Only Love Can Hurt Like This

By: Paige Toon

Narrated by: Gemma Whelan, Jared Zeus

Length: 9 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

AN EARTH SHATTERING SECRET. A LIFE-CHANGING LOVE STORY.

“Nobody writes angst and joy and hope like Paige Toon.”—CHRISTINA LAUREN, author of LOVE AND OTHER WORDS

For fans of Colleen Hoover, an unforgettable and heartbreaking love story with an earth-shattering secret at its core that asks the question: Is love worth risking everything for?

When Wren realizes her fiancé is in love with someone else, she thinks her heart will never recover.

On the other side of the world, Anders lost his wife four years ago and is still struggling to move on.

Wren hopes that spending the summer with her dad and step-family on their farm in Indiana will help her to heal. There, amid the cornfields and fireflies, she and Anders cross paths and their worlds are turned upside-down again.

But Wren doesn't know that Anders is harboring a secret, and if he acts on any feelings he has for Wren it will have serious fall-out for everyone. Walking away would hurt Wren more than she can imagine. But, knowing the truth, how can she possibly stay?

©2023 Paige Toon (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

Reader’s Digest May book club pick

One of New York Post’s “best new books to read”

One of Reader’s Digest’s 32 Best Beach Reads for the Perfect Escape

“Even while her novel was breaking my heart into tiny pieces, I couldn’t put it down. Emotional and riveting, this is a story of big secrets, and even bigger love.”—Jill Santopolo, author of The Light We Lost

“A tightly-paced blend of angst and joy and hope. Perfect from start to finish. I absolutely adored this book!”—Christina Lauren, author of The Unhoneymooners

“A delicious, slow burn love story that hit me in parts of my heart I didn’t even know I had. Full of original and complex characters, it left me with the wonderful feeling that love this real can make anything possible.”—Annabel Monaghan, author of Nora Goes Off Script

Sweet characters

Sweet story. Liked all of the characters. Surprised but then not really. Heartwarming and small town vibe.

ADORED! 😭

I sobbed so much on Anders chapter wow, I don't know if it had everything to do with the narrator or just altogether but my heart was heavy!

Thank you so much for this gem 📚🥰

Emotional roller coaster

Very well written, definitely worth the listen If you enjoy emotionally gripping relationships and heart breaking choices. A beautiful portrayal of family dynamics.

LOVED IT

Best story! I hope i can find more just like this!!! Loved the narrators voice, accent! My heart was so happy with this book!

The end left me teary eyed..

While the ending was a bit predictable, I couldn’t help but have tears in my eyes.

All the feels

This book had me feeling so emotional at many different points. Emotional over family bonds, romantic loves, friendships, and the main characters relationship with herself. I didn’t see the twist coming, even though I tried to guess! Overall, I really enjoyed this book but it took me a minute to get into it and I didn’t think the twist was all that earth-shattering. Would still recommend as it was a good read!

A good book

This is my first book by this author and I thought it was well written. It did drag on a little at the end but still a good book overall.

Finished in one day

This book tugged at my heart strings. I had goosebumps. I loved it. I’m sad it’s over- I wasn’t ready for it to end!

The best

Loved this book. I couldn’t stop listening to it and finished it quick! Such a good listen

Lovely story excellent narrator

I loved the sense of place and could understand Wrens heartache. This story didn’t make me sad for reasons that would spoil the book but I read this in one setting and it was lovely.