this was exactly what I was hoping for with Lo and Aidan. The Love in Galway novels are honestly the easiest, funnest reads.. The romance in this was everything. WE LOVE A MAN WHO PINES. we just do. Aidan was everything you wanted him to be with his groveling and talk about a man obsessed. Lo is exactly as I remembered, a baller med student and hyper-independent. I was so glad to see her relinquish some of that independence. All in all, I loved it and I honestly can't wait for the next one.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of the eARC of Heart Strings by Ivy Fairbanks in exchange for my honest review!

I fell in love with Lark and Callum in Morbidly Yours entirely, and was more than excited to jump in to Heart Strings. It was a good story in and of itself, but just didn’t hit the same way.

The setting was lovely, the days leading up to the wedding were so fun, the side characters were spot on. But the beginning felt rushed- it’s been 4 years since the happenings of Morbidly Yours, and in that time Lo and Aidan met, dated for 6 months, broke up, and spent 2 years apart prior to coming back together for the wedding. Add cancer in to the mix and that’s just a TON. It felt a little bit rushed to fill in the gaps so that we could get into the good stuff- putting Lo and Aidan together again.

The creek scenes, the light bondage, the tension with the parents were all spectacular. Buuuuuut- I hate a miscommunication trope. And Lo is the embodiment of all the reasons that trope goes wrong, making her hard to like. She wanted to fight instead of communicate and sabotaged herself. She was an interesting character- but not an incredibly likable one until we got about 80% in to the book. That last 20% of the book though- 10/10.

Overall- 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4.

This just wasn't for me. I didn't really like either of the character's very much, and second chance romance can be pretty hit or miss for me. So, I just wasn't invested in them getting back together.

There were a lot of sweet elements to the story, the communication between them ended up being great. And there wasn't really a third act break-up which is nice.

but overall, something about this book just didn't work for me.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

I'm a huge fan of Morbidly Yours, so I enjoyed the Callum and Lark update. And getting the story of their best friends Cielo and Aidan was so fun. I wish we got more of a glimpse into they're first relationship to tie me to their love, because what we did see was the sweetest. I loved the pacing, the support that Aiden showed Cielo, and the spice was spicing. It was a great follow up and I can't wait to get back to Ireland for the next book.

Gettting to revisit the characters I first came to love in Morbidly Yours was a delight! The two year time jump was perfect. Getting to know Aiden and Lo after they've already broken up, and learn about their relationship in the way we do is so well done. Lo has a lot of residual issues, particularly with her parents, that she's aware of but still actively dealing with, and I thought these were treated really well. Her resistance to believing people didn't want to abandon her was not overdone, or annoying, and really made a lot of sense. The Lark, Callum, and Saoirse spots were all delightful. Aiden is an absolute gem and I love him dearly.

Heart Strings was a sweet return to Galway and the world of Morbidly Yours, this time centering on Lo and Aidan—two characters with a lot of history, a lot of unresolved tension, and a second chance at love they never saw coming. After dating for six months years ago, their relationship ended abruptly when Aidan moved to London to chase his dream of becoming a musician. Now, they’re forced back together as maid of honor and best man for Lark and Callum’s wedding, and all those lingering feelings come bubbling to the surface.

The chemistry between them is undeniable—the spice was spicing, y’all—and their banter, tension, and slow emotional unraveling really kept the story moving. While I wasn’t always sold on the reasons for their original breakup (they felt a bit vague or underdeveloped given the emotional fallout), I did appreciate watching them work through their miscommunication and growth. There’s a real sense of two people who needed time and space apart to grow into the versions of themselves that might finally be ready for each other.

Lo, in particular, stood out for me. She’s a hyper-independent med student who’s overcome a lot—family pressure, her own health battles, and a deep need to prove she can handle everything on her own. She’s guarded, prickly, and deeply relatable. Aidan, meanwhile, is charming and earnest, and while I didn’t connect with him quite as much, I loved his sweet, persistent nature and the soft moments he brought into their dynamic. (Also, tell me he wasn’t inspired by Hozier. I dare you.)

