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A review by okiecozyreader
This Violent Heart by Heather Levy
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
I loved Levy’s last book and was super excited about this one. They both have a mystery of sorts, but this one really delved deep into teenage stress - including a variety of topics from suicide to abuse. Levy pulls from her background living in small town Oklahoma, showing her own struggles in the LGBTQ community and how hard it can be in some religious families.
Devon left her small town to pursue life in Oklahoma City as a therapist. When she has a client commit suicide (in the first few chapters of the book), it triggers her own memories of her best friend from high school, who was also believed to have committed suicide. She goes back to her hometown to try to put the past behind her and figure out what really happened.
This is a dark, emotional read about many small town secrets and power struggles.
“Everyone had desires they had to keep hidden, and Jackie was caught for hers and swiftly punished.
She knew one thing for sure now: once people knew the things you kept hidden away in your heart, they could use them against you.
They could destroy you.” P159
“It wasn't just Holly who had backed her into a corner, it was everything about Arkana, the entire culture to suppress and squeeze the uniqueness out of people until they fit into neat little boxes. She was done with contorting herself to fit in—for the town, for her mother,
for anyone.” P248
“In her mind, she heard Summer crying with her, or maybe it wasn’t Summer at all. Maybe the voice had been her own all along.” P320
Devon left her small town to pursue life in Oklahoma City as a therapist. When she has a client commit suicide (in the first few chapters of the book), it triggers her own memories of her best friend from high school, who was also believed to have committed suicide. She goes back to her hometown to try to put the past behind her and figure out what really happened.
This is a dark, emotional read about many small town secrets and power struggles.
“Everyone had desires they had to keep hidden, and Jackie was caught for hers and swiftly punished.
She knew one thing for sure now: once people knew the things you kept hidden away in your heart, they could use them against you.
They could destroy you.” P159
“It wasn't just Holly who had backed her into a corner, it was everything about Arkana, the entire culture to suppress and squeeze the uniqueness out of people until they fit into neat little boxes. She was done with contorting herself to fit in—for the town, for her mother,
for anyone.” P248
“In her mind, she heard Summer crying with her, or maybe it wasn’t Summer at all. Maybe the voice had been her own all along.” P320
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Gaslighting
Moderate: Biphobia, Drug use, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicide, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia
Minor: Cancer