This YA Romance by Jacqueline Firkins has a distinctive air of a bit of a retelling.

Hearts, Strings, and Other Breakable Things was a good and cute read. Edie, the main character, was very independent, or so she seemed, and she tried to stay that way throughout the book despite outward forces pressuring her to conform to the norm.

Edie grew a lot during the course of the book. She fell in and out of love and went through the stages of being a teenager.

I, myself, didn’t love the book. It was a little annoying what with Edie having a little but of wishy-washy feelings but it added to the story and Edie’s characterization. It was necessary. The love triangle, and yes there is one, while annoying, was necessary for Edie to grow and learn how to trust herself and her feelings.

I did feel as though Edie was a little too dependent, despite the fact that she was independent with her actions. Edie’s thoughts, feelings, and memories were a little too dependent. But other than that it was a really cute read on first love. The retelling comes in with references to Austen’s work and the similarity to the characters between the books.

Hearts, Strings, and Other Breakable Things is a retelling of Mansfield Park, but if you haven’t read the original novel, don’t let that put you off. I haven’t read it either! I still understood a lot of the references, and I don’t think that missing out on the original novel impacted my feelings towards this book at all.

I knew that Hearts, Strings, and Other Breakable Things was going to be a light and fluffy read as soon as I heard about it. It’s a YA contemporary about a girl who’s in a somewhat complicated love triangle, and who is struggling to fit in with her posh family and in her posh school. I love me some rich people drama, so I signed right up for this.

I have to admit that the main character, Edie, got on my nerves a lot. She’s what stopped me from truly loving this book, with her superior attitude and constant classic book quotes. I really couldn’t connect with her at all, and it was such a shame.

Edie spends a lot of time looking down on her cousins and their friends for wanting to go to parties and dress nice, which gave off SO MANY “Better Than Other Girls” vibes. In addition to that, she was always coming out with random quotes from classic novels, which seemed to me as though she was showing off her superior intellect and looking down on people who don’t read. This really got to me, and I was not here for that.

I did, however, get really invested in the love triangle. I’m going to have to be vague here, because my ship didn’t end up together, but in my opinion Edie chose the wrong guy. A guy who she barely knew or spoke to. Instead of the guy who was quickly becoming her best friend. That was about as vague as I could be, so I’ll leave it at that. I WAS DISAPPOINTED.

Aside from all of that, I loved the Rich People Drama and the parties and all of the normal drama that was happening. This was a fun and fluffy book that I think contemporary readers will really enjoy.

Hearts Strings and Other Breakable Things is a modern day retelling of Mansfield Park. Mansfield Park is one of Jane Austens' most disliked books and now I know why if it's anything like this retelling. Beware of spoilers ahead, I don't know how to write a review without any since the synopsis gives us nothing.

➽ Edie - After losing her mom she's been bouncing around the foster care system until one day her aunt and uncle decide to adopt her. She returns to the town her and her mother swore they'd never set foot in again, Mansfield. It's a rich area where she sticks out immediately which her two cousins point out to her immediately. Edie has a lot of anger towards her family who are only trying to help. Her goal is to focus on school, get a good scholarship and absolutely no boys. But then she runs into the boy next door who she has always crushed on. Not to mention the annoying but hot boy she meets at her her first party who won't leave her alone because he likes a challenge.

➽ Sebastian - The boy next door with no spine. He has a girlfriend but constantly flirts and hangs out with Edie. He doesn't want the life his parents or his girlfriend have set up for him but never stands up for what he wants either. He is a forgettable character with a wet-blanket personality to match.

➽ Henry - The hottie man-whore who can't take no for an answer, unless it's in response to consent. He's all over Edie from the start, along with both of her cousins... sharing is caring? He actually grows on me but we don't know anything about him except for he's graduated from high school and is brother to Sebastian's girlfriend. Oh and he's funny, hot, and a good kisser.

This contemporary YA hits all the pitfalls of bad contemporaries. Love triangle, insta-love, characters that aren't well rounded and utterly forgettable. The only reason this gets two stars is because I finished it and Henry. He goes from this hot douchebag of a man whore to this sweet and kind boy who was hiding behind a wall built up to protect himself. I loved his transformation and was sad to see it go to waste.

