Hello, Cruel Heart was a really fun read with lots of hijinks, betrayal and found family that was very entertaining. I liked the character development as Estella goes to Cruella, and also really liked seeing how Cruella, Jasper, and Horace all came together to be the dastardly villainous trio that we all know and loathe. You can't help but feel bad about what happens to Cruella in this book, especially towards the end, so it adds a small layer of depth to her character. Maureen Johnson's writing is sharp, smart and funny in this one as well. I think my favorite thing about this book was the way that Johnson brought 1967 Swinging London alive with all of its vivacity and flare. There were times reading it I felt like I was transported into that setting which really added to my enjoyment. The main reason for this 3 star rating is nothing bad, but it's because I felt that this book was a little less than extraordinary. I liked it well enough, but there was nothing in it that made me feel super hooked or invested in Estella's story. Nothing in this book had me jumping up and down for joy, which isn't a bad thing. In the end, Hello, Cruel Heart is alright.

Have you ever wondered what made Cruella…Cruella? In this riveting backstory, readers are taken back to Cruella’s early years as an orphaned child making her way about London, falling in with Horace and Jasper. The two characters, recognizable for those familiar with 101 Dalmatians, end up being almost like guardian angels/sweet and protective brothers while she learns to navigate a life on the streets.
After a shoplifting exercise gone wrong, Cruella becomes acquainted with two wealthy teens, both of whom are left to mostly care for themselves and who hop from fancy to fancy. Cruella becomes just one such delight of the moment for them, and they catapult her into a world of fashion, nights on the town, and parties with up and coming rock stars. However, as the reader can guess based on how Cruella turns out, things don’t work out in her favor, but to find out why, you’ll have to read this book!
Fantastically fantastic, Cruel Heart immerses you in the 60s fashion scene of London, many of the celebrities named familiar to anyone with even a passing interest in that time period. It felt like being right there and Cruella was a complex and sympathetic character, someone you want to see succeed, knowing all the while that she’s heading toward her eventual downfall. One of the best Disney backstories I’ve ever read, this entire book was a blast.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy. This did not impact my review.

This was a really fun audiobook to listen to. I'm not sure I would have liked it as much if I was just reading it with my eyeballs. I'm not really big into Disney or Disney retellings but I love a villain origin story and swinging London and the 1960's in general. It's an endearing story about a down-on-her-luck young woman who gets enveloped into a group of high society people.

Cruella de Ville is finally getting her time in the spotlight these days. 'Hello, Cruel Heart' was an enjoyable prequel to the life of young Cruella when she was just Estella, a likeable and relatable teen. I am hoping that this was the first installment of at least a trilogy, if not a duology, as the story felt incomplete and far from explaining how Estella became the villain we all know. Will be looking forward to see if there are other installments.

This was so great. Iove stories that give a different perspective on fairy tales and what not, especially when you get to see a side of the villians that you didn't get before. The cover is pretty cool too.

With the new Cruella movie coming out, I was so excited to read this one. Also, it is authored by Maureen Johnson, one of my favorite authors as a teenager. ⁠⁠
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Hello, Cruel Heart tells the story of a 16-year-old named Estella in Swinging London during the summer of 1967. Though I finished in less than a day, I wanted more. The premise of the book was good but it ended too early. ⁠⁠

Hello, Cruel Heart was a great look into Estella and her development into Cruella. I loved this piece as a supplement to the movie, adding even more depth to the character. Seeing her as just another teenage girl in London trying to make it and was a story about learning who your friends truly are.

I was really excited to read this, given that the Cruella movie was coming out soon, and this was just... okay. Mildly enjoyable. I hate to be that person, but the movie is better than the book.

FANTASTIC! I really enjoyed this read and it makes me so much more excited to see the new movie on Disney+. I really enjoyed this dark side to the teenage Estella, and how her Cruella came out.. Just fantastic.

The Review

This was a truly riveting narrative and perfect spin on the classic story of Cruella. Estella is an endearing and tragic figure, highlighting the person beneath the persona that is destined to become a classic Disney villain. The struggle between Estella’s journey to the streets of London and her petty crimes to striving for the posh life she always thought she wanted and even trusting and falling in love all culminate in a series of events that drive the protagonist to face her darker self, Cruella.

The pacing and setting really stood out in this narrative, highlighting the late sixties in London, an era known for great music, upscale fashion and the seeds of rebellion and so much. The story expertly creates a new layer to the legend of Cruella while honoring the character’s arc and setting the tone for the villains eventual rise, all while making Estella an empathetic protagonist that shows the woman she never had the chance to become, a fate many people have had to endure throughout their lives.

The Verdict

A brilliant, edgy yet heartfelt retelling of a classic character’s history, author Maureen Johnson’s “Hello, Cruel Heart” is a must-read YA novel. The perfect blend of classic Disney characters meeting a retro-style setting and a YA narrative direction, this is the perfect companion read to the hit Disney film Cruella, and a fantastic summer read for 2021. Be sure to grab your copy today!

The perfect book while I eagerly awaited the Cruella movie to release. Maureen Johnson is a master of writing and keeping readers engaged and I wish she did more of the Disney books because it's much better written than the Twisted Tales series.

An original novel starring a teenage Cruella de Vil is exactly the book I so enjoyed that I never knew I needed. I was curious but not sure if I would love this based on the premise, and I was happy to be wrong! Sixteen-year-old Estella is a talented aspiring fashion designer who is also a thief. She catches the attention of a pair of posh siblings that bring her into their world of fashion, glamour, and rock stars. She is determined to make the most of this lucky break, even if it means changing herself and ditching her friends Jasper and Horace. It is not a simple task to still surprise when this book is set before a stack of movies. And yet I was still rooting for Estella to triumph, and that is on the strength of the writing. A fun, wicked little novel.
Thanks to Net Galley and Disney Press for the ARC!

