A beautiful, touching read, I loved this book.
Beth is driving her clapped out car in the Lake District to a job interview and hopefully a fresh start when she knocks a young boy, Jake, off his bike. Thankfully Jake is unhurt, but understandably his father Simon is furious.
When Beth is offered the job and then finds somewhere to live, she is horrified when she realises that it is next door to Simon and Jake.
Jake was born with a heart condition called HLHS, his mum Tamsin left when he was very young, so of course his dad is very protective of him. As the story progresses, Simon forgives Beth for the accident and they become friends, but when Tamsin returns and Jake has a big operation due, things become complicated.
I liked the pace of this book, it was very well written and flowed beautifully.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book, a definite 5 stars from me!

A pretty well written book that I enjoyed more than I thought I would, definitely recommend and such a great storyline.

I’ve said it several times before, but I think I must say it again – Katie Marsh has a gift for handling emotion in her writing that I’ve rarely experienced through any other writer. The three main characters in this book entirely captured my heart – nurse Beth looking for a fresh start in the Lakes having left New York after the break-up of her marriage and bruised by an traumatic incident that’s taken away her confidence, Simon the struggling father to seven-year-old Jake with his life-limiting heart condition. After a particularly difficult first encounter – when Beth knocks Jake off his bike, and Simon reacts with understandable ferocity – she moves into the cottage next door, their lives begin to entwine, and they slowly grow closer.

Jake has a particular awareness of the seriousness of his condition – and something of an obsession with ensuring that his father finds a partner, someone to love when he’s gone, and his efforts provide much of the humour (and acute embarrassment at times) early in the book. Simon, unable to work as a physio because of the unpredictability of Jake’s condition, is struggling financially as well as emotionally – his wife Tamsin was unable to cope and walked away, but he cherishes the hope that one day she might return. But he does have one close friend in Barney, who has been there for him through every crisis – but it only increases Simon’s anguish when he knows he’ll need to let him down on his special day as the date approaches for a critical operation that might change the course of Jake’s life. Friendship features heavily for Beth too – Jas helps her rebuild her life, gives her a job and a sofa to sleep on, offers her a shoulder to cry on along with her own wry observations on life’s twists and turns.

This is one of those books that gives me an almost irresistible urge to tell you the whole story – but I won’t, and instead I’ll try to focus on how it made me feel, and that’s largely down to the characters themselves. Jake isn’t the tragic little figure you might expect him to be – he’s full of mischief, with a zest for life and a sense of fun, but sometimes with a wisdom and insight beyond his years. And then he’ll get excited about his Lego, or an afternoon with his grandfather and the dogs, the possibility of scoring a goal for the school football team, or an afternoon in a kayak – and he’s a very real and lovable child, just dealing with the most enormous challenges. His letters to his young friend Emily are interspersed through the story – he met her on one of his hospital stays, as she fought the same heart condition, he shares with her his hopes and fears, and it will break your heart.

There’s a strong and believable slow-burn romance – two damaged and vulnerable people in Simon and Beth, whose support for each other has the potential to develop into something more, but with considerable obstacles along the way. The story is told in third person but from both their viewpoints, and takes you right inside the characters – you share their thoughts and feelings, all their emotional twists and turns, feel everything they do at your core, become part of their lives. There’s a strong focus on fatherhood too – not only through Simon and Jake’s particularly special relationship, but in his interactions with his own father, their relationship a particularly difficult one.

It’s a book filled with moments – lightness and laughter (and there’s plenty of that – this really isn’t the heavy emotional read you might be expecting) followed by small twists that stab you to the heart and entirely take your breath away. And it’s a story largely driven by its characters, real, complex, and flawed – but equally so by the relentless approach of the crucial operation with its uncertain outcome. The setting plays its part too – exceptionally well drawn, the village and the wildness of the fells, providing both solace and escape, and far more than a backdrop to the unfolding story.

Once more, Katie Marsh has written an unforgettable and immensely moving story – this is a book that can’t fail to move you, and have you in helpless tears through its sadder moments. But it’s also quite gloriously joyful in so many ways, uplifting and life-affirming, and fills your heart with love. Very highly recommended – and one of my books of the year.

Unbreak your Heart is a beautifully told story of love and loss. Beth leaves her broken heart and her cheating ex husband in New York, returning to the UK to a fresh start in the Lakes. When there she meets single dad Simon and first falls in love with his son Jack and then, after a prickly start, with Simon.

