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The Heartbreak Pill
In the tradition of Sex and the City —this bright and funny debut novel from Emmy Award winner Anjanette Delgado is sure to help mend many a broken heart.
Erika Luna is a thirty-something scientist living and working in Miami. When her marriage ends in divorce, Erika’s practical nature leads her down the strangest of paths. What is a scientist to do with a pain so deep it interferes with her breathing? Erica begins mixing potions and uses herself as a guinea pig as she tries to create a pill that will rid the world of heartbreak.
Erika Luna is a thirty-something scientist living and working in Miami. When her marriage ends in divorce, Erika’s practical nature leads her down the strangest of paths. What is a scientist to do with a pain so deep it interferes with her breathing? Erica begins mixing potions and uses herself as a guinea pig as she tries to create a pill that will rid the world of heartbreak.
277 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
About the author
Anjanette Delgado
17 books32 followersAnjanette Delgado began her career as a journalist, working for outlets such as NBC, CNN, Univisión and Telemundo, covering presidential coups, elections, Olympics, the 9/11 terrorist attacks, both Iraq wars, which she executive produced, and winning an Emmy in 1994 for her human-interest series “Madres en la lejanía,” about the plight of Latino mothers who leave their own children behind and come to the United States to work as undocumented nannies.
She has written for NPR, Vogue, and Urban Latino, among other outlets. In 2002, she wrote and developed the sitcom “Great in Bed” for HBO Latam. Her first novel is The Heartbreak Pill (the Latino International Book Award's first prize pick for Best Romance in English, a Triple Crown Winner for Best Romance in Spanish the following year, and first prize for Best Romance in Latino Literacy's "Books into Movies" competition in 2010). She has an MFA in Creative Writing from Florida International University, regularly teaches writing for the Florida Literary Arts Center, and lives in Miami with her husband, and her Mini-Daschund, Chloe. her favorite quote is Winston Churchill's "If you're going through hell, keep going."
She has written for NPR, Vogue, and Urban Latino, among other outlets. In 2002, she wrote and developed the sitcom “Great in Bed” for HBO Latam. Her first novel is The Heartbreak Pill (the Latino International Book Award's first prize pick for Best Romance in English, a Triple Crown Winner for Best Romance in Spanish the following year, and first prize for Best Romance in Latino Literacy's "Books into Movies" competition in 2010). She has an MFA in Creative Writing from Florida International University, regularly teaches writing for the Florida Literary Arts Center, and lives in Miami with her husband, and her Mini-Daschund, Chloe. her favorite quote is Winston Churchill's "If you're going through hell, keep going."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
March 24, 2023
This book was a slow burn for me. Some parts just were not grabbing my attention enough and didn’t feel it was enough but there were parts I did enjoy reading that were relatable in life. I liked the characters but just the story need something more
May 11, 2008
Reviewed by Steph for TeensReadToo.com
Erika Luna is happy -- she has a successful job, a comfortable home, and a loving husband. All this comes crashing down when Erika finds out that her husband, Martin, is cheating on her with another woman. Fighting ensues that leads to a quick divorce. Now it's up to Erika -- along with her father, his partner, and a few friends -- to get her life back on track.
Along this road of self-discovery, Erika stumbles upon a brilliant idea: why not find a pill that one can take to cure heartbreak? Being the brilliant chemist that she is, Erika starts on a journey to end worldwide heartbreak in the form of a pharmaceutical pill.
Ms. Delgado writes a witty story about a woman on a path of self-discovery. Erika's story and realizations are inspiring to any reader. After finishing the book, the reader will feel satisfied and refreshed -- ready to go out on his or her own journey to figure out who they really are.
This funny and entertaining story will please all who read it.
Erika Luna is happy -- she has a successful job, a comfortable home, and a loving husband. All this comes crashing down when Erika finds out that her husband, Martin, is cheating on her with another woman. Fighting ensues that leads to a quick divorce. Now it's up to Erika -- along with her father, his partner, and a few friends -- to get her life back on track.
Along this road of self-discovery, Erika stumbles upon a brilliant idea: why not find a pill that one can take to cure heartbreak? Being the brilliant chemist that she is, Erika starts on a journey to end worldwide heartbreak in the form of a pharmaceutical pill.
Ms. Delgado writes a witty story about a woman on a path of self-discovery. Erika's story and realizations are inspiring to any reader. After finishing the book, the reader will feel satisfied and refreshed -- ready to go out on his or her own journey to figure out who they really are.
This funny and entertaining story will please all who read it.
