I read this book and felt like I was there with the characters in this small-town setting. The build up of the romance between Ally and Jamie was so sweet and comforting as they looked inside themselves to find what they were looking for. This was the perfect book to read on a summer day.
Thank you NetGalley, Kiley Dunbar and Boldwood Books for the arc of the book Fixing a Broken Heart at the Highland Repair Shop. This is my personal review.

OMG I loved this book so much! It is The Repair Shop meets romcom, in the absolute best way possible.

Meet Ally McIntyre and Jamie Beaton. Ally's stuck in her remote job and helping her dad with his community repair shop on Saturday's. Jamie is volunteering with the local police. They're both a little stuck, but maybe together they can get unstuck.

I recently discovered the tv show, The Repair Shop, and I love watching old items become new again, and the look on people's faces at the big reveal. It is just magical. For that reason alone, I knew I'd love this book, but not how much! I fell in love with the Highlands, the little community repair shop and instantly began rooting for Ally and Jamie.

This story is about community and love, and is definitely one of the best British romcoms I've read this year. It just took my breath away, had me crying and laughing at just the right moments. Absolutely recommend to everyone! Now excuse me while I go book my ticket to the Highlands!!

What a lovely story to start a new series. This is so heartwarming but also has plenty of drama, secrets, and covers family, friendship and community. After finding herself single and in a job that doesn’t push her Ally McIntyre feels at a crossroads. Along with her parents and members of the close knit community of Cairn Dhu she volunteers at the repair shop and cafe. Jamie Beaton is a Special Constable who is only there for the summer. However he has other reasons for wanting to be in Cairn Dhu. When there is an incident that puts the repair shop under threat Ally and Jamie meet. There is an instant attraction but can they let themselves act on it? Will Ally change jobs and what happens when Jamie leaves once the summer is over? They have to decide whether to follow their hearts or their heads. I really liked how the stories and events surrounding the two main characters were entwined through the main thread of the story. Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC

I have read every one of Kiley Dunbar's books avidly, enjoying her story building and the way she layers her characters.
The start of this new series got me extremely excited!
Ally, the main character, lives in Cairn Dhu, a small Scottish village, with her parents. There, she has a remote day job, and she spends her Saturdays assisting her father at his Highland Repair Shop, where everyone who volunteers is an advocate for sustainability and strives to reverse the throwaway mentality that many people have nowadays, instead of simply discarding things or trying to upcycle. Imagine a barn similar to the one featured on The Repair Shop, the TV programme.
Well, repairing things is one aspect, but when happenings at the Repair Shop show signs of repairing relationships, that's when things get exciting!
I found Ally endearing. She is capable of so much, but has no self-belief. It takes a lot for her to realise that she hasn't been left behind in life.
And Jamie. Oh, Jamie! The gentle, considerate volunteer police constable who has his emotional repairs to navigate, as well as fighting feelings for a certain flame-haired Cairn Dhu-an.
The picturesque settings are beautifully described, as are the folklore tales, which add a hint of mystery to the different places the author mentions.
This is a true feel-good story, with so much positivity and some twists in the tale to keep you turning pages. I am glad this is the start of a series, as I want to know a lot more about the visitors and volunteers at the Highland Repair Shop!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I thorough enjoyed reading this book.

I loved that apart from the romance, the story is about how an item can be reused again after repair, therefore doing something to help the environment.

There is also a bit of mystery added to the story.

Community is also a major part of this book, and so very important.

We meet Ally, she’s doing a job, which she’s not really enjoying and her relationship is soon going to end.

Jamie, a Special Constable is with the local police department so that he can gain some experience. He’s only there for a short while.

When the repair barn is visited by him along with an officer, Ally isn’t happy that they’re accusing her dad for doing something wrong and makes her feelings known. But, even then, changes take place for her family and maybe their friends too.

I loved the cover of the book, and how the setting is described through the story.

The story isn’t just about Ally and James. We find out more about the people that carry out repairs as well as others in the community.

When Ally meets her friends, she worries that they’ maybe won’t be that welcoming as she’s not been in touch more, and their lives have moved on. She thought that each one was living a happy life, but, when they meet, and start a a conversation, they each find that really, they don’t know everything about each other.

I highly recommend this book.

What an amazing new series from Kiley Dunbar. I loved the Borrow a bookshop series and was fascinated by the idea of a repair and make do and mend series and I was not disappointed.

Ally is a great character and so relatable. She felt stuck in a rut, with her job, her life and her mindset. But along comes Jamie who sees her and helps her see herself, with a gentle push from her twin brother as well.

The descriptions in this book were phenomenal and I really felt like I was looking at the mountains along with Ally and Jamie. The mountain ranger was a hoot too, I hope we see him again.

What an amazing community centred around the repair shop, friendship and community really do help everyone, even the most reluctant. I can’t wait to visit again and discover some more about these great characters.

Bake Off meets The Repair Shop. Lovely title for this book (Fixing a Broken Heart at the Highland Repair Shop), Full of warmth and an engrossing storyline.

