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jaayraad_reads's review
3.0
Ollie Fitzgerald has a playlist for everything. When he kisses his best friends brother one summer, and then gets ghosted, he makes a playlist to deal with the heartbreak. When Nash comes back from the summer break things are awkward between them.
They’re forced together when Ollie’s heft friend Dee comes up with a scheme to save a ruined prom, and they all have to work together. Will Ollie get over his feelings for Nash? There’s no chance with Nash flirting and appearing to lead Ollie on. Or are there more to Nash’s feelings?
This was another fun read, thanks @cjabooks for the ARC!
I honestly enjoyed reading this while listening to the songs used as chapter titles. Ollie falling for the seemingly straight jock. Nash coming to the realisation that he’s not straight and giving it a go with Ollie.
The cast of supporting characters was a delight, Steve and Millie are the queer friends every teenager wishes they had in high school. Dee is a brat on the surface, but it’s her way of coping with everything else going on in her head. Ravi and Seth the supportive jocks who I wish would get together
They’re forced together when Ollie’s heft friend Dee comes up with a scheme to save a ruined prom, and they all have to work together. Will Ollie get over his feelings for Nash? There’s no chance with Nash flirting and appearing to lead Ollie on. Or are there more to Nash’s feelings?
This was another fun read, thanks @cjabooks for the ARC!
I honestly enjoyed reading this while listening to the songs used as chapter titles. Ollie falling for the seemingly straight jock. Nash coming to the realisation that he’s not straight and giving it a go with Ollie.
The cast of supporting characters was a delight, Steve and Millie are the queer friends every teenager wishes they had in high school. Dee is a brat on the surface, but it’s her way of coping with everything else going on in her head. Ravi and Seth the supportive jocks who I wish would get together
mitchellhallski's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
3.75
minniemine's review
2.0
2.5 stars
It was a cute read, it's good for when you're looking to just release stress ig. I had a serious issue with Ollie and Steve repeatedly calling Nash straight, it felt very demeaning to read. Even after Nash told Ollie he didn't regret it, even after he saud he had feelings for him, hell even after they'd gotten together the two still called him straight and it was so infuriating.
Dee as a character was very poorly written, her behavior was so self centered, which is typical for high school students I'll admit, but it just felt too much. Her apology just seemed very rushed, as did most of the book especially the ending.
The book honestly started off pretty nice, albeit a bit repetitive, but it reads like the author just got tired of writing towards the last 20% percent of the book and said "here damn!" and turned it in. I honestly didn't feel much of anything reading this book
It was a cute read, it's good for when you're looking to just release stress ig. I had a serious issue with Ollie and Steve repeatedly calling Nash straight, it felt very demeaning to read. Even after Nash told Ollie he didn't regret it, even after he saud he had feelings for him, hell even after they'd gotten together the two still called him straight and it was so infuriating.
Dee as a character was very poorly written, her behavior was so self centered, which is typical for high school students I'll admit, but it just felt too much. Her apology just seemed very rushed, as did most of the book especially the ending.
The book honestly started off pretty nice, albeit a bit repetitive, but it reads like the author just got tired of writing towards the last 20% percent of the book and said "here damn!" and turned it in. I honestly didn't feel much of anything reading this book
matthiasdj's review
5.0
Wow. Wow. Wow.
This book was so freaking good.
I really didn't expect it to be this amazing.
I'm gonna sob of happiness now :)
5/5 stars (deserved)
This book was so freaking good.
I really didn't expect it to be this amazing.
I'm gonna sob of happiness now :)
5/5 stars (deserved)
dylmil15's review against another edition
5.0
This book was so adorable. I loved the characters and their dynamics. The drama was very good and the plot was very interesting. This young adult book is a great one!!!
drakoulis's review
5.0
Ollie Fitzgerald's Heartbreak Anthems is a sweet, swoony and adorable story of two boys who love each other realizing it, each at his own pace, with the obstacles and silly misunderstandings that happen when teens are confused about their feelings!
Despite the ups and downs, Ollie and Nash are quite honest with each other and do not let the miscommunication issues define their journey from friends to boyfriends. They mess up, they panic, and they are always there for each other in the end.
Millie and (especially) Steve are the ideal supportive friends, the no nonsense and the shamelessly dorky people who are proud of themselves and their friends.
The story will make you smile and cheer for Ollie and Nash all the way!
Despite the ups and downs, Ollie and Nash are quite honest with each other and do not let the miscommunication issues define their journey from friends to boyfriends. They mess up, they panic, and they are always there for each other in the end.
Millie and (especially) Steve are the ideal supportive friends, the no nonsense and the shamelessly dorky people who are proud of themselves and their friends.
