Only Love Can Hurt Like This Summary, Characters and Themes

Only Love Can Hurt Like This by Paige Toon is an emotionally rich novel about heartbreak, healing, and the complicated ways love shapes our lives. 

At the center is Wren, an architect reeling from the painful end of her engagement, who seeks refuge on her estranged father’s Indiana farm. There, amidst the slow rhythm of rural life, she meets Anders—a man grappling with grief of his own. Their connection is unexpected, fragile, and deeply transformative. Paige Toon crafts a romance that’s as tender as it is intense, exploring themes of family, betrayal, loss, and the redemptive power of love.

Summary

Wren is a talented architect in her thirties whose world is turned upside down when she discovers her fiancé Scott has fallen in love with someone else. Though there was no physical affair, the emotional betrayal is too much to bear, and she ends their relationship just months before their wedding. 

Devastated, Wren decides to leave her life in England behind—temporarily—and heads to Indiana, USA, to stay with her estranged father, stepmother Sheryl, and half-sister Bailey at their family-run Wetherill Farm.

Although Wren has never been close with her father due to his absence during her childhood, she’s surprised by the warmth she begins to feel around Bailey and her family. 

Bailey, now married to a kind man named Casey, helps Wren reconnect with a sense of belonging she hadn’t realized she missed.

During a night out at a local bar, Wren meets Anders—a quiet, rugged man with a mysterious air. Their first real encounter happens later that night, when Wren stumbles across him in a firefly-lit field. The chemistry between them is instant, though Anders remains emotionally distant. 

Over the next few days, they continue to cross paths, exchanging guarded conversations that slowly build emotional depth.

Anders, Wren learns, is a widower still grieving the loss of his wife, and he’s raising his daughter, Frida, who currently lives with her maternal grandparents. He struggles with guilt and a fear of moving on. 

Wren, still wounded by Scott’s betrayal, finds comfort in Anders’ presence, even though they both try to resist their growing attraction.

Eventually, the emotional tension between them erupts into a kiss—tender but conflicted. Anders retreats, overwhelmed, and Wren is left confused and hurt. But over time, Anders begins to open up, admitting his fear of loving again and the guilt he feels toward his late wife. 

Their relationship deepens as they agree to take things slowly. Amidst long conversations and quiet, intimate moments, Wren and Anders begin to heal each other.

Meanwhile, Wren reconnects with her professional passion, helping with a renovation project on the farm. 

The work grounds her, and she begins to reclaim her sense of self and purpose. At the same time, she confronts long-buried feelings about her father’s abandonment. A heartfelt conversation with Sheryl helps Wren gain closure, further opening the door to healing.

Just as their relationship seems to be blossoming into something real, Anders is hit with a devastating blow—Frida’s grandparents file for full custody. Torn between his love for Wren and his responsibility to his daughter, Anders makes the painful decision to end their relationship. 

Wren, heartbroken, returns to England. She channels her sorrow into her work and self-growth, finally making peace with her past and rediscovering her inner strength.

Months pass. Then, Wren receives a letter from Anders. He tells her that he fought for and won custody of Frida—and that he’s ready to build a future with Wren if she’ll have him. 

Anders flies to England, and their reunion is heartfelt and full of hope. They’ve both endured loss and heartbreak, but they’ve also grown. In the epilogue, we see them together, with Frida, navigating a new chapter built on honesty, love, and resilience.

Paige Toon’s novel is a testament to second chances and the truth that sometimes, love hurts—but it also heals.

Characters

Wren

Wren is the central character in Only Love Can Hurt Like This, a woman navigating the painful aftermath of her broken engagement. In her thirties and an architect by profession, Wren is a character marked by both vulnerability and strength.

She begins the story heartbroken and emotionally adrift after discovering her fiancé’s emotional betrayal. Her decision to spend time with her estranged father’s family in Indiana allows her to reflect and heal, while also reconnecting with a part of herself she had long buried.

Wren’s journey is one of personal growth. Through her experiences with Anders and her interactions with her family, she learns to trust again, confront her past, and rediscover her sense of purpose both in love and in her career.

Wren’s emotional complexity makes her relatable and endears her to the reader as she struggles with abandonment, grief, and the painful process of healing.

Anders

Anders is a deeply reserved and brooding character, whose emotional scars from the past make him a challenging person to approach. He has endured significant loss—his wife tragically passed away years before, and his grief still dominates much of his emotional world.

This profound sorrow is coupled with guilt, as he struggles to move forward in life, believing that he might not be capable of loving again. His character is one of emotional depth and restraint.

Though initially cold and distant, Anders shows his vulnerability through his interactions with Wren. He reveals the pain that he carries and his fear of opening himself to new love.

His relationship with Wren is complicated by his devotion to his daughter, Frida, and his belief that he cannot jeopardize his role as her father by pursuing a new romantic relationship. Anders’ internal battle between love and responsibility is central to his character arc and the story’s emotional core.

Scott

Scott, Wren’s ex-fiancé, plays an important role in the early part of the story, though he is not present for much of the novel. His betrayal of Wren’s trust by developing emotional ties with his employee, Nadine, forces Wren to face the end of her relationship and the unraveling of her future.

Scott’s character serves as a catalyst for Wren’s journey. His actions push her to reconsider what she wants from love and life.

