Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for an advanced copy of this novel

I had such high hopes for this book. Everything caught my eye, the title, the cover and the description, it sounded right up my alley!

Unfortunately I found this story very slow to get going, and then it become very aware to me this story was about a character in an extremely toxic relationship and state of mind. It reminded myself of a time where I was also in a toxic relationship that was very unhealthy, I hope people do not read this book and think that is okay. I do wish that depression and mental health were noted on the description or back cover as a trigger warning.

The time frame of this novel is over 4-5 years, I found it very frustrating how it would jump weeks and months in series of events. Especially since there was a lot of over description in the writing and I found myself skim reading a lot.

The book also ends suddenly and not in a good way, unfortunately this one just wasn't for me

Enjoyable contemporary romance that deals with more intense themes. Rae has herself on a married before 30 and 3 kids by 35 schedule. Will a dating app yield a potential husband? Through some hits and misses, she meets Dustin. He might be perfect for her, except his crippling depression effects their relationship profoundly. This is a novel about not only romance, but also identity and being involved with someone with an illness. Overall, I liked this book; however, I was not always satisfied with the character evolution and ultimate resolution.

There were parts of this book that I loved and other parts that really bothered me. Rae the main character was determined to be married by 30. After a couple of date she meets Dustin, who she really seems to hit it off with. As the story progresses Rae learns that Dustin suffers from depression. This is the part that really bothered me. Rae continually talks about Dustin being cured, or him beating depression. She even does a lot of research on things to help Dustin and his depression. One would think that she would learn that depression isn't a disease you beat or are cured from.

I want to thank the publisher and Netgalley for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Heart of the Deal is a debut novel by Linsay Macmillan and follows a 25-year-old Rae who works as an investment banker but dreams to be a poet. Our lead lady is in a "romantic recession" when she realises that she needs to be dating the guy she wants to have a future with at 25 if she wanted to have a family by the age of 30. This whole ideology was something that I disagreed with, and it sort of threw me off to see it as the beginning of the entire plotline. She finally, after so many tries at online dating, finds Dustin.

Initially, I picked up this book was because, from the synopsis, I gathered that this would be a sweet Rom-Com that takes place in New York. But I was highly disappointed through the book because this book is not marketed as it is supposed to be.

You can check out my full review here : https://bookistic17.blogspot.com/2021/11/the-heart-of-deal-review.html

Heavy read!

It took a while to finish this book - with heavy subjects - so if someone is looking forward to a rom-com (category mentioned humor) they would be mislead.

Liked the writing and storyline but felt a bit lengthy.

Overall - an ok read.

Thank you NetGalley and Alove Press for the ARC.

I really wanted to like this book and I thought I would when I read the description, but I didn't. It took me some time to read it and at some point I stopped enjoying it, I just wanted to see how it ends.
I didn't like Rae at the beginning and her "dream" of getting married and having kids soon. She was thinking about this all the time and I felt annoyed. I get the part that the author wanted to show us what is in a way expected from a young woman, but we got a character who really believed in it and wanted to be married at some point. I felt like this was the main theme of the book.
When she started dating Dustin she had all these expectations that he'll beat depression and marry her before she turns 30. The only thing I could see here is that she was hopeful that it might happen and it's okay to have some hope. I get the part that when you're in love you probably don't see some things, but you can't just beat depression. She wanted Dustin to get better, but she was making it all about herself all over again. She didn't understend what having a mental illness is really.A good thing she did was to call Dustin's mum and in a way got him the help he needed.
Her relationship with Stu was pointless because the chemistry between the two wasn't clearly there. She always loved Dustin and I like the fact that they meet again at the end.
Finally, at the end she decided to go for her dream to become a real poet, and we get a character development. All the things women face in business and any job they do was a good theme, but there was so much going on in this book that I felt overwhelmed at the end. There are so many topics, and good ones, about friendship, sexism, mental illness, relationship... You really do go through a lot in 5 years, but I feel like it was all to much.
I hope someone gets my review and what I'm saying here haha!
Also, I hope that maybe someone will like the book the way I didn't.

This book looks and is advertised as more of a rom-com but I’m not seeing a lot of rom or com. Depression is a big theme in this book and it isn’t mentioned once in the blurb I read. Depression should definitely be mentioned since it is a big trigger warning that should be available up front.

Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the free e-ARC. All opinions voiced are my own.

