This book absolutely wrecked me, in the best way. I was barely 4% in and already bawling my eyes out. From the moment Melody and Parker met, I was hooked. Their connection, their pain, and their journey felt so raw and real, I couldn’t put the book down.

The idea of ‘cellular memory’ has always fascinated me, so when I saw what this book was about, I was instantly intrigued. The thought of a piece of someone you love living on in someone else is both beautiful and heartbreaking, and Jennifer Hartmann dives into it with so much depth and emotion.

<b> “I’m not sure what it is, but there’s been a draw from the very start. A tether. His frosty disposition and crass words weren’t enough to deviate me from the crackle in the air every time he’d glance my way with his penetrative green eyes” </b>

This story hits hard with some of my favorite tropes - grief and healing, opposites attract, and the broody, emotionally unavailable hero paired with the sunshine heroine who’s trying to rebuild herself after the death of her husband. Just when I thought I had the story figured out, Hartmann threw in twists that completely blindsided me; and yes, left me crying again.

<b> “We hold the key to our own happiness, and what we put on the other side of that door is entirely up to us.
Our beginning doesn’t have to be our end” </b>

If you’re ready for a book that will have you crying, cheering, and feeling everything in between, The Wrong Heart is it. Highly recommend.


Big thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books and to the author Jennifer Hartmann for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

IDK if it’s because I’m an emotional person in general or because I’m currently recovering from breast cancer, but I feel like Hartmann put her soul into this book. My aunt lost her husband the day before their anniversary and tbh I saw a lot of her in this main character.

The book basically goes through the process of coping and healing after someone loses a spouse after a tragedy. I can only imagine….

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC copy and opportunity to provide an honest review.

I have loved everything I have ready by this author, and this one did not disappoint. Check the trigger warnings, this one does include mentions of suicide.

Melody, struck by the tragedy of losing her husband, can’t see how she can possibly go on.

Parker, being forced to live after an extremely traumatic childhood, has decided people aren’t worth his time.

When they meet in a Lifeline’s support group, Melody has found a way to communicate anonymously with the recipient of her husband’s heart and Parker is annoyed with the sunshine in her smile. Naturally, this becomes the start of a great love story.

Or maybe not.

Melody poses as Magnolia online, and the recipient of her husband’s heart is Zephyr. As they communicate, she finds herself drawn to him. But she has also become drawn to Parker as she tries to bring a little sunshine into his drab life. She knows she can never meet Zephyr, but after a particularly frustrating interaction with Parker she convinces him to allow a video call. That’s when everything goes sideways and Zephyr stops responding to her messages. That’s also when she pushes harder in her chase for Parker.

If you’ve read PenPal by J.T., then this one will give you similar vibes. Melody is hurting after the loss of her husband and wonders if connecting with the man who has his heart will heal the break in her own. Only, everything isn’t as it seems. This one is tied up with a nice little HEA bow though.

If it’s a Jennifer Hartmann book, you can expect there to be some angst, tension, and tears. It amazes me how she makes you feel all the emotions you do while reading this. I always know that when I read her books to have plenty of tissue from all the tears and this book is no different

Jennifer Hartman’s The Wrong Heart is a deeply emotional contemporary romance that explores grief, love, and the transformative power of second chances. Hartman’s storytelling prowess is undeniable, as she crafts a narrative that breaks the reader’s heart and slowly pieces it back together.

The story begins with devastation—a gut-wrenching loss that sets the tone for the entire novel. The female main character (FMC) loses her husband on their five-year wedding anniversary, a moment so painfully vivid that it’s impossible not to feel the crushing weight of her grief. But Hartman doesn’t stop there. In a masterstroke of emotional storytelling, she introduces a profound twist: her husband’s heart is donated, leaving behind both a symbolic and literal piece of him in the world. This premise is one of the most unique aspects of the book, drawing readers into a complex web of emotional turmoil, hope, and healing.

One of Hartman’s most masterful techniques is how she makes readers deeply attached to the FMC’s husband, only to tear him away in the very beginning. This deliberate emotional devastation is classic Jennifer Hartman—she knows exactly how to pull readers into the FMC’s world of grief, forcing us to feel every moment of it. It’s this raw emotionality that makes Hartman’s books unforgettable. She’s one of the few contemporary romance authors who can consistently make me cry, and this book was no exception.

The introduction of Parker, a dark, brooding, emotionally closed-off man, serves as a striking contrast to the FMC’s own emotional openness. The push and pull between them is palpable, filled with tension and vulnerability. Their bond isn’t rushed, nor is it simple—it’s complicated by grief, secrets, and emotional baggage that feel authentic to their experiences. As the FMC works to reclaim her sense of self, Parker’s presence becomes both a challenge and a balm to her pain. Their chemistry is undeniable, but it’s their emotional connection that drives the story forward.

One of the strongest aspects of The Wrong Heart is how it forces readers to confront the fragility of life. Hartman’s portrayal of grief is raw and unflinching, never shying away from the darkest moments. It’s a stark reminder of how suddenly a life can be upended. But amid the darkness, Hartman also offers a thread of hope. Through the FMC’s journey, we’re reminded that grief doesn’t vanish—it becomes part of who we are—and it’s still possible to find love and joy in its wake.

