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luci_08's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
verybooksessed's review against another edition
4.0
First of all, a big thanks to NetGalley and Charlesbridge for providing an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
I have this strong urge to protect Henry Hamlet from all harm, at all costs. I just want to give him a big hug and tell him that he’s such a unique and kind soul.
This beautifully written friends-to-lovers coming of age novel is exactly what i needed. Henry Hamlet is a pretty relatable character; he’s a socially anxious over-thinker who struggles with self image and the all familiar “what next?” as high school comes to an end. In other words, Henry Hamlet is the opposite of his childhood best friend, Len.
The book focuses on how these two young friends deal with the issues that pose as barriers in their lives, and how they slowly come to realize that what they really needed was right there in plain sight. As Henry’s mind enters into existential crisis mode and Len battles his grief and repressed feelings, the two best friends begin to see how the last term of their senior year might actually be quite life-changing for them. They find love, they fight it, they question it and embrace it, in all of its confusing forms.
It’s light, quick and funny in the right moments. Honestly, Henry’s friend group is the type i wished i had back in high school. It’s so delightful to see how their personalities compliment one another despite being SO different. The book gives you this nostalgic feeling, like you’ve been missing something all along and witnessing Len and Henry’s character growth is somehow that missing piece.
I have this strong urge to protect Henry Hamlet from all harm, at all costs. I just want to give him a big hug and tell him that he’s such a unique and kind soul.
This beautifully written friends-to-lovers coming of age novel is exactly what i needed. Henry Hamlet is a pretty relatable character; he’s a socially anxious over-thinker who struggles with self image and the all familiar “what next?” as high school comes to an end. In other words, Henry Hamlet is the opposite of his childhood best friend, Len.
The book focuses on how these two young friends deal with the issues that pose as barriers in their lives, and how they slowly come to realize that what they really needed was right there in plain sight. As Henry’s mind enters into existential crisis mode and Len battles his grief and repressed feelings, the two best friends begin to see how the last term of their senior year might actually be quite life-changing for them. They find love, they fight it, they question it and embrace it, in all of its confusing forms.
It’s light, quick and funny in the right moments. Honestly, Henry’s friend group is the type i wished i had back in high school. It’s so delightful to see how their personalities compliment one another despite being SO different. The book gives you this nostalgic feeling, like you’ve been missing something all along and witnessing Len and Henry’s character growth is somehow that missing piece.
boyunrelated's review against another edition
in what world anywhere do aussie teens talk like this
sarab5934's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
sittinginthepark's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
millibee's review against another edition
5.0
Oh MY GOD?! Henry Hamlet's Heart has easily become one of my favourite books of the year and possibly of all time. I felt so at home in this book. Rhiannon Wilde's writing style is so easy to get lost in and as someone who was a gay little emo kid in high school during 2008... this was everything to me. There were moments that had me giggling, moments that had me swooning and moments that felt like a gut-punch. I will treasure Henry, Len and even Vince for the rest of time.
drakoulis's review against another edition
4.0
Henry Hamlet's Heart is a heartfelt story of two best friends falling for each other in Brisbane, Australia in the late 00s.
It's funny, light-hearted, full of banter and school shennaningans that seem like the whole world when you are a teenager. Henry is adorably nerdy while artsy Len is an amazing friend but has the habit of hiding from his feelings, afraid of getting hurt.
I loved the two first parts of the book, where we watch Henry, Len and the Boyisss (their friend group) during their last school term. Henry's family is weird and full of love, and I adored his little brother Ham. Len on the other side was dealt a tougher hand, especially after his mother's death left him with his (let's be honest, absolutely terrible) father.
The third part suffered from the author's choice to use some overused and eye-rolling tropes: "I'm not worth for you", "Running away afraid of getting hurt", "I refuse to communicate". It's implied that the underlying reason for this behaviour lies with the grief of the past, but it isn't really explored - and the book is from Henry's POV, so we never know what Leni is thinking.
The finale makes up with a very sweet scene, although (as in many other YA romace books) I wish the book would have one-two more chapters with the boys being more talkative and open about their feelings instead of ending with the climax.
Another standout of the book was the Australian feel, and the 2008 feel - you could very quickly see that this book is not set in the present, without explicitly mentioning it immediately.
Thank you NetGalley and Charlesbridge Teen for the ARC of the US version!
It's funny, light-hearted, full of banter and school shennaningans that seem like the whole world when you are a teenager. Henry is adorably nerdy while artsy Len is an amazing friend but has the habit of hiding from his feelings, afraid of getting hurt.
I loved the two first parts of the book, where we watch Henry, Len and the Boyisss (their friend group) during their last school term. Henry's family is weird and full of love, and I adored his little brother Ham. Len on the other side was dealt a tougher hand, especially after his mother's death left him with his (let's be honest, absolutely terrible) father.
The third part suffered from the author's choice to use some overused and eye-rolling tropes: "I'm not worth for you", "Running away afraid of getting hurt", "I refuse to communicate". It's implied that the underlying reason for this behaviour lies with the grief of the past, but it isn't really explored - and the book is from Henry's POV, so we never know what Leni is thinking.
