I enjoyed the beginning, but I felt it was extremely boring throughout the middle. I ended up DNFing about 35% through.

Thank you for the arc.

I thought this one was really good. It took me almost the entire book for me to realize that Grant is from one of adam's previous books and his ex boyfriend, micah is literally the title character of that book. 99 boyfriends of micah summers. How it took me 99% of the book to realize that I don't know haha. This is what happens when you forget almost everything about a book after you read it. I'm tempted to go back and reread 99 boyfriends now though haha.
Anyways this book was good. I enjoyed the characters, Ben is great. I also loved this one side character that for the life of me I cannot remember the name of. But he was one of the guests and I would love a short story or two about him and his fiance. They were cute.
I want to say that bits and pieces of the story gave off minor beauty and the beast vibes to me. Grant is always referring to himself as a beast, there is a "curse" and a lot of rose mentions.
Overall an enjoyable story that I think many will enjoy, especially if you enjoyed 99 boyfriends and thought that Grant deserved better.

Content warning: homophobia, depression, panic/anxiety attack, death, grief, cancer

“Don’t ever wish straightness on yourself.”

What a beautiful story about finding yourself and learning to love those around you. This book is unapologetically queer and I absolutely love that. This book just cured my cursed, broken heart. The characters were people I feel like I know in my personal life and I relate to the anxieties that Grant goes through! Adam Sass made my queer heart happy!

I’ve read all of the Adam’s books (and this is me saying I will read whatever he writes next) and though I could go on about them, this deserves its own spotlight. From Surrender Your Sons to Cursed Boys, my heart can’t deny how much the ensemble of his characters mean to me.

Adam crafts his characters in a way that they echo the people in your own life. Honestly, I could see myself as both Grant and Ben. He also shapes them into individuals I wish existed. I’d stand by Grant and share my own doubts with him. I’d confide in Aunt Ro about my fear of losing everything because I’ve been there too. Adam infuses his characters with such deep emotions that mine overflowed onto the pages, making me feel truly understood.

I just checked the other comments on this book and I seem to be in the minority here. I liked this book, but I can't honestly say I loved it.

The romance was sweet and I liked the characters and setting and all around family feels. There are a lot of emotions in this book, both good and bad. I guess I just didn't really feel them the way other people did.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

This book captured my attention from the first page as I started reading it. I loved reading as Grant heals from the past in order to be able to move forward in his life. The relationship between Grant and Ben is a welcome touch to this story as we see them both grow with one another.

DNF at 30%. The characters feel so one-dimensional, I don’t get their chemistry, there’s very little sensory detail, and the characters go from reading like children (maybe I could have gotten on board with this whole curse thing if the character was, like, 11? but it’s a tough sell for me with someone his age) to reading like they’re 25 and jaded. I was genuinely uncertain how old they were supposed to be.

To be fair, if the blurb had made it clear that this was basically a VERY unsubtle retelling of Beauty and the Beast, I would likely have self-selected out of it. I wanted more substance and depth to the writing and characterizations, and I am aware that this book deals with mental health, of which ownvoices rep is always appreciated. For readers who enjoy fairytale retellings and relish a somewhat theatrical enemies to lovers trope (I know y’all are out there), this may be a better fit.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book. My feelings are my own.

What I loved best about Cursed Boys and Broken Hearts by Adam Sass is how the story is an authentic romance, real and beautiful, without any easy answers, full of complexity and mature emotions.
In the story, the characters are genuine and even though the narrative plays with the enemies to lovers trope, it does so in a thoughtful and provocative way, making readers think about how the pair came to be at odds in the first place, that the situation is complex and emotional. I also love how realistically Grant’s depression and trauma is dealt with as he works through the past and both young men work through and handle trust issues between them. It is a beautiful romantic story full of trust, growth, and love of self as much as the love between the pair.
If you enjoy love stories with original ideas and realistic emotions, this is the novel for you. Both Grant and Ben are delightful characters who will charm you and make you fall in love with them as much as they fall in love with each other. The highs and lows are emotional in this authentic romance that is also full of familial love.

