3.75 stars rounded up
Thank you to there publisher for the arc.
This one is for people who like things we never got over!
I loved wren our Female MC, and her back story was super relatable. I did think the twist was going to be about baileys storyline not anders,
Wish we would have got more of the cute stuff but maybe another book in this world?
Honestly super cute enjoyable read!

This is a story of father/daughter, sisters, emotional romance, new love, heartbreak & tragedy.

The story begins with Wren realizing her fiancé is in love with someone else. She leaves England to visit her dad on his farm in Indiana. Wren has always felt like a visitor in her dad & stepmoms house, but this visit starts to break down some walls.

She also meets Anders from the farm next door. Although their feelings grow, he tries to remain distant while he keeps a heartbreaking secret from Wren.

The last 20% of the book was pretty emotional in all the best ways. This was a good romance that I would recommend adding to your list.

Only Love is heavy on the Indiana references. I live in southern Indiana, so I enjoyed the mentions of familiar places— IU, Bloomington, Indy, Hoosier National Forest, Mother Bear’s Pizza. I haven’t read many books with so much detail to small town Indiana, it was fun to read & relate to.

Thank you Putnam Books & Netgalley for a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I saw this book recommended by a few others and was so happy to get my hands on a copy! My first book by this author, but definitely not my last!

Wren realizes that her fiancé is in love with someone else and thinks she will never recover from her heartbreak. Anders lost his wife four years ago and still struggles to let go. Wren goes to spend the summer with her dad hoping that will help heal her broken heart. Wren and Anders cross paths on his farm in Indiana and their feelings for each other are undeniable. Anders is harboring a secret and if he acts on the feelings he has for Wren it will have a serious impact on everyone involved.

This review is hard to write because I loved this book so so much and I don't know if my review will do it justice. I haven't read many (or any) books based on a farm and I loved that for a setting. The twist (Ander's big secret) is one I did not see coming. This is not your typical romance storyline and I loved that. I also enjoyed the family dynamics of both Wren and Anders.

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Putnam Group for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this advanced readers copy for an honest review!

Only Love Can Hurt Like This by Paige Toon is a contemporary romance novel that definitely has it's great moments. While the story is interesting and has some memorable moments, it falls short in a few areas, leading me to give it a 3-star rating.

One of the main strengths of the book is the character development. The author does a good job of creating characters that feel real and have their own unique personalities. Wren is a relatable protagonist who has her fair share of struggles and insecurities. Her love interest, Anders, is also well-developed and add depth to the story.

However, the pacing of the story is uneven, with some parts feeling rushed and others dragging on. The plot twists are predictable, and there are few surprises. The ending is also unsatisfying, leaving the reader with many unanswered questions.

Overall, Only Love Can Hurt Like This is a decent read for fans of the romance genre. While it has some flaws, it is still an enjoyable story with relatable characters.

Thank you to netgalley for the chance to read this!
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was deep, emotional, and raw. The thing 'driving' the two main characters apart is so heartbreaking and the 'twist' caught me off guard in the best way. I loved some of the side story lines about family, acceptance after divorce, the relationship between siblings, and that small-town-farm story. Wren is a really great lead, and Anders is so 'honorable' its almost cliche.
I did at times feel as if the main character was a bit wishy washy and constantly flipped back and forth between her emotions. I wanted her to stay on track and consistent just for a single chapter. That being said, the flip flop actually made me really invested in the characters end game, so in a way it worked out as much as it bugged me.
Final note: I loved the author's descriptive prose: her understanding of farming, architecture, and style was really intriguing and made the story seem very rich.

This one was a slow burn for sure, building the relationship between Wren and Anders bit by bit, but in that way it was more believable than many of these romance books with intense love at first sight. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and what made them who they are, and I do think the story was a bit unique and not like every other romance book out there. I was not expecting the twist at all!

I do think the ending was a bit rushed though. The rest of the book developed slowly and over many pages and the book was wrapped up quickly over just the epilogue, which I found a little disorienting. It just didn’t match the pace of the rest of the novel.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I didn’t really know what to expect as I’ve never read a book by this author before.

We meet Wren, who is engaged, and her fiancé is in love with someone else. She saw the looks between her fiancé and his employee, and she knew. They break up, and she escapes to visit her father in America for some space and time away.

There, she becomes closer with her sister, and meets two brothers who become her friend and love interest.

I will say, I thought it was sad enough about a man’s wife being lost, but man that was super depressing. It took everything in me to finish the book because I truly felt that was emotionally manipulative.

Overall, it’s a decent story with a happy ending. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

**Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, G.P Putnam's Sons and author Paige Toon for an advanced copy of this book for my honest review**

This was my first read by Paige Toon, and this one left me a bit confused on how to review this book.

The story revolves around a woman named Wren, who after a bad breakup visits her father’s farm to get some distance and perspective. Not having a strong relationship with him and his family in the past, this time gives her an opportunity to heal old wounds and form new bonds. There she meets Anders, their neighbor’s son, who is also healing after losing his wife four years ago. As they meat, become friends and eventually feel more than that, they have to contend with Anders’s past and how his loss all those years ago still guides his present.

