Wow. That's the best word to describe this book.

It was so dark, it almost feels wrong to say that I loved it, but I did. The title comes from the move Heathers - essentially a story about bullying that escalates. It's also about power, alienation and mental illness.

One thing that I loved was that in class, they were told to re-imagine a movie and update it for current times. That's what this book was.

I thought I knew where this book was going, but I was wrong. It was more twisted and yet more hopeful than I expected.

It is marketed as young adult, but I think it's for everyone - especially those who remember their high school days. If you were bullied in any way, you can relate to this book. If you remember the peer pressure and the desire to fit in, you will relate to this book.

This stood out, and I will remember it for a while.

Absolutely brilliant! A powerful storyline with some brilliant twists to keep readers of most ages hooked; I found it incredibly difficult to put this book down once I'd started! Great characterisation with loads of clever inter textual references to films from the 1970s up to the modern day. The story follows the challenges that most of us face when in high school: the omnipresent hierarchy of popularity and its abuse of power but with dramatic consequences! Highly recommended!!!!

Very well written novel about bullying, but so much more than that, very disturbing content. Be prepared to be frightened,, horrified and stunned, but definitely worth reading.

“What’s your damage?”

Ok, full disclosure, Heathers is one of my all time favourite films. The first time I saw it, I was way too young to be watching it and found myself misunderstanding a lot of what was going on. I revisited it as an older teenager and saw my friends, my enemies and my school is this film. It was funny, raw, honest and brutal. Just like high school.

Love, Heather is not a retelling of those awesome cult film, but there are references throughout, some clear and obvious, others hidden to only true Heathers fans. Or obsessives!

The main character, Stevie, finds herself ostracised in school, kicked out of the popular gang by her best friend and soon buddies up with Dee, a new girl at school who recruits her and other bullied teens to take action against those that hurt them.

I do not condone what Stevie does in this book, but it’s interested to see from the perspective of someone pushed into that position. Damn, kids can be mean. And adults can be blind.

The twist was clear, if I’m honest, but it didn’t detract from the importance or the truthfulness of this book. I loved reading it and would recommend it to all YA readers who want to read something realistic.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. This in no way influenced my review or my opinions of this book.

I received an arc from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I read Love, Heather in one sitting because it was simply so captivating and believable. The premise is a coming-off-age story inspired by classic teenage flicks from the 80's and 90's, and the execution is just so well done. The characters are believable in every way, the dialogue and lingo never feels forced and they come off as nuanced and well thought out all of them.
The very beginning of the novel had a couple of huge info dumps, but for me, that was fine. It set the premise and backdrop of the story in a believable fashion. The only thing to pick at is that the characters felt a bit older than they were. I'm not well-versed in American/Canadian school systems, and I honestly believed they were 17 until halfway through the novel, when they are revealed to be 14.
This novel is contemporary in every sense of the word, talking about issues such as bullying, rape culture and mental illness.

I wouldn't say you necessarily have to watch Heathers to read this, but seeing as Heathers is an excellent movie, I would highly recommend it. There are a lot of characters throughout the novel that are clearly inspired by the film, and small details come through and connects the movie in more subtle ways.

I highly recommend this, it is a must-read for 2019!

"I want to burn everything to the ground and emerge brand new: a strong, happy, funny, confident Phoenix--Love Heather, Laurie Petrou







The sentiment of wanting to burn everything down isn't new, particularly when we are talking about high school students. I'm sure not all of us, but equally sure a lot of us, can empathize with that idea. Maybe you've even had it yourself a time or two. It's not even an earth shatteringly different idea for a kid in a fiction novel to try to do just that: to create chaos, to right wrongs, to get revenge. This book isn't shocking and it's plot isn't a revolutionary one. The cool thing is, that's not the point at all.



Love, Heather is about the pain you feel when you find yourself alone. High school freshman, Stevie, is alone. Her parents divorced and both her mom and her dad are more worried about making their new lives than trying to make sure Stevie's life is working out. Her best friend since childhood, Lottie, has started hanging out with a new crowd (friendship breakups: what's more relate-able than that?). In short, everyone that Stevie should be able to count on is gone.



Enter Dee, a new friend who helps Stevie find the power to burn it all to the ground. Who seems to know her thoughts from the inside out. Who is exactly what Stevie was missing.







Now, given the title and references to the book, it's pretty clear that "Dee" is just a platonic, female version of J.D. from Heathers. Even the name smacks of intertextuality, so this goes a little deeper than mild references (hello, even the title and movement within the book is a nod to the film). That's not to say you can't enjoy this book if you haven't seen Heathers, but honestly, if you haven't I have two questions for you: what's your damage? Did you have a brain tumor for breakfast? Watch it. Winona Ryder, Shannon Doherty, Christian Slater . . . there's no risk here.



