It took me a bit to really get into the story but once I did, I was hooked. What a beautiful love story in so many ways.

I have to say first and foremost that I am not the target audience for this book. In general, I tend to find romances cheesy and it's just not my preferred writing style. I don't mind romance within a story, but most of the time when it's the basis of the entire book I find them to be just ridiculously predictable, and personally I think predictability is where good books go to die. I did not really realize this was a full on romance book, had I took a moment to click on the author's name and investigate a bit into her backlog I would have seen that her books tend to be the fluffy cheesy-in-a-good-way romances. Now... that being said, I will say that I didn't despise this book. I think as true romances go (meaning literally the romance genre and not just a book with a romance in it) it was one of the better ones because it was not the type of book that you know the ending from the very beginning. It was not all fluff and love & lovey tropes, there were difficult emotions and complicated relationships & complex characters, which I enjoyed. There was also a lot of intricate family dynamics, and best of all was the surprises. I did not see everything coming, so it managed to refrain from falling into the boring & predictable category.

Now, that being said. The writing was not anything to write home about. I was expecting more literary fiction with a romance and what I got was contemporary romance, It wasn't the absolute worst writing, the kind that is impossible to read because it's just that bad, but there were enough extra cheesy quotes and basic sentences & pathetic metaphors that I couldn't give it 4 stars. For me this was a 4 star story with 3 star writing. Worth reading if you're looking for easy beach reading material that isn't absolute garbage.

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

I have mixed feelings because what happens in this book is so complicated. I honestly have no idea what I'd do in a situation like that.

I loved the sibling aspect and navigating the complicated emotions of feeling like an outsider in your own family.

Wren grew on me. At first I found her lacking and then as the story went on, I began to love how relatable she actually is. One part had me wanting to shake her but it also showed growth on her end.

This really is a story of love and very very complicated happenings. It definitely evokes major emotions, good or bad, while reading. Overall, I really liked this book and would recommend it to others who love a complicated romance.

Wren goes to America to spend the summer with her Dad after she learns her fiance is in love with someone else. She’s absolutely shattered but hopes the change of scenery will help ease the pain. Enter Anders, who’s family live on the neighboring farm. When they meet, sparks fly immediately but Anders seems dead set on keeping Wren at arms length, especially since he lost his wife in a tragic accident 4 ½ years ago. Their relationship blooms regardless and Wren quickly learns that Anders is harboring a heart stopping secret.

This book was deliciously heartbreaking. I found myself thinking of the characters long after I put the book down. There’s plenty of heavy drama and very real world problems in this story but also touching romance and lighthearted friendships that has you seriously rooting the characters on. The various relationships throughout the book are so dynamic and keeps you interested in more than just the main story line. I seriously gasped at the twist towards the end and felt like my heart was shattering too! I loved watching this story unfold.

I received this ARC for free in exchange for my honest review.

This book follows Wren, a woman who was recently left by her fiancé for his assistant. In efforts to recover from her grief, she takes a trip to America, to Indiana, more specifically... to visit her dad, stepmom and half-sister. Wren has a lot of baggage to sort through. Not only what happened between her and Scott, her ex. But also, from her childhood. Wren meets Anders, older brother to Jonas and residents at a neighboring farm up the way. While poking around her dad's peach orchard (Which struct me as a weird crop to grow in Indiana... Georgia maybe. But the climate in Indiana isn't suited for a consistent yearly harvest- But I digress) She finds a vintage Airstream trailer and decides to start rehabbing it. Eventually Bailey, her half-sister, Jonas and Anders help and it creates a bond between the four. Eventually you grow to learn that Anders and his family are keeping a secret. Wren finds out about this secret after realizing that she's fallen for Anders. But can she live with his secret?

