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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Rape, Murder
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
This is my second book by Jennifer Hillier, and I enjoyed it much more than my first. Jar of Hearts is a dark, intense psychological thriller that pulls you in from the very first chapter. It’s unsettling, emotionally charged, and filled with tension, making it difficult to put down.
The story follows Georgina "Geo" Shaw, a successful executive whose past comes crashing back when the remains of her best friend, Angela, are discovered. Fourteen years earlier, Angela disappeared, and now, Geo’s ex-boyfriend—who was convicted of Angela’s murder—is suspected of killing again. As the past and present collide, secrets unravel, revealing shocking truths about what really happened the night Angela died.
What stood out to me the most was the depth of the characters. Geo is a morally complex protagonist—flawed yet compelling. Her relationship with Calvin, her manipulative and terrifying first love, adds another layer to the story, making it as much a psychological study as it is a crime thriller. The book also does a great job of exploring guilt, trauma, and the lasting effects of past mistakes.
Hillier’s writing is sharp and fast-paced, with short chapters that build suspense effortlessly. The alternating timelines worked well, slowly piecing together the truth without feeling repetitive or dragging the story down. While some of the twists were predictable, others genuinely surprised me, and the tension remained high throughout.
If I had to nitpick, some aspects of the plot felt a bit over-the-top, particularly towards the end, but that didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment. This was a gripping and well-executed thriller that kept me engaged the entire time. I’ll definitely be reading more from Jennifer Hillier.
The story follows Georgina "Geo" Shaw, a successful executive whose past comes crashing back when the remains of her best friend, Angela, are discovered. Fourteen years earlier, Angela disappeared, and now, Geo’s ex-boyfriend—who was convicted of Angela’s murder—is suspected of killing again. As the past and present collide, secrets unravel, revealing shocking truths about what really happened the night Angela died.
What stood out to me the most was the depth of the characters. Geo is a morally complex protagonist—flawed yet compelling. Her relationship with Calvin, her manipulative and terrifying first love, adds another layer to the story, making it as much a psychological study as it is a crime thriller. The book also does a great job of exploring guilt, trauma, and the lasting effects of past mistakes.
Hillier’s writing is sharp and fast-paced, with short chapters that build suspense effortlessly. The alternating timelines worked well, slowly piecing together the truth without feeling repetitive or dragging the story down. While some of the twists were predictable, others genuinely surprised me, and the tension remained high throughout.
If I had to nitpick, some aspects of the plot felt a bit over-the-top, particularly towards the end, but that didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment. This was a gripping and well-executed thriller that kept me engaged the entire time. I’ll definitely be reading more from Jennifer Hillier.
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Audiobook Review: This was a very good book! It was fast paced, descriptive but not overly detailed and the story was very intriguing. I definitely figured out the twist at the end but it was still a good ending! My only problem and why it’s not rated higher is it did include child death and I wish would’ve known that going in as a trigger warning. But I couldn’t stop listening!
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
this was GOOD. This was disturbing and f—ed up in the best way 😩. I enjoyed the first half but baby that second half????????? Mind continuously blown! Mentally I went back and forth with myself about a few things as everything unfolded .. I just kept saying WTF.
Highly recommend. My 4th JH book and I’ve yet to be disappointed.
Highly recommend. My 4th JH book and I’ve yet to be disappointed.