It has been several years since Heart Bones by Colleen Hoover got published. I’ve read it quite soon after publication in English. At the time, I was not the biggest fan of this book but thought it was okay. Nowadays, many books I’ve already read in English get translated into Dutch. When I was casually scrolling to find a new read, I stumbled upon this audiobook and decided to check whether my opinion of this book has changed a few years later.

• Title: Heart Bones
• Author: Colleen Hoover
• Publish date: August 24, 2020
• Publisher: Independently published
• ISBN: 9798671981742
• Pages: 324
• Genre: Young adult, Contemporary
• Read as: Ebook (English)

Life and a dismal last name are the only two things Beyah Grim’s parents ever gave her. After carving her path all on her own, Beyah is well on her way to bigger and better things, thanks to no one but herself. With only two short months separating her from the future she’s built and the past she desperately wants to leave behind, an unexpected death leaves Beyah with no place to go during the interim. Forced to reach out to her last resort, Beyah has to spend the remainder of her summer on a peninsula in Texas with a father she barely knows. Beyah’s plan is to keep her head down and let the summer slip by seamlessly, but her new neighbor Samson throws a wrench in that plan. Samson and Beyah have nothing in common on the surface. She comes from a life of poverty and neglect; he comes from a family of wealth and privilege. But one thing they do have in common is that they’re both drawn to sad things. Which means they’re drawn to each other. With an almost immediate connection too intense for them to continue denying, Beyah and Samson agree to stay in the shallow end of a summer fling. What Beyah doesn’t realize is that a rip current is coming, and it’s about to drag her heart out to sea. “This book deserves a whole galaxy of stars, but alas, five is all I can give.” -Shades of Rebecca

Characters: This book is about Beyah who has known extreme poverty all her life. Her mom has been an addict for as long as she knows. When on one night she overdosed, Beyah finds her dead body on the living room couch and honestly doesn’t know what to do. She doesn’t have any friends or relatives, except for her father whom she hasn’t spoken properly in several years. She decides to call him nevertheless as she doesn’t see any other option. So, thats how she ends up on a Texas peninsula, with her father and his new wife and stepdaughter. Beyah doesn’t want this and tat shows. She hates everything and doesn’t try – or want to try – to get to know her father and his family. Although they try, Beyah doesn’t let them in. Thats not that strange as you know her backstory, but it’s quite annoying to read. The only person she’s genuinely interested in is Samson, but he is really mysterious as well. Slowly, Beyah lets her guard down and opens up to people, which really does her well. She has seen the shittiest side of life, but now she gets to know the possibilities of happiness. So, she shows some real growth in the end. I can’t say that for the other characters to be honest, except for her father. He comes to terms with Beyah’s feelings and opens up to her too. However, despite it all I find it hard to fel anything towards any of these characters.

Atmosphere: This book is mostly set on a peninsula. So, expect lots of sea, beach parties et cetera. Despite its heavy themes, there’s also room for the story to be lighthearted. However, it didn’t get too emotional and that’s something I’ve missed. Hoover is known for her emotional rollercoasters of books and I didn’t feel that here.

Writing: The writing in Heart Bones is okay, allbeit not that extremely remarkable. Maybe that’s where the lack of emotions comes from as well. It’s just mediocre compared to other books I’ve read by this author. It’s an YA and that kind of shows, but YA books can have more depth as well.

Plot: The blurb sounds promising and the book starts really promising too. However, that changes when Beyah arrives on the peninsula, then everything goes downhill. The story falls flat and even turns out to be very, very predictable. Even the twist towards the end can’t make up for its shallowness.

Intrigue: Unfortunately, I was not intrigued at all. Heart Bones is a book you can finish pretty fast, but that has to do with the too easy writing style and less with the characters and plot. I zoomed out a lot and honestly didn’t want to know how the storyline would evolve. Even the mystery called Samson wasn’t that compelling and intriguing for me.

Logic: Despite the fact everything is really shallow, the events in this book are all logic. It’s not unbelieveable, it’s just how a summer read should develop. The big twist was necessary to try to lift up the plot a bit, but I already lost interest at that point.

Enjoyment: Unfortunately, Heart Bones is one of my least ffavourite Colleen Hoover books. Despite all the effort, I just couldn’t connect to the characters or plot. It just felt really flat to me and that sucks. In fact, I’ve rated it even less than back in 2021. Back then it was a 3-star read, but now I can’t give more than just 2 stars.