The love triangle was bad. Sebastian has a girlfriend but is doing some shady crap behind her back which is something I strongly dislike in contemporaries. Cheating is never okay. He strings both girls along with no regards to either's feelings. Then we get the fake relationship to real relationship with Edie and Henry. I liked them together and if Edie had been all in instead of holding back and waiting for Sebastian they could have had something real. Instead it's two half-a**ed relationships.

Beyond the romance aspects we have Edie herself and her relationships with her cousins, Maria and Julia. Edie is fickle, rude and ungrateful. Her cousins try to be her friend and help her fit in. There is no effort on Edie's part to make her new life work or even be nice to her cousins. Maybe her aunt and uncle took her in for the wrong reasons, but her cousins wanted her there. Then again they were all sharing the same guy so there is bound to be a little tension in those relationships. How hard is it to be nice though?

Edie finished the book the same girl she had started as. I didn't see any character growth on her part. Even her last words are similar to her first words when she arrives in Mansfield. She annoyed me to no end and if it weren't for Henry I would've DNF'd this book. *SPOILER* After the whole love triangle, dumping Henry for Sebastian, and making Sebastian win her back she goes off to college and decides she "doesn't have time for boys" and is "focusing on her education." Okay then what was the whole last part of this book. I wanted to strangle her.

After all this hate I've been heaping on I feel like I should discuss what this book got right. Consent. While a bit of a man-whore, Henry had consent down. So while white and entitled he wasn't down with just taking what he wanted. Consent has been coming up a lot in contemporary YA novels lately and I'm here for it.

So yeah I basically hated this book and unless you actually like Mansfield Park I'd pass this over for another contemporary that doesn't want to make you pull your hair out.

For all its stylistic elegance and its iron-backboned heroine, Mansfield Park is the black sheep of the Jane Austen canon. It’s the book most likely to be placed at the bottom of “Which is your favorite Austen novel?” polls. Public opinion hovers somewhere between “That’s a book by Jane Austen?” and “Gross…cousins marrying.” For many readers, it’s the heroine that’s frustrating. Fanny Price is usually seen as duller than dishwater – her moral compass providing a guide for the plot, but no passion. Even though I’m a staunch fan of Mansfield Park and Fanny’s quiet strength, I can understand why not everyone enjoys it to the level I do. However, the novel’s understated beauty, full cast of characters who are neither fully good or fully bad and Jane Austen’s characteristic humor is all too good to miss. It is this magnetic, complex blend that I eagerly searched for in Jacqueline Firkins’ new Mansfield Park adaptation, Hearts, Strings, and Other Breakable Things.

The book opens with Edie, the heroine (based off of Fanny Price), en route to live with her kind but absent uncle and his unkind and controlling wife (switched around a bit and based off of Mrs. Norris). Edie doesn’t fit in with her two very rich cousins, Maria and Julia, and not just in the financial category. They only care about fashion and kissing hot boys in the neighborhood, while Edie cares about writing music, reading classics, and avoiding romantic entanglements at all costs. Without her mom or best friend by her side, all she has left is her guitar without strings and memories of better times…including one blissful summer spent playing with the adventurous boy next door. Once she arrives at her new home, life becomes way more complicated than she imagined. For starters, that boy next door, Sebastian, is now a (secretly) aspiring author…and still magnetic to Edie. The only problem? He’s already dating someone way out of her league. Henry Crawford, the local handsome but slimy flirt, seems to think he can take turns trying out each of the Price cousins, including Edie. With college application deadlines looming and a mess of drama to contend with, what’s a level-headed, heartsore girl to do?

What I loved about this book is a long list! Chief among them is the writing. I felt connected to Edie every step of the way, more than I’ve felt for a heroine in a while. Her pain over her mom’s death, she struggles to fit in and yet not conform….these things were deftly and beautifully written. Readers expecting this adaptation to be written in the style of Jane Austen will be disappointed, although some characters do occasionally use long, 18th century words. In my opinion, however, because Firkins didn’t aim for replicating the style of Jane Austen’s original (a near-impossible task), she was able to consistently capture its heart. Twists and turns – some like the original, some uniquely different – weave a story that still centers around the main question: Can discovering and staying true to your values help you weather any storm and bring lasting happiness?

