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Love Unlocked

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Pub Date 27 Aug 2026 | Archive Date 17 Sep 2026


Description

Sometimes the key is letting go…

Melody has vowed never to fall in love again.

Al is a hopeless romantic.

So, when they quite literally bump into each other, there's no reason sparks should fly. But the world seems a little upside down lately.

A few weeks ago, Al ordered the removal of all the lovers’ padlocks from one of Dublin's beautiful bridges. Ever since then, couples across the world have started splitting up.

And as Melody begins investigating this mysterious wave of breakups for her podcast, it seems there might be a bigger story to tell.

Together, they decide to uncover what's unravelling so many love stories. And, in the middle of solving everyone else’s heartbreak, can they unlock their own?

THE QUEEN OF LOVE STORIES IS BACK THIS SUMMER – PRE-ORDER NOW!

'A charming, feel-good romance with a wonderfully original premise and plenty of heart. Melody and Al’s journey left me smiling long after I turned the final page' Louise O'Neill

'A delight from start to finish' Sheila O'Flanagan

'Unputdownable … the sense of fun ripples through it and yet the absolute spinning feeling of Al and Melody falling in love is spectacular' Cathy Kelly

READERS ADORE LOVE UNLOCKED:

‘A perfect summer read’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Absolutely charming and I loved every minute’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I was captivated by this book’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Another fantastic read from Cecelia Ahern’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Truly wonderful … Filled with love, heartbreak, whimsy, and a sprinkle of Cecilia Ahern’s usual magic’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I literally finished it in one day because I could not put it down' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sometimes the key is letting go…

Melody has vowed never to fall in love again.

Al is a hopeless romantic.

So, when they quite literally bump into each other, there's no...


Available Editions

EDITION Ebook
ISBN 9780008608163
PRICE £9.99 (GBP)
PAGES 384

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Average rating from 101 members


Featured Reviews

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This is a lovely, easy read with a touch of whimsical magic. It's almost a coming-of-age story as Melody starts to address her issues with commitment and being alone but it's done with great humour and a fabulous cast of characters, all with their own love story. Absolutely charming and I loved every minute.

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Al has been betrayed and this changes his outlook on love so when he is tasked with removing locks from a bridge in Ireland, which has its own unique love story, he does and Melody begins to investigate why the couples who had locks on this bridge now breaking up? I was captivated by this book. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book.

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A lovely book that is the most romantic and emotionally charged plotted. It has sparkling warmth and charm. I felt comforted by the end.

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Another fantastic read from Cecelia Ahern. I really liked the idea of this story it was a lovely heartwarming book. When Al order's the removal of lover's padlock from a famous bridge in Dublin it seems to spark off the splitting up of couples from all over the world and when podcaster Melody covers the story it seems there are other things to unravel. When they meet each other both having had relationship issues they try to understand why this is happening but will they manage to sort out their own lives at the same time. It's acharming story, funny, romantic and much more and I'm sure fans will love it.

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Melody andAl literally bump into each other. Al's ordered all of the love locks to be removed from a Dublin bridge. Since then lovers round the world have split up. Melody decides to.investigate. Live Cecilia Ahern books

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Melody and Al are both disinterested in love and romance for very different reasons. Their friends and families’ relationships begin to fray and it seems like everyone’s splitting up. Al has a level of pettiness that’s almost enviable. Melody believes she has commitment phobia! The love story of Grace and Joe Plunkett captivates Melody for her podcast and becomes the central plot. They find themselves drawn together in a series of meetings that hold different meanings for each of them.

There previous relationships are centred heavily and you can’t help but laugh at some of the things that happen surrounding this.

It’s a lovely funny lighthearted read.

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Love Unlocked is a truly wonderful book, filled with love, heartbreak, whimsy, and a sprinkle of Cecilia Ahern’s usual magic. I loved the history of Grace Gifford and Joseph Plunkett, it added soul and weight to the story.

