A hard hitting look into the teenage psych. This book delves into the tough issues that all teenagers deal with at some point such as bullying, eating disorders, LGBTQ, social media and cyber bullying, fake friends and just the trial and tribulations of growing up in general. I'm sure the topic of this book will hit close to home withany who will read it. I found the plot to be original and thought the characters felt real and relatable. This story was heartbreaking, expertly written, gritty and truthful.

When Stevie is abandoned by her childhood best friend and abruptly shoved to the bottom of the high school totem pole, she and a small group of friends decide to take matters into their own hands and get back at the bullies that have been tearing them down. But as many high school matters do, things began to spiral out of control.

The beginning was very reminiscent of going through high school as a young girl in any era. The author perfectly captures the subtlety of feelings that arise from small passive-aggressive barbs that even your friends throw at you, as well as the aching loneliness of being left behind. I also loved the classic movie aspect. I'm an older millennial so I'm very much familiar with Heathers, Almost Famous, Ferris Bueller, etc. and enjoyed all of the interspersed references.

Here is what I struggled with. I hated Stevie, and I don't think I was supposed to. I found her to be a lousy friend, jealous and insecure, at times incredibly egocentric and dense. She co-opted Lottie's lived experience to get attention on her YouTube channel by presenting herself as this ally and tried to tell her how she should feel in an incredibly difficult, emotional time. Lottie was 100% right when she told her she always found an ax to grind and made everything into a battle. Stevie likes playing the victim.

Accuracy issues for me... As someone who has had a family member transition, it is not as easy as Stevie made it seem to make your own mental transition from calling them she/her/Rhonda to calling them he/him/Pete. It's not a switch that you can flip in your head. I still consciously work on it several years later, but Stevie gets it 100% of the time, perfectly within a minute of being told?

Finally the Dee character... I can't say much without including spoilers, but I found her character's inclusion in the beginning of the book very odd and incongruous with the end. I had to take a star off for the ending... it was such a sudden and frankly ridiculous escalation and the tying in of the rape culture phenomenon was transparently proselytizing. If it fit the narrative, I wouldn't have minded, but it just didn't track with the rest of the story.

2.5 stars but rounding up for the first half of the book

Oh, man. Wow. Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Love, Heather is important and heavy and hard-hitting and unfortunately a realistic look into so many peoples lives.

I first requested this book because of the Heathers reference figuring I was getting myself into a dark comedy. I wasn’t. This is not a comedy, but I’m glad I kept reading anyway.

Love, Heather follows high school freshman Stevie as she navigates her absent mother, crumbling lifelong friendship with her best friend, the transition of an old family friend, and the trials of being 14. And that’s all before the bullying starts.

This book takes what you think you know about bullying and flips it onto its head. It’s going to be SUCH a good book for discussion. I recommend it to parents of teenagers as well.

TW- bullying (a broad spectrum of it), sexual assault, transphobia, slut shaming, mental illness

A darkly, wicked and at times timely tale of bullying. #LoveHeather is a suspenseful, thrilling novel that young adult will gravitate toward.

Once I finished reading this book, I was utterly stunned. I couldn’t quite comprehend the journey this book took me on and how the story played out. There is so much to unpack here and there are so many important things explored so I’m going to try and pin the main ones down whilst giving you my review

Heathers inspired – The acts of vengeance in this book are inspired by the 80’s film Heathers, in which the popular crowd are taken down by a couple of outsiders. Much like in the film, in Love, Heather the acts of revenge start spiralling out of control and Stevie starts to realise this, but is too caught up in the whirlwind that she and Dee have created.

