Scan barcode
A review by emroderick
In the Case of Heartbreak by Courtney Kae
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book is a marvel. It made me giggle uncontrollably, cry softly, and smile until my face hurt. It tackles the emotional rollercoaster of living with and healing from trauma with nuance and grace. It normalizes mental health concerns and treatments in a way that I have never seen before in media. I cannot express how much it means to me that our MC can struggle with his mental health so much and still move his healing forward, and be surrounded by so much love and support from others too. This book is a romance, but it also reminds you to love yourself, too.
I would encourage all readers to read the author’s note at the beginning of the book, and to take breaks when they need to. The themes of trauma and mental illness can be heavy, so read with care and self-compassion. (Also, we love an author who tells you up front what triggers there may be in the book and reminds us that self-care is important!)
On a literary note I LOVED all the nods to romance tropes, including all of the puns. It makes the book read like a love letter to the genre itself, and its readers. It makes it feel like we are all part of an inside joke about how great romance books can be, especially when they’re corny,
I hope everyone gets to fall in love with this book as much as I did. But beware! You will crave cinnamon rolls!!
I would encourage all readers to read the author’s note at the beginning of the book, and to take breaks when they need to. The themes of trauma and mental illness can be heavy, so read with care and self-compassion. (Also, we love an author who tells you up front what triggers there may be in the book and reminds us that self-care is important!)
On a literary note I LOVED all the nods to romance tropes, including all of the puns. It makes the book read like a love letter to the genre itself, and its readers. It makes it feel like we are all part of an inside joke about how great romance books can be, especially when they’re corny,
I hope everyone gets to fall in love with this book as much as I did. But beware! You will crave cinnamon rolls!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Alcohol
Moderate: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Abandonment