Heartbreak Mixtapes #4
Alec & Mara
My early reaction to this book was frustration, mostly because the FMC feels overdramatic, and I couldn’t tell if it was her personality or the author’s writing style. Mara is introduced as a woman whose life completely collapsed after losing her husband, and instead of grounding the story, the writing leans hard into theatrics. She travels the world as a photojournalist with her eight‑year‑old daughter, Mila, living out of suitcases, avoiding home, avoiding her mother, avoiding anything that feels stable. Mila often reads as more mature than Mara, which made their dynamic feel off.
The story itself has great bones — grief, family secrets, an estranged aunt, a complicated inheritance, and a slow connection forming between Mara and Alec. But the execution is weighed down by excessive inner monologue, repetitive descriptions, and a doomsday tone that never lets the reader breathe. Instead of showing emotions through actions, the book explains them over and over, which makes the pacing drag.
Alec is another “hot mess,” coming from the foster system and a rock‑and‑roll past, but he’s already been in therapy and has tools to manage his issues. His extreme angst didn’t feel fully earned, especially compared to the first book in the series, where the MMC’s struggles were genuinely dire. Here, the emotional intensity feels inflated, not organic.
The romance has sweet moments, especially when Alec starts bonding with Mila, but again, those interactions are mostly told rather than shown. The author spends more time blabbing than letting scenes unfold naturally. Mara’s grief, anger, and avoidance loop for most of the book, and her growth only starts late — very late.
By the time the story finally reveals the deeper family history, the plot becomes genuinely moving. The twists are strong, the emotional payoff is real, and the themes of identity, forgiveness, and belonging shine. I just wish those revelations hadn’t been held back until the last quarter, leaving the reader to slog through so much melodrama before getting to the heart of the story.
My verdict:
I loved the core story and the twists, but the writing style — too chatty, too repetitive, too dramatic — kept pulling me out. The angst felt exaggerated, the flow was muddy, and Mara’s arc took too long to find direction. Three stars, because the emotional payoff is lovely, but the book needs tighter writing and better balance.
Purchase links
Available in KU
About the author
Claudia is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author.
She writes alluring, thrilling stories about complicated women and the men who take their breaths away. Her books are the perfect blend of steamy and heartfelt, filled with emotional characters and explosive chemistry. Her writing takes readers to new heights, providing a variety of tears, laughs, and shocking moments that leave fans on the edge of their seats.
She lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband, her youngest two children, and three fluffy dogs.
When Claudia is not writing, you can find her reading, knitting, or just hanging out with her family. At nights, she likes to binge watches shows or movies with her equally geeky husband.
Connect with Claudia Burgoa:
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