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oliviacasellini's review against another edition
3.0
This book was really cute. It wasn’t anything super groundbreaking, and the plot didn’t compete with some of the other books I’ve read lately (ahem, Beartown), however I still liked how romanticized everything in this story was.
I loved Iris and Paige’s story of how they got together: The started out as best friends, and were often accused of liking each other as more than that. Iris actually did like Paige in that way, but denied it strongly whenever she was accused of having a crush. They grew apart because of this rejection. Later Iris finds out that Paige does like girls, and the Paige liked her in that way as well. Suddenly, they were the new it couple at school.
This story reminded me of a certain couple of boys at my school, which made me give this book one extra star.
Other than that this book was a basic rom-com. Gideon, of course, was the perfect Peter Kavinsky-esque guy. Claudia was shy but made new friends. And the background of a Shakespeare play was the cherry on top to a cliche story.
I loved Iris and Paige’s story of how they got together: The started out as best friends, and were often accused of liking each other as more than that. Iris actually did like Paige in that way, but denied it strongly whenever she was accused of having a crush. They grew apart because of this rejection. Later Iris finds out that Paige does like girls, and the Paige liked her in that way as well. Suddenly, they were the new it couple at school.
This story reminded me of a certain couple of boys at my school, which made me give this book one extra star.
Other than that this book was a basic rom-com. Gideon, of course, was the perfect Peter Kavinsky-esque guy. Claudia was shy but made new friends. And the background of a Shakespeare play was the cherry on top to a cliche story.
isabelbrieler's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
Oof y’all this book was startlingly good. Iris and Claudia’s relationship was the shining star of this book we STAN but also like...Gideon and Noah are adorable and I also loved Zoe and Alex and Julia and the video games and honestly...I can’t remember the last time I read a standalone with this many side characters that I genuinely loved.
And the physical book is absolutely stunning it’s textured and beautiful and I kinda couldn’t stop staring at it.
Oof y’all this book was startlingly good. Iris and Claudia’s relationship was the shining star of this book we STAN but also like...Gideon and Noah are adorable and I also loved Zoe and Alex and Julia and the video games and honestly...I can’t remember the last time I read a standalone with this many side characters that I genuinely loved.
And the physical book is absolutely stunning it’s textured and beautiful and I kinda couldn’t stop staring at it.
ihateprozac's review against another edition
5.0
Oh my GOD I don’t think I could love this book more if I tried!
Foolish Hearts was cute, fluffy, and seriously hilarious. I went in expecting a pleasant contemporary set against a Shakespeare play, but what I got was a hilarious and touching tale of friendship and learning to be vulnerable - set amongst not only Shakespeare, but MMORPG and music fandom!
Emma Mills REALLY knows how to write dialogue. I don’t see enough funny female protagonists in YA, and Claudia is HILARIOUS, y’all. I was legit giggling on the train reading this! Some of these lines are seared into my soul, and I will forever be a humble trash robot in search of my own adorably earnest space prince.
In addition to nailing the comedy, I really enjoyed the friendship and dynamic between Iris and Claudia. They unexpectedly become friends and teach each other to be vulnerable, but they never try to change or compromise the other person. Iris learns to be more selfless and kind, but she’s still allowed the room to be her endearingly awkward and occasionally abrasive fangirl self. Their friendship took real work to build and maintain, and it was great to see that juxtaposed against more effortless lifelong friendships like Claudia&Zoe and Gideon&Noah.
Oh and the romances in this story? SO CUTE I GOT A CAVITY. I loved the trash robot and space prince, as well as our queer girls <3
I expected to like this book, but I never expected to fall completely head over heels in love with it! I love these characters like Iris loves her TION small sons, and I want only the best for this humble trash robot and her space prince. I could read about these characters making toast and I’d want to scream from the rooftops about them. What a gorgeous little surprise of a novel!
