A review by katherineharnisch
Heartless by Elsie Silver

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I am obsessed with Willa Grant. She is so spunky and a little unhinged and loves so freely. I am also obsessed with Cade, but he’s mostly just unhinged lol 
 
We really got to know Harvey in this book, since Willa was living on the ranch the entire summer. Harvey is always up to something, and is always making the most inappropriate comments to see how long it will be before everyone breaks down laughing. The dynamic between Harvey and his sons, and the dynamic between the brothers, is so funny. They can be serious with each other and show each other they care in their own way (like rushing to Cade when he got hurt tending the cows), but the next moment they’re cracking jokes and making fun of each other. 
 
One of my favorite characters in this book was Luke, of course. He was so clearly searching for a mother figure and Willa easily stepped into that role for him. I love that he liked playing guitar, I love that he talked Willa into doing some “hillbilly lettuce shit,” and I love that he trusted her to stick up for him when his classmate bullied him. When he asked Willa if he could call her mom?? My heart literally melted. 
 
Willa starts out untethered to anything, just floating through the summer because her horse is hurt. She takes the job as Luke’s nanny because Summer asked her to, and it seemed like a good opportunity. It became so much more for her, for Luke, and for Cade. Her and Cade are both afraid to tell each other how invested they are in each other, until the most annoying plot hole of all time shows up (we won’t get into that here). 
 
Even though there was a major plot point I thought was not done particularly well, I still loved Willa’s story from start to finish. Also this book lives rent-free in my head 24 hours a day so, do yourself a favor and read it immediately! 
 
(these are interconnected standalones and do not have to be read in series order)