5.5 stars! I loved this slow burn of a creepy book. It had everything a horror book needs, black magic, betrayal, jealousy, secrets and best of all twists and turns. I highly enjoyed this book and look forward to buying a hard copy to take out on Halloween.
The book follows Suburbs back then and right now. Back then Dana and her bestfriend decide to dabble in witchcraft and meet Susan, a manson girl and they conjure up a spell together, However, that spell did not go as p[anned.
Years later, Danas daughter is now the age she was when they did that spell and her daughter is trying to get the whole story on what happened. Meanwhile her mom has more secrets that has left her daughter frightened of her.
I found this book to be unique, creative and dark and look forward to reading more from this author. Thank you Netgalley for a the ARC for a honest review.

Oh my word. This book was so creepy and spooky, with a prevailing sense of dread throughout the entire book, right from the get go. This summer, Ivy’s life is about to get weird. She begins to doubt things that she thinks she knows, learn things that just create more questions, and the one person who can answer these questions is being mysterious, as always.

The reader is slowly invited into the story between the two shifting perspectives of Ivy and her mother Dana, where by creepy little bit by creepy little bit we are introduced to a world of magic. A dark and scary magic, not magic like the sisters in Practical Magic or Sarah Addison Allen’s Waverly series, but a magic that cuts like a knife.

I could not put this book down once I started. I love a good witch book and this one freaked me out, while also crooking a finger that I couldn’t help but keep following through the darkness until I got to the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron books for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

Oh this was good. I think I even liked it better than her debut book. It was dark and twisty and I really loved how everything unfolded! At first I wasn't too sure about the "then" and "now" chapters, but it worked.

Our Crooked Hearts was a fast-paced, multigenerational story of secrets, regret, and witchcraft. It told the story of a mother and daughter trapped in the throes of magic and it’s danger. It was so well written, and I loved the characters.

This book. Wow. It is so unique and so creepy and so good. It wasn’t at all what I was expecting. I also liked the fact that the chapters switched between characters.

i liked this book. it was witchy and spooky, it did however take me a minute to get hooked into the story. i also think the magic system/ world could use a little more detail/build.

I thought this was a book about a brass bunny door knocker. Instead, there were dead fuzzy bunnies scattered hither and yon. Watch where you step in this novel if you don't want bunny ick on your feet! I, myself, would rather sacrifice rabbit-shaped Easter peeps because, c'mon, live bunnies?

But this is a story about teenagers who, like many teenagers, let things get out of control. In this case, it's witchcraft, the dark scary kind. And then, just like a bad hairdo in a yearbook picture, their evil choices follow them into adulthood. Can Dana protect her own teenage daughter from the spell she thought she'd buried decades ago? Can witchcraft be for the good of humanity instead of only for personal gain as in can healing lip balm stand up against the forces of evil? Does anybody know where I can get one of those brass bunny door knockers?

I don't know why, but towards the end the story seemed to drag for me. Bringing a boy in, even a nice boy like Billy, was an intrusion into a female power book. Plus, instead of renewing their friendship, Ivy and Billy were suddenly lovers after ignoring each other for years. Though they understood there was a reason they weren't friends, the romance was rushed. Everything is hunky-dory now and Billy doesn't mind at all that his once and future girlfriend attracts bunny ick.

Aunt Fee is my favorite character because she is good and kind, has more sense than the rest of the characters combined, and makes a hell of a lip balm. Thanks to Netgalley and Flatiron Books for allowing me to read and review Our Crooked Hearts. I'll be looking forward to a sequel called The Brass Bunny Knocker Book.

This is THE witchy book I have been searching for. Our Crooked Hearts weaves together two tales of mother and daughter in the most real and magical way.

In the present day, 17 year old Ivy is dealing with odd things going on and a tense relationship with her mom. In the past, Ivy’s mom Dana is getting in over her head with her two best friends Fee and Marion. The stories come together when Ivy learns what her mother has been hiding from her for years.

This beautifully detailed book was one of magic, imperfection, forgiveness and hope. ❤️

Many thanks to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for providing me with this advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Our Crooked Hearts is a unique and refreshing YA urban fantasy that, unfortunately, fell flat for me.
This book follows two different timelines: one in the past following Dana, and one in present following Ivy, Dana's daughter. Ivy is on a quest to find out the truth about bizarre events that occurred, and, on the way, she will finally reveal secrets that her mother desperately tried to hide, which may or may not involve witchcraft.
As for an urban fantasy, Our Crooked Hearts did its job. The setting is very atmospheric, and the tension is palpable. This book would be perfect for people who like plot-driven stories very much. On the other hand, although I do enjoy a good plot-driven book, the characters lack a lot of essence. Dana sure is probably the most deeply developed character alongside Marion, but the rest of the cast is not as solid as they are. Ivy's change of personality is so abrupt it almost doesn't feel like the same person before and after events. Fee did play a major part in Dana's timeline, but she is almost nonexistent in Ivy's, although she is debatably one of the most important characters. Furthermore, I don't root for the main romance either, as it didn't contribute anything to the story, to be honest.
As I said, this book has very good actions, especially in the middle (while the author was building up to the climax) but the ending completely disappoints me. In a story where stakes are this high, the last three chapters feel very sloppy and basic for my taste. The author spends three hundred pages building up the tension for the final action, for in the end getting an anti-climatic resolution that feels like a slap to the face.

