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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
Such a good feel-good YA book - I grew so connected to the characters throughout. Gideon has my heart for best guy ever.
I love everything she writes. This was so sweet and delightful!
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
I don’t know if I have enough to say for a structured review, so probably it will just be a bunch of yell-typing about things I loved. I’ll try for short paragraphs but who knows?!
First off, I think I should sort of add a YA contemporary disclaimer: I was not an interesting teenager. Most things kids do in those books are things I’d vaguely heard of (alcohol? Sex? Parties? Other People did those things, maybe.) and so I find it difficult to relate. That’s not necessarily because I’m 33 now and teenagers are confusing (although that’s also true), it’s more that I can’t relate to feelings about events I didn’t know happened at 17. THIS BOOK WAS NOT LIKE THAT.
I’m one of those strange people who enjoys Shakespeare, and I *adore* A Midsummer Night’s Dream! I’ve seen a few high school productions of it, and it’s always so so fun. I was also stage crew when I was younger (in 8th grade, but I did the set moving stuff and definitely wasn’t invited to any cast parties 😒), so it was nice to see Claudia behind the scenes of the play. I also really liked all the real-life parallels and romantic mishaps that reflected the general AMSND air of miscommunication and misplaced affection. Very cleverly done. And very well done too!
Gideon was a delightful love interest. I feel like everyone knew that guy in school - you know the one. He’s not a “popular” kid, but everyone seems to like him. If people make fun of him, he knows about it and laughs with them. He’s fine with attention but isn’t always trying to seek it. Teachers usually love him. He’s awkward in a lovable way. And no one ever has anything bad to say about him. Hell, I can think of three of those guys from my middle/high school years. But Gideon was also really adorable, in his mannerisms and general personality. He’s the type of guy who will call a girl beautiful because he knows it will make her smile, not because he’s a giant flirt or a desperate kid. Just a genuinely GOOD DUDE.
Claudia was such a lovable main character! I’ve read how some people are considered introverts because they like the time alone to recharge, but they also enjoy being around people and going out with friends. I’m 100% introverted, like please don’t even make eye contact with me at a party I’m dragged to or I’ll spontaneously combust. But Claudia was a good example of that type of introvert. In that way, I think there’s probably something about her every reader can relate to.
While this book has romance and quirky theater bits, it’s really about relationships. How people interact, what “friend love” is and how it works, the importance of family, and, most of all, accepting that chance isn’t necessarily a thing that will distance you from what you love. I love when little threads run through a story and keep reappearing. Like how it kept coming up that you don’t always do things because they’re your idea or your thing, but because it’s important to someone you care about. I really enjoyed how it was emphasized through friendships and relationships alike.
For me, the main relationship in this book was the hate-to-love friendship between Claudia and Iris. I loved watching their friendship develop and grow. It’s almost like Claudia is showing Iris how to be better (like her ex Paige wanted her to be) through genuinely caring about being friends. AND! My favorite sort of true to life bit. I loved that it was never a serious question whether they were developing feelings for each other. As a female who plays ice hockey with some girls who like girls, I never understood why some people assumed I was dating one of them, or that I was a lesbian. Just because I like guys doesn’t mean I can’t have a guy friend that’s just a friend. Why can’t a girl who likes girls have female friends who are just friends? I liked that Claudia never worried that Iris liked her or anything. I don’t think I’m explaining it well, but I just liked the portrayal of all different (not directly stated) sexualities interacted in normal, friendly ways and it wasn’t a big deal. That’s been my life experience, and I liked seeing it on paper.
And, for the record, when asshole people learn that I play hockey and somehow think it’s appropriate to ask, “so are you a lesbian?! Lol!” I still refuse to answer. I always have. It’s none of your damn business, you homophobic asshat.
I also felt really invested in the relationships! Which hardly ever happens for me. I was pulling for Claudia and Gideon the whole time, and they really were adorable together. Their conversations were brilliant! And in general, I’m not a fan of second chances. But I was really hoping Iris and Paige would get back together!! I loved how when they made up at the end, they’re over there kissing and Claudia is standing in the background smiling and shipping them, and is almost like the proud mentor of Iris? Idk I thohhht it was super sweet when they were like, hey Claudia you can go now. And Claudia’s just like BUT I’M SO HAPPY FOR YOU GUYS 😂 same, girl. Same. Haha. Well done, Iris.
Okay, so maybe I had a lot to say about this book 😂 I think it’s just an instance of being exactly my type of book. I laughed out loud SO many times! So so many. I was also super excited to report all the references to my gamer boyfriend, and he was pretty excited to hear about all the stuff that was accurate!! I was happy too because I’m trying to learn. But oh man. My gaming experience consists of this one snowboarding game I played with my friend, dying in donkey Kong and watching my friend play her turn for hours, and thinking it would be hysterical to sit my little car on the train tracks in Mario kart and wait for the train to come by and hit me (it did, and I was always amused, and I always lost).