December 1, 2013
A truly enjoyable read, made me laugh out loud many times. Also a perfect escape from the frigid New Hampshire winter and gave me license to dream of Miami though I haven't been there in more than 10 years. An accurate portrayal of how we turn ourselves inside out over love , felt myself cringing thinking about all the self help books mentioned since I'd read more than half of them at different times.
July 10, 2025
WOW. As someone who just experienced divorce, DELGADO really conveyed the emotions well. I cant tell if reading this book regressed me in my healing or if it helped. I truly enjoyed all the Spanish phrases and Miami culture and it made me really miss home. The scientific jargon was hard to follow however, although it wasn’t my cup of tea, it doesn’t mean it was bad– I just didn’t understand it. I wish there was a little more faith based plot, but I understand that this isn’t that type of book. I think the ending felt a little bit rushed, but I loved the final sentence of the book. I believe that it was a refreshing way to end a new story. Overall, fun read! Would recommend.
November 22, 2021
read for the prompt: has a woman in STEM (main character is a scientist)
This was a book club pick. I am glad it was fairly short and is now done. It's just not my type of writing. It reads like a telenovela and takes some getting used to. Sometimes I didn't quite understand what the heck was going on. The Spanish didn't help but that's my problem, not the books fault.
This was a book club pick. I am glad it was fairly short and is now done. It's just not my type of writing. It reads like a telenovela and takes some getting used to. Sometimes I didn't quite understand what the heck was going on. The Spanish didn't help but that's my problem, not the books fault.
February 17, 2020
Entretenido
December 18, 2012
Reviewed by: Donna Del Oro, Author of "Operation Familia" and "Hasta la Vista, Baby"
Member of Livin' la vida Latina
Review: THE HEARTBREAK PILL is a romantic comedy that won First Place in the Latino Books into Movies Awards contest; my novel, OPERATION FAMILIA, won Second Place in the same category, so I was curious to read the novel that won over mine. I wasn't disappointed! From page one, my attention was riveted to Erika Luna's story and I read the book in two days.
Erika Luna, a research chemist for Nuevo Med, is a Cuban-American wife who's dumped callously by her handsome husband of seven years. In her distinctive voice, she tells of her slow, painful journey from the fog of denial into the light of forgiveness and indifference--in Erika's words, from "please come back" to "to hell with him", and finally to "I could care less"--and a kind of peace within herself. Along the way to self-knowledge and acceptance, she researches the part of the brain that controls a human's emotions and discovers that the chemical reactions in the caudate nucleus center of the brain cause the euphoria of love, its addictive qualities, and the mental and physical pain of love's loss. With her quick scientific mind, Erika experiments with a drug that can reduce her own pain and fill the "big black hole" in her heart/brain. Only then, she decides, can she truly heal and be happy again. Of course, she's thinking like a scientist. What she soon learns is that other factors come into play when trying to close the wound of heartbreak.
Along the way, she meets two men who show her different aspects of her self; one is a painter who happens to speak my favorite line of dialogue in the book: "What is art, poetry and music but the transformation of an artist's pain into a present for humanity?"
In this delightful, humorous but poignant story, Anjanette Delgado shows us the journey everyone must take to recover from love's loss. And I couldn't help but think of my second novel, HASTA LA VISTA, BABY, another story of heartbreak and healing. The same catalyst but two totally different stories. Heartbreak is an all too familiar story but with a zillion different journeys.
Member of Livin' la vida Latina
Review: THE HEARTBREAK PILL is a romantic comedy that won First Place in the Latino Books into Movies Awards contest; my novel, OPERATION FAMILIA, won Second Place in the same category, so I was curious to read the novel that won over mine. I wasn't disappointed! From page one, my attention was riveted to Erika Luna's story and I read the book in two days.
Erika Luna, a research chemist for Nuevo Med, is a Cuban-American wife who's dumped callously by her handsome husband of seven years. In her distinctive voice, she tells of her slow, painful journey from the fog of denial into the light of forgiveness and indifference--in Erika's words, from "please come back" to "to hell with him", and finally to "I could care less"--and a kind of peace within herself. Along the way to self-knowledge and acceptance, she researches the part of the brain that controls a human's emotions and discovers that the chemical reactions in the caudate nucleus center of the brain cause the euphoria of love, its addictive qualities, and the mental and physical pain of love's loss. With her quick scientific mind, Erika experiments with a drug that can reduce her own pain and fill the "big black hole" in her heart/brain. Only then, she decides, can she truly heal and be happy again. Of course, she's thinking like a scientist. What she soon learns is that other factors come into play when trying to close the wound of heartbreak.
