Thank you Andrews McMeel Publishing and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. Laurie struggle making ends meet in London. Luckily his best friend got him an interview with hot celebrity chef Oryan Adjei, which he’ll write for a magazine. Laurie realizes that there is more to Oryan than what other people see. When the magazine contracts more interviews the two will spend more time together. Oryan enjoys talking to Laurie because Laurie is the only person who seems to see past the celebrity. Laurie is trying to keep things professional but he can’t help falling for Oryan. However Oryan seems to be holding back. Also his boss at the magazine is pushing for more intimate details of Oryan’s life, Laurie doesn’t want to deliver them. Will something more develop between the two? Or will things end in disaster? This is a really sweet and charming story! Laurie is kind and caring and Oryan is humble and kind. I enjoyed the progression of their relationship! There’s also some good disability representation! The artwork is gorgeous and I love how it slightly changes throughout the story! Jem Milton did a fantastic job with this! Highly recommend if you enjoy graphic novels!

Absolutely lovely, 5 ⭐️s. Hungry Heart’s art is everything —I love author Jem Milton’s comic style. Their color, like their drawing, is beautiful: grounded in realism, yet loose and alive. The overall effect is vibrant, dreamy and emotional and *fun*, lifting the story up and letting it shine.

Hungry Heart is a queer, contemporary romance that brings together two young Londoners, Laurie and Oryan, both working hard in careers that demand more from them they want to—or should—give. They’re each struggling, too, despite their best efforts: Laurie is a food writer, working for a demanding (grasping) editor while struggling with an eating disorder he tries to ignore and hide from others, and Oryan is a young but successful talented chef dealing with sudden fame and the profound lack of privacy that comes with it, and a breakup that has the public giving him no space at all. They meet to discuss food for Laurie’s column, and things go surprisingly well—and keep going well. It’s a bit opposites-attract, as Laurie and Oryan have very different lives and personalities—Laurie’s eating disorder is rooted in unhappy family dynamics and poor self image, but he loves food and is an understanding, kind person. Oryan is literally in ad campaigns that play up his natural beauty but he’s being harassed in public & online, has difficulty making space to be himself, and is worried & struggling with his sexuality and acceptance from his family…but we learn Oryan too, is sensitive and kind, and like Laurie, needs a friend.

As Oryan and Laurie’s interview series progresses, they slowly tip into each other’s lives, and their attraction to and understanding for one another grows. With it comes complications—Laurie’s anxiety and poor self image clashes badly with Oryan’s hurting but entitled ex-girlfriend, Viola, who lashes out with mean girl claws at Laurie for daring to take up Oryan’s attention. Oryan doesn’t fully understand Laurie’s complicated relationship with food and eating (Oryan loves food and wants to share it with Laurie, but that’s easier said than done), and his easy confidence and acceptance of some measure of public awareness leaves Laurie terrified that a repeat of the body shaming & bullying he experienced in school is imminent.

As Laurie and Oryan slowly find that their connection could be something special, they realize they each have work to do on themselves and in their relationship—and find that they’ll have to stand up for themselves and each other if they want a future together.

While their romance—and love of food—is the center of Hungry Heart, Laurie’s flatmate Pepper, their queer, eclectic group of friends and his family/parent issues really expand the story, adding an entertaining (and sometimes frustrating!) view into why Laurie’s struggling and where he needs to grow. Oryan’s delightfully aloof cat, protective sister Amma and loving family flesh out Oryan’s inner life. Peeks into those conversations shed light on how he can be simultaneously so confident yet disconnected from his inner self, even a little afraid. It’s a visually and emotionally satisfying graphic novel, unique and lovely.

Laurie, a food critic, gets to interview chef of the moment Oryan. Despite a somewhat awkward introduction, they slowly grow closer together.

There is so much to love about this graphic novel! From a truly diverse cast to the warm and inviting art style that perfectly fits the story. I devoured it in one sitting. The natural flow to the story and dialogue just kept me turning page after page.

It is invaluable for any person with a marginalized identity to see (parts of) themself represented in stories. As a disabled, pansexual person with an eating disorder I have never seen so many of them come together in a single story. Just like Oryan feels seen by Laurie, I feel seen by the author, because of what they put down on paper.

“I would describe myself as pansexual.” “But explaining that to people... ….it's easier to let people think I'm bisexual than it is to correct them.”

The devil is in the details. From the lighter skin on the palms of the black people in this story, to the person in the wheelchair not being able to attend the rooftop party. These little inclusions show Milton is giving us true representation, and not just lip service.

The romance is very sweet and develops naturally over the course of the graphic novel. I found myself rooting for the main couple and even feeling some butterflies near the end.

Hungry Heart is perfect for fans of Alice Oseman's Heartstopper and N.D. Stevenson's Nimona.

TW: eating disorder, racism, queerphobia

Thank you Andrews McMeel Publishing and Jem Milton for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A beautiful graphic novel that tackles some difficult topics. This is great for fans of Heartstopper and food. I love the development between the two mains and I hope to read the next volume!

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

This was a cute book with decent representation and discussion of queerness, race, and mental health. There's also a diverse range with other side characters (who I hope will be explored more in further volumes). I would have liked to see some aspects be explored deeper and the ending felt a bit abrupt, but this is a continuing series, so I hope to see this approached in further volumes. Overall, it's a cute graphic novel with lovely art.

I wasn't familiar with the comic prior to reading Hungry Heart in this format, so I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but I really enjoyed it. The art was very appealing, and I felt it complemented the tone of the story well. The story itself was lighthearted while also touching on some heavier topics, including eating disorders, homophobia, racism, and mental health. There was also quite a bit of representation in this book: a gay MC, a Black pansexual LI, a disabled Black lesbian SC, and several other queer and POC characters.

The romance between Laurie and Oryan was present but not necessarily the main focus. Instead, you're able to get to know both characters as individuals outside of their relationship with one another, which I found really nice.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McNeel Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book sucked me in and I could not put it down! The characters felt so real and I became invested very quickly! I absolutely loved this and will be watching for more