Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
Eighteen-year-old pencil artist Elizabeth Rhodes is on the cusp of a breakthrough art commission that could cement her future career: the debut of her drawings at L'étoile dans les Ténèbres, the social calendar's biggest art auction hosted by renowned art collector and gracious philanthropist Madame Penelope Garcon.

Concealing her true identity as the mysterious artist Briar Rose-whose name and fame she inherited at the deathbed request of her beloved Aunt-Elizabeth decides to accept the terms her dapper and elderly benefactor Sterling Figgleston negotiates for the debut of Briar Rose's new series, Hearts.

But when the mental illness she's been hiding threatens to expose her charade to the boy she's loved since childhood, and with her estranged parents slated to make an appearance at L'étoile dans les Ténèbres, will Elizabeth find the courage to break the curse and open her heart, or will she lose her one chance at true love by revealing her heart's darkest secrets? 

414 pages, Paperback

Published June 6, 2023

2 people are currently reading
181 people want to read

About the author

Brittany Eden

12 books66 followers
The bedside pile is getting out of hand; I don't have time to read it all.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
27 (67%)
4 stars
6 (15%)
3 stars
6 (15%)
2 stars
0 (0%)
1 star
1 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Profile Image for Brittany Eden.
Author 12 books66 followers
October 19, 2025
Hello dear reader, and thank you for being here.

Please read below a quick note I penned, which readers will find at the end of the novel. The title and theme of this book are quite serious: searching hearts, finding your heart's desire, healing hearts, pouring out your heart... So, I wanted to share this here on Goodreads too, if people are wondering where I was coming from when writing this story.


FROM THE AUTHOR

Have you ever felt alone? Like no one understands you? Or as Elizabeth wonders, “I never thought someone could know everything I ever did in secret, and still have grace for me.” I’m here to tell you that there is grace for you. That you are more than your past or your mistakes or what people did to you or didn’t do for you. That the shadows on your mind can shrink. There is a future, there is hope, and you are not alone.

I wrote the first draft of this story during a time when I experienced severe post-partum depression. Much of my experience is woven in Elizabeth’s story, but not all, nor specifically in the way I portrayed her struggles. Imagination was important for me to navigate my experience and also the challenges I’ve seen in my life with close family and friends; not to copy any particulars, but to reflect journeys of trauma, regret, denial, and healing. I didn’t want to tell what happened to me, but I did want to explore how it felt. Taking Elizabeth on a fairytale-like journey was a precious experience but also fiction: a fantasy. True healing takes time and is a lifelong process. My desire is for you to hear the heart in this book—that there can be light in every story—and that it sinks into that hope-shaped corner of your soul.

If you find yourself with questions or are in the deep, please reach out to a trustworthy friend, family member, or member of your community. Lift your eyes, you are not alone.
Profile Image for Alissa J. Zavalianos.
Author 8 books512 followers
Read
August 25, 2024
Hearts was packed with so much depth and, well, heart haha. So much imagery and meaning in every sentence and thought.

Eden portrayed the mental health issues in a way that didn’t feel too heavy. It was lyrical.

Overall, it was very prosaic, written with in-depth lyrical language.

I think this cute YA fairy tale-inspired romance is perfect for those who love very flowery prose and Alice in Wonderland.

Content:
Panic attacks, insomnia, mentions of anxiety and depression

*I received an eARC of this book from the author. All thoughts expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Caitlin Miller.
Author 4 books321 followers
April 22, 2023
Endorsement: “Hearts, slowly and surely, like the unfolding of a breathless romance, captured my own heart. Few words could encompass the beauty of this story, but one is this: needed. Our world with its broken pieces and shattered hearts needs these words. And in an unexpected way, this story spoke to places of my heart that needed healing and hope, and I’ve found it—and my heart is on the mend. If you choose to read one book this year, let it be Hearts. Reminiscent of Caroline George and Amanda Dykes’ masterful storytelling, Hearts is not to be missed.”
-Caitlin Miller, author of The Memories We Painted and Our Yellow Tape Letters
Profile Image for Morgan Giesbrecht.
Author 2 books191 followers
May 18, 2023
Some stories transcend ink & paper to embrace the heart—this story is one of them. 💛

By the end of the first chapter, I was already misty eyed & continued to be so over the rest of the book. 😭

Written in a lyrical style, this gorgeously whimsical tale explores the way pain, grief, loss, and expectations affect each of us differently. It’s a story of light & darkness, of shadows & forgiveness—of being “strong, not bitter.”

