Standalone Sunday || The Book of Broken Hearts

 

Standalone Sunday is a weekly meme created by Megan at Bookslayer Reads which aims to showcase standalone books (books not a part of a series) which you loved or would recommend. I highly encourage you to take part in this meme, it’s super fun!

The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

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.

This book is so cute and enjoyable!! But it also has some serious themes discussed in there. One of the things I LOVED was the Latina influences in the story. Both Jude and Emilio had huge, crazy, loud,  and loving families. I also loved Jude as the main character. The perspective of a (very) young sister in the shadow of all her older sisters’ drama was so interesting, and I love how she forges her own path and creates her own life. Her relationship with her father was so heartwarming, it was probably one of my favorite father daughter relationships. Ahh, and Emilio is my love. I could rave about this book all day, it’s so gooey and delicious. Hopefully one day soon I can do a full review of the book so I can really rave for paragraphs about this book.

Have you read this book, or other books by Sarah Ockler? What’s your favorite standalone?