Review: Heartless

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: J.R. Johnson 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 06 January 2023

This YA novel, Heartless by J.R. Johnson, was the read I needed. If it’s not your age group, consider it a palette cleanser between your adult novels. It needs a spot on your bookshelf.

Meet Lee. She’s moving to Florida from New York City for a fresh start. She needs it after the trauma she has experienced. She starts at a new school and makes friends with a great group of people, and they help give her a sense of normalcy.

Meet Griffin. He attends Deerfield Academy and has a close group of friends. They meet the new girl at school and become fast friends. He notices there is something the new girl seems to be hiding. Should he try to find out more?

Johnson’s writing style draws readers in and makes you feel like a part of the story. My favourite was the terrific cast of secondary characters who make you wish you had the same kind of friend group as when you were in high school. Johnson includes a playlist, family tree, and yearbook signing in the novel. I found excitement in the fact that this book does contain a sprinkle of spice!

A book I will be sharing with the age-appropriate mini-humans in my family, but now I have to be patient for the rest of the series! Some trigger warnings include depictions and references to suicide, death, alcohol addiction, sexual harassment, and trauma.

Thank you to J.R. Johnson for a paperback in exchange for my honest review!

#bookreview #Heartless #JRJohnson #YA