Bullying – This book does an incredible job at exploring Bullying and the many different ways it can happen in the social media age. Given that I was a teen not so long ago and it’s only been around 4 years since I left high school, the depiction of bullying and social pressures felt VERY realistic and true to life, in my opinion. While the instances of bullying in the novel range from snide comments to more serious acts of physical and sexual violence, I respect the fact that Petrou doesn’t shy away from portraying these terrible but sadly realistic incidents. Just because it doesn’t happen to you personally, doesn’t mean it’s non existent and I think this will resonate with readers who may currently be in high school or those who have left semi-recently.
Female friendship – Love, Heather delves into the complicated, messy and loving world of female friendships. This theme was something I could relate to personally as my friendships are one of the most important things in my life. I feel like readers will be able to relate to the painful emotion of losing a friend, or feeling them becoming more distant and how all encompassing this feels when you’re in your teens. It does feel like the end of the world and for characters like Stevie who rely heavily on her best friend, as she doesn’t have a close bond with her mother, it can mean even more.

Stevie – The protagonist of this novel is a young teen named Stevie who at the outset of this novel is secure in her beliefs and life. She has her childhood best friend, Lottie along with Lotties parents who are like her second family and she is doing well at school. Pretty fast though, things seem to go downhill and she finds herself ostracised and targeted every single day. I felt so much empathy for her especially when it comes to her home life, where her mother is completely self centred and oblivious to the pain Stevie is in. While I definitely don’t support Stevies actions in the later part of the novel and at the end, it’s clear to see it was a culmination of things which results in a terrible final act.

Overall, I strongly believe that Love, Heather is a deeply important and timely novel which explores a variety of issues facing teens today. Ranging from bullying, depression, eating disorders, trolling on social media to sexual harassment and assault. While it’s not without its flaws, it’s a powerful portrayal of the high school experience nevertheless.

I read this in one day. Its such a facinating story. The scary thing about this book is how human it is. How human Stevie is. It showcases the journey of how someone can become something else entirely.
I think its also easy to forget how much our words and actions impact others and how easily we can impact someones mental health.

In terms of writing, i feel as though the middle dragged a little bit, i felt my self skimming some paragraphs just to find the next bit of action. Also the whole character of Dee just confused me a little, but maybe that was the point.
I think its a interesting read especially regarding alot of crime in the US at the moment. It highlights the importance of mental health all throughout the book and how we all can help others not feel so alone in this world.

I did feel a little like the author tried to downplay some of Stevie's actions with Love, Heather and the end scenes and i really wish she hadn't. I dont know if ill be the only one to think this but im going to be honest and say considering her actions, alot of the time it felt like she got off easy.
I rated this a little higher than I was going to just for how raw her emotion was in the beginning and how much i feel that people can relate to it, but from about a third into the book it did get a little weird.

3.5
I recieved an arc of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley!!

Love, Heather is a young adult thriller.
Dee and Stevie decided it was time to payback the bullies in their high school. So they started some minor forms of revenge and would sign it with a note saying "love, heather" as a homage to their favorite '80's flick. For awhile, it worked. It seemed the bullies had learned a lesson, until anonymous people started joining in with violent acts.

The book shows you how difficult bullying truly is, especially now. it also proves how all these little things can add up into one powerful horrible thing.

Love, Heather by Laurie Petrou shows the raw side of being a teenager when friendships hinge on something as simple as how you answer a text or what you wear. The teenage years can be brutal. Just when all of Stevie’s friends turn on her and make her the school slut along comes Dee, an edgy new-comer who is not afraid to call people out. Dee is sick of the way some teens treat each other and decides it’s time to turn the tables. At first it is little pranks meant to embarrass the bullies and make them back off, always signed with Love, Heather. Everyone is wondering who Heather is. Some are calling her a hero, some call her a bully herself, others start mimicking “Heather” by doing their own revenge stunts always signing “Love, Heather”. Soon it is out of hand and the pranking becomes worse. Stevie feels she needs to try to do something to take it down a notch, but Dee presses on. Someone is going to get hurt.
This book kept me interested until the end...no spoilers, but the last several chapters could have been wrapped up more efficiently. Once the climax happened, it was time to wrap it up. I applaud the author for her no-holds barred look at bullying in schools. It’s tough and she captures it perfectly.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read and review this book!

