Darkhearts by James L Sutter
ARC BOOK REVIEW
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This YA story follows David (Holc), a 17 year old boy from Seattle who quit the teen rock band he started with his two best friends right before the band hit it big. Two years later, when his former band mate Eli dies, frontman Chance returns home and reconnects with Holc.
Most of the story is David coming to terms with his jealousy and anger at being left behind. The boys quickly become friends again which leads to romantic feelings neither expected. David makes some really bad choices and isn't always the best secret boyfriend to Chance. He has redeeming moments, like all the cute dates he plans. And their text exchanges and goofy banter are super-endearing.
Chance was by far the most mature and thoughtful of the two, and his story arc involves learning how to be himself and not people-please all the time. The rock star life has its ups and downs for him and they both need to navigate the spotlight throughout the book.
Ramon de Ocampo narrates this audiobook, and quite frankly, is the reason I selected this ARC. He's the narrator of Red, White, and Royal Blue, which I've listened to multiple times. For Darkhearts, Ramon brings the same wonderful characterizations: just enough voice change to tell who's talking without it being cartoony or over the top.
Overall, this was a lovely story and had great character development. Definitely a recommended read!

*****
I received this audio ARC from Netgalley @netgalley and publisher Macmillan Audio @macmillan.audio in exchange for an honest review.

Darkhearts will be released June 6, 2023

I really enjoyed this book. Although it is a true young-adult novel, I thought there were some interesting insights and themes throughout that can be applied and used by all ages. The relationship between Chance and David is a great example, and illustrates, how realizing your sexuality can be confusing. Additionally, the discussion on what "label" to use was interesting, because ultimately it doesn't depend on a label but instead who you are interested in. I also appreciated the discussion of guilt surrounding Eli's death. Unfortunately, we cannot control other peoples actions, so even if we are privy to self-destructive habits, we can only do so much to have them change their behaviors. Finally, David's realization that his actions have been negatively portrayed by his friends, and rightfully so, resonated because I think we all get caught up with wanting others to like us that we forget to just be good friends, and support those we care about, even if it means being vulnerable and accepting fault.

Overall, I really enjoyed the novel, and the story that supported all of these themes.

The band Darkhearts was started by three friends — Eli, Chance, and David. Before they made it big, David quit the band. He’s been dealing with jealousy ever since. That is until Eli died of alcohol poisoning and Chance came barreling back into David’s life.

Does David has a second chance of a life with Chance? Or maybe a second chance at fame in Darkhearts?

I absolutely loved this book. I completely understand why David was jealous, I’d have been too. Although, his frustration
did get a bit tiring but I think it was needed. The book wouldn’t have been the same without it. I adored seeing David learn about himself, understand why he made certain choices, and really grow from those revelations.

Chance was another fabulous character. I loved to see Chance grieving, growing, trying to be “normal”. I am clearly not famous, nor do I wish to be, but imho the author captured some of the negatives regarding that life quite well.

The secondary characters here definitely added to the plot. David’s best friend and his father were well developed. Chance’s little sister, although not in the book much, added a spark of lighthearted fun. Chance’s management team were ruthless in the best way.

There were were several scenes I wish I could reread again but for the first time. I loved the running from the paparazzi scene, David’s first visit back to Chance’s home, all of the scenes when David is at work, and more.

Solid five start read. I highly recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an arc of this audiobook. I apologize if misspelled any names or locations, I read this via the audio narration. Thanks to Ramon de Ocampo for bringing these characters to life with a wonderful narration.

I received and audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Did I enjoy this audio book, kinda. Does it have issues, very much yes.

Im kinda tired of YA books that present the best friend finding out the MC is queer and making it about them selves and “how dare you not tell me!” That leads to the MC apologizing for it and they are best friends again.
The characters also do very questionable things. One of the characters refers to his mother as “Mom führer” and another character when talking about the possibility of police finding them saying something along the lines of “his pasty white skin will save him”.
This book in particular also rode the line of being young adult and new adult, I wish it just chose one side of the line and stuck there.
Also, I figured the grieving from losing a friend would have been a bigger plot plot but instead to summarize its more like “cry, cry…..oh how will we ever work out?” And the fact that their friend died due to drinking and yet everyone keeps offering them drinks?

