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Cinnamon Springs #1
How to Break My Heart
From the bestselling author of BookTok sensation Chasing Love comes a cozy and steamy enemies-to-lovers romance following a café owner and her best friend’s billionaire brother as they’re forced to work together to plan the best wedding imaginable.
Eva Woods is perfectly content with her quiet life in the picturesque town of Cinnamon Springs, where she owns a café infamous for its mouthwatering donuts. There’s even a cute new doctor in town that has caught the eyes of everyone, Eva included. But when her best friend, Maddy, asks Eva to join forces with her brother for the sake of her upcoming wedding, Eva’s quaint life is upended. Cold and rigid, Aston is the man who broke Eva’s heart back in high school. He’s also one of the country’s hottest billionaires.
With both Aston and Eva trying to outdo each other and stake claim as Maddy’s right hand man, the competition heats up. As their annoyance grows, so does their attraction, eventually culminating in a steamy night together in Aston’s New York penthouse. When Eva realizes her feelings may be a little harder to ignore than she had originally thought, she slips back to Cinnamon Springs and leaves Aston wondering what happened.
When the wedding day finally arrives and brings more than just flowers and cake, Eva and Aston are forced to finally reckon with their undeniable chemistry—and attempt to save a marriage.
Eva Woods is perfectly content with her quiet life in the picturesque town of Cinnamon Springs, where she owns a café infamous for its mouthwatering donuts. There’s even a cute new doctor in town that has caught the eyes of everyone, Eva included. But when her best friend, Maddy, asks Eva to join forces with her brother for the sake of her upcoming wedding, Eva’s quaint life is upended. Cold and rigid, Aston is the man who broke Eva’s heart back in high school. He’s also one of the country’s hottest billionaires.
With both Aston and Eva trying to outdo each other and stake claim as Maddy’s right hand man, the competition heats up. As their annoyance grows, so does their attraction, eventually culminating in a steamy night together in Aston’s New York penthouse. When Eva realizes her feelings may be a little harder to ignore than she had originally thought, she slips back to Cinnamon Springs and leaves Aston wondering what happened.
When the wedding day finally arrives and brings more than just flowers and cake, Eva and Aston are forced to finally reckon with their undeniable chemistry—and attempt to save a marriage.
336 pages, Paperback
Published September 23, 2025
169 people are currently reading
12727 people want to read
About the author
Kat T. Masen
45 books3,133 followersBorn and bred in Sydney Australia, Kat T. Masen is a mother to four crazy boys and wife to one sane husband. Growing up in a generation where social media and fancy gadgets didn’t exist, she enjoyed reading from an early age and found herself immersed in these stories. After meeting friends on twitter who loved to read as much as she did, her passion to write began and the friendships continued on despite the distance. “I’m known to be crazy and humorous. Show me the most random picture of a dog in a wig and I’ll be laughing for days.”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 476 reviews
October 17, 2025
This is the first book in the Cinnomon Springs series. This one started fairly well, but unfortunately, it went down hill pretty quickly for me. I couldn’t warm to the characters. In fact, on many occasions, they got on my nerves, especially Aston. But to be honest, I don’t think we were meant to love him.
By the time I reached just over the halfway point, I had lost interest, which was a shame as I like the cover of this one and thought this was going to be a high-rated book. But don’t let my thoughts stop you from picking this one up because if you enjoy enemies to lovers, then this one could be for you.
With thanks to StoryGraph and the publishers for my copy to read and review.
By the time I reached just over the halfway point, I had lost interest, which was a shame as I like the cover of this one and thought this was going to be a high-rated book. But don’t let my thoughts stop you from picking this one up because if you enjoy enemies to lovers, then this one could be for you.
With thanks to StoryGraph and the publishers for my copy to read and review.
June 2, 2025
3 ˖⁺‧✮
i was battling for a long time how to rate this book because there were some moments that i truly enjoyed but also i found a portion of scenes awkward and just uh
i feel like i’m writing this paragraph for the 100th time, but where were the enemies-to-lovers?? both characters were attracted to each other and they easily were confirming this from the beginning. aston would even show his attraction frequently while eva was playing a teenage girl.
eva was the most annoying character. her acting to bothered by aston was hard to read. she claims that aston broke her heart but did he? they kissed once as kids and then both moved on😭 she’s grown adult and still hold grudges over that moment? i wish there was a deeper meaning to her anger.
i don’t know what attracts people to moments of “don’t date anyone but also i wouldn’t let you date me”😶 it feels like a high school drama rather than adults figuring out their feelings.
i liked the setting and background characters. the story was fun to read, except those small details that just irritate. the writing was also fun and book felt very fast passing.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the arc.
i was battling for a long time how to rate this book because there were some moments that i truly enjoyed but also i found a portion of scenes awkward and just uh
i feel like i’m writing this paragraph for the 100th time, but where were the enemies-to-lovers?? both characters were attracted to each other and they easily were confirming this from the beginning. aston would even show his attraction frequently while eva was playing a teenage girl.
eva was the most annoying character. her acting to bothered by aston was hard to read. she claims that aston broke her heart but did he? they kissed once as kids and then both moved on😭 she’s grown adult and still hold grudges over that moment? i wish there was a deeper meaning to her anger.
i don’t know what attracts people to moments of “don’t date anyone but also i wouldn’t let you date me”😶 it feels like a high school drama rather than adults figuring out their feelings.
i liked the setting and background characters. the story was fun to read, except those small details that just irritate. the writing was also fun and book felt very fast passing.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the arc.
September 23, 2025
Oh gosh… where do I even begin? I wanted to DNF (Did Not Finish) this book so many, MANY times. I kept convincing myself there would be light at the end of the tunnel… but sadly, I was left in the dark, blindly searching for any reason to care.
Was it the worst thing I’ve ever read? No. But it definitely wasn’t my cup of tea and I love the tropes this book was advertised with.
