#henry hamlets heart

[lucyjcarlyle]

i am literally bleeding love for THEM

[cadaverre]

the reason i’m insane abt byler and henry hamlets heart is bc i’m insane abt friends to lovers. i need. i NEED.

[thatnimrodmusician]

i finished henry hamlet’s heart a few days ago and oh my god i have never related to a character as much as henry before 

the way i could relate to the characters despite being literally 3 years old when this book was set 

[wayward-buddie]

I just read a book for which there are zero ao3 works, absolutely no fan art, and like 2 tumblr posts that aren’t just book reviews

[noveltyreads]

Henry Hamlet's Heart by Rhiannon Wilde Book Review 

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

There's something so nice about reading a book set in your country and in the 2000's. 

I have always loved reading #LoveOzYA books. This year though, I've felt like I've barely read any so I was glad to pick this eGalley up a few months ago especially with all the hype I've read about it on Goodreads and from Aussie bookstagrammers. I was excited to get back to my contemporary roots too since this year I've been delving more and more into fantasy rather than emotional/character focused reads. 

Henry Hamlet's Heart follows the main character, Henry as he navigates his final year at school and his growing feelings for his best friend Len who he is starting to see as something more. This book looks specifically at the bond between friends, family and yourself and what it means to grow up, change and evolve. Henry Hamlet's Heart reads emotionally and really packs a punch. 

One of the things I enjoyed in this book was Len. I loved how passionate about photography he was and that last scene with the exhibition? My heart leapt out of my skin! It was so cute and wholesome! I also enjoyed the friend group of "The Boiyss" and how supportive they were of each other. It was really endearing to see and I loved seeing their dynamic shine on the page.

The main criticism for me is with Henry. To me he just seemed kind of bland as a character and I wanted more layers, backstory or personality to make me really fall in love with him. I also wished him and Len would've communicated more with each other about what they wanted. I felt like for so much of the novel, it was unclear what Len really wanted and if he wanted to truly be in a relationship with Henry or not. 

All in all, a must read for people who love wholesome and emotional books. Especially if you enjoy books set in Australia which discuss the highs and lows of high school. 

ACTUAL RATING: 2.7 STARS