Jennifer Hartmann did not disappoint. Her books always make me questions what I would do in that situation and she doesn’t care to push social boundaries.

This is a story that will stick with me long after reading it. Jennifer Hartmann is becoming one of my favorites. The Wrong Heart is about two people who are both overcoming heartbreak and trauma, and how they decide to keep on living.

TW: suicide & grief

Melody is grieving her husband and first love, while clinging on to the one thing he left behind- his heart. Parker has never experienced love after growing up in an abusive home. The two meet at a suicide support group and slowly start forming connections.

I love to get my feelings hurt so I will read everything JH ever writes. If you like angsty & emotional romances read this book.

༺𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠༻
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
sᴘɪᴄᴇ: 🌶️🌶️
ᴀᴠᴀɪʟᴀʙʟᴇ ɪɴ KU: Yes
ᴘᴀɢᴇs: 392

The Wrong Heart is an emotional ride that dives deep into grief, healing, and unexpected love. Melody is lost after the death of her husband, struggling to find her footing in a world that feels empty without him. Desperate for a connection, she reaches out anonymously to the man who received his heart. At the same time, she joins a suicide prevention group, where she meets Parker—a man who’s as closed off and broken as she is.
Parker isn’t your typical hero. He’s blunt, brooding, and a bit of an ass, but his raw honesty is exactly what Melody needs. Their chemistry is messy and complicated, with plenty of push and pull as they work through their pain. The way their relationship evolves feels real—messy but meaningful—and watching them grow together is as heartbreaking as it is hopeful.
This book doesn’t hold back from tough topics, touching on loss, self-harm, and the struggle to find purpose again. But it’s not all heavy. There are glimmers of humor, warmth from secondary characters, and a slow realization that even the most broken pieces can be put back together.
Hartmann’s storytelling is raw and captivating, pulling you right into Melody and Parker’s world. While some parts felt a bit rushed toward the end, the emotional journey is worth it. If you’re a fan of angsty, character-driven romance that hits you right in the feels, this one’s for you.

᪥ Age Gap
᪥ Enemies To Lovers
᪥ Grumpy x Sunshine
᪥ Tortured Hero
᪥ Darker
᪥ Dual POV

If you plan to read this then please read the trigger warnings. It is not meant to be a lightheaded book, it's about loss and grief so read with caution.

The Wrong Heart follows Melody whose life had changed when husband had died in tragic accident and she hasn't been the same since. Consumed by grief, she nearly kills herself but decides that she isn't ready. At a suicide prevention group, she soon meets Parker, whose walls are up way too high and dealing with his own demons. But despite finding her infuriating, he can't help but find himself drawn to her. Jennifer Hartmann wrote this so beautifully, tugging on all the right heartstrings. This book will take you on a emotional rollercoaster.

Their relationship is messy, constantly going one step forward and two steps back. Parker is such a complex character, struggling to let anyone in due to the childhood he endured. At the start of the book, he definitely is not likeable but he does grow on you the further you get into the book and understand what he's been through. His character development is phenomenal and I loved reading about both of their healing journeys.

Trigger Warnings: Grief, Self Harm, Suicide, Suicide Attempts, Child Abuse

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

The Wrong Heart by Jennifer Hartmann is a deeply moving and beautifully written contemporary romance that left a lasting impression on me. It explores profound themes of loss, grief, and healing, intertwining these with a story of hope and unexpected connections.

The premise is both unique and emotional, revolving around the widow of a heart donor who reaches out to the recipient of her late husband's heart. What follows is an angst-filled journey that is as heartfelt as it is compelling.

Hartmann’s writing is excellent, drawing readers into the raw emotions of the characters. The connection between the protagonists feels authentic, and their struggles are portrayed with sensitivity. There were moments that caught me off guard with unexpected twists, keeping the story engaging and thought-provoking.

The book had a significant emotional impact on me, even bringing tears to my eyes at times. I found myself fully invested in the characters' journeys and rooting for their healing and happiness.

Despite its heavy themes, The Wrong Heart manages to balance pain with hope, offering a story that feels both cathartic and uplifting. I’d highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romance novels that delve into deeper, more complex emotions.

A solid 4 stars for this emotionally resonant and well-crafted read.

Please check your trigger warnings before reading this novel. It has some pretty heavy topics.

