I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

Found the character of Caroline hard to get behind, and as such, this wasn't really an enjoyable ride for me (despite Sylvia and wanting to know what was up with Niamh on the day she died)

This book is full of grief and bereavement, which you definitely need to be able for when reading. It can be a difficult read at times, but the topics and themes are dealt with respectfully.

This author is brilliant at writing about life changing issues in a sensitive and realistic way and bringing these topics out into the open. The heartbreak club focuses on the characters all coming to terms with their individual grief with the help of each other and exploring the difficult situations and changes their loved ones have left behind.

With every page explore how these characters progress on their healing journey with the help of each other in particularly Sylvia who has written the Manuel for surviving grief and without knowing it has helped those around her immensely while at the same time healing herself.

At times this was a very emotional read but cleverly written with endearing characters particularly that of Sylvia and the book kept us guessing as to where the lives of Josh and Caroline where heading in the future.

While out getting crossiants Caroline lost her husband.

While busy at work Josh lost his wife.

Their normal lives are changed in the blink of an eye and neither of them saw it coming. Neither are convinced a support group helps but it is something you do when you are heartbroken with grief. Noone expects to lose their spouse in their thirties but when Sylvia turns up to the wrong group she may just know how to help.

As soon as I met Caroline and Josh and they are making fun of the support group they affectionately name The Heartbreak Club I was invested in their stories. From the shock of losing their partners a strength emerged from both of them and by reading on you see if this remains or is it just a facade. If it is not bad enough to be grieving at such a young age there is also the fact that both are left with questions that need to be answered in order for them to move on in their lives. Both Caroline and Josh are very likeable characters which were satisfyingly fleshed out as we saw them before and after tragedy struck. When octogenarian Sylvia turns up to the group aimed at under 40s it is the best thing that can happen as she can actually help and it introduces her handwritten manual which Josh and Caroline decide to give a go. I love the concept of a guide or journal as it helps the flow of the story and gives the main characters a specific aim. If you loved The Authenticity Project or All the Lonely People then you will enjoy this. These kind of books always make me look at my own life and those around me in a different way. The Heartbreak Club is a reassuringly positive read that makes you realise that just because life doesn't turn out like you planned doesn't always mean it is worse.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sphere Books for allowing me access to this book.

A well written and a lovely, if sometimes heartbreaking, read.

Caroline is reeling from the sudden and unexpected death of her husband whilst Josh is struggling to carry on with life after the death of his wife. They’ve both been attending the local grief support group every week and can’t ever see a time when they’ll be able to move on their lives.

We get to meet a great cast of supporting characters including the wonderful Sylvie and formidable but caring Maggie.

Eva Woods captures human emotions so perfectly and in such a heartfelt and poignant way. The book touches on some tough subjects throughout but shows the importance of reaching out to those that truly care.

Such a gorgeous and life affirming read, definitely one that I will be rereading and passing on to friends!

Thank you to the author, the publisher and netgalley for very kindly gifting me this book!!

I really enjoyed it, the theme is not the easiest thing to deal with but I felt like it was handled delicately and excellently.

Would highly recommend this

Firstly, thank you Netgalley, Little Brown Book Group and Eva Woods for this ARC.

This book had me fully invested from early on. The writing style was brilliant.

The book was realistic and raw. It was an emotionally charged read with likeable characters and a captivating plot.

I would definitely read more by this author.

Two people trying to get over tragedy.
Caroline whose husband took his own life.
Josh whose wife died in accident.
They both go to a group to help them deal with the tragedy in their lives but it doesn’t seem to be working.
That is until Sylvie arrives .
She lost her partner but nobody was there to give her the advise she needed.
So that is what Sylvie decides to do for these two.
Good book.
Thanks NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group for approving me to read and review The Heartbreak Club by Eva Woods. I have given this book three out of five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

We’re introduced to two main characters called: Josh and Caroline. They meet under difficult circumstances at a weekly meeting to help people through grieving as both of their partners have both died. From the synopsis we know that Caroline’s husband has taken his own life and Josh’s wife was killed in an accident. As we follow a dual narrative, we start to learn a lot about Caroline and Josh, how they’re dealing with losing their partners and also, the back stories to their partners’ death as it has left some unanswered questions and secrets behind. I found this concept to be quite interesting as I hadn’t read a story similar to this one before and really enjoyed Eva Woods writing.

I thought Caroline and Josh were two strong, great characters who I liked learning about and could definitely feel a connection between the two even though they’re both in a vulnerable state I thought they were there for one another and at times I could sense the tension surrounding them. I felt very sorry for both of them throughout this novel due to the secrets that are revealed later on in the story, but I wouldn’t want to spoil anything so I’m keeping this book review to a minimum.

One character that made the book for me was Sylvia, she was a wonderful supporting character who definitely holds a special place in my heart after reading this book.

