Matching Heartbeats by Valerie Best was a great emotional YA story.
This romance story took me by surprise and held me captivate. I found it beautifully written and very engaging.

This was a lovely easy read with the sweetest teen romance.

My favourite thing about this book was how vivid the descriptions were of the landscape, it almost felt like fantasy world building at times which I absolutely loved. I also loved the relationships between the characters, both the positive and negative ones.

The way Suz learnt that running can be a joyful way to find peace rather than a forcing silence on herself was really lovely. Personally, I wish there was more of a circular resolution to Suz looking after herself more but I did find that the heartbreak at the end was well done.

This was a lovely easy read with beautifully written relationships and a stunningly described landscape. This is definitely YA but perfect for an easy read!

In Matching Heartbeats, Susanna is taken along to the outskirts of civilization with her mother’s documentary crew to the farthest reaches of Canada. While there, they discover a family that’s been living off the grid for decades. While the father and older daughters seem content with this life, it quickly becomes apparent that the son, Benjamin, wants to see more of the world.

There were many things to like about this book. The plot and setting instantly drew me in. The prose was lyrical and easy to get lost in. The dynamics with Susanna and her mother as they balanced being a normal family and being a part of the documentary as it unfolded were fascinating.

Ultimately a few things nagged at me and keep me from giving the book a full five stars. Susanna and Benjamin’s massive amount of running mileage just didn’t make sense. If they had to conserve food due to the remote regions and scarcity, it doesn’t make sense to waste resources by running 10+ miles every day. And I wanted to know more about the backstory behind Benjamin’s family fleeing to the wilderness and its implications! I felt like this was completely glossed over. I wanted more umph in the side characters too, it felt like they were just names on a page without real personalities. It just needed a little more of everything to felt flushed out.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you Netgalley and 8th Note Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“Matching Heartbeats” by Valerie Best is an immersive, emotional YA book that explores the themes of self-discovery and healing. The story follows seventeen-year-old Susanna, a passionate but troubled runner from Brooklyn, whose life takes an unexpected turn when she accompanies her mother on a documentary research trip to the Canadian wilderness (close to the Arctic Circle). Initially dreading the isolation of the remote wilderness, Susanna’s outlook changes when she meets Benjamin, a young man who has lived his entire life cut off from civilization.

The book does a fantastic job of capturing the restless energy and yearning for something “more” that many teenagers experience. I think that many young readers will be able to relate to Susanna as she is self-aware yet struggling with her own internal battles. Her running habit, which initially seems self-destructive, becomes a metaphor for her emotional journey. Throughout the book, we witness Susanna’s growth as she learns to channel her passion for running into a positive outlet rather than an overwhelming obsession. I do wish there were more open communication regarding Susanna’s mental health, especially from her mother, but she does emotionally grow and mature throughout the book.

The setting of the Canadian wilderness is beautifully rendered, with Best’s writing transporting you to a place of stark beauty and isolation. The description of the landscape, the sounds of the woods, and the never-setting midnight sun all contribute to a sense of quiet introspection that permeates the novel. This backdrop serves as the perfect canvas for Susanna and Benjamin’s budding relationship, which, although fast-paced, feels natural within the context of the story.

Benjamin, with his isolated upbringing and warm, genuine nature, provides a contrast to Susanna’s urban life. Their connection is immediate and intense, mirroring the swift pace of the book itself. While I did wish for more of Benjamin’s perspective, his character’s simplicity and straightforwardness complement Susanna’s more complex internal struggles. Their relationship, though rapidly developing, feels authentic to the heightened emotions of teenage love.

One of the strengths of “Matching Heartbeats” is its emotional depth. The book doesn’t shy away from exploring difficult themes, such as Susanna’s possible depression. The ending, in particular, is both heart-wrenching and hopeful, leaving you with a deep sense of appreciation for life’s quiet moments and the peace found in nature. The ending made me tear up while also making me appreciate nature more. The emotional resonance of the story lingers long after the final page, making it a memorable read.

Overall, “Matching Heartbeats” is a compelling and beautifully written novel that will resonate with both young adult readers and older audiences alike. Its exploration of the wilderness, the beauty of running, and the emotional growth of Susanna make it a standout in the genre. Valerie Best has crafted a story that is both fast-paced and deeply reflective, offering a story that is as much about finding peace within oneself as it is about discovering new worlds.

I think the summary of this book encapsulates it really well. Susanna likes to run, a lot. Her experience as an unsure teen mimics what my own was like and I think was written in a relatable way. I really appreciated the setting of this. Susanna ending up in the unexpected arctic was a great back drop to discover more about the world and really life’s meaning.

Also, as someone who grew up in the arctic region, I appreciated the description of the isolation and the sounds of the woods. I think this is a really great young adult novel for young adults, but that it could also be appreciated by an older audience.
Teenagers experience things in such intense depth right away that this story, even though it felt like it went 0-100, felt true to an adolescent experience.


My wish for this book is that some of the side characters had more personality. Although I recognized the different names and their roles in the crew, there wasn’t as much dimension or personality that came through. Although being in the first person, perhaps Suz was just so hyper focused that she wasn’t recognizing their personalities.

I feel like the people Susanna encounters in the woods had much more personality than the crew she was with and did enjoy more of their presence in the end of the book.

As an extreme casual runner (I run 10-15 miles a week compared to Suz 60+) I can’t imagine running 17 miles without water or snacks, so that also seemed a little unbelievable but kids will be kids.

Overall I rate this 4 stars, which for me is an enjoyable novel that didn’t necessarily elicit strong emotions. I hope others that read this book enjoy it as well.