Movie gushing aside, this book was really good. Personal overshare here: I have three children, so while I read more than most, it takes a lot for me to put it all on hold and read for hours on end. I had trouble putting this one down because a) there's a thing I wanted to see if I was right about and b) it was really fast paced and enjoyable.



Okay, so you know how books about high school usually fall into the two extremes of being overly precious or so overly dramatic they read like a Lifetime movie script? this one, one that had so much chance of going totally off the cliff, really didn't. It felt very authentic to what it's like to be in that weird, liminal space of adolescence. sure, Stevie was self-absorbed and had a tendency to make things about her: isn't that the hallmark of being a teenager? But the other stuff, the big, thematic stuff, worked. Petrou discussed sexuality and gender and consent in ways that actually felt like they were just things the character was experiencing, rather than some super edgy, look-at-this-social-problem manifesto. this is a worthwhile read for anyone middle school aged or older. Obviously it's a bit dark for anyone younger than that and I'm sure many will even say it's too much for a middle school kid, but. . . I would argue they are forgetting what middle school really looks like. This is it, y'all. This is youth at its meanest and most honest.



Loved it.



5/5

https://bibwithblog.blogspot.com/2019/04/love-note-to-dark-teenage-comedies-of.html

I went into this book initially not knowing what to expect. I decided that I should not keep my expectations very high and that if I was pleasantly surprised then well wouldnt that be pleasant. Soon into reading it, I found that I did not want to stop! Love, Heather is simply thrilling and heart-wrenching. I laughed and cried and laughed and cried and cried some more. I was completely hooked and could not put this book down. I HIGHLY recommend this book to absolutely everyone.

My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Basic Plot: Young Stevie is hounded by bullies both physically and online. What to do? What to do?
She and her new friend Dee devise a way to get back at the bullies, but the entire project takes on a horrifying life of its own. This book gets better the further you get into the story = and the conclusion of this novel was truly riveting.
These type of stories need to be told: we must never become complacent. It seems to me that we need to curb that part of human nature that immediately capitalizes in a shift of power. We need to be teaching empathy, tolerance and compassion to school children at an early age - especially if we want to evolve into a humane, and not just a human, race.
Very well written, and yet another story set in Ontario, Canada and written by a fellow Canadian. Highly recommended.

An exciting and heartbreaking read!

I think we can all connect to Stevie as she struggles with the changes surrounding her at her high school. We all know what it's like to have a friendship begin to fade and to feel isolated, but to have everyone turn against is something entirely different. I felt so badly for Stevie and I could feel my anger rising up in me at the unfairness o her situation. The middle dragged a little bit, as it seemed to be just a repetition of bad behavior (from students at one of the worst behaved fictional high schools ever!), but the ending was strong with a twist I hadn't seen coming.

wow! holy amazing!
i kind of want to read this a second time to pick up on anything missed now knowing what I know. This was a very dark book and i will admit I had a lot of emotions. I became so attached to Stevie and wanted to hug her and tell her high school isn’t forever. I had genuine tears in my eyes a few times. The author did a beautiful job at portraying High School Mean girls and the other side of it: the victim.
I also loved the 80s movies references. Having grown up watching Heathers, this book packed a punch for me.
well deserving of 5 stars.
thank you #NetGalley, the author and the publisher for me free ARC in exchange for my honest review.
5 star cover too.

I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is so intense and just floods you with emotion. I really became attached to the characters and there were times that I was genuinely crying while reading this book.

The author's writing was so beautifully expressive and the characters were written so realistically. The characters are authentic and you can feel the emotions of them. This book hit really hard for me and I'd strongly recommend it to everyone, regardless of age group.

It's a heart-wrenching read that will make you laugh and cry. I think that its message will really resonate with a lot of people. It deals with a lot of big issues, like bullying and mental illness.

This is definitely a must read. I highly recommend this for anyone!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have read many novels about bullying in schools and I found this one to be the most disturbing of any I have read. There was a major twist towards the end of the novel that I was not prepared for, but looking back it should have been obvious. Stevie is a high school student who thinks that her life is great, she is comfortable with her best friend Lottie and her parents are also like parents to Stevie. Once Lottie becomes friendly with Paige, a popular girl, their friendship changes. This novel deals with the effects of bullying and sexual assault on young women. Thank you NetGalley for this digital copy of this novel.

Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC of Love, Heather by Laurie Petrou. Although this is a fictional story, it hits on the current issues in our society today: transgender, bullying, cyber bullying and the rape culture. This story is about high school teenagers and how they do or don't fit in with the popular students. Those that get bullied face the pain daily as others either stand by and do nothing or don't realize what is going on. References to the movie "Heathers" is made throughout the book. This is an emotional book to read.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 Wow. Thiis is a tough review to write because it was a tough subject to read. I applaud @lauriepetrou for taking on these subjects. They are in the news every day and cannot be ignored. School shootings, bullying, rape culture. #whenisenoughenough #wasitreallythatbad .

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read and review this book!

Stevie's world is constantly changing around her. Her lifelong best friend is slipping away, her mom is dating, her dad is woefully out of touch with her life, and she's losing the security of life how she knows it. At the moment when her world is fracturing around her, she discovers a new friend, Dee. But will Dee be savior or her downfall?

This book is an amazing portrait at how a thousand little cuts can turn into a dangerous wound that can cost a life. It shows how insidious bullying is, and how it affects every corner of one's life, especially today. There's a huge twist that was unexpected, but as I looked back after finishing the novel, I saw how perfectly it was set up. I

Love, Heather by Laurie Petrou shows the raw side of being a teenager when friendships hinge on something as simple as how you answer a text or what you wear. The teenage years can be brutal. Just when all of Stevie’s friends turn on her and make her the school slut along comes Dee, an edgy new-comer who is not afraid to call people out. Dee is sick of the way some teens treat each other and decides it’s time to turn the tables. At first it is little pranks meant to embarrass the bullies and make them back off, always signed with Love, Heather. Everyone is wondering who Heather is. Some are calling her a hero, some call her a bully herself, others start mimicking “Heather” by doing their own revenge stunts always signing “Love, Heather”. Soon it is out of hand and the pranking becomes worse. Stevie feels she needs to try to do something to take it down a notch, but Dee presses on. Someone is going to get hurt.
This book kept me interested until the end...no spoilers, but the last several chapters could have been wrapped up more efficiently. Once the climax happened, it was time to wrap it up. I applaud the author for her no-holds barred look at bullying in schools. It’s tough and she captures it perfectly.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley!!

Love, Heather is a young adult thriller.
Dee and Stevie decided it was time to payback the bullies in their high school. So they started some minor forms of revenge and would sign it with a note saying "love, heather" as a homage to their favorite '80's flick. For awhile, it worked. It seemed the bullies had learned a lesson, until anonymous people started joining in with violent acts.

The book shows you how difficult bullying truly is, especially now. it also proves how all these little things can add up into one powerful horrible thing.

I read this in one day. Its such a facinating story. The scary thing about this book is how human it is. How human Stevie is. It showcases the journey of how someone can become something else entirely.
I think its also easy to forget how much our words and actions impact others and how easily we can impact someones mental health.

In terms of writing, i feel as though the middle dragged a little bit, i felt my self skimming some paragraphs just to find the next bit of action. Also the whole character of Dee just confused me a little, but maybe that was the point.
I think its a interesting read especially regarding alot of crime in the US at the moment. It highlights the importance of mental health all throughout the book and how we all can help others not feel so alone in this world.

I did feel a little like the author tried to downplay some of Stevie's actions with Love, Heather and the end scenes and i really wish she hadn't. I dont know if ill be the only one to think this but im going to be honest and say considering her actions, alot of the time it felt like she got off easy.
I rated this a little higher than I was going to just for how raw her emotion was in the beginning and how much i feel that people can relate to it, but from about a third into the book it did get a little weird.

3.5
I recieved an arc of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Once I finished reading this book, I was utterly stunned. I couldn’t quite comprehend the journey this book took me on and how the story played out. There is so much to unpack here and there are so many important things explored so I’m going to try and pin the main ones down whilst giving you my review

Heathers inspired – The acts of vengeance in this book are inspired by the 80’s film Heathers, in which the popular crowd are taken down by a couple of outsiders. Much like in the film, in Love, Heather the acts of revenge start spiralling out of control and Stevie starts to realise this, but is too caught up in the whirlwind that she and Dee have created.

Bullying – This book does an incredible job at exploring Bullying and the many different ways it can happen in the social media age. Given that I was a teen not so long ago and it’s only been around 4 years since I left high school, the depiction of bullying and social pressures felt VERY realistic and true to life, in my opinion. While the instances of bullying in the novel range from snide comments to more serious acts of physical and sexual violence, I respect the fact that Petrou doesn’t shy away from portraying these terrible but sadly realistic incidents. Just because it doesn’t happen to you personally, doesn’t mean it’s non existent and I think this will resonate with readers who may currently be in high school or those who have left semi-recently.
Female friendship – Love, Heather delves into the complicated, messy and loving world of female friendships. This theme was something I could relate to personally as my friendships are one of the most important things in my life. I feel like readers will be able to relate to the painful emotion of losing a friend, or feeling them becoming more distant and how all encompassing this feels when you’re in your teens. It does feel like the end of the world and for characters like Stevie who rely heavily on her best friend, as she doesn’t have a close bond with her mother, it can mean even more.

