“Morbidly Yours” was one of my favourite books of 2024, so imagine my excitement when I received an early copy of this sequel! This one handles a sensitive spot for me (cancer), but it’s handled so beautifully and carefully that I didnt mind (trust Ivy Fairbanks to handle delicate subjects with care!).

The chemistry is there, the setting is gorgeous, and I loved that despite being a second chance story, we spend our time in the present — I like second chances but find overuse of flashbacks to the “before” to be exhausting. I loved the characters— everyone needs an Aidan in their life.

I cannot WAIT for book 3!

3.5⭐️




Cielo y Aidan eran novios, eran felices y pensaban que siempre estarían juntos, hasta que él saltó a la fama y rompieron. Han pasado dos años sin verse ni hablar, pero serán dama de honor y padrino en la boda de Lark y Cal (protagonistas del libro anterior) y tendrán que pasar tiempo juntos. ¿Lograrán hablar y solucionar lo que salió mal, o ya es demasiado tarde?

~

Hubo algo que no me gustó y de lo que siempre me quejo: al terminar la relación, Aidan regresó a sus tendencias de mujeriego, mientras que Cielo no salió con nadie ni mucho menos durmió con otro.





Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.75 stars

I adored Morbidly Yours, so the second Heart Strings was announced, I was giddy for updates.

Heart Strings is the second-chance romance between Lark's cousin Cielo "Lo" and the barrister who saved the day in Morbidly Yours, Aidan. Set 2 years post-breakup, Lo and Aidan are thrown together during the wedding festivities of the MY couple.

In this installment, Ivy Fairbanks continues to shine in her ability to tell a story. The pacing is wonderful, never feeling too-drawn out or uneven. The characters were likeable and had depth, making their actions and thoughts believable and reasonable.

While I did enjoy Heart Strings, it had the issue a lot of second-chance romances deal with. We didn't get to see them falling in love. The book begins with them having already fallen in love and breaking up, but it's obvious the feelings are still there from the start. We do get to experience them reconnecting, but it would've been nice to have more from the initial getting-together. Maybe if their relationship was explored in the previous book, this would've worked better.

I am looking forward to the next installment. I loved the teases we got of what may happen next.

*I received this eArc via Netgalley & Putnam.

This book is a second chance romance that delves into themes of love, personal growth and the complexities of inner struggles. The story follows Cielo, a resilient Texan and cancer survivor, who reconnects with her former love, Aidan, a tattooed, guitar-playing lawyer turned successful musician and they’re reunited as maid of honor and best man at her cousin’s wedding. Their reunion forces them to confront past mistakes and explore the possibility of rekindling their relationship.

I believe that this is the second installment in this series? But I read it as a standalone and after finishing it, I will be picking up Ivy’s other works. Ivy created a story that is both heartwarming and relatable, addressing heavy topics with sensitivity and authenticity. The portrayal of mental health challenges offers a respectful and realistic depiction that resonates deeply for me personally.

The chemistry between the characters is INSANE, with tension that leaps off the pages. I love me a spicy book and the romantic scenes in this one are chefs kiss. They had me giggling and kicking my feet.

This book is a testament to the power of second chances and the importance of confronting one’s past to build a better future.

I just discovered this author through the first book in this series, Morbidly Your's, and was so excited to see Cielo return, this time as the lead, for this book!

Her story with Aidan, her love interest, was everything I could have wanted and more. It had moments of vulnerability and tenderness that literally pulled at my heart strings (pun intended) and had me turning the page for more. The two also have history; this isn't one of those stories where the characters get to know and fall for each other over the course of a couple days or weeks. They also really felt like two distinct characters, and their chemistry was clear - there was so much to love.

This isn't much of a spoiler if you've seen the author's teasers for this book on her Instagram, but this book does have mention of health issues just as a heads up for anyone that might not be in the right headspace to read about that kind of thing. If you liked the couple from Morbidly Your's, they're also pretty present in this book as is revealed in the first chapter.

In short, definitely give this book a try when it comes out in August! After my experience with her first two books, I look forward to this author's future releases too.

