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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
A pretty cute story, but overall everything felt underdeveloped and I just didn't connect with it at all
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
I really enjoyed this and thought it was a great mix of a wholesome read with awesome characters and a strong seaside setting. and a discussion of a bunch of important issues. I really liked our main character Lily and saw quite a bit of myself in her. I loved exploring the relationships she had with Daisy and her mum and Cal and Cassie, and I liked that Daisy wasn't at all the 'bitchy' twin I expected her to be and thought that the complexities of sibling relationships were captured well.
I loved how fat-positive this book was, as well as the various other positive social and political messages it gave. I did think the plotline involving the far-right posters was going to go a bit further, but maybe the point was that such people can be anyone and anywhere and that what matters is doing what you can to make a stand. I also thought Lily's anxiety was portrayed well, though I would've liked to see it brought up again when things started to be wrapped up, even if just to say it was an ongoing thing she was dealing with.
There were just a couple of things that slightly let the story down for me. I loved the dynamics between Lily's family generally, but this made it all the more odd the way she on occasion talked about Mark. I didn't like the way he was portrayed as not properly part of the family, even though she clearly got along with him really well. There was also a slight plot inconsistency involving Lily and Daisy's uni plans, which threw me off a bit.
Overall, though, I thought this was a really great read and definitely something I wish I could have read as a teenager struggling with some of the same things Lily does. It captured growing up and figuring out life and making tough decisions so well, and I'm keen to go back and read the author's debut novel and anything else they write in the future.
I loved how fat-positive this book was, as well as the various other positive social and political messages it gave. I did think the plotline involving the far-right posters was going to go a bit further, but maybe the point was that such people can be anyone and anywhere and that what matters is doing what you can to make a stand. I also thought Lily's anxiety was portrayed well, though I would've liked to see it brought up again when things started to be wrapped up, even if just to say it was an ongoing thing she was dealing with.
There were just a couple of things that slightly let the story down for me. I loved the dynamics between Lily's family generally, but this made it all the more odd the way she on occasion talked about Mark. I didn't like the way he was portrayed as not properly part of the family, even though she clearly got along with him really well. There was also a slight plot inconsistency involving Lily and Daisy's uni plans, which threw me off a bit.
Overall, though, I thought this was a really great read and definitely something I wish I could have read as a teenager struggling with some of the same things Lily does. It captured growing up and figuring out life and making tough decisions so well, and I'm keen to go back and read the author's debut novel and anything else they write in the future.
3.5 stars
Super cute, but the writing style could be a bit... intrusive (there are 350 ellipses in this book, yes i counted, dont come for me)
Super cute, but the writing style could be a bit... intrusive (there are 350 ellipses in this book, yes i counted, dont come for me)
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-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:
Complicated
This was lush. I adore Bethany's writing and story telling. I was totally swept up in Lily's story, her summer holiday, the ice cream, the friendship, the romance. All of it. The ending made my little heart happy. I want more from these two.
Content Warnings
Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Racism
I finished Melt My Heart after spending the last day of school on the Common like a teenager and this has all the ingredients of a modern British YA novel: a cute seaside setting, sibling love, female friendships, summer romance, artists, fashionistas, results day anxieties, anti-racism and a supportive mum.
Lily is a confident fat protagonist who challenges her sister's careless comments and "well-meaning" assertion, "I don't see you as fat" which is incredibly empowering! The love story here is adorable and it's great that Lily's body is never a source of conflict in the novel. The subplot of the bigotry of a small British town was really well written and particularly poignant in today's political climate. Yes it's a little light, but I think it's a great counterbalance to the stress of being a teenager right now. Such a joyful, body positive summer read!
Lily is a confident fat protagonist who challenges her sister's careless comments and "well-meaning" assertion, "I don't see you as fat" which is incredibly empowering! The love story here is adorable and it's great that Lily's body is never a source of conflict in the novel. The subplot of the bigotry of a small British town was really well written and particularly poignant in today's political climate. Yes it's a little light, but I think it's a great counterbalance to the stress of being a teenager right now. Such a joyful, body positive summer read!
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I thoroughly enjoyed Melt My Heart. Bethany captures those urgent teenage anxieties so well, but in a way that made them relatable to thirty-something me at the same time! There is sensitive representation of LGBTQ+ people and people of colour, with consideration given to the challenges they face in modern Britain. The fat positive message makes my heart sing and gives me hope that this becomes more mainstream in publishing as a whole, but especially within YA.
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Coming of age rom-com with a deep heart and all the feels. Lily Rose is about to leave her world behind and start a new life at university. As the summer speeds on, it's getting harder to imagine being without her best friend, and easier to imagine leaving her twin sister - why are they not getting along like they used to? I loved this book. It has great morals and never beats you over the head with anything, the characters are funny and believable - I read it in one sitting. Definitely recommend if you like light-hearted YA LGBTQIA+ body positive contemporary. Fantastic.