I will add a reviews to Amazon and Instagram at later date.

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I was so excited to receive an ARC of the latest novel by Cecelia Ahern and I’m delighted to say it didn’t disappoint.

This is a heartwarming story about Melody, who has sworn off love and struggles with commitment, and Al, her complete opposite, a hopeless romantic who believes wholeheartedly in it.

The story blends romance and mystery, centring around a collection of padlocks removed from a Dublin bridge. Over the years, couples had attached these locks as symbols of their love, but after they were taken away, relationships began mysteriously falling apart. Coincidence or something more? I found myself completely drawn into the mystery and wanting to know what would happen next.

Along the way, the novel explores love, commitment and the emotional baggage we all carry. It looks at how relationships can thrive or struggle under life’s pressures, showing that love can be both incredibly strong and surprisingly fragile.

I absolutely loved this book. In true Cecelia Ahern style, it made me laugh out loud with its wonderful Irish humour and, yes, it brought a tear to my eye too. I particularly enjoyed how the story was woven together with the real-life love story of Joseph Plunkett and Grace Gifford, the Irish nationalist couple whose tragic story unfolded in 1916. For me, that added an extra layer of depth and made parts of the story feel even more meaningful.

I finished this in a single day it was one of those books that was so easy to keep turning the pages. A perfect summer read that left me feeling warm, hopeful and completely satisfied by the final page.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollinsUK and Cecelia Ahern for the opportunity to read and review this book ahead of publication.

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4.5!

When I got the invitation to read this I was so excited and it went straight to the top of the TBR.

Cecelia is once again wonderful, the characters were funny and rich, the story was engaging and interesting.

There were a couple of cringy moments but it’s a romance what do you expect!!!

I had a great time, just enough magic to keep you guessing at the end. Great work.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publishing team, and CA for the advanced copy!

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Cecelia Ahern never fails to cast a spell on me, and Love Unlocked is another reminder of why she’s one of my favourite authors. She has a way of taking the most wonderfully unusual premise and making it feel completely believable, wrapping it in warmth, humour and so much heart.

The idea of love across the world seemingly unravelling after the removal of Dublin’s love locks is beautifully imaginative, but it’s the characters who truly make this story. Melody and Al are wonderfully messy, funny and real, and watching their journey unfold was an absolute joy. Their chemistry feels effortless, and alongside the romance there’s a thoughtful exploration of grief, hope and learning when to let go.

As always, Ahern’s writing is simply beautiful. She writes like no one else, blending magical realism with genuine emotion in a way that feels effortless. I found myself smiling, laughing and reflecting in equal measure.

Heartfelt, uplifting and utterly enchanting, this is another five-star read from an author who never disappoints. I already can’t wait to see what she dreams up next.

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I always watch out for the latest Cecelia Ahern release as I thoroughly enjoy her writing. This novel didn’t disappoint. It’s set in Dublin and at first it seems to be anti-romance. It’s an unusual idea with a touch of spirituality, and it links back to a n I’ll-fated historical love between two Irish freedom fighters who married in Kilmahain Gaol the day before the man was put to death by firing squad. Their love however apppears to live on in a magical way. Lovely read which I thoroughly enjoyed.

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Beautiful! Al is ‘the bridge man’, the man responsible for arranging for all the love locks placed on the budge to be removed. Mel is researching why so many people (who had locks on the bridge (her mum included!) broke up with their partners on the same day they were removed. Mel and Al are both anti love for different reasons. But maybe they need each other for find a way to love again.