CURSED BOYS AND BROKEN HEARTS is Adam Sass's latest romcom set in the same world as his previous. The story follows the tried and true romance formula with plenty of angst and a distinct queer lens. The detail and care in both the setting and characters demonstrate how close this story is to the author's heart, but it's got plenty of comedy to keep it light and charming.

Adam Sass is another one of those reliable, consistent book writers in the queer YA scene. His talent for managing to balance humor with seriousness, wit and trauma, are notable. Like his previous books, "Cursed Boys and Broken Hearts" manages to be both sweet and an absolute gut-punch at the same time.

"I'm cursed to never find someone who stays, and you're cursed to always leave."

Grant, who considers himself a beast after being cursed by his family's legacy (and a rose), is convinced that he's destined to always be left behind romantically. Ben, his ex-crush-turned-enemy, is similarly cursed - but to always be leaving others. As they work together to save Grant's family vineyard, they have to work through their damage and try to find a place of peace again.

"Cursed Boys and Broken Hearts" does such a masterful job of handling depression and childhood trauma, after Grant, the only queer person in his family, convinces himself that he's been cursed after asking his family's Wishing Rose to let him fall in love with a girl. It also shows how those struggles might impact those around us, intentionally or otherwise - as Grant does to Ben through his own insecurities. Anyone who deals with depression, the anxieties of being openly queer, and being a bit of a self-sabotaging mess, will find Grant's story relatable. In particular, the scene of Grant reconnecting with his therapist and returning to his antidepressant subscription, felt particularly poignant (Lexapro team!).

While the story of trying to save the family's vineyard is the backdrop to this lovely summer romance, it's the relationship between Grant and Ben that takes center stage - and it's delightful to watch them go from enemies to tentative friends to romance throughout the book.

This was a beautiful story about love and healing. Growing up knowing you’re queer but not knowing how your family will react is so hard. It takes a toll on your mental health. I think the story did a good job of portraying that.

Aunt Ro’s line of “We all regret wishes we made at 13.” was accurate. Grant’s wish was no different. He made his wish and then believed he was cursed for the next five years. It took a lot before he was able to believe in himself and love again. The fact that he was in love with his childhood best friend, Ben, who he thought betrayed him five years prior, did not help. Luckily everything was able to work out in the best way possible in the end.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.

Grant Rossi knows he is cursed after wishing upon his family's famous Wishing Rose. Every relationship he has had since that day has been doomed. After his latest breakup and depression spiral, Grant heads back to his family's vineyard to help his aunt prepare for the area's annual Rose Festival. Once he gets there, he sees how rundown and dilapidated the place has become. With the help of his family, social media, and his ex-best friend slash ex-crush slash gardener, they have mere weeks to turn this place around or risk losing it all.

The themes of living with a mental illness and healing past childhood trauma are prevalent and the best parts of this book. Grant, as the sole LGBTQ+ person in this family coupled with his depression, feels like he is on the outside looking in. His depression follows him throughout the book and isn't magically cured at the end by love but managed by medication, therapy and, okay, maybe a little bit of love. While I've never suffered from depression, I feel the representations are mostly accurate.

While the plot is driven forward by preparing for the Rose Festival, the real plot and growth comes from Grant and Ben, his childhood best friend and first love, unpacking their childhood trauma and past (and present) misunderstandings. Maybe wishing on a rose isn't actually going to determine how your life turns out but childhood belief can be debilitating. 

This book is the perfect second-chance romance to get you through the hottest parts of the summer.

#netgalley #cursedboysandbrokenhearts #penguinteen

While sweet, fun and endearing, this book also had me emotional so many times. Grant was someone that I found really relatable. Ben was never willing to let him sabotage himself and everything they worked for and I think everyone could use a Ben in their life.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group for the arc!

As a depressed queer person with a knack for self sabotage, negative self talk, and closing myself off in depression pits (although I call them sad bitch nests… it sounds better in my head) who was also raised in a very large, very Italian family.. this book was insanely relatable, in the best ways.