I struggled with the main characters and felt there just wasn’t enough chemistry between them. I disliked the MMC’s personality and found myself frustrated with the FMC. Like girl… it was YEARS AGO.
Here’s the thing: it had all the tropes I typically enjoy:
• Small town
• Billionaire
• Best friend’s brother
• Enemies to lovers
But the “enemies to lovers” angle especially fell flat. I was expecting more banter and tension for a book marketed that way.
Overall, this one just wasn’t for me.
I want to thank Netgalley, Atria Books and Kat T. Masen for the eARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Was it the worst thing I’ve ever read? No. But it definitely wasn’t my cup of tea and I love the tropes this book was advertised with.
I struggled with the main characters and felt there just wasn’t enough chemistry between them. I disliked the MMC’s personality and found myself frustrated with the FMC. Like girl… it was YEARS AGO.
Here’s the thing: it had all the tropes I typically enjoy:
• Small town
• Billionaire
• Best friend’s brother
• Enemies to lovers
But the “enemies to lovers” angle especially fell flat. I was expecting more banter and tension for a book marketed that way.
Overall, this one just wasn’t for me.
I want to thank Netgalley, Atria Books and Kat T. Masen for the eARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
September 22, 2025
Marco and Eva were so adorable. Ashton should have been killed off and let Marco and Eva live happily ever after. Actually, Eva didn’t deserve Marco.
- One page sex with another women and he jerks off while thinking about same women (not as descriptive).
- First time seeing her after years, he talks about her tits
- Still bitching about the kiss even though it’s been years (fmc).
- He’s a manwhore.
- oh and I’m pretty sure the mmc slut shames the fmc, which is kind of ironic.
——————————————————
Thank fuck it’s over
- One page sex with another women and he jerks off while thinking about same women (not as descriptive).
- First time seeing her after years, he talks about her tits
- Still bitching about the kiss even though it’s been years (fmc).
- He’s a manwhore.
- oh and I’m pretty sure the mmc slut shames the fmc, which is kind of ironic.
——————————————————
Thank fuck it’s over
September 6, 2025
dnf at 61% im not entirely sure what i expected going into this one but definitely not this. i dont particularly like either MC, i think they are way too immature and eva’s grudge against aston is just insane honestly lol. im sure this is going to be loved by many but it was a miss for me sadly.
June 14, 2025
1, I’d like an explanation ma’am, star
I’m not exactly sure what this book was trying to do. Was I meant to like anyone? Should I feel happy, emotional, angry? What trope was written to hook me? None of my conclusions bode well for this book. Overall, I found How to Break My Heart sloppy, messy, and a trope train wreck. I’m going to need this author to exhibit some self control, and improve their creative process. Honestly, I’m quite annoyed. This is assumed to be the next *TikTok sensation*, and not to be negative, but if this achieves booktok success I’ll be dismayed and downtrodden. I don’t get enjoyment out of giving low ratings, but you know what I like less? I dislike reading uninspiring, dim, bland, predictable, and recycled literature more. If you love this, awesome. I’m jealous of you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this arc.
**also for transparency, I force myself to finish arc’s. If this was a random book I picked up- I would’ve dnf’d around chapter 6.
I’m not exactly sure what this book was trying to do. Was I meant to like anyone? Should I feel happy, emotional, angry? What trope was written to hook me? None of my conclusions bode well for this book. Overall, I found How to Break My Heart sloppy, messy, and a trope train wreck. I’m going to need this author to exhibit some self control, and improve their creative process. Honestly, I’m quite annoyed. This is assumed to be the next *TikTok sensation*, and not to be negative, but if this achieves booktok success I’ll be dismayed and downtrodden. I don’t get enjoyment out of giving low ratings, but you know what I like less? I dislike reading uninspiring, dim, bland, predictable, and recycled literature more. If you love this, awesome. I’m jealous of you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this arc.
**also for transparency, I force myself to finish arc’s. If this was a random book I picked up- I would’ve dnf’d around chapter 6.
September 23, 2025
I read this as apart of my local book club for September and to be honest I have questions... Like ALOT, obviously spoiler free this is going to be hard.
This is a dual POV small town romance, with the MMC being the FMCs best friend's brother. Hot right? Except the best friend is a total air head, and actually the worst best friend in the entire world... Is this part of the plot, no I hated her! To be honest there were only 2 characters I liked and it's Billie and Houdini, which is wild.
This was my first Kat T Masen book and it really put me off reading her other series, which I'm really surprised about because everyone raved about her other series... Or maybe it's just me? Who knows.
This is a dual POV small town romance, with the MMC being the FMCs best friend's brother. Hot right? Except the best friend is a total air head, and actually the worst best friend in the entire world... Is this part of the plot, no I hated her! To be honest there were only 2 characters I liked and it's Billie and Houdini, which is wild.
This was my first Kat T Masen book and it really put me off reading her other series, which I'm really surprised about because everyone raved about her other series... Or maybe it's just me? Who knows.
September 22, 2025
3.5⭐ ~ I started with the physical book but then switched to the audiobook and loved it. Both of the narrators were excellent. They spoke clearly, and they expressed their emotions so perfectly. Ok …now the story of the small town romance was nice, but the level of spice was just a bit too much for me. I'm not a huge fan of spice in my romance. I do love second chance romance so that part was really fun! Eva and Aston’s characters were well done by the author and the narrators and their chemistry was palpable. Fans of steamy romance books will most likely love this book.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
October 6, 2025
How to Break My Heart by Kat T Masen
Cinnamon Springs series #1. Contemporary romance. Small town, best friend’s older brother, billionaire, second chance, and spicy. Dual first person POV.
Eva and Aston shared a passionate kiss at a party at the end of his senior high school year. They haven’t seen each other since but must now work together to help his sister organize her upcoming wedding. Should they ignore the past or ignore their attraction?
Eva isn’t happy to be working with Aston but his sister is her best friend so she’ll make the best of it. Aston has enough money to make anything happen but Eva pushes back with his sister’s taste in mind. Soon the wedding becomes secondary with Eva and Aston as they revisit the passion that started between them more than eight years ago.
