The Book of Heartbreak

by Ova Ceren

A Middle Eastern legend get a magically romantic modern makeover perfect for fans of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.

A young woman must find a way to end the curse on her heart before it claims her forever in this delightfully witty fantasy romance.

Sare Silverbirch has already had her heart broken three times. A fifth heartbreak will stop her heart forever. Such is the nature of the curse she was born under, which forces her to live a life without letting anyone get too close.

When her mother dies unexpectedly and her heart breaks for the fourth time, Sare begins to urgently question the curse. Where did it come from? Why her? And rather than accept it, could there be a way to break it?

Her questions lead her to Istanbul where she meets Leon, a seer who helps her track down the mysteries of her mother’s past. But Sare’s heart is a fragile thing and their blossoming romance poses a great risk to her survival. Especially when she discovers that her fate is in the hands of celestials beyond this earthly realm.

Now the heavens are stirring, for they have a stake in Sare’s destiny—and they don’t like their plans being overturned.

The Book of Heartbreak is a dazzling, haunting romantasy sure to break—and mend again—the hearts of readers everywhere.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Adult, Young Adult

352 pages, Paperback

First published August 26, 2025

About the author

Ova Ceren writes bittersweet tales of heartbreak and magic, often inspired by Turkish and Ottoman folklore.

Blessed (or perhaps cursed) with a mathematical brain, she earned a degree in Computer Science and a master’s that led her into a career in IT, taking her from Türkiye to Britain. After years of wrestling with algorithms in corporate jungles, she finally eloped with a debut novel instead.

Ova now lives in Cambridge, UK, with her husband, son, and a spirited flock of runner ducks.

She is also the creator of the popular Instagram and TikTok channels @excusemyreading.

Reviews

[♥︎ Heather ⚔ (New House-Hiatus)]

DNF after chapter 1. More like the book of headache, trying so hard to be poetic. Couldn’t get into it.


The two arcs I’m currently reading aren’t really doing it for me… gonna give this one a whirl and hope it pulls me in! 🤞🏻💖

My bestie KitKat grabbed my attention with this one - it's giving fairytale magic romance. Ugh please be good!

💙YA Historical Romantic Fantasy
💜Forbidden Love
✨Middle Eastern Folklore
💙Coming of Age
💜Curses
✨Slow Burn
💙Emotional
💜Witty Banter

Expected Pub Date - 08/26/25

Many thanks to Alcove Press via NetGalley for the advanced digital copy - all thoughts are my own.

Connect with me on Instagram

[Ova Ceren]

I wrote this book to make people feel good about dying.

My grandmother was dying when I started writing this. A devoted Muslim, she was deeply afraid of death, convinced she was destined for hell because, once upon a time, she’d had abortions. An imam had told her it was a ticket to the pits of fire.

She spent her final days crying. Nothing I said could bring her peace.

So I did the only thing I could: I imagined a different afterlife. One that’s a little absurd. A little bureaucratic. Mundane, even. A place where peace is hard earned, but possible.

This book was born from grief, hope, and a stubborn belief that maybe the land beyond life doesn’t have to be terrifying. Maybe it's not how the men lectured us. Maybe you should for once read it from a woman?

Now, this little story will be published in four countries. But my poor grandmother isn’t here to read it.

Still… if it reaches even one reader who’s afraid like she was (and gives them comfort) then I’ve done my job.

Ova Ceren xx

[🌺 Hannah 🌺 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to author Ova Ceren and publisher Alcove Press for an ARC of The Book of Heartbreak! Publication date: August 26, 2025 💙

This was a 3.5/5 ✨ rounded up to 4 for me. It’s a mysterious YA romantasy that follows Sare, who lives in the UK but moves to Istanbul after her mother unexpectedly passes away, into the care of a family member she thought had died. Sare carries a dangerous curse: if her heart breaks five times before she turns 18, she will die and cannot be resurrected.

The story dives into the origins of this curse, its devastating history, and whether it can be broken so Sare can finally be free. In Istanbul, she meets Leon, a seer who’s infatuated with her and eager to help unravel the mysteries of curses. Together, they embark on a journey filled with heartbreak, frustration, hope, and love. Along the way, Sare learns more about what she wants from her life and about the painful truths within her family’s past.