The side characters continued to shine in this sequel. Lark, Saoirse, and Aidan’s family added depth and heart (special shout-out to the personalized sweaters and creepy puppets), and the Galway setting was just as cozy and vivid as ever. Ivy Fairbanks does a great job of creating a world that feels warm and lived-in, with side characters who feel as real as the main ones.

The writing felt stronger than in Morbidly Yours, though there were still moments where the dialogue or pacing felt a little clunky. I also found myself wishing for a bit more emotional build-up before the romantic reunion—it came a little earlier than expected, and I would’ve loved just a touch more yearning. Still, the overall payoff was satisfying, and the emotional growth both characters go through made the ending feel earned.

All in all, Heart Strings was a cute, heartfelt, and steamy second-chance romance. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a quick, enjoyable read that made me feel right at home in this world again. I’m officially hyperfixating on Ireland now, and if Saoirse doesn’t get her own book next, I might riot. 👀

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

As a baby book reviewer, will the adrenaline rush of a NetGalley approval ever wane? I sincerely doubt it. Especially when you’re approved to read an ARC that’s the second in a series you unexpectedly stumbled upon and fell head over heels for last year. Lark and Callum’s unlikely pairing in Morbidly Yours set Cielo and Aidan’s romance into motion and I’m so glad @ivyfairbanks chose to take us back to Galway. 💚 Second chance romance is rarely my top choice for tropes because I find it very hard to do realistically but WOOF, was this one as messy and as human as they come. I admired Lo’s intelligence and sass, Aidan’s patience and gentle spirit, and the way that the author approached the tough themes woven throughout the story. I also did not hate the spice but I’ll keep those details under wraps until the pub date. 😉

First of all, let’s take a moment to appreciate just how adorable this cover is. I absolutely love it! Second, this book truly pulled on my heartstrings (see what I did there? 😉).

I adore Lo. She’s the kind of FMC I’d love to meet for coffee and give a hug to, just to tell her how strong I think she is.

It was so easy to root for Lo and Aidan. Their journey toward love unfolds like a beautiful, heartbreaking melody, and it’s one I’ll definitely be coming back to time and time again.

If you haven’t already, make sure to pick up Ivy’s first book, Morbidly Yours. I love Ivy’s writing and how she brings difficult topics to light in such a beautiful way. Just like Heart Strings, that one deserves all the praise as well.

Overall, bravo Ivy! I can not wait for your next book and look forward to kicking my feet and crying uncontrollably all over again.

Heart Strings hits shelves on August 12th!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for providing an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Heart Strings is the second book in an interconnected standalone series, and let me tell you, it had everything I wanted from a second-chance romance. Tears? Check. Yearning? Oh, absolutely. Laughs and wholesome moments? Plenty. It struck all the right chords (pun absolutely intended). The characters were effortlessly easy to root for while still feeling incredibly real, and the romance? So genuine, so heartfelt. My only gripe? The ending felt a smidge rushed and left me wanting just a little more. But overall? What a ride!

Cielo has been through it, family expectations, personal ambition, and the weight of, well, everything. She’s driven, determined, and honestly? I related so hard to her. Her resilience and the way she tackled life’s challenges were seriously inspiring.

And then there’s Aidan. Sweet, swoon-worthy Aidan. This man wrote songs about their relationship, actual songs and I melted. The way he cared for his family? Adorable. The way he just wanted to write music? Love that for him. Honestly, major relationship goals.

Their dynamic was delightful. Though, I would have loved a little more angst (because let’s be real, second-chance romances thrive on that slow-burn pain).

What to Expect:
Irish Singer-Songwriter
American Medical Student
Forced Proximity at a Castle Wedding
Second Chance
A Man Who Whispers
Headstrong Leukemia Survivor

If you love heartfelt romance with a touch of drama and a dash of Irish charm, this one’s for you!

Thank you to Ivy Fairbanks, the author, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, and NetGalley for the ARC opportunity!

I enjoyed Heart Strings even more than the first book in the series. This second-chance romance tells the story of Cielo and Aidan. Lo is a hyper-independent woman, cancer survivor, and med school student. Honestly, I thought Lo being a perfectionist who needed to be in control was really relatable. In this story, Aidan and Lo are the best man and maid of honor for Callum and Lark’s wedding and are forced to see each other again after 2 years apart. Aidan was set on earning Lo back and proving himself to her, but they both needed to work on themselves as they rekindled their relationship.