This is a beautiful novel about grief when melodys husband gets hit by a car trying to get her purse back from a snatcher. She is absolutely inconsolable after his accident and tries to die by suicide. She changes her mind when the email comes through from the man the received her husbands heart.

Parker is a challenging survivor who deals with mental health issues. He meets melody at a support group he doesn't want to be in.

This story blooms so beautifully from here. It is a good but heavy read. So be warned. Melody just seems like a friend you need! Her character was written so perfectly I fell in love with her right away.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC

Thank you for this ARC copy!

This book has love and loss. Friends and loneliness. Grief and happiness. This was such a beautiful story.
It just reminds you to live life to the fullest and don’t take anything for granted.

The Wrong Heart by Jennifer Hartmann is one of those books that pulls you in with its intense emotional premise, but leaves you feeling a little torn once you’re done. The story centers on two characters, both dealing with heavy pasts and complicated feelings, which leads to a love story that’s both heartbreaking and messy. And, to be honest, it’s hard to fully get behind it, even though it’s clear Jennifer Hartmann really poured her heart into it.

The premise is definitely intriguing: a woman who’s been through a lot and a guy who's dealing with the fallout of his own bad decisions. The push and pull between them, the sense that they’re both “wrong” for each other in different ways but can’t stay away, creates a lot of tension and drama. You’re rooting for them, but also questioning whether they’re making the right choices.

The writing is solid—Hartmann has a way of making you feel the weight of the characters' emotions. The grief, the guilt, the longing—it’s all palpable. But sometimes it feels like it’s a bit too much, like the book tries to force the intensity rather than letting it build naturally. There were moments where I felt like the characters were a bit too over-the-top.

At the end of the day, this is a solid read if you're into emotionally charged stories with flawed characters, but it might not hit the mark for everyone. It has its moments, but it didn’t completely win me over. I’d say 3 stars—good, but not amazing. Worth reading if you're in the mood for a bit of drama and heartache. Thank you to Netgalley and Bloom Books for providing me with this arc.

This book was beautifully written. It definitely deals with some hard and difficult moments.

What I loved most was how Melody was able to slowly get into Parker’s heart and mind. She was able to change him for the better and show him that his scars proved he survived.

In Parker’s own way, he helped bring Melody out of the darkness. She was finally able to move past what happened to her husband and see that it was ok to be happy again, so she could let the guilt go.

While the epilogue was sad, I’m glad that it seems it was many years down the road. And that Parker and Melody had a wonderful and beautiful life together.

Honestly, if Jennifer Hartmann writes it I’ll read it! This one was heartbreaking, I went in blind and the first chapter shattered me. Yet it’s a beautiful heartfelt story, that’s wonderfully written. I loved it.

Melody's husband Charlie died in an accident and her heart shattered to pieces, unable to forget the grief she didn't have any anchor until she nearly killed herself but she wasn't ready so she called to save herself . Parker is bruised, cuts so deep that they linger everywhere and remind him of his ugly scars. Melody and Parker meet each other in a loving life association, somewhere broken goes to mend , Melody want to heal , she want to be ready for that , Parker to gurded , he built the walls to high for too long they can't br breaked even at the end but Two broken can mend each other. I promise you that like how Melody embrace Parker and how Parker healed Melody

This book is from two poves Parker and Melody .Author did an awsome job to put each part of the book in the right place , I couldn't find any better setting than this . Everything is put together and each emotion expressed in best way . The author put laughter and tears with each other smoothly and and it's heightened the sheer different feeling you would have through a book and it's spectacular . You don't confuse anything and everything explains and the plot is soo on track can't find fault in it

I get affected with different emotions during this . The start got me really awkward cause it was truly a hard start specially for emotional people and it might got you crying or disappointing but after the first few chapters the story actually take shape .there's a bitter truth in every sweet moment . And there is a dark yet smiling moment when you want to laugh at their interaction or behavior and you remember why and it's justified and there's no fault in it . There is a theme death and mention of suicide. Please note that this mentality is tough but it's a truth and needed to be respected

I rate the book 5. Sure there are much better stories out there waiting for us . These mafias with astonishingly charming behavior. Those abused villain who after growing up have red flags attractive enough to swoon but this one hold something else . That those traits from dark Romance can make you growly and introvert. But the real truth about them isn't charming . In real world it's different and it doesn't make you a possessive guy with I'm a bad guy attitude, it make you silent. And sometimes sunshine doesn't mean cause you have sunny disposition you are one . We can lost our light but try to move forward. It's hard and can't achieve easily , you can even have a starting points everyday and think you got better but one day someone, something put the final nail .it's hurt but it's there . So I think this book deserves the 5 for emotion as well . I truly hope whoever reading this have a smiling day and know it matters

