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Jennifer Hartmann

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A Pessimist's Guide to Love (Heartsong Duet Book 2) Kindle Edition

by Jennifer Hartmann (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.4 4,029 ratings

Book 2 of 2: Heartsong Duet

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Within the tangled roots of grief, we stand to lose so much. But no one ever acknowledges what we stand to gain.
Strength. Perspective. Appreciation. Resilience.
And sometimes, every once in a while, if you’re truly lucky…
There is love.

After an emotional cliffhanger, we finally get inside Cal's head and discover his secrets, along with more details of his tragic past, that have been keeping him from Lucy.

A Pessimist's Guide to Love is the final installment of the Heartsong duet, ending in a guaranteed HEA.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BPKCZLTJ
Publisher ‏ : ‎ (January 25, 2023)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 25, 2023
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 5796 KB
Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 311 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #14,170 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #65 in Women's New Adult & College Fiction
- #1,424 in New Adult & College Romance (Books)
- #3,765 in Contemporary Romance (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
4.4 4,029 ratings

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Jennifer Hartmann

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Jennifer Hartmann resides in northern Illinois with her own personal romance hero and three children. When she is not writing angsty love stories, she is likely pondering all the ways she can break your heart and piece it back together again. She enjoys sunsets (because mornings are hard), bike riding, traveling, bingeing Buffy the Vampire Slayer reruns, and that time of day when coffee gets replaced by wine. She loves tacos. She also really, really wants to pet your dog.

http://www.jenniferhartmannauthor.com

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4.4 out of 5

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Erica Rivera

Loved! 🖤🖤🖤

Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2023

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This is the 2nd book in the Heartsong duet and I absolutely LOVED! Lucy & Cal’s story was written beautifully. I think everyone needs to experience their journey it’s captivating. So much love, heartbreak, Happiness, loss, joy, plenty highs & lows, and heat🔥I love that we get both their POV’s. I was dying to know what Cal was feeling & thinking. At times you will be so frustrated with him, but it’s all worth it! Lucy is just so understanding & amazing. They all have a great group of supporting friends & the sweetest fur babies. Gahhh! Make sure the you have tissues, wine, chocolates or whatever it is that comforts you, you will need it! Must read! 💛💛💛

Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2023

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This was a very sweet duet about second chances and living every day to the fullest. When I finished book one, I had to start book two right away because I was quite invested in the story. There is a gentle swell to the story. It doesn’t makes waves and crash but ebbs and flow in a lovely direction, but a powerful direction nonetheless. There’s no magic twist but there is a gentle climax as the whole book is filled with feels. If you like, emotional second chance stories that focuses on the internal emotions of both protagonists, this is a book for you to read.

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Jess

If you like to cry & HEA’s, please read this book.

Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2024

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Jennifer did it again, I truly loved this story and how much emotion she puts into her books you can feel every emotion through every single word. It truly was a beautiful story even though it came with loss and alot of pain and it was really hard to get through most of it without crying, but i loved how both lucy and cal were able to help each other trade that loss and pain with their love and instead hold on to the happy memories they had of emma. The animal sanctuary was such a beautiful addition to the story and the real purpose behind this cause makes it even more meaningful. Don’t think about it just READ IT… and have some tissue available.

Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2023

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I love this author but not this duet.

First book was 3 stars and I feel this one was the same. Actually, Cal got on my nerves more in book 2. He acted like a selfish manbaby. He acted like he was the only one going through trauma. When really, Lucy went through the same stuff as he did. Not to mention, her situation was worse since she was given a death sentence with her heart condition....or was she?!?!

That's another pet peeve of mine. You read about her heart condition and how she has very minimal time left to live. Then all the sudden, the issue is just dropped and she's no longer going on about her expiration date. It's as if that was just written in to cause angst. And when it no longer served a purpose, the author kindof swept it away. And changed the narrative some to, everyone eventually dies and her condition isn't that bad. She can live a perfectly normal, long life. Her prognosis has always been good. Wait what?! Always been good? That's NOT how everything has been described the entire time.

Mostly Cal is what made this book unenjoyable for me. Like I said, he experienced trauma and took it out on Lucy. His defense was he was trying to save her or keep her away. Yet he continually stomoed on her, only to drag her back. While she continually gave him more chances like it was ok that he hurt her...because he was hurting. Thats ok minimally. But not alll...the...time...like he did.