Thank you Penguin and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. This was such a cute read and I hope there’ll be another installment in the Love in Galway series.

This book hits all the right beats—second chances, a swoony musician, and a scenic Irish castle—but the melody feels a little too familiar. Lo is determined to keep her heart under lock and key, and Aidan is the classic "I messed up, but let me sing my way back into your life" hero. The tension is solid, the setting is dreamy, and the angst is real. But the story leans so hard into the one that got away trope that it never quite surprises.

If you love broody musicians and stubborn heroines, this will be music to your ears. If you’re hoping for something that reinvents the genre, you might find this tune a bit overplayed.

This was a cute story. I was able to get through it very quickly and I loved the ending!! Thank you Netgalley for the arc of this book, I really appreciate it.

#HeartStrings was a cute and enjoyable read. Here, we meet Lo who is a med student in Ireland and attempting to being a really good maid of honor for her best friend's wedding. Aidan is an semi-successful singer who left his small town in Ireland to pursue his dream and leaving Lo behind. However, these two must be cordial and friendly during the wedding weekend. This brings up old memories and a realization that there was a lot that was left unsaid and unexplored. We have good chemistry, fun friendships, some awkward adventures and steamy sexy times with a sprinkle of drama. I really enjoyed Aidan and how he did not hold back in expressing his intentions each time to Lo. On the other hand, Lo was borderline insufferable many times. I mean, she was driven and organized but her deep-seated insecurities and family issues made her internal monologue so eye-rolling. It was exhausting. Thankfully, the book was short and did not make this and the pining drag for too long. The side characters were truly supportive and kind. This was a nice cozy weekend quick read. I recommend it for the loving romance and the side relationships with other characters. Happy reading!

Thank you to #NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam's Sons for the ARC!

Absolutely adored another addition to the A Love in Galway series 🪕🍀 Lo’s struggles with her overbearing mother and feeling like she needs to be the referee between her divorced mom and dad is all too realistic. Aidan is her dreamy Irish ex who’s now an up and coming artist. They reunite at Lark and Callum’s (from book 1) wedding and many hilarious ventures bring them back together 🤎

Such a fun and cozy romance read!

Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The first book in this series, Morbidly Yours, is one of my personal favorites so it is probably no surprise that this was one of my most anticipated releases of this year! I loveee a second chance romance (especially with a Dual POV). I was SO thrilled to have the opportunity to read this one early!

I enjoyed getting to get more of a glimpse into Lark and Callum’s happily ever after in this book as we read about their wedding shenanigans. This book, like the first, had plenty of humor and heart with a hefty dose of quirkiness! While Lark and Callum still have my heart, Cielo and Aidan charmed me in their own way! As a Cancer survivor, Cielo is really resilient. I liked that this book explored what it is like for Cancer survivors to worry that it might come back and how it can affect the relationships in their lives. I think she will be relatable to many people with her hyper-independence, not wanting to burden others with her problems, and having walls up to protect herself from hurt. It was nice to see her learn to allow herself to lean more on others.

Aidan was sweet and so committed to trying to win Lo back and proving himself to her. After learning from the mistakes of their past, he became a great example of “if he wanted to, he would”. I loved seeing how well he shows up for her once she’s back in his life! Plus, the yearning?? The groveling?? Yes, please.😍 I liked how the book explored how people grapple with how much they are willing to compromise their values and shift priorities in the name of money and fame/success. He seemed to have a good set of values and a deep commitment to his friends and family despite all of his success. He was just a good guy all around! He’s definitely a softer, sweeter, more sensitive MMC, but he still has hot guy tattoos for a bit of edge haha. 😉

“Sometimes…The right person is standing directly in front of you. It might not be how or when or who you expect, but when it’s right, you feel it.”