If you're looking for a cute rom-com book with maybe steamy scenes, this is not your book. I would say that this is being a little mis-marketed. The cover and description of this book makes it seem like a romance story, but it's more like contemporary fiction.

If you like books like Conservations with Friends by Sally Rooney, then this book is way more your speed. The Heart of the Deal is really a heartbreaking love story about wanting to make your partner better, but not being able to. The main character Rae is the epitome of naivety as she tries to learn about mental health and cure her sometimes boyfriend Dustin. The real issue is that Rae is with a partner that doesn't want to get better. Dustin knows that he suffers from major depressive episodes, but instead of seeking pharmaceutical help, he's content doing the bare minimum to help himself. He repeatedly alienates Rae and even comes between her and her other relationships.

This book is an excellent depiction of the emotional abuse. Rae tries over and over to help Dustin while never actually getting him to get more help for himself. Dustin consistently belittles her attempts to help and learn about his mental illness. While it may seem shocking to some readers that she stays with him for years, it is a realistic depiction of what it's like to love someone and believe that is enough to make them better. Rae should choose herself, but she's obsessed with the idea of a perfect life before 30 and as such is willing to sacrifice her own happiness for what she believes is true love. Both characters are incredibly flawed and it is an excellent depiction of love not fixing everything.

Thank you NetGalley for sending this arc for an honest review!

A cute romance taken place in New York City? But add the found u on a app trope? Yea nor typically what I would read but ya know what… evrey book deserves a chance and the cover of this story was truly calling to me. It truly boosted my serotonin and let me tell you it’s so much like those cute romantic movies that always take place in New York. The romance and love between the two charcater was so incredible I literally did not want it to end.

The Heart of the Deal by Lindsay MacMillan was not the sweet romance I was expecting. I was expecting a romantic story, some light humour, maybe a story about finding yourself as well as love, that wasn’t what I got, I got depression and toxic relationships and the reality of being in a relationship with a depressive personality, not light-hearted at all. I do think that this is a great novel, and so well written about the subject, but it should come with a better description, and maybe even a different cover. Its not the happily ever after I was expecting, but labelled right, this could easily be the novel of the decade, as it is presented now, it’s more likely to be thrown across the room, rather than put on shelves.

I have a hard time writing negative reviews, because I am aware of how much it costs to write a book. However, I feel that I can't really get a lot of positive things out of this book, because I really found it to be a toxic and somewhat heavy story.

Overall, it's a book I've read fast. Although I did have to "force" myself to finish it because I really wasn't loving the story and I wasn't very interested in knowing what was going to happen.

It is a story, in my opinion, very toxic and romanticized. That is, the author justifies certain behaviours and teaches them as something beautiful or romantic when they are not at all. And it's to me that these things bother me a lot. It is true that depending on the book it bothers me or not, but in this one it is something that I have simply not been able to bear.

As a positive point, I would say that it is a well-written novel and that the idea of it is fine, but it is simply that for me then it is not treated well and that makes you lose all the above.

Review scheduled to publish May 6, 2022 (closer to publication)

This is a tough one for me to review. There’s so much in this story and these characters that I relate to and enjoy, but reading it has been a struggle. The marketing on this book is completely off and I think if I’d had the proper expectations going into this, I’d have enjoyed it more. As much as it presents itself as one, this is NOT a romantic comedy. It’s more a journey of self-discovery as one woman matures from her mid-twenties to her thirties, as she loses herself in a toxic relationship with a severely depressed man and later finds herself again (or does she??). Trigger warnings: depression and self-harm.

While I like the general outline of this story, what’s presented is way too long and trying to do too many things. It wants to be a modern love story that subverts expectations; a story about the unexpected twists and turns life takes when we relinquish the desire to control every little thing; a story about enduring female friendships; what it’s like to be a woman in an industry dominated by straight white men; what it’s like to love someone with crippling depression; what happens when you defer your dreams in favor of stability. These are all really interesting plot points, but many of them are only half-baked and the overall pacing is stilted.

Let’s take the female friendships. When we begin the story, Rae is super close with her college friend group—lovingly dubbed “The Scramblettes”—made up of Rae, Ellen, Mina, and Sarah. Ellen is also Rae’s roommate and hands-down the best character in the book, often the only voice of reason. But Mina and Sarah? I know next to nothing about them (except that Sarah is queer) and therefore don’t care when these characters grow apart. I can relate to growing apart as more friends settle down and scatter across the country, but due to the lack of characterization, I’m not personally invested in this particular group of people.

I do love learning about Rae’s career on Wall Street and am rooting for her to succeed. However, there’s something really irksome for me here. Ellen has a group chat at work where she and two other coworkers commiserate on being the only non-straight white men. They give themselves nicknames in the chat: Estrogen Employee (Rae), Gay Quota, and Token Black. The problem is the author then only refers to these characters by these labels and in context of these stereotypes, so the irony is that they only exist as stereotypes with no backstory, no character development, no real names. The exact thing they stand against in the novel is how the author has characterized them.

And then we have the romance. Rae falls for Dustin because he seems to get her on a level no one else does. And at first, I’m game. We learn Dustin is suffering from severe depression; he warns Rae he intermittently falls off the face of the Earth and likely shouldn’t be in a relationship. As someone with depression, this depiction feels super accurate and I appreciate the honest representation. I applaud Dustin for being upfront about it and recognizing he isn’t in the right space to be with someone.

But unfortunately, Rae wants to save him. She falls into the trap of believing if she just loves him enough, he’ll get better. Ugh. As frustrating as this mindset is to read about, it does feel like a realistic mistake, one that Rae learns from the hard way. But this makes for a really sad relationship to read about, especially as Rae begins slipping into a depression herself (see: NOT a rom-com). And Dustin isn’t a rootable partner for Rae—he decides to ignore his own suggestion of staying friends and becomes Rae’s boyfriend, acting selfish and at times cruel, a boyfriend Ellen repeatedly and rightly reminds Rae is “taking advantage of her.” Cheers yet again to Ellen for reading the writing on the wall with this guy.

Which is what makes the ending so infuriating! Rae finally realizes she can’t save Dustin and the only way she can help him is to leave, to stop enabling him. Great step, girl! She moves back to her home state, negotiates a more flexible work arrangement, and gets serious with her childhood crush. Rae begins building a life with her new beau, but still feels something is missing. So she returns to NYC at age thirty with no boyfriend/husband or children on the way like she’d envisioned for herself at twenty-five.

But that’s okay, because she’s going to pursue her dream of writing. If it ended here, I’d be so, so happy! Like look at you girl, not defining yourself by your relationships to men, choosing yourself. But no. We just have to return to Dustin at the end, like I’m supposed to believe they’re soul mates. Gag. Looks like Rae’s set to undo all that personal growth—what a major bummer. And so, what could’ve been an empowering story ends on a disappointing, bleak note and I’m left wondering what it was all for.

Thanks for letting me read this, it's definitely a good book not one that I could sit and read again though I like that there are many different emotions and its a bit slow getting into to also it takes some time but worth a read

I would like to thank NetGalley for this digital ARC, the following review is completely my own.

I truly enjoyed this book. Even when marked with heavier themes (ie. depression, mental health) it was easy to see the beauty of true love thats just meant to be through the pages.

At the beginning of the book, Rae, has a timeline set up of how her life should unfold in upcoming 5 years to make sure she is married by age 30. Her plans take a complete detour when she meets Dustin, another broker that suffers from depression. Through ups and many downs, Rae compromises her dreams, and at some points her happiness for those of the man that even though might not be perfect, is the* perfect man for her.

I requested to read and review this book for free from Alcove Press. This book takes place mostly in New York. It has many different feels for this storyline. Romance, anger, betrayal, loneliness and power. Characters Rae, Ellen and the scramblettes are each trying to find their own way. Stu is the boy next door, Dustin is a dynamic in itself. Does a plan mean it's set in stone. Does someone be happy just with themselves. What is true happiness. What is the best version of ourself? This book is for a mature reader and can be read anywhere.

I received a free e-Arc from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review!!

I had mixed feelings about this story. The summary is great but the relationship between Rae and Dustin just didn't click to me as a romcom. Granted not every romance is super awesome magic but I can't explain it. It just was different.

Dustin was battling depression and I'm aware that everyone copes with it differently. The communication and not acknowledging how he treated her was not a good thing. I wish the communication was a bit better between them. I'm not going to launch into everything about this. I will say there were a few sparks between them but it just short ones. I did like the poetry banter between them.