This book’s emotional impact is profound. Hartman’s writing has a way of making me feel things I didn’t know I could feel. Her words linger long after the final page, leaving me grateful for the love and stability in my own life while also holding space for those who’ve experienced profound loss. Her stories aren’t just about romance; they’re about humanity, survival, and the resilience of the heart.

Overall, Jennifer Hartman’s The Wrong Heart is a heart-wrenching yet hopeful journey that captures the depths of grief and the power of love’s renewal. The unique premise, emotional depth, and unforgettable characters make it a standout contemporary romance. It’s a story that will break you, heal you, and remind you of the strength it takes to keep going. Hartman’s ability to evoke such powerful emotions is why she’s one of my all-time favorite contemporary romance authors. Her stories don’t just tell you about love—they make you feel it in every raw, aching, beautiful way possible. Without a doubt, this is a 5-star read that I’ll carry with me for a long time.

Jennifer Hartmann knows how to destroy her readers in the best way. I really enjoyed reading this and didn’t want to put it down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Get ready for goosebumps and all the feels with this one!!! It was fabulous! I could not get over how good this was. I was so taken back by the ending. It was fabulous! Excited to read more from this author.

Loved the cover art with the flowers and the contrast of color, drew my eye in and made me click in it or would have drawn my to pick it up on a shelf!
Talk about ripe my heart out and repair it in a gripping story of loss, struggle, overcoming, and finding love with an amazing ending?!!! Ekkk this book it all the feels, I instantly was sucked in and emotionally invested. The character…ahhh.. love them (I mourned over Charlie’s death so hard for a book character?!) the development and the really life struggle is greatly represented in this book and I was cheering for them to overcome and succeed. I loved that Parker found a little best friend and the development of that relationship for him. Gosh I have not one bad thing to say about this good and will be suggestions the hell out of this to everyone within ear distance. 5 star must read! Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the advance read in turn for my honest opinion.

I would give this 10 stars if I could. Only Jennifer Hartmann can have me emotionally twisted and tearing up by the first chapter. From the first page I knew I was going to love this story and I did. I loved every word, every emotion, every syllable. This book has made such an impact on me that I know this is going to be another book that lives rent free in my head.

I had such a visceral reaction to this book that I don't even know what to do with these emotions. I have so many words and none at the same time. I wish I could scream at everyone to read this book. Every emotion and struggle and breakthrough and breakdown was captured so perfectly that I felt it all! There was not one character i didn't like. Not even a single abbreviation I didn't like.

Reading both Melody's and Parker's journey through every twist and turn hit me straight through the heart. Jennifer wields words like poetry. So many quotes in this book resonated with me to the core. That epilogue was pure perfection and I was gutted. I feel emotionally wrung out after reading this in the best possible way.

I honestly could write a whole essay on this book but I'll leave it as this. Read this book! It was worth every tear, every heartache, every laugh. I wish I could read it for the first time all over again.

Thank you so much Netgalley for the ARC!

I felt a lot of different emotions while reading this book. It was incredibly beautiful and heartbreaking. Melody and Parker learn to live again through heartbreak, grief, and pain. It's simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking. It served as a reminder to me that every moment is valuable and to enjoy life's small pleasures.

I was not prepared.. This book starts off with a punch to the gut. Jennifer Hartmann is such an amazing writer, she makes you feel everything. I laughed. I sobbed.

ARC review - 4,5 ⭐️

“All broken things can be fixed. The hard part is deciding that they’re worth fixing.”

“The Wrong Heart” is the first book by Jennifer Hartmann that I read. This is an emotional read that deals with heavy themes, such as loss of a loved one, child abuse and self-harm/suicide.

The story is told through Melody and Parker’s perspectives. The start is already emotional, as Melody writes to the person that received her husband’s heart.

“Grief is a mechanical bull. You can hold on as tight as you can with white-knuckled fists, clenched teeth, and tears biting at your eyes, but you’re destined to lose your grip. You’re going to get thrown. And when you hit the ground, it’s going to hurt like hell. “

People deal with grief and trauma differently, but it is important to accept help. It was hard to read about Melody’s pain and Parker’s past, but I almost managed to not cry, until the epilogue.
The writing is beautiful, there are some twists and the main characters have a beautiful development.

I received a digital copy of the book from SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books and Netgalley.
Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

📖 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒃𝒚 𝑱𝒆𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒇𝒆𝒓 𝑯𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒏

“𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯? 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦.”

This book emotionally destroyed me. 🥹

I am seriously bawling my eyes out while writing this, but the story was absolutely perfect.

It was gritty and raw, but so powerful and moving. This is a book that will stick with me forever.

“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘯 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩. 𝘐𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘴,” 𝘐 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩, 𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘴. “𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘵 𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘴.” ☀️

Melody is lost when she loses her husband to a random act of violence. Her thoughts are dark and the one ray of light she can see is when the recipient of her husband’s heart responds to her message. They become pen pals agreeing to never ask for real names. When Melody’s dark thoughts lead her to a brush with death, she joins a suicide prevention group and meets a man who is the exact opposite of her.

