Oh sister!! You did it again Paige Toon! I had the opportunity to receive an advance copy of this AMAZING book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review - and Ms. Toon hit it out of the park! I want to preface this review by acknowledging that EVERY book I've read of Paige Toon's was fabulous!!

Wren has her heartbroken by her jerk face fiancee and heads to the US to visit her dad. While they aren't especially close, and she doesn't feel as though she fits in - she needs a safe place to land and to lick her wounds. We meet her youner sister Bailey and the two have a fabulous girls night out - and we meet the local mysterious hottie that seems untouchable. We get to witness this seriously SLOW burn between Wren and Anders. Theres a deep dark secret, a lot of distrust, some mending of fences and character growth within MOST of the cast. I LOVED this book and soooo look forward to more Paige Toon books - shes now on my auto-purchase list.

This booooook! It provided the emotional damage I have been searching for these last several months.

Do you like to be hurt by your books? This one will do it for ya!

Toon was able to make my heart squeeze, make me laugh out loud and make me swoon all in just two chapters. I knew right from the get-go that this was going to be a special book. It sure did not disappoint! This one hurt so good 🥲

I absolutely loved our FMC, Wren, and the tense family dynamics she enters when visiting her estranged father and his second family in America. The backstory that we got made me hurt for her, an outsider in her own family. The crushing of her heart thanks to her ex-fiancé made my heart squeeze for her, validating that feeling of not being enough for someone to stay. All of the hurts she had been through were something that I connected with and are so relatable for many women.

Our MMC, Anders, popped off the page from the minute he graced us with his presence. The chemistry was *there* right away and I was so excited every time he was in a scene. We get to know this lovely man with a big heart who cares for his people so deeply. And the hurts he carries? They are HEAVY. There was one scene in particular that had me shedding some tears at 2am last night 😭

These characters, both main and side, were all characters that you root for and have empathy for. Even the “villains” of the story aren’t villains and they stirred up so many conflicting feelings in me in the best way. I love it when an author gets me to think and feel for characters that are supposed to be “bad” and show just how layered, complex and gray life is.

This story is one you do NOT want to miss. It comes out April 25th so add it to your TBR list now! I absolutely love this book, and Toon was right, only love can hurt like this 🥲🥲🥲

A big thank you to netgalley, Penguin Group Putnam and Paige Toon for the opportunity to read this book prior to the release day in exchange for my honest review. I had mixed opinions regarding this book. I adore the writers description and story telling ability, yet with this specific book I had a hard time connecting to the characters on a deeper level. I understood them and was rooting for them, but I didn't feel the emotional attachment you sometimes feel towards specific characters. Ultimately I really enjoyed the story line, but it felt a bit too long and dragged out for me. Paige Toon is still an auto buy author for me, though!

Wow this was an emotional well written novel my first by Paige Toon and I really enjoyed it. Wren is getting over the end of her engagement by staying with her father and his wife trying to find a place in the family she always felt he abandoned her for. While there she meets and grows close to Anders who is also going through a heart break of another kind. I really enjoyed the small town and farm settings of this book and like the scenes on the farm an explaining different areas of farm life. I really liked this novel and the writing style and will definitely look for other books by this author. I want to thank NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Only Love Can Hurt Like This, and this book hurts in such a good way. The family dynamic of the story was so realistic to me. I love a slow burn romance and this one was heart wrenchingly perfect. This is one of my favorite reads so far this year.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons for this ARC.

As Wren arrives at the farm, she feels a sense of familiarity and comfort. She spends her days tending to the animals, working in the fields, and enjoying the simple pleasures of life in the countryside. But even in the midst of such tranquility, her heart still aches for her lost love.

One afternoon, as Wren takes a walk through the fields, she comes across Anders, who is also out for a stroll. They strike up a conversation, and Wren finds herself drawn to his easy smile and gentle manner. They talk for hours, and Wren feels a spark of something she hasn't felt in a long time.

Over the next few days, Wren and Anders spend more time together, and their connection grows stronger. Wren can't help but feel like she's found a kindred spirit in Anders, someone who understands her pain and her struggle to move on.

A sweet but overall generic love story.

It hurts to love you.

There is an old saying and I am sure a song or two that sings Love Hurts and it does. Wren has been hurt by love. By her father and her Fiancé Scott who had recently broken his engagement when he met his soul mate. Living in England close to her mom, Wren is needing to regroup and decides to visit her father and his wife and their daughter in Indiana. You get the back story on how her parents met and how they divorced and went their separate ways. Wren never feeling a part of a family. Always the outsider. If you have experienced this, you will connect to Wren very easily. However, she makes a go to see her father and her 1/2 sister Bailey to mend her broken heart and possibly make a connection to her other family. A family that Wren is withdrawn from to cope from the pain of being separate. Wren is always in a coping mode. Bailey is the opposite of Wren.
She loves her sister and is excited for the time that they will spend together. She is now married but she has a free spirit and she helps Wren to free up her a spirit a bit.

