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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
I’ve been in fandoms where shippers slip into a conspiracy theorist corner and post mean shit about the celebrities’ partners and allegedly PR-arranged marriages. As far as I know, nobody actually misused anybody’s address or doxxed people that didn’t agree with them - but then again, I wasn’t in it, I was only a more casual fan watching extreme fans from the sidelines.
So I know how a ship or, more widely speaking, an idea can become so central to people and communities that anything threatening that idea is met with unreasonable vitriol. I’ve never seen that in a thriller before, and I thought it was pretty well-done here, especially with the constellation of Cat being one of the extreme fans in the beginning and then being pulled under by her own community.
The heartstream app was an interesting concept, too. As I understand, the happy, fun and relaxed content of rich kids lounging on yachts was the original concept that was then broadened by people streaming their negative emotions to feel less alone. That was quite a realistic extension to how people use the internet today, and a neat piece of worldbuilding.
In the end, though, I think there were too many twists. Especially the mayor “reveal” seemed too over the top and convenient to me. It didn’t feel like a filled plot hole to me, it just felt like one too many coincidence that tipped it over the edge of believability for me.
I also didn’t think that the blackmail material was strong enough to justify Ben’s actions. How does hacking into someone’s account and finding a dick pic prove that the person is / was cheating? It doesn’t. It just proves that the person took a dick pic. That was probably the weakest plot point to me. Maybe the picture was symbolic for all the other solid blackmail material that existed; in case I missed that, mea culpa. I read this at one am, so there’s that.
Still a great thriller with very addictive narration and a plot with excellent understanding of the human condition. I appreciated the nuances of Evie’s character especially. Also, hooray for casual queer representation!
So I know how a ship or, more widely speaking, an idea can become so central to people and communities that anything threatening that idea is met with unreasonable vitriol. I’ve never seen that in a thriller before, and I thought it was pretty well-done here, especially with the constellation of Cat being one of the extreme fans in the beginning and then being pulled under by her own community.
The heartstream app was an interesting concept, too. As I understand, the happy, fun and relaxed content of rich kids lounging on yachts was the original concept that was then broadened by people streaming their negative emotions to feel less alone. That was quite a realistic extension to how people use the internet today, and a neat piece of worldbuilding.
In the end, though, I think there were too many twists. Especially the mayor “reveal” seemed too over the top and convenient to me.
Spoiler
Okay, so Ryan is the mayor? Is Nick, by any chance, Charlie’s dad? Is Cat’s grandfather by any chance Lewis Carroll? The name change was so stupid as well. If he truly did want to bank on his fame to become a politician, he would have used his own goddamn name. Not some pseudo-Scandinavian version.I also didn’t think that the blackmail material was strong enough to justify Ben’s actions. How does hacking into someone’s account and finding a dick pic prove that the person is / was cheating? It doesn’t. It just proves that the person took a dick pic. That was probably the weakest plot point to me. Maybe the picture was symbolic for all the other solid blackmail material that existed; in case I missed that, mea culpa. I read this at one am, so there’s that.
Still a great thriller with very addictive narration and a plot with excellent understanding of the human condition. I appreciated the nuances of Evie’s character especially. Also, hooray for casual queer representation!
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
At first, I was really confused about how the two stories were tied together. It made sense later, of course, but the plot twists felt kinda forced sometimes. There was huge potential in the app, and it's sad that the author didn't work with it more. It could've been executed a lot better. I liked how he described how addictive it is and how dangerous obsession can get, not only with Heartstream itself but also with celebrities and other people. It was thrilling, but I can imagine it being much better. The ending was weirdly rushed, as if he got tired of writing and wanted to finish the book quickly. I don't mind open endings, but this wasn't it.
"He could never bear to disappoint, so he betrayed instead. Of course he became a politician."
wow!! what a book!!
thank you to whoever recommended this to me, i really enjoyed it! Heartstream was intricate, fastpaced, fascinating and has plot twists by the bucket. it was split between two different stories and perspectives, and i loved both characters, for all their issues. i wanted to cry when our characters faced undeserved hardships, and i did have to stop reading the book at one stage because of the hate and anger overwhelming me at how cruel, judgy and vicious people can be. people are horrible, even more so when they're online, where they can hide behind their screens. it's terrifying and horrific, and this book was an accurate example of the monstrous behaviour of some people, people who judge before knowing the full story, or any of the story at all.
Heartstream was like a book version of Black Mirror (amazing show btw), showing the hideous things people will do when they have access to power and technology.
i loved it!
wow!! what a book!!
thank you to whoever recommended this to me, i really enjoyed it! Heartstream was intricate, fastpaced, fascinating and has plot twists by the bucket. it was split between two different stories and perspectives, and i loved both characters, for all their issues. i wanted to cry when our characters faced undeserved hardships, and i did have to stop reading the book at one stage because of the hate and anger overwhelming me at how cruel, judgy and vicious people can be. people are horrible, even more so when they're online, where they can hide behind their screens. it's terrifying and horrific, and this book was an accurate example of the monstrous behaviour of some people, people who judge before knowing the full story, or any of the story at all.
Heartstream was like a book version of Black Mirror (amazing show btw), showing the hideous things people will do when they have access to power and technology.
i loved it!
Het verhaal startte heel verwarrend.
Uiteindelijk viel alles wel op zijn plek.
Helaas eindigt het boek met een open einde.
Ik vond het nogal een vaag boek, niet echt mijn ding als ik eerlijk ben
Uiteindelijk viel alles wel op zijn plek.
Helaas eindigt het boek met een open einde.
Ik vond het nogal een vaag boek, niet echt mijn ding als ik eerlijk ben
Tom Pollock's writing just gets better and better in my opinion, I was completely gripped by Heartstream. Scary, tense and moving in places, it's a salutary tale about the perils of our always connected online culture and the effect it has on people. It shows how easy it is for swathes of people to band together in support of what they perceive to be an injustice and the bullying behaviour that comes from this. An excellent YA read.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I am so confused. This book was a lot. It is written like a bad fanfiction, but in the best way possible. Over-dramatic, addictive and full of forced plot twists. I did have fun reading it, but especially the last 100 pages just were too much. Also, there was so much wasted potential with Heartstream as an app. The execution of the idea just wasn't the best.
Tom Pollock has come through again with another fantastically clever thriller that I just couldn't put down! I absolutely loved this!