While I did enjoy this book, I didn’t love it. The biggest drawback for me was that the plot felt a bit predictable, and none of the twists really caught me by surprise. The world-building around the Otherside and the angels was also confusing at times, and I found myself wishing for more clarity there. That said, I really loved Munu, despite not always being truthful, she was still a caring, protective guardian who wanted the best for Sare.

Overall, while this wasn’t a perfect fit for me, I think many YA romantasy readers will really enjoy it 🖤💙

[kitkat]

- currently reading ⏳-
you’re joking. she just thought that this man looked like a greek god. talk about insta lust.

- preread 🌊 -
i feel like this book might have once upon a broken heart vibes, and i’m here for it.

>> thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc!! <33

[TheConnieFox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This romantic fantasy fictional book really captured my attention right away! This is also in the multicultural interest genre. It made me feel a lot of emotions! I was sad, happy, hopeful and heartbroken while reading this. It is dark, mysterious, reflective, sad and tense. It also came with some humor and romance. It is well written, flows well and is a medium paced read. It comes with a diverse cast of characters, both likable and unlikable. The book cover is absolutely stunning! I found this book to be a hidden gem. With this being the author’s debut novel, I was pleasantly surprised and greatly impressed!

“The Book of Heartbreak” is a story that revolves around a young woman named Sara, who gets her heart broken four times, since she was born. The fourth heartbreak was her mother, who unexpectedly passes away. Sara is left confused as to why she has this curse and is scared to get close to anyone because of it. She does not want her heart broken five times, that would just be too much for her to deal with. As the story unravels, this story digs into why she is cursed and she discovers if she can break it. Along the way, a romance starts to blossom. Overall, I rate this a 5 out of 5 stars!

Content warnings include death and grief. I think people that love to read fantasy novels about curses would enjoy reading this book!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Ova Ceren and Alcove Press for this digital advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is expected to be published on August 26, 2025!

[Elizabeth Sagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

CAN'T WAIT TO READ THIS
*
LATER EDIT: I JUST FINISHED IT! What a beautiful, BEAUTIFUL book this was. Not only does it pull you in from the first chapter, not only is the writing gorgeous, but the witty humor made it absolutely glorious. The emails between angels and their bickering were the cherry on top of an already delicious cake. I can't tell you how many times I laughed out loud reading them. And as someone who can hold a grudge for decades, it felt like TBoH spoke to me personally.

Do yourself a favor and read it!

[jenny reads a lot · Rating 3 out of 5]

The setting, magic, folklore were all very interesting and unique!

What didn’t work for me is I found myself a bit frustrated at the characters actions, especially towards the end. Overall it was a bit predictable, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing but I found myself getting distracted a lot while reading and not really feeling motivated to pick the book back up.

3.25 ⭐️| TikTok | IG |

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

[Lina · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 / 5 Stars
This was a really cool YA fantasy book that had a bit of a messy ending but overall was super fun! It has a really unique concept: Sare is cursed to die from heartbreak, but as long as she doesn’t have her fifth heartbreak before she turns 18, she will break the curse and as a “reward” she will never be able to love again. What a treat for this poor girl. When her mother passes away and Sare suffers her fourth heartbreak, she knows she has to be extra careful on this last try. Her estranged grandfather, her last living relative, shows up and offers to take her to Turkey. There she meets a seer, someone who can connect with this world and the other realms, and it just so happens that he is a cute boy her age named Leon. But Sare can’t get wrapped up in Leon even if he does promise to help her break her curse. It is just too dangerous to play games with her heart.

You will probably like this book if you like:
💔 YA Fantasy where the FMC is cursed
💔 Stories inspired by Middle Eastern Folklore
💔 Exploration of grief and love
💔 Complicated family dynamics
💔 Forbidden love
💔 A ticking clock aspect
💔 Mischief and adventure

The plot was super gripping and felt really fast paced once Sare got to Istanbul. It felt like a really cool puzzle where you aren’t exactly sure what you’re building but every chapter, you’d get a corner piece together or something in the middle and then by about half way through the book, you realize, “Ohhh, I’m building this cool landscape.” Every new piece of information was revealed in an interesting way and even though it did take a little while to figure out exactly what was happening, what was causing the curse, who was involved, etc., once it was all revealed, it felt new, fresh, and different from other things I have read.