Too much jealousy considering their separate lives. The wedding got a little lost in their reconnecting.
Lots of steamy passion.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
Cinnamon Springs series #1. Contemporary romance. Small town, best friend’s older brother, billionaire, second chance, and spicy. Dual first person POV.
Eva and Aston shared a passionate kiss at a party at the end of his senior high school year. They haven’t seen each other since but must now work together to help his sister organize her upcoming wedding. Should they ignore the past or ignore their attraction?
Eva isn’t happy to be working with Aston but his sister is her best friend so she’ll make the best of it. Aston has enough money to make anything happen but Eva pushes back with his sister’s taste in mind. Soon the wedding becomes secondary with Eva and Aston as they revisit the passion that started between them more than eight years ago.
Too much jealousy considering their separate lives. The wedding got a little lost in their reconnecting.
Lots of steamy passion.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
September 17, 2025
[arc review]
not the worst thing i’ve ever read but it was also not good 😬
i’m so confused about why aston thinks he has a claim on eva?? it was ONE KISS…EIGHT YEARS AGO. i do not think that warrants a “nobody is allowed to touch you but me.” i quite liked marco lol he is a respectable doctor and a nice man. he deserved so much better than what eva gave him and honestly i feel like as much as i liked him, he probably didn’t need to be in the book. his character was made to make aston jealous. but again, aston had no claim on eva.
also claiming this is the next big thing on booktok is bold lol.
i’m glad this book is over. i need something better to read.
not the worst thing i’ve ever read but it was also not good 😬
i’m so confused about why aston thinks he has a claim on eva?? it was ONE KISS…EIGHT YEARS AGO. i do not think that warrants a “nobody is allowed to touch you but me.” i quite liked marco lol he is a respectable doctor and a nice man. he deserved so much better than what eva gave him and honestly i feel like as much as i liked him, he probably didn’t need to be in the book. his character was made to make aston jealous. but again, aston had no claim on eva.
also claiming this is the next big thing on booktok is bold lol.
i’m glad this book is over. i need something better to read.
September 23, 2025
2 stars.
I did not like "How to Break My Heart" by Kat T. Massen. It started fine. I was even enjoying myself early on, especially where the small-town elements were concerned, but the longer it went on, the more I disliked it. I love a best friend's brother romance, but this one is severely lacking. I felt little to no chemistry between the main characters, Eva and Aston, beyond the very first kiss they had when they were in high school. In fact, there were times when I straight-up *hated* Aston, to the story's detriment. After eight years apart, Aston is back in Cinnamon Springs to help plan his sister's wedding. His sister Maddie is Eva's best friend, and she has no idea they kissed years ago. His possessiveness and jealousy out of nowhere were a complete turn-off to me. I have read plenty of books with possessive main male characters, but Aston reads more "gross creep." He is mean, nasty, rude, and that makes him unattractive. But sure, Eva, go for him anyway even though you know exactly who he is from the get-go! There were several times when I actually shouted at my book when Eva was trying to decide if she liked Marco, the doctor in Cinnamon Springs. Yeah, Eva, why choose the sweet, caring, attractive, nice, pleasant doctor when you could have the brooding, jealous, controlling, clingy billionaire? Oh yeah... $$$$$$$. Their connection is shallow at best. No emotion, no zing, no spark. In fact, most of the story is shallow. There are far too many subplots and side characters for my liking. Some of the plot points feel yanked straight from other books I have read, like, down to intricate details. Everything is wrapped up way too quickly and far too easily. It's not particularly long, but it sure felt like it was. Yeah... I struggled with this one. I do not recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley, Kat T. Masen, and Atria Books for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
I did not like "How to Break My Heart" by Kat T. Massen. It started fine. I was even enjoying myself early on, especially where the small-town elements were concerned, but the longer it went on, the more I disliked it. I love a best friend's brother romance, but this one is severely lacking. I felt little to no chemistry between the main characters, Eva and Aston, beyond the very first kiss they had when they were in high school. In fact, there were times when I straight-up *hated* Aston, to the story's detriment. After eight years apart, Aston is back in Cinnamon Springs to help plan his sister's wedding. His sister Maddie is Eva's best friend, and she has no idea they kissed years ago. His possessiveness and jealousy out of nowhere were a complete turn-off to me. I have read plenty of books with possessive main male characters, but Aston reads more "gross creep." He is mean, nasty, rude, and that makes him unattractive. But sure, Eva, go for him anyway even though you know exactly who he is from the get-go! There were several times when I actually shouted at my book when Eva was trying to decide if she liked Marco, the doctor in Cinnamon Springs. Yeah, Eva, why choose the sweet, caring, attractive, nice, pleasant doctor when you could have the brooding, jealous, controlling, clingy billionaire? Oh yeah... $$$$$$$. Their connection is shallow at best. No emotion, no zing, no spark. In fact, most of the story is shallow. There are far too many subplots and side characters for my liking. Some of the plot points feel yanked straight from other books I have read, like, down to intricate details. Everything is wrapped up way too quickly and far too easily. It's not particularly long, but it sure felt like it was. Yeah... I struggled with this one. I do not recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley, Kat T. Masen, and Atria Books for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
September 21, 2025
How to Break My Heart by Kat T. Masen is pitched as an enemies to lovers second chance romance, but unfortunately, the story didn’t quite deliver on that promise for me. The book centers around Eva and Aston, whose supposed animosity stems from a single high school kiss and Aston’s role in “breaking her heart.” The problem is, that moment never felt substantial enough to justify the tension that’s meant to fuel the entire romance. Without a strong emotional or dramatic conflict between them, the enemies to lovers trope fell flat. At best, there was mild dislike, but even that didn’t hold much weight.
