The Heirloom was an interesting read that truly made me think about the backstory of vintage or heirloom jewelry. The book follows Shea, who is recently engaged, and her fiance proposed with an heirloom ring. Something she did not want as she was raised thinking it was bad luck. What ensued was her quest for the original owner of the ring to learn if the ring was associated with anything negative in the marriage. I really liked how her quest took her all over the place, including Italy, where she unearthed interesting facts and stories associated with her ring.

Most importantly, the book takes an object and helps Shea realize what she wants in life and what matters to her when it comes to love, friendship, and family.

It's a good read that kept me entertained. I did find Shea a bit annoying at times, especially when she was putting her ring's backstory before her relationship, otherwise it was a good book.

Thank you Putnam Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Heirloom offers a unique and engaging premise centered around superstition, love, and self-discovery. Shea, who has long adhered to a superstition about never accepting a ring previously worn by someone else, is thrown into a dilemma when her boyfriend, John, proposes with an heirloom ring. While the plot is intriguing, Shea’s obsession with the ring’s history and her decisions throughout the journey can feel selfish and at times frustrating. Her quest to understand the ring’s past leads to an unexpected path of self-discovery, but her fixation on the superstition creates tension in her relationship with John, who grows increasingly impatient. While I appreciated the exploration of personal beliefs and insecurities, I found myself wanting a more balanced perspective, especially for John’s character. Overall, it is an enjoyable read, though it may not resonate with everyone.

2.5, rounded up. I love the sense of place Jessie Rosen establishes, but this didn't totally work for me. While I appreciate the exploration of grief and the internal reflection Rosen writes for her characters, I couldn't help but be annoyed at Shea's selfishness and her inability to see past her Nonna's superstitions (although John is also to blame for completely ignoring her wishes about not having an heirloom engagement ring and proposing with one anyway).

Interesting story about a woman on a mission to figure out the history behind a ring given to her. Weird that the guy proposing would use an heirloom ring and not know the story behind it when he seemingly should’ve known that it would’ve sent his potential fiancée into a tailspin trying to find the original owners to hear their story and have good karma

I really loved the premise of this story. It was beautifully written and well thought out. I look forward to reading more from this author.

A story of a proposal with an heirloom ring. And all that goes with it. A simple and sweet story. Beautiful backdrop of Italy

An interesting story that revolves around a proposal with an heirloom ring and the complexities of inheritance. The writing is engaging and atmospheric with vivid descriptions of the places Shea visited. I wish there had been more character development but overall it was an enjoyable read.
Many thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thanks to Penguin and Netgalley for this advanced copy!

The Heirloom was a fun romp about a woman who gets engaged with an heirloom ring, starting a muti-country quest to determine the history of the ring and weather or not its curse. Shea, the main character, is fun and interesting, but I honestly really appreciated her fiance for letting this entire insane trip go on and then finally bringing it around to sense. The book seemed to understand how bizarre the entire trip was and let things go only so far, keeping this book from being a farce. I honestly didn't know who she would end up with at the end and I appreciate the author tying up loose ends, but not too quickly.

Overall, a nice read.

A Promising Premise That Doesn’t Quite Deliver

The Heirloom by Jessie Rosen starts with an intriguing premise—an antique heirloom with secrets that could change everything—and promises a story filled with family drama, hidden histories, and a touch of romance. The setup is rich with potential, and Rosen’s writing is engaging, particularly in her vivid descriptions of settings that transport you into the world of the story.

However, while the book has its moments of charm and mystery, it doesn’t quite maintain the momentum needed to keep you fully invested. The pacing can feel uneven at times, with certain plot points dragging while others seem rushed. The characters, though initially compelling, sometimes fall into predictable patterns, making it harder to connect with their journeys on a deeper level.

That said, there are bright spots—particularly in the way Rosen captures the emotional complexities of family relationships and the weight of past decisions. The heirloom itself serves as a fascinating symbol, and the historical elements woven into the narrative add a layer of intrigue that keeps you turning the pages.

Overall, The Heirloom is a decent read with flashes of brilliance but doesn’t quite live up to its full potential. It’s worth picking up if you enjoy stories about family secrets and the ways the past can ripple into the present, but it may leave some readers wanting a bit more depth and development. A solid three stars for a book that, while not perfect, offers enough to enjoy, especially if you’re a fan of multi-generational tales with a hint of mystery.