Two other plot-points I was really excited about was the redemption of Maria and the explanation of Henry’s motives. Maria is not initially likable (just like her namesake), but Edie finds that family loyalty can surprise one when one least expects it. Henry is still a self-obsessed flirt, but Firkins adds a touch of self-awareness and surprising depth to this character that was fun to see.

The only negative I had with Hearts, Strings, and Other Broken Things was its over-sexualization of teenage life. Whether it’s hated or loved about Fanny Price, her strong moral compass is a part of her character. Seeing her lookalike, Edie, focus a large portion of time on smoldering “staged” make-out sessions and having sexual fantasies of Sebastian was a jarring, out-of-character shift. I suppose one could draw a parallel between whispering behind stage curtains (Henry and Maria – 1800s) and making out in bushes at a party (Henry and Maria – modern-day) based on cultural mores changing…but I’m still a firm believer in romance being a pairing of “the marriage of true minds” with self-control, old-fashioned as it may be.

All in all, Hearts, Strings, and Other Broken Things is a strong Mansfield Park adaptation and a gripping novel in its own right. I recommend it for readers hesitant to try Austen’s original as a way of becoming immersed in the story. For longtime fans of Mansfield Park, check out this novel, highlighter—and tissue box—at the ready!

Find more reviews at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/

**4.5 Stars**
This was 100% a book I chose to read because I thought the cover looked cute and I keep seeing it pop up everywhere on my book social media, but I had no idea what it was about. I discovered that this was an adorable, really heartfelt YA contemporary that I loved. It was complicated and emotional, making me happy, sad and angry all within a few pages and I was 100% invested in Edie and her life. I also discovered that this was a retelling of Mansfield Park by Jane Austen, which I have not read (don't judge, I am not a fan of classics) and know almost nothing about so I have no idea how similar this was to the classic, but I can confirm that it was great based on it's own merit.

I loved Edie so much. She was a pro at self reflection, knowing she had flaws and working to fix them while at the same time forgiving the errors of those around her. She was honest and straightforwards, if at times a bit meek, but her resolve to not give in to cheating and impulse made me root for her more. The relationship dynamics in the story were spot on. This was not a plot driven book but 100% character and relationship driven. Be it Edie missing her mom and coming to terms with the direction her life has taken, to her sorrow and regret over bad choices leading to the estrangement with her best friend, everything was complicated and engaging. The best relationship in the story was with her cousins, equally exasperating, loving, playful and tenuous. Seeing what they became together at the end was the highlight of the story.

"Her mom took Edie’s hands and held them, palms upward. “Anything you keep in these is temporary.” She laid a hand on Edie’s cheek and gently tapped her temple. “This is where you keep the good stuff.” She set a hand on Edie’s heart . “This thing’s fickle, but check in with it once in a while. Just bring that thing with you.” She tapped Edie’s temple again. “The two together can take you places no bus will ever go, and if anyone tells you otherwise, tell them to fuck right off.”


I am aware everything I have said about the book has been very positive, so why the 4.5 stars you ask? Because Edie picked the wrong boy! I don't care how the classic ends, but here there was a very clear winner (in my totally biased view) and he was not selected as her love interest. My heart just about broke when Edie threw away what could have been the best love of her life in exchange for a comforting, predictable blah relationship (with a dude I really did not like!). I am trying not to be spoilery, but one boy was a gorgeous unrepentant heartbreaker who wanted to be better and give her the sun and moon just to make her smile, and the other was an awkward jerk who lied and manipulated as well as basically cheated (I hate books that say cheating is ok!) while still leading Edie on. See?? Clearly, one guy was the winner. I will just pretend that the last few chapters did not exist...

I highly recommend this story for anyone who needs some contemporary YA romance and self discovery in their life and I can't wait to get my hands on more of the author's work in the future.

Nothing like reading a love triangle YA romance at the end of the semester to escape from reality. Jacqueline Firkins new book is a sweet story about Edie, a teenage girl who was taken in by her rich aunt for the summer instead of bouncing around from foster home to foster home. Edie falls in love with two boys - an old crush from her childhood and the brother of her crush's girlfriend. A fun loving story for those who like YA romance.