Stevie – The protagonist of this novel is a young teen named Stevie who at the outset of this novel is secure in her beliefs and life. She has her childhood best friend, Lottie along with Lotties parents who are like her second family and she is doing well at school. Pretty fast though, things seem to go downhill and she finds herself ostracised and targeted every single day. I felt so much empathy for her especially when it comes to her home life, where her mother is completely self centred and oblivious to the pain Stevie is in. While I definitely don’t support Stevies actions in the later part of the novel and at the end, it’s clear to see it was a culmination of things which results in a terrible final act.

Overall, I strongly believe that Love, Heather is a deeply important and timely novel which explores a variety of issues facing teens today. Ranging from bullying, depression, eating disorders, trolling on social media to sexual harassment and assault. While it’s not without its flaws, it’s a powerful portrayal of the high school experience nevertheless.

A darkly, wicked and at times timely tale of bullying. #LoveHeather is a suspenseful, thrilling novel that young adult will gravitate toward.

Oh, man. Wow. Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Love, Heather is important and heavy and hard-hitting and unfortunately a realistic look into so many peoples lives.

I first requested this book because of the Heathers reference figuring I was getting myself into a dark comedy. I wasn’t. This is not a comedy, but I’m glad I kept reading anyway.

Love, Heather follows high school freshman Stevie as she navigates her absent mother, crumbling lifelong friendship with her best friend, the transition of an old family friend, and the trials of being 14. And that’s all before the bullying starts.

This book takes what you think you know about bullying and flips it onto its head. It’s going to be SUCH a good book for discussion. I recommend it to parents of teenagers as well.

TW- bullying (a broad spectrum of it), sexual assault, transphobia, slut shaming, mental illness

A hard hitting look into the teenage psych. This book delves into the tough issues that all teenagers deal with at some point such as bullying, eating disorders, LGBTQ, social media and cyber bullying, fake friends and just the trial and tribulations of growing up in general. I'm sure the topic of this book will hit close to home withany who will read it. I found the plot to be original and thought the characters felt real and relatable. This story was heartbreaking, expertly written, gritty and truthful.

I feel privileged to have been allowed to read and review an advanced copy of this book thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Crooked Lane Books.

Simply put, I adored it.

"Why doesn't anyone ever stop these guys? How different would the school be if they were as afraid as I am, if there were actual consequences for their actions, if they were somehow kept in line?"

When Stevie's best friend turns on her and everyone in school follows, school becomes a nightmare for her. In her new found isolation and loneliness, she meets the confidently individual Dee, and together they decide to take revenge on the bullies who are making her life hell.

For anyone who's ever been the victim of bullying, this book will resonate. It is an incredibly honest and insightful story, and at times uncomfortable to read. The book addresses so many issues that young people today face - bullying on social media, mental health, rape culture, gender identity etc. - and it does this with intelligence and respect.

I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of YA contemporary novels. It was genuinely fantastic and I can't wait to read more by Laurie Petrou.

So, I requested this book from Netgalley based on the cover alone (which I often do). I had no idea that it would cover one of my favorite movies of all time: Heathers! That was a great surprise, but I had no idea what was in store for me!

This novel covers topics such as transgender issues, date-rape culture, divorce issues, bullying, and violence. Many of these points were cleverly disguised and many were brought to the forefront with an urgent message.

And the twist??? OMG! The twist!!! I didn’t see it coming and I’m usually pretty good at guessing these things. And it’s a great twist!

With Heathers as one of the movie backdrops of the book, it should not be surprising what happens at the end, but it is shocking. And heartbreaking. As a teacher, this book scared me. As a reader, it entertained me (and taught me). Read this!

Stevie, a film buff has her own YouTube channel called FlickChick and her best friend Lottie. When a chance encounter brings them into the same social circle as the cool kids of Woepine High School, Stevie begins to feel the strain it causes on her and Lottie's relationship. A misunderstanding results in Stevie suddenly becoming the school pariah. Exiled by Lottie and the others and bullied relentlessly at school and online. With no one to turn to Stevie sinks into a state of depression...that is until Dee sends her a message. Dee is fearless and bold, everything Stevie wishes she could be. Dee convinces Stevie that the school bullies should pay for how they treat people, an anonymous revenge plot with each act signed Love, Heather. When the pranks begin to get out of hand, Stevie must decide if she wants out of the game for good or if she will see it through to the final act.

