Hearts in Circulations - Book Review

When I got Sarah Monzon's An Overdue Match, I didn't realize it was part of a series at first. The sequel, Hearts in Circulation, released recently and I got to revisit the characters from the first book. Yay! While the description certainly got my attention, the story surpassed my expectations. If you enjoyed An Overdue Match, you'll love Hearts in Circulation.

Plot Summary

A day doesn't go by without circulation librarian Hayley Holt performing a good deed. She believes she needs to pay her debt forward and be worthy of the extended life her liver transplant gave her. However, her newest good deed tests her resolve. While she has no problem giving neighboring communities access to books, she wasn't counting on a bookmobile on its last leg as her transportation.

When the bookmobile breaks down on the side of the road and a rockslide traps Hayley in the town of Turkey Grove, reticent, grumpy mechanic Levi Redding rescues her and lets her stay at his house. But less than a day of her vibrant personality causes him to overstimulate and he writes her a note to explain his behavior. As they continue to pass notes back and forth their friendship strengthens, then turns into something more.

Personal Thoughts

I already liked Hayley in An Overdue Match, so I was excited to read her story. I loved her perky personality and positive outlook on life, not to mention her hilarious sense of humor. At first Levi seemed like a grump, but he turned out to be a big teddy bear. They were total opposites and their relationship had the perfect balance of sweet and swoony.

I loved how Monzon kept the story lighthearted while weaving in a deeper message. I laughed and contemplated at the same time. Monzon navigated Levi and Hayley's struggles realistically. I knew a bit about SPD before, but reading a character who had it fully opened my eyes.

Monzon focused a lot on Levi living with sensory processing disorder (SPD). However, another significant portion of the story was Hayley's liver transplant, her need to be worthy of the life she's been given, and her uncertain future. Because she doesn't know when her liver will fail again, she's decided to live in the moment and be content with what she has ... which also means not desiring what she can't have, like marriage and a family of her own. Levi, of course, flips that idea on its head. Hayley may have a limited time left on earth, but he wanted to spend every single one of those days with her. This put a sweet spin on the story and while it was not a typical romance, I loved every moment of it.

Notes

This book is best for teenagers and adults.

Steam Level: 💋💋💋

This is the second book in the Checking Out Love series.

For those of you who have read Hearts in Circulation, what did you think of it? For those who have not read it, would you? Tell me in the comments below!