Hearts, Strings, and Other Breakable Things, by Jacqueline Firkins, is a modern-day love story featuring the boy-next-door.

Love is the last thing that should be on Edie Price's mind. She is in her final year before graduation, and she needs to spend her time studying and saving money to be able to go off to college in the fall. Life hasn't been easy for Edie. After the loss of her mom and spending months in foster care, Edie is not happy to learn that she will now be living with her prestigious aunt and uncle. Adding her name to the list of her aunt's "charity list" isn't something Edie is proud of.

Determined to just make it to the fall, Edie does her best to settle in with her new life living with her aunt and uncle. But her plans get derailed, when not one, but two, local boys enter her life.

Sebastian, the boy-living-next door, has been on Edie's mind ever since she met him. Now, she is living just next door to her childhood crush. He is everything she wants. But, he has a girlfriend

Henry, the new bad boy in town, is one that Edie wishes to stay very far away from. But his charm and charism ultimately wear Edie down, and she finds him falling into his wild ways.

In the end, Edie must decide what is best for her future and her heart. Be sure to check out Hearts, Strings, and Other Breakable Things.

Additional Note - This novel features some mature relationship decisions. I would recommend it for high school and older students.

I really wanted to like Hearts, Strings and Other Breakable Things. There were parts that had me wrapped up in it, but overall, this was a real disappointment.

In this charming debut about first love and second chances, a young girl gets caught between the boy next door and a playboy. Perfect for fans of To All The Boys I've Loved Before.

Mansfield, Massachusetts is the last place seventeen-year-old Edie Price wants to spend her final summer before college. It’s the home of wealthy suburbanites and prima donnas like Edie’s cousins, who are determined to distract her from her mother’s death with cute boys and Cinderella-style makeovers. Edie has her own plans, and they don’t include a prince charming.

But as Edie dives into schoolwork and applying for college scholarships, she finds herself drawn to two Mansfield boys who start vying for her attention. First there's Sebastian, Edie’s childhood friend and first love. He’s sweet and smart and . . . already has a girlfriend. Then there's Henry, the local bad boy and all-around player. He’s totally off limits, even if his kisses are chemically addictive.

Both boys are trouble. Edie can’t help but get caught between them. Someone's heart is going to break. Now she just has to make sure it isn't hers. (Goodreads)

I received an eARC of Hearts, Strings and Other Breakable Things from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book needs trigger warnings for discussions of parental death, life in foster homes, body shaming, a dubiously consensual kiss, and a friendship breakup.

Hearts, Strings and Other Breakable Things had a lot of potential for me. Edie gets adopted by the wealthy family that she hasn't seen in years that treats her as a charity case when all she wants is to be loved by someone. She wants a family and friends, and eventually, she gets that.

The Romance

As you can guess from the blurb, we're set up with two romance options - One of them is childhood friends to lovers and the other is enemies to lovers. For once in my life, the friends to lovers romance was not my preferred choice. The enemies to lover relationship with Henry starts out as fake dating to make Sebastian realize he was jealous but then they develop real feelings for each other... and then Edie dumps Henry to be with Sebastian the instant he's single.

I liked Sebastian as a character, but he made a terrible love interest for both Edie and Claire. Really, he needed to pull his head out of his ass and figure out what he wanted on his own, not jump from one romantic relationship to the next.

Henry was a goddamn delight. He's the perfect playboy with a heart of gold. He was and the parts of the book where they were together for real were my favorite parts. I feel a little betrayed that they didn't wind up together in the endgame. Normally I wouldn't say that, but they spent two-thirds of the book's timeline building their relationship and making it as strong as it could be. They even wound up in the same city after Edie graduated and that's definitely Henry on the cover! But no, we don't get that. We get Sebastian even though he barely put in any work for the relationship. I hope Henry gets someone great in the future. Just saying.

The Family

Most of Edie's family got very little character development until the very end. It would have been nice to see a lot more of Bert standing up to his wife. I didn't love that Henry had basically slept with Edie's cousin Maria and that Maria was so cavalier about her relationship with her almost-fiance until Rupert finally got tired of her constantly being all over other people.

