Friday, July 5, 2013

ARC Review: The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publishing Date: May 21st, 2013
Genre: YA Contemporary
Pages:  352 pgs
ISBN: 9781442430389
Source: Received from Edelweiss for an honest review



Summary from Goodreads:
When all signs point to heartbreak, can love still be a rule of the road? A poignant and romantic novel from the author of Bittersweet and Twenty Boy Summer.

Jude has learned a lot from her older sisters, but the most important thing is this: The Vargas brothers are notorious heartbreakers. She’s seen the tears and disasters that dating a Vargas boy can cause, and she swore an oath—with candles and a contract and everything—to never have anything to do with one.

Now Jude is the only sister still living at home, and she’s spending the summer helping her ailing father restore his vintage motorcycle—which means hiring a mechanic to help out. Is it Jude’s fault he happens to be cute? And surprisingly sweet? And a Vargas?

Jude tells herself it’s strictly bike business with Emilio. Her sisters will never find out, and Jude can spot those flirty little Vargas tricks a mile away—no way would she fall for them. But Jude’s defenses are crumbling, and if history is destined to repeat itself, she’s speeding toward some serious heartbreak…unless her sisters were wrong?

Jude may have taken an oath, but she’s beginning to think that when it comes to love, some promises might be worth breaking.

My Review: 

 Well I will read anything by Ms. Ockler because her writing is always well done.  She is able to write about some pretty tough things but she does so in a way that isn't difficult to read.  This novel is no different.  Jude is a family girl and she is dealing with the loss of her father.  No, her father hasn't died but he is slowly being taken away from her through early onset Alzheimer's.  While this is happening a young boy named Emilio has been hired to help fix up a bike for the family.  Jude begins falling for Emilio but the only problem is he is a Vargas boy and Vargas boys have a reputation for breaking the hearts of the women in Jude's family.  
I found this book to be heartbreaking but not in the romance sense.  I adored the relationship between Jude and her father and I couldn't imagine having to watch someone I love slowly lose their identity by losing their memories.  I found myself tearing up a little throughout the novel and it culminated in one big ugly cry when the novel was done.  This is the sign of a good novel: one that has me invested in the story line from start to finish.  
The romance in this novel is okay but I wasn't feeling it as much as I have other in Ockler's other novels.  I liked Emilio enough and I adored Jude but for some reason I wasn't as invested in this part of the storyline as I was with the family aspect. I still liked it but I just didn't love it.  
Overall I quite liked this book and it reminds me why Sarah Ockler is on my auto-buy list when anything new comes out.  This is the perfect beachy type read and why not start the summer off right?  
 

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