Love, Heather is a contemporary YA fiction novel that explores bullying in today’s society where the harassment doesn't end at school, often leaving no reprieve from the hate as it targets them at home and online via social media. With increasing acts of school violence, this hard-hitting novel looks at those acts that often escape the watchful eyes of parents and teachers. Although this book and its characters are fictitious, I felt that it captured the often tragic consequences of these actions. I really enjoyed this novel and found the characters very relatable. This novel does have some material that may be a trigger for some individuals however, I felt that the material was relevant to the plot and not graphic in nature. A very enjoyable novel with a strong message...a must read.

What an amazing YA thriller! Absolutely loved the storyline and the heroes. The writer spins a beautiful tale abd draws you in slowly but surely.

Rating: 4/5
Queer: two trans characters! (cw: transphobia is mentioned throughout; not by the main character herself)
ARC: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Summary: (paraphrased; taken from book summary)
Bullying is a tough, tough experience, and when Stevie and Dee decide to punish those for vengeance, things get out of control. Stevie feels alone and unprotected, desperate to find justice in the things happening to her. Dee has the idea to get them all back with a few pranks, signing them with Love, Heather - in honour of the ‘80s revenge flick.

The ‘pranks’ grow from being between Stevie, Dee, and their group of friends, to being done by anonymous people. And when it finally swallows them whole, one will reemerge changed, with a plan for one final, terrifying act of revenge.

Review:

Well, holy shit! I’ll be the first to say: I’m more into lighter reads, with fluffier topics, and generally avoid darker, edgier stuff. But this? SO. WORTH. THE. READ. AHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Totally worth it.

First, I want to say: I absolutely love how quick Stevie is to adjust to Pete. How she stands up for him. How she is totally accepting, and wants to ensure that Pete know she’s in his corner. I think this was an excellent way to show how profound the effects of having a strong adult in one’s life is, and even when Stevie felt that she was losing Pete, she never once stopped standing up for him.

I felt for Pete a lot, because he tried to reach out, but it wasn’t quite enough for Stevie. And that’s not Pete’s fault at all. He couldn’t have understood the magnitude of what was happening, not really. Not just from seeing Stevie in class. Plus, he had his own journey to go on, and he was probably very much wrapped up with his family life.

I love Lottie, even when I was frustrated with her antics in the beginning. About half way through one of Stevie’s thoughts, I had the epiphany: Lottie simply felt more comfortable talking about her stuff with Paige than Stevie. And that’s totally okay. From Stevie’s perspective, it wasn’t, and I get why it hurt. But Lottie needed to deal with things on her own. Perhaps she could’ve communicated her needs more, but she’s a strong girl. She distanced herself from people who didn’t make her feel good anymore, which I love about her.

Dee. Ooooh, boy. I have a lot to say about Dee, but without spoiling anything, I’m going to go with this: Dee is terrifying. Absolutely terrifying. I loved her. She gave me goosebumps with how readily abusive she was, and she was such a interesting character to read. She gave no fucks.

The ending: I didn’t see it coming.

Which I think speaks volumes about how important this book is. Because all the signs were right there when I looked back on it - hindsight is 20/20. But as soon as I realized where it was heading, I was like, “Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit.” On the edge of my seat (metaphorically, in reality I was lying on my bed desperately wishing I could read faster).

When the book was coming back from the pivotal moment, my mind was racing. And it was so damn good. The thoughts of Stevie, the recovery, the growth... it was very important.

And the note from the author made me very happy. I appreciated the additional view. I think this book could benefit from having a few pages at the end with phone numbers for help lines and stuff.

(Also, it was set in Ontario, Canada! What up! I rarely find books set here. So, that was a nice surprise to see my home terf dealing with topics that are usually US-focused.)

Anyway, it’s a heavy book! Worth the read! But that said...

There are a shit ton of content warnings that people should be aware of (below, under cut, censored) but the author does a really good job in dealing with them all, I think.

