THE UNBROKEN HEARTS CLUB

A short novel about the restorative capacity of love and friendship in overcoming grief.

Logan Imogen Flanagan and her father are both reeling from the loss of Logan’s mother, who died nearly a year ago after a lengthy battle with Huntington’s disease. Logan, like her mother, uses photography as a lens through which to view the world. Cole, Logan’s hot, blond best friend, is interested in more than friendship, but Logan’s struggle with depression from the loss of her mother at first keeps her from returning his interest. When Logan’s father’s grief support group starts meeting in the family home, the lonely father and daughter begin to branch out and find comfort for their heartache. Logan’s father finds companionship in Kelsey, a marketing executive who lost her husband to lymphoma. Logan’s fears that she may have inherited Huntington’s disease create a barrier that leads to anxiety over her future and prevents her from entertaining a relationship with Cole. The characters have some complexity even if the storyline is conventional, and the writing tackles serious topics with sincerity. Some readers may grapple with the premise of romantic love as a salve for grief, however many may appreciate the happy ending. Characters are assumed white.

An appealing choice for reluctant readers who enjoy romance and realistic fiction.