Oh, how I’m so happy to be back in Galway to read about these characters again. Heart Strings is the second book in the A Love in Galway series and could be read as a standalone. Heart Strings centers around Cielo Valdez, Lark’s cousin and a medical student, and her ex-boyfriend, Aidan O’Toole, an Irish superstar, who meet up again at Lark and Callum’s wedding as maid of honor and best man, respectively.

Aidan is the epitome of a green flag character. He was supportive, steadfast, and reassuring. His perpetually devoted love for Cielo was endearing, and his willingness to sacrifice life-changing opportunities for her was breathtaking. Cielo, on the other hand, is harder to connect to, but at the same time, it was understandable. She had been hurt and let down by the people she loved most in the past, and her history with her cancer made it more difficult for her to rely on others. However, Aidan healed those pieces that Cielo was wounded by, and in turn, Cielo gave Aidan the confidence to stand up to his music label.

Ivy Fairbanks wrote a vulnerable book of resilience, strength, and courage. It transcends the label of just being a second chance at love again romance and explores themes of identity, guilt, and regret. It’s a book about learning how to love fearlessly, how to trust wholeheartedly, and how to communicate openly. But most of all, it’s a book about facing your fears, accepting and letting go of past mistakes, and learning how to fight for yourself. Fairbanks wrote this tender book with consideration and delicateness. I fell in love with the first book as well as this one, and I eagerly cannot wait for the next book in this series.

Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

ARC REVIEW!!!

What to expect:
❤️‍🩹Second Chance Romance
🎶Irish Singer-Songwriter
🩺American Med Student
🏰Forced Proximity at a Castle Wedding

I am so unbelievably thankful to have had the opportunity to be a part of Ivy’s street/ARC team for Heart Strings! This book had me in all the feels. I was cackling, crying, and SWOONING! Lo is a Mexican-American, cancer survivor from Texas turned med student, who moves to Galway to finish med school in an attempt to show her mother she can be independent and take care of herself. Aiden is a former solicitor who moonlights as a singer/songwriter writer. They strike up a romance and spend a year supporting each other in their respective passions. Because of Lo, Aiden has the confidence to make music his full time gig! All is well until he has to move to London, effectively ending their relationship since neither is willing to take the other away from their passion. After 2 years, they are thrust together at theirs friend/cousin (Callum and Lark) wedding, as Best Man and Maid of Honor. This is a second chance romance that is giving in all aspects. From story line, spice, and character growth! Ivy Fairbanks has a way with words that makes these character, experiences, and feelings so relatable.

🚨🚨🚨SPOILERS!!!🚨🚨🚨
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Of course I am always here for great spice (I mean a hearse! Who knew?! lol) but I thoroughly enjoyed the character growth throughout the story. Lo going from a strong independence, that is rooted from her fears of being a “burden”, to accepting the emotional support from her loved ones that allowed herself to let go and truly enjoy that independence. With Aiden, we see him regain his muse through his love for Lo, and his acceptance that his talent is good enough to stand on its own.

💚Forevermore.

A huge thank you to the publisher and Ivy Fairbanks for making this arc available to me! Morbidly Yours was one of my top 5 books of 2024, and I was ecstatic to receive a copy of this novel early!!

I ended up settling on a 2.5/5 rating for this novel - and I am so disappointed that I didn't love this one.

This novel follow's the second-chance love story of Cielo and Aidan. We meet this characters in Morbidly Yours, and while they had a secondary role, you could tell the author was setting them up for their own story. To put it frankly: I did not care for Cielo...at all. She was only in a few scenes in Morbidly Yours and I didn't care for her then, either...which should have the first red flag for me since she was only in a few scenes.

As a main character, a friend, a cousin, a daughter, and as a love interest, Cielo irked me. That sounds harsh, but she was so harsh to everyone around her. She was callous, emotionally unavailable, and blamed everyone around her for things not going exactly how she wanted. And we all have our flaws, but throughout the book just as you thought maybe she was showing some character growth, she reverted right back to her old ways. This is the first time reading a novel where I actually threw my head back and rolled my eyes because of her internal monologue. I'm actually mad that she ended up with Aidan because I think he deserves 100 times better than her! Oops!

