Book review: Healing Hearts on Thistledown Lane by Holly Hepburn [blog tour]

I love Holly Hepburn's charming novels, from The Little Shop of Hidden Treasures to Return to Half-Moon Lane. She not only is a wonderful storyteller, but her books also always transport readers to the most magical places. And with Healing Hearts on Thistledown Lane she has done it again: taking us on a romantic journey through beautiful Edinburgh. 

About Healing Hearts on Thistledown Lane

Maura is a potter living in picturesque Dean Village in Edinburgh. She's reasonably successful, having had solo exhibitions throughout the years and steadily selling her work. However, she is stuck in a rut, in more ways than one. Her career, her relationship with her boyfriend Jamie, even her friendships. 

So when she's unexpectedly reunited with someone from her school days, Fraser, he adds a breath of fresh air into her life. He's a former actor running a ghost tours business in Edinburgh and he has a proposal for her: if she makes little ghosts inspired by the stories he tells on his walks, he will sell them on his tours. 

Maura is initially reluctant, not seeing how this could possibly be a successful business model. But Fraser shows her the work of the York Ghost Merchants, a very popular company selling little ghosts inspired by York's spooky history, and Maura gives it a try. But as business picks up, Maura and Fraser get closer and closer, throwing their lives upside down...

My review

I've been a huge fan of the York Ghost Merchants for many years (pre-Tik Tok fame, thank you very much), and so I was very intrigued when I first heard about this book. How could the characters do this unique concept of ceramic ghosts justice in Edinburgh without looking like copy cats? 

This exact question is very thoughtfully answered by Fraser, who takes inspiration from the idea but is keen they give it a unique spin. Not to mention that Maura is just one person, hand-making each of her ghosts, so the scale of their venture is much smaller than that of the York company. In fact, given that this is a fictional interpretation, I imagine the York Ghost Merchants are getting some lovely unexpected advertising from the book!

Speaking of advertising... Edinburgh is brought to life in the most magical and gorgeous way within the pages of Healing Hearts on Thistledown Lane. It already was one of my favourite cities in the UK, and author Holly Hepburn has truly brought its charm to life within her book and amplified it. I must revisit in 2026 (especially Dean Village, which I've only been to once before) – fingers crossed I will run into a very handsome Scottish man running ghost tours. I can dream...

The only thing I liked a little less within Healing Hearts on Thistledown Lane were the story arcs for Jamie (Maura's boyfriend) and Naomi (Fraser's girlfriend). While it certainly was inevitable that these relationships weren't going to pan out, I don't think it's always necessary to villainise the previous partners to romantic leads. Sometimes a relationship has simply run its natural course, and that's OK too. This is very much a personal preference, however, as I like less drama and more amicability in my books :)

That said, everything else was *chef's kiss*. From Fraser discovering his true career passion – and excelling at it – through to Maura finding her confidence and purpose again with her own creative outlet. I particularly appreciated reading about the process of her making the ghosts – and her other ceramics – in detail. It all sounded so wonderful that I wish she was a real artist, and not a fictional one, so I could buy some (read: all) of her work! 

Healing Hearts on Thistledown Lane is a really charming and gentle novel to kick off the new reading year with. It combines a great story with loveable characters and a very picturesque setting. January is the time for many to plan and book some trips away during the year, and I'm certain I'm not the only one who will be looking at trains to Edinburgh after reading this book!  

Healing Hearts on Thistledown Lane by Holly Hepburn is published by Simon and Schuster and you can now buy your copy from your favourite local book shop!

Blog tour stops for Healing Hearts on Thistledown Lane by Holly Hepburn

This review for Healing Hearts on Thistledown Lane is part of the blog tour for the launch of the book. Make sure to check out the other stops too!

Disclaimer: This book was gifted to me, but this has not impacted this honest review.