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Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read an advance copy. I fell in love with Cecelia Ahern's books after P.S I love you and have read every book since. I was so excited to be allowed to read and review her latest novel. It certainly didnt disappoint.
Melody isnt a fan of love and romance, maybe because of her wayward father, who didnt stick around for long. She is intrigued when her friends and family suddenly start breaking up with their other halves. It turns out they all have a padlock on a bridge in Dublin, but due to the weight of all these padlocks, they have been removed for the safety of the bridge.
Melody tracks down Al ( the bridge guy), whos decision it was to remove the padlocks and they hit it off immediately.
I could not put his down. All the relationships breaking down, drama in abundance, lots of funny moments and heartbreaking ones. The characters are so well written. I loved Melody and Al but also liked Melody's Mum and (ex) partner, her podcast collaborater Prudence, to name a few. Plus the parts where Al gets revenge on his ex and his best friend are priceless. Dont hesitate, read this, you'll love it!

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I just love discovering a new Cecelia Ahern book and this one did not disappoint. I lovely relaxing read where I got lost amongst the pages of yet another magical love story!

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Cecelia Ahern remains one of my 'go to' authors and this book did not disappoint!
It asks the question; Do you believe in love?
Melody has walked away from love, unable to commit her heart. Will she finally realise what it means to her?
Will she be able to heal the hearts of others?
Absolutely beautiful!
The characters are always so rich and captivating. We can see a piece of ourselves in them all! A unique storyline about how removing the love locks on the Dublin bridge seems to remove the love and connection between the couples.

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This is such a warm read despite the main characters both struggling with things in their life. Al is distraught by the breakup of his relationship and betrayal from his best friend - this doesn’t show Al in the best of light on occasion when he shuts them to suffer but overall he’s actually a lovely guy. Melody has major commitment issues as well as a lot of insecurities but overall she loves the freedom her music gives her.

When Al realises the weight of thousands of padlocks is weighing down a local bridge his recent relationship problems mean he’s no tolerance for love trinkets so he orders them to be removed. Melody meanwhile is confused why so many people she knows have had relationships suddenly end on the same day and a little research makes her think the removal of the padlocks is connected to this so she uses her podcast to find out more.

For me the magic of this happens when Melody meets Al as they just click in a way that just creates a wonderful vibe and despite the issues the both still face there’s just something special when the two of them are together despite barely knowing each other. I also loved Al’s assistant in this especially in the police scene as she adds another personal touch to the story and Melody’s podcast cohost had more to her than would first appear. This is a really well thought out story which is just carried by the two main characters who I couldn’t help but root for. I loved the solutions to the padlock issues and the whole story just really worked so well.

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Melody is very anti love, anti commitment. Al is hurting after his best friend and fiancée got together behind his back. These two characters are brought together in Cecelia Ahern's latest book. Al - aka the bridge guy - arranges for all the love padlocks to be removed from the Grace Plunkett Bridge in Dublin. Suddenly strange things happen on that very day. Cecelia Ahern has once again come up with a unique idea for a story which is captivating. Using the ill fated love story and letters of Irish Republican activists Grace Gifford and Joseph Plunkett as a backdrop, it explores the lasting nature of love, commitment, relationships and friendships. An endearing, enjoyable read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own

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A beautiful story.

The story follows Melody, who has sworn off love, and Al, an incurable romantic, as they investigate a mysterious wave of breakups linked to the removal of love locks from a bridge in Dublin. It's an original premise that blends romance, mystery, and magical realism beautifully.

Ahern has a gift for creating characters who feel real, flawed, and easy to root for. Melody and Al's journey is filled with humour, heartache, self-discovery, and hope, making their growing connection feel authentic and deeply satisfying. The story also explores what love really means, not just romantic love, but trust, forgiveness, and learning to let go.

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heartbreak, hope and healing!

I galloped through Love Unlocked, I’ve read most of Cecelia Ahern’s books and this was a beautiful read with a touch of her authentic magic.

Melody is a podcaster, DJ and commitment phone. Al is battling heartbreak and a double betrayal. Their paths cross through work and the removal of the love locks on the Grace Plunkett bridge. The chemistry is electric but can both have lessons to learn in the pursuit of love.

I love that the book incorporated Grace and Joseph Plunkett’s real correspondence. Huge thank you for the ARC of this wonderful book.

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