That being said, this is a second chance romance. We read about these characters meeting in Morbidly Yours, but we don't get to see ANY of their love story unfold. The book opens two years after their relationship/break-up, and we only get glimpses into what their relationship was like before. We read them reminiscing about special moments and spicy moments, about how much those moments meant to each other, etc., but we are reading about the memories of those moments so it was hard to connect to their relationship or the story. I'm not a fan of second-chance romance trope either, unfortunately. And from these memories, we're supposed to believe they're destined to be together. It just wasn't believable for me. This book is only about 320 pages, too, so I think if some flashbacks were on page instead of just "memories," it could have been more believable.

There are also specific tropes/k*nks in this novel that are not my cup of tea....I didn't enjoy reading about them because I'm simply not into that kind of stuff which is my own personal preference!!

ALL of this being said, I adored Morbidly Yours. It's one of my favorite romances of all time. This one, I did not like at all. I truly think it's a personal preference as I don't like second-chance romance, I didn't like Cielo, and I didn't like a lot of spicy scene specifics. Ivy Fairbanks still has a piece of my heart, and I will be reading the next novel because I love the FMC of the next novel!

I loved every minute of HEART STRINGS! Ivy Fairbanks set the bar high with her debut novel, and she did not let me down with this one.

Heart Strings has everything you love to see in a second chance romance-- pining, love that never really left, and a hope for the future shadowed by past doubts. It was incredibly sweet and sexy, perfectly balanced between humorous and heartfelt. Plus— we got another hearse scene!

The writing was very easy to read, mixed with beautiful prose that I couldn't help but highlight to look back on and re-read.

Looking forward to more from this author!

This book is perfect for lovers of musician/rockstar romance and second chance romance!

I'm not the biggest fan of either of those two tropes, so I'm fully aware that some of the things I didn't like in this book are down to that. I in no way think it's a bad book, it's just not the best book for me. My rating fluctuates between 3.5-4 stars, but I rounded up because I do love this world and this cast of characters.

I think I would've liked it better if it followed a more traditional second chance structure, meaning if it was also dual timeline. Since we don't see the couple's first attempt at a relationship, there is a lot of telling rather than showing, a lot of talking about who they are and what their relationship is like, and it didn't feel fully earned as I didn't get to see this unfold. However, what I like BETTER about this than many other second chance romances is that I think the reason they break up initially is actually a really good one. It's a big enough issue that it makes sense for them to have split, but not something so catastrophic that I don't buy their reunion. I really liked that it was brought on by issues on both of their parts and that they both take accountability and make adjustments to be better partners.

The spice in this is fantastic! I love the way their relationship blossoms through the spice. It's not just about kink and power play, but it's about trust and communication and both Lo and Aidan's development shines through these scenes. There's also some great humour and heart throughout, and I loved getting to see Lark and Callum's wedding.

There were some minor things with the writing that irked me a bit, Some of the word choice, especially from Aidan's POV, were too American. And I fully understand that it's because I don't usually like rockstar romance, but I find it hard to believe that just because someone is a musician, they would use music metaphors and references for everything they do in their lives. I know that's a common element of rockstar romance though, so if you like that, this book certainly delivers!

I do love this cast of characters. Just like in Morbidly Yours, Saoirse really shines and I cannot wait to finally read her story. I love the way she's there for Lo and the bond they form. I also really loved the way Lo navigates her family relationships and how she grows in her ability to set boundaries and communicate.

All in all, I think this is a great book for some people, and while it didn't exactly hit the mark for me, I think many readers will really really love this story!

Ivy Fairbanks has done it again!!!

Second in the series, Heart Strings picks up where Morbidly Yours left off. Could technically be read stand alone, but if you haven't read Lark and Callum's story first, a lot will go right over your head.

Cielo, Lark's cousin, med student, and cancer survivor, is Lark's maid of honor for the wedding. Problem is, her superstar ex, Aiden, is Callum's best man. She hates him and she's pretty sure she can stand this one weekend, but with friends trying to orchestrate them getting back together, a super small venue, and Aiden's sexiness, can she manage not to fall back in love with him? Or was she ever truly not in love in the first place?

