A Delightfully Thrifty Romance That Won't Break Your Heart (Or Your Wallet)

Well, well, well. T. Atkins has delivered a bite-sized romance that goes down smoother than a milkshake-dipped french fry (more on that controversial topic later, don't worry).
"Thrifted Hearts" is the literary equivalent of finding a designer jacket at Goodwill for $3.99 – compact, surprisingly well-made, and leaving you with that "I can't believe I got this for so little" feeling. This novella is shorter than my attention span during Zoom meetings, which means I actually finished it in one sitting. Revolutionary!

Anna and Noah are the kind of characters you'd want to double-date with, assuming you could keep up with their banter and didn't mind being the less attractive couple. Their friend group has that perfect "we've been through high school together and somehow still like each other" energy that makes you nostalgic for friendships where roasting each other is a love language.

BUT HOLD UP. Can we talk about Carter's burger joint meltdown? My dude acted like Noah suggested they dine at a gas station hot dog roller. Newsflash, Carter: even Jeff Bezos probably hits up Five Guys sometimes. Rich people eat burgers too! They just Instagram them more pretentiously.
And don't even get me started on the Great French Fry Scandal of Chapter Whatever. Carter's shock at fry-in-milkshake action had me rolling my eyes so hard I nearly detached a retina. Sir, this is not some forbidden culinary dark magic – it's basically a sweet and salty combo that's been around since drive-ins were invented. Wendy's literally built a Frosty empire on this concept!

Despite Carter's apparently sheltered fast-food existence, this book is a delightful little treat. T. Atkins writes with the kind of warmth that makes you want to curl up with hot chocolate and text your friends embarrassing memes. It's my first rodeo with this author, but definitely not my last – they've officially earned a spot on my "maybe pile" which is basically the literary equivalent of being added to someone's Netflix watchlist (high honor, questionable follow-through).

The Verdict: Perfect for when you want romance without the commitment of a 400-page emotional marathon. Quick, cute, and only slightly marred by one character's bizarre unfamiliarity with basic American food culture.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC – always appreciated when I can judge books before they're officially ready to be judged!

Recommended for: Anyone who likes their romance short and sweet, people who understand that fries + milkshake = perfection, and readers who aren't Carter.

This is a sweet story about Noah and Anna.

Both are searching for themselves. They both are from rich families and frequent the same group of people, yet they've never met before. Anna is still struggling to figure herself out, despite her blessed surroundings. She starts volunteering at a thrift store.

Noah's ex-girlfriend recently donated his grandmother's watch, which he was looking for when he stepped into the thrift store where Anna volunteers. For Noah, the watch was very significant. Their first meeting becomes a important moment in their lives. The story is enjoyable and easy read. It demonstrates how to balance different aspects of life and that everyone experiences self-doubt.

Overall, 3/5 ⭐️ for this story!
Goodreads review posted on: 07/28/2025

This was a quick, cute read with Anna and Noah’s characters being wealthy socialites that are found in the most unlikely places. I love their meet-cute but felt the story lacked a bit of depth for my tastes.

A fun beach or stormy day read if you want a meet-cute, some coming-to-terms with identity, and an unlikely meet up!

Anna is pretending to be someone else when she meets Noah, but as they spend more time together will she tell him the truth? I liked how it was told from both points of view.

Thrifted Hearts is such a charming little romance that totally pulled me in! Anna and Noah’s story feels real and sweet without being overly dramatic. I loved how the book shows that life isn’t about wealth or appearances, but about the people you connect with and the choices you make for yourself. The thrift store setting added such a fun, quirky vibe that made the story feel cozy and relatable. The pacing was just right — not rushed but definitely kept me turning pages because I cared about what happened to them. It’s the kind of novella you can read in one sitting and walk away feeling warm and hopeful. If you like cute romances with a bit of heart and characters who grow through their struggles, this one’s worth checking out. Perfect for a chill afternoon read!

3.5. I really liked reading a romance story in such a small package; it was satisfying to munch it up in one sitting. This novella follows Anna and Noah through dual POV. Anna is the modern-day heiress to a rich family but doesn't like the expectations her parents and the local "society" members have of her. She's been volunteering at a thrift shop for the past three years, trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life. Noah, also son of a wealthy family, has just left a relationship when he meets Anna on a chance encounter. The two of them connect, but we have to know: Are their worldviews a match, despite their similar upbringings?

