I wanted to love this one with all my heart like I did her first but I didn’t and that breaks my heart. Still a well written book and love story, just not the one for me. I am not one who is good with second chance romance sometimes and this one just sat awkward for me at times. I also did not connect with the characters. There were times I had to take a small break from reading and come back to the story. I still enjoyed it, and look forward to the next, as I do love the setting, and writing, this one, was just not for me.

Thank you NetGally and the Publishers for the chance to read this one early.

Thank you to NetGalley and GP Putnam’s Sons for this advanced reader copy!

After loving Morbidly Yours so very much, I was so excited to delve into the sequel and revisit some of my favorite characters!

Heart Strings follows Lo and Aidan, reunited after several years following an emotional breakup. Their chemistry is undeniable, and being forced to celebrate their respective best friend’s wedding together has them questioning why they broke up in the first place.

I won’t lie: I spent a lot of this book confused about why they weren’t together anymore. The reasons weren’t super clear or didn’t seem concrete enough to warrant the devastating breakup they experienced, and us readers did *not* experience. It seemed like a weak reason to breakup.

That said, the SPICE. WAS. SPICING. 🥵 I do not remember the first book being this spicy and I was HERE FOR IT. The chemistry between them was palpable right off the bat.

While I absolutely preferred Morbidly Yours, I am already foaming at the mouth to read the third in this series!

Overall:
⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Oh man, as someone who utterly fell in love with the characters of Morbidly Yours, I was so excited for this book but tried to tamper my feelings so I could read without expectations.

I didn’t need to! Oh my lanta, Ivy Fairbanks does it again!

She has a way of creating such relatable characters and depicting such heartbreak and love so beautifully. I can see myself in the characters, flaws, anxieties, wants…. I feel like she’s able to put a piece of everyone into her works.

Ivy Fairbanks is forever one of those authors that I will buy the new release on pre-order every time.

This was a beautiful story that I think everyone can relate to: trusting someone enough to give every bit of yourself to, even if you’ve been let down before. Cielo is a strong willed, highly independent woman who I can relate to far more than I care to admit. Aidan allows her to be who she is while showing he’s is all in, after taking her words at face value before. He truly see’s her and calls her out when she needs it while staying true to who he is as well.

They’re not quite Lark and Callum but they’re not far behind 💚

Now I’m patiently waiting for Saoirse and Gabe’s book 😏

I adored the first book in this series so I was excited for this one. The author did a great job at including the wedding of the characters from the first book while not taking attention away from Cielo and Aiden. Cielo is an incredible character who was easy for me to connect with. Great read!

I don’t typically reach for books where one or both main characters are musicians. Don’t ask me why—it’s just not my thing. HOWEVER, Morbidly Yours was one of my favorite reads of 2024, so I happily made an exception for Heart Strings.

One thing I really enjoy about Ivy’s work is how relatable her characters are. Whether they’re navigating parental conflict, struggling with grief, or dealing with relationship challenges, I always find myself connecting with them and empathizing with their experiences. That’s especially true for Aidan and Cielo—their relationship feels real. Unlike some stories where you question whether the couple should even be together, their growth is evident, and they prove their dedication for each other without a forced third-act breakup.

Overall, this story was heartwarming, a little emotional, plenty spicy, and a compelling portrayal of love.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

This book was a fun and easy read and it was a great way to continue exploring the world and characters from Morbidly Yours.

The book follows Cielo, a med student and cancer survivor who is trying her best to be the best that she can be. And then there’s Aiden, a former solicitor turned musician. The two used to date before his new found fame and are now forced to spend time together for their friend’s wedding.

I enjoyed that the timing/pacing of the book wasn’t too dominated by the wedding. The wedding was a great reason to bring them together but I think it was more realistic for the story to span into the after as much as it did. Some second chance romances can really sit in the will-they-won’t-they tension for a bit too much for my liking but this didn’t. We spent more time diving into the complexities of the relationship and the break up more.

Cielo can be rough around the edges but I really resonated with her drive to be the best anything she could be to the people in her life. That and her need for control made her a very relatable character. It was frustrating at times, but I think that makes her all the more real. Because who hasn’t gotten frustrated as someone (or even themselves) at times.

The exploration of control/power was a surprise but one I ended up really liking. The dynamic exchange of power and control in the bedroom really helped to show the shift in their relationship as a whole. Also who doesn’t love a man who isn’t afraid to grovel a little?

As always, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange of an honest review.

Heart Strings is Ivy Fairbanks' second book in the Love in Galway series. It follows Cielo and Aidan, who appeared in Morbidly Yours as secondary characters. After breaking up 2 years ago, they are forced to interact during preparations for Lark and Callum's wedding. They end up reconnecting and decide to try and make a relationship work, while overcoming their past and the things that pushed them apart (Aidan's budding music career, Lo's abandonment issues, and long distance dating).