Grant Rossi is a flawed character. Don’t come for me, just trust the process. Yes Grant is a little moody, he makes some pretty impulsive decisions, and has a tendency to shut everybody out the second his feelings start feeling a little more than he wants. But that’s why I love him, because Grant is me. Especially with his whole “I started feeling better so I stopped taking my meds” thing. Honey the meds were working, that’s why you felt better. Despite all of his flaws, he’s beautiful. He’s beautiful, complex, and worthy of love. Just like you and me.

The romance was so full of angst, anger, and feelings that have been festering for years. Ben is such a guarded but sweet person who has also been through so many things. Throughout the book, as those feelings resurface, Ben and Grant really work to heal each other. Even if it wasn’t always intentional.

Ah, I almost forgot to gush about the side characters because there are so many of them and I loved them all. I love Aunt Ro who always seems to know exactly what Grant needs, even if he won’t admit it to himself. His siblings who he may have a kinda complicated relationship with but end up being his biggest cheerleaders. Every single character has their own distinct personality which I’m obsessed with.

If you’re a depressed queer person, who has maybe wished to some kind of supernatural source to just be straight, this might just be the book for you.

TW: Death of grandparents, anxiety, depression, depressive episodes, homophobia, body dysmorphia, divorce, illness

Grant Rossi is fresh out of college and fresh out of motivation. Since he graduated, he's been uninspired to keep up with his design projects and date anyone after his last breakup. So, his aunt suggests that he come to help refurbish his aunt and uncle's struggling B&B in time for the annual Rose festival. There's only one problem; Grant must work with Ben, his ex-best friend and former crush. But as the two work on the property together, they realize that even though both of them have changed a lot, they can still forge a friendship (and even a romance) throughout the summer.

I think the characters make the book. Grant's big, Italian family felt authentic, albeit troubled and (sometimes) distant. As the youngest of eight, it. makes sense that Grant would struggle to find his place in his family and be closer to his aunt and uncle. The family lore was interesting, especially the wishing rose that has been around for decades at this point. I want to go to this "magical" B&B for a week or two. And I've never even drunk wine.

The rest of the book was a miss for me, though. Grant is annoying at best and petty and mean at worst, not to mention exrtremely impulsive. Who gets on a train at a whim, without packing any clothes? Who goes to London for college when he can barely survive in Chicago? Grant even holds a grudge for something that SUPPOSEDLY happed five years (and several exes!) ago. No wonder Ben is annoyed at you, bruh.

Additionally, the writing style was just...bad? Objectively? I don't know. But every time Grant compared himself to a beast, I wanted to slap him. This book tries too hard to be a Beauty and the Beast retelling and doesn't quite succeed. It's way too contemporary to have these random fairytale elements shoved in there.

Even though I wasn't a fan of this book, I can see the merit in reading it.

Sometimes there are stories that feel so deeply personal to you, that you can’t believe you’ve lived this long without them. That’s what Cursed Boys and Broken Hearts was for me.

For readers of The 99 Boyfriends of Micah Summers, this book follows Grant Rossi, the boy not-chosen by Micah, as he attempts to put his life back together after the breakup. He hops on a train to his family’s winery, only to face not only the fact that it’s literally falling apart, but that his former best friend and first love, Ben, is the gardener. What ensues is an exploration of learning not only to fall in love when you feel unlovable, but learning to love yourself as well.

A modern day twist on Beauty and the Beast, Grant’s Italian family has a rose in the garden, one with a deeply believed myth that if you wish on the rose, it will present you with your true love. The wish Grant makes in his youth leaves him feeling cursed never to find a relationship that lasts, that he’s the one the boys breakup with before they find true love. The weight of this is almost impossible for him to shake, and Sass does not shy away from what it feels like for Grant to make it through days that are impossible to get through.

This handling of mental health and depression was something that really resonated with me. I connected so deeply with Grant without truly understanding why at first. The description of what it’s like to emerge from a depression fog evoked such a visceral reaction in me that I sat with it for a few days before taking the steps to address my own mental health. It’s such an honest look at what it feels like to struggle, one that doesn’t shy away from the dark parts.

But, this book is all about balance. Learning to balance the dark parts of yourself with the lighter ones. Being envious of others, while recognizing to be grateful for what you’ve always had. Adam Sass is able to balance the heavier discussion of mental health with his undeniable wit and humor. The back-and-forth banter between Grant and Ben is top tier. They are so evenly matched. Balanced.

