Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
SHUT UP. This was so freaking good, I can’t believe it!
Emma Mills is so good at writing friendships and relationships and I want to read everything she ever writes. This was so good— all the characters were nuanced and lovely and I want to read a million books just like this one.
Emma Mills is so good at writing friendships and relationships and I want to read everything she ever writes. This was so good— all the characters were nuanced and lovely and I want to read a million books just like this one.
so I just loved this book okay, it was funny, sad and witty. I loved the story and the characters. I just loved every bit.
Maybe more of a 4.5 but I don't care! It was fantastic! Everyone should read Emma Mills' books!!
I've said it before and I'll say it again: Emma Mills has a heck of a way with characters and her dialogue can't be beat. The way that she can craft the full ecosystem of a school, a friend group, a family is amazing to me. The fact that her books aren't more popular is a crime.
For Foolish Hearts specifically I just can't get over all of the friendships! They're so beautifully drawn, shamelessly intimate without getting mushy or feeling disingenuous. It took me time to get on board with the romance but boy by the end was I rooting for it with my whole heart. The play was such a fun aspect and a great way to get all of these characters interacting. I loved the mix of personalities we got to see, and of course they were so well written that it was super entertaining to follow them attempting to work together.
Out of the three books by Emma Mills that I've read so far (the others being This Adventure Ends, and First and Then) this one probably most falls victim to her tendency to integrate a few too many things into the story. There's always so much going on in the protagonists' lives, and often it feels like something will be mentioned only to be forgotten until its necessary again. But the conclusion I always come to is that, when it comes down to it, that's pretty true to life. It does mean that people who are plot-driven readers will probably be left frustrated, but if you love character driven stories I think you're pretty set with anything Emma Mills has written.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: Emma Mills has a heck of a way with characters and her dialogue can't be beat. The way that she can craft the full ecosystem of a school, a friend group, a family is amazing to me. The fact that her books aren't more popular is a crime.
For Foolish Hearts specifically I just can't get over all of the friendships! They're so beautifully drawn, shamelessly intimate without getting mushy or feeling disingenuous. It took me time to get on board with the romance but boy by the end was I rooting for it with my whole heart. The play was such a fun aspect and a great way to get all of these characters interacting. I loved the mix of personalities we got to see, and of course they were so well written that it was super entertaining to follow them attempting to work together.
Out of the three books by Emma Mills that I've read so far (the others being This Adventure Ends, and First and Then) this one probably most falls victim to her tendency to integrate a few too many things into the story. There's always so much going on in the protagonists' lives, and often it feels like something will be mentioned only to be forgotten until its necessary again. But the conclusion I always come to is that, when it comes down to it, that's pretty true to life. It does mean that people who are plot-driven readers will probably be left frustrated, but if you love character driven stories I think you're pretty set with anything Emma Mills has written.
This book is the first book I have ever read where I finished it and then immediately started reading it again. I do not regret doing so in the least, for Foolish Hearts is a wonderful novel, made all the better by the fact that it feature lots of Shakespeare. (I especially liked this because last week I watched a performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and got all nerdy about Shakespeare again). I’ve liked all of Emma Mills novels, particularly This Adventure Ends (which I should probably reread because I barely remember anything…it was about Art, I think), but Foolish Hearts is better by far.
Foolish Hearts is highly reminiscent of Franscesca Zappia—set in the Midwest, nerdy, friendship focused, just a little bit weird. It’s also thoroughly its own thing though, and I could appreciate that.
At its core, Foolish Hearts is a novel about needing people and embracing change. Claudia has it pretty good. She has a best friend and a loving family and is getting a quality education. She has her own rhythms and routines—she volunteers on Thursdays, she plays Battle Quest when she’s not doing homework.
Most novels start with a change, and in this case, it’s not Claudia who’s changing—it’s the relationship of Iris and Paige, who are breaking up, and Claudia is accidentally privy to it. But Claudia has to change to, as circumstances force her and Iris (who she’s low key terrified of) together. This sets up a whole chain of events (a comedy of errors, to go Shaekspeare) which gradually force her out of her bubble—she she doesn’t try very hard to engage with anyone at school, and her life is fine.
I think it's easier to feel like Claudia does. Like your life is okay the way it is. Like you shouldn't have to try harder, to learn more, to meet new people. I spent a lot of time lifing like that. And now, change is coming to me, whether I like it or not. And I do like it, but it's still change. Claudia is also very awkward (to cit an example from the first page: abso-tootin-lutely!) and I loved that. And she's an idiot, and she doesn't know how to deal with things, and she works hard but doesn't always care a lot. I just really liked her as a character.