It also really stunk that we barely get a mention of Edie's mother unless it's inconvenient for Edie. She should have been much more present in Edie's mind, in my opinion.

The Friends

Claire was a really two-dimensional antagonist in this story. She was jealous, she was catty, she was the ever-popular "mean girl" to Edie. I liked that some of the other girls stood up to her quietly, and that Edie and Maria got to build a real relationship on their own, but we barely spent any time with them.

There's a huge plotline of making sure that Edie has enough money to pay for tuition in the fall because her family won't pay for it, but it really got shafted in the end to make it clear that Edie has made up with her friend and has a happily ever after in college.

Honestly, this book could have been a lot better with a few tweaks. Some things could have been trimmed out or the book with ease. The book could also have been made long enough to properly manage them. In the end, as you can tell, this book really disappointed me on every level.

It might be more your thing, but it certainly wasn't mine. You can check out the reviews on Goodreads to see if someone else you trust thought differently. If you trust me, though, check out some of my other book reviews.

Hearts, Strings, and Other Breakable Things is a (sickeningly) sweet YA contemporary retelling that reminds of TATBILB and a mellowed-down version of Gossip Girl. It is also said to be a retelling of Mansfield Park by Jane Austen, which I do not have a clue about because your girl has not read any classics at all.

Anyway, for a quick warning about the story, you must be prepared to deal with a love triangle, rich teenagers managing their rich people problems and one little outsider in the community a la Dan Humphrey.

I, for one, have no qualms about love triangles, and I do love myself a little push and pull. I was in the mood for a cheesy cliche romance and this is what I got with this read. But though I liked most of the book, I hated the final choice made by the main character, Edie. The final pick for the love triangle is not one that I would absolutely go for, and that choice frustrated me a lot. But, I don't know if the author stick to the plot movement in the same way as Jane Austen did. Oops.

Well, if I were given the chance between Henry, the playboy, and Sebastian, the boy next door, I absolutely know who would I go for. But the story is not about me, oops. I love both of these male leads, though. If you are after cute conversations, swoon-worthy quotes, and clever banter, both of these young men could deliver.

Looking at the main character, Edie, though, she wasn't really my favorite. I did not really feel a connection with her and I actually just feel 'meh' about her and the decisions she has made. Her cousins and the other characters are borderline ridiculous, but those antics made quite a story to tell. I have to admit I loved reading about all of their girlish drama.

All in all, I'm thankful for the presence of Henry because I absolutely adore his character. His presence gave something sweet and hot to the story a la Chuck Bass. As the book progressed, I knew I would love the scene as long as he was there! Anyhow, this book was still a great one for a quick read and I am looking forward to the next books by this author.

Hearts, Strings, and Other Breakable Things is a young adult contemporary romance by Jacqueline Firkins. This book was so stinking cute. I absolutely loved it! it is a retelling of Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. I have read almost all of Austen’s books, but Mansfield Park is one that has escaped my attention. Regardless of the fact that I have yet to read it, I was very much able to enjoy Hearts, Strings, and Other Breakable Things, and in fact it made me want to pick up Mansfield Park to see if I enjoyed it as much as this retelling.

Hearts, Strings, and Other Breakable Things is perfect when you are looking for a fun, cheesy and sometimes angst-y young adult romantic comedy. (hint- I am almost always looking for something like this. It is a classic combo for me) In Hearts, Strings, and Other Breakable Things, we meet our main character Edie, who goes to live with her aunt following the death of her mother. Edie is an interesting character. Though I almost immediately felt for her because of her situation, she didn’t immediately win me over. However; as the story progressed I grew to understand her better and like her more. Edie is focused when she gets to her aunt’s and will not allow the distraction of boys. Of course, this is where we enter all the adorable boys of Mansfield, planted just to try and make Edie lose sight of her scholarship aspirations. But also to provide a bit of much needed fun.

