Purple Hearts

A Novel

By: Tess Wakefield

Narrated by: Kyle Mason, Shayna Thibodeaux

NOW A NETFLIX ORIGINAL FILM! When a soldier with a troubled past and a struggling songwriter agree to get married for the military benefits, neither expects much after saying “I do.” What happens when a marriage of convenience is anything but?

Cassie Salazar and Luke Morrow couldn’t be more different. Sharp-witted Cassie works nights at a bar in Austin to make ends meet while pursuing her dream of becoming a singer/songwriter. Luke is an Army trainee, about to ship out for duty, who finds comfort in the unswerving discipline of service. But a chance encounter at Cassie’s bar changes the course of both their lives, and within forty-eight hours this unlikely pair finds themselves husband and wife.

How did that happen?

Cassie is drowning in medical bills after being diagnosed with diabetes. When she runs into her old friend Frankie, now enlisted in the Army, she proposes a deal: she’ll marry him in exchange for better medical insurance and they can split the increased paycheck that comes with having a “family.” When Frankie declines, his attractive but frustratingly intense friend Luke volunteers to marry Cassie instead. What she doesn’t know is that he has desperate reasons of his own to get married. In this unforgettable love story, Cassie and Luke must set aside their differences to make it look like a real marriage...unless, somewhere along the way, it becomes one...

When Recovery Becomes a Shared Journey

I loved how this book alternates between character points of view in each chapter—it gives such a full picture of both sides of the story. As someone who has been through a life-altering accident and years of therapy, I found it deeply relatable. It doesn’t just capture the physical recovery, but also the heavy mental and emotional toll that a disability can take—not only on the person injured but also on their partner and family.

The way the author portrayed the struggle with pain medication was raw and real. Addiction after an accident is something so many face, and the book made it relatable while also offering hope. It shows that while the “cloud head” of pills can feel like an escape, there is so much more to fight for in life. Ultimately, it’s a story of resilience, love, and finding strength in the hardest moments.

Lukewarm

I watched the movie on Netflix and absolutely loved it! Netflix did an amazing job with the movie. Thinking that the book would be better (because they usually are... boy was I wrong), and after reading it, I was disappointed with the book. Didn't care for the love triangle in the book. Cassie was too wishy washy. The movie adaptation was actually much better.

Love Luke & Cassie

Love this story, and the Netflix movie that came out based off this book:) Love it!

inside their minds

i watched the Netflix movie 8 times before i found out it was based on a book. reading it is like getting to know people better and hearing their thoughts where in the movie you only see their actions. the movie and book are not the same, but that makes sense considering the mediums. the book fleshes out the characters well. definitely worth reading. the characters show growth. it is tangible!

Parts not needed (spoilers)

I was so hoping there would be more build up between the main characters. I did not care for the side romance Cassie had with Toby. All of that could of been cut out and replaced with the true romantic point of the book. Really wanted her and Jake to grow more with each other. Read the book because of the Netflix movie. Netflix’s made this book better. I love the love comes softly romances, but this book did not leave you with the feeling of love, rather the feeling of what just happened.