All of the characters in Foolish Hearts are excellent. I think it's because they're realistic. Del is spunky and funky, but also mean when provoked; Iris has a hard exterior, but is enthuiastic and gentle on the inside; Noah is a fierce friend and also a lot of fun; Lena is shallow and vicious but also eager to understand Shakespeare; Julia is a kind sister and a lost adult. Each character has depth, and struggles, and a little of that shows up in the story. I have said of Emma Mills books before that she just has too much going on, and that continues to be true, but this book is so perfect that I don't care. Claudia learns to need people, to step outside herself.
This paragraph is dedicated to Gideon Prewitt, perfect human being. I love Gideon Prewitt. It has been a long time since I have had a real proper 'book crush' (inasmuch as these things are real rather than abstract), but Gideon Prewitt is adorable. He is goofy, he is bright in both senses of the word, he's a good brother, he can be hurt, he's endlessly enthuiastic, he is aware of other people's feelings and woks to protect them, and he puts himself out there when he needs to. If I didn't want to date Gideon Prewitt, I would want to be him.
The one thing that could have made Foolish Hearts better, or at least more realistic, is more talk of college. Claudia is in her senior year, apparently, and from my experience of going to a (not especially elite but still mega pricey) private school, you spend a lot of your senior year meeting with college counselors, writing essays, taking about SAT scores, and researching the universities you’re gonna apply to. Claudia does none of that, and the novel is still whole and excellent, but that could have been part of the story, and I wouldn’t have cared if it was longer because it is so perfect. Then again, I do find that college in YA novels is usually pretty simplified, people get into Ivies all over the place, and it generally is not that true to the process either, so maybe it was better this way.
There's a lot going on in Foolish Hearts. Ultimately, though, it's about relationships, and it's superbly written, and the characters speak and act in the rhythms of life. I felt seen and safe while I read it.
Foolish Hearts is highly reminiscent of Franscesca Zappia—set in the Midwest, nerdy, friendship focused, just a little bit weird. It’s also thoroughly its own thing though, and I could appreciate that.
At its core, Foolish Hearts is a novel about needing people and embracing change. Claudia has it pretty good. She has a best friend and a loving family and is getting a quality education. She has her own rhythms and routines—she volunteers on Thursdays, she plays Battle Quest when she’s not doing homework.
Most novels start with a change, and in this case, it’s not Claudia who’s changing—it’s the relationship of Iris and Paige, who are breaking up, and Claudia is accidentally privy to it. But Claudia has to change to, as circumstances force her and Iris (who she’s low key terrified of) together. This sets up a whole chain of events (a comedy of errors, to go Shaekspeare) which gradually force her out of her bubble—she she doesn’t try very hard to engage with anyone at school, and her life is fine.
I think it's easier to feel like Claudia does. Like your life is okay the way it is. Like you shouldn't have to try harder, to learn more, to meet new people. I spent a lot of time lifing like that. And now, change is coming to me, whether I like it or not. And I do like it, but it's still change. Claudia is also very awkward (to cit an example from the first page: abso-tootin-lutely!) and I loved that. And she's an idiot, and she doesn't know how to deal with things, and she works hard but doesn't always care a lot. I just really liked her as a character.
All of the characters in Foolish Hearts are excellent. I think it's because they're realistic. Del is spunky and funky, but also mean when provoked; Iris has a hard exterior, but is enthuiastic and gentle on the inside; Noah is a fierce friend and also a lot of fun; Lena is shallow and vicious but also eager to understand Shakespeare; Julia is a kind sister and a lost adult. Each character has depth, and struggles, and a little of that shows up in the story. I have said of Emma Mills books before that she just has too much going on, and that continues to be true, but this book is so perfect that I don't care. Claudia learns to need people, to step outside herself.
This paragraph is dedicated to Gideon Prewitt, perfect human being. I love Gideon Prewitt. It has been a long time since I have had a real proper 'book crush' (inasmuch as these things are real rather than abstract), but Gideon Prewitt is adorable. He is goofy, he is bright in both senses of the word, he's a good brother, he can be hurt, he's endlessly enthuiastic, he is aware of other people's feelings and woks to protect them, and he puts himself out there when he needs to. If I didn't want to date Gideon Prewitt, I would want to be him.
