I’m giving this one 3.5 stars, which for me is solidly in between “liked it” and “loved it”. This one is a beautiful and memorable story, but we don’t get there until the end of the book (at least for me). That’s the reason we’re not at 4 stars, because I can’t say I loved it completely. But 3.5 stars is a good rating for me!

This is a book that will tug at your heartstrings. I especially enjoyed the family dynamics that Wren learns to navigate, and how she overcomes her own insecurities to reach out and let her family in. I wish I had neighbors like Jonas and Anders! Their friendship was so endearing and now I want to have friends who have their own farm.

This book is a drama with a slow build, and it took me a while to feel hooked. But that’s the nature of this story, and I completely get it. But I wish I was captivated a little sooner. But that’s just me!

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam Books for the copy in exchange for my honest review!

I was severely disappointed by the lack of heartbreak in the story. Reading the blurb and the title in itself gave me the impression that this book would have a depressing tragedy. The revelation, however, made me think 'Oh, okay', and just move on. I'm not against it if you'd like to give the book a go, but I'd recommend you keep your expectations low.

One thing that stands out about Paige Toon’s novels is the amazing character development. Her characters all come with a deep history, with hopes and dreams. You instantly connect with them. This book was true to that. You have a woman reeling from heartache and trying to forge a new path, and a man who seems broken but you’re not sure why. This was a beautiful book and I loved reading it.

I went into this thinking it was another sweet romance but heads up, it will wreck you.

Wren is heartbroken and has lost her inspiration as an architect in London. She decides to visit her dad in America for a holiday. However, unresolved feelings from childhood make her feel like an outsider with him and his other family.

She begins to bond with her younger half-sister and together they meet local brothers, Jonas and Anders. As they work on a project together, Wren and Anders are becoming more than friends until a secret comes to light that changes everything. It is impossible situation with no foreseeable good outcome.

I gave Only Love Can Hurt Like This ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I read it in one sitting. I do think Casey needed a better storyline or to just be cut out of the book. However, the story was so good and having a blended family, I saw
Wren's insecurity and I liked that there was some resolution there. I wanted so bad to see Anders happy! The last 1/4 of the book completely wrecked me. Stick with it though. The author does a remarkable job finishing strong!

Thank you @putnambooks and @netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I had to start this one twice to really get into it, but I think that was my fault at trying to start it when I was too busy. Once I was in, I was hooked.

I really appreciated that it was clear that the epilogue was a couple years later. I liked that things didn't happen all within a single year.

Something I disliked was the "will they/won't they" of Bailey and Jonas. It wasn't super clear that it was going to stay platonic and I disliked thinking that Bailey was going to be written to be a cheater.

Overall, I really enjoyed this and I liked watching the struggle of Wren and Anders as they both knew they loved each other but felt they couldn't pursue it.

emotionally and beautifully written! and so so moving! I really enjoyed this it reminded me of a hallmark or lifetime movie in the best possible way.

𝙄 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙤 𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙩 𝙨𝙤 𝙙𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙭𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚.


this is my first book from paige toon and it was the title that drew me in.

quite enjoyable! but i really wish we got a dual pov, not just ander’s pov at the end; it would’ve given more understanding of who he is and his own thoughts.

the plot twist was interesting and it was tough seeing wren and anders trying to fight their feelings for each other.


thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc!

I absolutely loved this story. It drew me in from the first page. The twist at the end I did not see coming and it hit me like a ton of bricks.

Wren and her finance split after he falls in love with his coworker so she decides to go visit her father and stepmother in Indiana. Wren had never had a great relationship with her father, stepmother, and half sister. She always resented that he left her mother. Wren hangs out with her sister Bailey and soon they build the relationship that they never had. While spending time in Indiana they meet their neighbors Anders and Jonas. Anders is struggling with the loss of his wife and Jonas has some struggles as well. Wren starts to really like Anders but his previous relationship is preventing him from moving forward.
When I first started reading this I had a slow start but soon became sucked into it and emotional. All of the characters are pretty likable throughout the whole thing. I couldn’t put it down toward the end because I really wanted to know how it ended for Wren and Anders.

Ok, first this small-town, Indiana rural setting made my Iowa heart so happy while also aching for my past memories of my childhood. Paige Toon nailed farm life from the hard work, long hours, mental and physical struggles, and community.

With both main characters are in pain from prior relationships, it was obvious they had chemistry and deeply cared for each other. I loved how they bonded over the vintage Airstream. For the life of me, I didn't understand why these two internalized their feelings as the cover-promised "earth-shattering secret" was not immediately revealed, which only intensified their slow-burn and longing. What a great build-up.

𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗛𝘂𝗿𝘁 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 also has great support characters, such as her half-sister Bailey and her stepmom. It may be a romance, but it equality about Wren's journey towards healing and forgiveness with her family over their past.

This may be my first Paige Toon book, but it will not by my last. Now to decide which one to read next! 4.5 stars rounded to 5!

“Wren hopes that spending the summer with her dad and step-family on their farm in Indiana will help her to heal. There, amid the cornfields and fireflies, she and Anders cross paths and their worlds are turned upside-down again.”
This novel was heart wrenching & beautifully written. My heart was aching for Wren & Anders at times and I was thoroughly invested in their story! I loved Jonas as well! I found the plot very relatable to real life & love.

Thank you for the advanced copy! I really enjoyed this book, it is my first time reading this author. I enjoyed the slow build of this story. This is a story of two people grieving their past relationships who find friendship in one another. One is rebuilding her relationship with her half sister and he estranged father while overcoming a broken engagement, the other is building his relationship with his parents while dealing with grief of his own. The side characters are also very endearing in this story.

Man oh man... did I get wrapped up in this. I became so invested in the characters and how everything was going to turn out. The family dynamics and obligations... the grief and love.. it all felt so intimate and personal, its really emotional. If you want a book that really pulls at your emotions, then I highly recommend this one.

This packed such a beautiful punch. I love books that are angsty and smoothie and dive into hard issues, and this is a perfect read for that. The characters are absorbing and the prose is addicting. I think this is going to be a smash hit.

Only Love Can Hurt Like This is my first novel by Paige Toon. I wish I read some reviews before choosing it because I am not a slow burn reader and this novel runs at a lethargic pace. It is a character driven story with a lot of inner dialogue. So much so that I just couldn’t muster up much interest in Wren. While I liked Wren and Anders storyline the delivery was a miss for me. I’ll be interested to see if this is the author’s style or simply the way she choose to deliver this particular story.

4 Emotional stars

I am not an angsty, heavy reader. I usually like more light-hearted romance novels. Only Love Can Hurt Like This takes you on a journey that will touch you deeply and not leave you hanging....you will feel it all.

this book is a new author for me! this book def made me feel all the feels and take my time! I totally related to the main character and would recommend this book for anyone looking for something new

Oh my goodness did I love this one. I can't even believe that I did not hear about this author until now. I will be looking up more books by this author and reading every single one. Loved!

Thank you netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love romance books with tragic backstories, but this was just okay. The characters were fine, but nothing to write home about. The plot was predictable but fine to read. All and all, it was just okay.

2.5/5 ⭐

There were a lot of twists and turns, ups and downs, in this book. It was relatable with extremely likeable characters. I thought I was disliking people, but after hearing their background stories it was easy to understand how they got to the place where they were.

Paige Toon explains the depth that people feel love, grief, anger, and hurt with a level of detail and clarity that many cannot. This helped insert these characters into your soul and made impossible not to hurt with them.