it. For me, it was just okay.

had no idea what to expect going into this story... but I was blown away. I read this in one sitting, and I definitely fell in love. BUT THE ENDING? I better see these two again, or I might lose my mind.

This one wasn’t for me. I thought I was going to enjoy the guy-who-seems-like-a-rich-jerk-but-really-isn’t trope, but he fell very flat on the “not actually being a jerk part.” He’s definitely just a jerk. And I have a hard time getting behind the nice guy getting dropped because he’s labeled “boring.” That just feels more toxic than romantic to me. I feel like I am missing some side-character context because this was my first Kat T. Mason book, but it was easy enough to follow. Not for me, but I could see how someone who’s into very trope-y books could really enjoy this.

I have never read anything by this author and let me tell you I’m very impress by this 5 star story. I was hooked from the very first page to the last one.

Eva is content on running her cafe, Cinnamon Spring’s, and even met a doctor she connected with. Her best friend Maddy his getting married and asks Eva to help her. Maddy will also have her billionaire brother help her, Aston. Eva hate Aston and hasn’t seen him in a long time. Years ago they shared a moment that left them bitter. Now sparks will fly. It’s an enemies to lovers/best friends brother.

I binge read this story. Once I started it, I couldn’t put it down for very long. It was highly addicting and captivating. The bantering between Eva and Aston was somewhat funny at times. It does deal with verbal abuse and bullying from a parent. I will definitely be on the look out for more from this author. Beautifully written with a seamless plot. Bottomline this is a must read.

Standalone for now told in a dual POV with an HEA. I strongly recommend this story.

This New Adult Rom Com actually got me to sympathize with a billionaire. I pictured the love interest Aston like the cute but sad little Peince George.
Anyway, HOW TO BREAK MY HEART is a sweet romance with a sweet main character Eva (Everleigh), but with just enough spice to keep the pages turning and hearts racing.

My only questions/cons are:
1. How does a 26 yo run a billionaire empire and how does a 24 yo own her own cafe? I think it would make more sense if the characters were in their 30's.
2. Why did Aston and Maddy's snotty dad allow them to go to the same high school as 'regular' Eva? I think he would have forced them to go to prep school.
3. Speaking of Maddy, I did not like the bratty bff/bride-to-be.

Thank you Atria for the physical copy of this delightful and warm romance!

I really enjoy this story. Best friends brothers, romance that build from a very young age but never florist, forced to plan bff wedding with her young love. This 2 definitely played in the line of staying away from each and going straight on with =out a care. Can you guess what happened? I guess you will have to read it and find out. Love the story, the characters, everything that happened in between. Sometimes, we need our hearts to break a couple of times before we can piece it back together.

I do love a toxic man and Aston fits that bill. He is a bit of a mess and just needs to fight for what he wants. Eva is the woman for him and he would realize that if he got his head out of his ass. Thankfully he does and is able to give Eva everything she ever dreamed of.

I received an arc through netgalley.

I really could not stand any of the characters in this book. It was a slog to get through. I liked the setting but that’s about it. I found myself skimming. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc ebook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Evangeline and Aston are THE couple. In this best friend’s brother romance, their chemistry is off the charts. Chucked full of emotion and angst, this book definitely sucks you in and I was 1000% there for every minute of it. I am very much excited to see what the rest of the series brings! I will definitely be in the lookout for more books by @authorkattmasen

I liked this, but I think I've learned the billionaire trope is just not for me. It feels borderline icky everytime I read it. Sadly this was one that didn't work for me, but I think I was the problem, not the book or story itself.

I was allowed to read an ARC copy of How to Break My Heart by NetGalley.

A cozy and steamy enemies-to-lovers romance following a small town cafe owner and her friends' billionaire brother as they're forced to work together to plan a wedding.

Eva Woods, the Cafe owner, loves her small town, Cinnamon Springs (love the name by the way), and her best friend, Maddy. When Maddy asks her to help plan her wedding, which will be in a month, she then tells her that Aston, her older brother by a year, will also be assisting Eva plan the wedding.

I love a best friend's brother book troupe.

This book gave me all the feels...I felt enraged with Maddy's/Ashton family dynamics for most of the book and didn't see that twist coming. (shame on me for that)
I loved that even though Maddy and Eva were not as close as they were in high school, they still had each other's backs.
Ashton and Eva were perfect. I loved the hate and love they had for each other. I loved his possessive side.

There were so many fantastic side characters that I can't wait to read the other books in the series and get a glimpse back into Ashton and Eva.

Thank you, NetGalley, for once again letting me read one of your ARCs.

Captivating and interesting from the beginning. Eva and Aston share an estranged and soon a somewhat toxic and secret one while helping with Maddys wedding. I am here for the drama that unfold between them. Hate to love goodness.

I have been obsessed with Kat Masen for a long time! I will never get over Charlie and lexs story and am equally as obsessed with their family and friends stories. I have also loved her other series. When i saw that she was writing another book i about lost it and immediately requested an ARC. When i saw that i got it i actually lost it.

This book was the perfect comeback into Kats world of fictional characters. Aston is the perfect best friends older brother who leaves her wanting more but also making her thoroughly hate him. He is confident and powerful as well as possessive and jealous like we all love!. Eva is sweet and thew perfect strong, small town girl who just wants to find love and live a quiet life and she will not settle. I wish that we had gotten more from their past as i love a second chance romance more than anything but we only get one scene but what we did get is amazing!! I cannot wait to read more.

I also absolutely love how they tie in the Edwards family!

This book had me hooked with the synopsis, but unfortunately the story and writing just fell flat for me.

I knew right off the bat that this one wasn't for me with that prologue. It was just...cringy? But also, there really was no depth to it & how we are supposed to believe the MMC "broke her heart". All we are told is he's hot and her best friend's brother. There's no other history between them or special moments or anything? It just made no sense why the FMC would hold such a grudge against him for so long when there was no build up given to us.

And then the story starts and it really doesn't get better. The MMC is insufferable. The FMC has a really great guy she is dating, but cheats on him with the MMC. Why?! Because of lust? There is absolutely nothing between them but that!

This was my first book by this author and will probably be my last. I couldn't even finish this one. I DNF'd somewhere in the middle.