Lincoln & Elizabeth were precious. They’re both a little lost, a little broken, drowning in their own pain, but together they learn to fight. They inspire each other to fly… to stop running… to face the past & the nightmares.

Seeing Penelope (from book 1) all grown up was such a delight, and she & Sterling were a hilarious duo. Speaking of Sterling, he was an utter hoot & I adore him as he added such levity. 😂

The mental health representation (anxiety, depression, trauma, & insomnia) was handled in such a real way. And I loved how the elements of Alice in Wonderland & Peter Pan added a touching depth of wonder & thoughtfulness.

Brittany is one of the ones who *knows* the power of a cup of tea. 💛

And, yes, I preordered a physical copy before I even finished—because it was that good. This needed story for the ones who feel broken, a little lost, unseen, & misunderstood was like a hug from a friend. It made me a little braver & whispered “You are not alone.” 💛


*I received an ARC copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
Profile Image for A.J. Skelly.
Author 37 books162 followers
April 24, 2023
Hearts is a gorgeous book, filled with beautiful words, poignant backstory, complicated family dynamics, a touch of mental health concerns, and epic swoony romance. And tea. There are glorious amounts of tea.
If you like fairy-tale-esque stories (set in modern times), glorious swoon, and a hero with the most scrumptious hat hair (trust me, you'll just have to read it), along with tea parties and art galleries, you won't want to miss this second installment in the Heartbooks series.
Eden's prose is stuff of legend.
Profile Image for V. Romas Burton.
Author 11 books162 followers
June 6, 2023
With beloved fairytale elements intertwined, we are taught in Hearts that dreams and wonder are meant to take root in your mind, life is not meant to be lived alone, and the truth really does set you free.
Profile Image for Jane Maree.
Author 18 books125 followers
May 16, 2023
What an absolutely beautiful tale! This story is heart-touching, romantic, and meaningful, and it was such a pleasure to be the narrator for the audio version. A new favourite in my career thus far!
Profile Image for Autumn Krause.
Author 5 books468 followers
May 3, 2023
Our hearts are fragile things, just as prone to shatter as they are to swell. Brittany Eden captures that beautiful dichotomy in her aptly named novel, HEARTS. It features an art-loving main character who seems to stray between the lines of reality while asking the questions we are often too scared to ask. A creative, fascinating debut for fans of whimsy and wonder.
Profile Image for Effie Stock.
Author 22 books91 followers
October 26, 2023
Daringly beautiful, Hearts is a prose filled twisting turning romance that goes beyond just the happily ever after of a fairy tale kiss.

I've always been a huge fan of Brittany Edens whimsical style and the way she portrays her female characters. It's not often I can truly relate to the inner turmoil or thoughts of female MCs but the characters Brittany Eden writes are somehow beautiful and unreal while also being the most relatable, down to earth and palpable characters I've ever read.

Pros:
The romance is far over swoon worthy. I loved Lincoln. He's the perfect love interest to Elizabeth, both bold and messy while also so remarkably romantic and irresistible.

The parallels to the fairy tales and old nostalgic childhood stories are subtle and bold at the same time which gives a sense of comfort and adventure.

Mental illness was represented beautifully here and as someone with OCD tendencies I really related to Elizabeth and felt seen and understood. Brittany Eden also beautiful portrayed other mental struggles like insomnia, imposter syndrome, ptsd, and anxiety.

Cons:
This is a pro and con at the same time so neither and both. The prose was very heavy which at times was delightful to read and at others made the important plot details hard to follow.

