Dark and sad!

"The Wrong Heart" by Jennifer Hartmann is an emotional story about pain, loss and the chance of love.

How Jennifer? How can you rip my heart out of my chest in the first few pages? 😭

Melody March was happy, really happy, until her husband was taken from her before her very eyes. Now the young widow has to adjust to life without the love of her life and it pushes her to the brink.

When I started "The Wrong Heart" I knew I was in for a painful story, but I didn't expect to dive into a story full of pain and darkness with some really heavy themes. So at this point: please read the trigger warning!

I'll be honest: even though I found the story really emotional, some of the themes were just too heavy for me. It was too much for me and it did take me away a bit.
And the ending wasn't my cup of tea either 🙈 Neither the epilogue nor what happened before it.

However, I found the love story between Melody and Parker quite nice, although at times it felt like they were just using each other as a crutch.

I give "The Wrong Heart" 3 out of 5 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

I laughed, I cried, I had my heart broken and pieced back together....

I experienced all the emotions reading this book and I loved every single second of it.

5/5 stars

I get really frustrated when books show up on Netgalley that I believe are new books, but they are just new editions of the same book. Often the only thing updated is the cover. I think they are doing this with some of Jennifer hartmann's books because she became popular on Tiktok last year. I requested this thinking it was new and would be as exciting as her other new books, but it just didn't have the same stuff that I loved about Older/Still Beating etc. The plot ended up being exactly what I predicted.

A beautiful novel about the journey one takes to heal and re-learn to let down your walls and let life and love back in! I'd recommend searching trigger warnings for this one, but I love an emotional romance so this was a good one for me. The mc's, Melody and Parker, learn and grow so much as individuals throughout this novel. I liked how their love for each other grew throughout the book and wasn't rushed - it took a lot of trust and understanding from one another. Warning.... the epilogue will destroy you.

In *The Wrong Heart*, author Jennifer Hartmann delivers an emotionally charged narrative that explores the complexity of love, grief, and the healing power of human connection. The story centers around Melody March, whose seemingly fairy tale life is shattered on her five-year wedding anniversary when she loses her husband in a tragic accident. As she grapples with the aftermath of her loss, she discovers that his heart lives on in another, prompting her to seek solace in the unlikeliest of places—the very person who now holds the essence of her late husband.

Melody's journey of healing is both poignant and relatable, reflecting the depths of grief and the search for identity after profound loss. The author's exploration of support groups for individuals struggling with loss adds a layer of authenticity, showcasing the shared pain that unites them while also introducing unexpected connections. When Melody meets Parker—a dark, brooding soul who is emotionally detached—readers are drawn into a compelling dynamic that challenges them to reconsider their perceptions of love and healing.

The chemistry between Melody and Parker is palpable, rooted in their respective traumas. Hartman masterfully juxtaposes Melody's quest for optimism against Parker's struggle with his own emotional barriers, creating a tension that propels the story forward. As their bond deepens, the secrets unveiled challenge everything they thought they knew about themselves and each other, adding a rich layer of complexity to their relationship.

A standout quote from the novel encapsulates the central themes beautifully: “We are both two broken souls, fractured in opposite ways.” This line resonates throughout the narrative, reflecting the characters’ vulnerabilities and their shared path toward understanding and connection amidst their pain.

*The Wrong Heart* is a beautifully crafted exploration of how love can emerge from grief, showcasing the transformative power of human connection. Hartman’s writing is both evocative and immersive, making it easy for readers to invest in Melody's emotional journey. With its strong character development and heartfelt narrative, this novel is a rewarding experience that lingers long after the final page.

Fans of contemporary romance and stories of personal growth will find *The Wrong Heart* both touching and resonant, making this a must-read for anyone looking to explore the intertwining paths of love, loss, and hope.

I love Jennifer Hartmann's work, but unfortunately, I think this one isn't for me. The premise was interesting, but I found that the story itself wasn't my cup of tea. I can see others enjoying this, as the writing is beautiful, and the themes are also something that brings a lot of questions and intrigue into mind.

this one unfortunately was not for me. while i enjoyed "older" by this author, "the wrong heart" did not provide the same experience for me nor did it grip me till the end. i found myself struggling midway though but kept trying to see how the story will end.