Representation: QPOC female side character, queer female minor character, minor character with epilepsy, POC side character
Foolish Hearts was cute, fluffy, and seriously hilarious. I went in expecting a pleasant contemporary set against a Shakespeare play, but what I got was a hilarious and touching tale of friendship and learning to be vulnerable - set amongst not only Shakespeare, but MMORPG and music fandom!
Emma Mills REALLY knows how to write dialogue. I don’t see enough funny female protagonists in YA, and Claudia is HILARIOUS, y’all. I was legit giggling on the train reading this! Some of these lines are seared into my soul, and I will forever be a humble trash robot in search of my own adorably earnest space prince.
In addition to nailing the comedy, I really enjoyed the friendship and dynamic between Iris and Claudia. They unexpectedly become friends and teach each other to be vulnerable, but they never try to change or compromise the other person. Iris learns to be more selfless and kind, but she’s still allowed the room to be her endearingly awkward and occasionally abrasive fangirl self. Their friendship took real work to build and maintain, and it was great to see that juxtaposed against more effortless lifelong friendships like Claudia&Zoe and Gideon&Noah.
Oh and the romances in this story? SO CUTE I GOT A CAVITY. I loved the trash robot and space prince, as well as our queer girls <3
I expected to like this book, but I never expected to fall completely head over heels in love with it! I love these characters like Iris loves her TION small sons, and I want only the best for this humble trash robot and her space prince. I could read about these characters making toast and I’d want to scream from the rooftops about them. What a gorgeous little surprise of a novel!
Representation: QPOC female side character, queer female minor character, minor character with epilepsy, POC side character
marcosbedbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Claudia has never been the best at socializing with other people at her school; she only has one close friend, Zoe, who attends a different school from her. However, she decides to go to one last party near the end of summer before school starts again. At this party, Claudia accidentally overhears Iris and Paige, the school’s “it couple” breaking up at the party, something she wasn’t meant to hear happen. After being threatened by Iris, Claudia promises not to tell anyone what she heard. Once school starts again, Claudia and Iris are forced to work together for their school’s production of A Midsummer’s Night Dream, which is more difficult than expected. Emma Mills is also the author of THIS ADVENTURE ENDS and FIRST & THEN.
FOOLISH HEARTS was a book that left me extremely surprised. Personally, I have never been the biggest fan of slice-of-life, fluffy, YA contemporary novels that mainly focus on romance and friendship, but this one stood out to me. It’s the perfect fast, fun read that has an adorable romance and the cutest friendships that don’t feel forced at all. Emma Mills does a perfect job at creating interesting and creative characters that still feel extremely authentic. I don’t think I’ve ever read many books that do such an outstanding job at creating deep yet genuine relationships between every single character like this book.
The plot itself isn’t the greatest. After all, this book is a slice-of-life novel that focuses on the friendship between Iris and Claudia, but it still does have some interesting side plots that keep the book going. One of them that was done well was the breakup that happened between Iris and Paige, and all the drama entangled in that. I also thought that the romantic subplot Claudia had throughout the novel was also done well. The way the author executed that part was spot on to the romances that happen in real life in school. I’ve personally seen similar things that happen in the book happen at my school. Not only that, but it’s a romance that I felt attached to and was rooting for all the way, which rarely happens to me.
I found the writing to be easy to digest and fly through. Which is perfect for a novel like this! Not only that, but it was funny! There were many moments where I was surprised by how the book was actually able to make me laugh out loud. There’s a bunch of scenes where Claudia and Iris are first getting to know each other, and the way they interact with each other is hilarious!
I think this is perfect for people looking for something light and fun to read. It still does have some interesting topics that aren’t forced, but overall it’s a fun time that just about everyone will enjoy. In my opinion, FOOLISH HEARTS is the perfect representation of high school students today and is an adorable read. I hope more people pick it up!
