This book was an interesting look at young Cruella. I enjoyed being able to see how the author imaged the young year of Cruella. In this book she how she loses her mother and starts her career in fashion. Estella is a thief who wants to become famous and thinks the only way to do that is to get in with the in-crowd. She meets Jasper and Horace when they find her sleeping in the park on her first day in London and they become her new family. They teach her everything she knows about being a thief and in turn, she helps them succeed by creating disguise and other clothing to help them pull it off. Estella is wanting to become a big name in fashion so when she meets Magda and Richard in a clothing store where she is trying to steal material for her newest creation she decides to talk with them and show off her ability. Magda pulls her under her wing and starts showing her off as her new find. In the end, Estella learns a hard lesson about true friends and family and discovers her other side Cruella.

This was such an interesting and exciting read! I loved this version of events. I was excited to read it , and it did not disappoint.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was unable to download or open the file sent to me from NetGalley despite attempting to do so numerous times. This book jacket is absolutely gorgeous and I am looking forward to reading this on my physical library bookshelf.

This book suffers a bit from the nature of the beast of what it is—a companion novel/prequel to a movie that isn’t out yet. If you are unaware that there is a Cruella movie coming out soon and that this novel is meant to be a stand-alone companion to it, you may finish this book wondering things like “Are we ever going to find out what happened with Ella’s mother in the first few chapters?” or “Wait, but when does she actually become Cruella?”

To the first point—very fair, and I imagine that’s going to be a major plot point of the movie? To the second point I’d argue that this book is entirely about how Ella becomes Cruella on the inside, while the movie looks to be how she assumes the identity publicly. We see exactly how Ella turns into someone that trusts no one except for Jasper and Horace, and even then, we see how she grows to view them as little more than henchmen. We don’t see why she possibly hates dogs and/or dalmatians in particular, even though there are a few dogs in the book (so if animal abuse completely turns you off a book, as it does for me, no worries you’re in the clear).

The story is best when Johnson is free of the constraints of fact that this is a tie-in book—descriptions of how to shoplift, Ella losing hours to the beauty of fashion design, one wild night of rock star shenanigans a la Almost Famous.

We don’t know how or if this will specifically tie into the movie yet, so yes, it’s probably best for now to view this as a historical fiction that is loosely inspired by the classic character—maybe a fictional “real life” inspiration for Dodie Smith’s original. I still love Johnson’s writing and eye for both character and hijinks, and think it’s worth your while if you enjoy her or Jennifer Lynn Barnes.

Review can be read here: https://twincitiesgeek.com/2021/05/hello-cruel-heart-promises-wonderfully-weird-things-to-come/

This was a really fun, interesting retelling of Cruella DeVil's origin story.
Estella is a thief that lives in an abandoned building with her two best friends Jasper and Horace in 1960's London. When she is picking pockets one day, she metts Richard and Magda who take an interest in her fashion design skills. It's not long before Estella is spending every minute with them and starts designing their clothes. However, can Estella really escape her past with the help of her new friends?
This book is inspired by the new live action Cruella Devil movie that I can't wait for. This version of Cruella is young and just trying to find where she belongs. The book has a lot of great details about London during that time period and the story moves along quickly.

This origin story for Cruella De Vil was an interesting take on the prequel for 101 Dalmatians. Estelle and Cruella have a split personality, Cruella usually comes out when Estelle is in survival mode. The characters were a little too stereotypical vapid careless rich people and thieves who only steal to survive. Fun story just not terribly thoughtful.

I suspect I am not the target audience for this book but I also found myself wondering if teens will really like it? It is a rather brief glimpse into Cruella's life as a teen in 1960s London. (Why 1960s London? Neither the original book or either movie are se then? While I liked some of the details of the time period and the fashion was definitely swinging, I don't get it?). I guess it serves as an origin story but it feels like the very first scene is the key and the rest of the book is NOT about what happens to her mother...

I had a hard time putting this book down. In this book Estella is a pick pocket who lived in an interesting hovel with Jasper and Horace. When she made a few new friends, it seemed like her life was changing for the better. Yet as this tale comes to a close, everything takes a bad turn and her life will never be the same.

