Henry Hamlet's heart is a heart pounding rom-com of a YA romance novel with characters you can't help rooting for around a friends to lovers story filled with pining, unrequited love, angst and misunderstanding. It sweet and wholesome and so wonderful to read. It gives you the warms and fuzzies but it also a gut punch at time. It was an emotional roller-coaster and I loved every second of it. It's a coming of age story with kind of has the vibe of a 2000s teen movie but in the best way. It was set in 2008 which was weird and wonderful in a way. But I don't know if some of the current youths will understand some of the references though. The friendships at the core of the story were so amazing and supportive, the characters had so much personality and depth and feel real and relatable. Henry's family was so cute and fun and supportive. His little brother was so cute!!

Ajdjakdhs this book is so much fun I can't stand it!

While in a technical aspect, this isn't a literary masterpiece by any means its still a fun ride and exactly what you would expect and want from it. You really feel for the characters and with the characters. The author did a great job at clearly expressing the characters often chaotic and confusing emotions in a way that was almost palpable.

The story and characters were written with great deal of empathy and care and most importantly the story was moving and fun. The characters and story was messy at times but it felt honest and real in that way.

Henry Hamlet's Heart is a fun, quirky, firework of a novel and I absolutely adore it. I definitely recommend it if you want to read a fun and funny YA romance novel with endearing characters.

I find it really hard to read on a screen, so it usually takes me days to finish a book. But I finished this book in a day and I was amazed. I am a sucker for friends to lovers especially when it’s lgbtqa+. I loved all the banter and that you can actually get to read about all the relationships, instead of just focusing on the plot which a lot of author do and don’t notice that the characters/ & relationships are as important. I loved the plot that follows a school boy with just a regular life. Personally I don’t like long chapters and this book did have a bit longer chapters than I’d usually go for. But I didn’t mind it in this book. Sometimes I did feel like it was dragging the scene a bit and the author could’ve made it shorter but otherwise I loved it. And this may just be me because I am very picky with my books and I like fast paced books more. But otherwise this book was sooo good. I found myself smiling at the book more times that I’d like to admit. All the quotes killed me, especially the “I’m losing it because I kissed you, because I kissed you I might lose you” Overall 4/5 stars

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC!

Okay this is really difficult for me to rate! I LOVED the last half of the book a lot. The ending, the plot, the drama... all of it. But I wasn't the biggest fan of the beginning. To me it felt a bit boring, and I almost DNF it! I'm glad I kept reading though, because (as mentioned) I really loved the ending.
I'm going to give this book 3.5 stars! If you haven't read it, then definitely give it a chance (even if the beginning might be a bit slow) you won't regret it.

I've always enjoyed YA, especially LGBTQ+ YA and this book was exactly that. It has loveable characters, strong character development, childhood-friends-to-lovers.
The beginning was a bit slow but once part two showed up it started picking up pace, i dont really know what i can say more than I liked it, it was a cute, fun little read that made me smile from time to time, i would really recommend picking this up if you have the chance!



A huge thank you to netgally for sending me this earc in exchange for an honest review.

I binged this in under 24 hours. For anyone with a Nick & Charlie (Heartstopper) shaped hole in their life - this one is for you! What a gorgeous gorgeous book! I should have known it was going to be amazing after I saw a few bookstagrammers recommended it on insta.
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I absolutely adored Henry and Lennon, and their whole crew of mates. Yes there are a lot of similarities with everybody’s favourite gay couple, but this one is set in Brisbane and definitely has an Australian flavour.
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Another beautiful, inclusive ya fiction. It made me smile from ear to ear. Thank you @netgalley for my gifted ebook. ❤️ I LOVED it!

a coming of age story that follows henry, a socially awkward boy who is in his final year of high school. he’s unsure about what to do in the future and that only gets more confusing after he falls in love with his best friend len.

this sounded soo good but i liked it a lot less than i thought i would.

henry was a pretty good character. i related to him when it came to figuring out his sexuality, his awkwardness and not know what the future holds. however, at times i thought he was a bit annoying at times but i liked him.

len i liked a lot less. i understand that he was going through a lot but he was kind of an asshole sometimes. i personally hate when people use phrases like “you’re dramatic,” “relax” or “calm down” because it just diminishes the significance of the situation and downplays the other persons feelings. he said that a lot to henry and i just felt like he was brushing off his feelings all the time. especially when he told his sister lacey, without asking henry first and then when henry got worried, he brushed it off.

their relationship was cute when what i mentioned previously wasn’t happening. you could really feel henry’s internal struggle when it came to accepting his feelings toward len and how his feelings/their relationship could change everything between them.

while i had some issues, it was still pretty good!

thank you netgalley for giving me this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

This is a quick and cute coming of age book and even though there isn’t a whole lot of depth to this book, I was pleasantly surprised by it. I liked it a lot!