I enjoyed all of the side characters in this book Bailey was likable although her husband Casey made no sense. I get that for the plot Bailey and Jonas couldn't hook up- but I didn't get the chemistry between Bailey and Casey.
For me, there were some continuity issues. You can tell by the way the American's were written that the author is not from USA. I get Wren using terms/slang for the UK but there were times that Anders would say something, or Jonas would, and I thought to myself, no one in America would say it like that.

Furthermore, this book took me FOREVER to get through. I read 8 other books in between starting and finishing this one. It is SLOW MOVING. But here's the real thing, the first bit of the story was fine. The last 100 pages were better. Everything in between was a miss for me. Too much repetition, too much unneeded content? Did we ever find out Why Jonas was acting up in the beginning? Maybe I don't know because I skimmed from like ch20 through when Anders and Wren went to Indy.

I understand that this is a very character motivated book, however I feel like a lot of the realizations that Wren needed to get through could have come so much quicker.

Overall, I think this book is good for some people. It wasn't for me. If you like JoJo Moyes or some of CoHo's stuff you might like this.... It just fell flat for me.

What a heartbreakingly beautiful read. It took me a while to get into this one, not because I didn't like it, but because I knew I would cry and I wasn't ready to commit just yet. Wren escapes to vacation at her father house after a breakup with her fiancee. Anders is home to check on his brother when the two meet. He lost his wife 4 years ago and has yet to move on. Neither is emotionally available, nor looking for a relationship, so they become friends. 5 stars to this amazing novel. I adored Jonas and Bailey. They are such a fun brother and sister to these two. Grab a tissue when you read this, it is so worth any tears shed.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this ARC in exchange for my review,

Wren travels across the world to spend time with her dad, stepmom, and stepsister for a summer after a terrible breakup. She runs into Anders, a man whose family owns a neighboring farm. He seems kind of grumpy, but Wren can’t help but feel pulled towards him. Their friendship grows over the summer and Wren realizes she’s falling in love with Anders. Anders appears to be feeling the same way but has made it clear he can only be friends with Wren due to the loss of his wife a few years prior.

Despite their tragic backgrounds when it comes to love, Wren and Anders’ connection proves that true love prevails. I really enjoyed this book and it pulled on my heartstrings a bit!

Thank you to Paige Toon, Penguin Group Putnam, and NetGalley for the copy in exchange for my honest review.

WOW!!!! I feel like a emotional wreck after finishing Only Love Can Hurt Like This. An emotionally tough, and simultaneously heartwarming read.

In ways, this novel took me a bit to get into. I felt like there was a lot of explaining and not a lot of showing in the beginning of Wren’s story, which felt info-dumpy and put me off for the first 5 chapters (emphasis on the first 5).

However, at no point did I see where this story was truly headed, and that is definitely why it hit me as hard as it did. The character development of each character unfolding as Wren’s relationship with them grew was incredible to read.

Jonas transforming from the quiet, angry boy to the most outspoken and passionate about fighting for her relationship really stood out to me. Even better, Wren’s development was realistic. There was no aha! moment where she solved all of her issues regarding her relationship with Scott. Toon revisited their relationship throughout the novel, picking out different aspects of it that contributed to its ultimate downfall. Because isn’t that what the aftermath of a breakup realistically looks like? You revisit and revisit until you get to a place of peace, and that is exactly what I felt Toon did with Wren.

Finally, this review would not be complete without acknowledging the beautiful relationship that developed between Anders and Wren. That plot twist absolutely shocked me out of my seat in the BEST way. It added depth to both of their personalities, to their relationship, and to the overall tone of the book.

Toon did an incredible and tasteful job of tackling that plot twist in a way that conveyed Anders’s grief without dragging the story’s overall mood down. Only Love Can Hurt Like This walked the ideal line between tragedy and romance, striking a balance that left me happy and lighthearted at its completion, but still moved by its story.

Thank you to Paige Toon and Putnam Books for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review!!