OUT OF CONTEXT SPOILERS AHEAD FOR CONTENT WARNING PURPOSES:

* s/xual assault and r/pe
* bullying
* transphobia (including, but not limited to, the t*slur, misgendering, misnaming)
* homophobia
* v/mit
* cruel pranks
* two girls kiss during truth or dare to please a straight male
* h/spital scene (no death)
* mental health issues
* absent parents
* cheating
* online harassment
* slut shaming
* g/n
* e/ting disorder

That was completely eye-opening and sobering. Bullying is so very wrong and destructive. Never more so than in today's age of social media where everyone feels they are entitled to a platform and the whole world is just hanging on them to weigh in on things. It is so much easier to sit behind the protection of a screen and tear apart someone else's life without having to consider the consequences...but I digress. This is a supposed to be a book review. Our heroine, oddly NOT named Heather, is your typical awkward young teen. Stevie is just out of reach of being one of the popular kids, but she isn't quite part of the geek squad either. She's the subject of some bullying, because teenagers can be awful, mean-spirited mini-arseholes!! Enter Dee, who convinces her that these people deserve a little payback. Thus the beginning of Love, Heather, a series of pranks against those most deserving, with each act sealed with the Love, Heather signature. But soon, things spiral out of control. More people become involved and the acts of revenge become more hateful and damaging, leading to a final act that has enormous consequences for so many. This book tells the story of why we all need to do our part to be a little kinder and accepting of one another - and the lesson needs to start early in life.

'How bad does it have to be for us to do something? How much bad? How bad can we be in return?'

As a 90s kid, this book almost reads like a horror/cautionary tale to me. I'm lucky enough to be just old enough that I survived school years without everyone owning a mobile phone and when social media was in its infancy, yet young enough to 'get' it.

This book comes across as current and is no doubt going to appeal to teenagers/YA while also being intriguing enough to capture the attention of a not quite so young adult; I really enjoyed the references to films like Carrie and Mean Girls, the characters are well formed and the story is intense and makes you want to keep reading. Its quite a feat to pull off really!

It toes the frail line between what is revenge and what is just bullying and I found it fascinating the way the author explored the morally grey area between the two.

I hope this book does as well as it deserves to do, it's the type of thing that I would actually love to see be made into a film too!

I am a huge fan of YA and this book blew me away. When revenge goes wrong what do you do? Wow. Bullying is never right. In this book those who were being bullied wouldn't put up with it anymore, and they would do whatever it took to get back at those who inflicted pain on them.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Stevie is trying to survive in the jungle that is high school. Her oldest and dearest friend, Lottie, is pulling away from her; her mother is dating a new guy and does not spend time with her anymore; and her close relationship with Lottie’s family is falling apart. The only thing she still enjoys is her deep passion for movies, especially 1980s and 1990s female revenge flicks, like “Carrie” or “Heathers”. When she finally meets a kindred spirit in Dee, the two become fast friends. Eventually though, Stevie and Dee decide they no longer want to tolerate the bullying in their school anymore, they are tired of being the butt of jokes and watching other people suffer at the hands of a select few. So Stevie and Dee concoct a plan, which quickly picks up speed and “goes viral”…….until it gets dangerous.
“Love, Heather” by Laurie Petrou is a modern coming-of-age tale, immersing a reader in the lives of today’s teenagers, and the challenges they face that are only amplified by the wonders of modern technology.
Laurie Petrou is award-winning, educated and super talented. She is also Canadian (her Canadiana in this book touched my heart, the protagonist taking trips to my current town of Niagara Falls, and traveling to Sherkston Shores which is the beach where I grew up) which automatically gives her bonus points.
This novel is rife with teenage drama. Like, over the top, “extra” “bear” teenage drama (thanks to my high school students, I can use the lingo) which can sometimes get repetitive and drama (even more so when you have to deal with it all day long) but the reality in it is powerful and almost uncomfortable. For those of us around teenagers on a daily basis, it is very evident that Petrou has portrayed these struggles with honest humanity.
When the twist in this novel happened, it hit me like a ton of bricks. After chapters and chapters of teenage angst and drama, the climax of the novel came and went so quickly, it left me disappointed. I wanted this part to start earlier, I wanted more, and I wanted the dirty details. That being said, it completely upended my opinion of this novel, and this author (in a great way). This twist will STICK WITH YOU.
Props to Petrou for a creative, intense and uncomfortably honest novel in “Love, Heather”. Full of 80s and 90s movie references, and rife with modern societal issues and karmic revenge, “Heather” is a novel that will stick with you.

This book is honestly like nothing I have ever read before. Whilst the novel seemingly centers around teenagers in school, it is not quite your "typical" awkward coming of age story and that is what makes it really interesting.

The characters are written to be so realistic that I am rather grateful to have not been in school with some of them. Although the book is written from the one perspective, you still get a feel of what some people are like without a negative narrative.

I think the book illustrates the gap between school goers and their parents/teachers brilliantly. Everyone can remember having being in school and the things/events that happened, but they actively seem to forget what it feels like when you're going through it.