Again in this book, Fairbanks handles some pretty heavy themes - mental health, being a people pleaser, pediatric cancer, anxiety, Latino FMC, Irish MMC, parental estrangement - and she handles them so the reader can't help falling in love with the characters. And just like Morbidly Yours, there are Irish tid bits so I learned while enjoying the love story. Spice is on FIRE

I was so excited at the end to see that Saorse's story will be coming next!!! I can't wait to be back in Galway.

Thank you to netgalley, Putnam and Ivy for the advanced copy of Heart Strings for a honest review.

Once again, Ivy's writing is amazing and really easy to read. She has a talent for writing scenes that will have me blushing and laughing. The spice was also chef's kiss.

However, as much as I adore Morbidly Yours, I had some challenges connecting with Heart Strings. Specifically that I felt like we didn't get enough of an explanation or a bigger talk about why they first broke up in the first place. The reason is there, but I wish there was more groveling and discussions around it before they fell back into a relationship, which made it harder for me to fully engage with the story.

That said, I'm confident other readers who enjoy second chances more than me will have a different experience. I know it will be loved by many, it just wasn't for me.

What happens when you put a dreamy Irish musician and a determined doctoral student back together again? That's right...things get wet in more ways (and places) than one expects.
Giggling and kicking my feet in happiness for this amazing addition to the Love in Galway series. Ivy does it again with creating two characters that were made for each other.
If you loved Callum and Lark from Morbidly Yours, then Aidan and Lo will show you it's never too late to give love a second chance, no matter what life throws at them, even sheep.

What a LOVELY love story... Ivy Fairbanks has done it again. She has such an amazing way with words and her stories are all so cozy... makes you want to curl up with a blanket and coffee and get lost in her world.
For this second book in this interconnected Love in Galways series we have Cielo and Aidan... they are the Maid of Honor and Best Man of their Best friends wedding {Callum & Lark from book 1 Morbidly Yours} They are forced to spend a weekend together at a castle where the wedding will take place. This would be fine if Aidan hadn't broken Lo's heart 2 years prior when he chose his music career over her... or just maybe did she break his heart too. They realize really quick they are not over each other and secrets come to light as they work together to make the wedding perfect for their friends.
I mean this man wrote an entire album for her... how could she not see how much he loves her.. can he prove it by being there when she NEEDS him most?? even when she doesn't tell him herself because she is trying to put his needs above hers.
"You're the song in my heart"

I Just LOVE the two and I could not put this book down!!! Absolutely wonderful story.

"Every little freckle on her nose is right where I left it"

Dare I say, I almost liked this more than Morbidly Yours (Love in Galway book 1) 😬🙌 and I can’t say too much because I don’t want to spoil it! So here’s the short and sweet:

I zoomed through this book. Aiden and Ceilo’s dynamic was so comforting but also a little stressful. I never knew what was going to happen but in the best way. I just absolutely loved being back in Galway with everyone. And having bigger look into Aiden’s family was so fun! Seeing little snippets of Lark and Callum’s life was also a bonus!

There are some serious notes in this book and I really appreciated how the characters overcame their obstacles. It made them so much more relatable.

Thank you for the advanced copy! I absolutely loved it!

My very first arc and I’m oh so excited!! Thank you so much to Ivy, NetGalley and Putnam for this advanced copy!

Morbidly Yours was my favourite read of last year so I was super excited to dive back into this series! And Heart Strings did not disappoint… I inhaled this book in less than 24 hours.

Lo and Aiden are perfect. I love a second chance romance that feels organic and earned, and that is exactly how these two fall back together. I loved the glances back to Cal and Lark, and the CASTLE?! Better yet… the HEARSE SCENE?! Amazing. Stunning.


This book is heartfelt, genuinely funny, spicy and sweet. Ivy writes the more difficult topics in a way that feels very honest.

4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ loved it!