Because of that missing spark, I struggled to feel invested in either Eva or Aston’s journey. Their chemistry leaned heavily on the physical—this book definitely has plenty of steam—but emotional connection was lacking. The spice sometimes felt over the top, especially when other elements of the plot felt thin. I found myself wanting more depth, more push and pull, and more reason to root for these two to find their way back to one another.
On the positive side, the small town backdrop of Cinnamon Springs was charming and cozy, a setting I genuinely enjoyed spending time in. It had that warm, inviting feel of a close knit community, which softened some of my frustrations with the romance. Still, while the atmosphere was lovely, the central relationship never quite hooked me. Overall, How to Break My Heart had potential, but for me, it missed the mark in execution.
Because of that missing spark, I struggled to feel invested in either Eva or Aston’s journey. Their chemistry leaned heavily on the physical—this book definitely has plenty of steam—but emotional connection was lacking. The spice sometimes felt over the top, especially when other elements of the plot felt thin. I found myself wanting more depth, more push and pull, and more reason to root for these two to find their way back to one another.
On the positive side, the small town backdrop of Cinnamon Springs was charming and cozy, a setting I genuinely enjoyed spending time in. It had that warm, inviting feel of a close knit community, which softened some of my frustrations with the romance. Still, while the atmosphere was lovely, the central relationship never quite hooked me. Overall, How to Break My Heart had potential, but for me, it missed the mark in execution.
October 1, 2025
How To Break My Heart
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️.5
📚 Romace
🎶 Happy Together - The Turtles
One sentence synopsis:
This story follows café owner Eva Woods as she is forced to work with her best friend’s billionaire brother, Aston, to plan a wedding, reigniting old feelings and tensions from their past.
Book Review:
OK, I truly don’t understand my feelings on this book. For all intents and purposes, on paper this book is not good. It’s cheesy, it’s corny, many of the sentences and scenarios make me roll my eyes very hard, and the situations were ridiculous. So for the love of God. I can’t figure out why I like this so much.
It’s got lots of great tropes… small town, billionaire (although he seems more like a regular old millionaire to me), best friends brother, second chance romance, enemies to lovers. And frankly, I just really liked both of the characters. And this was just so incredibly easy to read. You know how sometimes it’s a good story but you still gotta work hard for it. This is not it. This is probably one of the easiest books. I’ve read this year and it was just a delight to turn my brain off for a little while and just enjoy. And I’m thrilled this is a series that’s going to continue because I really need to see her brother, Elliott, get his love story.
Ok but besides my confusion on why I like this so much this particular side story of Eva having to plan her best friends wedding because her best friend is just too stressed is absurd. You mean to tell me you’re the daughter of a billionaire and you can’t find a wedding planner to plan a wedding last minute. Absurd.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️.5
📚 Romace
🎶 Happy Together - The Turtles
One sentence synopsis:
This story follows café owner Eva Woods as she is forced to work with her best friend’s billionaire brother, Aston, to plan a wedding, reigniting old feelings and tensions from their past.
Book Review:
OK, I truly don’t understand my feelings on this book. For all intents and purposes, on paper this book is not good. It’s cheesy, it’s corny, many of the sentences and scenarios make me roll my eyes very hard, and the situations were ridiculous. So for the love of God. I can’t figure out why I like this so much.
It’s got lots of great tropes… small town, billionaire (although he seems more like a regular old millionaire to me), best friends brother, second chance romance, enemies to lovers. And frankly, I just really liked both of the characters. And this was just so incredibly easy to read. You know how sometimes it’s a good story but you still gotta work hard for it. This is not it. This is probably one of the easiest books. I’ve read this year and it was just a delight to turn my brain off for a little while and just enjoy. And I’m thrilled this is a series that’s going to continue because I really need to see her brother, Elliott, get his love story.
Ok but besides my confusion on why I like this so much this particular side story of Eva having to plan her best friends wedding because her best friend is just too stressed is absurd. You mean to tell me you’re the daughter of a billionaire and you can’t find a wedding planner to plan a wedding last minute. Absurd.
September 7, 2025
Thank you, Atria Books | Simon & Schuster Publishing, for providing this Advanced Reader Copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I mean, myyyy gosh, I couldn’t be more honored.
This has all the tropes you could possibly ask for: small town, enemies-to-lovers, best friend’s brother, billionaire, second chance, forced proximity, etc. It truly kept me on all ten of my toes. The story follows a small-town café owner and her best friend’s billionaire brother as they’re forced to work together to plan a wedding. Eva and Aston share a little history—they made out once at a high school party and then never spoke again. Eight years later, they’re planning Maddy’s wedding together, constantly butting heads, but secretly still drawn to each other. I really liked the premise of this story overall. Eva and Aston had a lot of depth, and their chemistry was off the charts.
When a book is dual POV, you can count on me being locked in. But here, some chapters started and ended at different points in their timelines, which got a little confusing. As for the storyline, it felt like they barely planned the wedding together—it was mostly Eva. It’s totally fine, though; nobody really cares about the semantics of wedding planning when the tension between Eva and Aston is palpable. This is definitely a spicy one, with some intense twists and turns toward the end. I was never bored—the Beaumont family was entertaining, to say the least. The ending sets things up in a way that makes me think this will become a series, which I’ll most likely be reading. Overall, I enjoyed this—it was a really fun read. 3.8 stars is my verdict
This has all the tropes you could possibly ask for: small town, enemies-to-lovers, best friend’s brother, billionaire, second chance, forced proximity, etc. It truly kept me on all ten of my toes. The story follows a small-town café owner and her best friend’s billionaire brother as they’re forced to work together to plan a wedding. Eva and Aston share a little history—they made out once at a high school party and then never spoke again. Eight years later, they’re planning Maddy’s wedding together, constantly butting heads, but secretly still drawn to each other. I really liked the premise of this story overall. Eva and Aston had a lot of depth, and their chemistry was off the charts.