Simon and Jack have been living with young Jack’s heart condition and surviving, despite Jack’s mum Tamsin leaving them when Jack was a baby. Tamsin was young and struggled with her baby son’s diagnosis and suffered with post natal depression.

In the present day Beth becomes close to Jack and Simon and on the day she tells Simon she loves him Tamsin returns, wanting to be reacquainted with her family.

The story is well written and I liked the characters, even Tamsin, although I struggled to understand how as a mother you could leave your child, whatever the situation. I loved the character of Jack and seeing how he dealt with his health scares, using his letters to his friend Emily and trying to find his dad a girlfriend so he wouldn’t be alone.

This is a lovely read and it was both incredibly happy and sad in parts. An easy book to read with interesting characters and although the plot is familiar there are lots of interesting parts and players to enjoy.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I expected an absolute cry fest, featuring the ugliest, snot drenched tears known to man but — thankfully (for me and anyone close enough to see me!) —- this wasn’t the case. It was a deeply emotional book, with moments that did tug on my heartstrings, but there was also flecks of humour and heart to cut through the gloom.

The characters feel well developed and, although it took me a bit of time to come around to Simon, you do find yourself rooting for them. Jake was lovely and brave despite his struggles but the sweet, innocent moments brought it home just how young he is to be going through what he is. Simon is a doting Dad, which was wonderful to read, but it isn’t until he meets Beth that the layers to his character unravel. Beth is haunted by another life but I loved reading her journey as she starts things over.

I loved the idea of Jake trying to find his Dad a partner, it added humour but — when you dug deeper and found out his real reason for doing it — it brought it back home that this is a story about an ill child. Jake might have a maturity to him but there are like pockets of innocence in his character which shows that, despite his bravery, he is still a child on his way to growing up.

The story is gorgeously crafted, in parts heartbreaking and heartwarming, with characters you root for. Don’t let the fact it’s emotional, or the occasional use of hospital or condition related lingo, put you off (like it did originally for me!).

A lovely story, heart warming, poignant and heartbreaking at the same time.
It's an engrossing and enjoyable story, the characters are well thought and the plot flows.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Unbreak Your Heart did break and mend my heart in so many beautiful ways!💜

Katie Marsh, thank you for giving us this heart wrenching and equally heartwarming story! I was pulled in by Jake, his love for his dad, his efforts to find love for his dad and his acceptance of his heart condition !

Jake is living with his dad Simon, after his mom leaves them both. He has a fatal heart condition, so he wants to find love for his dad. Beth after her divorce has moved back to her hometown which happens to be next door to Simon!

Both Simon and Beth has to work through their past and Katie has done a marvelous job of portraying their stories me how they navigate through their ugly and painful past. Joke of all characters stole my heart and He will stay with me for a long time!

This novel is out today, purchase your copy to read about love, sacrifice no courage which will fill your heart with tears and love at the same time!

Thank you @hodderandstoughton and @netgalley for the complimentary digital galley in exchange of my honest review!

Pure indulgence- a rich, warm and funny novel, as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking.just the right amount of humour to offset the emotional subject matters. A true delight

After a recent divorce and a tragedy at her work place, Beth returns to the UK from New York, looking for a fresh start. Her return, however, doesn’t start in an ideal way, when she crosses her path with a seven – year – old Jake and his father Simon, leaving the latter less than impressed with her. Jake suffers from a heart condition and Simon is struggling as a single father, having been left by Jake’s mum, Tamsin, years earlier. Jake, aware of the severity of his disease, is on a mission to find a new partner for his dad, so that he won’t stay alone after Jack is gone. Will this chance encounter with Beth, who becomes their neighbour, be just what they all need?

Having read and loved all Katie Marsh’s books, I knew that I am for another treat with „Unbreak Your Heart“. This book had all I was hoping for and expecting – the author has crafted a beautiful, engaging story, with unbelievably real characters that will capture your heart, complex and clever plot, funny and poignant moments. And, of course, I finished it crying crocodile tears. It is this kind of read that will stay with me for longer. It was emotional and close to life. Katie Marsh always delivers – it’s her fifth novel and I loved all of them, without exception.

