The Heart Has Its Reasons

A Novel

By: Maria Duenas

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

Declared “a writer to watch” (Publishers Weekly, starred review), New York Times bestselling author María Dueñas pours heart and soul into this story of a woman who discovers the power of second chances.

A talented college professor in Madrid, Blanca Perea seems to have it all. But her world is suddenly shattered when her husband of twenty years leaves her for another woman. Questioning the life she once had and whether she truly knows herself, Blanca resolves to change her surroundings. She accepts what looks like a boring research grant in California involving an exiled Spanish writer who died decades ago. Anxious to leave her own troubled life behind, she is gradually drawn into his haunted world, with its poignant loves and unfulfilled ambitions.

But in delving into the past, Blanca finds herself simultaneously awakened to the present by Daniel Carter, a charismatic professor with crucial knowledge about the dead writer that he has never before revealed. Amid this web of passion, conflict, and hidden feelings, including her own, Blanca advances like an avid detective, refusing to quit, and ultimately discovers startling answers that resonate deeply in her own life.

Evocative, lyrical, and humorous, The Heart Has Its Reasons is a journey of the soul from the pangs of the past to the vibrant present. It is a story about the thrill of creating one’s life anew.

Fantastic....as always with Maria's novels!

The novel is fascinating, very well detailed and engaging! I could not put it down! Daily life, work, love, separation, death, grief and maturity orchestrated in a very well detailed story!

I wish audible books had the original version in Spanish!

Not as good as the Time in Between

Felt like this could have been half the length. Character development is interesting but the action a bit too slow for me. A bit drippy at times. Had high expectations after A Time in Between but it fell short.

Captivating

Initially, I chose this book because of its historical focus on the California missions. It's so worthwhile remembering all of the cross cultural influences we share in this country. There is so much more to the story though—of friendship and the academic world and the transitory and turbulence of love. The narrator is perfect for the novel.

For whom what I recommend this book? I suspect 40 years ago I might have found the story at times to move a bit slowly. Not now. This is a book searching to meld what Duenas calls the fragments of life. When you are ready, read it and remember how much like parallel lines our lives are.

Disappointed with this boring story

I loved loved loved 'the time in between' but was very disappointed with this book. The story was dry and long winded and the characters were forlorn. I jetted waiting for the story to get better. But it never did!!
Boring !!!
And on top of it all the narrator read slowly and monotone. That alone was tedious I actual had up the speed of the narration.
Hoping Maria Duenas next book is better!!

Predictable story

What would have made The Heart Has Its Reasons better?

No.
I guessed the entire story in the frist 10 minutes.

What was most disappointing about Maria Duenas’s story?

predictable

What didn’t you like about Cassandra Campbell’s performance?

she has an accent in both languages

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Heart Has Its Reasons?

did not like the story, cheesy