Stevie's world is constantly changing around her. Her lifelong best friend is slipping away, her mom is dating, her dad is woefully out of touch with her life, and she's losing the security of life how she knows it. At the moment when her world is fracturing around her, she discovers a new friend, Dee. But will Dee be savior or her downfall?

This book is an amazing portrait at how a thousand little cuts can turn into a dangerous wound that can cost a life. It shows how insidious bullying is, and how it affects every corner of one's life, especially today. There's a huge twist that was unexpected, but as I looked back after finishing the novel, I saw how perfectly it was set up. I

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 Wow. Thiis is a tough review to write because it was a tough subject to read. I applaud @lauriepetrou for taking on these subjects. They are in the news every day and cannot be ignored. School shootings, bullying, rape culture. #whenisenoughenough #wasitreallythatbad .

Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC of Love, Heather by Laurie Petrou. Although this is a fictional story, it hits on the current issues in our society today: transgender, bullying, cyber bullying and the rape culture. This story is about high school teenagers and how they do or don't fit in with the popular students. Those that get bullied face the pain daily as others either stand by and do nothing or don't realize what is going on. References to the movie "Heathers" is made throughout the book. This is an emotional book to read.

I was really looking forward to this book, however I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped. However, just to clarify with regards to my rating, I am not exactly the target audience; I am in my 30s, and read YA now and again, but the premise and the references to 80s teen movies lured me in.

Granted, I have always loved the whole 'revenge' aspect of novels and movies. Coupled with the focus on films, and this novel seemed right up my street. It's intense, and a realistic exploration of teenage bullying that really (sadly!) rang true.

As someone who was bullied as a teenager, I could completely relate. I know the lengths that teenagers can go to to make someone's life hell. How it starts off so small, so trivial, and can lead to complete manipulation and misery. (And I was a teen BEFORE social media was a thing, I can't imagine what some kids have to cope with now.) This portrayal was so real, and something I admired about this book. The revenge plot was fantastic.

However, I found that the story moved very slowly, at least in the first half. I was almost ready to give up on it, as nothing much seemed to happen (it felt like it could have been edited down), but I knew that the book itself was promising, so I kept reading. It starts to get interesting at around 45%. There seems to be a lot of this book that could have been cut; there are long chapters with little to no action. I just think the pacing could have been improved; there was so much build-up at the start, but the rest moved too quickly. Also, I found the whole MeToo aspect of the story quite forced. The bullies were awful enough. They were realistic as it was, without an additional issue to explore towards the end.

That said, I did enjoy this story, and it's a brilliant read for fans of movies such as Mean Girls, Carrie and Heathers.

Stevie has never been one of the cool kids. When she and her best friend get the opportunity to be a part of the group they jump on it. It isn’t long before Stevie ends up on the outside of the group. Her best friend has turned on her and she is now the victim of bullying at school and online. Luckily, Stevie meets strong willed Dee who always has her back.

It was Dee's idea to get them all back with a few clever pranks, signing each act Love, Heather--an homage to her favorite 80's revenge flick. Despite herself, Stevie can't help getting caught up in the payback, reveling in every minute of suffering. And for a while, it works: it seems the meek have inherited the school.

Things have taken a violent and unexpected turn. This was a well written book that really shines a light on bullying and mental health.

I have read many novels about bullying in schools and I found this one to be the most disturbing of any I have read. There was a major twist towards the end of the novel that I was not prepared for, but looking back it should have been obvious. Stevie is a high school student who thinks that her life is great, she is comfortable with her best friend Lottie and her parents are also like parents to Stevie. Once Lottie becomes friendly with Paige, a popular girl, their friendship changes. This novel deals with the effects of bullying and sexual assault on young women. Thank you NetGalley for this digital copy of this novel.

