How to Fix a Broken Heart will:
1. Break your heart
2. Heal your heart
3. Make you laugh
4. Make you cry

Ok, so are you ready to feel a fictional characters hurt so deep in your heart you want to crawl into the book and hug her?

This one deals with some heavy topics about pregnancy, fertility, miscarriage and rape. So read the trigger warnings. With that said, it is a beautiful book about loss, hope and support. I recommend to those that love Jojo Moyes or Jodi Picolt novels and the way they weave happiness and tragedy. Nicola May also has a stunning way of pulling on heartstrings and healing us with her words. Set for release on April 16th, pick up some tissues and chocolate, they will will pair nicely with this one!

Review: How to Fix a Broken Heart by Nicola May

Rating: ⭐⭐½ (2.5/5)

I started How to Fix a Broken Heart with high hopes, and the beginning definitely kept me hooked. The exploration of heartbreak was really relatable, and I found myself invested in the story at first. The writing was easy to get into, and I liked where things were headed.

However, as the book went on, I started to feel like it was missing something. There didn’t seem to be much of a plot, and things kind of drifted without a clear direction. The emotional moments were there, but without a strong storyline to back them up, it lost my interest by the end.

Overall, I enjoyed it at the start, but it didn’t quite have the depth or direction I was hoping for. It’s a light read, so if you’re in the mood for something that doesn’t require too much commitment, it could work, but I feel like it didn’t fully live up to what I expected.

4.5 ⭐️
After losing her twins and the chance to ever become a biological mother Gracie’s life has taken a her down a road she’s finding incredibly difficult. When her partner cheats on her with one of her work colleagues she knows things have to change.
What follows is a tale of heartbreaking loss and finding herself with the support of her free-spirited sister, an unorthodox therapist, and a feisty new friend. She finds herself a new man and discovers a new found love for herself and her body but cannot forget her longtime partner.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book which was humorous, saucy but also heartbreaking at times. The fact that the author wrote it after suffering the same loss as the main character made it even more heartbreaking. Miscarriage is not spoken about enough and I wish Gracie’s group had been around for me when I suffered a loss.

With thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

Gracie suffers a devastating miscarriage then her partner cheats on her with her glamorous work colleague, leaving Gracie to make some important decisions about her future. An enjoyable read with some interesting characters and light hearted moments throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the advanced e-book copy.

Trigger Warnings: This story revolves heavily around miscarriage and infertility.

Gracie Davies’s world is shattered after the heartbreaking loss of her twins and the betrayal of her boyfriend, Lewis. As she tries to rebuild her life, How to Fix a Broken Heart explores whether true healing is possible after deep trauma.

Despite the heavy subject matter, I found the story engaging overall. However, the constant drama and multiple subplots made it feel a bit overwhelming at times. A more focused narrative might have made a stronger impact.

A solid 3-star read that touches on grief, resilience, and starting over.

Gracie spits with her partner Lewis, him having an affair after she had a miscarriage being a step too far. There are also side characters who play an integral part to the story with their intertwining storylines.
Be warned that the main trope is about miscarriages and their effect on people, there are also several sex scenes and also swearing if you don't like those, although for me they fitted the story. Some of the characters weren't as likeable as others, but show that life is complicated, emotions especially so. There are questions about forgiveness, but also show how support is essential to help people through hard times. A story to make you think how you would cope in some of these situations, but with some lighter moments to stop the book being too heavy.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

First off thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this e-arc.

Now let’s get down to it. This wasn’t for me, but I can see how it could be for some/most people. Had it not been an ARC I honestly would’ve DNF’d it.

I am giving it 2 stars because 1.) the beginning was so much fun, gossipy, so much going on…so maybe interconnected POV’s drama…and 2.) The ending with Scott.

However, it REALLY really got tiring after a while. Her sister gaslit her so many times into telling her what was good for her. Also, what the heck was the relationship with Ed? He always gave me creepy vibes, I felt ZERO chemistry between them. In fact there wasn’t any chemistry I felt at all between anyone except Maya and the Professor.

It was so confusing to put so many different arcs into the book and have them feel…not unfinished…but also it’s like the Author forgot to paint over the stencil outline if that makes sense.

I’m not trying to be mean, I’m trying to give my honest review. Again, this book could really be something for the right reader!

First I want to say thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book for my honest opinion.

I wanted to love this book. I've never read Nicola May, but had seen good things so I was really excited. I also don't like writing ''bad'' reviews because what may not work for me may work for someone else. However, I almost DNF this one.

The beginning of this book had me hooked, but this quickly became a frustrating read for me. Things just did not make sense and Gracie behaved so immaturely that I forgot she was nearly40.

***SPOILERS***

Gracie did not grow.

Instead of focusing on healing and learning to recognize her own value she spent all of her time trying to decide which man she should be with.