The most important thing this book did was provide an enjoyable escape. I’ve had a lot of days recently where I’ve felt like I don’t want to be inside my own brain because it’s like endless spirals of self-deprecation and I don’t know how to stop. Reading about Claudia really helped me get out of my head for a few hours. I wouldn’t hesitate to reread this book if I had another awful day. Thank you, Emma Mills! I definitely want to check out her other books now 😊
First off, I think I should sort of add a YA contemporary disclaimer: I was not an interesting teenager. Most things kids do in those books are things I’d vaguely heard of (alcohol? Sex? Parties? Other People did those things, maybe.) and so I find it difficult to relate. That’s not necessarily because I’m 33 now and teenagers are confusing (although that’s also true), it’s more that I can’t relate to feelings about events I didn’t know happened at 17. THIS BOOK WAS NOT LIKE THAT.
I’m one of those strange people who enjoys Shakespeare, and I *adore* A Midsummer Night’s Dream! I’ve seen a few high school productions of it, and it’s always so so fun. I was also stage crew when I was younger (in 8th grade, but I did the set moving stuff and definitely wasn’t invited to any cast parties 😒), so it was nice to see Claudia behind the scenes of the play. I also really liked all the real-life parallels and romantic mishaps that reflected the general AMSND air of miscommunication and misplaced affection. Very cleverly done. And very well done too!
Gideon was a delightful love interest. I feel like everyone knew that guy in school - you know the one. He’s not a “popular” kid, but everyone seems to like him. If people make fun of him, he knows about it and laughs with them. He’s fine with attention but isn’t always trying to seek it. Teachers usually love him. He’s awkward in a lovable way. And no one ever has anything bad to say about him. Hell, I can think of three of those guys from my middle/high school years. But Gideon was also really adorable, in his mannerisms and general personality. He’s the type of guy who will call a girl beautiful because he knows it will make her smile, not because he’s a giant flirt or a desperate kid. Just a genuinely GOOD DUDE.
Claudia was such a lovable main character! I’ve read how some people are considered introverts because they like the time alone to recharge, but they also enjoy being around people and going out with friends. I’m 100% introverted, like please don’t even make eye contact with me at a party I’m dragged to or I’ll spontaneously combust. But Claudia was a good example of that type of introvert. In that way, I think there’s probably something about her every reader can relate to.
While this book has romance and quirky theater bits, it’s really about relationships. How people interact, what “friend love” is and how it works, the importance of family, and, most of all, accepting that chance isn’t necessarily a thing that will distance you from what you love. I love when little threads run through a story and keep reappearing. Like how it kept coming up that you don’t always do things because they’re your idea or your thing, but because it’s important to someone you care about. I really enjoyed how it was emphasized through friendships and relationships alike.
For me, the main relationship in this book was the hate-to-love friendship between Claudia and Iris. I loved watching their friendship develop and grow. It’s almost like Claudia is showing Iris how to be better (like her ex Paige wanted her to be) through genuinely caring about being friends. AND! My favorite sort of true to life bit. I loved that it was never a serious question whether they were developing feelings for each other. As a female who plays ice hockey with some girls who like girls, I never understood why some people assumed I was dating one of them, or that I was a lesbian. Just because I like guys doesn’t mean I can’t have a guy friend that’s just a friend. Why can’t a girl who likes girls have female friends who are just friends? I liked that Claudia never worried that Iris liked her or anything. I don’t think I’m explaining it well, but I just liked the portrayal of all different (not directly stated) sexualities interacted in normal, friendly ways and it wasn’t a big deal. That’s been my life experience, and I liked seeing it on paper.
And, for the record, when asshole people learn that I play hockey and somehow think it’s appropriate to ask, “so are you a lesbian?! Lol!” I still refuse to answer. I always have. It’s none of your damn business, you homophobic asshat.
I also felt really invested in the relationships! Which hardly ever happens for me. I was pulling for Claudia and Gideon the whole time, and they really were adorable together. Their conversations were brilliant! And in general, I’m not a fan of second chances. But I was really hoping Iris and Paige would get back together!! I loved how when they made up at the end, they’re over there kissing and Claudia is standing in the background smiling and shipping them, and is almost like the proud mentor of Iris? Idk I thohhht it was super sweet when they were like, hey Claudia you can go now. And Claudia’s just like BUT I’M SO HAPPY FOR YOU GUYS 😂 same, girl. Same. Haha. Well done, Iris.