I never read a book from the author before and I did enjoy this one a lot. There was the perfect amount of angst but with characters that reacted maturely and rationally. I liked Wren a lot and I'm glad the book was mostly told from her POV. Although I was invested in the relationship with Anders, I actually really got into her issues with her family too. The twist wasn't my fave, but it did surprise me. I liked Anders more as the book went on, but I was more of a Jonas fan and would've loved a story about him. Will definitely read more from Toon.

Oh. My. I didn’t see that one coming!

This book is devastatingly wonderful. If you’re looking for a book that will break your heart and put it back together in the most captivating way look no further. The plot isn’t what’s going to get you- it’s the complex emotions of the characters, family dynamics and a twist I honestly didn’t see coming that will reel you in and keep you hooked. A mixture of deep emotional moments, good banter, hilarious side characters and farm/small town fun you really feel immersed in the story and urging the characters to move forward. A book of second chances (with love and family), finding your worth and healing broken hearts.

This is my first Paige Toon book but it won’t be my last!

When Wren discovers that her fiancé has feelings for someone else, they amicably decide to go their separate ways. To get some distance, Wren flies to Indiana to see her dad, a man she's not been close to since she moved to England with her mum when their relationship ended. While trying to mend her broken heart she meets Anders, the quiet, serious son of the couple on the neighbouring farm. He's kind, somewhat reserved, and seems sad. The more they get to know each other, Anders' secret slowly reveals itself, and the source of his pain isn't what Wren expected.

I really like Wren. She comes across as open and willing to see the bright side of life. While not everything is going her way she doesn't wallow or whine. She finds a path to happiness that is uniquely her own. I also liked reading about her growing relationship with her half-sister, Bailey. The author did a nice job of showing how Anders and Jonas had their own family dynamics to navigate.

If you like Jojo Moyes' books, you'll like this one.

3 stars.

"Only Love Can Hurt Like This" by Paige Toon is a very slowly-paced, super slow-burning romance without a lot of romance? Does that make any sense? This book is a bit overdone in some places and a bit underdeveloped in others. I really enjoyed the characters in this story, I just wanted more of a spark between main protagonists Wren and Anders. All of the secondary characters (Bailey, Wren's half-sister, and Jonas, Anders' brother) are really well done. In fact, I might read another book about these characters, if Paige Toon writes one! Still, there are parts of their characters that appear to be left on the cutting room floor. Unfortunately, at one point, I asked my husband, "How long should I stick with a book that feels like it's going nowhere?" I obviously stuck with it to get to the meat and potatoes of the story, but the big reveal comes in at 73% into the book! Yeesh! By that time, I was already a little annoyed that it was taking so long to get anywhere. I *liked* the reveal, it just comes so late in the story that I think it hurt my enjoyment of it/shock about it. My heart was not wrenched, my earth was not shattered. I think this is a fine book, and I will read others written by Paige Toon because they come so highly recommended, but this one was pretty basic.

Thank you to NetGalley, Paige Toon, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, and G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing me with an ARC copy of this book! All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for my review.

his is my first book by Toon and I can definitely see why she is dubbed the British CoHo!

Heartbreaking and emotional, this book will definitely make you think… and change your mind… then cry because it is just an impossibly sad situation! 🥺

While this was very women’s fiction heavy in the beginning, I highly recommend it to anyone who loves an emotional romance. OH! It’s set in rural Indiana, which is basically rural Illinois… so it felt close to home for me 🌽

Only Love Can Hurt Like This will have you experiencing every emotion. Paige Toon weaves a wonderful story filled with twists and turns. I recommend keeping a tissue box close. I highly recommend 5is book.

I’ve been overdue for a book that absolutely wrecked me and this definitely did it for me 😂 slow to start but so much sobbing before the end of it

Wren’s fiancé left her and she decides to leave her home in England for a vacation to the states to see her dad while she heals her heart. She’s had a strained relationship with her dad, his wife and her half sister since childhood. She ends up meeting the neighbors at the farm next door, Anders and his brother Jonas. Her and Anders have an undeniable connection but they’re both healing and decide to just be friends.

