And another rather overdue review? I’m delighted today to share my review of the latest book from the wonderful Jane Lovering, The Monday Night Heartbreak Club: published on 12th October by Boldwood Books, it’s now available as an ebook (free via Kindle Unlimited), as an audiobook, and also in paperback and hardcover. The copy I read was my own, preordered and purchased from Amazon – and, when I’d planned to read it while on my cruise, hadn’t realised it’d be such a challenge to download it to my kindle with on-board wifi (I failed entirely – and that’s why my review is rather later than I’d intended!).
I can honestly say that I’ve loved every book of Jane’s that I’ve ever read – and I think that’s just about every one she’s written, as you’ll discover if you pop her name into my search bar and find my many reviews. I love the quirkiness of her fantastic characters, the stories are all so original and different, and while making me laugh out loud she also often manages to move me to tears (and sometimes even on the same page…). The Start of the Story (available free with Kindle Unlimited) was my favourite from last year – so emotionally engaging as her main characters grappled with the complexities of life and their impact (you’ll find my full review here). And we’ve already been treated to two books this year. I loved Happily Ever After – such well-drawn characters, the unpredictable twists and turns of the story, and a pitch perfect ending with the real possibility of a happy ever after, but that’s only after lots of fun along the way and an unexpected touch of particularly well-written drama (you’ll find my review here – and it’s also available via Kindle Unlimited). And then there was Once Upon a Thyme – characters I really took to my heart, a perfectly drawn setting, a fantastic story filled with surprises, laughter, tears, and the loveliest romance, and (of course) it immediately became my new favourite (and you’ll find my full review here).
So let’s take a closer look at her latest…
Is your love life a bit of a disaster? You’re not alone…
When Fee finds herself drunk, dumped and directionless on Valentine’s Day, she stumbles across a flyer for a new club, for people united by heartbreak. Intrigued, she joins a motley group of strangers at a quiet Yorkshire wine bar the following Monday night.
There’s Margot, in the middle of a bitter divorce;
Annie, whose husband of forty years she suspects is having an affair;
Wren, quietly nursing her own romantic regrets;
and Fraser, who may have mistaken the group for a dating opportunity.
But what begins as a weekly wallow soon becomes something more, especially when the club starts an undercover operation to discover the truth about Annie’s husband and his infidelity.
For Fee, who’s only just holding on to any self-worth she had left, the Monday Night Heartbreak Club offers something she never expected: purpose, friendship and maybe even a fresh start.
And then there’s Flynn, the sarcastic bartender who might just see the real Fee beneath the chaos.
Feel-good and empowering, Jane Lovering’s brand-new novel is about heartbreak, healing and the surprising ways people find each other when life falls apart.
“Drunk, dumped and directionless” – yes, that’s certainly Fee at the start of this story. Working in a call centre was never something she wanted to do, but it pays for her tiny flat with the hallway that smells of fish, and the bed that folds up to give her a little floor space (although it never seems worth the effort). Dex comes and goes as he pleases – and perhaps life’s rather better when he’s not around. Then there’s the booze – it blurs life’s rough edges a little. And as for her family, where she’s always been put down while her brother’s been the golden child – what a horrendous start.
She’s feeling particularly low as she sits in the wine bar across the road from her flat – where she sees an ad for a new group made up of people who’ve had their hearts broken. And they’re certainly an eclectic group, ranging from bossy organiser Margot to young Fraser, not heartbroken (or even having ever been in love) but very much in need of the company. Having decided on their name, their first mission becomes finding out exactly what Annie’s husband is doing when he takes days off without telling her or “works late at the office” – and working on it together begins to change all of their lives for the better.
As always with the author’s books, there’s plenty of laughter – the cast of quirky characters is just wonderful, and Fraser in particular (with his many foot-in-mouth moments) creates a lot of the humour, joining Annie’s husband’s gym but certainly not losing his appetite for any nibbles going (those shorts are never going to fit…). But there are some tremendously touching moments too – there were several times when Fee’s hopelessness absolutely broke my heart. There’s also a really touching developing romance – some tangible support for Fee when she needs it so much, but although the loveliest man he certainly has his own rather different personal challenges too. And this is a book with some rather darker edges – in particular a significant moment that took me entirely by surprise, quite shocking and exceptionally well handled.
With the most wonderful friendships, a focus on the possibility of changing your life and recognising your own worth, that gentle love story running through it, and a group of very real individuals I grew to love, I adored this book. The balance of light and darkness is perfect, as are all the emotional touches – a story that really touched my heart, as beautifully written as ever, and I couldn’t recommend it more highly.
About the author
Jane Lovering is a bestselling and multi-award winning romantic comedy writer. Most recently Jane won the RNA Contemporary Romance Novel Award in 2023 with A Cottage Full of Secrets. She lives in Yorkshire and has a cat and a bonkers terrier, as well as five children who have now left home.
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