I read Morbidly Yours a while ago, so I barely rememebered these characters. I'm glad that they got their own story, because Ivy Fairbanks did a great job bringing it to life. Cielo is an absolute force, and I found myself relating with her so much. Aidan is the quintessential book boyfriend, always reminding Lo that even though she can do it all,she deserves someone to hold her hand when things get tough. It took me a little longer than usual to finish it because I honestly did not want the story to end. I'm glad there will be a third installment with Saiorse's story.

Good stuff:
-the banter is fantastic, and their chemistry is sizzling
-the spice is spicy! bonus points for creative use of a speaker!
-appearances from Lark, Callum, Saiorse, and Deirdre from book 1. I love them so much!
-this book gave me Hozier vibes so much, and I am here for it
-Aidan's family pranking him with the ventriloquist dummies made me laugh so hard.
-the yearning was strong in the first half of the book, and the ending was so sweet.

Not Great Stuff:
-this book contains triggering themes of cancer (off page, and then potentially on page), divorce, and abandonment. read at your own discretion.
-Lo's mom is very frustrating. I won't say I hate her character, but I strongly dislike her (even if she was coming from a place of love and care for Lo).
-I did see the ending coming about 60ish% of the way through. Thankfully, it turned out as I hoped it would, but being able to predict it takes a little of the fun out of the reveal.

Spice-o-meter: 🌶🌶🌶/5 (features some light bondage, several open door scenes, and dirty talk)

Netgalley provided me with an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

"Some days, all I look forward to is climbing into bed because there's a chance I might dream of you."

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for access to the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

This book follows Cielo ("Lo") who doesn't believe in second chances, but Aiden is determined to prove that he's worth it. When Lo moved to Ireland for medical school, she fell hard for Aiden. But then Aiden gets his big break as a singer-songwriter, and he takes it, breaking Lo's heart in the process. But two years later, all of his songs still have Lo as the muse. But when they are forced to reunite at Lo's cousin's wedding, they are forced to decide if second chances are worth it.

This book was beautifully written. Personally, I would recommend reading Morbidly Yours before this one because it is the sort of romance series where the characters overlap quite a bit, and it provides a lot of great context for this story. The only reason this isn't a five-star is because it felt a little quick at times since we never got any look into their past relationship. But overall I loved the emotional aspects of this story and the setting and romance were great as well.

I heard he sings to her during phone sex.

Also I don't seen how you can realistically attend medical school, including all your clinical rotations, in Europe and expect to match into a US residency and/or work in the US as a physician. please do your research before writing a romance novel about a medical student.

thank you G.P. Putnam's Sons for the arc in exchange for an honest review

platform: netgalley ebook arc

A cute and spicy romance but I felt more distracted with this one. Overall good!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

I have to say, it completely caught me off guard. I don’t usually pick up romance novels, but this one had me hooked from the first chapter. The chemistry between the two main characters was electric—it wasn’t just about the physical attraction, but the way they challenged and supported each other. I found myself rooting for them, even when they were making mistakes or letting their insecurities get in the way.

What really stood out to me was how real the story felt. The dialogue was sharp and natural, and the emotional moments hit hard without feeling overly dramatic. I could see pieces of myself in the male lead, especially in how he struggled to open up and be vulnerable. It made me think about my own relationships in a way I didn’t expect.

The pacing was perfect, with just enough tension to keep me turning the pages. And while there were moments that felt predictable, the journey was so enjoyable that I didn’t mind. By the end, I was smiling like an idiot—it was that satisfying.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (3.5 rounded to 4)

After absolutely adoring Morbidly Yours, I was beyond excited to dive into Heart Strings. Ivy Fairbanks has such a knack for crafting immersive settings and dynamic side characters, and this book was no exception. Galway and the Irish castle wedding were so perfect and I loved the setting. However, while I enjoyed this second chance romance, it didn’t quite hit the same for me as her first novel.

My biggest struggle was connecting with Aidan and Lo, both individually and as a couple. Their chemistry leaned heavily into instalust, and I found myself craving deeper emotional connection rather than just physical attraction. Lo, in particular, was frustrating and while I admired her strength and resilience, her approach to relationships (especially with Aidan) made her hard to root for at times. I completely understood why she had walls up, but her stubbornness often bordered on exhausting.

That said, the music infused romance, the tension of unresolved feelings, and the forced proximity at the wedding kept me engaged. Aidan’s devotion was sweet, and the Irish setting made everything feel all the more romantic. While it wasn’t a perfect read for me, if you do love exes to lovers stories and dramatic second chances, then you will likely enjoy this one!

Would I recommend it? Yes, especially if you’re a sucker for a moody musician MMC and a breathtaking Irish backdrop. Just be prepared for some frustrating FMC moments along the way!

