Book Review for The Home for Broken Hearts by Rowan Coleman

The Home for Broken Hearts by Rowan Coleman

The blurb:
For young widow Ellen Wood, her Victorian home is a refuge -- a place to feel safe with her eleven-year-old son, Charlie.  But when money grows so tight that Ellen could lose the house, her sister, Hannah, makes a radical suggestion. . . rent out some of the rooms.  Soon Ellen has three lodgers: Sabine, a German coworker of Hannah's recently separated from her husband; Allegra, an eccentric but wise novelist; and Matt, an up-and-coming young journalist in search of his voice, who has just landed a plum job in London.

Ellen thinks three strangers are the last complication she needs, but they make her realize just how isolated she has become. Their presence exposes a secret she's been keeping hidden, as well as a conflict with her sister that is both shocking and revealing.  And while a love affair with a younger man seems like a fantasy powered by her imagination, Ellen can't deny her deep connection to Matt, or the changes he inspires in her and her relationship with Charlie.  Outside her home's sheltering walls lies a world of opportunity as well as danger.  Now that she's had the courage to open the door, does Ellen dare step through?

Review:
It's nearing a year since Nick was killed in a car crash. His young widow and their nearly twelve-year-old Charlie are still recovering from the loss.   Emma has retreated into her home and her sanctuary but their depleted finances have led them to open their house to three special lodgers: Sabine, Allegra, and Matt.  The lodgers bring much needed change for Charlie and Emma.  The friendships that come about,  the unexpected kindnesses  and camaraderie push the book forward and make it a fun read.

Emma is in a difficult situation and it is was to understand how she retreated into her home and her books, but I did want to shake her at times.  In contrast, Charlie is both charming and strong and quickly became my favorite character.

The Home for Broken Hearts is a story about family,  love, loss, renewal, and the power of friendship set in a beautiful suburb of London.  It's a fun and heartwarming read.

ISBN-10: 1439156859 - Trade Paperback $15.00
Publisher: Gallery; Original edition (September 7, 2010), 352 pages,
Review copy provided by the publisher.

About the Author:
Rowan Coleman is the author of The Accidental Mother, which became a bestseller in the United States and Great Britain, and its sequel, The Accidental Family: Another Mother's Life, which was named an Indie Next Notable Book; and Mommy By Mistake.  She lives with her daughter and son in England.