Let me preface this review with 2 things. I have listened to Ramon de Ocampo audiobook of Red, White, and Royal Blue numerous times. It's a favorite. And my preferred reading format is audiobook/ kindle combination. (It's the best of both worlds. Listen while driving and working. Switch to Kindle at other times. Especially if I'm invested the story.) Both these affect my review of this audiobook.

I was constantly distracted because I was so familiar with Narator. Most of his voices sounded exactly like his characters from RWRB. I think it was a disservice to compare this book to RWRB in the blurb and then use same narrator. It needed it's own voice.

Storywise it started of good but then slowed down. And I really wanted to know what was going to happen! I went and found that Kindle version was available on Netgalley as well and finished reading there. Will finish Reviewing story on Kindle Edition.

Once I knew how the story ended and because I loved the ending so much, I went back and finished listening.

Book Review 🎸-

Let me just start off by saying that this was my first book by @james_l_sutter and it blew my expectations out of the water!

This book gave me Red, White and Royal Blue, The Charm Offensive and Felix Ever After vibes at different points in the book! It was YA sweet but not super fluffy. I love books about people figuring themselves out and this one hit that mark for me. I definitely recommend checking this one out!

Thank you @wednesdaybooks for my advanced copy and @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for audio for go with it! I loved combining the two!

Darkhearts comes out June 6th, 2023.

Two years ago, David quit the band. Since then, he has lived an ordinary life in Seattle while Eli and Chance, his former bandmates, rose to fame. He never thought he would have to deal with Chance and Eli again. Then Eli dies suddenly. Chance returns to Seattle for the funeral, thrusting Chance and David back together. Now, David must deal with his bitterness and burgeoning feelings for Chance.

Darkhearts is a sweet coming-of-age story. Overall, I enjoyed this book. I am a sucker for a Seattle-based story. While it is very angsty, and there were times that David's overwhelming feelings of resentment drove me crazy, I found myself smiling throughout. I rooted for David and Chance. As for the other characters, David's dad was amazing. Hands down, he was my favorite character in the entire book. David's best friend, Ridley? Not a fan. She was very selfish.

If I have any complaints, I would say Eli's death becomes an afterthought. Ultimately, a plot device to bring Chance and David together. For such an important issue, it could have been handled better. My other issue was the pacing. The first 2/3rds is slowly paced, and the back third felt rushed.

I think people will love this, especially fans of Heartstopper. It is perfect if you are in the mood for an angsty, coming-of-age LGBTQIA+ story.

I did this via audio, and thought the narrator did a great job.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

A great queer romance. I highly recommend for any ally or member of the LGBTQIA+ community. Darkhearts was great.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Young Listeners, Wednesday Books, James L. Sutter, and Ramon de Ocampo (audio narrator) for the opportunity to read and listen to the audiobook of Darkhearts in exchange for an honest review.

Featuring a boy band and a gay enemies-to-lovers romance, Darkhearts is a beutiful contemporary blend of magnificent writing, with songs written and performed by the author himself!

Featuring the complex themes of friendship, love, and fame, this novel centers around David, a teenage boy who gave up his dream of becoming a famous musician when he quit his band in high school, originally formed in middle school. For two years, he has been living an ordinary life in Seattle, while his former bandmates, Chance and Eli, became the biggest teen pop act in America, and David has regrets, considering he was one of the founding members and the main song writer for the band.

After Eli's death (not a spoiler, I promise), David and Chance reunite after years of being estranged. The tension between the two is palpable as old wounds resurface. Among rekindling a friendship and exploring newfound feelings, their course takes quite the unexpected path. A tentative romance follows, but Chance is determined to keep their relationship out of the public eye, fearing that it could damage his career. David is understanding of this, but his resentment and jealousy of his neglected fame opportunity brings unwelcome tensions.

David must choose: Will he give up fame for Chance, or Chance for fame?

A brilliant, well-written novel with a phenomenal narrator for the audiobook, Darkhearts expertly explores the nuances of the music industry and the consequences of fame and fortune on relationships. This is an excellent novel for a young adult audiance seeking romance, LGBTQ, or coming-of-age stories with complex, relatable characters.