When a book is dual POV, you can count on me being locked in. But here, some chapters started and ended at different points in their timelines, which got a little confusing. As for the storyline, it felt like they barely planned the wedding together—it was mostly Eva. It’s totally fine, though; nobody really cares about the semantics of wedding planning when the tension between Eva and Aston is palpable. This is definitely a spicy one, with some intense twists and turns toward the end. I was never bored—the Beaumont family was entertaining, to say the least. The ending sets things up in a way that makes me think this will become a series, which I’ll most likely be reading. Overall, I enjoyed this—it was a really fun read. 3.8 stars is my verdict
September 9, 2025
4.5⭐️
Oh, this hit the spot😆 as soon as I saw the tropes I knew I’d love this book, & I was correct because I devoured this short, fast-paced, hot, & additive read. I really enjoyed the drama-filled storyline & adored the small town charm. This is such a “buzzy” romance that had me vibrating with excitement!!
Eva is hardworking, loyal, & kind, but also stubborn & grumpy, especially when facing off with Aston🙈 Aston was an arrogant jerk at the start & I wanted to punch him in the face! However, the more I learnt about him, & the sweeter he became, I grew to be obsessed! He’s cocky, flirty, & grumpy, & yes, his possessive & jealous side might be a red flag, but idc because I was squealing like a mad woman🤭
These two were constantly at each others throats! Their hatred for, & animosity towards one another, mixed with their intense chemistry, banter, & attraction, made their connection feel SO buzzy to the point where the tension was almost unbearable. I was constantly kicking my feet. I loved watching Aston lose his mind over Eva, & slowly fall in love with her🥹Eva was his safe space to land, & I adored the way she always saw the “real” him. I really freaking loved this book🩷
Thank you SO much to Atria books, Simon & Schuster Australia, & Kat for my gifted early copy🩷
Oh, this hit the spot😆 as soon as I saw the tropes I knew I’d love this book, & I was correct because I devoured this short, fast-paced, hot, & additive read. I really enjoyed the drama-filled storyline & adored the small town charm. This is such a “buzzy” romance that had me vibrating with excitement!!
Eva is hardworking, loyal, & kind, but also stubborn & grumpy, especially when facing off with Aston🙈 Aston was an arrogant jerk at the start & I wanted to punch him in the face! However, the more I learnt about him, & the sweeter he became, I grew to be obsessed! He’s cocky, flirty, & grumpy, & yes, his possessive & jealous side might be a red flag, but idc because I was squealing like a mad woman🤭
These two were constantly at each others throats! Their hatred for, & animosity towards one another, mixed with their intense chemistry, banter, & attraction, made their connection feel SO buzzy to the point where the tension was almost unbearable. I was constantly kicking my feet. I loved watching Aston lose his mind over Eva, & slowly fall in love with her🥹Eva was his safe space to land, & I adored the way she always saw the “real” him. I really freaking loved this book🩷
Thank you SO much to Atria books, Simon & Schuster Australia, & Kat for my gifted early copy🩷
October 13, 2025
Really one of the best small town second chance romance is have read. I loved the forced proximity and the way the main characters just can't resist each other. I usually go blind into books because I let the covers speak for themselves and this one had me cracking up because of the fact that the fmc is so strong willed. What I did not like in this one is the beginning didn't create too much tension between the mc's. I would usually expect more to draw more forced proximity tension.
☆☆☆☆
☆☆☆☆
May 24, 2025
I absolutely devoured this book in a matter of 48 hours and I am obsessed!! Kat T. Masen does not disappoint ever, and I loved the Chasing Love and Trouble With Love cameos within the book. She had all the tropes that I love small town, Billionare, Best Friend’s Older Brother, and Love Triangle. I can not wait to see what becomes of this series and if you haven’t read her other books pick them up right now!! Please never stop writing Kat you are so amazing at what you do! Thank you so much for the ARC I was so honored to receive it from one of my favorite authors! I will be recommending this book and every book by Kat T. Masen to everyone I know!
September 15, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced reader copy of How to Break My Heart by Kat T. Masen in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
How to Break My Heart by Kat T. Masen is a spicy/sweet romance set in fictional Cinnamon Springs. The novel features a promising premise: a cozy, steamy enemies to lovers romance between a cafe owner and her best friend’s billionaire older brother. The small town setting is idyllic, straight out of a hallmark movie. The donut shop owner, Eva, has been tasked with planning her best friend, Maddy’s wedding in only 1 month. Maddy has volun-told her older brother, Aston, who is also Eva’s secret teen crush and now a billionaire, to help with planning. The forced proximity causes a lot of pining as Eva and Aston realize they have feeling for each other.
Unfortunately this novel did not resonate with me. I struggled with the main characters and their budding relationship. Aston was especially unlikable because of his jealousy and possessiveness. The fact that they were enemies also did not seem realistic. He and Eva shared one kiss in high school and then she was heartbroken that nothing developed from that?! Their forced proximity causes a lot of angst but once they get together it is very steamy. However their instant love felt forced to me. Overall I feel disappointed that the story was not the cozy and steamy romance that I anticipated. Readers looking for a sexually focused romance with less emphasis on plot and character development may enjoy this book. 2.5/5⭐️
How to Break My Heart by Kat T. Masen is a spicy/sweet romance set in fictional Cinnamon Springs. The novel features a promising premise: a cozy, steamy enemies to lovers romance between a cafe owner and her best friend’s billionaire older brother. The small town setting is idyllic, straight out of a hallmark movie. The donut shop owner, Eva, has been tasked with planning her best friend, Maddy’s wedding in only 1 month. Maddy has volun-told her older brother, Aston, who is also Eva’s secret teen crush and now a billionaire, to help with planning. The forced proximity causes a lot of pining as Eva and Aston realize they have feeling for each other.