The one thing that could have made Foolish Hearts better, or at least more realistic, is more talk of college. Claudia is in her senior year, apparently, and from my experience of going to a (not especially elite but still mega pricey) private school, you spend a lot of your senior year meeting with college counselors, writing essays, taking about SAT scores, and researching the universities you’re gonna apply to. Claudia does none of that, and the novel is still whole and excellent, but that could have been part of the story, and I wouldn’t have cared if it was longer because it is so perfect. Then again, I do find that college in YA novels is usually pretty simplified, people get into Ivies all over the place, and it generally is not that true to the process either, so maybe it was better this way.
There's a lot going on in Foolish Hearts. Ultimately, though, it's about relationships, and it's superbly written, and the characters speak and act in the rhythms of life. I felt seen and safe while I read it.
Is it too soon. To count Emma Mills as a favourite author after just two books? Well I am.
I don't read as much YA anymore and that's fine. It just means I'm really loving those that i do read and this was fantastic. Emma Mills just writes these characters you swiftly connect to and you get swept up from there. And Claudia? I think we all can relate to feeling like we don't fit and saying something stupid in awkward situations.
We first meet her feeling out of place at a party a girl from school throws where she is unintentionally listening in on a couple's break up where she gains an enemy in the form of Iris. So you just know her and Iris will be thrown together. This time in the form of an English project and then the school play.
I loved getting to know Iris as Claudia did and learning she is not the mean girl she always portrays. She just lashes out to avoid being hurt and it was awesome that she was not as she immediately appeared but instead was a fangirl and funny and she was a truly good friend.
And our love interest is the ever adorable Gideon who has the same name as a Harry Potter character (if spelt differently). He is sweet and a little all over the place and utterly charming. I was charmed by him and loved seeing him trying to win over Claudia with his friendship and love.
Have I ever mentioned how I like seeing fan type things in a book? I do. I really do. I adored Iris's epic fangirl get over a boy band. Analysing their interviews buying clothes they wore and being utterly obsessed as you only can be as a teen. I feel like I haven't employed that level of obsession and love to something in a long while and seriously loved seeing it here. And Claudia also plays a MMORPG with her family and BFF and although that's never been my favourite kind of gaming I loved how it wasn't just a game but a chance for her to hangout with her friends and family. How they chatted and caught up in it and it became so much more than I game for them.
I don't read as much YA anymore and that's fine. It just means I'm really loving those that i do read and this was fantastic. Emma Mills just writes these characters you swiftly connect to and you get swept up from there. And Claudia? I think we all can relate to feeling like we don't fit and saying something stupid in awkward situations.
We first meet her feeling out of place at a party a girl from school throws where she is unintentionally listening in on a couple's break up where she gains an enemy in the form of Iris. So you just know her and Iris will be thrown together. This time in the form of an English project and then the school play.
I loved getting to know Iris as Claudia did and learning she is not the mean girl she always portrays. She just lashes out to avoid being hurt and it was awesome that she was not as she immediately appeared but instead was a fangirl and funny and she was a truly good friend.
And our love interest is the ever adorable Gideon who has the same name as a Harry Potter character (if spelt differently). He is sweet and a little all over the place and utterly charming. I was charmed by him and loved seeing him trying to win over Claudia with his friendship and love.
Have I ever mentioned how I like seeing fan type things in a book? I do. I really do. I adored Iris's epic fangirl get over a boy band. Analysing their interviews buying clothes they wore and being utterly obsessed as you only can be as a teen. I feel like I haven't employed that level of obsession and love to something in a long while and seriously loved seeing it here. And Claudia also plays a MMORPG with her family and BFF and although that's never been my favourite kind of gaming I loved how it wasn't just a game but a chance for her to hangout with her friends and family. How they chatted and caught up in it and it became so much more than I game for them.
Claudia is split between her private school friends and her childhood friends. She gets caught up in a messy breakup of two friends, and she becomes friends with the school's most evil girl. A production of A Midsummer Night's Dream allows all of the people to come together along with a really cute boy. Fun and romance are attached.
This book is so fun and light hearted to read.
For my full review:
https://owllibrarian.wordpress.com/2018/01/01/book-review-foolish-hearts/
For my full review:
https://owllibrarian.wordpress.com/2018/01/01/book-review-foolish-hearts/
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“It’s not hard to pretend to love her. It’s the rest of the time, having to pretend like I don’t.”
