Jar of Hearts kept me hooked all the way through, with new twists popping up that kept me guessing. Murder mysteries, family drama, and just a touch of romance- I didn't want to put it down! The violent situations that the characters found themselves in may produce strong emotions for some readers.
I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for honest feedback.

As a reader, I want a book that pulls me into the story from the beginning. I generally prefer to read with minimal background noise, but I will read where and when I can.

When this book came up as a choice for review, I clicked immediately without reading the premise or anything about the author.

As timing would have it, I started this book while I was sitting in the middle of a hair salon on a Saturday. I had a forty-five minute window of time for the color to work it's magic, so I began.

Time seemed to move quickly and before I knew it, I had to put the book down. After leaving the salon, I texted my friend and said, "I hope you have this book, because it's amazing."

From the beginning, we are launched into the middle of the courtroom where Georgia "Geo" Shaw is being tried for the murder of her best friend from high school, Angela Wong, fourteen years prior. With the remains being found only a half-mile from Geo's house, the odds aren't looking favorable. Also convicted with Geo is Calvin James, the Sweetbay Strangler, her high school boyfriend.

After a note was slid to Geo in the courtroom, you are left wondering, "Did she really do it? What kind of person keeps a secret of this magnitude without cracking under the pressure?"

Both Geo and Calvin are out of prison. New victims emerge, all killed in the same manner as Angela. This new crime spree opens a world Geo had hoped to never visit again.

With twists and turns at every corner, Jennifer Hillier skillfully takes you on adventure like no other, leaving you guessing how all the pieces fit until the very last page.

This is the first book I've read of Jennifer's, and I look forward to reading her other works.

I was sent an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity.

Wow! This was a great, twisty surprise! I enjoyed this one and couldn't finish it fast enough!

The decisions of a sixteen year old girl result in a lifetime of complications. This intelligently written psychological thriller was mesmerizing. I will never look at cinnamon hearts without thinking of this book!

At 16, Georgina Shaw is raising herself. While her ER doctor, single parent father is working to save lives hers is spinning out of control.

Fourteen years after the disappearance of her BFF, Angela, Geo finds herself serving a five year prison sentence - her successful career and high society wedding disappear.

The plot twists seem inevitable as the story behind Geo's life decisions and experiences are revealed in flash backs.

I was completely absorbed in the tragedy that is Geo's life yet never gave up hope that it would improve when she could find her way back to what should have been if only her mother hadn't died young.

I am definitely finding Jennifer Hillier's previous four novels while I wait for her next one!

Jar of Hearts is a fast paced mystery/thriller that I definitely could not stop reading. The story line goes back and forth between past and present, detailing the life of Geo, a woman sent to prison for 5 years for being an accessory to murder - of her best friend when she was a teenager. In present day, as Geo is let out of prison, additional murders are taking place that seem to be linked to her past. Geo is not a character who is easy to like, and her choices made little sense at times. What was her motivation? Little explanation is given. The ultimate plot twists were disappointing, far fetched, and cringe-worthy, for me. But, it was definitely a book I couldn't stop reading. Up until the end, I would have rated this much more highly.

This was my first book from this author and I absolutely loved it. It was such a page-turner - a suspenseful genre novel that pulls the reader in for the entire ride. I am the same age as the protagonist so I loved the pop culture references in the high school flashbacks (even when it was a little creepy!) I will definitely be seeking out the other titles from this author.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely loved this book! Twists and turns that you just don't see coming until the very end.

Wow, what a story. It seems almost inconceivable to me, but I am certain things like this have happened.
Youthful ignorance and indiscretion, bad luck masquerading as getting away with things, really bad decisions and even more violence surround these people. The cruelty is indescribable and they do get away, for a while. Then things all fall apart and continue to do so.
The final explanation ties things together, neatly, if it can be called that. I guess it was satisfying in a way, maybe a bit Shakesparian.
Interesting perspective as the narrator throughout the story.

Thank you Netgalley for this book. This review is my own opinion and completely honest.

I’ve been a fan of this author since I read her first novel, Creep, which was absolutely impossible to put down. Let me say, Jar of Hearts is just as amazing! I read this book while waiting for my cases to be called at court, at the gym, pretty much everywhere until I was finished.

I like how the book doesn’t try to be too obscure like so many mystery/thriller novels these days. You’ll get no “Gone Girl” vibes from this book, which is not to knock Gone Girl but I feel like the unreliable narrator novel is just so common lately. All of the characters in this book are well-developed and the story is well-paced.

My only criticism in the entire novel would be that the storyline with Cat seemed unnecessary. I loved the ending & the twist at the end felt like it fit well. I kept thinking at the end what a great movie this would make.

Definitely one of the best books I’ve read in recent memory.

