Book Extract: How To Fix A Broken Heart by Nicola May

I’m pleased to be welcoming Nicola May to Novel Kicks as we celebrate the publication of her book, How To Fix A Broken Heart.

A heart-wrenching and life-affirming story of love and loss from number one bestselling author Nicola May

Gracie Davies is at an all-time low. After a devastating loss, the last thing she needs is a colleague hinting over coffee that it’s time to lose her baby weight. Then her boyfriend betrays her, and her world totally falls apart.

Rebuilding her life from scratch – with the support of her free-spirited sister, an unorthodox therapist, and a feisty new friend – Gracie finally begins to get her mojo back. Add in a passionate fling with handsome landscaper Ed, a fairytale encounter with a Hollywood film star and the persistence of her adulterous ex, and life is anything but predictable…

Soon she finds that community, purpose, and perhaps even new love might be the perfect prescription for a broken heart.

But can a heart that’s been so utterly shattered ever trust again?

Warm, witty, wildly sexy and deeply moving, Nicola May’s unforgettable novel is perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes, Marian Keyes, and Amanda Prowse.

This is a revised version of The Women of Wimbledon Common/The SW19 Club.

To celebrate How To Fix A Borken Heart, Nicola has shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy. 

*****beginning of extract*****

Gracie goes on her first date after her boyfriend’s betrayal.

 *****

Ed smiled warmly as he saw Gracie’s red Puma pull into the Wimbledon car park, where they had agreed to meet. He had thought she might chicken out and was pleased she’d stuck to her word. He jumped out of his van as she approached.

‘Hey, you look lovely.’ He kissed her on the cheek.

‘Well, you know, it’s not every day you get asked on a date by a handsome landscaper.’ She self-consciously pulled her jumper down over her jeans.

‘Oh, it’s a date, is it?’

Gracie reddened. ‘Err… well… I… err.’

‘I’m joking with you, Gracie. Now what do you fancy doing? I thought maybe a quick jog around the common for starters?’

‘Yeah, right.’

‘Pub, then?’

They found a quiet table in the corner of a quaint Wimbledon pub.

‘Cheers.’ Ed raised his glass to her, took a slurp then wiped the froth of Guinness from his top lip.

Gracie liked his boyish looks and confident demeanour. She noticed he’d tidied his goatee and had had his hair cut, too.

She had spent ages deciding what to wear. She’d never had to think about it with Lewis. The comfortableness of a long-term relationship had its benefits. Noms had said that jeans and a plain jumper with a V-neck to show off her cleavage slightly were perfect for a first ‘meeting’.

‘So, you make a habit of picking up women on the job, do you?’ Gracie smirked.

‘None as pretty as you.’

Gracie wrinkled her nose. ‘Ew, excuse me whilst I’m sick into my glass.’

Ed laughed. ‘There are, however, many rich wives who are bored with their lives, so I’m sure I could pick one up every day if I wanted to. Nothing to do with the way I look, just that they’d all fancy a bit of rough, I reckon.’

‘Ooh, you’ve made me feel so special now.’ Gracie’s sarcasm was evident.

‘You’re cute. You also looked a bit sad. Felt like I could make you smile.’

Gracie blushed. ‘If you don’t mind me asking, how old are you, Ed?’

‘I’ll be however old you want me to be.’ He laughed. ‘How old do you reckon I am?’

‘I hate it when people say that I don’t want to offend.’

‘Gracie, do I look like a man who is easily offended?’

‘OK. I reckon you’re twenty-eight.’

‘Thirty-two, actually.’

‘You must have had an easy paper round.’ Gracie took a sip of wine.

‘Ha! I know I shouldn’t ask a lady her age, but I’m going to.’

‘Thirty-eight.’

‘Nice. Always have had a thing for an older woman. All that experience and a lovely womanly body. Can’t bear a stick, me. What’s the point of teasing a Twiglet when you can stroke a warm, curvaceous peach.’