This was one of those books that was hard to put down. It was fast paced and enjoyable. It is definitely not the last time that I’ll read it!

The only thing I felt was missing was a bit more character development. I felt that the development in Henry was a bit flat compared to the fact that he finds out a whole new side of himself, when he realises that he likes boys.

All around a really cute and heartfelt book. If you like cute and light LGBTQ+ books, this one is definitely for you!

henry hamlet's heart is a queer coming of age story set in 2008 brisbane, australia. it is absolutely magical. as someone who used to live in australia the nostalgia feelings really hit me. and my heart aches when i think about my own highschool graduation in less than a year. it is beautifully written. i also loved his dysfunctional family that were just so full of love (a fav is the bisexual grandma). everything about this book is so real, the characters are raw and the moments are heart wrenchingly true. definitely recommend!

A beautifully written coming of age story centered around two friends that never saw each other as anything but good mates...until now.

Henry and Len have been good friends forever and always assumed they would end up going to college, find a girl and settle down. However after a dare at a party that makes them share a first kiss, everything will change.

One of my absolute favorite things about the book is that the story as well as the characters felt so real. You can get to meet Henry's family and their dynamics, Henry's other friends and most importantly the romance is not quick or rushed.

We also do not have an emphasis on all the coming out or queer tropes which I also really appreciated.

This is also not your typical meet cute story. It is a story about two friends that know everything about each other or so they thought. Now they will have to navigate through those new feelings and sexual attraction between them.

<b>Perfect for:</b> Anyone looking for a sincere, realistic love story about two friends that discover the love for each other might be more than a simple friendship.

REVIEW: I really enjoyed it! It melted my heart! It's both sweet and amusing. I truly liked how the author's writing took you through the book as if you were watching a movie!
I found the novel to be a mix between Heartstopper and Love, Simon. First love in high school. Go for it!!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for offering a complimentary early reading copy in exchange for a honest review.

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RESEÑA: Me ha encantado! Mi corazoncito estaba encogido todo el rato! Divertido y especial. La forma de escribir de la autora te lleva a través del libro como si estuvieras viendo una película, me ha gustado!
Me recordaba a Heartstopper y Con cariño, Simon. Primer amor de instituto. Vamooos!
Gracias a Netgalley y a la editorial por dejarme leerlo a cambio de una honesta reseña.

(Originally wanted to give it 3.5 stars, but since that's not an option, I'll go with a 4, since it's clearly better than a 3.)
This book started off pretty slow, and there wasn't much left to the imagination with the not-so-subtle hints that Len gave off about liking Henry since about forever. Things got much more exciting when Henry started to figure out his feelings, I enjoyed seeing the journey he went through until he came to terms with liking his best friend, and I loved seeing him battle with himself about whether it's worth risking their friendship for. The conflict towards the end, however, was confusing. Without giving any spoilers, what I disliked is how the conflict was.. unjustified and unresolved, honestly. We never got to learn what was the reason behind it, because the boys never actually talked about it. They kind of just swept it all under the rug and carried on like it's no big deal. (Or maybe they talked about it later, but well, the book didn't cover that part.) I also felt like we got too little of the actual relationship, the actual dating and being in love, which was sad for a romance and fluff lover like me.
All in all it was a nice one time read, I enjoyed it despite the "flaws" listed above, and I don't regret reading it, but I most probably wouldn't pick it up for a re-read. More of a "borrow from a library once" than a "buy for my own shelf" type of book.

This story is the perfect more contemporary coming of age story for young adults dealing with everything that comes along with accepting your sexuality. The humor, characters, and relationships were all heartwarming and at times tear jerking.

Wonderful book. Although I found some aspects of it a bit cliche, it is a truly wonderful and emotionally demanding book.

Henry Hamlet's Heart by Rhiannon Wilde

Edition: Ebook, 338 pages, on sale December 2022

Disclaimer: I got this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity!

Henry is a normal guy in a pretty chaotic family and a trusted friend group. He has known his best friend Len for years and they are thick as thieves.
Everything could be perfect wouldn't Hamlet be in the last semester of high school. And if the pressure of "How will I go on after high school?" wasn't already enough, a dare on a party leads to at least one clear realisation: his feelings for Len are not only normal friend feelings!

Let me introduce to you: Henry Hamlet, uncrowned king of pining!
While understandably panics over his newly questioned sexuality, he never loses his sass. His mind is quick and his mouth even quicker.

Over the course of the book I fell in love with Henry. He has the softest, biggest heart and he feels so strongly. It's beautiful to join him in his highest and lowest moments. I wanted to hold his hand but luckily other character did this.
I started to love Len too, who is running from every deep emotional connection since the death of his mother, leaving him behind with an abusive father. I understand why he does what he does but it still hurts so much to see these boys suffer.