Ally is broken hearted and looking for her purpose everyone else seems to have found theirs. Meanwhile Jamie finds himself in the highlands searching for what he lost years ago.

A lovely story of love and friendship with a great message about the environment and fixing rather than replacing things. Great story set in the highlands of Scotland.

Thank you to NetGalley and @BoldwoodBooks for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a lovely, heartwarming read! Fixing a Broken Heart at the Highland Repair Shop is exactly the kind of story I reach for when I want something comforting but with a bit of emotional depth too.

The setting, a cozy repair shop and café tucked away in the Scottish Highlands, honestly stole the show for me. It’s full of personality, charm, and a great cast of side characters that really bring the place to life. I loved the idea of a space where people come not just to fix broken gadgets, but to reconnect, heal, and find new purpose.

Ally’s going through a tough time when we meet her heartbroken and figuring out what’s next. I really liked her growth throughout the book. She’s relatable without being too heavy, and her journey felt genuine. Jamie, the new constable in town, has his own quiet struggles, and his storyline added just the right amount of mystery and emotional pull. Their relationship builds slowly and sweetly, which I appreciated it didn’t feel rushed.

There’s a nice mix of romance, family drama, community spirit, and personal healing. It’s not overly dramatic, but it does touch on real-life stuff in a way that feels thoughtful. The romance is gentle and low-key, which I liked, it matched the tone of the book perfectly.

This book is meant to make you feel good, and it totally succeeds at that.

If you’re in the mood for a sweet, uplifting story with a great setting, likable characters, and a good dash of romance, definitely give this one a try. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for the next in the series!

4 Stars!

#NetGalley, #FixingaBrokenHeartattheHighlandRepairShop, #KileyDunbar

“So many stories begin with a broken heart. This one begins with a broken paper shredder.”
I mean... how can you not fall a little in love with a book that opens like that? Starting with the broken paper shredder was such a clever way to begin the story. It sets the tone perfectly — a little quirky, a little emotional — and gives us a glimpse of Ally’s life without ever feeling like a backstory dump. Kiley Dunbar has such a natural way of pulling you in, and from that very first page, I knew I was in for something special.

This book had me smiling, sighing, and — if I’m being honest — falling completely in love with the Highland setting, the Repair Shop, and (almost) every character who wandered through its doors. I read the whole thing in one sitting because once I’d started, there was just no way I could stop.

The Cairn Dhu Community Repair Shop is something Ally’s family has poured their hearts into — and you feel that love in every corner. But it’s more than just a place to fix broken toasters and wobbly chairs. It’s a hub of kindness, community, and second chances. The shop, the café, the volunteers with their own stories — all of it felt so vivid, so real, I could practically hear the clink of tools and smell the fresh baking in the air.

I loved how the physical repairs in the shop echoed the emotional work happening in the characters’ lives. It’s not just old radios being restored — it’s people gently piecing themselves back together, too. And that’s what made this book feel so comforting and so honest. Healing often comes in small, meaningful ways — through purpose, connection, and feeling part of something again.

In no time at all, I felt like I knew Ally. I was right there with her — feeling her heartbreak, rooting for her, and quietly cheering her on. Her story of betrayal and career disappointment was handled so sensitively, with a real sense of hope woven through it all.

And then... Jamie Beaton arrives.

The trouble that comes with him sends shockwaves through the community, and it’s no surprise that Ally’s defences go up. But as we begin to see the real person behind the uniform, it’s clear Jamie carries a quiet sadness of his own. His reasons for being in Cairn Dhu slowly unfold, and that extra layer of emotion really took me by surprise. His connection with Ally builds gradually — never forced, just two people slowly finding comfort in one another as they work through their own uncertainties.

The book doesn’t shy away from the harder choices either. Ally is presented with an unexpected opportunity — one that could pull her away from everything she knows. Jamie’s future is uncertain too. That push and pull between safety and possibility, between staying and starting again, is so relatable. And the lack of communication (which is so true to life in those moments!) had my heart in knots, willing everything to somehow fall into place.

This is such a heartfelt, warm, and thoroughly uplifting read. Yes, it’s about broken things — but more importantly, it’s about the courage it takes to fix them. It’s romantic, hopeful, full of charm, and brimming with community spirit.

Five stars honestly don’t feel like enough. I adored this book, and I’m already itching to return to this Highland setting. I have so many theories about who might take centre stage next… and I’ll be there, day one, when book two lands.

A cute enough small town romance which focused on the two main characters who both seemed really nice. I felt there were too many parts to the storyline which made it feel like we only tapped the surface of most of these ‘adventures’. If you are looking for an easy read with little jeopardy that has you dreaming of Scotland, this book will suit you to a tee.

🗜🔨✂🔌🚨Lives going in different directions intersect😌

4.5🌟 stars
A fine option if you are looking for a sweet small-town romance.