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MsTee

Good

Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2024

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This was a good wrap-up to Cal's and Lucy's story. I rate this at a 3.5. I was a little disappointed in Lucy's continuous apologizing yet withholding important information. It's like she never learned after the first three times of doing it. Because that is an exhausting trait to me with characters in stories is the reason why the 3.5 rating. However, I starred it at 4 because half stars are not available.

Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2024

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I loved this duet. Heartbreaking backstory but such a beautiful love story. Fantastic read. I look forward to reading more of her books.

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ChristiReadsALot

Obsessed with this duet!

Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2023

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A Pessimist’s Guide to Love is the 2nd book in Jennifer Hartmann’s Heartsong duet and I absolutely devoured this duet. Book 1 is my favorite read so far this year and I knew going in this second book would hit different. But I loved it too! This one is a continuation of Lucy and Cal’s story from the first book (which you need to read first) but definitely moodier. But it honestly worked so well for me balanced with the first book in the duet.

“All the lonely people. I know where they all come from because I spent years existing as one of them. And as I stare at Lucy across the room, drinking in the smile that tips her lips and waters her eyes, I know one thing is for certain… I don’t want to be lonely anymore.” — Cal

Cal and Lucy grew up as neighbors and were best friends as children, along with his sister. After the tragedy in his family when they were teens, Cal moved away and they lost touch. Until 9 years later when Lucy finds Cal again. Lucy is the sunshine to Cal’s broody tortured self. They both have a lot from the past to work through (separately) before their HEA. So after events of the first book (and the ending), Cal wants Lucy to come stay with him.

Like I mentioned, Cal is the poster child of a tortured hero. He’s lost a lot in life (his sister, his father, his mother in a way) and doesn’t want to feel because feeling has always turned into suffering for him and to Cal, “love equals loss”. I really loved how Lucy is in his life and proves to him daily that the end of something doesn’t have to be the end of everything. The first half of the story is really Cal working against, and through, his issues. Thinking he’s not worthy of being in Lucy‘s life, he doesn’t want to accept her love. I really loved this journey for him though, it wouldn’t make sense for his character to just quickly move on and give in…he has things to work through. I did appreciate how they get to their HEA together. There are times when people come together through their trauma, connect and cling to one another through that. But there are also people who experience trauma or sadness and push people away, even when it’s the person who loves them. And this is Cal’s character.

So while the first book is angsty in a sexual-tension filled way (and it’s delicious), this second book is angsty in a melancholy, moody filled way. But it really really worked for me too, I honest loved both and I loved the journey through both books for Lucy and Cal. These are my favorite Jennifer Hartmann books to date that I’ve read.

CW: mentions of past drug addiction, alcoholism, death of a loved one (referenced from the past), suicide of a parent (referenced from the past), medical condition

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Top reviews from other countries

Leyendo Forever

The writing style is exceptional!

Reviewed in Mexico on February 6, 2023

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3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️

I adore the author’s writing style. I have it more than clear and confirm it every time I read a book from her.

The story had great character growth and it had depth, but I also felt they martyrized themselves a bit too much.

Lucy sometimes made me roll my eyes so intensely that I thought they would stay like that. She just felt a lot like a parody of a damsel in distress, I couldn’t buy the period episode and she felt not naive but fake.

Still, I adored the epilogue. As always.

Samantha Lynn

grab tissues!

Reviewed in Canada on February 3, 2023

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This duet has me shook. I don’t cry easily while reading books and I was crying reading both books. This second book was just as good as the first and will answer any and every question you have. Cal and Lucy have such an amazing and emotionally charged journey and I am here for it.

Kellymg78

Oh my days

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 30, 2024

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This was everything and more, I loved it from start to finish and couldn’t put it down. I stayed up WAY past my bedtime to complete it because I needed to know how it ended

Fallen For Books

A pessimist read!

Reviewed in India on September 15, 2023

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Loved getting into Cal's head! I was really angry with him at times but I understood. I cried and laughed with him. His torment was painful! But I did finally get some clarity and loved how Cal and Lucy relationship progressed. Their struggles and expectations really aligned towards the end!

Krystal Rodger

Perfect ending to this duet

Reviewed in Australia on July 7, 2023

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The roller coaster of feelings I have experienced throughout this duet, absolutely amazing. 100% must read.

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A Pessimist's Guide to Love (Heartsong Duet Book 2) Kindle Edition

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Jennifer Hartmann

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