Gideon was hilarious and soft and he and Noah worked so well together as a pair of BFFs. I seriously loved every secondary character in this book, SO much. I really liked how Claudia and Julia hung out and were there for one another despite the large age difference, and the way she and Alex were both Spoiler willing to change their relationships for each other, even if it took a bit of time. Personally I don't really play any MMORGs at the moment, but it reading Foolish Hearts made me want to. I loved the family aspect of the book too, having all three siblings play video games with each other (and her BFF, Zoe) was such a great way to have them interact with each other and the gamer in me was delighted. It was reminiscent of my teens, I knew a ton of people I didn't consider friends, and it's something that I feel gets left out of books a lot.

I actually really enjoyed having a large cast of characters whom Claudia was acquainted with but didn't consider friends. There's a massive cast of characters for a YA contemp in my opinion, but Mills works with it so well and keeps a focus on the MC, Claudia, without overcrowding her. I had an arc of First and Then that I just never got to, but finally after literally years of telling me to read her I did.įoolish Hearts is one of the best YA contemporaries I've ever read, I loved everything about it. Ages 14 up.I'm just going to come out and say it at the start of the review: I was a fool not to have picked Emma Mills up sooner.

Through these friendship struggles and romances old and new, Mills evokes the high stakes and vast rewards of trust, intimacy, and honesty. Also in the mix: Zoe is falling in love with Claudia's brother, Iris longs to get back together with Paige, and Claudia faces her own insecurities and hopes for a romance with popular Gideon. Mills (This Adventure Ends) thoughtfully explores the nuances of all kinds of relationships, both friendly and romantic, via Claudia and her circle of friends. Claudia discovers that Iris is more complicated and vulnerable than everyone assumes, and the evolution of their relationship from enemies to intimate friends who respect and rely on each other is compelling and real. It all starts when Claudia is forced to spend time with Iris for a class project, just as Iris is reeling from a breakup with her longtime girlfriend, Paige. 'Redemption arc?' asks Claudia's best friend, Zoe, curious about Claudia's unexpected new friendship with Iris, her private school's class president and infamous mean girl.

Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills