Duuuuuuuuude! I don't know where to start with this book. It's almost 800 pages of pure gold! I was reluctant on this one meerly over the page count. I thought for sure it would take forever to read or maybe not keep my attention with it being so long. I WAS WRONG on both accounts. I devoured the book in a few evenings. I never got bored. I was all in from the first chapter.

I'm still not sold on the title. (I know, I'm nitpicking, but hear me out.) First of all, it's a long title. Many readers aren't fans of long titles. Secondly, after reading the book, I'm just not feeling it. For me, it doesn't fit the story. Not really. Stella is broken, sure, but not her heart. Her heart is anything but broken. 

This book definitely has a King and Koontz vibe. It's got the sci-fi element/feel, but yet it's not full on sci-fi, but it kind of is. It's hard to explain without giving away important things that need to be experienced when read. It's the perfect balance of a friendships, loss, love, heartache, action, and twists and turns. Every element fully compliments the other. 

The characters in this story are everything. You get to know Jack pretty well. You feel like you're living his life over a 30 year span. You experience his ups and his downs. You learn his strong points and his weaknesses. You don't really get a strong hold on Stella. She is one of those characters you're not quite sure of until all is revealed. She is given to you in just the right mysterious way. 

As far as the rest of the characters. There are some you know you don't like right off the bat. Some you most certainly shouldn't. Some... well, not all is as it seems. And others, well they are only human, doing what they need to do to survive.

The twists and turns aren't immediate. They are doled out slowly as pieces of the past and present are given. They might not all hit you in the gut, but that doesn't mean they are less powerful. I love that Barker doesn't just slap you in the face. Many of the twists are a slow build and almost feel like an epiphany of sorts once the pieces fall into place.

Overall, this is at the top of my must read list for the year. Just like Barker's 4MK series, this book will have you begging for more from start to finish.

This book was so weird.

It took me a while to get into and I didn't really connect with any of the characters In fact I kind of hated them all. Stella comes across as a ready snub and Jack comes across as a steroid typical "Oh poor me" poor boy, something made me keep reading.

The story took on some X-Men like elements that I wasn't anticipating but enjoyed however it dragged on for a little long I found myself flipping ahead just to get to the parts with Jack and Stella.

an intriguing read overall but something about it just didn't feel quite right for me I feel like it'd be a lot better of a TV series. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be.

I read the 4MK trilogy and enjoyed the ending, so when I saw the author had a new book, I was pleased when my request was approved.

I thought it might be the same serial killer vein, but it's not; it's a little bit like early Dean Koontz, with a heavy dose of The X-Files conspiracies.

The premise sounds straight forward with a foreboding vibe; a young boy named Jack meets an enigmatic young girl named Stella at the cemetery, once a year, where he goes to mourn the loss of his parents.

They meet, year after year, at the same cemetery and the same bench.

But, Stella is no ordinary girl, and Jack is no ordinary boy.

To say there's a little bit of everything in here is an understatement:

There is a science fiction element, combined with action scenes worthy of Michael Bay and a scheming, shady organization that would excite Fox Mulder.

Let's not forget the multitude of characters; from Jack and his aunt, Jo, Stella and her coterie of handlers in creepy white trench coats, a mysterious man (well, many mysterious people), Jack's loyal BFF, Dunc, supporting and minor players, everyone has a role here, whether it be small, they all factor into the mystery behind Jack and Stella's origins.

I liked Jack, but toward the end, I ended up liking Dunc more.

I love it when that happens, when a supporting player's admirable qualities shine through and capture your heart and interest when you least expect it.

Duncan's loyalty and friendship, his good heart (despite his drug kingpin status), is what makes a great character, a human, flawed one, but still great.

The writing is good, and a slow burn, drawing the reader in. There's plenty of exposition, teases and strange occurrences, but if you love science fiction and action (whoo boy! lots of action), an interesting cast of characters, and conspiracies out the wazoo, you'll enjoy this.

This would make a great miniseries or series on Netflix.

She Has A Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be, was a book that I just could not put down!

I read another book by JD Barker last year - Dracul which I also thought was exceptional. I will definitely be reading more of this author's collection.

A young boy Jack Thatch meets a young girl Stella every year on August 8th on a bench, in a cemetery by the graves of his parents, who were killed when Jack was just a little boy.

The story unfolds throughout events that cover a great many years of their lives. A story that is both thriller as well as sci-fi /fantasy in description, and with a little in comic book feel to it.

The readers will connect to many of these characters throughout the pages, and never a dull moment.

A highly recommended book to read in my opinion, and a strong 5 Star rating as well

Thank you to NetGalley, Hampton Creek Press, and Author J.D. Barker for my early copy in exchange for my review.

#SheHasABrokenThingWhereHerHeartShouldBe #NetGalley

OK, this is a long book. If I'd realised that before I chose to read an ebook ARC of it, maybe I would have decided against it. As it is, the book is structured really well. The chapters vary in length and viewpoint enough to remove any sense of monotony, and the story constantly moves forward without bogging down.
The characters are really good, making realistic decisions and facing challenges and changes with authentic behaviour. The way they develop and mature, yet stay essentially themselves, has been done well.
The story is interesting an engaging, although it's the characters who really take centre stage.

I have never rated a book by J.D. Barker any less than five MASSIVE stars, and I’m not about to start now!

She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be is so different from anything else Barker has written and it is both refreshing and unexpected. I have no idea where the man gets his ideas from but I would love to sit in a corner while his mind works and take notes.

Unlike Barker’s other novels, and especially his 4MK series, She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be is set at a much slower pace. What is normally seen as a negative is expertly turned positive by forcing the reader to dig in deep with this story, pay attention and allow both the plot and character
development to grow over time rather than rush to the climax.

She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be is a journey that is best experienced by going in blind so I’m not going to dive any further into this but I will say that this is book unlike anything you’ve read and it will keep you up well into the early morning hours, begging for more.

Many, many thanks to NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press for providing me with a copy of this book to
read and give my own, honest opinion

This book, JD Barker could write a book about toilet paper and I have to say it would be a hit. He has a way with words. This book has a supernatural/suspense theme and is a definitely read.
I do not want to give the story away but just know that you will love these characters and root for them the whole way through. I could not put this book down.

I loved this book so much; it reminded me of an early Stephen King novel with well developed characters, a mysterious story which has you totally hooked, and a good dollop of horror.

The story follows Stella and Jack from their first meeting as children and then once a year after that. We are introduced to Jacks friends and aunt, all whom we form an attachment to thanks to some great character development. I don’t want to ruin the plot for anyone so I’m not going to say much more other than you have to read this book, it was amazing!

I'm a sucker for J.D. Barker's books so when I was approved for this one and saw it had elements of Great Expectations--which was a book I adored teaching to my ninth graders--I admit I salivated a little...well, maybe drooling is more like it! It's a long book for sure but SO worth it! Jack and Stella meet at the cemetery when they are young and Stella is reading Great Expectations. Wildly attracted to her, Jack is confused when Stella treats him like a commoner and belittles him every chance she gets. But he continues to visit his parent's graves on the same day each year, often running into her and falling for her as they get older. But this is just the tip of the iceberg and there is SO much more to this novel--including violence, murder--well, you know the drill if you love Barker's 4MK series! There are also many great twists and turns, love, devotion, redemption, and forgiveness. So buckle up and be prepared for a wild ride that you won't soon forget!

My first thought about this JD Barker novel was what an unwieldy title, but this terrific multi-genre mystery thriller is a captivating and emotional roller coaster of a read, revolving around Dicken's Great Expectations whilst paying tribute to Stephen King. First though, you need to ensure you have time to sink into the story, the book is long, but rest assured you will notice this as you become immersed and will not want to stop until it all concludes. Young Jack Thatch is living an impoverished life with his Aunt Jo, whose love for him runs deep, his life has been touched by heartbreaking tragedy when his parents died in a horrifying car crash. On visiting his parents grave in the cemetery, Jack encounters 8 year old Stella sitting on a bench, reading the best book in the world, Great Expectations, for Stella, Jack is Pip. Their meeting might well have been brief, but Jack is captivated and cannot forget her.

Despite turning up numerous times to see if he can see Stella again, it takes a year to the day before Jack sees Stella again, and through the years they meet on the exact same day. Detective Faustino Brier and his partner are puzzled when the body of a dead man is found in the strangest of circumstances, he is burnt and charred, yet his clothes are untouched, and every year on the same day, another body turns up. In a world of shadows, in the most secret and isolated of laboratories is a boy, codenamed Subject D, a boy with the kind of abilities that ensures he will never be released. Through the years, Barker develops his characters in a narrative that includes oodles of suspense, road trips, a Jack surrounded by death, and twists as surprising connections become clear. This is the most intriguing, haunting, and riveting of novels, of love, friendship and a coming of age tale. This is one hell of a thrill ride which I recommend highly. Many thanks to Hampton Creek Press for an ARC.

If Netflix's Stranger Things and the movie Boyhood (the one filmed over 12 years) had a crossover, I would imagine this would be the book. While I was overwhelmed by the length at first (I had just finished Steven King's IT and wasn't sure if I wanted to spend another month on one single book), I am glad I gave this one a whirl.

It does not feel like a nearly 800-page book. It was hard to put down and all the characters felt well-developed and I was truly invested in the plot. It starts out as a seemingly normal coming of age book, but quickly becomes so so much more deep and twisted.

I highly recommend this one. Honestly I would not change a single thing about it. JD Barker is quickly eclipsing some of my favorite authors.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I did not read the blurb for this book. I got the NetGalley email inviting me to read it and because it's J.D. Barker I immediately downloaded it. Mr. Barker has slowly entered my list of favorites. His 4MK series was the golden ticket. I had heaps of fun reading this book (even when I questioned the decisions of some of the characters many times).

She Has A Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be departs from his previous work. This book was incredibly satisfying for me. I have to say that I sensed a strong StephenKing-nesque vibe in it. Perhaps it was just the vibe of excellent storytelling.

Do not be afraid of its massive length. I often wondered (as I knew I owed NetGalley an honest review) through the story if it was too long and it could have been shortened. I suppose anything can be chopped if one wants to! I decided it was as long as the story took to be told. Some stories take longer than others. The book spans through decades in the lives of the characters, and I enjoyed knowing them as they matured and aged.

I will not repeat the blurb in my review. I can only say that I felt engaged throughout the book, that I thoroughly enjoyed its premise and that I could not put it down until it was over. There is a supernatural element to the story. One that you'll have to find out about as you read it. If this does not seem appealing to you, I encourage you to make an exception and let Barker's flawless narrative guide you. The story themes are more on family, friendship, forgiveness, and love.

If you are a Dickens' fan, you may recognize many elements of Great Expectations in this story. I believe this is Barker's homage to Charlie's work. You do not need to have read Dickens' story to enjoy it though. A quick Wikipedia search will help you connect both stories, should you be that curious (I was!) and you may get an additional kick out of the book.




I received an ARC from NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! This was awesome.

Love the author's writing style, but the pacing seemed off compared to the MK series. A lot of time devoted to build up, but the action was all tell rather than show.

“Life is a series of crossroads, and most of the time, they lead down one-way streets.”

Ladies and Gentlemen!
May I have your attention please?
I declare this book deliciously delectable. This book ROCKED! I am rocked!
I deliberately read it at a snail’s pace in order to savor every little detail, every sentence and every instance.

I love Charles Dickens and have read and cherished almost all of his work. I read Great Expectation for the first time when I was 12 and reread it a couple of years ago. Although this book is inspired by the masterpiece, it is brilliant and refreshing in its own right.

The characters (some lovable, some pleasant and a few despicable) are so well-developed and wonderfully sketched, that little by little you realize you have become a member of the family, a part of their lives and at the end, when the time to say goodbye is fast approaching (all good things must come to an end) you find yourself addicted, mesmerized, haunted.

“A moment can be an eternity, if we let it.”

Every year on August 8, on the anniversary of his patents’ death, Jack Thatch and his aunt Jo go to the cemetery and visit their graves. One day on August 8, Jack sees a girl sitting on a bench in the cemetery. Her name is Stella, she carries Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations and she calls Jack “Pip”.

“I loved her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be.”
-Charles Dickens, Great expectations

Dear reader, if you like suspense and mystery, then this book is for you. If you like an enjoyable love story, then this book is for you. If you like to lose yourself for a while in the land of fantasy, then this book is for you. You’re going to be in for the ride of your life.

Thanks to J.D. Barker, Hampton Creek Press and the NetGalley for the book.

Anyone who knows me, knows I am a huge fan of J.D. Barker. Having read all of his published books, I seriously could not wait to get my hand on this book. If you haven't read his previous books, do so NOW! You will not regret it. 

This book will take you on a course of Jack Thatch's life from a child to an adult. You will be introduced to many characters throughout the book and I was 100 percent invested in every single one. Every character is unique and you want to know everything about them and their backstory.

Stella is another main character and focal point in the story. I was beyond intrigued with her abilities. I wanted to know how, why, who did it, can it go away.....soooo many thoughts will run through your mind!

There were so many questions I could not wait to get the answers to and when I did get them, everything clicked into place and blew my mind. 

Some people may be afraid to pick up this book because of the "supernatural" feel to it and my only advice is, don't let that scare you off. If you want a haunting, thrilling, edge of your seat, unputdownable book...this is it! 

J.D. even throws in a little romance and had tears in my eyes. Yes, you read that right. One of my favorite thriller/horror authors had tears in my eyes!! Truly mind blowing!! 

This book is very long but reads fast. I think the length of this book allows for the details to be so precise. I swear you visualize the story as your reading it due to the amazing details in the writing. 

I would love to see this book become a movie but only if they stuck to JD's details and stayed true to the book. 

I want to talk about this book in depth but you have to experience this one without spoilers. Just pick it up and dive right it. You will get sucked in so deeply and it won't let you go until the end. It's that good!!

J. D. Barker never fails to deliver a page-flipping read. From the 4MK trilogy to Dracul, and Forsaken, the author has always pulled me into the story, and hasn't let go until the last page. I can't blame him for my addiction to all night reads since it started before The Fourth Monkey. What I can say is that this book, once again, was a story that I wasn't willing to put down, just to sleep.
I don't choose a book based on its length, but if you do try to schedule your reading time, be aware that its a long one, 774 pages. Not one of those pages felt unnecessary as the story covers quite a bit of time, and honestly, I tend to get excited when I see that an author I love has written a big book! Plenty of pages to get immersed in the story!
Jack Thatch lost his parents at a young age and now lives with his Aunt Jo. Every year, they visit the graves on August 8th, and it is here, on this day, that Jack first encounters Stella. A beautiful, mysterious girl who talks down to Jack and owns his heart. Though brief and not guaranteed to repeat every year, a bond is formed between Jack and Stella. One that cannot be broken by the strangeness that is Stella's life, the passage of time, or the heartbreaking tragedies that Jack endures.
Why is Stella followed by people in white coats, and why is an oddly burned body always discovered on August 9th? There is much to learn about Stella, and not all of it is good. And Jack, the boy with a good heart and little money, who death seems to surround, yet never touch. I will be many years before all the puzzle pieces come together, but when they do, you will have read an amazing story about family, friendship, the evil that men do, and the power of love!
In case I didn't mention it, I loved She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be! I will be purchasing a hard copy when this publishes and putting it right next to my Stephen King and Dean Koontz books. This is another author who has made my must-read list! If you haven't read any of his books, might I suggest the 4MK trilogy? All three books were solid 5 star reads for me! I'm also the one who can't stop talking about this book on Instagram, Twitter, GoodReads, and my blog. Amazon will also hear from me on publication day!


I received a DRC from Hampton Creek Press through NetGalley.

She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be is a hell of a good book. Boy meets a girl on a bench in a cemetery. One year later they meet again at the same spot. Is it fate or something else? You will have to decide.

Get ready for a thriller with a twist of love. You will not want to put this book done. I will warn you it is long, but you never get bored. It will take you on a journey expanding years. There will be action, love and heartache.

Even though JDB's book is long, you don't really notice it and the pages fly by. JDB grew the characters in such a way that the reader will feel and come to love the characters. His character development is superb. From children to adults you will live life with them.

Don't plan anything when you start to read. Heck, you shouldn't even be reading my review or anyone elses. Just go grab buy this book, you won't be disappointed.

It's funny how some tales take parts of a person. This one did it for me. I'm undecided whether it's a great story, or just o.k. Barker hits my weird bone! Some may have a funny bone, but that's a nerve ending. I can't tell ya' how Barker works in my head...but, he does! That's really all I care about. Love this author!

One thing is for sure with a title such as this book has, one could certainly expect to be in for a surprise. With a book of close to eight hundred pages, this story's length might be one to discourage a reader. However, do yourself a favor and grab a copy for this is one heck of a story brilliantly told.

Jack Thatch is a young boy who is left bereft when his parents die in a car crash. Left to live with his hard working but very poor Aunt Jo, Jack's life look bleak and one where he will find little to be joyful about. One day, August 8th to be exact, while visiting his parents' graves, Jack meets, sitting on a bench, a young girl who is followed by a team of white clad people and cars. How very strange and mysterious! Stella becomes an enigma, a conundrum, a puzzlement to Jack. She will return at intervals on that same August 8th day, to the same bench this journey began on, always with those people in white. The odyssey of Jack and Stella commences.

There is something sinister, something eerie, something otherworldly about Stella, but the attraction Jack feels becomes stronger every year, and his heart becomes involved with a love that is tenacious and vibrant. There is not a day when Jack does not think of Stella for he is convinced she is his destiny. Meanwhile life goes on for Jack. He works with his aunt in a diner and the two of them scrimp and save to try to make ends meets. But mysterious things start happening. Jack receives five hundred dollars monthly, left on his bed, and has no idea where or how this money comes to be. He meets with Stella whenever she appears on August 8th, and they find common ground in the work of Dickens's Great Expectations. Jack becomes Stella's Pip.

There is much about Stella that is shrouded in mystery. Why the wearing of gloves and why is she accompanied to the graveyard by these white clad people with a women tender.......and then there are the bodies that are starting to surface. Bodies that seemed to have been burned and yet not burned. The police get involved. Detectives Fogel and Brier are on the trail especially since there seems to be a pattern of one dead body found on August 9th, the day after Jack and Stella's intermittent meetings.

There is another perplexing character, a boy D, who is locked away, harboring a terrible secret and ability. How he and the others figure into this enigma drives the story forward at a pace that takes one's breath away.

This is a love story, love in its many forms, familial, friendship, but ultimately, it is the love Jack has for Stella that brings this story full circle to a most amazing conclusion.

I totally fell in love with the book. It was one in which hours passed, and one more chapter became two, three or four. It was one where the middle of the night reading became the rule. It was just that good. So, do indeed take a look at this book. It has everything one loves in stories and through its masterful telling is able to weave a tale so intricate, so loving, so scary, so intriguing that the words you can't put this book down takes on new meaning.

Many thanks to J.D. Barker, Hampton Creek Press, and NetGalley for a copy of this fantastic book due out on March 31, 2020.

The classic tale of boy meets girl, girl is cryptic to boy, boy becomes obsessed with girl, girl becomes even more mysterious and supernatural mayhem ensues.

Don’t be misled by my glib synopsis, I thoroughly enjoyed She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be, but I also don’t want to risk giving away too much. I went into SHABTWHHSB knowing nothing about the novel except that I’ve loved Barker’s past work and was hooked from the get go.

Barker has a way of making his characters deep and varied so that, even if you wouldn’t always make their choices, you can still follow them with an understanding and wish the best for them.

For example, the main character in SHABTWHHSB, Jack Thatch, has personal demons that I’ve seen turn less well structured protagonists into unlikeable, unrelatable characters you are still expected to root for and care about. Instead of yawning and checking how many pages were left, I found myself hoping Jack could defeat his demons and looked forward to following him and his motley crew to wherever their journey took them.

SHABTWHHSB’s story is delightful and felt to me like an homage to Stephen King’s Firestarter in many ways. I don’t know why, maybe it’s the references to Great Expectations, but parts of the novel also feel gothic.

At its core, SHABTWHHSB is a love story, but it has enough mystery, supernatural elements and action to keep me interested as someone who doesn’t dig romance novels. I would recommend SHABTWHHSB to anyone who enjoys the way writers like King, Koontz and now Barker can spin love stories beautifully into modern gothic masterpieces.