Unfortunately this novel did not resonate with me. I struggled with the main characters and their budding relationship. Aston was especially unlikable because of his jealousy and possessiveness. The fact that they were enemies also did not seem realistic. He and Eva shared one kiss in high school and then she was heartbroken that nothing developed from that?! Their forced proximity causes a lot of angst but once they get together it is very steamy. However their instant love felt forced to me. Overall I feel disappointed that the story was not the cozy and steamy romance that I anticipated. Readers looking for a sexually focused romance with less emphasis on plot and character development may enjoy this book. 2.5/5⭐️
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September 20, 2025How to Break My Heart 💞💞
Written by Kat T. Masen
Cinnamon Springs, Book 1
Interconnected Standalone
Adult • Romance
336 Pages
🗓️ September 23
💞dislike to love
💞something to strangers to lovers
💞best friend’s brother
💞small town
💞billionaire romance
Tension. Of both kinds. Some small town proximity and lots of yearning, even if they don’t care to admit it.
They shared a kiss when they were teenagers. He left. She stayed. And they never spoke again. Until now. Now there’s no escaping. His sister — her best friend — is getting married and they are summoned to help. Now there’s no denying the pull they always felt.
Small towns have that unique power of not letting a single one of our characters run away from their feelings 😜
Written by Kat T. Masen
Cinnamon Springs, Book 1
Interconnected Standalone
Adult • Romance
336 Pages
🗓️ September 23
💞dislike to love
💞something to strangers to lovers
💞best friend’s brother
💞small town
💞billionaire romance
Tension. Of both kinds. Some small town proximity and lots of yearning, even if they don’t care to admit it.
They shared a kiss when they were teenagers. He left. She stayed. And they never spoke again. Until now. Now there’s no escaping. His sister — her best friend — is getting married and they are summoned to help. Now there’s no denying the pull they always felt.
Small towns have that unique power of not letting a single one of our characters run away from their feelings 😜
September 17, 2025
An absolute snack of a book. The romance is sizzling and the small town almost becomes a character of its own.
I think my only real issue was that there was an imbalance between Eva & Aston’s character arcs, with Aston getting about 70%. And Aston’s felt like it had a lot more weight to it: his situation seemed a lot more dire. But otherwise I’m glad those two crazy kids found each other again.
Thank you to NetGalley, Kat T. Masen, and Atria Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I think my only real issue was that there was an imbalance between Eva & Aston’s character arcs, with Aston getting about 70%. And Aston’s felt like it had a lot more weight to it: his situation seemed a lot more dire. But otherwise I’m glad those two crazy kids found each other again.
Thank you to NetGalley, Kat T. Masen, and Atria Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 23, 2025
Thank you Atria for my copy! All thoughts are my own.
This one wasn't for me.
This one wasn't for me.
September 28, 2025
Not impressed with this 😭 I feel like the story was missing substance. Almost DNFed 💔
September 20, 2025
Unfortunately, How to Break My Heart just didn’t work for me at all. The small-town setting of Cinnamon Springs sounded promising, but it felt flat and underdeveloped. I never got the sense of a real community beyond Eva’s café and a few scattered locations.
The romance was frustrating from start to finish. The love/hate dynamic dragged on endlessly, only to suddenly jump to “I love you” in a way that felt rushed and unearned. Aston’s arrogant playboy attitude made him hard to root for, and while Eva had her moments of strength, she gave in too easily. Add in the predictability of the plot and the lack of emotional pull, and I found myself more annoyed than invested.
For me, this book was forgettable and disappointing. I wouldn’t recommend it.
The romance was frustrating from start to finish. The love/hate dynamic dragged on endlessly, only to suddenly jump to “I love you” in a way that felt rushed and unearned. Aston’s arrogant playboy attitude made him hard to root for, and while Eva had her moments of strength, she gave in too easily. Add in the predictability of the plot and the lack of emotional pull, and I found myself more annoyed than invested.
For me, this book was forgettable and disappointing. I wouldn’t recommend it.
June 2, 2025
My first ARC and I’m officially hooked! Huge thanks to @netgalley and @authorkattmasen for feeding my enemies-to-lovers obsession—it never fails, and this one definitely delivered. I was so invested I practically speed-dated the entire cast: Billie’s fierce loyalty, Ashton’s father-son drama, Eva and Maddy riding the friendship rollercoaster... I couldn’t put it down. Word on the street is this is just book one? Count me all the way in for whatever’s next. 📚💥
June 24, 2025
Kat T. Masen does it again! Everything she writes is so good!
She is back with a new series set in Cinnamon Springs. I loved Eva and Aston! My favorite, best friend's brother 💜, enemies to lovers💜 and the ANGST and SLOW BURN💜!!! Soooooo good!!! She's a donut shop owner in the small town, he's a billionaire who broke her heart and moved away years before. The coming back together is just so good, the steam is so good. AND I LOVED getting to see some of our favorite characters back from the Dark Love and Forbidden Love series! Can’t wait to read more in this series!💜
Thank you to NetGalley, Kat T. Masen, and Atria Books for the eARC of this book.
She is back with a new series set in Cinnamon Springs. I loved Eva and Aston! My favorite, best friend's brother 💜, enemies to lovers💜 and the ANGST and SLOW BURN💜!!! Soooooo good!!! She's a donut shop owner in the small town, he's a billionaire who broke her heart and moved away years before. The coming back together is just so good, the steam is so good. AND I LOVED getting to see some of our favorite characters back from the Dark Love and Forbidden Love series! Can’t wait to read more in this series!💜
Thank you to NetGalley, Kat T. Masen, and Atria Books for the eARC of this book.
July 22, 2025
If the MMC was poor he'd be called an Incel.
August 31, 2025
*Audiobook/paperback
👰🏼♀️💔𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗧𝗢 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞 𝗠𝗬 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗯𝘆 𝗞𝗔𝗧 𝗧. 𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗘𝗡💔👰🏼♀️
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5) / 🌶️🌶️🌶️
“40 years since we 1st fornicated!”
“What’s the point of staying on birth control if my sex life is nonexistent.”
“He may be sexy, but his arrogance is not.”