I'm sobbing at how perfect of a book this is. Morbidly Yours is one of my all-time favorite contemporary romances, and this one might even top it. This is set in the same universe as Morbidly Yours and features exes Lo and Aidan. I won't spoil anything, but I read this in a single day and swooned, laughed, and sobbed through it. If you enjoyed Morbidly Yours, you have to read this follow-up. And if you haven't read Morbidly Yours- read it now before Heart Strings comes out on August 12th! I'm not much of a contemporary romance fan a lot of the time, but these are now on a favorites shelf 🖤

Heart strings

“I don’t understand how you’ve convinced yourself that you’re an anchor that drags me down. You’re not. You could never be that. You’re the stability that keeps me from getting tossed about in a storm.”

Ivy Fairbanks did the impossible; she made me LOVE a second chance romance.
The way Cielo and Aiden are written is honestly chef’s kiss 🤌🏻 You can just feel the tension radiating from the pages. And the spice?! Ya’ll ain’t ready… Ivy’s writing is immensely descriptive which really catapults you into the story. I love this Galway series of hers and can’t wait for the next instalment!

I rated this book 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to @netgalley & Ivy for the advanced copy

Thank you so much to Ivy, Netgalley and Putnam for an advanced copy of Heart Strings. 💚

I was a little scared going into this book because of my own personal traumas with cancer and cancer treatment. But Ivy hasn't let me down yet with how she handles sensitive subjects. Seeing Lo grow and accomplish things, seeing her really live post treatment, healed something that broke in me after I lost my best friend. Lo faced the worst and came out the other side, not necessarily unscathed but more determined to make a difference with the second chance at life she was given.

I was so glad when she finally stepped away from what she considered safety to fully embrace what life is, even in the face of the unknown and scary. She's so incredibly strong and resilient. I really related to her need to not be a burden and her hyper independence.

I loved the way Aidan showed up for Lo, big or small. Once he realized he had the opportunity at a second chance, he listened, he cared and he showed it. The small things he does for Lo warm my heart so much and it's so incredibly beautiful to see a person love someone so loudly.

The side characters are so vibrant and full of life. They each have their own distinctive personality that really shines, even when they aren't the main focus. They don't outshine the main characters but they compliment them beautifully.

Ivy's writing is so genuine, so real, and full of heart and her characters, story and world reflect that. This book makes you feel like you know each one of them personally, they feel like home and comfort.

Heart Strings is a beautiful, magnificent, love story that will fill your heart to the brim. This is going to be one of those books that I'll never shut up about. 💚

☘️Love sometimes has a way of coming back around if you let it. This story was a perfect example of opening your heart to the possibility for a second chance. ☘️ I enjoyed the slow burn between Lo and Aidan. They were familiar with each other, but at the same time, the lingering looks had that new romance feel. The dual view was brilliant in this story. I enjoyed reading their thoughts and struggles. How they left things and how they both felt what had happened. I loved how open they were. Their passion was pure fire. They knew what they were missing and they both wanted that back. When Lo was going in for her appointment, my heart sank. She was alone and the fear heavy on her shoulders. Aidan so far away and unknowing. I will admit my eyes were experiencing waterworks during those chapters. ☘️ I fell in love with Morbidly Yours, Book 1 of this series, and now my heart is full after reading this book.
Book Blurb: Cielo “Lo” Valdez doesn’t believe in second chances. Surviving cancer taught her life is too short to spend time on someone who wronged you. But Aidan O’Toole is determined to show her life is best spent together.

When the tough-as-nails Texan moved to Galway for medical school, she wasn’t looking for love. Aidan, a gorgeous, tattooed, mandolin-playing lawyer, slipped past her defenses. They each fell hard and fast. But when Aidan was given the opportunity of a lifetime—to move to London and record an album—he took it, breaking Lo’s heart. Yet more than two years and a successful album later, every song he writes is still about her, the one he let get away. And every time Lo hears his voice on the radio singing about love, it’s an arrow straight to her soul.

Now they’re on a collision course as maid of honor and best man at a weekend-long Irish castle wedding. Are some mistakes worth forgiving? Can Aidan convince Lo their song wasn’t meant to end? #book #booklover #bookaddict #bookworms #bookreview #arcreview #netgalley #hearstriings