You had Lewis who essentially manipulated her into missing him so he could get her back after cheating. Leo who acted as if he had never seen or spent time with a ''natural woman'' and who had already slept with and had a child with her sister. Ick factor for me. And Ed.

Ed who seemed charming until we find out he was accused of rape. Why would he be flirting with a woman he does not know, talking dirty to her, bringing her to his apartment alone, while awaiting his rape trial? Who was the woman in the bar on their first date? Why was he so dismissive of her on their trip? He was only flirting with Skye because she was a ''pretty girl''. Ew. And the ending where he puts his fists in the air while the woman screens ''He did it'' while being forced from the courtroom! What??

Her boss wants to sleep with her. Her therapist thinks and even talks about how pretty she is.

Gracie acts as if she is nothing because she can no longer have children, She never gets to the point where she can see that a woman's value is not about how many children she has. She never heals or truly grows. She ends up where she started and that was a huge miss for me.

This story has a nice mix of emotional and lighthearted moments. The book is about a woman named Grace who has to overcome some pretty traumatic experiences and then rebuilds her life in the aftermath. There are some touchy subjects dealt with in the storyline, loss and betrayal to mention but two. The author doesn’t pull any punches while dealing with the character’s emotions these bring forth and she makes the narrative feel very authentic.

Some of the more lighthearted moments felt almost comedic, and while some people may like this to balance out the heavier topics, it kind of turned me off as it waters down the emotional impact. There is a bit of spice that was entertaining and worked well with the humorous moments. But I wanted more from the heavier side of things.

I did like the main character's growth throughout the book and her journey from her struggles to ultimately finding happiness. I loved her relationship with her sister and the new friends she met along the way. These side characters added multiple layers to the story.

If you’re looking for a more serious book, you’ll be disappointed. I read other reviews saying the reader cried, and I did not find it like that at all. The book is mostly a feel-good story that takes on some serious topics with a touch of romance. It does deliver in the escapism sense but lacks the depth I was looking for. If you're after a feel-good read that isn’t over complicated, then this would be the book for you.

Unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me. I made it to 48% before deciding to DNF. The premise had potential, but the characters’ decisions and the plot twists felt increasingly unrealistic and difficult to follow. The pacing, dialogue, and emotional shifts weren’t believable, which made it hard for me to connect with the story. I think this book may appeal to readers who enjoy highly dramatic, fast-paced romances, but it wasn’t the right fit for me.

"How to Fix a Broken Heart" by Nicola May is a touching, emotionally rich story about grief, healing, and second chances. After a devastating loss, Gracie Davies sets out to rebuild her life with the help of quirky friends, a supportive sister, and unexpected love interests.

Nicola May blends heartbreak, humor, and warmth with ease, making Gracie’s journey feel both real and uplifting. It's a story full of charm, self-discovery, and just the right amount of spice. Perfect for anyone who’s ever needed a fresh start.

This is a five-star read that will fix you back together. Nicola may just have this amazing way of bringing characters together who shouldn’t work, but they really do all pull together and create this amazing tapestry of life. Not everyone will love them all, as some behave appallingly, but that’s the fun facts of life, we are all different and some people do behave appallingly, and it just adds to the richness of life. Gracie really has hit rock bottom, but she manages to really pull it all and be so much stronger than so many others. The loss she faces is just insurmountable, and how she manages to bring it all around will just make you smile so big. This story is a great reflection of life, and how we all need to see more than just the usual one dimension that we see. If you take some of the characters on first view you would hate them with a passion, but as we follow the story and see them all interconnect, you start to see different sides of them, and maybe start to like them, or maybe not, as sometimes the more we see the less we want to see.

It had an ambitious scope, but for me, the number of perspectives made it difficult to connect deeply with any one character -- even our FMC. I would have preferred a tighter focus on one or two protagonists. This is also probably why I didn’t find myself rooting for any of the MMCs, which made the romantic plotlines less engaging

To reiterate a lot of reviews, the rape accusation plotline didn’t sit well with me. On the other hand, the miscarriage storyline was incredibly moving. I appreciated the representation and found it to be one of the novel’s strongest elements—I almost wish it had been explored even further.

This novel had a great Bridget Jones-esque side characters, and I can totally see it being turned into a series surrounding the other characters!

It had so much potential and ai loved the premise, but there were too many narrators and the psychologist grossed me out.

This sweet book was emotional and touching. Couldn’t put it down! So many layers to this one. Also, tons of wit and charm!

I settled into read a few chapters and just couldn't stop chomping my way through this book. I read it all in one go and cried at the right moment and felt joy and hope at the right moments too. This is a book that takes a topic - miscarriage - and makes a book out of all the people that touch those involved and builds the story by weaving the broader impact on those around Gracie. Gracie is flattened by bad news, and the book shows her slowly refilling with air and getting herself onto her new road with effort and care.