The characters were really well fleshed out, there was substance to them and they had huge personalities – they simply felt like living and breathing people that you can meet on the street. They all had their own issues and problems, which made them feel so close to life and even more real. The development of the relationship is filled with drama, bumps and obstacles and sometimes you just want to bang the characters’ heads together and tell them to communicate, pretty please, and not jump to conclusions, but it’s only a sign of a good delivery. Beth was lovely and I immediately liked her. You can see there is something eating her, that something weighs her down, but you must wait a bit for this something to be explained. I suspected what has happened, however seeing it confirmed didn’t make me feel disappointed, on the contrary, it made me fall for Beth even more. Seeing her try to rebuild her life was lovely, even though it was not easy for Beth, there were many challenges and obstacles on her way and it was understandable that gaining the lost confidence back took so much time with some steps forward and some steps back.
I loved the harsh way Simon was potrayed – the author has shown how it really is to be a single dad of a child with a heart condition, how much he had to struggle to keep their heads above the water. Yes, he had sacrified everything for his son but he was not shown as a martyr – the way he was built was brutally honest and so close to reality, trying to fit job around Jack’s school and visits at the hospital. And Jack himself, full of mischief and caring, thinking about his dad and what will happen with him when Jack is no more there for him. They and the background characters, there was depth to them and they felt human, which always help to make them feel so good and so real. There is a lot of personal growth when they are forced to face challenges and fears.

This is not a book filled with twists and turns on every page, nevertheless it flows seamlessly and the pace feels just right. There is enough drama for it not needing those above mentioned twists and turns, drama that will make your heart break, then mend it and then break it again, resulting in an emotional journey. It’s written in a gentle and beautiful way and you can see that tons of research went into writing it and not only into explaining Jack’s condition – Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), but also in the aspect of showing how it affected the closest family and friends around him. I think Katie Marsh has so incredibly well captured and portrayed Jack, who – yes – might have seen a bit older than his age, but it is no wonder with his condition, the way he realised how serious his diagnosis is and how he thought about other people, not about himself, made my heart break into pieces. There is just enough medical information for us to know how serious the condition is without going too deep into the impossible to understand medical terminology.

But this book was not only a sad story about a little boy with heart condition, there were plenty of funny moments, giving us a break from the poignant ones, especially the ones when Jack… well, let’s say, when Jack gets a little too carried away. Heart condition or not, I would not stay as calm as Simon.

“Unbreak Your Heart“ sucked me in immediately, so compelling and emotional it was. This gorgeous story about heartache, loss, forgiveness and second chances, filled with kindness and understanding, will leave you crying, but also feeling hope and joy. It is another winner from Katie Marsh, ambitious and clever read and well, I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but I’m, already waiting impatiently for another story. In the meantime, I’ll be recommending „Unbreak Your Heart“ left and right – treat yourself to this gem of a story.

My goodness! What a beautiful book this was and the first Katie Marsh for me. I needed the tissues more than once.

Set in the beautiful Lake District (a favourite part of the world), Young Jake is being brought up by his dad Simon; who has left his job as a physiotherapist to spend time with Jake, as he suffers from HLHS - Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. This was the reason his mum, Tamsin left Simon, as she just couldn't cope with Jakes illness.

Enter Beth, who has left New York after the break up of her marriage and is looking for a fresh start; she stays with her best friend Jas to start with, helping out at local schools as the school nurse. She is much much better qualified than this, but a simple mistake at a high profile hospital in NYC, caused her to question her ability after the Board dismissed her.

Beth loves the village, the Lake District and through the school meets Jake and his dad Simon. She rents the cottage next door to them and Jake forms a close bond with her. Jake has matchmaking on his mind and is determined to find love for his dad, as on top of everything Jake is concerned that he may die and leave his dad alone.

The story is both heart breaking and heart warming; the characters are delightful, and you just want a happy ending - but does that happen. As a said, have the tissues ready.

A lovely book and it won't be the last Katie Marsh I will read. I give it 5 stars and 5 stars for the location!!

This is such a lovely but very emotional book. It is definitely sad but also heartwarming. It is very well written and it drew me in. I put off reading it at first, as I wanted to read something lighter.
I'm so pleased that I read this though, it is such a good book.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

This is a fabulous read of love in unlikely places. It tells the story of a father and son Simon & Jake who deal with Jake’s lifelong illness and Beth, back from America after her recent divorce. Beth returns to the UK after her divorce and a situation which led to her losing her job as a nurse. As they are approaching a life saving and life changing operation to help Jake, Jake’s mother, who left when he was very young, appears back in his life. The emotions that come with that are beautifully described. Jake is desperate for his dad to be with someone and not on his own that he pushes his mum & dad together.