Thoroughly enjoyed this Disney Villains story revolving around Cruella De Ville. I always found her interesting and wanted a look into her past to see how she ended up the way she did, and this was a perfect back story. Definitely would recommend.

This was a lot of fun and a great character study. I'd like to read more books like these about other Disney Villians.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book for my honest review.

Wondering the beginning story of Cruella D'Ville? Hello, Cruel Heart by Maureen Johnson propels readers into the life of Estelle (Cruella) growing up in the streets of London with two misfits. Orphaned at a young age, Estelle Estelle is an up and coming fashion designer who cannot catch a break with money. That is, until she meets two rich up and coming debutantes who thrive to make their mark on London society. But will Cruella fit in?

Hello, Cruel Heart started off fast but quickly took off as the plot broke apart .The story focused on the character beauty of Estelle and rather did not show her as a regular human being. As a reader, I was not able to have a clear connection with either characters or setting.

Disney just loves to take the stories you think you know and turn them on their head - and I am all here for it. Hello, Cruel Heart gives us young Cruella - Estella and shows us how she got to where she was - a Cruella Origin story, if you will. Estella goes through the tragic loss of her mother and jumps into her fashion career - soon after meeting Jasper and Horace, they become a new little family (I LOVE the found family trope). They teach her how to become a criminal as she is convinced this will help her along her journey to become a top name in fashion.

It's very interesting the lessons that Estella must learn - true friendship, value and love. I really enjoyed this take on the story and peek into Cruella's childhood.

What’s this? A book review? But isn’t Mass Consternation on hiatus?

Yes, the hiatus continues. I committed to reading Hello, Cruel Heart, months ago, with the best intentions. I knew it was a stretch fitting it in, but… Maureen Johnson. Now it’s six weeks since Hello, Cruel Heart was released and I just read it this weekend.

Hello, Cruel Heart is Maureen Johnson’s story of Cruella’s teen years. And timed for Disney’s latest movie featuring the 101 Dalmatians villain.

When we meet Cruella, she’s a 16-year-old Estella, living rough in swinging 60s London and the bad cricket voice in her head is Cruella. Her and her two friends, Horace and Jasper, get by shoplifting and stealing purses and bags, successfully. In her spare time, Estella designs amazing clothing and also costumes with hidden pockets to hide the takings.

The story is fairly predictable. Estella is a talented fashion designer, but unknown and poor. She becomes friends with a couple of trust-fund twins, who declare her their pet for the summer. Estella rejects Horace and Jasper for her “new start” with the rich and famous. The rest is a predictable spoiler so I’ll stop the overview.

Hello, Cruel Heart is no 13 Little Blue Envelopes and Estella is no Jubilee (from Let it Snow). I started getting bored 30% in and by 40% I wondered if Disney set strict conditions when they commission a novel. I’m not sure if Maureen has read The Boy Who Steals Houses, but the story has many similarities. Luckily Hello, Cruel Heart is an easy read and today I finished it, skimming the last 40%.

While this lacked the magic of Maureen’s own stories, it could be that it’s a Disney story. I requested this from Net Galley because of the author, not the topic, so it could just be a mismatch for me.

If you’re a Disney fan, you may like Hello, Cruel Heart. I’m back on hiatus.

Book Review | Hello, Cruel Heart by Maureen Johnson

Hello, Cruel Heart by Maureen Johnson
YA, Historical Fiction, Contemporary
Disney Press | April 6th, 2021
3/5 Stars



Estella has been an orphan for years. Staying alive by stealing only what she needed and living in an abandoned building with her friends Jasper and Horace. When Estella meets Magda and Richard Moresby-Plum, she is thrust into this whole new world of the rich and she begins to contemplate whether she deserves more in life. Estella begins living a new life, even now dating an up and coming rockstar, but it doesn’t last forever.


I can honestly say that I don’t remember much about 101 Dalmatians or Cruella DeVil. It was fun to read about teenage Estella and how Cruella came to be.


This book was perfectly paced and definitely an interesting read. I really enjoyed learning about Estella, but I also enjoyed the time period. It’s swinging London, with all these rich people just spending their money, wandering and staying in everyone’s super mansions, and talking about things you could only imagine.

Estella’s ups and downs throughout the story were crucial to her development and I’m glad I had a chance to read this book and learn about Estella, now Cruella.

I’m super excited to see the movie about teenage Cruella with Emma Stone coming out this year, so I guess this was a great book to read ahead of time.

Thank you, NetGalley and Disney Press for this arc in return for an honest review.

I ended up enjoying this book quite a bit, even if it was definitely geared towards teens/middle school. The cover is what caught my eye, plus I've always loved the movie 101 Dalmations, so when I read that this was the backstory for Cruella, I knew I had to read it. Because of who Cruella ends up being, you know it's not going to end up roses for Estella, but I ended up really loving her and I loved her fascination and talent for clothing design. The dichotomy of Estella and Cruella was pretty interesting, and I loved that her real friends could tell the difference between them. I think this story was supposed to be a one-off novel, but I would love to read more adventures with Estella/Cruella and Jasper and Horace and get the chance to cheer them on. In the meantime, I look forward to checking out some of the author's other works!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Most villain origin help you to at least understand their motives even if don't like them. Some even redeem the villain a little bit. However that is not the case with Cruella. While the book was well written and a quick read, there's noting that anyone came up with to make Cruella a likable villain. There's nothing that can justify the villain that Cruella becomes. Only a truly evil person would want to hurt puppies.