Parker doesn’t really care about anything, and it’s been that way for a long time. He had a traumatic childhood and the only reason he is going to a support group is because his found family asked him to. Now he’s drawn to a sunshine woman and starts to feel things for the first time in a long time. He’s got secrets and he’s afraid to open up, but something about Melody makes him want to try.

“𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘪𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘹𝘪𝘤. 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘰𝘯, 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘢, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯’𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦.”

This book was just so well done. There were things that I thought were plot holes at first that later get explained and it was like everything fit together perfectly in the end. There are some seriously heavy topics including characters with thoughts of un-aliving themselves. Please protect your mental health and check triggers before reading this story.

Have your tissues ready because this book is an absolute emotional rollercoaster. I think I was dehydrated when I made it to the epilogue of this book from all the tears I shed! THAT DANG EPILOGUE! 🥹😭 Don’t even get me started on Walden and Nutmeg. 🫠

This was a slow burn romance with almost innocent aspects to both Melody & Parkers past experiences. When the spice entered the book it was almost feral and I LOVED IT.

“𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦.”

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘥𝘺’𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘫𝘢𝘸, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘬. “𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦?”

“𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘦.”

If you love powerful emotional reads that will stick with you long after you finish reading, go add 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒃𝒚 𝑱𝒆𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒇𝒆𝒓 𝑯𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒏, to your TBR today!

“𝘐’𝘮 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘦’𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐’𝘮 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘳’𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘯. 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩. 𝘐’𝘮 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘴𝘦.”

𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴:
❤️‍🔥 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘓𝘰𝘴𝘴
☀️ 𝘎𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘱𝘺 𝘹 𝘚𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦
🤧 𝘌𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥
🫶🏼 𝘔𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘙𝘦𝘱
💔 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘰/𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘦
💞 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘺
👀 𝘏𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘐𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘺
🔥 𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘺

This is my second read from Jennifer Hartmann and let’s just say she’s also now one of my favorite authors! I read “Still beating” this summer, and this book is just as amazing!

The character switch at first was a little confusing but I caught on fairly quick & from there on out, I was hooked!

The love scenes with Melody & Parker brings a little of dark romance, with a thrill and twist finding out Zephyr and Parker are the same person, next an even bigger catch as well as some more twists!

Such an amazing read!!

Thank you Jennifer Hartman and NetGalley for allowing me to read this amazing book!

So many tears, this book is perfect when you need a sob fest. A book that will break you and piece you back together all at the same time. The detail Hartmann goes into regarding parker and Melody, I felt like I knew them. The Wrong Heart is so well written and eloquently put together. This book is definetly a book I will remember and recommend to everyone I know that is a reader.

If you need a read that will give you hope after a character has been ripped of all hope, this is it. Beautifully tragic.

Jennifer Hartmann has moved into my top ten favorite authors this year, as I am absolutely enthralled with her storytelling. I can't get enough, and The Wrong Heart was no exception. This book dealt with some dark, gritty, real-life situations, and I appreciated how well those topics were addressed. People CAN overcome darkness and grief, and I really believe the book did a great job depicting the importance of human connection and how powerful and important honesty and commucation is--with others and with especially with oneself. The Wrong Heart was a definite five-star read for me. Superb!

Jennifer Hartmann is the queen of angst and tear-jerkers. I believe it is her goal as a writer to make her readers cry 😆. The Wrong Heart is a story that follows Melody after the she loses her husband in a horrible accident. He was an organ donor, and Melody is so overcome with grief that she decides to email the man that was the recipient of her husband’s heart. At first, the recipient is very difficult to connect with, and it isn’t until Melody meets him in person at a grief support group that the two begin a relationship. Very slow burn, angsty, depressing, and sweet. It is a story about processing grief, falling in love, and never giving up on your soulmate. I first read this book on KU in 2021, but at the end of the year, @read_bloom will have this baby on store shelves. Keep the Kleenex nearby for this one.

"The Wrong Heart" is painful, intense, and sexy. Right from the beginning the story had me crying. Melody and Parker had great chemistry. The healing process for both of these characters was beautiful and important. Hartmann wanted you to feel these characters, and I truly did. The plot was done well. I've never read any of Hartmann's books, but I think this was a great introduction to her work. Now, I am intrigued. I want to see how far Jennifer Hartmann's writing can go. The topics are sensitive ones so look up trigger warnings.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!

This was my second read from Jennifer and I am hooked. This story was one of grief, pain, and trying to find your way out of the darkness. Parker and Melody each had their own demons to fight in order to move forward. Loved their story, even though it was a tearjerker. The epilogue was absolutely uncalled for 😭😭

Wow, this is not what I imagined this would end up being. Such a great read! I loved Melody with my whole heart. I was devastated and experienced the loss right alongside her. I loved the group she met with and the different people there. It was such a beautiful thing. Bree was truly one of my favorite characters. I also loved Parker's character development throughout the story. It was such a beautiful thing to watch him evolve. Such a beautiful but heartbreaking book. Loved it, though!

I received this book from NetGalley and Bloom Books to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.