There is a bit of a love triangle in this book, so be aware of that going in, but I loved that there was a lot of emotional depth explored in Hearts, Strings, and Other Breakable Things. Henry and Sebastian (our main love interests) are both great, and though I had a clear winner on who I was rooting for, I can easily see a case for both guys. I think readers may be split on who they ship with Edie. Hearts, Strings, and Other Breakable Things was funny, sweet, and vastly entertaining. I really enjoyed this book. I think it would be perfect to read this holiday season when you are looking for an adorable romance.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Fantastic Flying Book Club, Netgalley, and HMH Books for Young Readers for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.

I guess I can add an additional disclaimer here and say that I personally have never read Mansfield Park nor watched any of the adaptations of this book, so I was pretty lucky enough to go into this pretty much blind. It actually worked out in my favorite because I got to take this book as if it were its own thing, no retelling to speak of, and just see what I would enjoy about it. Which, yes, I did get to enjoy it and I was pretty content with my time reading this.

The first thing that made me appreciate this book really was how Edie had to deal with her privileged relatives. It sucked honestly, because it was like her cousins were so out of touch with reality that didn’t exist outside of their rich circle, that it was pretty frustrating to hear them say some pretty rude and hurtful things to Edie. However, I was seriously impressed with how she was able to control her actions and not beat the crap out of her cousins whenever they would say stuff. All that retail work must have paid off, seriously. And I appreciated that Edie herself paid attention to the kind of privilege and luxury that they had and never let it get to her head, especially since it wasn’t hers permanently. If that makes sense. I don’t know if it’s because she didn’t come from that life, but she was really good at calling out privilege – internally maybe – when she saw it. I know she didn’t probably want to call it out verbally all the time because that would isolate her in this world, but she didn’t shy away from her thoughts.

I also felt so bad for Edie and the grief that she was going through, and how her crappy aunt basically told her to get over it. Like… her mom died and her aunt was like “yeah well, she was my sister and you don’t see me wallowing in grief. Get over it.” That wasn’t verbatim by the way, but it might as well have been. I couldn’t imagine not being allowed to mourn for the one person in my life that actually gave a crap about me, did what she needed to in order to give me a life, and was just suddenly gone just like that. That was her real family, her mother, and now she’s basically alone.

Not to mention that she was in foster care for three years before her aunt finally took her in. So what does that tell you about “blood is thicker than water”. I know that’s not the full quote, but everyone focuses on that part, and in this case, that was a huge lie.

Then, I liked how musically inclined she was. I have never been able to write a song in my life, no matter how much I enjoy singing and listening to music. My brother is the musical one in the family, composing his own music and all that. So I thought it was really cool how easy it was for her to write a song just like that. I was a little jealous of that because it’s so creative and I’ve always wanted to be creative but I could never do something like that. I think if she was willing, she could have used that to help her get through her grief as well, not just the feelings she was having for an old childhood friend. But that’s okay. Music can help us figure out a lot of things in life, not just pain or love.

It may not have been “perfect” but when is a book every legitimately perfect? I still thought it was enjoyable and I think that there will be a few contemporary romance fans that will enjoy this, whether they are fans of the original story or not.

I've read a few retellings of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park. Some I liked. Some I couldn't even get through. But this one I loved! Immediately engaging, it's fun, sexy, and highly entertaining while it navigates family, friendship, crushes, first love, and second chances all the while staying grounded and realistic. The ending may surprise you, but if you love contemporary and/or retellings, this one is sure to be a winner for you! Don't miss it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
3.5 STARS

This debut novel was a light and cute contemporary YA. It started out a little slow for me, but about 30% in, it really picked up and i zoomed through it. My favorite thing about the book is that there is a lot of heart poured into this story about self discovery and family relationships. I did feel that the character development fell flat a tiny bit. It almost felt as if Edie, even though she went through all this self discovery, didn't change at all. I think this is why I didn't absolutely love the romance although it was cute. I was not much of a fan of the ending. It might just be me, but I felt that she picked the wrong guy.

Overall, even though a few things fell flat for me, this was a sweet and enjoyable story, and I am glad that I picked it up.