I was hooked from the beginning as the story is so enthralling, however at some points I felt like I really wanted to know what would happen next, but it was definitely with bated breath; if it was a TV series, I would have been watching through my fingers. Such an unexpected feeling to get from a novel, but genuinely so unique to experience.

It truly is beautifully written with lots of moving moments, addresses difficult situations and touches on real life issues.

This book begins with two lifelong friends, Stevie and Lottie, navigating the social ups and downs of their first year of high school. The two girls are unexpectedly accepted into the cool crowd, but Lottie shoots up the ladder much more quickly, leaving Stevie a bit bewildered and jealous of all the time she's losing with her so-called BFF.

The typical teenage scenarios occur - accompanied by some very funny teen snarkiness - making the book feel like an episode of any number of teen shows. But after Stevie commits a major social faux pas and is kicked out of the cool kids club, the book becomes a lot more interesting.

Enter Dee, a newcomer to the area who plays by her own rules and doesn't care what the cool kids think. Instead, she believes that they should all be taken down a few pegs through a series of pranks that are inspired by the '80s movie Heathers (hence the book's title). What at first feels like righteous revenge for all the nastiness Stevie has encountered quickly spirals out of control.

The final portion of the book shifts tones dramatically. Gone is the humor and basic teenage angst. In its place is a shocking reveal and a much darker theme than I expected.

This is a book that's been written to speak to today's YA audience. They're readers who have accepted gender fluidity and live in a world filled with the fear of on-campus violence. Yet at the same time, they still have to deal with the often traumatizing aspects of simply trying to fit in. Adults who have previous experience being bullied will be able to relate to Stevie's plight. They're also likely to learn a few heartbreaking truths about modern teenage society.

Recommended for open-minded teen and adult readers who want to see the worst - and some of the best - aspects of society through the lens of a 14-year-old dealing with today's world.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.

Love, Heather is a shocking and emotional read. It covers bullying, LGTBQ+ issues, social media and teen culture today. It is well written, with lots of twists. I am not the target audience but enjoyed the read. The topics and characters aren't easy or likeable, but they make you think. The author throws in pop culture references to classic films that may go over a lot of teens heads, but were enjoyed by this reader! Always love reading Canadian. Recommend this for teens and those who enjoy YA.

Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane for a digital ARC in an exchange for an honest review. This review will be on good reads as well as a short review on my Instagram Blog.

This book hits multiple hard hitting topics that we have in today’s society and it shows you how easy it can be for people to turn their heads or go along with people that would have a negative impact on those hard hitting topics. When I first started reading the book I didn’t enjoy it as much as I did as the last few chapters. The end definitely made it worth the read, with a twist that was probably one of my favorite parts of the book. The twist hits that topic of mental health and I absolutely loved it!

This is the story of one girl’s attempt to swipe back at the bullies, the snobby girls and boys who look down on everyone else in their high school, but it goes disastrously wrong. When Stevie decided to destroy her classmates, she didn’t mean to do it in the literal sense, but soon things are out of control and everyone pays the ultimate price. This is the kind of thing we see in the headlines every day, so often that we seem to have become desensitized to it, but Petrou’s book is a reminder that everyone of those headlines has a name, a person, a life behind it. Shocking and sad

Wow. I am shook.

'Love, Heather' is an explosive and daring thriller about teen bullying and revenge. It's also a brilliant coming of age story about growing up surrounded by rape culture, misogyny, transphobia and the pressures of social media, and what that can do to a girl when her world turns against her.

But even before the revenge plot kicked off I was hooked. Petrou really gets inside the heads of her characters, and 'Love, Heather' is worth reading for its depiction of teen friendships alone. Stevie is a fantastic protagonist, with a wonderfully distinctive voice. She's a big movie buff, and at times her narration reminded me of an indie film - which sounds awkward but somehow, really works. I felt like I was being picked up and pulled along by a narrative wave that's writhing out of Stevie's control, and it made for a totally intense and immersive reading experience.

In short, I loved it. It's been a while since I read something so creative and captivating. 'Love, Heather' is going to stick with me for a long time.

Wow. This book hits you in all the hard places. It will pull you back to high school and the cliques, the bullying and the doubts that come with being a teenager. I think this book is for everyone and a good reminder of the power of words and social media. Petrou does a great job writing about a hard topic and bringing real-life issues to light.

The publisher gave me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, what an intense read as a parent, so truly real and scary. I thought this book was done so perfectly, because it made sure to grab the reader and keep them in a tension filled state throughout. Very chilling as a parent, because it’s so possible for our children to endure the same in a social media addicted society! A must read for my fellow thriller lovers!
Will highly recommend to those in Chapter Chatter Pub!

