Her family is very close-knit and already dealing with a tragic disease, not wanting to chance more heartache on top of that is understandable. On the other hand, I do see where she was coming from. It's unfair that he has to pay for his brothers' messes, but mostly I felt she was using the pact as an excuse to not put herself out there. I felt like her reasons for not giving him a chance were cowardly. This gives us a sort of forbidden love story where Jude finds herself falling for Emilio, but the pact and her sisters warnings are making her wary. A family that has broken two of her sisters' hearts. Finding someone to fix it on time and affordably is a challenge, though, so she can't refuse when a Vargas offers, even though she made a pact with her sisters to stay away from that family. She's hoping against all hope that fixing up his Harley will fix everything and bring him back. After her father is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's, all Jude wants to do is help him remember his happiest days.

The Book of Broken Hearts is both an emotional foray into the effects of Alzheimer's on a family, as well as a sweet love story. Yes this is an emotional read, but it's also full of happy moments, romance, and hope.

When it hits so young like Jude's father, it's even more of a shock. It's such an evil, merciless disease that you can rarely see coming or do anything to stop it. Stories about Alzheimer's disease are so heartbreaking. Jude may have taken an oath, but she’s beginning to think that when it comes to love, some promises might be worth breaking. But Jude’s defenses are crumbling, and if history is destined to repeat itself, she’s speeding toward some serious heartbreak…unless her sisters were wrong? Her sisters will never find out, and Jude can spot those flirty little Vargas tricks a mile away-no way would she fall for them. Jude tells herself it’s strictly bike business with Emilio. Is it Jude’s fault he happens to be cute? And surprisingly sweet? And a Vargas? Now Jude is the only sister still living at home, and she’s spending the summer helping her ailing father restore his vintage motorcycle-which means hiring a mechanic to help out. She’s seen the tears and disasters that dating a Vargas boy can cause, and she swore an oath-with candles and a contract and everything-to never have anything to do with one. Jude has learned a lot from her older sisters, but the most important thing is this: The Vargas brothers are notorious heartbreakers. When all signs point to heartbreak, can love still be a rule of the road? A poignant and romantic novel from the author of Bittersweet and Twenty Boy Summer.

Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler