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The Home for Broken Hearts
The Home for Broken Hearts
Author: Rowan Coleman
Once upon a time, Ellie had her 'happily ever after' moment when she married her beloved Nick, but fifteen years later her husband's tragic death leaves her alone with their soon-to-become-a-teenager son, faced with a mountain of debt, and on the verge of losing the family home. For young widow Ellen Wood, her Victorian home is a ref...  more »
ISBN: 340325
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0 stars, based on 0 rating
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Book Type: Paperback
Members Wishing: 0
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readermuse avatar reviewed The Home for Broken Hearts on + 96 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
I haven't always been one for the genre "chick lit", however sometimes you find a gem I like. The Home for Broken Hearts has become one I did enjoy. Also, as a full American person, I also have to say I loved the English slang within this book. Imagine "Bridget Jones" movies and you have some of the lingo us US chaps find so fun. As for the story it really revolves around a group of people, but more so around two in particular, Ellen and Matt. It is their story that is also the most interesting. Of course, the two would be nothing without a ornery almost 12 year old boy. Without him I don't know if we would have had our HEA.

Ellen and Matt's growth into their true selves is heartfelt and heartwarming and it is their faults that really make them interesting. What is also wonderful is that every one's faults become the impetus for further growth and insight into their own true beauty. Yes, there were people within the book you did not like and I'd have to say, Hannah, her sister was one for me. Even though I did soften a bit (and I mean a bit) toward her at the end, I still understood her place within the book.

All in all I give this book a surprising 4 stars and I might have to look up more of Rowan Coleman's books when I'm in a bit of a chick lit mood.
Jennmarie68 avatar reviewed The Home for Broken Hearts on + 217 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I sometimes find it hard to get into books about England because even though they are written in English the slang and differences in language make it difficult for me to fully grasp what the characters are saying. While I did experience a bit of that with this book for the most part it was pretty easy for me to pick up on. I'm finding that the more I read from English authors, the easier the language differences are to decipher. Having said that I really thought this was a great book.

The whole premise of the book is that Ellen's life is ripped apart by the death of her husband and she is trying to rebuild. What ensues in that rebuilding is a great story of family and friendship. The relationship that Ellen has with her young son and her sister are already strained and the fact that a year after Ellen's husband's death she is still not sure on how to "recover" make the relationships even more strained. Then the lodgers come into the story and everything Ellen has thought about her life, her future, her ability to cope are turned upside down.

The characters are very well developed. I really liked Ellen, she needs some work, but who doesn't... And given that her husband was her life she's very lost. She comes off as being meek and weak-willed, but as the story gets going she finds her strength and her ability to live a life without her husband.

I really liked the writing. It was humorous at times, not poking fun at the situation, but humorous none the less. It was also very emotional. Understanding what emotions Ellen is feeling is almost painful at times. I could feel the grief she was dealing with. Although the main plot was a bit predictable there were more than enough twists thrown in to make the story really stand out.

I think I'm going to have to pick up some of Coleman's other novels. And I have to say that as I'm writing this I'm thinking of ways that the story could continue into a series with all these characters. It was truly an engaging story.
JessicaRabbit avatar reviewed The Home for Broken Hearts on + 110 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
"Witty, moving, and deeply insightful..."


I'm not seeing it. I'm not sure where the wittiness is, it's as moving, and moving, like a herd of snails charging through chunky peanut butter and if by insightful they mean I realized I had a big as$ water stain on my roof right above the head of my bed then sure, I guess its that. But its just not worth the money, time, or space its taking on my review shelf. Sorry Rowan but you didn't speak to my heart... *rolls eyes* yes, I have a heart. lol.
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