Skip to Main Content

Heartbreak for Hire

A Novel

About The Book

A smart, sexy, and witty romantic comedy—perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Sally Thorne—about a twentysomething who lives out every woman’s fantasy: getting paid to give men who do us wrong a taste of their own medicine. But when a previous target unexpectedly shows up at her office, she’s forced to rethink her life as a professional heartbreaker.

Brinkley Saunders has a secret.

To everyone in the academic world she left behind, she lost it all when she dropped out of grad school. Once a rising star following in her mother’s footsteps, she’s now an administrative assistant at an insurance agency—or so they think.

In reality, Brinkley works at Heartbreak for Hire, a secret service that specializes in revenge for jilted lovers, frenemies, and long-suffering coworkers with a little cash to spare and a man who needs to be taken down a notch. It might not be as prestigious as academia, but it helps Brinkley save for her dream of opening an art gallery and lets her exorcise a few demons, all while helping to empower women.

But when her boss announces she’s hiring male heartbreakers for the first time, Brinkley’s no longer so sure she’s doing the right thing—especially when her new coworker turns out to be a target she was paid to take down. Though Mark spends his days struggling up the academic ladder, he seems to be the opposite of a backstabbing adjunct: a nerd at heart in criminally sexy sweater vests who’s attentive both in and out of the bedroom. But as Brinkley finds it increasingly more difficult to focus on anything but Mark, she soon realizes that like herself, people aren’t always who they appear to be.

With Sonia Hartl’s “bitingly funny” (Publishers Weekly) prose, Heartbreak for Hire is a clever romcom you and your girlfriends won’t be able to stop talking about.

About The Author

Photograph by A. Hartl

Sonia Hartl is the author of Heartbreak for Hire, as well as YA novels The Lost Girls, Not Your #Lovestory, and Have a Little Faith in Me. When she’s not writing or reading, she enjoys playing board games with her family, attempting to keep her garden alive, or looking up craft projects on Pinterest she’ll never get around to completing. She lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan with her husband and two daughters. Follow her on Twitter @SoniaHartl1.

Why We Love It

“Sonia's writing is romantic comedy at its finest—smart, sexy, and laugh-out-loud funny. She has a pitch-perfect voice for rom coms and the kind of talent that can't be taught with 100 rounds of edits. Heartbreak for Hire delivers at every turn and will keep you flipping the pages with delight.” —Sara Q., Assistant Editor, on Heartbreak for Hire

Product Details

  • Publisher: Gallery Books (July 27, 2021)
  • Length: 320 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781982167790

Browse Related Books

Raves and Reviews

“Hartl (Have a Little Faith in Me) pens a sweet and sexy contemporary romance that focuses just as much on Brinkley dealing with her past as it does on the love story. This fast-paced novel features the right amount of humor and sass to offset how much Brinkley has been hurt by the actions of her ex and her mother…A first pick for libraries where contemporary romance is popular.”

– Library Journal

"Wow! Romantic comedy doesn’t get much better than this! Witty, sexy, and smart, Sonia Hartl has written a truly laugh-out-loud story that you won’t be able to put down."

– Lyssa Kay Adams, bestselling author of the Bromance Book Club series

"Fun and flirty…fans of Lyssa Kay Adams and Christina Lauren are likely to enjoy the sexy hero and nonstop banter.”

– Publishers Weekly

"An absolute treasure. I would read a million books about Heartbreak for Hire's charming, relatable employees and all the clever ways they punish people who totally deserve it. This book is both a breath of fresh air and a ray of sunshine."

– Rosie Danan, author of The Roommate

“The constant push-and-pull between the pair is enticing, and their sexy-steam level runs hot.…the narration is conversational and fun, and this unique and captivating tale will please readers."

– Booklist

"Brimming with witty banter, romantic hijinks, and an empowering, take-charge message that made me want to cheer, Heartbreak for Hire is a hilarious, heartfelt romp—served spicy hot!"

– Angie Hockman, author of Shipped

“I loved every page of this refreshingly modern battle of the sexes. Heartbreak for Hire shimmers with whip-smart dialogue, pitch-perfect humor, and burn-you-up steam. Sonia Hartl is a fierce, fearless new voice in romance.

– Rachel Lynn Solomon, bestselling author of THE EX TALK

“Sonia Hartl’s adult debut, HEARTBREAK FOR HIRE, showcases her trademark killer sense of humor. If you loved the film Heartbreakers, you’ll fall head over heels for this super sexy, hate-to-love romance. You’ll devour it in one sitting.

– Roselle Lim, author of Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune and Vanessa Yu’s Magical Paris Tea Shop

"A Sonia Hartl book always comes with the promise of humor and heart—and her adult debut is no exception. Heartbreak for Hire is about trying to escape the past, and that overpowering instinct to protect oneself from getting hurt again. More importantly, it's about just what can happen when you let that protective instinct go. Laugh-out-loud funny and fan-yourself sexy, this book is an absolute delight!"

– Annette Christie, author of The Rehearsals

Resources and Downloads

High Resolution Images