The author puts an impressive amount of story into this short novella. It was a fresh take on the "rich MMC, poor FMC" because in reality, Anna was not poor (even though Noah didn't know). I enjoyed seeing Anna and Noah navigate the same world in different ways, and the tension really came from whether they could achieve happiness together, not "will his family accept her" etc. I think the story could have benefitted from either a bit less complexity, though, or a longer word count to really let the characters shine. The romance began before I even had a chance to connect with the characters, and it made the insta-love a bit less believable. Still, by the end, I was very happy to see these two get their HEA.

Thank you to the author and to Netgalley for the ARC!

Thrifted Hearts is T. Atkins’ romance novella. There are no sex scenes or profanity, but there are a few suggestive sexual references which sweet/clean readers might find offensive.

Anna Davenport is a wealthy and beautiful young woman who is trying to live a more meaningful life than that of a society heiress. She used to play the piano but now volunteers at a thrift store a few days per week. After she and her longtime boyfriend, Ian, broke up, their country club friends took his side. Her mother is only concerned about Anna’s marital prospects, while her father is a reasonable and kind person. Anna is thrilled when her best friend, Jessie, returns from a six-year trip abroad.

Noah Whitmore is a wealthy young man who is ready to get out from under the shadow of his family name. He recently broke up with his longtime girlfriend, Taylor, and his overbearing mother is already trying to set him up with a suitable girlfriend. Noah is upset when he discovers that Taylor donated his beloved late grandmother’s clock to a charity as revenge when she moved out of their apartment. He visits a local thrift store and speaks to an attractive young woman named Anna. Anna is different from the other young women in his social circle at the country club and he is intrigued by her.

Noah’s family is sponsoring a charity ball, and his mother is obsessed about who he plans to take as his date. It seems presumptuous to me to invite someone to a formal event only 10 days in advance; yet his mother is suggesting women for him to consider as potential dates so close to the event. Noah keeps thinking about Anna, but he’s worried about her fitting into his world, which he’s trying to ease out of.

Thrifted Hearts feels like the first work of a new author and really needs some additional editing before being released. This story is a novella, which is reported to be more difficult to write than a full-length story. However the characters of Anna and Noah are just not very fleshed out. Their ages, education, and area where they live are not mentioned. It appears that neither has a job and both are financially supported by their wealthy parents. While Anna spends some of her time performing volunteer work in her community, there is no indication of how Noah spends his time other than going to the country club.

On the positive side, this is a sweet romance with likeable and engaging characters. Jessie and Carter add humor to the story, and Taylor is a well-written villain. Overall, the story has good pacing. I recommend that the author correct the grammatical errors prior to publishing this story.

I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) from NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Anna is on a journey of discovery, she may be a trust fund baby but she wants to do something thar matters.so volunteers ar a local charity shop.

Noah has a problem his ex girlfriend has donated a family heirloom to a charity shop as revenge for Noah dumping her.

When the heirloom arrives at the charity shop Npah and Anna are brought together. He is everything she is running away from and she is making a difference with her life, can they come to meet in the middle and make a future that makes them happy.

This is a fabulous short story with great charactersand the story licked on at a good pace, the supporting characters were well written too.. definitely worth a read.

3.5⭐️ | Net Galley Review |

A really cute, sweet and short read. It was truly short and sweet! I honestly read it all in one sitting, couldn't and didn't want to put it down!😍

This one was full of cheese—so be sure to pull out the crackers before diving in! The insta-love was strong, and the miscommunication between characters had me rolling my eyes more than once. Still, it followed the familiar beats of the genre, so if you know what you're getting into, it delivers exactly that.

It’s a quick, light read—perfect as a palate cleanser between heavier books. I especially enjoyed the thrifting element, which added a quirky, fun touch to the story. While it won’t be a favorite, it did what it set out to do.

Thrifted Hearts is simply a poorly written story. The great conflict? Our main character doesn't clarify that she volunteers at a thrift shop, rather than work there. Ridiculous.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC for an honest review.

Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! This short and sweet romance packed a surprising punch—no fluff, just straight-up heart. If you're looking for a quick read that still delivers all the feels, this one's a gem.

Anna is on a mission to find herself—without her family’s money or the pressure of high-society expectations. She’s chasing meaning, not status. Enter Noah, who thought he had life all figured out... until Anna came along and turned his world upside down (in the best way).

Add in Carter and Jessie, the brutally honest, ride-or-die besties who keep things real, and you’ve got the perfect cast for a fun, feel-good love story.