With that she meets her step father's neighbor sons at a bar. The irony is the two sons Anders and Jonas. They are polar opposites as well. Their family is in the farming business with it's own Swedish heritage. It is the beginning of a friendship that opens up possibilities for the families.

So what did I like about this book is pretty much everything. Wren is telling her story, how she sees everything, how she missed some things, her relationships, and how she overcomes her insecurities. She seems pretty much put together but she is always on in protecting herself. With her dad and step mother she takes risks to find connection. The relationship between Anders and Wren comes to a head when the truth of what he is holding back. His family has their own turmoil that is weaved thru out this book. There is so much good threads but in the end there is always a fork. A road to follow. Do you take a chance on love and do you take the pain that comes with it.

A special thank you to Penguin and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Paige Toon & Penguin Group Putnam for an arc of Only Love Can Hurt Like This in exchange for an honest review. This review is wholly my own & may not be reproduced.

I’m a big fan of Paige Toon & I am super happy I get to write this review for her new novel set to hit shelves on April 25, 2023.

This story asks the question: Is love worth risking everything for?

Wren finds out her fiancé is in love with someone else and across the world, Anders lost his wife four years ago. Both of their hearts are shattered. Wren cross paths with Anders and soon they start to fall for each other, but Wren is keeping a secret that would have serious consequences for everyone involved if he acted on his feelings for Wren, but it would shatter Wren all over again to have to walk away. But could Anders’ secret be worse.

I’m not crying, you’re crying! Wow!!! What a touching love story that will reach every part of your mind, body and soul! This story elicits ALL of the feelings. It’s a slow burn, but not really. I mean, you know it is going to be because of the situations that Wren & Anders have both had to deal with, but the payoff is so worth the wait!

The family, friend, lover dynamics between all characters was perfection. I don’t know that I’ve really gotten behind characters AS MUCH as I did the ones in this novel.

This story is a true gem and will be one of my favorite reads of 2023. Yes, I know it’s just February, but I can 100% tell you know that this will be in my Top 10 of the year, if not higher.

PLEASE pick this book up and give it a read. I HIGHLY recommend!

5/5 Stars

I have been a big Paige Toon fan since I read “The Minute I Saw You.” I’m excited to have gotten to read her latest “Only Love Can Hurt Like This.”

This is an apt title for this story, I could definitely feel the pain of familial, friendship, and romantic love through out.

I love how wonderfully descriptive Paige is when it comes to place. She makes cities and towns come alive, they almost serve as secondary characters. Speaking of supporting characters, I was frankly more drawn to Bailey and Jonas (separately!) than Anders and Wren at times. I found myself getting a bit bored. I did really appreciate the epilogue, though I felt it had to work harder than most epilogues to wrap up the story.

Overall, this was not my favorite Paige Toon, I find myself wanting to go back to read her backlist rather than this latest title. However, I think many people will be happy with this and her prose is a strong as ever, this story was just not for me.

[ARC REVIEW]

Thank you NetGalley for this Arc!

This is the first Paige Toon book I’ve read. I have to admit, it did take a while for my to get into this book but emotional hold this had on me once I neared the end really threw me for a loop. It’s not the most gut wrenching story I’ve read but it definitely pulled on my heartstrings. I didn’t even expect to cry but when I did, oh man.

The development of the story was at a slower pace but I wouldn’t consider it much of a slow burn. Maybe it was just mild simmer until you get to the “twist” of the story. You are definitely wanting to root for Wren and Anders and the emotional payout at the end is worth it 👌

Thank you to NetGalley as I received this as an advanced reader copy (ARC). This book did not disappoint. I look forward to reading more from Paige Took.

This was one of those books where I saw the cover and title and just had to read it. It’s also my first book by Paige Toon but it won’t be my last! I’ve started of 2023 with a bunch of amazing reads, but this one is one of my favorites so far. I felt very connected to the characters, their backstories and I loved to watch their journey. I won’t go into too much detail, so as not to spoil anything but here’s what I loved:

- Small town, friends to lovers, intricate plot, interesting side plots
- I loved watching the bond develop between Bailey and Wren and the bond strengthen between Wren and her Dad
- Wren and Anders. You could literally feel the sparks from these two and I loved every single second.
- The struggle of the characters to find contentment in their careers. It was so relatable and I loved to watch them further develop as characters and to find joy doing what they loved.
- I literally didn’t want this book to end and I think it’s going to stick with me for a while!

