Title: Foolish Hearts
Author: Emma Mills
Publication: December 5th 2017 by Henry Holt and Company Books for Young Readers
Format: Advance Reading Copy
Source: Provided by the publisher
ISBN: 9781627799379
When Claudia accidentally eavesdrops on the epic breakup of Paige and Iris, the it-couple at her school, she finds herself in hot water with prickly, difficult Iris. Thrown together against their will in the class production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, along with the goofiest, cutest boy Claudia has ever known, Iris and Claudia are in for an eye-opening senior year.
Smart, funny, and thoroughly, wonderfully flawed, Claudia navigates a world of intense friendships and tentative romance in Emma Mills’s Foolish Hearts, a young adult novel about expanding your horizons, allowing yourself to be vulnerable, and accepting—and loving—people for who they really are.
I received an ARC of this book from Macmillan Publishers in exchange for an honest review. By no means have my review been affected and/or influenced.
When I picked up Foolish Hearts from my shelf, I didn’t have any idea of what it’s going to be about neither do I have read any of the author’s previous works, so, I wasn’t really expecting anything from it. I honestly picked it up just to have one less book to read on my TBR pile. But after reading this book, I will be adding 2 or more Emma Mills books on my list. I am seriously on a hunt for her books right now and I believe that says a lot on how this book captured my heart.
Foolish Hearts is a captivating book about friendship, family, falling in love and a whole lot more that’s to be discovered along the way. Even with a lot aspects dealt with in this book, the execution and how the story just flowed seamlessly blew me away.
I admit, I’m not the person to ask when it comes to contemporary reads about friendship since I’m just really the type who’s more into swoon-worthy reads, but Foolish Hearts managed to get me hooked from start to finish not only because it has both, but because of everything in it.
First, AWESOME CHARACTERS.
I love Claudia! She’s genuine and flawed and all that. She speaks her mind (sometimes without thinking), a bit sarcastic, and awkward most of that time. She represents a lot of us in some level which makes her extremely relatable and likeable and I just love her to bits! There were a lot of times where I just found myself in the same situation as Claudia.
“Hi, Claudia, I like your earrings.”
“Thanks. I like your shirt,” I say, because we are all wearing the same shirt. She doesn’t smile.
#wordvomit
Anyway, Claudia wasn’t the only one that made this book have awesome characters, of course. Every character in this book has a distinct voice that identifies each of them individually. Not a lot of books that I’ve read were able to give that much detail to the other characters but Foolish Hearts not only introduces its readers to the main character or the love interest but basically to everyone and you’ll feel like you’re getting to know each of them personally.
“Are you ready to put the ‘fun’ in Fall Fun Fest?” he says as I slap his palm.
“I can at least put the ‘trip’ in ‘Triple F.‘ ” A pause. “By being clumsy, I mean. Not by, like, sharing drugs with the group.” Three sets of eyes are on me, and I can’t stop myself from talking. “I don’t have any drugs. In case you were worried. Or, in case you were. . . somehow expecting me to have drugs. . . .“
Second is GREAT STORY-TELLING. The narration in this book is spot on. I just love it when the narration is very much transparent that the readers are not only able to read through the story but go beyond that. I honestly felt for Claudia, and Iris, and a lot of the other characters. Claudia’s monologue not only gave me a good laugh throughout this book, it was also the magnet that kept me turning page after page without realizing it.
It’s just easier to never start something than to have to see it end.
Third reason is MULTIPLE PLOT. Don’t get confused or be put off, it’s not like it’s confusing as it may seem but for a lack of better word, I just used “multiple plot”. Foolish Hearts is about Claudia and Iris’s friendship, it was also about Claudia’s cute romance with Gideon and it’s also about Claudia and Zoe and her family. It may seem like a lot of things to be in one story but it actually works, it REALLY works. Although different characters in different scenarios were involved, Ms. Mills made a way to somehow entwine each of them and make it relevant. It’s never just thrown in only to make a conflict but it’s something that’s just waiting to happen and for me, that’s immaculate writing.
Foolish Hearts is a heart-warming book that shouldn’t be missed by anyone. This book deserves to be read and it’s definitely on top of my highly recommend list. I’m giving this book the easiest 5 stars ever.
Now back to my book hunt for Emma Mills books.
Rating:
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Claudia – I mean, how can you not?? I literally literally wanted to be her. She’s witty, funny and amusing. She’s also downright relatable.
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Family Dynamics – I love how Claudia’s family is ever present in this book. I also love how Gideon’s family (his mom and cutest sister) exists! The relationships in this book is just incomparable.
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Gideon a.k.a. Benevolent Space Prince – One order of Gideon Prewitt over here please. He’s the perfect adorkable guy of my dreams. I’m honestly out of words but I guess you’ll just have to read the book!
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Friendship – This book showed me the value of friendship, even in the smallest of things.
Beatrice Learns To Read 
So excited to read this now!
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