‘Don’t get too carried away, Mr Duke, we are only having a drink.’

‘And there I was thinking I had finally found my duchess.’ Ed winked at her and she felt her tummy go a bit funny. ‘So how come someone as lovely as you is single?’

‘It’s a long, sad story that I really don’t want to go in to now.’ Gracie sighed.

Ed took Gracie’s hand across the table. ‘I’m a good listener.’ His eyes met hers.

‘Oh. I was living with someone for quite a while, but we split recently.’

‘How recently?’

‘Like, very recently.’

‘Wow, so I’m rebound doors, then, am I?’

‘You can be whatever you like.’ Gracie smiled smugly.

‘Touché!’

‘How about you? Can’t imagine a hot man like you has been single long?’

‘A few months. But I don’t want to talk about me.’

‘So, are you looking to settle down, have kids?’ Gracie inwardly cringed as the words flew out of her mouth. She had just met the bloke, but she knew this was a question she’d have to ask. If someone wanted kids, she couldn’t be with them. Her life situation suddenly hit home, and she felt a wave of sadness sweep through her.

‘Why, do you fancy practising?’ Ed laughed loudly. ‘Seriously, I think so. But I’m realistic about life. Who knows what it’s going to bring you, eh? How about you, do you want children?’

Gracie shot up. ‘Blimey, look at us talking all grown up. My round. Another one of those?’

Another hour flew by with no further mention of kids or marriage. Ed made Gracie laugh. She needed to laugh.

‘Right, I’d better go. I can’t have another wine, or I won’t be able to drive.’ Gracie felt quite giddy as it was.

‘You could always have a soft drink, Gracie?’ Ed urged.

‘No, it’s been really lovely but…’ Gracie went to stand up.

But what? What was wrong with her? She was having a lovely time with a great bloke, and she wanted to end the evening. But she was newly single. This wasn’t the right time. And he wanted kids. She would get hurt. No more salt in the wounds, Noms had said. Noms was, for once, right.

‘No, it’s fine, Gracie. A woman’s prerogative and all that,’ Ed said respectfully.

As he was getting up to help her with her jacket, Gracie noticed him glance at a young, tarty-looking blonde as she walked into the bar. The girl glared at him. Ed seemed to freeze, then almost pushed Gracie through the door.

He was visibly shaken when they got outside.

‘Are you OK, Ed?’ Gracie looked genuinely concerned.

‘Yeah, yeah, of course.’

‘Who was that girl?’

‘She just reminded me of someone, that’s all.’

Gracie had kept things from him, so who was she to question further?

‘I’ve had fun, thanks, Ed.’ She went to kiss him on the cheek, and he pulled away. He could see the disappointment on her face, and it pained him inside.

‘You’re a great girl, Gracie. I’ll see you around, soon, I hope.’ He seemed jumpy.

Within seconds he had sped off to the car park, leaving an open-mouth Gracie standing on the pavement. That was it, she had blown it already. He thought she wasn’t interested. And was it just paranoia that made her imagine that girl was giving her funny looks? Oh God. Being single was going to be so much harder than she thought.

 *****end of extract*****

About Nicola May– 

Nicola May is a bestselling rom-com sensation, with over a million copies sold. The author of eighteen romantic comedies, her books have been translated into fifteen languages and consistently appear in the Kindle bestseller charts. She made a remarkable achievement by reaching number one on Amazon twice as a self-published author and has been a vocal advocate for indie authors, campaigning for their own chart in The Bookseller magazine.

When she’s not writing, Nicola can be found enjoying cream teas in her favourite Devon spots, hiking in nature, or placing a bet at the races.

Say hello to Nicola via her website and on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. 

How To Fix A Borken Heart was released on 16th April 2o25 and is a revis version of Nicola’s previous novel, he Women of Wimbledon Common/The SW19 Club. Click to buy on Amazon. 

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.