Member Reviews

Thanks for the free/gifted eARC from Putnam Books and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

As a fellow anxious/little-stitious person like the FMC, I was hooked to the premise from the jump. 

In my mind, this story could have been done in two ways:
1. clean and tidy with a few mishaps along the way for hilarity like your favorite rom com movie.
2. complicated, messy and sure, a little drawn out, reflecting the reality of the situation.  

This book is the latter- and for that, I appreciated it very much!  The progression of the adventure was realistic.  The emotional toll on the cast and relationships was real-life.  

Although if I'm praising for the reality I will say: to travel on a whim like that and extend your stays? In this economy!?  But I digress.

While this book is categorized as Women's Fiction- I'd recommend this story to anyone that enjoys a romance but is tired of everything working out.. all the time... because that's not real life.

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This book was a sweet love story. I can see it making a great rom com movie. It’s romance but I loved the travel through Italy and the food and place references. Shea has found the perfect person to marry but when he proposes with an heirloom ring it breaks all her rules and superstitions for a happy marriage. She vows to find out the history of the ring before she can agree to marry him. If the ring had a happy marriage attached to it then there may be hope for hers. This takes her on a journey to NYC, Italy and Boston and to a lot of self discovery on the way. It was a fun read and if you like romance this may be a perfect fit.

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I only read the first few chapters and decided to DNF because it wasn’t for me. The writing flows and the author’s voice is enjoyable to read, but I wasnt into the main chatacter and her energy. However, Im sure Shea Anderson’s journey would be enjoyed by others.

I appreciate Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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A little woo for me and wordy but a lovely story! Likeable characters and interesting plot concepts!

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Shea Anderson's got it all – a boyfriend named John, a proposal, and a stunning heirloom ring that sets her on a quest for the ages. Nonna's wise words echo in her mind: avoid owls, skip the hat-on-bed move, and for heaven's sake, never say yes to an heirloom ring without checking its history.

Now, let's be real. Shea's off on a globe-trotting mission to trace the ring's past wearers, with her trusty big sister and an adventurous journalist by her side. Sounds like a rom-com dream, right? Well, buckle up, because this story takes you from Los Angeles to New York and even stretches its wings to Italy and Portugal!

The Heirloom is a diamond-sharp read that offers a sophisticated, cinematic experience. It's filled with lively observations that keep you hooked, making it a must-read for anyone who's ever tried to craft their own good luck.

Now, let's chat about my thoughts. Honestly, I had a bit of a struggle with this one. The initial premise of digging into the history of a vintage engagement ring had me intrigued, but somewhere along the way, it felt like the story took a detour. I found myself feeling for the fiancé, John, while Shea jetted off on her European escapade, accompanied by a journalist. Twist alert!

Shea's journey left me a tad unsatisfied, and I must admit, she didn't exactly win me over as a character. The four absolutes in her life, especially the one about heirloom jewelry, felt a bit too specific from the get-go. It made her a tough nut to crack, and the explanation at the end didn't quite salvage it for me.

While the book had a promising concept, it fell a bit flat in execution. But hey, we all have different tastes, right? Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

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The journey learning about the heirloom was intriguing and interesting. This book definitely had some thought provoking parts and made me curious to learn more. Overall I enjoyed this book and the journey that it brought you on.

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Shea - our MC - seems a bit torn on romance and commitment. She wants it, but she's got some widely contrasting examples from her childhood and it's messed her up. She loves her fiance, but he's just committed a huge sin - proposing to her with an heirloom ring. It's one of her grandmother's big superstitions that Shae's clung to. She goes on a wild goose chase, all of this you know from the book's description, to try and give herself a sense of security about taking that leap of faith that is marriage. I would say that this isn't the most romantic of rom coms. We only get the MC and her 'hero' for little bits and pieces. There's another guy (an Adam Driver knock off) who invites himself along for the journey. He's got something to learn about love, too, due to his damaged past. So for a while, the reader is wondering if he is now the love interest. No spoilers, but overall the ending is an HEA and there isn't tooooo much emotional carnage based on this very impulsive (and surely expensive!) trip. Another fun vacation/escape read, but I didn't find the MMCs particularly swoony and got a little frustrated with Shea.
Thanks much for the ARC!

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I thought the story was a good concept, but I was a bit confused at times. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Shea has four deal breakers for her relationships including one superstition inherited from her Nonna- NEVER wear another woman’s engagement ring. So after her boyfriend gets down on one knee with a vintage ring Shes is desperate to find if the ring contains good karma from its previous owner before a reprint the ring. What transpires is an international trip to track down the rings previous owner…

This was such a unique concept and I jumped at the chance to read this story. As someone who just traveled to Italy myself I loved all the Rome and Florence details as well as the connection to Pittsburgh. While there were many times I found myself asking “why doesn’t she just get a new ring?” as I saw the toll her journey took on her fiancé, by the end I knew exactly why this journey was much needed for Shea. I loved her growth throughout this story and the relationship she has with her sister Annie.