The story will make you smile and cheer for Ollie and Nash all the way!
jsncnrd's review
5.0
I cannot say enough good things about this book! I was lucky enough to get an eARC from Charlie, who is not only a great author, but a great human being.
I loved this book. I loved the characters. I loved the story. I loved the concept of the playlist being a plot device.
The characters.
Ollie was such a loveable character that you couldn’t possibly want anything but the absolute best for him. Nash was delightful and kind, and his scenes with Ollie were my favorites in the book.
Also, Steve? I am president of his fan club. We all need a Steve in our lives. We must protect him at all costs.
The writing.
Charlie’s writing is impeccable in his delivery of witty dialogue, quips, one-liners, referential comedy, and hyper-specific niche humor. Thank goodness I fall into that niche because some moments were FUCKING HYSTERICAL. I was legitimately cackling like a fucking hyena at so many points.
Ollie being a horror movie fan was another layer I loved. So many nods to so many of my favorite movies, which kept me smiling.
The MUSIC.
I won’t post any spoilers, but … there was one chapter that gave me actual chills. Did I cry the happiest tears at 2:30 AM, listen to that chapter’s namesake on repeat, and then re-read the sequence while I had the song playing in the background? I sure as fuck did! And I would do it again! FULLY. IMMERSIVE. EXPERIENCE. The song that accompanied that scene was expertly picked. I think you’ll know which chapter when you get there.
Speaking of, I highly recommend exploring the playlist on Spotify and listening to some of the songs if you don’t know them! I LOVED the music, which was what pulled the entire plot and book together. I was already a fan of at least 75% of the songs, and that made me so happy. As the book’s title suggests … Ollie knows how to make an immaculate playlist, which is really to say that Charlie makes an immaculate playlist. The songs are all so incredibly fitting, and it really completes the reading experience.
So.
What is most astonishing to me is that this is Charlie’s debut. Everything was seamless. The pacing was solid. I was never bored. There was no filler, because all of the chapters were important to the plot in some way. The characters were fully developed, including the supporting cast. Everything about the book flowed so well. It had some of my favorite tropes. It had it all, folks.
When this book drops in June, I am fully recommending you read it. Because it is fun, it is emotional, it is heartwarming, and it has been a highlight of the books I’ve read so far in 2022.
Do you have a heartbreak anthem? I’m sure you do. Mine is Clean by Taylor Swift.
OKGOREADTHISBOOKRIGHTNOW !
I loved this book. I loved the characters. I loved the story. I loved the concept of the playlist being a plot device.
The characters.
Ollie was such a loveable character that you couldn’t possibly want anything but the absolute best for him. Nash was delightful and kind, and his scenes with Ollie were my favorites in the book.
Also, Steve? I am president of his fan club. We all need a Steve in our lives. We must protect him at all costs.
The writing.
Charlie’s writing is impeccable in his delivery of witty dialogue, quips, one-liners, referential comedy, and hyper-specific niche humor. Thank goodness I fall into that niche because some moments were FUCKING HYSTERICAL. I was legitimately cackling like a fucking hyena at so many points.
Ollie being a horror movie fan was another layer I loved. So many nods to so many of my favorite movies, which kept me smiling.
The MUSIC.
I won’t post any spoilers, but … there was one chapter that gave me actual chills. Did I cry the happiest tears at 2:30 AM, listen to that chapter’s namesake on repeat, and then re-read the sequence while I had the song playing in the background? I sure as fuck did! And I would do it again! FULLY. IMMERSIVE. EXPERIENCE. The song that accompanied that scene was expertly picked. I think you’ll know which chapter when you get there.
Speaking of, I highly recommend exploring the playlist on Spotify and listening to some of the songs if you don’t know them! I LOVED the music, which was what pulled the entire plot and book together. I was already a fan of at least 75% of the songs, and that made me so happy. As the book’s title suggests … Ollie knows how to make an immaculate playlist, which is really to say that Charlie makes an immaculate playlist. The songs are all so incredibly fitting, and it really completes the reading experience.
So.
What is most astonishing to me is that this is Charlie’s debut. Everything was seamless. The pacing was solid. I was never bored. There was no filler, because all of the chapters were important to the plot in some way. The characters were fully developed, including the supporting cast. Everything about the book flowed so well. It had some of my favorite tropes. It had it all, folks.
When this book drops in June, I am fully recommending you read it. Because it is fun, it is emotional, it is heartwarming, and it has been a highlight of the books I’ve read so far in 2022.
Do you have a heartbreak anthem? I’m sure you do. Mine is Clean by Taylor Swift.
OKGOREADTHISBOOKRIGHTNOW !
achillespatroclus's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0