This was a cute, quick read, that made me so glad I’m not a teenager anymore. Friends to enemies to friends to lovers, tension, jealousy, and first love. This story had it all. I actually related to David a lot because I feel like kids that age are always wishing they had it as good as their friends, even when their friends aren’t internationally famous singers.
3.5/5 stars

I think overall… meh.

There were things I really liked:
-David working out his feelings
-David’s dad
-some of the sweet moments with Chance

Things that didn’t work for me:
- some of the pop culture references (HP in particular)
-David over arching selfishness
-kinda bland to no plot

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for an advanced listening copy

Delightfully sweet and warm, 2 ex-friends find feelings for one another over music and their shared grief, learning they're bi. A beautiful coming-of-age story, so wonderfully written, and an amazing audiobook!

This one is absolutely swoon worthy.
The pacing slows around 3/4 of the way through, but I think it’s because how much you want Chance and David to make it and you’re afraid of them not ending up together!
I so appreciated David’s coming out. There was no drama or fuss, even from David himself. The vibe was more like, “Interesting; okay I like Chance. Cool; that’s new.”
So refreshing!!
I also loved the depiction of the two boys friendship and romance. It wasn’t all tied up with a beautiful bow. The jokes are crass and the author doesn’t skirt around awkward teenage boy bodies either. It feels real.
I would recommend this to fans of boy bands, those who are looking for affirmation from some of those bands being forced to hide by their labels, as well as fans of I Was Born for This by Alice Oseman.

Darkhearts starts off with a bang, during the funeral of our mc's, David's, ex-band mate's funeral. This is the catalyst that leads to David and Chance spending time together as they attempt to deal with the grief of their friend, old resentment, and new feelings.

There are lots I did like about Darkhearts. Chance was a very realistic and sympathetic character, at first, I was so unsure of him but as his character opened and grew I appreciated him a lot. I liked the setup, and the brutally honest feelings of abandonment, jealousy, and resentment, and how fame affects him. Some of the lines are devastatingly beautiful. I don't think I'll forget hearing: "He looked up at the sky. Starlight playing over the beautiful shipwreck of his grief." Gorgeous. The build-up between David and Chance was done well, the entire chapter of them in the forest- I wish the entire book was THAT. That was good, that sold me, that made me want to read (well, listen.)

Now... for what I didn't like. If you're expecting a hard-hitting novel about the effects of a sudden death- this is not it. Except for minor moments, Eli's death is just a plot device. Which sucks because I truly wanted to feel for this character I'll never get to meet.

Writing wise is a bit repetitive with David's inner monologue consistently voicing his biases and jealousy. I understood it's an essential part of his character, but it didn't make it any easier to listen to over and over again. David himself is an interesting character. For the most part, he's extremely unlikable- which again, I understand is a part of his character. But really the main issue is David is dumb. He makes very obviously bad choices and is surprised when things are bad. He actively doesn't listen and continues to be selfish throughout the story.

I'll also just say: hated Ripley. I hate that kind of character archetype in general because it's never done right. Ripley was gross, selfish, and insensitive. I love a strong female character who's loud and brash, but she was just faults.

There's more I wish the author dove into that would've made the story richer, so unfortunately, a lot of the big moments felt flat or undeserved.

Mostly, the effects of David's mother's behavior and how it affected it. I expected a payoff with his mom, but other than the conversation with his dad it went nowhere. Just like the church plot and the woodworking, David's Etsy store- so many things mentioned and lead up to nothing.

About the audiobook:
I didn't love Ramon de Ocampo for David. It isn't unpleasant but I wouldn't purchase the audiobook personally. Especially when some of the "sexy" lines are read. Not for me.

In all, Darkhearts has the foundations of a great story about grief, pain, abandonment, and the price of fame, however, most of what makes this book good is lost in poor characters and dumb decisions. With that being said, I still enjoyed listening to it and would recommend if you want a palette cleanser.

(a spoiler-free review)
Darkhearts by James L. Sutter
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This was such a fun read for me! I’m a sucker for a good celebrity trope, so when David begins to reconnect with his famous ex-friend Chance after the tragic death of a mutual friend, I was hooked.

Though maybe ‘friend’ is a bit too liberal for what starts off with some enemies-to-lovers vibes. David used to be in a band with Chance and Eli, but quit before they made it big and got signed. They lost touch, and David spent his formative teenage years with nothing but growing resentment for his ex-closest-friends.