- p. 163
tw: panic attacks, implied homophobia, pregnancy and difficult childbirth, seizure mentions
representation: Iris (mc) is Asian (Chinese?) and sapphic, Paige (sc) is sapphic, Zoe (sc) is a POC (possibly Black?), Noah (sc) has epilepsy
Getting trapped in the bathroom at a party because the school’s it-couple are breaking up outside was not the ideal situation for Claudia to find herself in, and things go from bad to worse when a botched essay thrusts her and her newfound rival, Iris, into a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Much to her surprise, however, her and Iris end up finding they have more in common than they think, and she just may have caught the eye of popular kid and all around goofball Gideon Prewitt in the process…
This book. THIS BOOK. God, it ticks so many of my boxes that I’m starting to wonder whether Emma Mills can actually read my mind. Sapphic couple? Check. Goofy love interest? Check. Shakespeare? Check. Incredible and realistically written friendships? Double check. In the words of Claudia, it had everything on my must-have list, and literally the only criticism I have is that this book wasn’t longer, because I could spend all day immersed in reading about these characters. I adored it.
“Sometimes… around some people, I feel like I have to, like… try, you know? Like really hard.” His hands tighten a bit on my waist. “But with you – when I’m with you, I can just… exist. You know what I mean?” (p. 248)
Let’s start with the romance plotlines. I never thought I could honestly say that I would ever fall in love with a man named Gideon Prewitt, but then this magical space prince just bounded onto the page and stole my heart. I love him. I adore him. I want to protect him. His relationship with Claudia is so adorable, so natural, and so effortless that it actually made me squeal whenever they interacted. I SQUEALED at this book. That’s just how good it is. Also there’s a scene where Gideon dresses as a sexy pirate fairy, so honestly read this book for that alone.
Then there’s the secondary romance between Paige and Iris, which is just as sweet and developed as Claudia and Gideon’s relationship. Their (spoiler alert) kiss scene at the end had me crying, and it was lovely to see how both of them grew since the start of the book. I mean, Iris showing up to homecoming in a pink dress to show Paige that she can be interested in the things she likes? Iconic. I adored both of these plotlines, as well as the (another spoiler) one between Zoe and Alex, who I was rooting for from their first scene together. I love a good romance storyline, and these made my heart soar.
“It must be hard,” I say. “Your parents… I mean, them not knowing. About Paige and stuff.”
“Oh great,” Iris says, looking up from her computer. “Is Straighty McHetero going to give me a lecture on living my truth?” (p. 90)
The biggest thing about this book, however, is not the romantic relationships, but the platonic friendships too. Every single friendship and familial relationship in this book is so supportive, and nobody makes fun of the characters’ geeky interests. Claudia loves Battle Quest? Zoe, Alex, and later Gideon and Iris all decide to play with her. Iris loves boyband TION? Claudia listens to their music, watches their documentary, and even wins a radio contest to get Iris concert tickets. These are the bonds I love to read about, and it was even lovelier to see that not only does Claudia have some great friends in Zoe and Iris (and Del and even Noah at times), but she also is close with her siblings, Alex and Julia, and has some lovely (and hilarious) scenes with them too. I especially teared up at the scene where Claudia visits her pregnant sister Julia, who is struggling with the reality that she is about to become a mother, and how poignant it made the storyline that pops up right at the end feel. Emma Mills really decided to tug at my heartstrings with that one. I would also like to mention the friendship between Gideon and Noah, and just how pure it was. Gideon would do anything for Noah, and vice versa, and it really provided another dimension to Gideon’s character, showing how caring he can be for the people he loves. All of the friendships and relationships were really nice to read about, and yes, I did cry over the green barrette. Of course I cried over the green barrette.
This book was probably the easiest five stars I’ve ever given, but in case it wasn’t obvious from my glowing review, I absolutely ADORED everything about it. The rest of Emma Mills’ books are definitely going to be added to my TBR in the future. Brilliantly written, absolutely heart-warming, and at times laugh-out-loud funny (and, yes, I did actually laugh out loud), Foolish Hearts is like having a massive bear hug, and I am so so glad I decided to pick it up.
“It just feels like..." Her voice is small. "Sometimes it just feels like I'm faking."