“I wouldn’t say there’s no play.” 😏🥵
“The period sister ship has sailed.” 🩸
“Because I can’t turn up in sweats with your pu$$y smell all over me. Trust me it’s the exact opposite of gross.” 😂😂
Thanks to Simon Audio & Atria for my #gifted copy of 𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗧𝗢 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞 𝗠𝗬 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗯𝘆 𝗞𝗔𝗧 𝗧. 𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗘𝗡.
This was such a fun audiobook and the Goodreads rating (3.57, you guys…that ain’t even right!) had me perplexed from the jump, it clearly doesn’t do this book justice. I’m so glad I read this one. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I loved it and even more surprised at the spice level in this one based up the cover of the book. I mean, this book title, cover and synopsis screams closed door / sweet romance to me, but it’s def got some heat to it. I mean, check out the quotes I shared.
The chemistry between Eva (Everleigh) Woods & Aston, although it was def hot and cold, was fun to see develop.
When Aston tells her about several rounds 🍆💦in the shower 🥵🔥…I was like ong that is so hot. The sexual tension was palpable. Aston is a bit of a mess…but eventually things work out. #daddyissues
Eva is head strong and independent, she grows a lot throughout this book. Aston also had a lot of personal growth but I took a little while to get to that point in the book. Aston is one of those “I’ll support you in everything” guys but he’s also a “don’t worry about it babe, I gotchu.” Perfect combo.
QOTD: If you lived in a small town and had infinite funds to open and store your heart desires, what store would you create? What are you reading? What is your fav dessert?
#howtobreakmyheart #kattmasen #simonaudio #atria #atriaambassador #atriainfluencer #simonandschusterinfluencer #simonandschuster #cinnamonsprings
👰🏼♀️💔𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗧𝗢 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞 𝗠𝗬 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗯𝘆 𝗞𝗔𝗧 𝗧. 𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗘𝗡💔👰🏼♀️
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5) / 🌶️🌶️🌶️
“40 years since we 1st fornicated!”
“What’s the point of staying on birth control if my sex life is nonexistent.”
“He may be sexy, but his arrogance is not.”
“I wouldn’t say there’s no play.” 😏🥵
“The period sister ship has sailed.” 🩸
“Because I can’t turn up in sweats with your pu$$y smell all over me. Trust me it’s the exact opposite of gross.” 😂😂
Thanks to Simon Audio & Atria for my #gifted copy of 𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗧𝗢 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞 𝗠𝗬 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗯𝘆 𝗞𝗔𝗧 𝗧. 𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗘𝗡.
This was such a fun audiobook and the Goodreads rating (3.57, you guys…that ain’t even right!) had me perplexed from the jump, it clearly doesn’t do this book justice. I’m so glad I read this one. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I loved it and even more surprised at the spice level in this one based up the cover of the book. I mean, this book title, cover and synopsis screams closed door / sweet romance to me, but it’s def got some heat to it. I mean, check out the quotes I shared.
The chemistry between Eva (Everleigh) Woods & Aston, although it was def hot and cold, was fun to see develop.
When Aston tells her about several rounds 🍆💦in the shower 🥵🔥…I was like ong that is so hot. The sexual tension was palpable. Aston is a bit of a mess…but eventually things work out. #daddyissues
Eva is head strong and independent, she grows a lot throughout this book. Aston also had a lot of personal growth but I took a little while to get to that point in the book. Aston is one of those “I’ll support you in everything” guys but he’s also a “don’t worry about it babe, I gotchu.” Perfect combo.
QOTD: If you lived in a small town and had infinite funds to open and store your heart desires, what store would you create? What are you reading? What is your fav dessert?
#howtobreakmyheart #kattmasen #simonaudio #atria #atriaambassador #atriainfluencer #simonandschusterinfluencer #simonandschuster #cinnamonsprings
August 30, 2025
I absolutely loved this book. The best friend’s sibling trope has to be one of my favourite tropes. Aston and Everleigh had a connection that never tethered. Aston broke Everleigh’s heart after what she thought could be the beginning of something special and after 8 years she still can’t let it go.
Aston - possessive, obsessed with her, billionaire. He has had the pleasure of getting everything and everyone he wants until he reconnects with Everleigh and can’t her out of his head. She is not so easy to win over but when lines are crossed bodies betray minds and she drives him crazy in more ways than one. Aston loses control when he’s around Everleigh which is foreign for him, he lets her see him - all of him which is scary for both of them. I love a persistent man who takes what he wants and Aston was that.
Everleigh - strong, determined and independent. She wants nothing more than to forget about the kiss that led to her broken heart but when she’s forced to spend time with Aston their connection is undeniable. She knows she shouldn’t give in but her body wants all of what he has to give. When lines are crossed she realises that what they have is unlike anything she’s had before. Aston is a set of walking red flags but she’s ignoring every one of them.
Aston and Everleigh were a slow burn, there was lots of banger and angst but took a while to seal the deal. Their connection was undeniable.
I loved the dual POV in this book, it was written so well. It was a different experience to have it over lap so that you go to see the other characters POV overlapping on the same timeline. I haven’t read a dual POV like it before and I loved it.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC
Aston - possessive, obsessed with her, billionaire. He has had the pleasure of getting everything and everyone he wants until he reconnects with Everleigh and can’t her out of his head. She is not so easy to win over but when lines are crossed bodies betray minds and she drives him crazy in more ways than one. Aston loses control when he’s around Everleigh which is foreign for him, he lets her see him - all of him which is scary for both of them. I love a persistent man who takes what he wants and Aston was that.
Everleigh - strong, determined and independent. She wants nothing more than to forget about the kiss that led to her broken heart but when she’s forced to spend time with Aston their connection is undeniable. She knows she shouldn’t give in but her body wants all of what he has to give. When lines are crossed she realises that what they have is unlike anything she’s had before. Aston is a set of walking red flags but she’s ignoring every one of them.
Aston and Everleigh were a slow burn, there was lots of banger and angst but took a while to seal the deal. Their connection was undeniable.
