No spoiler overview

Heart the Lover is a short and quick read, but it packs a punch. A beautiful story that eloquently captures all the little moments that make up big emotions. It follows one woman and her journey to freeing herself in an adult coming-of-age.

Full review

King so well captured the duality of college for me. This freedom that you can do whatever you want, become whoever you want while you’re there. But on the flip side, the looming fear of real life and adulthood and responsibilities that impact all your decisions. Casey finds freedom, while Yash sinks deep into the fear. You want their love to be enough to get them through it, but also recognize that they both have a lot of work to do to become themselves. Yash could only ever write in other people’s words, and Casey could not find any words at all. Unfortunately it took a deathbed for them to get through to each other.

Part I had me nervous for our narrator. She quickly lost herself in these boys, so much so that we only know their nicknames for her most of the book. And then of course there’s the end of Part I. I had to put the book away for a few days before I could work up the courage to keep going. I was so worried that the pregnancy was going to destroy her life, and she’d be pining after Yash the rest of the time. (What does it say that that was my expectation? Pretty sad.) 

And then, of course, there’s Sam. Can’t say I felt very bad for him in Part I. For a while I thought the first page (“You knew I’d write a book about you someday.”) was about Sam, and I was not excited about that. Their relationship sucked, and he sucked, which makes so much sense when you meet his family and they suck even more. I know he was trying to do his best. I can understand the part of him grappling with his strict religious views in relationships. But it doesn’t excuse his behavior to Casey.

Even while I say that, I can understand why Yash wasn’t willing to easily let go of Sam’s friendship. Deep down Sam wanted to be a good person, and he had to work through some stuff off-page to get there. I’m glad he got some redemption in the end, that he and Casey resolved things, that he’s still Yash’s friend. 

I am so incredibly glad Casey went on to have a good life. She wrote, became an acclaimed writer, had her own family, found a love that took all of her. There are still some valleys in her life, but it’s overall good. It hurts that it wasn’t with Yash, but she deserved the life where she can be herself and not just a pet name! And the guy who shows up for her at the airport even when she isn’t expecting it!  

The end was devastating. Between her son, Jack, and Yash, I would have lost it if I was in her shoes. Thank goodness she did tell Yash about their daughter, that provided some needed closure for the story (and for her, I think).

I think Yash is going to look after Jack. I think the feeling Casey had while looking at him at the end was Yash, maybe also her mom, letting her know that they’ll protect him.