It was fun to read about what Cruella/Estella was like as a young girl. YAs will enjoy reading the backstory but may find some of the characters she meets not that interesting. It was nice to learn how much she liked and knew about fashion and sewing.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this book, but the ending seemed pretty obvious and some of the characters you were supposed to like seemed shallow, dumb, and and hard to like. It was a fun book that I enjoyed a bit when I read it. 3/5 stars from me.

Maureen Johnson’s look at Cruella’s origin is immersive and complete. The reader comes to know Estella and what brought her to design in London. I loved the detailed descriptions of her fashion creations. The references to music, food, and fashion were clever and appropriate. I felt totally immersed in the world Estella lived in and could see why she became the villain readers know.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was excited to read this from Maureen Johnson. I read all of the Truly Devious series and loved it. I was hoping for a little more from this story. I wanted to know more about the characters. I felt like it could have gone into a little more detail. I did like the premise of the story. Maybe there will be a sequel.

I was super excited when I received this arc. I adore all things Disney, and I have been really loving all of the villain origin stories that have been coming out. That being said, I kind of struggled with this one. I found it difficult to focus on the book, and when I put it down, it was hard for me to pick back up. It just didn't keep my attention. I liked Estella as a character, but I could not stand Magda or her brother. They put me off of the book, with the way they acted and talked.

I did find it interesting that Cruella was more of an alter ego, or a voice inside her head. I wasn't expecting that at all.

I will rate this book a 3/5 stars. For me it was just okay, but I know there will be people out there that would just love it. I will recommend it to people that I think would enjoy it. It just wasn't for me. I will however, read other books by this author.

Hello, Cruel Heart is the story Estella but we all know her better as Cruella de Vil. Estella lives with her friend Jasper and Horarce and the trio steal to get by. She loves fashion and loves designing outfits for herself and disguise to be used for when Her and her friends are planning a heist. Estella’s life changes when she met Magda and Richard Moresby-Plum, who are young, rich and part of high society, suddenly she finds herself in a world she never dreamed of being a part of.

101 Dalmatians is one of my favorite movies…so needless to say I am so excited they are doing a Cruella origin story. However this book was just odd. I wasn’t a fan of Cruella being Estella’s alter ego. It didn’t seem to fit. There were parts of the book that were fun to read but overall i just wasn’t a fan. It didn’t seem to line up with the Cruella we all know from 101 Dalmatians. I do have to say that the fashion parts in the book were fun to read and if you love fashion then this is the book or you!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital copy of this book!

*I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

This is a really great book imagining Cruella's backstory. I wouldn't have thought that she would have started her career life as a thief but there it is. I can't wait to see the movie when it's released if it's even half as good as this book.

I received an ARC through Netgalley to review.
In the ARC, every word that had two Fs together, the Fs were missing. It threw me off at first until I discovered the issue and realized it hadn't been proofread before ARC distribution.
I was looking for something in this story that I wasn't able to find. I found no adventure. I wanted to feel connected to Estella, yet I didn't. I felt like it lacked a lot and could have been so much more. It had potential, but fell flat.

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

The origin story of Cruella De Vil follows a teenage Estella living on after losing her mother and stealing to get by with friends Horace and Jasper. The writing was really well-done and engaging.

I loved the premise of this book - how did Cruella become Cruella?

I believe this book was done to prepare ourselves for the movie coming up and I really cannot wait for the movie.

Thank you again NetGalley and for Disney.

I LOVED IT!! It was quick, entertaining, and Johnson handled the Cruella aspect all the while giving you a character that you still fell in love with perfectly!! Johnson also gave just the right amount of a cleaned up version of the Swinging Sixties which was so fun! I can't wait to book talk this book to my junior high students!

Whoops. Started this book very late last night and then ended up reading it all in one go. Who can resist London in the Swinging Sixties? Not I. And when it’s a prequel of Cruella deVille written by the brilliant and witty Maureen Johnson? Well. I am here for it. Estella is an orphan with a talent for revenge. Also, designing high fashion. When she risks everything she knows by opening her heart to love things go really well. Until they don’t.