I must commend Eva Woods on her incredible writing throughout this story, she really knows how to captivate an audience with her words.

I’d say the main reason why I didn’t give more stars for this book is down to my reading slump, although I really enjoyed Eva Woods’ writing I’m currently in that state of finding it hard to really fall out of reality and switch off completely. So, I would love to re-visit this story and these characters in the future.

This one took me by surprise.I couldn't expect to like it so much as I did.For some reason it touch me so much, it was intense and emotional.

Caroline and Josh bith dealing with the loss of someone they loved.They’ve both been attending the grief support group every week , hoping to help them to move on to their lives.

I loved the writing a lot and the characters were captivating.It felt realistic and it was full of emotions.

This is a charming novel focusing on life after loss, as the two central characters meet at a young bereavement group.

Both are coming to terms with the loss of their partners (one to suicide and one to a car accident), and also finding things out about their loved ones along the way.

We follow the rollercoaster of their emotions as they go through the stages of grief and work out where they are heading, all with the help of their elderly friend.

I really enjoyed this book despite the sensitive subject matter, and I’d like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the ArC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sphere for the advanced copy of this treasure of a book.

We join Caroline and Josh at a grief support group for the under 40s - after the death of Caroline's husband Anto to suicide and Joshs' wife Niamh after being hit by a car.

The story unfolds their path through their grief and the secrets hidden that needed to be found.

I loved this book, very well written, gripping and the mention of places in N.I is an added bonus coming from here too :) it's easily read, and you are immersed from the get go! Would have no qualms recommending or buying myself.

I loved this book!! The stories and what the characters went through were so sad, and I felt so sorry and heartbroken for them, I just wanted to wrap them up in a hug and take them to the pub myself. I really liked the characters and the story. If you are going to read a book this year, put this on your list too.

Caroline is reeling from the sudden and unexpected death of her husband Anto while Josh is struggling to carry on with life after the death of his wife Niamh in a tragic accident. They’ve both been attending the local grief support group every week and can’t ever see a time when they’ll be able to move on their lives. Both their respective spouses were carrying secrets before their deaths and this is another pressure for Caro and Josh on top on the overwhelming tidal wave of grief and what ifs......

We also get to meet a great cast of supporting characters including the wonderful Sylvie and formidable but caring Maggie.

Eva Woods once again captures human emotions so perfectly and in such a heartfelt and poignant way. The book touches on some tough subjects throughout but shows the importance of reaching out to those that truly care.

Well written and a lovely, if sometimes heartbreaking, read.

This is a warm-hearted book where you can just tell from page one you’re going to enjoy it, the characters just feel comfortable and you warm to them in no time. Caroline is reeling from her husbands recent suicide and Josh is still stunned from the recent death of his wife who was hit by a car, they met at a bereavement group but have supported each other through very recent times better than the actual group has so far. Eighty year old Sylvia is more than twice the age of other group members but she is eager to use her own experiences in the last two years of grief for her own loved one to help others from notes and advice she has pulled together into a handbook.

The characters and those surrounding them were really well written and the resistance Caroline faced from her loved ones and the blank walls Josh felt he was hitting when both were trying to resolve some mysteries following their spouses deaths were very believable. There was some real warmth in this in amongst the sadness and overall this is an uplifting read with hope.

Caroline and Josh are both struggling following the death their respective spouses. They meet at a support group and find a new friend in each other, but are they being open and honest with how they really feel.

An emotional read.

Caroline’s husband killed himself and Josh’s wife died in an accident. When they meet at a support group for the bereaved, they lean on each other as they try to come to terms with their grief. Heartbroken and lonely and with many unanswered questions regarding their other halves, will Caroline and Josh ever be able to see a light at the end of the tunnel and look to the future?

A beautiful well written story which was an excellent read. I would definitely recommend this book.

Caroline's heart broke when her husband took his own life.
Josh's heart broke when his wife was killed in an accident.
And somehow, talking to a group of strangers once a week doesn't seem to be helping either of them.
Until Sylvia arrives.

When she lost her own partner two years ago, she fell apart and had to put herself back together. Most of all she wished for the help of someone who'd been through it already. And now she's here to pass her handbook on to those who need it most.

The problem is, following Sylvia's rules means looking to the future. And Caroline and Josh each need some answers from their past before they can even think about that...

Thanks to Netgalley and Spher for an early review copy of this book in return for an honest review. This was the first Eva Woods book I have read and it won't be the last. I loved it and read it in one night. It is a wonderfully written book about a subject that shouldn't make for an entertaining book but it does. You learn the stories of Caroline and Josh and how they pick their lives up after losing their spouses and also their back stories and how they cope with life going forward.

A very special book, I look forward to it's release so I can tell others about it.