I can’t say more without giving away the whole plot, but this is a sloooowwww burn, small town, it’s super emotional, lots of secrets and plot twists I didn’t expect. Check TWs but be aware of mental illness talks, specially depression and su!cide.

Other than the main love story plot, I loved Wren and her sisters relationship, and the mending relationship with her dad and stepmom and the small town setting with the farms carrying the story along. There is a happy ending too so you’re healed up after the turmoil 🥹

This is the first Paige Toon book I have read, and I was definitely impressed. I'm gonna start with the things I did like. Wren is devastated when her finace reveals that he is in love with someone else. I absolutely adored how this portion of the story played out. It was honest and mature, and while I feel like this kind of behavior does exist in real life, it gets drowned out in novels for more dramatic options.

To deal with this heartbreak, Wren heads to her father's house in Indiana. This was great because I am from Indiana and very familiar with the locations in the story. Not all readers will be, of course, but that was definitely a plus for me! This is where Wren meets Anders... which is where things fell just a little flat for me.

While this storyline is honestly great, and Wren is a likeable enough character (as are most the supporting ones), Anders is boring for so much of the story. Other than being attractive, he's so closed off for so much of the story it felt like it dragged on forever. He definitely came into himself by the end, but I just felt it took so long for the storyline to move forward. Once it did, I really enjoyed it. I don't know if everyone will be taken aback by the secret at the end, but I sure was, and it was heartbreaking. Watching Wren and Anders find their happy ending really ended up being a great story.

Only Love Can Hurt Like this was the slowest of slow burns. Even though it was a slower paced plot, I still felt compelled to continue reading. The main love story between Wren and Anders was sweet but definitely fraught with secrets and emotion. I thought the secondary characters were well fleshed out too especially Jonas. I think the book deals well with complicated feelings of love, grief and heartbreak, but it could definitely be triggering. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley.

Guys. This book got me. Have you ever just loved every single character in a book? 4 main characters essentially and I just adored each of their story lines. This is based on a girl Wren from the UK, staying the summer in Indiana. I am hit or miss with books outside of the US ONLY because the dialect is so different sometimes it really confuses me, but I seriously loved it. While Wren visits her dad, stepmom and half sister in Indiana, her storyline hit so close for me. While she grew up with a hard relationship with her family, feeling like she was replaced, she learns to heal from her childhood issues and from a recent breakup, and finding herself along the way. This storyline had me laughing so often, and crying when she hit too close for me. My first by this author and hopefully not my last. Please check out this book, you won’t regret it.

Everything I enjoy about a CoHo book without all the things I dislike about a CoHo book. This was wonderfully heartbreaking. Lovable but flawed characters, complicated family dynamics, romance, and of course a secret or two to keep things interesting. I was drawn in from the start, but once I hit the halfway mark I couldn’t put it down. Toon didn’t lie… love does hurt, man did this one hurt.

Thank you Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for this ARC.

Paige Toon offers an emotional contemporary novel that searches for happiness while dealing with loss and change.

I liked how Wren came to terms with the narrative she's told herself over the years since her parents' divorce and setting down new roots that will help her to grow as a person and in her career. Her character arc felt quite natural to me. Anders and Jonah are quiet stern types but also adore their family's farm. Both are managing their own issues, though Anders' is quite over the top. There are a lot of characters who get page time, which isn't necessarily a bad thing because I really did enjoy Wren's family, but I wish there'd been more focus on Wren and Anders.

I did find the novel to be overwritten at times and just wanted the plot to move along. There was a sort of repetitive nature in Wren's first person POV that could've been tightened up.

I'd recommend Only Love Can Hurt Like This to those who enjoy an emotionally driven contemporary love story about fighting for those you love (that does have an HEA) but also has a wide focus on family.