Okay, so maybe I had a lot to say about this book 😂 I think it’s just an instance of being exactly my type of book. I laughed out loud SO many times! So so many. I was also super excited to report all the references to my gamer boyfriend, and he was pretty excited to hear about all the stuff that was accurate!! I was happy too because I’m trying to learn. But oh man. My gaming experience consists of this one snowboarding game I played with my friend, dying in donkey Kong and watching my friend play her turn for hours, and thinking it would be hysterical to sit my little car on the train tracks in Mario kart and wait for the train to come by and hit me (it did, and I was always amused, and I always lost).
The most important thing this book did was provide an enjoyable escape. I’ve had a lot of days recently where I’ve felt like I don’t want to be inside my own brain because it’s like endless spirals of self-deprecation and I don’t know how to stop. Reading about Claudia really helped me get out of my head for a few hours. I wouldn’t hesitate to reread this book if I had another awful day. Thank you, Emma Mills! I definitely want to check out her other books now 😊
Boy bands and Shakespeare and interesting female friendships and lovely sibling relationships and a boy who is described as "a benevolent space prince"- there literally was no way I wasn't going to love this book. It is so charming and adorable and funny with relatable characters.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
My feeelings they're all so cute. Btw everything I'm gonna say here is gonna be useless for someone who is considering whether to read the book and spoilery. Be warned.
I had initially considered reading this after reading Lucky Caller last year and kind of adoring it (I loved the way their childhood games of pretend were such a part of the plot), but I ended up choosing Famous in a Small Town instead and this one was saved for some time in the future. This might be better than both of them. I was looking for books today where the male lead is kind of a "class clown" and this book came up. I suspect I've always liked the idea of the goofball because of how absolutely passive and unemotive I am. Like put me in a room with someone similarly closed off and we may never even speak lol (ok I know this isn't a good thing and also I'm exaggerating but still people who try way too hard are just easier to be around sorry). All that said Gideon is adorable. Claudia rejecting him hurt me like how could you hurt this boy for no reason (which yes this happens all the time in YA and always makes my gut twist and I usually kind of live for the drama but it's actually been a while). But I also love everything involving Iris so much and when at the end Alex said "I would kick a thousand Spooky Trees for you" and Zoe and Julia and Battle Quest and the Horsenfeld Shuffle and Iris' TION fandom and the play/costumes and even the prep school setting with the two campuses with a strip of woods between them is kind of cool and when Lena understood Shakespeare. This book is just so wonderfully loveable and I had to express that.
I was really impressed with this book. Parts of it reminded me of the movie EDGE OF SEVENTEEN. I read it in two sittings while on vacation. I love how it explored so many things all at once: strong female friendships, sibling relationships, insecurity, Shakespeare, and falling in love without truly realizing it.
”It’s just easier to never start something than to have to see it end.”
3.5 stars
read full review here
*full review include favorite quotes and a spoiler section
Foolish Hearts was one of those books that I feel was just ruined by the hype for me. Because everyone seemed to be loving it so much, I went into expecting a phenomenal story, but what I got out of it instead is a mediocre story with some elements that I really enjoyed. So that's that. Without further ado, let's get into the review:
The Writing
I found that the writing in this book was very simple – but that is not to say that it was bad. In fact, I feel like it fit the story quite well. However, there were definitely times that I felt like I could have been getting more from the story if the writing style had been different.
The Plot/Pacing
This was where my biggest problem with this book lies. I liked how the plot wasn’t fully centered around the romance and actually put an accent on the friendships, but the pacing felt a bit off. I found that the book would drag in some places and skim over details in others and I felt like sometimes we skimmed over important scenes.
The Characters
This was hands down my favorite part of this book! The thing I loved most about them was that they all felt like real people – people with flaws and more than one dimension and priorities that weren’t necessarily in everyone’s best interest. Look they were real people and I could actually picture some of the people I know in real life as characters in Foolish Hearts, and, to me, that is truly a sign of a well-written character.
In addition, there is a side girl character who likes girls, though I am not sure which label she uses, she was definitely handled with care and was given an actual character, as opposed to just being brushed aside and using her as The Diverse Character™. She had personality traits and those personality traits weren’t just ‘gay.’ So that was beautiful to see.
To Conclude
This book was okay. It wasn’t anything new, but it wasn’t bad either. I loved the characters, but the pacing and the writing could definitely use a lot of work. So, it looks like I’m not the biggest Emma Mills fan, but I will be picking up more of her books, hopefully at some point. And if you’re in the mood for a light-hearted contemporary, this is definitely the book to pick up.
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This was better than I thought it was going to be when I first started it. FRTC