These two certainly were a case of when you meet your person, you just know. It was clear they never stopped loving each other. They say distance makes the heart grow fonder and this seems to have held true for them. I like that they seem to bring out the best in each other and that she is his muse! 🥰

My only complaints for this book were that: I didn’t connect as well with these main characters quite as much as I had connected with Callum and Lark in Morbidly Yours. Lo, in particular, I found to be pretty frustrating at times due to her not setting boundaries or communicating well. I was a little frustrated by a certain character’s overstep toward the end (trying to stay vague to avoid spoiling things for others) because I felt like it took away from what could’ve been a moment of growth for Cielo. I also personally didn’t love how the spice scenes were written in this book. The way they talked to each other in these scenes just didn’t really work for me. This is a super subjective complaint though. What doesn’t work for me may very well work for others! (THAT SAID, I will say that I appreciated how these scenes helped Lo explore her relationship with control and learning to let go a little bit and trust more.) My main complaint with this book was that I felt like there was more telling than showing. I would’ve appreciated a dual timeline or flashbacks to their past in memories or something, but I had trouble feeling super invested in their relationship because we mostly just get their present and not much insight into their past relationship. Generally, for me, second chance romance tends to work best when we get more of a juxtaposition between the past and present which helps you feel more connected to them as a couple and more invested in their relationship. In this one, I was missing most of the background and context of their past relationship and wanted to see more of how good they were together before things didn’t work out so I would’ve rooted for them more when they re-entered each other’s lives.🤷‍♀️

Despite these complaints, I still enjoyed it overall. I’m definitely looking forward to Saoirse’s book next! I already am loving the little glimpse we got into the dynamics of the MCS! 😍

Heart Strings is a sweet, light romance set in Ireland. The Irish setting is a major highlight, and the main female character is strong and relatable, which I really appreciated. I also liked how the story didn’t just end at the wedding—things kept evolving after that, giving the plot more depth than I expected.


However, while the characters had good chemistry, the story didn’t blow me away. It was enjoyable, but not unforgettable, and I’m not sure I’d want to revisit it. If you’re looking for a quick, feel-good romance with a nice setting, this could be a fun read, but it’s not a book that left a lasting impact.

Thank you netgalley and Penguin Group for the ARC!

This book is amazing it is even better than her first book. The banter was amazing, and the romantic side of the book was wonderful.

A sweet little love story - a great sequel to the first!
I love a second-chance romance where one of them immediately decides they want to get the other one back.
The only characters I couldn't stand were her parents and Lark's mom. All of them seemed to behave like children without having to suffer any consequences.

Overall the book was a lot of fun - and a quick and easy read. Would absolutely recommend.

Quick Summary: A Galway romance

My Review: Heart Strings by Ivy Fairbanks is associated with A Love in Galway series. It is installment #2 and is scheduled for release in August 2025.

About the Book: "She doesn’t do second chances. But he’s not done writing their song."

In My Own Words: A young and determined cancer survivor is reunited with the man who broke her heart. Both are still in their feelings. Can they get past their issues and make beautiful music together again?

My Final Say: This story was so touching. It was also very realistic. I really liked it.

The emotional fragility and fear exhibited by the parents, the isolation and protection methods used by Lo, the longing and regret felt by A, the leaning in regarding the supportive network of key family/found family/friends, and the demonstrated actions taken in terms of second chance choices all made for good reading. Added to that, the love and passion between Lo and A remained, even after everything that happened and after all the time they lost.

I loved the dynamics that occurred with each relationship. The various approaches in dealing with what was before them added texture to the story. Everything seemed to be filtered through colorful variations of emotion. In the waiting, my heart cried right alongside the characters.

Other: Readers who value realistic fiction, romances with heart, second chance love stories, and stories with reconciliation and healing as themes will enjoy this novel.

Potential readers are advised to read any author's notes related to this book. Cancer may be a trigger for some.

Special Note: This would be excellent as an audiobook. I think it would bring the story to life even more. It is emotionally rich and raw, while also being ripe with sweet heat. To hear the characters voices narrated would make their journey unbelievably solid. I very much look forward to the listening experience.

Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Series: Yes

Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons), and to NetGalley. Thank you for providing access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. It was a pleasure to review this work. The words I have voluntarily shared are my own.