Review: The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

Title: The Book of Broken Hearts
Author: Sarah Ockler
Series: Stand Alone
Published By: Simon Pulse (May 21, 2013)
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: YA Contemporary
My Rating: 4.5 Stars!

Book Description:

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.

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My Thoughts and Review:

Sarah Ockler is on my automatic buy list (which, surprisingly very few authors are believe it or not) because I just love all her books. The characters, the messages, the sweet (but not too sweet) storylines, the emotions that her stories can bring out in me. I love it all.

So it is no wonder that her latest book was right up there with being one of my favorite reads this year. 

I loved the humor in this, especially considering that this has a very serious side to it as Jude and her family deal with her father's illness. Jude's sense of humor and personality (loved her inner monologue and conversations with Pancake!!) really brightened up this read and I found myself smiling or laughing through a lot of the book Not to mention swooning over the very adorable and very sexy Emilio. 

Emilio, Vargas or no Vargas, was amazing. At times I felt bad for him that Jude judged him right from the beginning. That she let her sister's prejudices against his older brothers dictate how she saw him. It was pretty unfair, especially because he didn't deserve it, no one really does. 

I absolutely loved Papi and my heart broke for him as I watched his memories disappear right along with Jude and her family. Such a horrible, cruel disease.

And although I was upset at times by the way Jude treated Emilio, I did feel for her. She had so much going on and she only wanted what was best for her Papi and family and quite often had to put her life, feelings, and wants on hold as her sister's lives and controlling nature overshadowed her own. 

Jude does grow a lot so she isn't completely helpless. In fact I would say by the end she learned a lot, grew a lot and loved a lot. 

The title of this one is appropriate because I think a few times during this read I felt like my heart was breaking. I am such a daddy's girl that some of the scenes in this one had me bawling like a baby. I love that Ockler can do that. Create such emotion in her stories that make you love the characters and feel like they have become a part of your life. 

I truly loved this read and will continue to have Ockler on my auto buy list. She is a very talented author that always gives me what I want when I want it.