The Heartbreakers by Ali Novak

My rating:  

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Another day, another book! This time, it’s The Heartbreakers by Ali Novak, and I have to say, it’s a great change of pace from what I’ve read recently (*cough* Every Last Breath *cough*). It was really easy to read and I couldn’t put it down, unless someone forced me to. When I first saw the cover on NetGalley, it made me want to see what it was about. Once I read the description, I was all in for reading it.

As for the reading experience, I’ve got to say, I quite enjoyed it! The plot was kind of predictable, but in a good way. There were some twists, which I didn’t expect and was happy with but, for the most part, this story followed the conventions of Contemporary YA. Journeys, self-discovery, and relationships getting complicated are just some of the similarities shared by most Contemporary YA. Like I said, it’s not a bad thing; it’s just the genre declaring itself.

What I really liked about this book, though, were the characters. Stella at first seemed like a brat, but as time passed, was more and more likeable. I found her story interesting, in the way she holds onto the past when facing the future, how she is with her brother and sister, and mainly, how she is by herself. By the end of the book, it is apparent that she has made a transformation from a girl who was shouldering unnecessary guilt to someone who could leave that guilt behind. And even though there is romance involved with the lead singer, Oliver Perry, her growth barely had anything to do with the romance, but mainly with other characters throughout the novel. That’s not to say that the romance wasn’t fun to read. Because it was! Especially how they met and all.  What I’m trying to say is that I really think that adds to the book’s charm.

Speaking of Oliver, I found him to reflect Stella a bit, especially at the end. Other than that, I thought that his character was sweet, but a little demanding and a lot more complicated as the story went on. While his character is not as developed as our protagonist’s, we do get some information that fills in the areas we don’t know about him, which makes him understandable.

Another bonus was that this book wasn’t too dreary; actually, it’s pretty hilarious at some points. It’s nice to read a book where nothing too dramatic happens. Some might say that it’s not believable, but I disagree. There were serious topics that were spoken of, but it doesn’t mean that there is no hope for those in the same situation. Sometimes, when I read a contemporary, like The Fault in Our Stars, it would have a bitter sort of ending. This was not the case for The Heartbreakers. Instead, the story ends in a way that is more hopeful, which matches the tone of the book.

If I were asked to recommend a contemporary, this would be something I would share. In fact, as soon as I finished, I did just that and recommended it to my cousin. Have you read The Heartbreakers or any other of Ali Novak’s books? Comment below if you have any thoughts you’re willing to share. Keep reading!

-Sumaya