The finale makes up with a very sweet scene, although (as in many other YA romace books) I wish the book would have one-two more chapters with the boys being more talkative and open about their feelings instead of ending with the climax.
Another standout of the book was the Australian feel, and the 2008 feel - you could very quickly see that this book is not set in the present, without explicitly mentioning it immediately.
Thank you NetGalley and Charlesbridge Teen for the ARC of the US version!
ellie_debney's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Homophobia
readwithjodey's review against another edition
5.0
Henry Hamlet (has my) Heart
To put it simply, Henry Hamlet’s Heart lovingly bludgeoned me to death with nostalgia and queer yearning (in the best way possible). Set in the early-mid 2000’s with references to early days Paramore and other emo-punk bands, the front cover of this book felt like a door into my own brain. I immediately knew Henry, because I saw myself crystal clear in his shoes, the lowkey (okay yeah maybe highkey) nerd, closeted questioning queer school captain that wore glasses of a public school filled with boys that gave way to sexual tension and confusion, and girls that just managed to make it all worse. That was my high school experience, and Wilde perfectly captured those feelings and packaged them up into Henry Hamlet.
We follow our awkward and confused Henry throughout the final months of year 12 as he navigates his way through the classic and stereotypical final year of high school antics, all the while, we watch the unfolding and chaotic blossoming of his sexuality in the form of his attraction to Len. Oh Len… Len, Len, Len, how I love to hate him. And equally love to love him. Though some of his actions towards the end of the book were questionable (calling Henry a mistake and going ghost being a big one there), it is hard not to still feel some sympathy for him. Len, with the trials and tribulations of confused feelings for Hen, coupled with his troubled relationship with his father, comes together to create an unstable force that threatens to uproot Len at every turn. Unfortunately, Hen tends to cop the brunt of this, and though many of their arguments resolve with sometimes very little ‘proper’ reconciliation, their dynamic feels real and raw. It is rife with confusion and trepidation, but also joy, and excitement. It is the right amount of queer yearning and queer fear.
Wilde’s love of her hometown was evident and clear from the start, those pages practically oozed Brisbane. The essence of Brisbane is palpable, from the apt descriptions of its characteristic ‘Queenslander’ styled houses to Jacaranda trees, to our dearly beloved New Farm Park. Every corner that Henry and his friends turned there was something familiar, a reminder of home, a place where any Brisbanite would recognise.
Henry Hamlet’s Heart is a beautiful synthesis of queer adolescence in the melting pot that is high school (and especially grade 12) and is as cosy as it is raw and heartfelt. You can tell it was written with love and care, and I praise Wilde for capturing such a profound and almost indescribable cocktail of feelings and emotions.
Oh, and I forgot to mention, Gran is the queen of all queers, a mascot for the masses. She has my heart just as much as Henry does.
5/5 stars.
To put it simply, Henry Hamlet’s Heart lovingly bludgeoned me to death with nostalgia and queer yearning (in the best way possible). Set in the early-mid 2000’s with references to early days Paramore and other emo-punk bands, the front cover of this book felt like a door into my own brain. I immediately knew Henry, because I saw myself crystal clear in his shoes, the lowkey (okay yeah maybe highkey) nerd, closeted questioning queer school captain that wore glasses of a public school filled with boys that gave way to sexual tension and confusion, and girls that just managed to make it all worse. That was my high school experience, and Wilde perfectly captured those feelings and packaged them up into Henry Hamlet.
We follow our awkward and confused Henry throughout the final months of year 12 as he navigates his way through the classic and stereotypical final year of high school antics, all the while, we watch the unfolding and chaotic blossoming of his sexuality in the form of his attraction to Len. Oh Len… Len, Len, Len, how I love to hate him. And equally love to love him. Though some of his actions towards the end of the book were questionable (calling Henry a mistake and going ghost being a big one there), it is hard not to still feel some sympathy for him. Len, with the trials and tribulations of confused feelings for Hen, coupled with his troubled relationship with his father, comes together to create an unstable force that threatens to uproot Len at every turn. Unfortunately, Hen tends to cop the brunt of this, and though many of their arguments resolve with sometimes very little ‘proper’ reconciliation, their dynamic feels real and raw. It is rife with confusion and trepidation, but also joy, and excitement. It is the right amount of queer yearning and queer fear.
Wilde’s love of her hometown was evident and clear from the start, those pages practically oozed Brisbane. The essence of Brisbane is palpable, from the apt descriptions of its characteristic ‘Queenslander’ styled houses to Jacaranda trees, to our dearly beloved New Farm Park. Every corner that Henry and his friends turned there was something familiar, a reminder of home, a place where any Brisbanite would recognise.
Henry Hamlet’s Heart is a beautiful synthesis of queer adolescence in the melting pot that is high school (and especially grade 12) and is as cosy as it is raw and heartfelt. You can tell it was written with love and care, and I praise Wilde for capturing such a profound and almost indescribable cocktail of feelings and emotions.
Oh, and I forgot to mention, Gran is the queen of all queers, a mascot for the masses. She has my heart just as much as Henry does.
5/5 stars.