Jennifer Hartmann just knows how to tug at my heartstrings better than any other author I've read. I adore her stories and the emotion they evoke, and The Wrong Heart was no different. I knew from the first line that this book was going to ruin me, but it also took its sweet, patient time putting me back together. This story is so, so important because it showcases real feelings about depression and suicide, the people who go through it, the people who are impacted by those lives, the ripples left behind. And it encourages hope in the darkest situations. I've had some issues in the past with books that try to do this and just feel emotionally manipulative, but JH did it with grace and dignity.

So, let me talk about the characterization. The alternating POVs between Melody and Parker felt so solid and definitive. I wouldn't have even needed to see the name by the chapter to know who it was because they were so distinct and well-fleshed out. And I enjoyed reading both of their perspectives. Melody had a cadence to her voice that felt dreamy by nature, even when she was at her lowest, and I felt especially connected to her for that. And Parker, even when he was sh*tting on the world, was funny as hell. He felt real. He felt like my best friend.

The writing of TWH overall was evocative and detailed in a way that had me so immersed in the story that I had to blink a few times anytime I came back to the real world, usually to help clear away tears. From beginning to end, this story had me in a chokehold, and I wouldn't have had it any other way. Beautifully done.

Simply if Jennifer Hartmann writes it I’ll be reading it, heart-wrenching, angst filled romances — I loved this one truly.

Jennifer Hartmann never fails at making me crave more and more. Her writing is so addicting and her stories are always told in such an amazing way.

This one was a little disappointing. For the majority of the read, it felt a bit too predictable and slow. When things unfolded, it felt forced and not as if it genuinely fit with the storyline.

EARC Netgalley

THE WRONG HEART is one of my favorite books by Jennifer Hartmann. I highly recommend this one if you're looking for an emotional read. It's angsty, emotional, and features a tortured hero and a vulnerable, grieving heroine. The book will take you on an emotional rollercoaster so have tissues near by! Please check TWs prior to reading because the book does revolve around suicide and suicidal thoughts.

Thank you so much, Bloom Books, for the eARC in exchange for my honest review! 4.5⭐️

It’s no secret that Jennifer Hartmann is one of my favourite authors of all time. Her books always pack an emotional punch. This one is possibly my favourite from her so far. It was far darker than I expected when I read the blurb, and I highly suggest readers with triggers take a look at the **trigger warnings** before picking it up.

This book was heartbreaking at times but beautifully done. I cried quite a few tears while reading. When we’re introduced to the hero, Parker, he is cynical, bitter and judgemental. While the heroine, Melody, is broken and lost but carries an optimism that Parker finds himself drawn to even while he finds her infuriating. Both characters are healing from trauma and following their journey was a rollercoaster of emotions.

Hartmann has a talent for writing tragic stories and damaged characters that doesn’t feel like exploiting painful narratives for shock value. Instead, they feel like a healing journey for both the characters and the reader. You go through all the pain with her characters, but at the end you’re left hopeful and amazed at the resilience of the human spirit.

If Jennifer Hartmann writes it, I’m reading it.

*Thank you to Bloom Books and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own*

If you want to have your heart ripped out, and then ripped out some more over and over again.. then this book is for you. As a person who is still grieving a loss, I felt it all with this book. It was insanely raw, emotional and beautiful, especially when there's two broken people learning to let someone in, and learning to love. Parker has a lot to unpack with being given an extremely crap hand at such a young age, but it was so powerful to finally see him come into the man that you knew he could be with a little patience, understanding and most importantly love. But it wasn't an easy journey for him to get there and it most certainly wasn't an easy journey for Melody with the loss of her husband. I highly highly highly recommend this one!

Jennifer Hartman wrote a gripping and heartbreaking contemporary romance about loss and love. This story will rip you apart before it gently puts you back together. Be prepared to read the whole book in one sitting, with tissues next to you.

Man did this book rip out my heart and piece it back together! Jennifer Hartmann has a way of weaving a story together that makes question exactly how you're feeling at the end of it! Highly recommend this book!