Other than trying to figure out her relationship goal, RaeI had to decide what to do about her work life. Does she stick with a job that gets her living or does she go after her dream? That's a tough choice and it's relatable! It seems like Rae has lots of things going on in her life like her work, trying to get a relationship, her family dynamics, and her friends. I understand people have these things going on. She seemed young and I think she needed more time to figure out things.

Maybe it was the flow of the book that was long for me. It was a bit blah to me at the end.

This book I would say it's a bit dark, maybe triggering for some and just different. This book I would say it's a bit dark, maybe triggering for some and just different. As I said I have mixed feelings on this story. That is all I can say.

The Heart of the Deal
by Lindsay MacMillan

Thank you to Alcove Press and Netgalley for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

This is the story of Rae and her best friend Ellen spanning the five years between Rae turning 25 and 30 and the transitions they face during that time. Rae has worked hard in a male dominated field and has set life and career goals for herself. She hears her biological clock ticking and feels the need to search for her future husband before time runs out on her plans.

She connects with Dustin on a dating app and soon discovers that he suffers from clinical depression. Instead of heeding the advice of her friends she continues to be involved with him despite his lack of investment in the relationship. She loves him and thinks she can solve his problem and that he will get better.

This was actually a very sad and heartbreaking story rather than the romantic comedy that I thought it was going to be. That doesn’t mean that it is a bad story, just not what I was expecting. Rae seems to be someone who is goal oriented and has worked hard to create the life she wants. That is why it feels as though she is throwing it all away on someone who is not as invested in building a life. He stops contact with her out of the blue and goes a year without a word and then they are back together. His depression is an excuse for his behavior instead of something he is working through. I’d like to see the characters have an arc, grow and change and be different in the end from where they are in the beginning. However, Dustin doesn’t grow or improve at all and Rae seems to reverse her advancement and momentum. The relationship is toxic and unhealthy for her and makes the ending disappointing.

Seriously this cover is gorgeous
the blurb is exciting
the concept .. i am into it
the delivery... not so much
<spoiler>
I think the book tried to pull TOO much into one story which caused it to not feel authentic. It tackles depression, mental illness, toxic relationships, fake ideologies in that mental health goes away when you love someone, .. sadly i think this book romanticizes mental health and actually is a perfect example of WHY there are so many issues in relationships when it comes to mental health because people want to pray the mental illness away in a way.. and no.. cant. .. and if you have ever experienced this personally, professionally etc you will see how Dustin treats Rae with the highly toxic and abusive ways is because he needs help and she is just being the enabler for him

This is the story of a 25 year old, Rae who dreams of finding love, getting married and having 3 children by the age of 35. The book starts off when Rae nearly panics because she is 5 years away from being 30 and still has no boyfriend to share her life with. She starts looking and then you see her falling in love with Dustin, a fellow Wall Street human, who seems perfect in everyway unless he starts ghosting her only to find that he is severely depressed. The story then takes a turn from someone trying to find love to fit into the society’s accepted age appropriate plan for women to a toxic relationship where Rae doesn’t seem to understand that Dustin while depressed and needing medical help is also toxic for her. What happens at the end is something I shall not give away but this book made me uncomfortable about the priorities and thoughts of young women in their 20s these days especially when they are financially and even intellectually well off. It’s well written. The best thing about it is Rae’s best friend looking out for her and repeatedly trying to stop her from falling into the toxic relationship mix.

Rae is an ambitious poet-turned-investment banker. She’s 25 going on 100 and is very intense. At a younger age, she’d sworn she’d be married by 30, but on her 25th birthday, she realizes she’s nowhere near her goal since she’s super single and hasn’t dated in a long time. Her bffs convince her to sign up for a dating app and she eventually meets Dustin. Their relationship is SO BAD for Rae, but she sticks around because she “loves” him. He’s not willing to commit to her because he knows that he’s not doing anything to deal with his issues BUT he also doesn’t tell her to stop acting like they’re in a relationship.

To say that this book rubbed me the wrong way would be an understatement. I can respect that the author wanted to change things up and maybe prove that people who are dealing with mental health issues also deserve love. HOWEVER, romanticizing Rae’s infatuation with Dustin perpetuates this idea that women are meant to fix broken men / put up with such toxic behaviors.

Overall, the plot was weak and the protagonist wasn’t very likable. There was too much investment banking jargon and a lot of it fell flat for me. Sadly, Rae’s work issues were overshadowed by her poor relationship decisions and her obsession with getting married by 30.

Thank you for the ARC! Really wish I would have enjoyed the book more.