Shea Anderson grew up with her Nonna’s endless rules (superstitions) about life - the most important of which was, never accept a proposal with an heirloom ring. When Shea’s otherwise perfect boyfriend John does just that, she sets off an a whirlwind exploration to discover the ring’s history to prove to herself that it contains happily ever after and not bad karma forever. With the help of her older sister and a nosy journalist with his sights set on a big story, Shea will travel from LA and New York, to Italy and Portugal, and back to Boston to find the ring’s previous owners.

This novel is a story of romance, travel, family, fate, and making your own. Shea has lost both her mother and her beloved Nonna, who worked in a bridal gown shop and had plenty of opinions about marriages and proposals. Because of this, Shea clings even more to her family’s Italian traditions, which included never accepting an heirloom ring. Which, I have to say, is John is so perfect why did he buy her the one thing she was so clear on not wanting? Like, just choose a different ring buddy?

As Shea sets off with her sister and a journalist across multiple countries to find the ring’s previous owners, it certainly feels like a wild goose chase, but I was here for the adventure. This book seems to have been billed as a romance but for me, I enjoyed it more in the context of a woman who has lost some of the people closest to her, who is still figuring out who she is and what she wants while she makes life-altering decisions about her career and love. It’s a little bit of a quarter life crisis which I think most of us can relate to. Also, gorgeous cover.

Thank you to @netgalley and @putnambooks for a digital copy in exchange for a review!

4⭐️

Though the premise of this story started off really great - the proposal! the writing style is beautiful and the pages just flowed by, however the superstitious aspect was just so hard to believe. I really struggled with the journey of self discovery that the FMC was on, and although at times there were really powerful moments I just found it hard to believe.

I have to admit that at first, I was not connecting with the main character in this book. I thought she was whiney, and a bit odd to say the least. It seemed utterly ridiculous that she was on a wild goose chase because of a family superstition. However, by the end of the novel I had changed my tune. This book was a cute rom-com that I could see being a great movie!

I actually liked this more than I thought I would! It has good depth and bones. I could visualize the details and settings. Jessie Rosen did a stellar job with this one. I will definitely recommend this to friends!

This was just OK for me. I loved the premise of the book, but felt the story was a little flat. Lots of potential. Would read something by this author again.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc of this book. all opinions are my own.

This was fantastic. I really enjoyed it! I'd recommend it.

The Heirloom by Jessie Rosen is a bit of an unusual novel. It’s a romance, but I think it falls more under women’s fiction. The main author is proposed to but falls into a tail spin when her boyfriend uses an heirloom ring. She goes on a quest to find the original owner of the ring. I think this book is worth the read and took an interesting journey overall. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

You’ve got an engagement, an heirloom ring and a superstition woman who feels like she has to know the origin story of the ring. It consumes her life, causes lots of drama and ultimately leads her finding her truth. While I liked this story I did not like the main character and her crazy, dramatic need to find something wrong with the ring she got.

This. got a little bit obsessive, and to an extent unbelievable after roughly the 35-40% mark. The premise was there, but was hoping for something...different than this. Not so great when you're not rooting for the main character!

A book with great rom-com bones that delivers a touch of Practical Magic wearing 27 Dresses on a Roman Holiday. As the practically-impractical lead Shea takes a trip through Europe to solve the superstitious mystery of her heirloom engagement ring, you also will also take a trip, specifically to the kitchen, to put together a nosh plate to enjoy while reading all about her mouth-watering experiences. (not kidding, I did this.) The story is fun and fast-paced, somehow both nostalgic and new, and you will definitely be casting the film version in your head as you meet each character. Also, let’s hear it for a refreshing love story that isn't just about romance, but also the complicated love of family, friends, and yourself!

I had so much fun reading this book! The Heirloom follows Shea on her adventure to find her engagement ring's original owner(s) due to her superstitions regarding heirloom rings. She wants to ensure the ring does not bring bad luck to her marriage. This adventure takes her across the world, giving this novel an engaging and unique plot. My qualm with The Heirloom is that it is a bit too long. The story became repetitive and could have been about 50 pages shorter.
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(I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)