Thank you to NetGalley, Ivy Fairbanks, and Penguin G.P. Putnams Son’s for the eARC of this book.

I was genuinely excited for this book because I loved Morbidly Yours. This book features the wedding of those two characters, but it’s a second chance romance for two minor characters from the first book. Unfortunately, it just didn’t land with me. There’s zero chemistry. I would’ve liked to have seen more of their past relationship. The writing is good, but the story just wasn’t great.

I absolutely loved Morbidly Yours and this just did not hit the same way. I love the setting and the Galway world but certain areas just fell flat.

I was so incredibly ecstatic when I received the email from NetGalley that I would be getting an ARC of Heart Strings!! I inhaled these pages, could not get enough of it. I LOVE Aidan’s kinks and Cielos character as whole. I’m over the moon excited for Saoirse to find what she’s looking for in book 3. Aidan & Los story pulls on your heart strings

Super cute, I loved going back to Galway 🥰

✨Second Chance Romance
✨Musician MMC
✨Banter
✨Emotional Grand Gesture
✨Med School Latina FMC

“I will never get over the fact that my bubbly, blonde cousin is engaged to an undertaker.”

“I haven’t been truly in love with anyone before or since Lo.”

“How dare Aidan get famous for singing about how much he loves me, when I was so easily thrown away for the sake of that fame.”

“Some guys are intimidated by intelligent women, but Aidan never made me feel like I needed to dull my shine for his sake.”

“Getting a rise out of her is preferable to being treated like a stranger.”

“Sometimes perfect is more about who you’re with than the circumstances you find yourself in.”

“I lost her because I let her believe she wasn’t worth fighting for.”

“Part of me wants to run from him, another part longs to sprint straight toward him.”

“Her smile lights up the most shadowed places of my heart. Where I wonder if I’m good enough. Talented enough. Where I doubt that people like me for me.”

“You don’t need to be perfect all the time. You can be barefoot and messy and real. I like you like that.”

“The man drives me to distraction, even when he’s not around. And I’m beyond fatigued.”

“My greatest fear is getting sick and being abandoned for it again. Having to go through it alone.”

“For so long, I was determined to get by on my own. Now that Aidan’s back in my life, I realize that’s not what I want.”

“Cielo Valdez is worth everything. I wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for her.”

“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.”

“I’m yours. And you’re mine. That means I’m here when you need me.”

“Let me in. Let me love you like you deserve.”

“I’m not gonna let you do this alone. If you promise to trust me, I promise to be right here.”

I absolutely adored Morbidly Yours when I ARC read it so of course I had to try to ARC Heart Strings. Obviously a success!

We are taken back to Galway for Lark and Callum’s wedding, so excited to have snippets of them throughout the book! Heart Strings is Cielo and Aiden’s second chance. They split 2 years ago but have to spend the weekend playing nice for the wedding. Are they playing or is there still something there?

I really wanted to love this but it just didn’t live up to Morbidly Yours. The romance felt underdeveloped and a bit thrown together. I read this in one day though and did overall enjoy my time reading.

If you like second chance romance, castles in Ireland, and chronic illness representation then you may like this one!

Thank you so much NetGalley, Penguin and Ivy Fairbanks for my ARC 💖

I really enjoyed this second chance romance! This is my first Ivy Fairbanks book and won’t be my last🫶🏼 As a Mexican, I loved reading Mexican culture references in this book. And HOLD UP because this quote “His voice saying my name is like homemade called pollo to my soul” was so good haha.
Lo’s dad struggling to express his feelings because he was taught it was a sign of weakness? SO REAL 😭 I resonated with a lot of things from this book & how her life experiences impacted her life, character, and relationships felt really real to me.
Lo and Aiden’s story was a good combination of sweet & hot! I really love a good personal/character growth and I think the author did amazing with Lo and Aiden 🩵


I cannot WAIT for the next book. Those hints made me so excited already 👀🫶🏼 aaaaand I now need to read Morbidly Yours! Like, ASAP a few scenes of Lark and Callum and I was already in love with them.

I really enjoyed reading Morbidly Yours, so when I saw that Ivy Fairbanks was releasing another book I was so excited. Aidan is such a dream- Irish musician who has written every song about his previous love, Lo… what’s not to love?!? Cielo was a hard working student working through some trauma. Such a cute couple- with some insta-love thrown in. Thank you to Netgalley, Putnam, and Ivy Fairbanks for the ARC!

Morbidly Yours was a refreshing romance with a different setting and unique characters. Heart Strings follows that trend in the best possible way. Much to my disappointment, it missed the mark. The characters are not portrayed true to the nature they are described, and their specific dynamics are not what I usually look for in my literature. Morbidly Yours was a great experience and Heart Strings didn't come close to that, unfortunately.