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nickywheeler's review
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Sexual content, Abandonment, and Dysphoria
dododenise's review
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed reading this. Maybe it wasn’t a masterpiece, some things could’ve been worked out better, but I was invested. I’m also just a sucker for band stories.
What I appreciated about it a lot was the balance of the characters being deeply flawed and still having to learn so much, while making both of their perspectives sympathetic. I could always understand where either of them came from, and that was so important.
Chance and David’s relationship is complicated. I can’t tell you where they would be in a few years time. Throughout the book their relationship goes through so many phases while the characters also changed themselves. I loved reading about the changes within their relationship.
My biggest issue was Ridley. For one she was a source of too many pop culture references but most importantly she made me uncomfortable. The way she saw Chance as a sex object instead of a human being was so icky.
I wouldn’t have minded the book to be longer. I would have liked to see the ramifications of queerness within the music industry. But perhaps that would’ve gone beyond what the book wanted to tackle, as its focus was elsewhere.
Overall I just had a fun time reading. A fun YA read!
What I appreciated about it a lot was the balance of the characters being deeply flawed and still having to learn so much, while making both of their perspectives sympathetic. I could always understand where either of them came from, and that was so important.
Chance and David’s relationship is complicated. I can’t tell you where they would be in a few years time. Throughout the book their relationship goes through so many phases while the characters also changed themselves. I loved reading about the changes within their relationship.
My biggest issue was Ridley. For one she was a source of too many pop culture references but most importantly she made me uncomfortable. The way she saw Chance as a sex object instead of a human being was so icky.
I wouldn’t have minded the book to be longer. I would have liked to see the ramifications of queerness within the music industry. But perhaps that would’ve gone beyond what the book wanted to tackle, as its focus was elsewhere.
Overall I just had a fun time reading. A fun YA read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Homophobia, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content
danileah07's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
When David quit his band in high school, he never imagined the fame his ex-best friends would achieve. Now he's living a normal high school live while Chance, the ex-best friend, lives a life of stardom and fame.
However, when tragedy strikes, David and Chance are thrown back together. As they reconnect, they throw away their enemy status for a newfound, secret romance. And a chance for David to possibly rejoin the band. As things start to get serious, David finds that his opportunity to get back in the band might also mean losing his new romance.
Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday books for an advanced copy of Darkhearts by James Sutter to review! It's pitched for fans of Alice Oseman and Red, White, and Royal Blue, and it may be the first book in a while that actually fits the vibes of those two things.
The characters and the romance are really at the center of this book, focusing on the way David realizes his feelings for chance--and thus, realizing aspects of his own sexuality. There are some great moments between them, and the texting exchanges add some lightheartedness to the darker moments found throughout the book.
The story itself does have a little bit of a rough start, but once you get into Chance and David's romance, it is smooth sailing. Not necessarily for them, but for the writing style. You'll be swept up into this secretive, boy band romance, referencing moments from both of their pasts. It's not a true enemies to lovers, but more best friends turned enemies turned lovers. Which really is a fantastic trope in and of itself.
All in all, if you are a fan of Red, White, and Royal Blue and looking for a more YA alternative, this is a book I'd definitely put in your hands!
However, when tragedy strikes, David and Chance are thrown back together. As they reconnect, they throw away their enemy status for a newfound, secret romance. And a chance for David to possibly rejoin the band. As things start to get serious, David finds that his opportunity to get back in the band might also mean losing his new romance.
Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday books for an advanced copy of Darkhearts by James Sutter to review! It's pitched for fans of Alice Oseman and Red, White, and Royal Blue, and it may be the first book in a while that actually fits the vibes of those two things.
The characters and the romance are really at the center of this book, focusing on the way David realizes his feelings for chance--and thus, realizing aspects of his own sexuality. There are some great moments between them, and the texting exchanges add some lightheartedness to the darker moments found throughout the book.
The story itself does have a little bit of a rough start, but once you get into Chance and David's romance, it is smooth sailing. Not necessarily for them, but for the writing style. You'll be swept up into this secretive, boy band romance, referencing moments from both of their pasts. It's not a true enemies to lovers, but more best friends turned enemies turned lovers. Which really is a fantastic trope in and of itself.
All in all, if you are a fan of Red, White, and Royal Blue and looking for a more YA alternative, this is a book I'd definitely put in your hands!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Alcohol
Moderate: Body shaming, Death, and Grief
Minor: Fatphobia and Sexual content
fanboyriot's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Brought together by the death of a friend only to catch feelings he didn’t even know were there for his enemy, ex-best friend? Who was now famous and in the band he helped start. What happens when the famous lead singer drops the act? What happens when long drives out of town end with surprised kisses? And how long will it all last before David is left behind like he was before?
Dramatic and humorous and entertaining. There was so much I enjoyed about this book. Getting lost in the audiobook for hours was lovely. The audiobook was brought to life really nicely. The setting was done nicely and really brought in the comforting elements when David and Chance were able to get away from the rest of the world even if it was only for a little while. The characters were detailed, friendships were comforting, David finding himself in the end, and the overall plot kept my interest. The only negative I have to say was the Har*ry Pot*er references, which were only mentioned but still.
I really liked this and how things played out, the hurt/comfort really worked well and I’m very happy with how it ended!!
And thank you to the author and to NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Idiots in Love
Hurt/Comfort
Friends to Lovers
Enemies to Lovers
Angst with a Happy Ending
(First Person POV)
Dramatic and humorous and entertaining. There was so much I enjoyed about this book. Getting lost in the audiobook for hours was lovely. The audiobook was brought to life really nicely. The setting was done nicely and really brought in the comforting elements when David and Chance were able to get away from the rest of the world even if it was only for a little while. The characters were detailed, friendships were comforting, David finding himself in the end, and the overall plot kept my interest. The only negative I have to say was the Har*ry Pot*er references, which were only mentioned but still.
I really liked this and how things played out, the hurt/comfort really worked well and I’m very happy with how it ended!!
And thank you to the author and to NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Idiots in Love
Hurt/Comfort
Friends to Lovers
Enemies to Lovers
Angst with a Happy Ending
(First Person POV)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Death, Fatphobia, and Sexual content