Surprisingly, it was the slightly-exaggerated teenage angsty-drama that really sold this storyline for me. David overreacts more than once, and his paranoia and resentment fuel some harsh words and force a scenario or two that might be the final tipping point for the budding relationship between himself and Chance. It was that 'will they, won’t they?' that kept things moving and the reader guessing if the story would have a happy ending right up until the last moment.

It’s difficult not to see the struggle Chance is going through and feel bad for all the times we know David is saying the wrong thing or having the wrong reaction to something happening, but I think it’s a testament to the character - a teenage boy going through a lot of firsts and emotional revelations in a very short period of time - that he doesn’t always know the right thing to do. Being a teenager in love for the first time is all about being too emotional, and impulsive, and figuring out where the line is on some potentially touchy subjects. There were even a few times I rooted against David when he was being particularly dense - we love a flawed idiot in love.

I appreciated the cast of minor characters, too. Ripley has that personality that toes the line between good-natured in-your-face and almost-too-much, which matches her internet presence perfectly. The fact that David works with someone on a construction crew he feels comfortable discussing LGBTQ+ topics with was a nice touch, and the fact that Ripley and David has a nonbinary friend in their group (the second mentioned nonbinary character in the novel!) is all definite plus in my book even if they play a pretty minor role. I love seeing the representation in any form!

Overall if you like conflicting emotions, a little angst, and a lot of budding relationship fun all mixed in with a touch of celebrity drama, I think you should give this story a chance to see if David gets the guy in the end!

(Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance copy of this audiobook! All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

I enjoyed this one a lot. It was a great second-chance romance. I enjoyed seeing the characters grow together and as individuals, especially David. I learned a lot throughout the book. I just loved how their romance developed. It was cute. I also liked the celebrity aspect. Seeing how Chance dealt with the spotlight and had different faces for different people and situations. It was really interesting to see. Overall a good read and I recommend checking it out.

Audiobook specific: I love Ramon de Ocampo. Great narrator. That is all!

Content warning: body shaming, absent parent, grief, death by alcohol poisoning

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

A queer, coming of age love story, featuring two bi/pan/omnisexual cis-male MCs. There were aspects of the book, as well as descriptions that I found a little problematic. All in all I enjoyed the overall concept of the book — especially the conversation around biphobia and the spectrum of sexuality.

After all… as it was so aptly described in the story: "Sexuality is ... like this cinnamon roll. You see it. You think, damn that looks good! So you eat it. If you like it, you do it again."

Thanks NetGalley and James Sutter for this audio ARC!

I dnfed at 10%
There is something so funny (cringe?) about having a main character addicted to vaping. There were definitely a lot of pop culture elements in this book. I know that can make or break a review for some.
The characters were all very juvenile. It felt like listening to middle schoolers talk.
I was really excited for this book and the plot but it was just to much for me.

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Young Listeners sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Darkhearts is a cute and quick read but ultimately, I think this is going to be forgettable to me. I found the story to be quite repetitive at times. I felt like our main characters were having the same arguments over and over again, with nothing ever getting resolved. I also thought it lacked development in general but especially with our MC.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for providing me of an audiobook arc in exchange for a honest review.

I received this as an audiobook ARC from NetGalley, and I am so pleased that I did.

Darkhearts follows the story of David and Chance, former teenage band mates who parted ways just before their band, Darkhearts, rose to fame and stardom. David is resentful of Chance for having made it big and leaving him behind, but the two reconnect after the funeral for Eli, the 3rd member of the band.

What starts off as rivals-to-friends quickly transforms into rivals-to-friends-to-lovers as Chance and David discover some of the tension brewing between them is romantic. While Chance had always been slightly ambiguous with his sexuality, David had never considered he was anything but straight until Chance's lips met his.

While the two boys embark on a blossoming romance, they have to contend with paparazzi and fans, keeping their newfound connection a secret and out of the limelight, and David's repressed jealousy and insecurities from the past that threaten to boil over.

The writing was beautiful, and the banter was witty. I love the chemistry between David and Chance. I appreciated how the characters grew throughout the story and became more self-aware of themselves as their relationship developed.