Only Love Can Hurt Like This by Paige Toon: A Book Review

I've finished my first book of 2024! Well, I technically started this book the last month of 2023, but I finished it the January of this year. Anyhow, the book, Only Love Can Hurt Like This is the book I'm discussing today. This is the first book by Paige Toon I've read. I had heard some really good reviews about this book in particular, and I know that Paige has written some other really wonderful books, which I'm keen to read in the future.

So, what's this book about then?

As far as titles go, one can assume that this book will be a heartbreaker. Wren, an architect who lives in Bury St Edmund, is just getting over a breakup with her ex, Scott. After Scott falls in love with his work colleague Nadine, Wren decides to go to Indiana, where her father lives with his now wife, Sheryl. Wren has a stepsister, Bailey, a wedding planner who is also residing in Indiana. Wren and Bailey go out to a bar one night, which is where they meet brothers Jonas and Anders. 

After a rocky start, Anders and Wren start to get along and get close. However, Anders lost his wife four years ago and is still not over her. However, Anders is harbouring a secret which will change everything. If he acts on any feelings he has for Wren, it will have serious repercussions. But it would hurt Wren if she walked away, but when she knows the truth, how can she possibly stay? 

And no, I'm not going to tell you what the secret is! It's quite a sad one which had me torn as to what was for the best (if that makes any sense!)

Would I recommend Only Love Can Hurt Like This by Paige Toon?

Oh, this book had me swooning, crying and melting in more ways than one. This is such a page-turner, a heartbreaking read in parts, I even got emotional in some chapters of the book. Anders' secret is an incredibly tough one to keep and it's self-explanatory to see why he can't move on from his wife. But Wren has changed his life and you can see how conflicted he is during the second half of the book in particular. 

It's an incredibly moving book, I ended up rooting for Wren and Anders so much. 

The other characters in the book are great. I absolutely loved Anders' brother, Jonas, such a great character and I loved Anders' protectiveness over his brother. I loved Wren's stepsister Bailey and how her and Wren's sisterly love developed throughout the book. It's also great to see how Wren's relationship with her stepmom grows the longer she stays in Indiana.

The ending was satisfying and I'm glad it ended the way it did and that Anders gets some closure. 

I'd love to know your thoughts on Only Love Can Hurt Like This!