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Reviews
Heartsick: Three Stories of Falling in Love . . . And What Happens After it Ends by Jessie Stephens
moonagle's review against another edition
3.0
I really like this hybrid genre. Three women did it really well... this did it well at times.
A slow dip in the middle.
Caught up at the end.
Some bits over written (a lot of similes?)
I liked the essay at the end more.
A slow dip in the middle.
Caught up at the end.
Some bits over written (a lot of similes?)
I liked the essay at the end more.
ellelouisea's review against another edition
4.0
I thought this was a better version of Three Women, in terms of a partially fictionalised narrative about real people’s personal lives and experiences. I found it really engaging and relatable, and identified with many of the characters’ insecurities and poor choices, while wishing more for them.
borky's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
This was the right book at the right time for me.
frombethanysbookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
"I'm looking for a book I'm fairly certain doesn't exist. I want something that will put into words how I'm feeling right now - a sensation I have no vocabulary for."
Heartsick isn't a story, exactly. It's a striking retelling of three true-life accounts of heartbreak and the many unspoken lows and highs that accompany it.
Claire is excited for her future with Maggie, for the life they've been making for themselves, but she can't help but feel that instead of growing old together, they're growing apart instead. Patrick is still trying to find himself while trying to find someone to love, and then he meets Caitlin - but he just can't tell if she feels the same way about him. Ana has a picture perfect life; a strong, happy marriage and three beautiful children, and while she has no logical reason to she finds herself falling in love with someone else.
Heartsick is a compelling mixture of truth and fiction, a love letter of sorts to the beauty and pain that comes with falling love. Stephens uses these three different relationships to try to piece together the impossibly confusing mystery that is love. This story won't fix your broken heart, or help you figure out why love doesn't make sense - it's simply a beautiful tale about something universal that transcends language - love.
It reads fluidly in most places, and while it lulls in places, it doesn't stop the flow rather slips into a comfortable silence - I can only compare it to a conversation; you know those kinds of talks that come easily and goes on for hours so you don't even realise the sun has gone down.
This is the type of book that will make your heart ache and maybe even inspire you to find a little joy in the darkest places.
Heartsick isn't a story, exactly. It's a striking retelling of three true-life accounts of heartbreak and the many unspoken lows and highs that accompany it.
Claire is excited for her future with Maggie, for the life they've been making for themselves, but she can't help but feel that instead of growing old together, they're growing apart instead. Patrick is still trying to find himself while trying to find someone to love, and then he meets Caitlin - but he just can't tell if she feels the same way about him. Ana has a picture perfect life; a strong, happy marriage and three beautiful children, and while she has no logical reason to she finds herself falling in love with someone else.
Heartsick is a compelling mixture of truth and fiction, a love letter of sorts to the beauty and pain that comes with falling love. Stephens uses these three different relationships to try to piece together the impossibly confusing mystery that is love. This story won't fix your broken heart, or help you figure out why love doesn't make sense - it's simply a beautiful tale about something universal that transcends language - love.
It reads fluidly in most places, and while it lulls in places, it doesn't stop the flow rather slips into a comfortable silence - I can only compare it to a conversation; you know those kinds of talks that come easily and goes on for hours so you don't even realise the sun has gone down.
This is the type of book that will make your heart ache and maybe even inspire you to find a little joy in the darkest places.
amber_hastings's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
4.0
This was a fantastic and moving read. I wasn't expecting to be so moved from these stories. I grew to love each of the three main characters and found myself quite heartbroken at their respective heartbreaks. While I didn't always agree with their decisions (particularly as each of them made decisions that seemed from the outset to be mistakes or which would end badly) or relate to their experiences, I ended the book feeling like they were three old friends who I wanted to reach out to and hug. And while each of them had a different type of relationship, I was touched that they experienced heartbreak in the same way, showing the universality of this human experience. I also loved the author's introduction and epilogue, particularly when she brought her own stories to the book (which I actually related to more than the stories of Claire, Patrick and Anna). I listened to this as an audiobook and found the author's narration very easy to listen to.
vas_17's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Infidelity, Mental illness, Fatphobia, Miscarriage, Alcohol, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, and Ableism
Minor: Drug use and Addiction