Throughout the whole story, Sass’s voice rings clear and true. Grant’s story could not exist with another author. You root for Grant, you cheer him on, you groan into your hands when he makes the wrong decisions, but through it all, you understand him. His anger at the world and himself is justified, and you feel for him as he tries to maneuver himself back onto some sort of path. And you trust that Sass will give Grant an ending that he deserves and has earned.

Adam Sass has done it again! A longtime follower of his work (and social media posts), Sass has created a lovely story of a second chance at love, starring two intersting and developed characters in Ben and Grant (along with a vineyard of colorful cast that rounds out this story). There are moments where you wish the characters would just come out and say what and how they feel, but this is YA after all! Otherwise, the story moves along with a brisk pace, touching and cute throughout.

This may be his best work yet, but I am bias — I’m a sucker for a story centered around Italian families! Sass continues to provide stories that young queer people can enjoy — that in itself makes this another must read from the author. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the ARC.

Unfortunately, this one just wasn't for me.

My biggest issue was some of the lines / dialogue were far too corny.

The author gives us a heartfelt book with positive messages about love, curses, and trust. I loved the setting of the book and witnessing the re-birth of Vero Roseto was fun--and the character of Ro was the mother many of us wish we had had. Also liked the secondary character of Mr. Carpenter.

The book read like a draft though to me--it just needed more thought. Not sure why it was set in Chicago--the choice seemed random--very few references tied us to the city or it's suburbs. Chicago does not have a "garment district" and neither it nor it's suburbs is known for vineyards.

My main issue, though, was with the MC's. Even though five years in our teens seems much longer than five years as adults, I wish the author could have made them 16 or 17 instead of 13 when they had their falling out. Who knew dating/serious boyfriends was so much a thing for 13-year-olds? If they had been older, they could have been in their 20's when they met again. The author seemed to have tried too hard to make an NA book a YA book. Making them 18 in the present creates unnecessary logistical issues like with drinking--and they both seemed older than 18.

More of a problem though is the balance between the MCs. Grant has clinical depression--for which he is on meds and seeing a therapist. Yet Grant has to do all the work here--it's some how all his fault. Ben is the one at 13 who started dating the guy his best friend had been dating. The fact that Ben thought they had broken up hardly excuses him from going behind Grant's back. In the present day, after he has been flirting with Grant, Ben schedules a date/hookup with a hotel guest without discussing it with Grant--and then accuses Grant of having trust issues. The problem with the book's arc is that Grant has to bear the brunt of the blame and has to learn to trust Ben. Again, somehow it's all his problem--someone who is clinically depressed is not a drama queen.

I think also, another pass might have simplified/clarified things about the rose and the curse--seemed unnecessarily complicated.

Overall, a sweet book set in a lovely location I remember liking the author's 99 Boyfriends much more. The author writes in his endnotes that this was his most personal book--maybe he was just too close to the material.

I really hate when I have to write negative reviews. And the concept of this one was super fun - I just don't think it was executed well. It all boils down to a lot of conflicting / confusing information that could have been fixed with a better outline (or better editing).

I couldn't figure out what stage of life the main character, Grant, is in. He is 18, but seems to have been living in Chicago on his own for the past year. He frequently talks about needing to apply to design colleges for the fall, but he had already been studying at one about a year prior. The fall semester is only a few weeks away, but he hasn't actually submitted any applications. Then there was the confusion about what kind of designer he is supposed to be, because we see him do fashion, graphic, landscape, and web in this book. Just because the word designer is in the title doesn't mean that those skills are transferable.

Then we have the love interest, Ben. I don't think his personality was well thought out, because he was all over the place. The way he was written came across as someone with undiagnosed bipolar disorder.

I think that all of this really frustrated me because the concept was so interesting. Grant is helping his aunt try to save their family business: a winery / b&b that is built upon an infamous wishing rose said to help people find their true love. That aspect of the story was so fun - the legend of the wishing rose, seeing them tear down and rebuild their business into a beautiful place at the center of their community, seeing their family overcome grief and find each other again. I would have rated this lower if the concept hadn't been so strong.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!