FOOLISH HEARTS was a book that left me extremely surprised. Personally, I have never been the biggest fan of slice-of-life, fluffy, YA contemporary novels that mainly focus on romance and friendship, but this one stood out to me. It’s the perfect fast, fun read that has an adorable romance and the cutest friendships that don’t feel forced at all. Emma Mills does a perfect job at creating interesting and creative characters that still feel extremely authentic. I don’t think I’ve ever read many books that do such an outstanding job at creating deep yet genuine relationships between every single character like this book.
The plot itself isn’t the greatest. After all, this book is a slice-of-life novel that focuses on the friendship between Iris and Claudia, but it still does have some interesting side plots that keep the book going. One of them that was done well was the breakup that happened between Iris and Paige, and all the drama entangled in that. I also thought that the romantic subplot Claudia had throughout the novel was also done well. The way the author executed that part was spot on to the romances that happen in real life in school. I’ve personally seen similar things that happen in the book happen at my school. Not only that, but it’s a romance that I felt attached to and was rooting for all the way, which rarely happens to me.
I found the writing to be easy to digest and fly through. Which is perfect for a novel like this! Not only that, but it was funny! There were many moments where I was surprised by how the book was actually able to make me laugh out loud. There’s a bunch of scenes where Claudia and Iris are first getting to know each other, and the way they interact with each other is hilarious!
I think this is perfect for people looking for something light and fun to read. It still does have some interesting topics that aren’t forced, but overall it’s a fun time that just about everyone will enjoy. In my opinion, FOOLISH HEARTS is the perfect representation of high school students today and is an adorable read. I hope more people pick it up!
jennc's review against another edition
5.0
I liked this book immediately but it took me a teeny bit to fall in love with it. When I did I fell hard. There's so much about this book I love, from the humor to the realistic parenting & good sibling relationships to the great characters. It was an all around success for me.
ceceewing_'s review against another edition
4.0
This was so delightful. I sat down intending to read 50 pages and instead I read 270. I honestly cannot deal with how cute this book was gahhhh
Also, and I don’t really intend to type up a full review of this, but I just have to say: thank GOD for this book about girls who are friends with each other and aren’t competitive or jealous of their friends having friends. Thank god for these women being funny and loving and supportive. I love them. I love them all.
Also, and I don’t really intend to type up a full review of this, but I just have to say: thank GOD for this book about girls who are friends with each other and aren’t competitive or jealous of their friends having friends. Thank god for these women being funny and loving and supportive. I love them. I love them all.
fbryant's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
adelevarley's review against another edition
4.0
HOW IS THE HIGH SCHOOL THAT EMMA MILLS WRITES ABOUT LITERALLY THE HIGH SCHOOL I WENT TO?!? I WENT TO AN ALL-GIRLS SCHOOL THAT WAS ACROSS THE STREET FROM AN ALL-BOYS SCHOOL AND WE HAD DANCES TOGETHER. WE ALSO HAD A FOREST IN BETWEEN THE TWO BUILDINGS. ALSO WE DID A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM FOR OUR SCHOOL PLAY MY JUNIOR YEAR AND I PLAYED EGEUS. SO THE ENTIRE TIME I WAS IMAGINING GIDEON TO LOOK LIKE THE GUY WHO PLAYED OUR OBERON. IN THIS SAME PLAY I THREW ONE OF THE FAIRIES’ MAGIC GOURDS (AKA MY CHOIR TEACHER’S MUSICAL WOODEN GOURD THING) AT SOMEONE AND IT FELL ON THE FLOOR AND BROKE AND THEN THE DIRECTOR YELLED AT EVERYONE. YIKES. ALSO GIDEON’S PERSONALITY IS EERILY SIMILAR TO MINE. DID EMMA MILLS GROW UP WHERE I DID? DID SHE PEER INSIDE OF MY HEAD AND TAKE THIS INFORMATION OUT OF IT???
Anyways, this was really cute and pretty good. Also so so uncanny. I am unsettled, and for this reason I am only giving this 4/5 stars.
Anyways, this was really cute and pretty good. Also so so uncanny. I am unsettled, and for this reason I am only giving this 4/5 stars.