The main character is more relatable than likeable, and I was distracted enough by the weird pacing to not see the twist coming at all (much less the conclusion). That said, where everything is infinite infinitesimal degrees, this book caused a little shift in the way I frame something in my mind, for which I am grateful.

Loved this book. Nicely paced, quickly moving and captivating story. Characters so realistically portrayed that you feel as if you know them, or you know someone just like them. Really fun book!

Upon finishing this book, I had to take time to exhale and think. This is a powerful read and will touch on subjects that may be difficult for some.

It is brilliantly written and I beg of everyone to give this book a try. It will resonate with everyone because everyone has been or knows someone who has been bullied in one way or another. The feelings Stevie is bombarded with and the bullying she goes through will hit close to home.

Love, Heather makes us take a step back to wonder if we are part of the solution or the problem when it comes to bullying.

It takes on the breakdown and dissolution of systems. Family, friendships, school, and worse of all, self.

This is a fantastic read and an accurate portrayal of the trials teenagers of today are going through.

The way Laurie Petrou has of making you feel, understand and sympathize with Stevie throughout the story is phenomenal.

The tension in this book kept mounting until it simply exploded! When it did, all my emotions came rushing fourth. This! THIS! Is so worth the read!

A powerful must-read. This author hit the nail on its head with this book.

I received an ARC via NetGalley of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Wow!

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am a bit blown away but probably shouldn’t be. In some ways you could see the ending to this coming a mile away and in others it was completely unexpected. I was actually pretty much bawling by the end of the book. But I really liked it also because of that. It definitely made me think and feel.

The book is about a girl named Stevie, who, over the course of a year gets bullied by the popular kids in school after her and her best friend start hanging out with them for a while. Though they like her friend better and she does something that makes one of them mad and gets on the outs with them and becomes a target. She then meets a new girl who, like her has a love of old movies and they decide to get back at some of the bullies by pulling pranks and leaving them signed “Love, Heather” like the movie Heathers from the 90’s where two kids get back at all the popular kids by killing them off.

Soon other bullied kids are pulling “Love, Heather” pranks and things begin to get out of hand at the school. There are a lot of side characters and most of the story revolves around things that go on In Stevie’s life and how everyone reacts to her. The thing about the book and these high school bully situations is that we all really like to see the bullies get their due. Because in real life we have all seen it and really they never do, or at least as far as we can see.

That is why movies like Heather’s are so popular and why the pranks take on a life of their own. But in the book as in life, the bullies don’t ever just take things lying down. It all comes to a head and Like I said, it is expected but unexpected and overall it was really worth reading. It wasn’t like anything I have read before and it did surprise me in the end. I know that is a bit wishy washy, but I really don’t want to give away too much. But also want to say I really did like it.

(Also posted on my GR account!)

"...it wasn't that bad, or it was really bad."

Whoa. Just whoa. This book messed me up and it had this intensity that made me had to put it down for a while before coming back because holly crap I got cold all over my body and I was shaking during the climax.

There are a lot to unpack and a lot that I should/could write about, but I couldn't stop endorsing the book enough and is not coherent enough to write anything worthy to judge it.

I'm so gonna buy the book when it's available on BD.

4.5 stars

Wow.
Wow.
Oh my wow!

Laurie Petrou's main protagonist, Stevie, is a contender for best literary character of 2019. Few books literally break my heart but Love Heather may just have completely destroyed it forever. I am not really sure that I can just pick up another book and leave Stevie by herself. That's how special this book was to me.

I don't want to say a lot about the book because the less you know, the more I think the book will make you react. It doesn't mean that you and I will reach the same conclusion but it's definitely a book we're all going to be talking about this fall.

So I will just say it's spot on about the social society of high schools today, it was a little slow in the beginning but I did quickly lose myself in the narrative. I took a .5 off because I felt it was a bit rushed in the end. Overall, it was fantastic!

Goodreads review published 13/08/19
Publication Date 08/10/19

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a digital galley in exchange for an honest review

Not a light-hearted novel by any means, but rather a gut-wrenching, deep fall down a bullied character’s mind and the traumatic effects that bullying can have. I did not expect the twist at the end, but I think it made everything even more real and gritty. I would recommend this to a high schooler due to the mature and deeper content in this book. I think it was well-done though and reflected today’s society about girls and bullying.

A fantastic story for teens and young adults. A very gripping and heart wrenching story but beautifully written xx

I was drawn to this book immediately because of the title. I thought it has 90s movie vibes written all over it and I was right! This book was a perfect throwback to all of my favorite 90s movies while still being so relevant to today's world! It was thought provoking, gut wrenching, and relatable! A definite 5 star must read with a twist!!