Unfortunately had to DNF this book. I will not put myself through reading a book where one of the MMCs has rape allegations. I totally see where May was going with this story of female empowerment and new beginnings, unfortunately I just couldn’t get past the strange male POVs and underlying misogynistic tone.

This book may be good for some readers but I didn’t work for me.

Thanks to Net Galley and storm publishing for this arc.

A spicy , very sad at time but gripping story. All the characters are interconnected in a way you would not believe . I loved it. Some amazing twists and I loved how love can conquer all. A brilliant ending. So much I can’t say, it is sad at times Read it . You will love it . I can’t wait for friends to read it to see if they think as I do re the ending .

How To Fix A Broken Heart written by Nicola May was definitely very heart breaking, raw, real, gut wrenching, powerful, and deeply emotional. When I first saw that beautiful cover, I thought this book was going to be cute and silly, but boy was I completely wrong, it completely changed my life. How To Fix A Broken Heart is a life affirming novel of love, grief, sorrow, and loss from Nicola May. I know the pregnancy trope isn't very popular, but I wish fertility was talked about a lot more in books. This book does deal with very heavy topics, so please check the trigger warning's before picking this one up, they will also be listed in my review, so if any of them are triggering for some readers, please read this book at your own caution. First and foremost, after reading Nicola May's author note, I just want to send you all of my love, thank you for sharing your powerful and personal story with all of us. This story touched my heart in a way that's never been done before, it's the type of emotional turmoil that will leave a lasting impact on you. I thought chocolate and tubs of ice cream were always the remedy for a broken heart, but this book taught me that there's always going to be people in your corner no matter how alone you feel. For anyone struggling with fertility issues, I hear you, I see you, you are NOT alone, I love you.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND STORM PUBLISHING FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!!!

TRIGGER WARNING'S
Miscarriage
Cheating
Fertility Issues
Mentions of Rape

"Motherhood is not just a title; it is a force, a calling, a bond that goes beyond biology and beyond boundaries".

"It's my body, it's my problem. If I don't want to lose weight, then I won't".

"Daffodils- they are just such a bright and happy flower. They make me think of spring, of new beginnings".

"It's hard when you lose little souls that you didn't even meet. It's not like you can miss them as people because you never knew them, touched them, and smelt them. They were just inside me, little bundles of energy that I knew were there, but weren't".

"Your heart is bruised at the moment, but someone will come along and fill it with love again one day".

"Tears are words that have been trapped in your heart".

"Men can't deal with irrational women at the best of times".

"Did you need to have anything in common to be in love with someone?"

Gracie Davies and Lewis Blair have been together for seven years and have been trying to get pregnant. It took three rounds of IVF for Gracie to get pregnant, at five months pregnant with twins, Gracie has a miscarriage. It was so bad and horrific that Gracie had to have a hysterectomy and now she can't have babies anymore. Gracie has been through hell and back after suffering from a miscarriage, she now has a hysterectomy scar across her stomach and doesn't feel pretty anymore, and now Lewis is finding it difficult to love Gracie as she was because they don't have sex anymore. If you were to look up the definition of "dick", you would see Lewis Blair's picture. One night after an argument and telling Gracie to lose her baby weight, Lewis decides to go out and have an affair with Annalize Good. Annalize and Gracie worked together at Lemon Aid which organizes charity events. Lewis used being drunk as an excuse for having an affair with "Madame Perfect". After Lewis cheated, Gracie decided to call it quits on their relationship and move in with her sister, Naomi. I absolutely love Naomi for being so sweet and taking Gracie under her wings. Lewis deserves to be single for the rest of his life, there's no need to cheat on your significant other just because they won't have sex with you.

Gracie decides to go to therapy so she can talk about how she's feeling and she also joins a running group where she meets other kind hearted women. Gracie decides to move in with her sister Naomi and her nephew, Jack. After a few months, Naomi and Gracie take a nine day vacation in St. Lucia where it's tropical, there's beautiful beaches, happy people everywhere, a never ending supply of cocktails, together Naomi and Gracie tan in the sun and read on the beach. My heart goes out to Gracie, she struggles with the thought of never being able to get pregnant again. Gracie is the type of person who always runs away when she has to face confrontation. After a few more months pass, Gracie meets Ed. Edward Duke is a thirty two year old landscaper that works at Wimbledon Common. Edward and Gracie met at a dog park and continue to be each other's sexual fling. Gracie wants to be more, but when she learns Edward is being wrongly accused of rape, everything changes. Edward is a charmer that has a big heart, but Gracie only uses him as an escape from the real world. Edward is always so gentle with Gracie, he always surprises her with flowers before their dates, so why does Gracie only want to have a sexual fling with him? I adored Gracie, but some of the choices she made just didn't sit right with me. I appreciate Edward for treating Gracie with so much care and gentleness, but I also think they could have gone without their sexual fling, but that's just my opinion.