So the cons of this book first--there is a lot of internal dialogue from Wren, and for most of it, it felt more like narration than thinking. The problem with this is that, it made it very hard for me to get attached to her as a main character. I liked her, I just never got to the point where I was rooting for her. Also, there are quite a few different conflicts going on in this book that all kind of detract from each other. Almost every character, main or supporting, had their own conflicts, and that also detracted a bit from the Wren/Anders story. Wren herself has one too many conflicts in this book—family issues, relationship issues, self esteem issues, job issues—that take away from the main plot. Lastly, I do think things between Wren and Anders was a bit drawn out, repetitive, instead of building attraction, it felt like it was just a lot of the same until they eventually get together…I wish there were a bit more fireworks.

Reading all that, you might think I didn’t like this book, but I actually did. The Ander/Wren story was drawn out and repetitive, but those scenes were not bad—they were very entertaining and kept me wanting more. The characters in the story may all have their own issues but they were all likable especially Jonas, Anders’s older brother. I did feel like Wren was more a narrator than main character, but while I never grew fully attached to her, I liked the story that she told. I wish there were more sparks between Andy and Wren when they interacted, but the ending eventually gives the reader what they want. I didn’t expect the twist in this story (although I can see how others may have), and it definitely lent an emotional aspect to where Anders is coming from. It made me feel for him more.

So with all that, I’m left saying I think this book is worth a try. I don’t regret the time I gave it, while there were parts I wish gave me more, I wasn’t left frustrated while reading and can say I was entertaining for the 2 days I read it. A 3.5/5 star read for me that I will round up for this review, it might not be a super memorable read but it won’t be one you wish you didn’t waste your time on.

Only Love Can Hurt Like This is a story about people overcoming hardships, dealing with change, and learning how to grow from it. The title itself is fitting and honestly the reason I wanted to read it. I knew it would be a story beyond romance.

Wren has decided to visit her father in small town Indiana after a heartbreaking split from her fiancé in England. Even though she isn’t very close to her father and step-mother, she wants to escape. There, she meets Anders, who is grappling with his own heartbreak/grief and seems simply lost. These two are immediately drawn to each other, but know it can’t go any further.

It took me a little bit to get into the book, but once it captured my attention I really wanted to finish it and see how this story played out. Wren felt easy to love and I empathized with her emotions so much. This short vacation turns into an extended stay and gives her the chance to come to terms with many aspects of her life. She is such a good person and it only gets confirmed when the book’s main secret is brought to light. She was an inspiring character.

Anders felt mysterious and like he was always putting up walls. His family life weighs on him and as Wren gets to know him, she realizes there’s so much he keeps to himself. His grief from losing his wife often stops him from letting himself enjoy even the little things. Wren becomes exactly what he needed to escape the dark hole he wanted to stay in. Especially when truths get revealed, he really sees how much of a catalyst she is to being happy again.

Overall, this is a moving story about learning how to live life after unexpected events and changes. It shows certain people come into our lives for a reason, even if initially apprehensive. Wren and Anders always felt like they simply just fit together. I was rooting for them as a couple, but also as individuals to find their happiness even without the other. I truly enjoyed the plot of this story and the many emotions it brought out.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC of “Only Love Can Hurt Like This.” This was my first time reading a book by this author (Paige Toon) and I will definitely seek out her other books. This story is about Wren whose life changes after witnessing her fiancée falling in love with someone else and then flying to America to visit family. There she meets a complicated man with a difficult past that continues to control his present and future. These characters are so well developed-even the secondary characters-I wish I could visit them again in a sequel. This books deals with big issues in ways that don’t feel contrived: family, abandonment, love, romance, vows, careers, life. I really rooted for Wren, in all ways. Pick up a copy-you won’t be disappointed.

ARC REVIEW

Only Love Can Hurt like This
by Paige Toon

Publishing date: 4/25/2023
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Wrens world is flipped upside down when she learns her fiance is in love with someone else. In hopes of healing, she travels to the other side of the world, to spend the summer with her father and  American family that she has never been close with.

When she meets the farmers next door, she starts to feel alive. Wren  starts spending time with Anders  and she  can't ignore these emerging feelings she is having.

But she can't fall TOO deep....Anders lost his wife in a tragic accident a few years ago, and he isn't ready to move on. But what if he does?

Is he ready for the concequence of that? it will affect EVERYBODY.....even his wife, who is no longer present.

Overall, I liked the book! A solid 4 stars.

This was my first Paige Toone book. Judging from some of the reviews I've read, she seems to use some twists and turns, and this seems to be a bit different?
HOWEVER....there is one " circumstance" that becomes present in the book, which I supposed you could refer to as the " twist."" And honestly? I'm not 100% sure how I feel about it? I have confilicting views....I'm putting myself in the situation and feel as though I would have acted differently than Anders did.

In an attempt to keep the spoilers at bay, I won't elaborate anymore. But if you have read this, PLEASE MESSAGE ME! I want to discuss this to see if I'm alone here?

I do recommend the book! I love a good romance :) I LOVED the characters and even the growing family relationships that blossomed!

