Name: Broken Hearts, Fences and Other Things to Mend
ISBN: 9781250045249

Katie Finn

Devastated after a painful breakup, Gemma faces a Hamptons summer near a former best friend she wronged years earlier, a risk that compels her to assume a different identity and pursue a relationship with her former friend's brother.

Broken Hearts, Fences and Other Things to Mend

Beckah brooks

That cliffhanger! I need the second book ASAP!

Gemma had her summer all planned out, but it takes sharp turn when she gets dumped and finds herself back in the Hamptons after a five-year absence. Being there puts her at risk of bumping into Hallie, her former best friend (that is, before Gemma ruined her life). But people don't hold grudges forever. Do they? Gemma intends to make amends, but a small case of mistaken identity causes the people she knew years ago--including Hallie and her dreamy brother Josh--to believe she's someone else. As though the summer wasn't complicated enough already. Can Gemma keep up the charade? Or will she be found out by the very people she's been hiding from?

Fourth book finished for AuthorAThon April 2016.

I'm never sure how to feel about revenge stories. Overall, I did like this book. It was a fairly quick read and was able to keep my attention. Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend was an entertaining story. I ended up liking the main character more than I thought I would, after struggling to get into the story the first time I tried to read this novel. I'm torn because of certain events, that are spoilers. There are one or two characters that I want to have sympathy for, but I'm struggling with it because of their actions. I don't know, it's difficult.

I may have a full review up for this in the future.

Lisa ✩ @lifeinlit

Audiobook Review:

This was one of those cover-love-at-first-sight spontaneous downloads. Saw the cover. Read the synopsis. Downloaded immediately. It was that easy. Then I found out Morgan Matson wrote this book as Katie Finn. What?! Total excitement overload. To add to that heaping pile of awesome... Katie Finn narrated the audiobook as well!! There's nothing better than an audiobook narrated by the author. It's add a whole new level of awesome to the story knowing it's read to you exactly how the author expected it to be read.

Despite the seriously adorable cover and fun-sounding synopsis, this story is also bombarded with revenge, deceit, and lies. Lots of lies. TONS of lies. It definitely has a Mean Girls vibe, mixed with a super cute contemporary. Totally different than I thought it would be, very it definitely had me hooked.

Gemma is one of those characters you either love or hate. I was on the love side. Despite her horrific behavior when she was a child and the horribleness she brought upon two good people, she was now trying to make amends for her wrongdoings. I really felt for her. Yes, she made mistakes... A LOT of them. And she made really dumb decisions, and said and did things that made me want to smack her... but she really had a good heart, and she meant well.

I had my suspicions here and there, but really had no idea how this story would end up playing out. I'm happy with the way it ended. I won't give anything away, but it ended in a way that's perfectly set up for book 2. Yes, this is a series. Although I very rarely read series, I will definitely be getting book 2. I NEED to see where this story goes from here.

It was really hard for me to not think of this book as Morgan Matson the entire time. I'm full of love for M. Matson. I've loved everything I've read by her. This one was both very similar and entirely different to other Morgan Matson books. It had the same fun, entertaining qualities, yet carried with that fun a much darker and more serious (and increasingly mean) story line. My favorite part you ask? The fact that it takes place in Connecticut. :) Not the entire story, but the characters are from Connecticut. Most of M. Matson's characters are. And I just absolutely love that. :D

Audiobook Impressions:

Katie Finn narrated her only story was amazing. I've only had the pleasure of reading a handful of books narrated by the author, and I'm such a huge fan of this. Hearing the author read the story and perform the characters the way it was intended is so amazing. I wish more authors narrated their own books. I would definitely 100% recommend this audio if you're going to read this book.

(Thanks to Feiwel & Friends for the review copy!)


  Find this review and others like it at Lost in Literature!

Broken Hearts, Fences and Other Things to Mend

Reviews

Highlights