It’s cute, it’s honest, and I’m really hoping we get more of Anna and Noah soon!

A special thank you to author T. Atkins and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op for the opportunity to read this heartfelt story in exchange for an honest review!

Thrifted Hearts is a beautifully written, short-but-sweet romance that packs a whole lot of heart into a quick read. It’s a story of strangers turned friends, and eventually lovers, told with care, vulnerability, and a quiet kind of strength that lingers after the final page. It left me wanting so much more!

Anna and Noah are two characters you can’t help but root for. As they navigate second chances and personal growth, we get to watch them come into their own identities while learning to accept both their pasts and the people they’re becoming. Their connection feels genuine and earned—there’s a softness in the way their relationship unfolds, grounded in mutual understanding and emotional maturity.

This book is perfect for readers who enjoy emotional intimacy, gentle pacing, and a hopeful reminder that new beginnings are always possible—even when you’re still healing from where you’ve been.

I’d gladly read more from T. Atkins and recommend this to anyone looking for a feel-good romance with depth and heart.

This felt like the beginning stages of a full length novel. A detailed outline. But pretty much everything needed to be fleshed out more. The characters felt just like that, characters playing a role rather than real people. The dialogue was mostly awkward and straightforward, with many of the characters having quirky one-liners that basically tell us how we should be reacting. The main characters have almost no personality and definitely no goals or life outside of this whole thrifting thing. Anna has been volunteering for the thrift shop for three years but her family and friends behave as if it's been three months, it sounded like it was as new to them as it was to us. For such a book, it sure is repetitive too. It felt like we were hearing the same thing over and over and over. And lastly, there was almost no narration, no reflection, no thoughts. It almost reads more like a script or, as mentioned before, a detailed outline. I think it's a good premise but needed a more fleshed out, and maybe longer, execution.

This was a short and cute novella . I really enjoyed this story it had a thrift store and a meet cute in it too . Iam looking forward to reading more books by this author in the near future . Thank you net galley for the ARC

A cute, easy read with likeable main characters and a satisfying length --- it doesn’t drag or otherwise overstay its welcome.

While the tropeyness didn’t work for me (I’m still waiting for a romance where the women aren’t the villains), the story’s charm pulled me through. The climax underwhelmed me, but overall, Thrifted Hearts is a highly readable novella, a perfect companion for a cosy afternoon.

I’m still figuring out what kind of romance really speaks to me, and this was not an unpleasant step along the way.

Thank you to T. Atkins, Victory Editing, and NetGalley for an advance review copy of this book.

Such a sweet meet-cute read.

Anna has decided to make a change in life and volunteers some time at a thrift shop. While there, a gentleman named Noah takes a risk of going there hoping to find a family heirloom his current ex girlfriend "donated" out of spite. Not there, but Anna decided to take his name and number just in case.

He has an interest in her, and though his families life style and popularity, he knows his mom won't go for her.

As they spend time together, she seems to be falling for him, but her while point was giving up on the money and being her true self, not her family's daughter.

It was a quick fun read and I'm sure if this had been a novel, instead of a novella, bringing in more of other characters, Jessie and Carter, the book would have been just as great!

Thrifted Hearts is a short and sweet read that doesn’t feel like a novella - in the best way. The pacing is smooth, the story flows effortlessly, and nothing feels rushed. Anna’s journey from living by her parents' expectations to forging her own path is heartfelt and relatable, and her unexpected connection with Noah adds just the right amount of warmth and spark. Both characters are easy to root for, each carrying their own weight of expectations and past decisions.

The romance builds gently, with enough emotional depth to make you care, but it still keeps that cozy, feel-good vibe. It’s the kind of story you can breeze through in one sitting and walk away from feeling content. Light, satisfying, and a little bit soul-soothing, perfect for when you need a quick escape with heart.

A cute little cosy romance that will make you realise why you love romance books.

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for letting me read this book before publication!

Anna and Noah meet at a thrift store after Noah had found his Grandmother’s clock, donated to the thrift store Anna works at. The two develop a connection and realise that there is something more to it.


Quick little read. Fast paced.

✨ Wealthy families
✨ Meet-cute
✨ Romance
✨ Fast-paced
✨ Novella/short story


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a great read. The story started very quickly which was a little confusing at first to me. I thought the book was engaging and cute! I would say it’s a fairly innocent read but there were a couple of things that were maybe a little more mature. But I believe this is a great young adult read as well. Thank you for the ARC