If you like friends to lovers romance, give this one a read!

A massive thank you to NetGalley, Paige Toon, and Penguin Group Putnam for the opportunity to read this ARC!

At 9% of the way in, I found myself caring more about Scott (the man who broke up with Wren) and Nadine (his new love interest) than I do Wren and now-introduced Anders. I think it’s just too slow for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for the ARC.

This is a very poignant love story that has many twists and turns. It's also one that a reader can not put down nor stop thinking about. I will read this author again.

Wow what a great read! I normally don’t read a whole lot of romance books but this one was so good, heart wrenching and sweet. I didn’t really know what to expect coming into this one but I enjoyed the whole book. I read it almost in one sitting and really enjoyed the ending. There was a part I really wasn’t expecting and it took me back but wow it was put together so well!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This one gets all the stars!!!

Did I pick up this book on Netgalley because the title reminded me of a great song? Maybe. Seriously though…OMG y’all! I’m glad I did!!! This. Story. Exceeded. My. Expectations. The story broke my heart and put it back together several times. This is a must read book. It is not just a love story but about family drama, including a family secret that rocked me to the core, friendships and life on a farm.

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 struggling to move on. Wren hopes spending some time with her Dad on his farm in Indiana will help her to heal. Amid cornfields and fireflies, Wren and Anders meet and both their worlds are turned upside down.

Author Paige Toon wrote an outstanding story that had me furiously turning the pages. I enjoyed the farm setting. Made me feel like I was picking peaches from their orchards or harvesting corn. I fell in love with all the characters, especially Wren and Anders. I cried so much throughout this book. The emotional roller coaster was intense. I look forward to reading her backlist and future books by her. I’m definitely experiencing a book hangover.

I received an electronic advanced reader (eARC) copy from publisher Putnum and Netgalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview this book.

4.5 Stars!

Wren was recently dumped by her fiancé and has complicated relationships (specifically with her dad whom she goes to live with in the States to get away). Anders is the son and brother of a neighboring farm. He also has many complicated relationships (with his parents, with his brother, with his past).

Only Love Can Hurt Like This is the first Paige Toon novel I've ever read (and I will be reading more!). It was a delight! I was so taken with the characters and their complex stories. They all have a history that you *slowly* uncover. I loved the chemistry that the main characters had, but I also adored the secondary characters and the relationships they build. I was captivated from front to back.

I went into this novel knowing that there was going to be something that was heart wrenching. I didn't know what it would be or who it would come from, just that it was going to happen. When it finally did I was shocked, heartbroken, and a little mad. I still have mixed feelings about how it was handled by the characters.

I will be recommending this to everyone!
Thank you to Putnam and Netgalley for the eARC!

Wow. That’s the first thing I thought while reading this book and after being done with it. Just Wow. I don’t normally give books 5 stars, but I had to for this book. It’s a slow burn type of book but doesn’t read as a slow burn. The interactions between Anders and Wren are engaging and keep the plot moving. I couldn’t stop reading this book, but I also didn’t want it to end. What makes this book special is that there is so much love between all the characters. Characters in friendships, relationships, family, or friends. While of course I loved seeing the relationship blossom between Wren and Anders and felt all their angst and desire when they wanted each other but had to walk away, the relationship I loved seeing blossom the most was that between Wren and her dad. I don’t have a relationship with my dad, but it made me smile that these two were able to grow in their relationship. I also loved seeing the relationship between Wren and her half-sister Bailey grow; I’ve always wanted a sister! It was also enjoyable to read about Wren’s friendship with Anders’ brother, Jonas. Toon did a great job switching up the dynamic between the brothers, with Anders looking out for his brother first and then Jonas looking out for his brother. I really cannot say enough good things about this book. It all comes down to this: I loved it! Everyone needs to read this book.

I loved this book! The characters were very heartwarming, and the author has a beautiful writing style. Finished this book in just a few days and it warmed my heart.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 4 stars

This is one of those books where when you start reading, you don't want to put it down. I was immediately drawn in to this story and connected with these characters so quickly.

It's an achingly slow burn that brought me to tears on more than one occasion. While the love story was a bit predictable I was still completely invested and emotionally moved.

The only real critique I have is that the epilogue felt so different from the rest of the story. It just didn't flow as well and felt overly long.

This was my first read by the author and I would definitely consider reading more from her.

Thank you to NetGalley, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and the author for this complimentary digital copy in exchange for an honest review.