Jennifer Hartmann NEVER disappoints! Parker and Melody’s stories were absolutely gut wrenching, in typical JH fashion. You wanted to immediately hug them both from the start.

While this seemed pretty predictable, there were a couple surprise elements that I really enjoyed! Definitely recommend!

I did not expect to cry this much. Oh my gosh. This was such a beautiful story, and there were so many little twists that I did not expect at all. This was my first Jennifer Hartmann book, and I can now officially say that I am hooked!

3.5 stars. The Wrong Heart: A study in grief and hope. Honestly I have mixed feelings on this one- and I LOVE Jennifer Hartmann's writing and storytelling. She has such a way of breaking your heart and then helping you put it all back together. Something about this one just didn't hit for me. It was tragic and heartbreaking, but didn't strike me as hard as her others. Some of it was the whiplash of feelings and behaviors, but it also felt very predictable throughout (until it wasn't!). This does deal heavily with suicide, so check your triggers. As much as they utilize meetings, there is no therapy mentioned anywhere which is a huge thing missing when you consider what these characters go through.

Walden's story at the end is literally the only part that made me tear up.

Jennifer can do no wrong, another book of hers I am uncapable of putting down. She writes the most gripping stories, always a sure thing.

OBSESSED! I've only read one of Hartmann's books but she is now an instant buy/read for me! Both of the ones I've read were amazing! The Wrong Heart, gripped me from the start and didn't let go, my heart ached for these characters, and this doesn't happen to me often but the plot twist was actually one that I didn't see coming! This is a dark, emotional novel, it deals with loss, grief, and suicide and could be very triggering for people but I think it was handled very well and realistically! It was at times hard to read, just because of what these poor people are going through but it builds slowly and expertly. I loved watching Melody and Parker's characters change and grow, they were such unique main characters and utterly different from anything I had read before!! They are not always likeable, Parker more so than Melody, but you do see his reasons and again, the growth is incredible to witness! Can not recommend this highly enough, one of my favorite reads of the year so far!

Intriguing and full of tension. Beautiful story that was breaking my heart from time to time. It was written well and I would recommend this for the oldest students at our school, but with the warning of certain triggers. Well done.

Jennifer Hartmann know how to pull on our heartstrings! Twisty and heavy this book was a real rollercoaster but so beautiful at the same time. Thank you netgalley for a copy of this ARC

Love Jennifer Hartmann! But this one juts missed for me
Didn’t care for it and the ending
But I will read everything she writes

I already knew before reading this it would be emotional so I had to brace myself. Lots of twists and heart wrenching moments. It was painful, but beautiful. Have yet to be disappointment by any of her work.

Jennifer Hartmann can do no wrong in my book. Her stories are always gut-wrenching and beautiful and heartbreaking and healing all in rolled into a captivating package.

Oh the emotions in this story was so good. I enjoy a broken and flawed hero and Parker fits the bill. The Wrong Heart takes on difficult but very important topics such as suicide, abuse, neglect and mental health. Emotional dark but it had to be given those topics. It was fabulously explored especially how Melody slowly broke down Parker’s walls. He was so closed off but who could blame him with that baggage and trauma. He’s evolving was amazing as was Melody’s. Them falling in love felt believable because of how their communication started in the first place. Melody didn’t fall in love because of who had her husband’s heart.
Sadly the last 20% didn’t work for me. It was too predictable, too many coincidences and the drama was in my opinion unnecessary and over the top.
Still I enjoyed The Wrong Heart all because of Parker and Melody. Two fantastic characters who fought their way back and out of the darkness.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC of the newly republished version of this book!! I absolutely devoured this book. It broke my heart, made me smile, made me cry, made me laugh. Jennifer truly has a way to make you feel ALL of the emotions. Parker and Melody have a special place in my heart. Please check TW before giving this one a go!!

Jennifer Hartmann got me really good with this one! It was so full of emotion and depth and I could not put it down. Both Melody’s and Parker’s stories were so heart wrenching and heavy and I cried so much reading this. It was full of healing and finding love again, this book was about coming back to life. Jennifer manages to grab your heart, rip it out of your chest but then put you back together again. An amazing read.