This book is about love and friendship, searching for your way in life, exploring sex, sexuality, trust and very deep emotions, wrapped up in a beautifully told story with lots of funny and sad moments.

Let me end this with two quotes, which reallystood out to me:

Page 196:
"You're half of me," he says, his voice soft and serious. "What else is there?"

Page 239 (following a very emotional scene with lots of grief):
For an immeasurably strecht of time, we're not Lennon and Hamlet, or two people who want each other, or two people at all.
There's never been a proper membrane separating us the way it does other people, we're connected, and it runs so deep.
I know, from how much this hurts.

5/5☆, VERY WELL DESERVED

This was quite cute! I thought that Henry and Lennon's journey was sweet. There wasn't much of a plot outside of time passing and there wasn't really that much conflict or suspense, but I didn't mind. I was happy to be along for the ride.

Both Henry and Lennon felt like developed characters, which was nice because we spent most of the book with them. I will say, though, that most of the supporting characters were kind of flat, and I found myself wishing we got to see more of their individual dynamics with Henry.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you NetGallery for the eARC!

I’m not usually a friends to lovers person, but I thought this was super cute and I enjoyed it.
I fell in love with Len right away and the fact that he was crushing on Henry for a while was everything.

As much as I loved their friendship, I think their relationship was a little rushed and I would have either loved a little more or an epilogue to see a glimpse of their future.

To be perfectly honest, I've had a difficult month and I really needed a comforting YA romance. Rhiannon Wilde's "Henry Hamlet's Heart" delivered on several levels.

I could definitely identify with Henry's Type A personality, and I viscerally remember what it felt like to be at the end of high school and uncertain about who I was as a person, where I fit in the world, and what my future looked like. I also love the way that Wilde handled the best friends to lovers trope with these two characters who were so deeply a part of each other that it felt completely natural (and terrifying) to come together romantically.

Ultimately, I think the thing that worked the most for me was the nostalgia. I remember listening to lots of Panic! at the Disco, My Chemical Romance, and Paramore in the mid-aughts, just like Henry, Len, and their friend Vince. I also read quite a bit of Twilight, so those references really hit home for me, too.

Thanks to Charlesbridge and NetGalley for the ARC!

I enjoyed this really sweet coming-of-age story, and it was such a quick read. I found myself really falling in love with the characters and rooting for them to succeed. I think that the family dynamic aspects were really interesting and very realistic as well.

This gets an extra plus 5 points because I was reading the second half while petting my cat.
I will only be addressed as 'my little tiger-peach' from now on, thanks Ged.

So, at first I assumed I was only getting a completely average YA queer book. And not having high expectations paid out so well - this was such a lovely experience of a book. The cast is so vivid (even if not very deep - it doesn't need to be) and I love how the main friend group has such different personalities and/or tropes.

This works so well for people in my age group, who were teens in 2008 as well. Something something Myspace. It adds nostalgia for that period in life where things seemed so finite and infinite at once and the author managed to put it down on paper well.

The romance was also great, Len simply acted like a teenager all throughout the book. Stupid. I love it.

What I really liked was that all of the main cast worked perfectly fine without internalized homophobia, a huge pet peeve of mine in YA queer lit. That is so refreshing.

Lastly... I read an ARC of the American release and I hope the publisher will consider taking out the Harry Potter references before October. HP is not appropriate in queer lit anymore if you ask me, even if it was relevant in a 2008 setting.

A big thank you to Charlesbridge and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Henry Hamlet’s Heart is a sweet teen romance that also tackles themes such as friendship, independence, and how to tackle the changes that life brings. I’m a sucker for the best friends to lovers trope, so this read was an absolute delight.

I quickly fell in love with all of the characters, especially Henry’s Gran who was fierce and inspiring (and hilarious). All the banter between characters was spot-on with how friends and family joke around and I laughed out loud multiple times per page. Henry and Len were just so sweet together and I was rooting for them from the start.

There was also a very strong sense of setting, which really grabbed me. I don't think I've read a book set in Australia before and it was fun to experience the unique dialect and culture. I love contemporary novels that still focus on world-building and immersing you in the setting, which Rhiannon Wilde executes perfectly.

Wilde’s prose was also just so beautiful. It’s not often that I find myself rereading passages in a book simply to appreciate the writing style, but it was something I did frequently while reading Henry Hamlet’s Heart.

Overall, I devoured this book in a day and it was a much-needed escape for me. I laughed, I cried, and I know this will be a book that will stay with me for a long time to come. I’d highly recommend it to anyone, but especially fans of LGBTQ+ romance or to those feeling a bit lost in the tumultuous changes of life who need a reminder that everything will be okay.