Along the way, she meets two men who show her different aspects of her self; one is a painter who happens to speak my favorite line of dialogue in the book: "What is art, poetry and music but the transformation of an artist's pain into a present for humanity?"
In this delightful, humorous but poignant story, Anjanette Delgado shows us the journey everyone must take to recover from love's loss. And I couldn't help but think of my second novel, HASTA LA VISTA, BABY, another story of heartbreak and healing. The same catalyst but two totally different stories. Heartbreak is an all too familiar story but with a zillion different journeys.
December 20, 2016
It's a good book when you need a healthy dose of feminism and self-esteem. Far from letting another man heal the wounds in her heart, Erika does the mending herself, with the help of her friends, family, and work. She finds confidence in doing the things that give her confidence and make her feel powerful, so when you are in a funk, this is the book to remind you that you can conquer mountains. It just take times. This too shall pass, and when it does, you'll be stronger than ever for it
April 6, 2014
Una novela totalmente entretenida y un placer total como lectura. La protagonist y narradora Erika Luna es una mujer joven que vive en Miami y parece tener una vida perfecta hasta que descubre que su marido tiene una amante por la que él deja a Erika. Frustrada y desesperada, ella, una química profesional, decide estudiar todo lo que pueda con tal de crear algún remedio para el sufrimiento de un desamor. Usándose a sí misma como conejillo de Indias, pruebe diferentes fórmulas, mientras tiene varias experiencias positivas y negativas relacionados con el amor y el desamor. Aunque la historia no sea muy profunda, ofrece a través de sus experiencias algunas lecciones que dan que pensar sobre amor, amistad, honestidad, y aceptación. Lo sobresaliente de la novela es el elenco de personajes entretenidos y únicos, como el padre gay de Erika y su pareja, y la “abogada espiritual“ de Erika que mezcla sus consejos legales con una espiritualidad tipo Nueva Era. Ellos hacen que la novela sea chistosa y encantador.
(Nota: Escuché también el audiolibro disponible en audible.com, narrado por la autora misma, que es un placer total. Delgado da voces perfectas a sus personajes únicos y hacen que los diálogos sean vivaces y memorables.)
(Nota: Escuché también el audiolibro disponible en audible.com, narrado por la autora misma, que es un placer total. Delgado da voces perfectas a sus personajes únicos y hacen que los diálogos sean vivaces y memorables.)
May 23, 2014
Erika is heartbroken after her husband suddenly files for divorce. She's also a research chemist at a pharmaceutical company. After reading a paper about the brain chemistry of love, Erika wonders if it would be possible to create a drug that switches off feelings of love and cures heartbreak. To distract herself from the increasingly ugly divorce proceedings, she sets off to invent the heartbreak pill.
I liked the idea of finding a heartbreak pill, but this was a small and underdeveloped part of the plot. The book was mostly a very conventional story about Erika pining for her husband and then moving on with other men. I didn't find the characters or relationships compelling, so I didn't really care.
I liked the idea of finding a heartbreak pill, but this was a small and underdeveloped part of the plot. The book was mostly a very conventional story about Erika pining for her husband and then moving on with other men. I didn't find the characters or relationships compelling, so I didn't really care.
May 9, 2008
This book surprised me with its depth and I read straight through to the end in a single afternoon. I had expected a contrived and shallow story with the typical stereotypes and storylines about sex and chocolate repairing a broken heart, but "The Hearbreak Pill" transcended the chick-lit mediocrity trap (even though it contained both sex and chocolate in small amounts).
I am grateful for having read this book, because even though I'm not currently heartbroken, I know that I have capacity to be, and somehow that's beautiful and precious.
I highly recommend this book to any girl with a heart, regardless of whether it's ever been broken.
I am grateful for having read this book, because even though I'm not currently heartbroken, I know that I have capacity to be, and somehow that's beautiful and precious.
I highly recommend this book to any girl with a heart, regardless of whether it's ever been broken.
September 2, 2009
I wanted to like this book. I could relate to the language being that I'm Latina, but I feel the author, the editor, or both needed to work a little further on tightening the story a bit. There were just too many random, unnecessary moments in the story. Too many things happened to arrive to such a simplistic conclusion. I feel that if the author would've kept the # of characters and plot a bit simpler and cleaner, the book would've been excellent.
The book promises to make you laugh out loud, cry etc. I did none of it. I however read the book in 2 days. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either.