I read this in 1 day, it was hard to put down.
This book is a suspenceful then and now book. The consequences of actions committed as a teen, living with the repercussions as an adult. Each chapter providing just information to guess what happens next but not being sure until the twisted end
A good read, tough subject matter- teens, good kids and bad kids; drinking, murder, prison, responsible adults and terrifying adults.

When the authorities come knocking Georgina Shaw knows the secret she has been holding onto for the last fourteen years needs to finally come to light, but doing so will put her life in jeopardy... it's a small price to pay for taking part in the death of her once best friend. She knew back then that Calvin James was trouble, but she was young, naive, and thought she was in love, and now she is paying dearly for her ignorance. She has given up five years of freedom for that man, and now that she has rejoined society, that man is once again reeking havoc on her life, he believes they have unfinished business and he will stop at nothing to get what he wants... more time with her! Bodies start to pile-up, in the same way they did years ago, and all signs point to Calvin... but sometimes things aren't always as they appear!

Between the pages of this twisted little tale, you will meet some exquisitely crafted characters who will immerse themselves into your world, manipulate your thoughts and feelings, push you beyond your boundaries, and make you second guess yourself at every turn! Ms. Hillier has created a gem of a tale here, with it's thought provoking plot, edge of your seat action, and well constructed characters you won't be able to put this one down... it will lure you in from the first page and hold you hostage until the last!! It's definitely one of the best first reads I have had the pleasure of devouring in a long while, I wholeheartedly loved every single mind twisting moment of it!! Highly recommend!!!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley, and voluntarily read and reviewed.

This was an excellent psychological thriller. As the blurb states, you think you know the truth, but you don’t. This book is written in a style I don’t normally like, but it works for this storyline. You slowly learn throughout the whole book what happened that fateful night. As you think you know the whole story, BAM it tasked a turn you never expected. It’s going to take a few days to mull over this storyline. It was truly a very engrossing tale. Received an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review by NetGalley.

This was like a 4.5. --a nearly flawless read--for me.

After I completed this book, I took a moment and thought about its construction. Nearly everything in this book is here for a reason...there are no wasted characters or meandering subplots. The result is a tightly paced thriller that captures your attention and keeps you guessing. Even when I thought I knew exactly where this book was going, it managed to throw some surprises my way. (And that's not an easy feat considering I read a ton of serial killer books.)

In my opinion, there were only two weaker areas in this story. While Geo's time in prison and her relationship with Cat helped flesh out her character, I felt like that section slowed down the story somewhat and wasn't as relevant to the larger narrative. Thankfully it was short. Also one of the many big reveals toward the end of the book made me have more questions about Geo--questions that never really get answered. Perhaps that isn't a bad thing, though.

Overall, this book was a pleasant surprise and just the kind of of thrill-ride I wanted for a vacation read. Thanks to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Jar of Hearts kept me reading and swiping as fast as my eyes would go! This is one of those books that has twists and things around the bend that you didn't see coming. Good storyline, good characters some good some you want to shake here and there and of course the bad ones, rounded out with mystery and murder.... Thank you Jennifer Hillier for writing a great book!
A big thank you to Netgalley and St.Martins Press for allowing me to read this ARC book and give my own personal opinion.

This book was excellent, completely drew me in, geo is a very flawed character but the author manages to make her sympathetic too. The ending was well plotted, when I realised how it was going to turn out I thought of the little breadcrumbs I hadn't noticed before yet were strewn throughout the book.

Really, really excellent story full of interesting characters and twists.

This book certainly kept my attention but after reading it I felt quite discontented, discombobulated even. What a bagful of unlikeable characters. Georgina (annoyingly shortened to Geo - ugh - how are we supposed to pronounce it? Geo as in geology or Jaw as in Georgina?) is an unpleasant protagonist. Her best friend Angela disappeared 14 years earlier. She knew what happened to her but didn't say. Her boyfriend of the time, Calvin, is arrested and when bones are found near her house it comes out that she was there at the murder. Unsurprisingly she is charged and sent to prison. As is Calvin but he escapes. More murders happen. At the end, I don't feel that justice was done. Very unsatisfactory. This was way too gruesome for me. There are scenes of rape and violence,
the prison scenes are horrible and generally it was very graphic in its descriptions. Not for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

The twists and turns kept coming in this one. Well-defined secondary characters really kept me reading this one, and the author builds a vivid world. Will be reading more from this author, too.

I received an ARC of this book for review purposes.

Excellent thriller. Fast paced mystery involving three best friends;. one who was murdered as a teenage and remains a cold case, one who became a detective and the other a corporate executive. The unsolved murder brings the detective and executive together along with the serial killer. The plot twists are amazingly complex and the ending was completely unexpected. I can't wait to read more by this author. Edge of your seat entertainment.