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Cover of Lessons in Heartbreak

Lessons in Heartbreak

Cathy Kelly (2008)

SubgenreContemporary Romance
Age groupAdult 18+
Content ratingPG-13
Pages (Standard (250-400))
SettingNew York City
CSM age16

Content levels

ViolenceNone
Sexual contentMild
LanguageMild

Protagonist archetypes

Multiple POVsMulti-Generational

Synopsis

Izzie Silver left the small Irish town of Tamarin behind her for life in New York. She's big, beautiful, and dreams of her own model agency for plus sized women (what her grandmother would call healthy.) Life is good but she's just broken one of her cardinal rules and fallen for a married man. On the other side of the ocean, Izzie's aunt Anneliese discovers the pain of infidelity for herself. Her husband Edward has been having an affair with her best friend, Nell. Devastated and angry, Anneliese is facing the realisation that she is now alone. When Lily, the matriarch of the family is taken ill, the family must put their own problems aside. Izzie, intrigued by her grandmother's past begins to discover things she never knew about wise, calm Lily. Annaliese feels despair build as Lily, the one person who could have helped her, starts to slip away. And the lessons each of the women learns past and present bring both joy and heartbreak. Lessons they will carry with them forever.

Tags

Women's FictionFamily DramaIrish FictionMulti-Generational Story

Is Lessons in Heartbreak appropriate for my child?

Suitable for most readers 16 and up.

This women's fiction novel explores adult themes of infidelity, betrayal, and family secrets across multiple female perspectives. No graphic content, but emotionally mature subject matter about heartbreak and healing.

What to know going in

This book has no graphic violence, mild sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include emotional abuse, grief, and infidelity (see the full list above).

Who'll love this

Older teens interested in complex family dynamics and women navigating romantic heartbreak will find this multi-generational story emotionally engaging.