Though he is not portrayed in a particularly sympathetic light, Scott’s betrayal is integral to the narrative. It sets Wren on a path of self-discovery and healing.

Sheryl

Sheryl, Wren’s stepmother, plays a supporting yet significant role in the story. Initially, Wren has a strained relationship with Sheryl, stemming from feelings of abandonment and emotional neglect during her childhood.

However, as Wren spends more time with her father’s family in Indiana, Sheryl becomes a source of comfort and guidance. Sheryl’s openness about her own past allows Wren to see her in a new light and helps heal some of the old wounds from Wren’s childhood.

Sheryl’s character highlights themes of forgiveness, healing, and the possibility of building new familial connections.

Bailey

Bailey, Wren’s half-sister, represents another layer of familial connection for Wren. Their bond grows as they spend more time together, and Bailey offers Wren a sense of support and belonging that she had not anticipated.

Bailey’s relationship with her husband, Casey, and her own experiences with love provide a contrast to Wren’s turmoil. She shows the different ways people navigate relationships and emotional struggles.

Through Bailey, Wren finds not only a sister but also a friend who offers her unconditional support during a challenging time.

Frida

Frida, Anders’ daughter, serves as both a motivation and an obstacle in the development of Anders and Wren’s relationship. As a young girl who has lost her mother, Frida is at the center of Anders’ emotional life.

His devotion to her is evident, and much of his character’s reluctance to fully commit to Wren stems from his desire to protect his relationship with Frida. Frida represents Anders’ need for stability and his deep sense of responsibility.

Her presence in the story adds emotional weight to the decisions Anders makes. It contributes to the bittersweet decisions and eventual resolution of the narrative.

Themes

The Battle Between Vulnerability and Emotional Protection

One of the most prominent themes in the novel is the internal struggle between vulnerability and emotional protection. Wren, the protagonist, has recently gone through a devastating breakup and is grappling with feelings of abandonment, betrayal, and self-doubt.

She is deeply scarred by her past relationship, and her initial interactions with Anders, the man she grows close to, reflect her wariness of opening herself up to new emotional pain. Anders, on the other hand, has experienced the tragic loss of his wife and is similarly closed off, unable to fully let go of his grief.

The tension between these two characters revolves around the difficulty of exposing one’s emotions when the risk of further heartache feels too high. The struggle to embrace vulnerability in the face of past pain is a core aspect of their relationship and drives much of the narrative’s emotional intensity.

Ultimately, this theme demonstrates that the willingness to be vulnerable, despite the risk of pain, is crucial for healing and moving forward.

Rebuilding Identity and Trust in Relationships

Another deeply explored theme in Only Love Can Hurt Like This is the journey of healing from abandonment, particularly emotional abandonment. Wren’s experiences with her father’s neglect and her failed engagement have left her with a fragile sense of trust in both herself and others.

Her visit to Indiana, where she reconnects with her estranged father and begins to form relationships with people she never felt close to, is an emotional reawakening. Wren’s struggle to trust Anders, even as their connection grows deeper, is a mirror to her larger fears of being abandoned again.

The narrative shows how past wounds shape present interactions and highlights the complexity of rebuilding one’s sense of self and trust. As Wren navigates her relationship with Anders, she must also confront her emotional neglect from childhood and the ongoing effects it has on her ability to open herself to new, healthy relationships.

Grief and the Weight of the Past

Grief is another pervasive theme that informs much of the character development in the novel. Anders’ grief over the death of his wife, coupled with his guilt over not being able to save her, shapes his reluctance to love again.

His emotional withdrawal and belief that he is incapable of finding happiness in the future after such a loss are central to his journey. Wren’s own grief, stemming from her broken engagement and the sense of betrayal she experiences, is compounded by her larger grief of not having a connection with her father.

Both characters must grapple with how the past—especially past tragedies—shapes their present realities and future possibilities. The novel explores how holding on to grief can prevent emotional healing and the potential for new love, but it also shows that true healing comes from acknowledging and confronting the pain of the past.

Redefining Love and the Struggle for Second Chances

The theme of second chances runs throughout the novel, primarily embodied in the relationship between Wren and Anders. Both characters have endured significant emotional trauma and must come to terms with their ability to love again.

The evolution of their relationship is marked by moments of hesitation, guilt, and fear of getting hurt, yet the story ultimately suggests that love, though often painful, is worth pursuing even after deep wounds. Their connection, full of hesitation and longing, eventually gives way to a genuine, healing bond, marking a second chance for both of them.

The novel also touches on the idea that love is not a simple, idealized emotion but a complex process of acceptance, understanding, and growth. Through their struggles and eventual reunion, the story offers a poignant reminder that love, though it can hurt, can also heal and provide a new beginning.

The Intersection of Personal Growth and Professional Fulfillment

Another important theme is the intersection of personal growth and professional fulfillment. Wren’s time in Indiana allows her to rediscover her passion for architecture, which she had abandoned after her engagement fell apart.

Her professional growth serves as an essential part of her emotional healing. The book suggests that self-worth and fulfillment cannot be solely dependent on romantic relationships; rather, they must come from an individual’s ability to reclaim their passions and sense of purpose.

This is particularly evident when Wren is involved in a renovation project at the farm, an experience that helps her reconnect with her true self. Her journey toward professional fulfillment is portrayed as just as crucial as her romantic one, emphasizing that a healthy sense of self is rooted in both personal and professional spheres.