There were also interstitial email exchanges between different departments in heaven who are all involved in Sare’s curse and that was a fun addition. In the beginning, they didn’t make a ton of sense but it was still fun to read about the bureaucracy and dumb office politics of heaven.

Sare and Leon’s relationship was definitely insta-crush and then insta-love but my tolerance for that in YA novels is higher than it is for novels with two grown adults who insta-love each other. I feel like two 17 year olds would potentially think they were in love with each other that quickly. The second I saw Justin Timberlake as a teen, I was like “we’re going to get married and no one can tell me otherwise,” so any sort of “insta” emotion actually feels authentic in some ways. It did occasionally make me roll my eyes but for a trope that I really don’t like usually, I was okay with it here.

The book dealt with some really big topics in a pretty nuanced way: betrayal, loyalty, familial love, trust, vulnerability, and forgiveness. I liked that none of the adults were fully villains or fully heroes (minus one) because they were all deeply, deeply flawed. There are some actions committed by the adults that in other books, I would find hard to tolerate, but I think the author here did a nice job of explaining why, for example, two sisters might betray each other or why a father might side with one child. The explanations weren’t perfect, but the emotions were messy and complicated which is how I like them.

I am still trying to process the end to decide how I really feel about it and what message it might be sending (or maybe there is no message and I am making something not that deep into something deep), so if you read this book, I would LOVE to talk about it. But overall, I really enjoyed reading this complex, unique book!

Thank you Alcove Press and NetGalley for providing the eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: August 26, 2026

[a foray in fantasy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genuinely cried through the last quarter of the book--- it was such a beautiful handling of grief and loss.

Sare is a 17 year old living on borrowed time; if she has her heart broken 5 times before she turns 18, she will die permanently. The first half of the book was a bit slow, but I did appreciate the character development and the set up of all of the twists (which were a bit easy to predict at times, but still exciting enough). I feel like I reject this as being marketed as romantasy because of the way that romance was *not* the focal point of the book. I enjoyed learning more about Turkish culture and the mythology woven into the book.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Shawn Rhoden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my heart! Words can't express how much I loved this book! First, it drew me in from the beginning. It was immediately a book that I couldn't put down....and when I hit the 1/2 way mark....I didn't! What a creative, genius work of literary art penned by Ceren. Sare Sila Silverbirch is a beautifully created character who is crafted into a beautiful love story. The mystery woven in the book is a page turner. There were so many "oh my wow" moments that had me gasping! Beautiful, beautiful writing and story creation, Ova Ceren!! I can't wait for what you write next!

[Burcu Arda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Book of Heartbreak? More like the book that mended my heart.

What a surprise this book turned out to be. It felt like curling up with a warm cup of tea on a rainy day, yet at the same time, it whisked me away on a fast-paced, emotional, and utterly magical journey. From the very first page, I was completely immersed—not only in Sare’s story, but also in the vivid, enchanting streets of Istanbul.

As a born and raised İstanbuliot, maybe I am a little biased. But because of that, my expectations were also sky-high. Istanbul is more than just a backdrop in this book—it’s alive, breathing, and woven into every word. Ova Ceren took a well-known tale and piece of mythology that almost every local knows by heart, and reimagined it so beautifully, giving it her own magical twist. Following Sare as she unravels her past, we get to discover not only hidden parts of herself but also some of the most gorgeous, historical, and mystical corners of the city. And let me tell you, I never wanted her story to end… but I also didn't want her to suffer anymore (the struggle was real haha)

The writing is smooth and fast-paced, yet still atmospheric. It’s not heavy, but it leaves an emotional weight on you in the best way. It’s cozy yet poignant, fantastical yet grounded in very real feelings of loss, love, and self-discovery.