Thank you @netgalley and @putnambooks for this goodie! Really enjoyed it!

this book is described as a cross between the styles of colleen hoover and jojo moyes and i agree with that 100%, actually, for the following reasons: the romance starts off quite quickly, it is full of pining/angst/we belong together but can't be together sort of vibe, it is... deeply troubling and probably more than a little triggering for some, and lastly, i did not put it down. (:// what this says about me, i don't know haha).

i can for sure see this becoming booktok's latest obsession once it comes out (the title hello??) because the synopsis is pretty attention-catching and refreshing compared to other popular/trendy romance books out there. wren and anders are extremely lovable but complex characters each with their own history and they carry real burdens i feel like many of us can honestly relate to. overall no one acted completely irrationally! yay! technically, this is a city girl goes to small town and falls in love romance, but it didn't feel like that, which is quite rare. paige toon expertly repackaged the corny cliches we know and love into something brand new, but it still had that small-town tight-knit community vibe that we all like to escape into sometimes.

good book for sure! some of the plot twists i did find a little risky, but to someone who is used to (or dare i say enjoys) the hoover/moyes style this is a walk in the park lol. i did get slightly emotional at certain points because, well, i am a sucker for these types of romances, so this will probably go into my mental shelf of books i periodically return to whenever i want to feel something (along with from lukov with love, all your perfects, book lovers...)

thank you to netgalley and putnam for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very slow burn romance. Wren has just broken up with her fiance and decided to take a break and go stay with her dad in the states. She first see’s Anders and his brother Jonas when her and her sister go to the bar. And learns that his wife is gone. One her way home she gets lost and ends up on her dad’s neighbors farm. And that’s when she meets Anders. Despite the several times she see’s him it is obvious that he hasn’t gotten over losing his wife. But the more their friendship grows the harder it is her Wren to not have feelings for him. This was a good story. There were points where I did skip over because the description went on more then I felt necessary. Other then that I liked it.

I finished this book in one sitting. I’ve been reading some very heavy books lately and This one was very refreshing. I love a good love story with some dram thrown in. Going in to this book I had read articles comparing the writers writing style to Colleen Hoover.
Def gives off those vibes. I really enjoyed this and found myself rooting for wren and Anders to the end. The epilogue leaves the reader with warm and fussy feelings after closing the book.

3.5 stars (rounded to 4) out of 5.

This book was a bit slow and choppy for me. I did really like all the characters in the book especially Wren, Anders, and Jonas. There was great character development and growth. I felt like the ending was really drawn out and could have been shortened.

In the book, Wren and her fiancé Scott ended up breaking off their engagement. Wren decides she needs a break and flies to Indy to be with her father and his family for a few weeks to clear her head. She ends up meeting Anders and Jonas who happen to live next door to their farm. Wren and Anders start to have feelings for each other but Anders is harboring a big secret. Will it be a deal breaker?

This is my first book by Paige Toon and I will be reading some of her other books.

Thanks Net Galley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a heartbreaking read! I've seen comparisons made between Paige Toon and Colleen Hoover and I'm all for it. Paige takes you on such an emotional journey, this is the kind of book that will stay with you long after it's over. Definitely an unforgettable and impactful read!

Wren and her fiancé have just ended their engagement, and needing a change of scenery, she leaves the UK to visit her father and his wife in Indiana. While there, she meets two brothers, and realizes she may be able to find love again.

I loved this book with every fiber of my being. I loved seeing Wren transform from an insecure woman to a person who goes after what she wants. Anders was the perfect male counterpart, and my heart broke for them when they’re faced adversities. Paige Took knows how to write likeable characters that tug at my heartstrings.

4.5 ⭐️

An earth-shattering secret. A life-changing love story.

When Wren realizes her fiancé is in love with someone else, she thinks her heart will never recover.

On the other side of the world, Anders lost his wife four years ago and is still struggling to move on.

✨My first read by Toon did not disappoint. It made me fully understand the hype surrounding her books, and has me excited for more.

✨There was so much to love about this beautiful and emotional story. The way it warmed my heart yet also broke it. I did not see that twist coming. 😭 I loved Wren and Anders and their slow burn romance. The cast of side characters added so many complex relationships to the mix. I was invested in and rooting for all of them. The picturesque Midwest setting was describe to perfection.

What I loved;
✨Slow-Burn Romance
✨Friends to Lovers
✨Family Dynamics
✨Racing/Farming References

A heartbreaking story of love, loss, and healing you wont want to miss.

Mark your calendars. Only Love Can Hurt Like This publishes 4/25!

Thank you to Paige Toon for the gifted ARC. Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was intrigued because this book was recommended for fans of Colleen Hoover. It was very much a SLOOOOW burn and the spice was lacking but the drama was there and I could certainly see how fans of CoHo would like this as well.

I received an Advanced Reader copy from Netgalley for my honest review. This is my first novel by Paige Toon. It is a complex story about love, romantic and familial. The author wove the talents of each character into the story seamlessly. They are fun! They celebrate life and opportunities, while struggling with inner demons. So many topics are touched upon: marriage, divorce, family, depression, lost love, farming, careers, and siblings. Everything is presented in a natural progression. I will seek out other books by Paige. Enjoy!