The book promises to make you laugh out loud, cry etc. I did none of it. I however read the book in 2 days. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either.
January 11, 2017
Le pregunté qué pensaba sobre la posibilidad de una píldora contra el mal de amor como si se tratase de algo que había leído.
—No se puede eliminar el sufrimiento por amor.
—¿Por qué no?
—Primero, porque es el sufrimiento más noble que hay. Segundo, porque a través de él aprendemos, crecemos como personas. Y tercero, porque . . . ¿qué es el arte, la poesía, la música, sino la transformación del dolor de un artista en un regalo para la humanidad? El artista hurga en lo que le duele y lo da como una ofrenda que consuele al que venga después que él . . .
-------------------------
Me agradó bastante esta lectura.
Algo nuevo y diferente, fresco y cautivador.
July 10, 2012
Libro que nos narra la etapa de la vida que una nunca desea vivir. La infidelidad en el matrimonio. Erika Luna el personaje principal se encuentra en la situación muy complicada, pero apesar de sentirse mal por el engaño de su esposo ella hara lo nunca imaginado. Creer una pastilla para el mal amor y la ayuda a salir de este terrible momento.
Libro lleno de picardia, ingenio y de muchos consejos.
Libro lleno de picardia, ingenio y de muchos consejos.
February 4, 2014
Una novela divertida, llena de matices, con la que te identificarás en alguna parte de tu vida. Y sí bien no existe una píldora del mal de amor, que ayude a disipar el dolor que has sentido o sentirás por un amor no correspondido, lo cierto es que nadie se muere de un mal amor, y que sin duda el tiempo lo cura todo, y lo comenzará a hacer, en la medida de que entiendas que toda relación, buena o mala, es un regalo, y aprendes de ella.
January 4, 2009
oh this one had sooooo much promise!
but then it got stuck in silly romance/drama land instead of the scientific stuff...um...the main character is supposed to be a pharmaceutical scientist, creating new drugs but that gets tossed to the wayside pretty quickly...
readers looking for more substance should turn to helen fisher instead!
but then it got stuck in silly romance/drama land instead of the scientific stuff...um...the main character is supposed to be a pharmaceutical scientist, creating new drugs but that gets tossed to the wayside pretty quickly...
readers looking for more substance should turn to helen fisher instead!
February 6, 2010
This book was slightly heftier than your typical chick-lit. The protagonist's marriage ends after 7 years, and she sets out to develop a pill that will cancel out the heartache. The family relationships were well-drawn and I thought it was a new perspective on an old theme, although there are only so many conclusions she can reach.
June 22, 2009
I really liked this book. It is about a woman that is left by her husband after 7 years of marriage, and how she copes with it. It is funny, but at the same time you'll see women are stronger than you think, and we can get over anything!
March 26, 2012
How I wish the pill was really made into reality.
I like it when the lead character made her escape out of that heartbreak she had. People around us and making ourselves busy about something could really help us out of it. That's what she did.
I like it when the lead character made her escape out of that heartbreak she had. People around us and making ourselves busy about something could really help us out of it. That's what she did.
July 29, 2012
Anjanette captured all the ridiculous ideas of a heartbroken woman... But i think she ended the experiment part in a rushed... I recommend this for people who is at the cant-move-on phase who doesnt want to read self-help books..
February 16, 2013
Es un libro que en realidad lo compre porque me gusto la portada, pero cuando lo leí me gusto mucho, cita a varios autores y creo que eso es lo interesante del libro, la historia poco a poco me fue atrapando, sin duda se convirtió en uno de mis libros favoritos.
June 20, 2008
Too bad this wasn't a true story lol....but then we would never learn to appreciate the good things!
July 7, 2008
It is such a great book. It reminds all women that we can become the woman we always wanted to be.
January 20, 2009
Good quality chick-lit. And like any chick-lit, the ending was a bit silly, but overall I really enjoyed this one.
August 14, 2009
A great weekend read. Loved the different quotes inserted from the various Self-Help books the protaganist is forced to read. Witty, fast paced and a great example of chic-lit. Enjoyable!
November 26, 2011
i sooo love Erica!!! :)))
June 25, 2012
just okay. scientific jargon plus random spanish phrases make the book not quite what i was expecting.
February 17, 2014
I wanted to like it...but it just didn't work for me.
March 31, 2016
una historia diferente a lo que estaba acostumbrada a leer, me gusto pero nada más, me entretuvo y al final te deja algo interesante.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews