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.
(PUB DATE: AVAILABLE NOW)
(I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

Shea Anderson’s beloved Nonna had endless rules for a happy, avoid owls, never put a hat on a bed, and never, ever accept a marriage proposal that comes with an heirloom ring.When her boyfriend, John proposes with his family's heirloom ring she can't accept without learning the history of the ring. She travels to Italy and Portugal and finds the romances and tragedy's attached to the ring. The journey has her growing as a person and she can finally make a decision about her marriage to John.

There were so many parts of this I loved, but it got to a point where all i wanted to do was DNF. The main character was absolutely insufferable. I understand them having to show growth, but i didn't like her almost the whole time. The scenery was absolutely beautiful though and made me wish I was there!

I thoroughly enjoyed this. it starts out with Shea and John who are engaged. however, John broke her number 1 superstitious rule, and that was proposing with an heirloom ring he got from a pawn shop. this situation then leads Shea to multiple different states, countries and continents just to find out the history of the ring. once she thought she found the original story, another would pop up. this adventure tested her past, her partnership and loyalty to her fiance, their relationship as a whole, and tested her familial bonds that she thought she knew the truth, but she hadn’t. this was such a wild tale, and it kind of reminded me of the movie Letters to Juliet. It was so fascinating to follow along on the adventure to uncover the truth about this ring and the ending was all i could have hoped for.

The Heirloom by Jessie Rosen is a compelling tale of self-discovery and love intertwined with a dash of superstition. When Shea Anderson's boyfriend, John, proposes with an heirloom ring, she finds herself torn between her desire to say yes and her late Nonna’s warning about accepting such a ring. This sends her on a journey across continents—from Los Angeles to New York, Italy, and Portugal—to uncover the ring’s history and, in doing so, learn more about herself. As Shea unravels the stories of the ring's previous owners, she navigates themes of love, legacy, and identity, ultimately confronting her fears about "forever" and the idea of commitment. While the romance with John takes a back seat for much of the novel, the story’s strength lies in Shea’s personal growth and the vivid, cinematic settings that Rosen masterfully portrays. With its blend of mystery and introspection, The Heirloom is a thought-provoking read that will resonate with anyone intrigued by the hidden stories behind cherished objects.

The absolute selfishness of the FMC is so aggravating that it overshadows the plot of the story. I just could not with Shea and her first world pick me problems. She didn’t get what she wants so she doesn’t want it, then gets what she wants and doesn’t want it, then blames others for her behavior, and then does it all over again. The concept of the story is such a great idea, but this book was 100+ pages too long. I can see other readers loving this book though! It’s more Eat Pray Love than Under The Tuscan Sun.

This book has such potential! I loved the idea of finding it the origin of a vintage ring. But it was so deeply unromantic- she wouldn’t accept a proposal from the love of her life because he went against her wishes for a previously owned ring? I couldn’t believe how patient her potential fiance was about the whole situation.

She was so ungrateful. This could have been a 5 star book, but it needed some polishing.

Thank you Putnam Books for my ARC.

Not going to lie, this book made me MAD at first but the story drew me in and kept me intrigued. I love the whole traveling to find the story and discover yourself along the way books and this book left me with such happy feelings at the end!

Although I can appreciate the main character's rationale, her superstition over her engagement ring grew tiresome as it seemed obvious that she was using it as a way to question her relationship. She often seemed immature in her relationships with family and friends and the ending was not what I expected, with little explanation for the resolution.