Best part of the story was the romance between small-town techie Ally and temporary Special Constable Jamie with their quick attraction but realistic understanding that their career dreams are taking them in incompatible directions. Their romance is persistently bittersweet as they deal with Jamie's fears that seeing Ally could scupper his career in policing and their brief weeks of summer marching toward their separation. In fact, the last several chapters of the story really got me emotional, fearing that their time together was over almost before it had begun. The climax kept me in suspense and then dealt an ending that had me well satisfied.

But the other parts of the plot and the local community spirit I also enjoyed. The repair and recycling efforts started by Ally's father's tinkering and large-scale collection of odds and ends is inspirational and something I'd like to see more of. The way it brought their community together and made them a small but active part of efforts to save the environment: heartening. The atmosphere of small town residents organizing to support each other is something here that I've also found in other Dunbar novels. And the trouble with stolen jewelry that hits the repair shop and morphs into danger and drama for Jamie was a good subplot.

Another really appealing element: Jamie's backstory related to his search for a connection to his long-deceased mother and the surprise way Ally and her mom Roz help Jamie and his family to deal with their grief. And the setting at the foothills of Scotland's Cairngorm mountains, so nicely described, was an added plus.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Review shared on 7/12/25 on Waterstones and Goodreads, and with Barnes & Noble and BAM. To be shared with kobo and Google Play upon publication.

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for an early copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. I loved this book and read it in one day. I loved the storyline and all the characters. I thought it was well written. I would definitely recommend this book.

This was a heartwarming and easy read to breeze through. Kiley has a strong talent for describing such scenic locations, making you feel you are actually there. The romance was very sweet and the plot kept me intrigued, especially Jamie's.

This is the first book in a new series by an author I really like so I was thrilled to receive an advanced copy.
The story is based in the Highlands and is focused on Ally McIntyre who has been a little lost since leaving university. She has taken a WFH role in a job she doesn't really enjoy but she has a steady boyfriend and helps out at the community repair shop every Saturday.
Then all of a sudden the repair shop is under scrutiny, the boyfriend has gone and her twin's high flying job feels like a poke at her confidence. She is left thinking what changes does she need to make.
The characters are charming and realistic, the setting sounds perfect and her problems her things lots of have to deal with.
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood books for the ARC of this book. Ally feels stuck in her life working from home and helping her parents at the community repair shop. One day the repair shop gets involved in a crime and the handsome volunteer policeman, Jamie shows up. This book entwines the solving of the crime, the reestablishment of the repair shop not involved in crimes, Ally finding herself, and the budding romance between Ally and Jamie. This was so cute and I was almost convinced the ending was not going to end as it did.

An enjoyable book warm and cosy,. The village was portrayed well too. Possibly a tad too many current obsessions. But hey plots don’t have to be totally believable.

Ally McIntyre's family run the local community repair shop. Her career has stalled, she is publicly betrayed by her boyfriend, and then the repair shop attracts negative attention (after unwittingly helping a thief pass on stolen goods). Life feels at a pretty low ebb, particularly when compared to her twin, Murray, who has a high-flying job in Zurich.Then she meets Jamie Beaton - part of the police team investigating the robbery, and life begins to improve, albeit not in the way she had imagined. Set against the backdrop of the beautiful Scottish highlands, this is a lovely weekend read.

Ally finds herself stuck in a job she doesn’t enjoy, with a relationship that’s about to be turned upside down. Jamie, visiting the Cairngorms temporarily as a Special Constable, crosses paths with her in an unexpected way at her dad’s repair barn. From there, both of their lives begin to shift—not just individually, but for the people around them too.

What makes this book so special is its strong sense of community. The story goes beyond just Ally and Jamie—it draws you into the lives of their families, friends, and the wonderful cast of characters at the repair barn. The intergenerational interactions, where older and younger characters share skills and life lessons, add real heart and depth.

The novel also explores the nature of modern friendships and how easy it is to drift apart in a world of social media. Dunbar gently reminds us that behind the photos and online posts, people may be struggling in ways we don’t see.

There are a few emotional moments that may bring a tear or two—grief and loss are handled with sensitivity and care, adding further layers to the characters’ journeys.

Overall, this is a beautiful and uplifting read filled with warmth, resilience, and hope. It’s about fixing what’s broken—whether that’s a toaster, a friendship, or a heart. I’d love to see more of Ally and Jamie’s story, and especially learn more about Ally’s brother and the rest of the repair barn crew.

4.5⭐ rounded up to 5⭐

I absolutely loved the Borrow a Bookshop series by Kiley Dunbar, so when I saw she wrote a new book I was so delighted to be approved to read the ARC.

Fixing a Broken Heart at the Highland Repair Shop is a real feelgood and cosy read with exactly the right amount of action in it to keep you entertained.

It is such a relatable story about loss, feeling stuck, being worried that you are not enough and aren't growing as fast as the people around you.

Ally and Jamie are amazing characters and I really liked how their relationship evolved. Also the other characters in the series were lovely and the community feeling is just how you expect it to be in a Kiley Dunbar book.

I can't wait for book two in this series because I want to know what is going to happen next!