Heart Bones

5/5 stars

Beyah Grim has not had a typical life. She has mostly had to fend for herself and as a result, doesn’t know how to depend on anyone. When an unexpected death leaves Beyah without a place to live, she decides to head to Texas to spend the summer with her estranged father. She’s thrown into his new, perfect life, but things get interesting when she meets Samson. Despite their different upbringings, Beyah and Samson have more in common than they thought and may just end up having to rely on each other.

Colleen Hoover has surprised me with every book I have read. It seems that no matter what she writes, it draws me in and this was no exception. I was a bit unsure of the plot to start, but found myself empathizing with Beyah. I could understand why she was hesitant to open up to anyone about anything and she finally met her match with Samson, a boy who shares even less than she does.

I thought her internal struggles and her journey with her first true love were both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Hoover had me rooting for Beyah throughout the entire story and even at times when no one believed in her, I did.

While I would consider this a teen/young adult romance, for much of the book I forgot that the main characters were in their late teens/early 20s. They were relatable and raw. I thought some of the character development for side characters was lacking a bit, but I enjoyed watching Beyah transform into a trusting adult worthy of love.

This was a gripping read that reminded me that we all have flaws, but all deserve someone who believes in us.