Overall, although Our Crooked Hearts is not the book for me, I get why people like it. Witchy books are becoming more and more popular recently and it's quite refreshing to see a new take on the trope.

I really wanted to like this sorry because it had so much potential, but alas I did not. I enjoy the complexity of the characters and some parts of the story, but much like the Hazel Wood series, I found myself lost as to what was going on and confused. I still want to give it 3.5 ⭐️ Because I still enjoyed some parts of the book.

A creepy witchy adventure. Full of secrets and lies. It's told in dual timelines. I loved the characters. I loved the way the pieces came together. It hooked me right away. If you like stories about witches and dark magic you don't want to miss this one. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an e-arc in exchange for an honest review

Melissa Albert has done it yet again! Our Crooked Hearts was a beautiful, wild and creepy masterpiece. Author Albert has the power of putting words down in just the right way to pull your mind and imagination into the book to see for yourself, the world that she has created in all its glory and the flaws she has given it as well. I loved the dual timeline between mother and daughter that gave us the opportunity to understand both sides and unravel deeper feelings, emotions, and connections between the characters as well as the reader with the characters. Our Crooked Hearts is a creepy, unique, and intriguing read from start to finish and I can't wait for you all to get to read this masterpiece coming out June of this year!! Thank You NetGalley, Flatiron Publishing and Author Melissa Albert for the opportunity to read an eARC of Our Crooked Hearts in exchange for an honest review!

This is a book that my students would be really into. It was just spooky enough and kept me hooked the entire time.
Thank you to Netgalley for this arc ebook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is my first Melissa Albert book and WOW. This was so creepy and unique - I feel like you'll see those words a lot to describe this book, but that's exactly what this was. I've never read a book like this before and it's been a while since I've read some Sci-Fi/Fantasy books.

This book has you hooked from the very first chapter - something that is key for me. The story follows 17-year old Ivy and her summer break, and she realizes there's more to her mother than meets the eye.

This shared story between mother and daughter dive into dark forces that they have to tackle together.

The dual-timeline is great and keeps you engaged. I wish there was more of the boy-next-door (Across the street) trope, but the mystery and creepiness of the book was good that you can look past the half-baked romantic part.

Definitely check this out!

Ivy's summer is not off to a good start. She breaks up with her boyfriend, gets in an accident and finds a girl running through the woods, ends up grounded, and realizes she doesn't trust her mother. The suspense grows when decapitated rabbits start showing up in her front yard, something that doesn't seem to bother her mother. This mystery causes her to question her mother and everything about her. Told in alternating chapters between "Right Now" and "Back Then" the reader goes on a journey to discover the secrets of Ivy's past and all the ways it is intertwined with the youth of her mother. Dark and twisty, magic and witch craft make this a thrilling read to discover the magic of Ivy and her mother's past.

A creepy, magical and captivating novel where the journey is told between mother and daughter.

Dana is a tween with a job and a bad family life. She’s best friends with Fee and they both meet Marion. Their lives are at their bests, they gain confidence and power. The magic in them is awakened and everything is great, until it’s not.

Dana gives birth to Ivy. A story of the connection between mother and daughter. But also with lies and betrayal. The story unravels and we meet power that overcomes and destroys.

I loved it and I loved the ending.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book.
4.5 stars
Melissa Albert has done it again! I am a huge fan of The Hazel Wood series. This book has some similar vibes, and I just cannot resist a good witch story!

Our Crooked Hearts is told in 2 different points of view and 2 different times. We hear Ivy's story from the present day suburbs and Dana's point of view from the city "back then." I absolutely loved this book. It is nearly perfect. I thought the 2 different points of view were really effective as was jumping back and forth in time. Ivy is such an interesting character, and I think I enjoyed her chapters the most. When everything came together it was just wonderful. This book was tense and mysterious. I had a ton of fun reading it and will be recommending this book to anyone and everyone.

I really enjoyed this book! I loved the dual POV of mother/daughter and the switching timelines. It was so flawlessly written.

Ivy was a fascinating protagonist and her mother Dana too. I loved their dynamic from beginning to end and all the twists and turns that we got in between. Truly, everything felt perfectly written - all given its proper time in the plot.

Also, the small romance that there was … it was all so adorable. I could feel the charged air between the characters and it was so gorgeous. I really enjoyed those parts, both With Ivy and her parents’ love story.

Highly recommend!

I will post this review closer to release date on my Instagram account!

I really loved this book. I really enjoyed Melissa Albert's The Hazel Woods - so much I read it a second time out loud to my 11 year old. I enjoyed Our Crooked Hearts even more. A great sense of pacing and I loved the chapters revealing the stories of both Dana and Ivy. I related to Dana and her decisions so much, probably because I am a middle aged mom of a tween. Great suspense and use of magic. Highly recommended.


I'd really rate it 4.5 stars out of 5 just because the ending niggles me a bit. ***SPOILER ALERT*** I would have appreciated knowing Marion's fate or what it was she whispered into the gold box while it took her memories. It feels like loose ends! I was invested in knowing how things worked out, ha!

Loved the realistic magic and the multigenerational story. The timeline was a bit tricky to follow at times but the writing was beautiful, creepy, and atmospheric. I fully felt the bond between mother and daughter and the fear of losing it.