Author: Sarah Ockler
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Number of Pages: 352
Date Published: May 21, 2013
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Goodreads:
When all signs point to heartbreak, can love still be a rule of the road? A poignant and romantic novel from the author of Bittersweet and Twenty Boy Summer.
Jude
has learned a lot from her older sisters, but the most important thing
is this: The Vargas brothers are notorious heartbreakers. She’s seen the
tears and disasters that dating a Vargas boy can cause, and she swore
an oath—with candles and a contract and everything—to never have
anything to do with one.
Now Jude is the only sister still living
at home, and she’s spending the summer helping her ailing father
restore his vintage motorcycle—which means hiring a mechanic to help
out. Is it Jude’s fault he happens to be cute? And surprisingly sweet?
And a Vargas?
Jude tells herself it’s strictly bike business with
Emilio. Her sisters will never find out, and Jude can spot those flirty
little Vargas tricks a mile away—no way would she fall for them. But
Jude’s defenses are crumbling, and if history is destined to repeat
itself, she’s speeding toward some serious heartbreak…unless her sisters
were wrong?
Jude may have taken an oath, but she’s beginning to think that when it comes to love, some promises might be worth breaking.
***
My Thoughts:
I have been waiting for this book for months now. Why? Read the synopsis above. :) The moment I read that, I knew I had to read it as soon as it comes out. Basically, it’s about Jude and her older sisters making an oath to never get involved with another Vargas ever again due to the previous heart breaks her older sisters have suffered. Call it coincidence or fate, but it looks like Jude is being challenged, because she direly needs a mechanic that summer and she’s left with no other choice but to hire Emilio Vargas. Whoooopie! Sounds awesome doesn’t it? Yeah, it does. The perfect recipe for a cute summer romance. And that’s what really drew me to the story. I’m dying to know how Jude will handle this situation. Will Jude choose Emilio Vargas over her three older sisters? Is she willing to break their oath, their blood pact, just so she could be with a notorious Vargas boy?
Now, if you’re looking for a fun, light, and carefree book filled with sweet summer romance, The Book of Broken Hearts is probably not the best choice. Because while it’s fun and has this cute teenage romance, it’s not carefree or light at all. It covers something that will touch some readers’ hearts deeply. In fact, Book of Broken Hearts is more than just the teenage love story, or the typical boy heart break. It's about family relationships as well, about making your own choices, letting go of what has been and moving on to what will be.
Jude and Emilio’s love story was a pleasure to read. They had their ups and downs. They had their fair share of good times and bad times, while constantly being watched by the sisters’ oath. But honestly, I was more interested in reading about Jude and her father’s relationship. What their future will become, how Jude will be able to cope, and all that. It was fun at times, often a little depressing and pitiful, but most of the time touching. The father-daughter moments are the ones I’m waiting for (not that I’m not waiting for Emilio and Jude’s lovey dovey moments). Also, it was pleasant to see how Jude grew in the story, how she was able to stand up for her choices and not become the girl overshadowed by her older sisters.
To sum up, a great read. :)
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