Special thanks to Netgalley, HMH Books for young readers, and Jaqueline Firkins for the eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions

3.5 stars

An enjoyable, cute read. A little slow but I like the family dynamics and Henry. I wasn't really a fan of the ending so it lost me a little. Maybe it's just me but she picked the wrong guy and you can't make me change my mind (haha!). The cover and hearing that is was a loose retelling of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park immediately made me request it and I'm glad I did.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for offering me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

One of my favourite books of 2019. A wonderful Jane Austen retelling full of heart. Every aspect of the writing, from the family dynamics to the romantic moments was utterly blissful to read. I have spoken about this book a lot on my YouTube channel and look forward to having Jacqueline Firkins on for a liveshow.

Hearts, Strings, and Other Breakable Things is a swoon-worthy young adult romance novel written by Jacqueline Firkins and published by HMH Books for Young Readers. The book will be released on December 17, 2019.

Seventeen-year-old Edie Price only has a few months left before she graduates and finally starts college. The last place she wants to spend this time is at her aunt’s lavish home in Mansfield, and the last thing she expects is to find herself torn between two Mansfield boys vying for her attention. One heart is bound to be broken, and she only hopes it will not be hers.

This book was a fast and sweet read, where the main character, Edie, finds herself in a home where she feels unwelcomed and at a school full to the brim with mean girls. The love triangle/romance makes the story interesting. The text was easy to read, and overall, I enjoyed the story, even if I struggled with a couple of things.

What bothered me a little was that all the characters were mean to Edie in one way or another. Her best friend is largely absent from the story, and there could have been more interaction between them because I did not think much of their relationship and it is supposed to be strong when it comes to best friends. The family was impossibly selfish and superficial. Even the make-overs organized by the cousins felt like charity cases.

As for the boys, I would have walked away from them both if I were Edie. I cannot deny that they are portrayed in ways that make them attractive and fascinating to Edie and I loved reading about them. The boy next door is perfect for her, even if he already has a girlfriend; however, he does not seem to know how to stand up for himself or even to have an opinion even if it gets better at the end. The bad boy is funny, but he does a 360 too fast. There are also parts that make me think he is not ready to handle a relationship.

That said, I found the way that Edie navigated through this toxic environment engaging, and I wanted to know who she would pick in the end. I also enjoyed the witty banter with the boys, which was fun. This is a 4-star read for me.

YA Rom Coms seriously are my weakness. Ever since To All The Boys I’ve Loved, I could just read them and watch them all. I was really excited when I got approved for this title to be included on the blog tour and get a chance to read it before release. I really enjoyed the modern take on the Cinderella fairy tale and how the author wasn’t afraid to even have the characters make comparisons in the actual story.

The Love triangles were fantastic. More like a love octagon really. It was hard to figure out if this was going to be a friends to lovers trope or an enemies to lovers. I will say that I was #teamhenry and that is not who I thought I would be rooting for when I read the synopsis.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (5 out of 5) Oh to be young and in love ❤❤. This book was such a breath of fresh air. I enjoyed stumbling along with Edie as she tried to find herself in a new school with new friends. The author did a great job building the characters and then surprising you just a little bit with how they would turn out.

This was such a cute story!! I saw this was a Jane Austin retelling of Mansfield Park so if you like classics with a modern YA twist you would really enjoy it! I could not put this one down, At first I was completely against Henry but I found myself actually really liking him towards the end. And then of course Sebastian is super likable from the very beginning so who wouldn't like him!This was a bit of a love triangle and I was here for it. I absolutely enjoyed this and had all the sweetness I always look for in YA Romance! Reminds me a lot of To All The Boys I Loved Before!

I tried to get through this book but I found it too saccharine and simplistic. I went in not knowing it was supposed to be an Austen retelling, which might have made a difference, but I'm not familiar with the story. What I read felt like it was trying way too hard to be relatable. Edie read like an adult pretending to be a pouty teenager and her aunt seemed like the wicked stepmother from every fairytale. I couldn't bring myself to finish it.

I really hoped that I loved this book but I did not. I could just not get into it and did not finish. I blame myself only. I normally love YA. It is just that this poor girl is suffering a hardship and she is thrown into a rich world that only cares about things when all she needs is a hug or her mom back.

I do hope to someday come back to this one and give it a proper review. But for now, I am DNF with no rating (Note: Netgalley made me pick a star rating so I chose 2 bc 1 felt too harsh).