This is a wonderful book with each character beautifully entwined with each other.

Absolutely loved this book. Could not put it down.
Such a realistic story and told brilliantly. Felt drawn to the characters and they were relatable.
Scenes of the lakes portrayed brilliantly

Thank you NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and Katie Marsh for gifting me an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
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I’ll be honest, I considered not reading this book...more than once. I kept putting off reading this because all the reviews speak of the heavy subjects and how emotional it is. As a mood reader who’s usually not in the mood for heavy books, I wasn’t sure I could find a time to read this one. Well I did and holy cow am I so happy I did. Throw away whatever it is you think you know about this book and give it a chance. Are there heavy topics? Yes. But Katie Marsh gives us the perfect balance between heavy and light hearted moments that in the end leave you just feeling the love. Simon and Beth are both emotionally strong characters that get stuck in a very messy situation.But instead of that mess feeling hard to read and overly angsty, their story felt realistic and relatable.
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This is not a white hot, steamy and saucy romance. This is also not a romantic comedy. Do not let that stop you from giving it a chance! And give Simon the benefit of the doubt. I wanted to shake him more than once but he’s worth the work.

Beautiful love story (even before romance arrives!)😍

What a revelation! This novel truly touched me, tears and all. The unbreakable bond between single dad Simon and his beloved son Jake just radiated from the pages. Jake unselfishly and single-mindedly looks for a forever romance for his father because he fears his illness will take him and leave Simon lonely. At every turn this boy born with half a heart shows that he's a champ at using the heart he was given to embrace everyday pleasures and bring joy into the world. His enduring attachment to little Emily, a fellow sufferer of his heart condition, was just so poignant. The slow-blooming relationship between Simon and their neighbor Beth was also lovely. Among the hundred plus books I've read so far in 2021, this had to be the best.

I definitely will be looking for more by author Katie Marsh. A heartfelt thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

I found this a really heartwarming romance. A love story in so many different ways with characters who really settle and stay in your affections long after the last page.

Unbreak Your Heart is a rather lovely romance. Beth arrives in a remote Lake District village desperate to escape her unhappy life in New York. She soon meets single dad Simon, and his 8 year old son who has a rare heart condition and an all encompassing desire to find his father a partner.
Of course, the path of love doesn’t run smooth and the thought that Jake might die makes everything more emotional. Katie Marsh deftly weaves a page turning story and fleshes out her characters to make them believable and worth caring about.
This is a very enjoyable book and definitely one to enjoy while relaxing in the sun this summer. Thank you to #netgalley and to #hodderbooks for inviting me to review this ARC

Good. Interesting characters and concept. A lovely romantic story which may make you cry in places. Even though deals with a heavy subject it does it in a lovely way and an understandable way to a general audience.

What a wonderful, special book this is!
Beth has arrived back in the Lake District from New York, jet lagged and bruised from the life she has left there. Simon and his son Jake are out on their bikes when Beth knocks into them .......literally. It's not a good start to her new life,
Well written, with love and kindness, this book portrays the real human fragility we all have on our journey through life. Engaging characters, interesting storyline, this book is a great read. I have truly enjoyed and loved this book.
Full of warmth and the kindness we all need to give and receive.
Thank you to NetGalley for the early read.

***SPOILER ALERT*** Prepare tissues

This is one of those books that left me sleepless and dragged me to read it until it was finished.

A story of 7-year-old Jake who was born with HLHS. His mum, Tamsin, left when he was still a baby leaving his dad, Simon, to play the part of both parents, to attend all hospital appointments and surgeries on his own with support only from his best friend Barney and later on Beth. Despite all the pain, anger, losing multiple jobs, and hospital visits, Simon is determined to keep going for his half-hearted but full of life, Jake. Even after all these years, he still holds Tamsin on a pedestal. Until she turns up one day.

As a parallel, we see the story told from the perspective of Beth- a young nurse who has just run away from her New York life and is attempting to settle in Simon's village. After knocking little Jake off the bike, both of them soon become best mates.

A heart-wrenching novel with a twist on every page. Made my eyes well with tears on many occasions.

Thank you #netgalley and #katiemarsh for an advanced copy of this novel. I thoroughly recommend it.