I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who loves storylines with a twist or self growth.
thank you NetGalley for this advanced ebook!!

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This book started off so odd and I was thoroughly confused. I didn't like the pace nor context of the story.

What intrigued me was the synopsis because I am Italian and I was very close to my Nonna and we do have many superstitions.

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I enjoyed this one! I loved the travel aspect, the generational family aspect, and the relationships (romantic and not) that grew throughout the story. Super solid debut! I'll be on the lookout for more from Jessie Rosen. Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!

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This is a whimsical read that explores generational love in family, and beautiful travels through exciting places. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to what is next from this author!

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What an absolute delight of a read. I was sucked into this story, more so an adventure against the backdrop of beautiful world travels, than it was a romance. Where the story did lose me at times, though, was the focus on the superstition. And even though I understand why it had to end the way it did, Graham was quite likable, and was sad not to see his story resolved.

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"No quotes/ARC"

One Line Review: When superstitious Shay receives an heirloom ring during her proposal, she sets her mind to making sure that she isn't inheriting any bad luck from its previous owners.

Synopsis: Shay holds the advice her Nonna has given her near and dear to her heart, even if they are based deeply in superstition. She grew up knowing not to accept a proposal if the ring has been worn by someone else, however the life of her life does exactly that. Panic sets in, and Shea resolves herself to discovering who its previous owners were, and what kind of love they had in their lives. Was it extraordinary? Was it fleeting? She has to know before she fully commits and walks down the aisle. Curiosity coupled with fear leads her on a worldwide adventure filled with hope, adventure and self-discovery.

My Thoughts: 4.5 stars, I absolutely adored this novel and couldn't put it down. As a daughter and granddaughter of a family full of superstitions, I related heavily to Shay's desire to surround herself with positive energy and good luck. I will continue to recommend this book!!!

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It was engaging at times, but at others, I wasn't entertained. I thought the story was a good concept. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

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3.8 - an enjoyable read and storyline! i could see this as some mini series. the long path to the rings first owner was interesting but i think the ending could have been wrapped sooner.

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The Heirloom by Jessie Rosen is a heartwarming and charming story that explores the power of family, tradition, and superstition. Shea Anderson's Italian grandmother, Nonna, had a long list of rules for a happy and healthy life. However, when it comes to love and marriage, Shea's Nonna has one specific rule that she must never break - never accept a marriage proposal that comes with an heirloom ring. This leads Shea to search out the owner of the ring her fiance uses to propose to her.
The story is filled with moments of humor, heartbreak, and self-discovery, which will resonate with readers of all ages. Shea's journey to find her own path and break away from her Nonna's strict rules is a universal theme that many can relate to. The family dynamics portrayed in the novel are also beautifully depicted, showing the complexities and unconditional love that exist within a family.
Overall, The Heirloom is a heartwarming and delightful read that will appeal to readers of all genres. Rosen's writing is engaging, the characters are well-developed, and the plot is both entertaining and thought-provoking. This is a perfect novel for anyone looking for a feel-good story that will leave you with a smile on your face. I highly recommend The Heirloom to anyone looking for a charming and captivating read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an e-arc in exchange for an unbiased review.

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Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of “The Heirloom” in exchange for a review.

The best way I can describe this book is ‘up and down’. It went from being engaging in the beginning, to a total drag near the middle, before picking up towards the end. It was a struggle for me to finish, and I ended up not agreeing with the way it ended. I did enjoy the character growth of the leading lady, Shea, but I frequently found her annoying and tedious.

That said, I can be picky with my romance selections. I appreciated that it leaned more towards women’s fiction, and wasn’t mushy or spicey.

I’d give it a 2.75 ⭐️, rounded up to 3 for GoodReads.

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2.5 stars

This book has a lot going for it, jet setting from LA to Italy, Lisbon, NYC, and Boston to solve a family mystery, romance, forgiveness, grief. But maybe it tries to do too much because I found myself skimming much of last half of the book.

I couldn’t get on board from the get go when the main character has 4 absolutes in her life- one of which is to never be proposed to with heirloom jewelry. It was just too much and so specific. The author eventually explains it at the end. But to start the whole premise of the book like that within 3 pages, wasn’t believable and honestly made her unlikeable from the get go.

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This was a pretty fun read, if you like Before I Do by Sophie Cousen, you'll like this one too! I loved the philosophy and therapy-ish stuff at the end!

TWs - sudden death of parent (past, but grief in present), absent/abusive parent

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

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