What I loved about this book:

⭐️ Atmospheric, cozy yet fast-paced writing that keeps you turning pages without realizing how quickly time passes.
⭐️ The magical realism elements blended seamlessly with everyday life.
⭐️ A fresh twist on Istanbul's well-known mythology, making it feel familiar yet new.
⭐️ The vivid, loving portrayal of Istanbul itself—the buildings, the hidden streets, the local texture—it almost becomes a character.
⭐️ Sare’s emotional journey—raw, real, and relatable.
⭐️ Short chapters & tight pacing that keep the momentum going while giving room to breathe.
⭐️ That bittersweet feeling of not wanting the book to end, but also wishing happiness for the characters.

If you're someone who loves cozy fantasies wrapped in magical realism, stories steeped in culture and mythology, and settings so vivid they feel like they’re breathing—this book is for you. Especially if you hold a special place in your heart for Istanbul (or want to get to know the city through a magical lens), this will easily become a new favorite. Fans of character-driven journeys, where the emotional arc feels as important as the plot itself, will also find something to love here. It’s a perfect read when you’re craving something fast-paced yet soul-soothing, familiar yet fresh, heart-wrenching yet healing.
Highly recommend!

Huge thanks to Ova Ceren, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this magical story early. I can’t wait for everyone else to experience it once it's out!

[lookmairead]

Shoot. I fell for the comps - so I accidentally set the bar too high. I wanted to love this book from the burb but I couldn’t get into the pacing and writing style.

I feel terrible dnfing a new author- but maybe I wasn’t the right audience. I think with some edits this would have been a decent MG book.

DNF 16%

[Maxwell Whitaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun fantasy! I loved the relationship between Leon and Sare. The setup and premise for this story was one that set the stakes high from the start. It had me gripping my seats in anxiety worrying about when things would go wrong. Forbidden love in the absolute sense of the word, no bigger consequence than death itself. I’ve never quite read anything similar to this, and honestly that was for the best. This could just exist as its own thing with no references to hold it to. The plot was fun, the romance was believable, and the characters were all well written as well.

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the e-arc!

[Naz Ekin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, it was both so funny and so emotional, the writing was deep but so easy to read at the same time.

I read this book gripped to it (even though I was reading it from a tiny phone screen), feeling for Sare and the heartbreaks she had. Can't wait to read it again with the actual copy in my hands!

[Emma Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve followed the author on instagram for a while now and she told us she was writing a book so I was routing for her from the start and couldn’t wait to read it . From the moment i turned the first page I was hooked . I thought the description ofSara sila silverbirch’s mother’s death was beautifully written and the author really understood grief and its significance to the character. As soon as she arrived in Istanbul the city was bought to life with its vivid descriptions I really felt I was there with her and seeing such a beautiful vibrant city for real . The story is pure magic with plot twists and turns and an array of characters that just make you want to keep reading late into the night to finish it . I loved it with thanks to NetGalley and the publisher hot key books and author ova ceren . Read on kindle

[Rosemary Standeven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Although I finished it about three weeks ago, it remains fresh in my memory – it has just taken me a while to process my thoughts into a review.
When I first started the book, I was a little annoyed at the main character, 17 year old Sare, who seemed rather melodramatic, claiming that she died from heartbreak – not once (which may have been just believable, if she were older), but four times!!! Then, I paid attention – this was not supposed to be realistic, it was an excellent fantasy. The give-away was Munu – an ethereal (‘cos heaven didn’t have a spare angel), who had been tasked with keeping Sare safe. Munu is tiny (even tinier when upset!) and flies. And Sare – like all the women in her line – is cursed to never have a successful relationship with anyone.
If Sare can make it to her 18th birthday – she will lose her heart (and ability to love) but the curse will disappear, and she will live. Before that, Munu has set out rules to prevent heartache:

“Rule number one: no tears shall fall. Rule number two: channel sorrow into rage. Rule three: death is not an option.”

