Title: Heart Bones
Author: Colleen Hoover
Narration: First-person omniscient
Original Language: English
Publication: 2020
My Rating: 2.0/5
Genre: Romance novel
Significant Characters: Beyah Grim, Samson, Sara, Alana
Brief Overview of Heart Bones
Just like It Ends with Us, I picked this book because of its gorgeous cover. I won’t say it is something really bad. It was an okay-read!
I’ve read a lot of her books, and it seems I read all the good ones first. I had good expectations from this one too, but it fell flat.
Nothing extraordinary, nothing new, and very predictable!
What Is in The Novel?
Beyah Grim is a girl who grew up in extreme poverty with a drug-addicted mother who never paid any attention to her. One day, when her mother dies of an overdose, Beyah finds herself relieved and beaten by the fear of being homeless simultaneously. With nowhere else to go, she reaches out to her father, who had left her in childhood.
Spending the summer with him, Beyah meets his privileged family. Her stepsister Sara is very sweet, and so is her boyfriend. The story takes a turn when Beyah finds herself attracted to Sara’s friend Samson, a mysterious, quiet, and apparently rude boy with a troubled past of his own. Despite their different backgrounds, Beyah and Samson share a deep emotional connection. With the passage of time, their relationship blossoms into something beautiful but complicated as they open themselves up to each other
But both are hiding secrets covered in pain. When Samson’s past comes to the surface, Beyah has to decide what she wants: a stable life or a life with her love?
“I know what love is, because I spent my whole life knowing what it isn’t.”
-Heart Bones, COLLEEN HOOVER
Review of Heart Bones
I had heard very positive reviews about the book: its writing style is very reflective and beautiful, the story is very emotional and intense, and the ending is too good. But when I read the book, I found it normal. Yes, there are some scenes where Hoover does shed light on the harsh realities of life beautifully. For example, how does it feel to suddenly have almost everything after a lifetime of lacking basic necessities?
The other thing I liked about the book was the refreshing bond between Beyah and her stepsister, Sara. It was a very positive, innocent, and sincere relationship that you usually wish for in your life. Most of the time, it felt realistic. For example, at first, Beyah doesn’t know if she can trust Sara and share details with her. With the passage of time, she learns that Sara is sincere, innocent, and a very loving person.
The stark contrast between their lifestyle was also very engaging, if I must say so. First, look at how the environment has a direct effect on a person’s mentality, personality, and growth. One person who has got everything in a wealthy environment: she is confident, happy, and secure. The other person, who was raised by herself in slums, is very different: she is not confident, happy, or secure. She has seen people using other people to their own advantage, and so she doubts everything. Second, how it is portrayed in the novel is admirable. The accuracy of feelings of self-pity, hatred, and anger is what you experience in such cases.
The last thing I loved about it was how Hoover laid out Beyah’s thought process. It was very realistic.
Now, let’s discuss the plot of Heart Bones! It was a very basic story with fewer characters. There’s not so much going on in the book, if I am being honest. Even if you skip a few pages, you don’t miss out much. You can easily predict what will happen next or what has happened. Plus, you can also finish it easily in one sitting. Sometimes, it feels more like a teenage romance drama at its best.
The ending is happy and feels unrealistic because not everyone can wait for a person who is in prison. Having said that, it’s also hopeful in this bizarre world. The characters of Samson and Beyah make you believe that soulmates exist. They apparently come from different families, yet they have a similar understanding of life. They truly understand and respect each other.
Some scenes felt unnecessarily detailed and exaggerated, almost as if the author were forcing the story onto us.
Writing Style
The writing style is simple and realistic.
Recommendation
The novel is kinda slow, but once you get into it, it can be a good read.