I loved the dual POV in this book, it was written so well. It was a different experience to have it over lap so that you go to see the other characters POV overlapping on the same timeline. I haven’t read a dual POV like it before and I loved it.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC
September 17, 2025
How to Break My Heart by Kate T. Masen is the first book in a new romance series called Cinnamon Springs. Told in dual POV, it follows Eva and Aston as they are unexpectedly thrown together to plan a whirlwind wedding for Eva’s best friend, Maddy, who is also Aston’s sister. Eva has built a comfortable life in their hometown running a successful café, while Aston has returned under a cloud of bitterness from years working in the family’s high-powered business. Their shared past in high school and years of avoidance come crashing back as they are forced to collaborate.
I love a good romance setup and the promise of an enemies to lovers story. Unfortunately, while this trope is usually a favorite of mine, I could not connect with the execution here. The characters never clicked for me, particularly Aston. I understood that the author was working to show how his traumatic upbringing shaped him, but that did not excuse behavior that was chauvinistic and downright disrespectful. His controlling manner, the dismissal of clear boundaries, and the suggestion and action of non-consensual sexual touch all landed poorly for me. These elements gave Aston an edge that felt less brooding and more abusive, which made it difficult to root for the romance. I know some readers enjoy this kind of male lead (for some reason), so if that is your preference this book may work better for you.
Forced sexual touch simply is not appealing to me. Rather than romance, those moments left me wishing both main characters would step away from relationships entirely and head straight to therapy. If there had been more honest and healthy discussion about consent and boundaries, that could have created the kind of heat I was hoping for and at the very least may have softened some of the more glaring problems in the story. Personally, I wanted more (read: any) emphasis on consent, communication, and respect, which would have shifted the dynamic into something that still held tension but felt healthier and more compelling.
From a structural perspective, I also found the pacing uneven. At times, the dual POV repeated events in ways that slowed down the narrative without adding much nuance. In other moments, the story skipped forward right after impactful scenes that could have benefited from deeper emotional reflection. Those missed opportunities made it harder for me to build empathy with either Eva or Aston, and left me feeling disconnected from their journey. Because this was an ARC, and because I love Atria Books, I made myself finish this one… Suffice it to say, I won’t be continuing on with the Cinnamon Spring series.
Thank you to Atria Books for the ARC provided through NetGalley. In spite of my opinion of this book, I do truly appreciate the opportunity to read it. Please don’t stop giving me approvals over this one! All opinions are my own.
I love a good romance setup and the promise of an enemies to lovers story. Unfortunately, while this trope is usually a favorite of mine, I could not connect with the execution here. The characters never clicked for me, particularly Aston. I understood that the author was working to show how his traumatic upbringing shaped him, but that did not excuse behavior that was chauvinistic and downright disrespectful. His controlling manner, the dismissal of clear boundaries, and the suggestion and action of non-consensual sexual touch all landed poorly for me. These elements gave Aston an edge that felt less brooding and more abusive, which made it difficult to root for the romance. I know some readers enjoy this kind of male lead (for some reason), so if that is your preference this book may work better for you.
Forced sexual touch simply is not appealing to me. Rather than romance, those moments left me wishing both main characters would step away from relationships entirely and head straight to therapy. If there had been more honest and healthy discussion about consent and boundaries, that could have created the kind of heat I was hoping for and at the very least may have softened some of the more glaring problems in the story. Personally, I wanted more (read: any) emphasis on consent, communication, and respect, which would have shifted the dynamic into something that still held tension but felt healthier and more compelling.
From a structural perspective, I also found the pacing uneven. At times, the dual POV repeated events in ways that slowed down the narrative without adding much nuance. In other moments, the story skipped forward right after impactful scenes that could have benefited from deeper emotional reflection. Those missed opportunities made it harder for me to build empathy with either Eva or Aston, and left me feeling disconnected from their journey. Because this was an ARC, and because I love Atria Books, I made myself finish this one… Suffice it to say, I won’t be continuing on with the Cinnamon Spring series.
Thank you to Atria Books for the ARC provided through NetGalley. In spite of my opinion of this book, I do truly appreciate the opportunity to read it. Please don’t stop giving me approvals over this one! All opinions are my own.
September 15, 2025
Eva Woods lives her quiet life in a small town, runs her own bakery, and red-flags all men. Her best friend Maddie is getting married, and she asks Eva to help with the wedding planning alongside her brother — Aston, a millionaire and Eva's teenage crush who broke her heart.
You know, I even went to check when was the last time I read a romance novel without dark themes/harem/kinks and all that stuff😁 (it was in May, when Rewind It Back came out, btw). Overall, the book isn't bad and I think romance lovers will enjoy it. I liked it too; I wasn't bored and read the book in one sitting. It had a good pace, it had conflict, the 18+ scenes were good.
Probably the only thing that lowered my rating was Aston. I didn't really connect with him that much. I didn't understand how a grown man could be led around by his father for so long, even though they tried to present it as a sort of sacrifice — my heart still didn't flutter. And I also didn't get why he lived away from Eva for so many years and didn't care, but as soon as he saw her, his inner caveman switched on and no one else could touch her. Okay then....
Overall, it's a good book for an evening, a great option to take a break between fantasy books and just get a good dose of romance 🫶🏻
You know, I even went to check when was the last time I read a romance novel without dark themes/harem/kinks and all that stuff😁 (it was in May, when Rewind It Back came out, btw). Overall, the book isn't bad and I think romance lovers will enjoy it. I liked it too; I wasn't bored and read the book in one sitting. It had a good pace, it had conflict, the 18+ scenes were good.
Probably the only thing that lowered my rating was Aston. I didn't really connect with him that much. I didn't understand how a grown man could be led around by his father for so long, even though they tried to present it as a sort of sacrifice — my heart still didn't flutter. And I also didn't get why he lived away from Eva for so many years and didn't care, but as soon as he saw her, his inner caveman switched on and no one else could touch her. Okay then....
Overall, it's a good book for an evening, a great option to take a break between fantasy books and just get a good dose of romance 🫶🏻
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