The Book of Broken Hearts

The Book of Broken Hearts is my first Sarah Ockler book and it definitely didn’t disappoint. I dived into this book thinking that it would somehow focus on its romance aspect but it surprised me that there’s actually moreicing how long was I reading until I finished it.

The condition of Jude’s father was the most heartbreaking and honest part. It showed not just his father’s vulnerable part but also his family. Unfortunately, most weight was placed to Jude and her mother because they were the ones who were left at home and deal with it every day.

Sarah Ockler did a very good job in connecting parts of this story and made it an incredible whole. Honestly, I never would h to that. It was a story of family, forgiveness and finding ones happiness. It was one of those stories that will catch you off guard by pulling your heartstring, break your heart and mend it all over again.

Jude’s character was perfectly imperfect character. Her love and devotion for her family was faultless yet there was something in her that’s yearning to break free. Her dedication to her father was amazing and inspiring, and it was one of the things I love reading. Her family was also well-written and exactly what I expect from a family like theirs. It’s warm and closely knitted but just like others, they have their own differences. Both Jude and Emilio’s humorous lines were what made it fun to read. I breezed through it without notave thought that I’d enjoy reading about motorcycles but the author made it a big part of the story without crowding it.

If you’re looking for a good mix of teenage romance and family love that would not fail to touch your heart, The Book of Broken Hearts is something you’d definitely love to read.

Love, love, love this book! It was unputdownable from the first page, up to the last. Sarah Ockler is one of those YA contemporary authors who actually writes books with normal characters mostly dealing with ordinary family problems. They are just like us and that's the reason it's so easy for me to relate to one or two of them.

You can tell a lot about an author from the way they shape their characters. They can be determined, perky, sarcastic, brave, loyal, witty, modest, independent and so on. I think that some of the authors share pieces of themselves in their novels so even if I started reading a book without the cover I would know who wrote it. And that is what it's all about! Readers recognizing your writing style and setting your work apart from the rest.

I think I need to point out that this blurb is not entirely correct. First of, the romance part of the book is talking up around %30 of the book while the part where Jude helps her father who's suffering from Alzheimer's, takes the rest 70%. Not that I didn't mind. The love interest, Emilio is in the story right from the start but catching his eye wasn't the priority back then.

So, this is a story about Jude, a high-school graduate who's spending her last summer as a kid looking after her dad, who's recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. She's trying to cheer him up by restoring his old bike so they hire a mechanic to fix it. Complications start after Jude realizes the guy fixing Valentina (the bike's name) is non other than one of the infamous Vargas brothers. Vargas Bros. broke hearts of her two older sisters so Jude is trying to push Emilio away only this time, Emilio is apparently so not like the rest of Vargas pack. He makes Jude question her loyalty to her family and but it takes more than a guy with dimples to get under her skin. She did try to stay away from him but their connection was just evident.

This book was brilliant. This is my favorite Ockler book, so far. If you're looking for a book with normal teenage character without too much drama, to brighten up your day I suggest you pick The Book of Broken Hearts up! Now!

What a brilliant last chapter. It made me cry. So touching. It was almost as if I was there with them. I can't wait to read Ockler's next book. Why does it need to come out next year? Ugh! S&S peeps need to give this lady a better contract, where she will be a slave, writing books all day long so we can enjoy every few month and not have to wait a whole year for another taste. Am I right?

Well it looks like my first Sarah Ockler experience was a success! I was definitely captivated by the motorcycle hotness, absurd oath, and the touching father-daughter relationship. This is a book that will stick with me for a while.

Protagonist:
Jude is a character I had no issues connecting to. Sometimes I related to her so much that I kind of wanted to cry. She's the youngest child which means not only is she left to deal with everything on her own but she also has to live in the path that her sisters have already walked. She gets their hand-me-down clothes and their hand-me-down heartbreaks. I felt so bad the way her friends treated her and I respected the fact that her family came before their opinions no matter what. I absolutely loved what she was trying to do for her dad with the motorcycle. As a total daddy's girl, I really enjoyed Jude's relationship with her father. It was sweet and realistic. Jude has great values and I really liked and respected her.

That Vargas Boy:
Okay, guys, Emilio is HOT. Sarah Ockler put together the perfect YA boy: rides a motorcycle (and fixes them), has a bad reputation, a tragic story, and loves his mom. Jude has taken an oath to her sisters that she will stay away from all Vargas boys, but that becomes pretty difficult for her when she realizes that Emilio is not like his brothers. He is unfailingly sweet. He helps Jude out the best he can, even if he doesn't necessarily know what's going on. He doesn't judge her or her family, even though sometime they deserve it. Most importantly, he's always there for Jude. Simply said, I love him. I love the relationship between the two of them.

Plot:
So, Jude's dad has Alzheimer's, and his memory gets worse everyday. For some reason, when he thinks about his motorcycle, though, his memory becomes crystal clear. In an attempt to help restore her father's memory, Jude makes it her mission to get his old motorcycle fixed up. Enter hot boy, insensitive friends, infuriating but well-meaning family members, and old western movies. It's an emotional story line with perfect pacing, leaving me completely engaged throughout the entire book.

To summarize:
This book rocked my hypothetical socks. It's a great addition to the contemporary YA world, one that will stand out in my mind for a while. I connected to it very strongly, and even if you don't find the same connection, I guarantee you will find something in this book that worms its way into your heart. This is a book I'd most definitely re-read.

This was a review that was very hard to write. I had so many feelings while reading this, I felt like none of the words I came up with would do any justice. So I'll do my best at trying to get this right.
The main thing I loved about this book was the characters. They felt so genuine and real. It was so easy to connect with them and feel everything that they felt. The situation with Jude and her father was heartbreaking. Having known someone with Alzheimer's I could connect with her on a deeper level and feel the emotional battle she had within herself. Also, as I'm in love, I could definitely connect to the way that she felt about Emilio. As my mother told me "You can't help who you love. It shouldn't matter about their color or gender, long as they make you happy." In this book, it shouldn't have mattered about his last name. Emilio was an amazing guy. He had his share of emotional baggage, but it truly made him wh he was. He made so many important decisions based on the one thing that happened to him, and it in turn made him a man.
The romance in this story is phenomenal. In no way does it feel rushed or insta-lovey. It actually has a very unique twist to the story, with the Book of Broken Hearts. The Book has been passed down through the Hernandez family and it finally made its way down to Jude. It was a huge part in keeping her away from Emilio, but because of this, it made their love so much stronger.
Overall, whatever you're expecting about this book, don't. It has so much more depth than you think and it will leave you with an unusual heartbreak. The Book of Broken Hearts is a swirling mix of emotions that will leave you with a lot more than you bargained for.