I’m honestly not too sure what to say about this book. I think it will take another read for me to fully digest the contents. I loved the first 3/4 of the book but felt a bit like the last 1/4 came out of nowhere, but it may be one of those books that, upon a reread, alludes to the ending. I did think that the author’s examination of bullying, assault, and depression were very realistic and I appreciated her honest look at them. Overall, I would recommend this book for people looking for a character-driven look at the effects of bullying and peer pressure on today’s teens.

Stevie never meant for things to go this far. When she and Dee--defiant, bold, indestructible Dee--started all this, there was a purpose to their acts of vengeance: to put the bullies of Woepine High School back in their place. And three months ago, Stevie believed they deserved it. Once her best friend turned on her, the rest of the school followed. Stevie was alone and unprotected with a target on her back. Online, it was worse.

It was Dee's idea to get them all back with a few clever pranks, signing each act Love, Heather--an homage to her favorite 80's revenge flick. Despite herself, Stevie can't help getting caught up in the payback, reveling in every minute of suffering. And for a while, it works: it seems the meek have inherited the school.




Thank you to net galley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book it was a great experience first time reading anything from this author this book had me on the edge of my seat

I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is so intense and just floods you with emotion. I really became attached to the characters and there were times that I was genuinely crying while reading this book.

The author's writing was so beautifully expressive and the characters were written so realistically. The characters are authentic and you can feel the emotions of them. This book hit really hard for me and I'd strongly recommend it to everyone, regardless of age group.

It's a heart-wrenching read that will make you laugh and cry. I think that its message will really resonate with a lot of people. It deals with a lot of big issues, like bullying and mental illness.

This is definitely a must read. I highly recommend this for anyone!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

wow! holy amazing!
i kind of want to read this a second time to pick up on anything missed now knowing what I know. This was a very dark book and i will admit I had a lot of emotions. I became so attached to Stevie and wanted to hug her and tell her high school isn’t forever. I had genuine tears in my eyes a few times. The author did a beautiful job at portraying High School Mean girls and the other side of it: the victim.
I also loved the 80s movies references. Having grown up watching Heathers, this book packed a punch for me.
well deserving of 5 stars.
thank you #NetGalley, the author and the publisher for me free ARC in exchange for my honest review.
5 star cover too.

My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Basic Plot: Young Stevie is hounded by bullies both physically and online. What to do? What to do?
She and her new friend Dee devise a way to get back at the bullies, but the entire project takes on a horrifying life of its own. This book gets better the further you get into the story = and the conclusion of this novel was truly riveting.
These type of stories need to be told: we must never become complacent. It seems to me that we need to curb that part of human nature that immediately capitalizes in a shift of power. We need to be teaching empathy, tolerance and compassion to school children at an early age - especially if we want to evolve into a humane, and not just a human, race.
Very well written, and yet another story set in Ontario, Canada and written by a fellow Canadian. Highly recommended.

📚Book Review: Love, Heather by Laurie Petrou 📚
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💜 Ever seen the classic 80s teen movie "Heathers"? It's awesome. It's like the ultimate revenge teen movie. And this is why I was so intrigued by Love, Heather. So I was excited when I got approved on netgalley. And I reading it pretty much straight away.🖤
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💜 I'll admit I didn't love the story. Oh how I wanted to really love it. The main character Stevie takes inspiration from teen movies. I love teen movies. And Heathers is one of my faves. Stevie and Dee decide to start getting revenge on the bullies in school. So of course I enjoyed that aspect of it🖤
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💜I felt like the story doesn't really get going until about half way through. I couldn't really connect to any of characters at first because I'm not the target audience for this one. I enjoy YA but this is on the younger side I felt. But still a powerful story. The author took the main character on a journey and I'll admit I was not expecting it to go the way it did. Just read it when it's released you'll understand.🖤
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💜The author tackles of a lot serious issues in this novel. And I think it's a book teens should read. It deals with bullies, the dark side of social media, rape culture and I subject that is close to my heart, Mental illness. I've suffered with depression and anxiety since I was teenager and the author doesn't shy away from it and I applaud that🖤