So, Sare must go through her young life, never getting close to anyone – no close friends, no boyfriend, … only Munu. A teenager with a very old, frozen heart – and a constant craving for sweets (see below).
Then Sare’s mother dies. Though they were not close, her death hits Sare badly. DON’T CRY!!! A grandfather she never knew existed comes to invite her to live with him in Istanbul, her mother’s original home. As she was under eighteen – it was either that or a foster home. A grandfather who is almost as unemotional as Sare has trained herself to be. There is nothing to keep her in London, so she goes.
In Istanbul she meets Leon, a gorgeous boy (DON’T GET INVOVLED!) – who can actually see Munu as he is a trainee seer with “the pure eye” , and specialises in curses. He wants to emulate the seer, Sufi Chelabi, in removing curses. But first he has to find the lost writings of the great mystic.
Could Leon be interested in Sare as a female – she knows she is plain and unlovable – or is he just interested in her curse to further his studies?
We don’t know what triggered the curse until right near the end – or if Sare can possibly survive with her heart intact. And is Leon destined to fall in love with a cursed woman and die like his idol?
Each chapter starts either with an excerpt from Sufi Chelabi’s writings, offering good advice:

“Your ancestors don’t have to be your legacy. Have the courage to honour their memory, but reserve greater courage to walk your own path. Only the brave accept themselves for who they truly are.
Excerpt from The Book of Betrayal, Müneccimbaşı Sufi Chelebi’s Journals of Mystical Phenomena”

or a celestial ‘email’ exchange relating to the management of Sare or of Leon:

“Suggested ways to distract the mortal: – Physical confrontation – Culinary temptation (e.g. sugar) – Provoking their wrath – Mathematics (could be simple counting or differential equations if subject has an aptitude for advanced maths)”

Yes, heaven is bureaucracy on steroids!
Leon’s mother also offers advice:

“When the time comes to make a decision: choose love and not hate. Choose hope, not despair. Choose life, not death. Choose courage, Sare Silverbirch.”

Will she – can she – chose love?
This is a beautifully crafted book, with a unique setting – part real life, part heaven, part fantasy, even a bit of crime/mystery thrown in – all quite compelling.
A few reviewers give it a low rating (most really high) – having given up too quickly. Stay the course! Slow start, but it grows and grows to a momentous ending, that you won’t have seen coming.
Highly recommended.
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by either the author or publisher.

[Aubrey M · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Book of Heartbreak follows a teenager named Sare, through many heartbreaks in her young life. She loses everything she comes to care for because of a centuries old curse that has been passed down through the generations of women in her family. Sare begins to seek a cure to the curse and this is where the story gets interesting.

The writing bounces between letter correspondence as the story unfolds. I felt that it could have been improved by not using letters but simply telling the other parts of the story. Overall, it was a read that was worth the time and I think that this book would be suited best for YA readers.

This was not quite a 4 for me but definitely not a 3.

[Angharad · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really sweet slow burn romance that I think romantasy fans, cozy fantasy fans and historical fiction fans alike will be able to embrace and enjoy. Istanbul is as much of a character as our protagonist Sare, rendered in lovingly vivid detail. Usually I'm not a fan of first person point of view, but Sare was pretty immediately likeable.

If you liked Harvest of Hearts earlier this year, I think you might connect with this one.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this early copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Karly · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.25/5) Ultimately, The Book of Heartbreak wasn't for me.

📖 ARC Review 📖
🗓️ Pub date: August 26, 2025

What to expect:
💙 YA romantic fantasy
💙 1st person, single POV
💙 Inspired by Middle Eastern Folklore
💙 Exploration of heartbreak

Spice rating: 🫑 (insta love)

This book had a lot of great elements, and I loved the premise. It was almost set up to feel similar to Once Upon a Broken Heart (one of my favorite YA trilogies) just not as whimsical or fairytale like, which I liked so that it stood on its own. The Middle Eastern Folklore elements felt unique, and I enjoyed seeing how the author tied these aspects into the story.

At the core of why this book wasn't for me: I didn't connect with Ova Ceren's writing style or her execution. This book is told in the first person POV of Sare (a 17-year old girl), but it felt like she kept switching tones—I wish she used 3rd person POV so it felt less confusing. Some of the characters also began to sound very similar, as a result. Ova Ceren chose to use emails throughout, which I personally found distracting and, at times, even more confusing.

While I liked the idea of Sare on this journey to break her curse or live & lose the ability to love, I found myself losing interest as the story progressed. Unfortunately, I will not be recommending this book, but I love to see the positive reviews where it found its target readers.

Even though this book wasn't for me, I'm sincerely thankful to Alcove Press for gifting me a physical ARC ahead of its pub date.

