The Book of Heartbreak

By Ova Ceren
** Publication Date 26 August 2025 **
​4 stars


Folklore, or legends, or fables, or fairy tales all contain some element of morals. Ethical lessons. This is a retelling of a Turkish tale about a maiden and her tower. How she was imprisoned to save her life. 


Sare’s mother fled Turkey for reasons unknown to Sare. Now almost 18, Sare has had her fill of heartbreak. Each time, her guardian angel Munu has been able to save her. But Sare is running out of heartbreaks. After her mother passes suddenly, she suffers her fourth heartbreak. If she has a fifth, she will die. If she makes it to 18, she will lose her heart forever, but will live as well. It’s a conundrum no one wants to encounter. 


In steps her long lost grandfather, a man she thought was dead. He arranges for her to return to her mother’s homeland of Istanbul. Sare has no one else. And being under the age of 18 is subject to becoming a ward of the state until her birthday. Reluctantly, Sare accepts and heads to her mother’s former home. 


But her grandfather isn’t kind or warm. Sare is essentially locked in her room there with nothing to make her happy. However, this might be a way to make it to her birthday without another heartbreak. Until she meets Leon, a neighbor, and her heart starts fluttering for a completely different reason. 


Will Leon be her undoing? Or will Sare be able to break the curse that has determined Sare’s future one way or another? This ancient curse is going to rock the heavens and those running things. 


Such a captivating tale. Romance, fantasy, and mystery all collide to tell this ancient story of love and betrayal. Sare is a very likable heroine. Leon is an adorable hero. You can’t help but love them and what they stand for. Beautifully written and composed. I was just enthralled at the suspense of what would happen to Sare and Leon. Add in the snippets of the old book of curses and the correspondence between those in the ethereal realm, and you have a mesmerizing story. 


Truly a fun and fascinating story.