"Maybe everyone feels that way.” (p. 229)
- p. 163
tw: panic attacks, implied homophobia, pregnancy and difficult childbirth, seizure mentions
representation: Iris (mc) is Asian (Chinese?) and sapphic, Paige (sc) is sapphic, Zoe (sc) is a POC (possibly Black?), Noah (sc) has epilepsy
Getting trapped in the bathroom at a party because the school’s it-couple are breaking up outside was not the ideal situation for Claudia to find herself in, and things go from bad to worse when a botched essay thrusts her and her newfound rival, Iris, into a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Much to her surprise, however, her and Iris end up finding they have more in common than they think, and she just may have caught the eye of popular kid and all around goofball Gideon Prewitt in the process…
This book. THIS BOOK. God, it ticks so many of my boxes that I’m starting to wonder whether Emma Mills can actually read my mind. Sapphic couple? Check. Goofy love interest? Check. Shakespeare? Check. Incredible and realistically written friendships? Double check. In the words of Claudia, it had everything on my must-have list, and literally the only criticism I have is that this book wasn’t longer, because I could spend all day immersed in reading about these characters. I adored it.
“Sometimes… around some people, I feel like I have to, like… try, you know? Like really hard.” His hands tighten a bit on my waist. “But with you – when I’m with you, I can just… exist. You know what I mean?” (p. 248)
Let’s start with the romance plotlines. I never thought I could honestly say that I would ever fall in love with a man named Gideon Prewitt, but then this magical space prince just bounded onto the page and stole my heart. I love him. I adore him. I want to protect him. His relationship with Claudia is so adorable, so natural, and so effortless that it actually made me squeal whenever they interacted. I SQUEALED at this book. That’s just how good it is. Also there’s a scene where Gideon dresses as a sexy pirate fairy, so honestly read this book for that alone.
Then there’s the secondary romance between Paige and Iris, which is just as sweet and developed as Claudia and Gideon’s relationship. Their (spoiler alert) kiss scene at the end had me crying, and it was lovely to see how both of them grew since the start of the book. I mean, Iris showing up to homecoming in a pink dress to show Paige that she can be interested in the things she likes? Iconic. I adored both of these plotlines, as well as the (another spoiler) one between Zoe and Alex, who I was rooting for from their first scene together. I love a good romance storyline, and these made my heart soar.
“It must be hard,” I say. “Your parents… I mean, them not knowing. About Paige and stuff.”
“Oh great,” Iris says, looking up from her computer. “Is Straighty McHetero going to give me a lecture on living my truth?” (p. 90)
The biggest thing about this book, however, is not the romantic relationships, but the platonic friendships too. Every single friendship and familial relationship in this book is so supportive, and nobody makes fun of the characters’ geeky interests. Claudia loves Battle Quest? Zoe, Alex, and later Gideon and Iris all decide to play with her. Iris loves boyband TION? Claudia listens to their music, watches their documentary, and even wins a radio contest to get Iris concert tickets. These are the bonds I love to read about, and it was even lovelier to see that not only does Claudia have some great friends in Zoe and Iris (and Del and even Noah at times), but she also is close with her siblings, Alex and Julia, and has some lovely (and hilarious) scenes with them too. I especially teared up at the scene where Claudia visits her pregnant sister Julia, who is struggling with the reality that she is about to become a mother, and how poignant it made the storyline that pops up right at the end feel. Emma Mills really decided to tug at my heartstrings with that one. I would also like to mention the friendship between Gideon and Noah, and just how pure it was. Gideon would do anything for Noah, and vice versa, and it really provided another dimension to Gideon’s character, showing how caring he can be for the people he loves. All of the friendships and relationships were really nice to read about, and yes, I did cry over the green barrette. Of course I cried over the green barrette.
This book was probably the easiest five stars I’ve ever given, but in case it wasn’t obvious from my glowing review, I absolutely ADORED everything about it. The rest of Emma Mills’ books are definitely going to be added to my TBR in the future. Brilliantly written, absolutely heart-warming, and at times laugh-out-loud funny (and, yes, I did actually laugh out loud), Foolish Hearts is like having a massive bear hug, and I am so so glad I decided to pick it up.
“It just feels like..." Her voice is small. "Sometimes it just feels like I'm faking."
"Maybe everyone feels that way.” (p. 229)
*Squeal* This is the cutest book I have read in a long time. Pretty sure I was smiling while reading the majority of the time. I genuinely have not connected with a cast of characters like this, ever. Loved Claudia and her friendships with Zoe and Iris and her budding romance with Gideon. This book also had amazing character development and each characters personality came through. But I’m pretty sure I smiled the most when Paige and Iris got back together in the end. And as someone with family who have epilepsy I was very happy with the scene where Noah talks about it with Claudia. Overall, I can’t find any fault with this book. Definitely will be one of my favorites from now on.