[Irem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sare Silverberch is a girl who is cursed with death if her heartbreaks 5 times. Throughout this book we see how she navigates through different struggles while finding out about her family history and why she became cursed. I enjoyed reading this book and liked how all the clues connected at the end like a puzzle.

“Fate is a friend to some and a foe to others.”

“If misfortune is written in your stars.. you could jump on a spaceship to Mars and it would still follow you.”

“If you succumb to your fears, you���ll only become a shadow of yourself.”

“Hate is a faithful companion to those who are betrayed and wronged by the ones they hold dearest, for they inflict the deepest wounds. Where love enslaves, hatred is ready to serve.”

“And I am just a seventeen-year-old girl with a galloping heart.”

“He and I, we’re not meant for each other. A boy destined for madness if he loves someone who cannot love him in return, and a girl who’ll perish if her heartbreaks breaks once more.”

“Sometimes it’s better not to know. It’s a wicked thing, knowledge. Without it you’re blind. But with it, you may become a part of the shadows you sought to chase away.”

“The most profound wounds are often inflicted by those we hold nearest, leaving us vulnerable. Every harm they cause chips away at our fondness, until the person we held dear transforms into our most daunting enemy.”

[olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Book of Heartbreak is a beautiful retelling of a Middle Eastern Legend that immediately captured my attention!! Sare must risk her final heartbreak, and her life, for the truth. My heart broke for her and all the love she needed but was never given.

If you love Middle Eastern Legends, forbidden romance, coming of age, and hefallsfirstbutshefallsharder tropes, this book is perfect for you!

Thank you for the opportunity of an eARC, and I am leaving this review willingly.

[Jordan Lynch · Rating 3 out of 5]

A curse that causes literal heartbreak and the girl who must break the curse before her fifth and final death or before she loses her heart forever: The Book of Heartbreak certainly has a unique premise! Add onto that a beautiful setting, interesting folklore, and a bunch of angelic hosts who range from quirky to malicious, and Ova Ceren's debut is a fun read. However, the instalove is hard at work, and I didn't truly feel the connection between the main character, Sare, and her love interest. As friends, sure; as partners in breaking the curse, sure; but not as a romantic pair so quickly. There were also some confusing moments as people (intentionally) went by different names and things were happening so quickly that it was a little difficult to keep track of who was doing this or that, but these weren't often enough to really impact the story. However, the found family, generational trauma, and lessons on forgiveness really shone and made up for the cons. The Book of Heartbreak is a great debut, and I can't wait to see what Ceren writes next!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun book! It's a bit outside of my norm, but I enjoyed it. This story had a lot going on, but at the end, it was all neatly connected. It took a while to get in the groove with the email segments interspersed, but once you knew those characters better, they were a decent addition. The main female character had to grow up before a child should (partially due to her curse, partially due to her mom/lack of adult support.) While I generally like more romance, Sare is only 17 for much of the book, so I was fine with the tiny amount that occurred. She has a lot thrown at her but her development still made sense. I'm glad she gets an HEA (hope that isn't too spoiler-y). The only thing I personally did not like was how everyone was against her finding the truth (about her parents, the curse, etc). Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity.

[Jackie Fragos · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did! It was emotional and funny!
I loved the relationship between Leon and Sare and the slow-burn romance!
I would definitely recommend this book!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

[Breanna Joleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️
thank you Alcove Press for the e-ARC!

this was very interesting! the storytelling was beautiful and i just wanted to give Sare a big hug the whole time.. some parts got a little slow and dragged out, but if you enjoy folklore/urban fantasy this might be for you :)

[Fiorella Castagna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew this book would get me right in the feels and it certainly delivered. Sare Sila Silverbirch was born cursed and if her heart breaks for a fifth time she will die. I absolutely devoured this book, I couldn’t put it down. It was so beautifully written with moments of laughter and sadness. It talks of grief and heartbreak so beautifully and how to navigate the emotions of it. Above all, it speaks of forgiveness, of looking forward in life. Not living in hatred but forgiving your loved ones, and forgiving yourself. It was a gorgeous story, I loved the fusion of Turkish folklore with a romantasy genre. Sare and Leon were great characters but my favourite was definitely Munu. Will be recommending this book to everyone!!
Thank you Hot Key Books for sending me the proof!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a bit to connect to the main character. But once I did, I could not put the book down. I loved the characters, the world, and the stories. Once the book hooked me, I didn't want stop. The writing was beautiful and kept pace wonderfully. I did not go into this book knowing the mythology, but I enjoyed it just the same.

If you are looking for a cozy fantasy that has emotional depth, I would recommend this to you. With Istanbul as it's back drop and a 1,000 year old curse being bothersome, this book is addictive.

I am going to miss being in this world!

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

[Marya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Alcove Press for providing me an early copy of this ebook. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this one! I was gripped by the mystery behind everything throughout, and by the end, I had to grab a box of tissues. 😢

Sare was born with a curse; a curse that will end her life if her heart breaks 5 times. But, if she makes it to 18, she will live, but without the ability to love. After her mother dies in the opening pages, her heart breaks for the 4th time, and now she must move to Istanbul to live with the Grandfather she never knew about, and try to make it the last few months without another heartbreak.

I was really drawn to Sare from the start. As someone who feels every emotion, it was so interesting to have a POV/MC be someone who couldn’t cry, and who had learned to close herself off, as best she could, from *feeling* anything, for survival.

Her little guardian angel, Munu, was also a really interesting character, and obviously hiding secrets I was dying to know.

And I also really enjoyed the love interest, Leon, who helped to bring some hope to the story.

Plus, there’s some Angel workplace shenanigans that deepened the mysteries and intrigue throughout.

There are themes of grief and shared family trauma. I haven’t looked much into the myth of the Maiden in the Tower, but I enjoyed how it was entwined in this tale.

The mystery of the curse kept me turning those pages to find out the answers, and I loved how it all came together in the end.

As for the age I would recommend this one to: I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it my 12 year old daughter (and I will). (There are a few “F-words” dropped, but meh.)

I really enjoyed this one, and if you’re looking for a book with a middle eastern setting, curses, and explorations of emotion and grief, I definitely recommend looking into this one!

What this book is giving:
✅ YA Romantic Fantasy
✅ Single POV
✅ Heartbreak Curse
✅ Guardian Angel-like Character
✅ Istanbul Setting
✅ Ethereals
✅ Mystery
✅ Grief
✅ Family Trauma

[shelvedbyjasi · Rating 4 out of 5]

“We stand entwined: a boy doomed to madness should he fall for a cursed girl, and a girl who’ll perish if her heart shatters once more.”

🪽𓆰𓆪✮⋆˙🕊️ᥫ᭡٠ ࣪⭑

I have mostly positive feelings about this book, though I’ve got to say—the romance moved fast. Like, blink-and-they’re-in-love fast. It definitely caught me off guard and left me wishing we had a little more buildup there.

That said, there’s so much I did love. The story really centers around some beautiful, aching themes—like forgiveness, the fragility of the human heart, and just how gutting heartbreak can be. It left me feeling a lot.

One of my favorite elements was the intertwining timelines and the way ancestral relationships were explored. The generational curses, how they repeated, and the root of it all—just so well done. I also adored the celestial aspect. The different ethereal beings and their dynamics added this perfect touch of humor and lightness in the middle of some heavy moments.

And the ending? So satisfying. There was a twist I didn’t see coming, and the ending was kind of a happily ever after… in its own way. I think this one is going to stick with me for a while.

[andshe.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Book Of Heartbreak revolves around a girl called Sara who happens to have a curse. She can only get her heart broken 5 times. After her 4th heartbreak, her mum passing away, she discovers her grandfather, who lives in Istanbul. Knowing this is where her mum grew up and fled, she takes it as an opportunity to learn more about the past and to hopefully find out more about the curse she has been given.

Admittedly, I actually struggled to get into the story initially, but after 60 or so pages, I was hooked, and I felt just as curious as Sara about this curse and the history that goes with it.

There's a diverse cast of characters, some that were unsavoury. However, the likeable ones were great. This story actually stirs up quite a lot of emotions as Sara navigates, finding herself and my relationships and uncovering how to break the curse.

In the end, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I really enjoyed this book. Thank you to InstaBookTours HotKeyBooks and the author for a copy.