I absolutely recommend this to anyone who loves flowery writing, characters, tea, art and romance
Profile Image for Crystal Grant.
Author 19 books112 followers
May 22, 2023
This is a beautiful book. With delicious vibes from Sleeping Beauty, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan, told in Brittany’s signature, lyrical prose, it’s a lovely little fairy tale that makes you believe in happy endings.
3 reviews
May 24, 2023
Wow! What a beautiful book. I loved the artistry and talent of the main character, Elizabeth. The words and story were so beautiful, and the teaparty elements perfect to make me want a cup of tea!
Profile Image for Kayla E..
Author 17 books188 followers
May 28, 2023
Hearts is a stand-alone novel within the Heartbooks series. It is comprised of lyrical prose that combines a sweet contemporary romance with a whimsical fairytale reimagining creating a timeless tale that will plant seeds of hope and healing in your heart.

Interwoven elements provide allusion to Alice in Wonderland, Sleeping Beauty, and Peter Pan. These nods to fairytale classics create a whimsical mood. Altogether, Hearts is a great novel debut for Brittany Eden’s Heartbooks series.

I love the lyrical prose overall; however, sometimes is teetered on being flowery. This paired with timeline jumps in early chapters made it hard to follow in a few parts of the narrative. However, overall, it is a beautiful story that offers light and hope and healing. It is a must read for lovers of clean romance. Some of my favorite elements, which others will also enjoy, include long lost friends, secret identities, mental health representation, passive aggressive lemon cake served posthumously, and more.

Visit my blog for more of my thoughts and to see some of my favorite quotes from this book!
107 reviews4 followers
May 24, 2023
4.5 Stars
Review to come
Profile Image for Brooke J Katz.
Author 7 books8 followers
May 28, 2023
Hearts will stay in my heart forever. This is so much more then a romance novel or a retelling. Brittany weaves elements of the classic fair takes we love throughout the story like little Easter eggs, it's wonderful and truly fun to find them as you read.

Hearts weaves a story like poetry about mental health and it truly touched me. You can tell when you are reading that someone understands and you are not alone.

This story will awaken your imagination, touch your heart and give you hope to fight your dragons. It is a light in the darkness. Lyrically written, you will get wrapped up in the imagery and forget time and space.

You'll want to make a pot of tea with your very best tea cup and snuggle in and be prepared to swoon and awaken your imagination.
Profile Image for Jessica Gwyn.
124 reviews10 followers
August 13, 2023
Hearts by Brittany Eden is like a song. Its lyrical prose carries the reader on a journey and it's an enjoyable one. I recommend this lovely story if you enjoy beautiful language, characters with very real flaws, and a fairytale feel.
Profile Image for Adella Quick.
Author 3 books13 followers
August 1, 2023
I began this book by listening to the audiobook. Unfortunately, the narrator's voice reminded me of a sleep aid track I used to listen to and it was way too soothing for me and I had a hard time paying attention. It was beautiful, though and I do recommend it!

So! I bought the ebook and started over.

This is definitely a book you need to be in the mood for and I was definitely in the right mood for it. It is beautifully written, very lyrical, with a gazillion fairy tale references and quotes. I adored it.

Star crossed lovers, family drama, reconciliation, grief, anxiety, depression, growth, kindness, hope, grace. So many beautiful elements all came together for a very sweet, romantic, moody read.
Profile Image for Ashley Schaller.
Author 8 books35 followers
June 19, 2023
Lyrical and poignant, Hearts is a story woven with love, truth, and healing.

Alice in Wonderland, Sleeping Beauty, and Peter Pan collide perfectly in this beautiful retelling and I greatly enjoyed the nods to each.

Many wonderful messages shine throughout the pages, but my favorite of all is this:

Strong, not bitter.

I greatly enjoyed my read through and highly recommend this book!
Profile Image for Jong (_libercapulus).
22 reviews
February 13, 2024
"You can't see love, but it's the most magical thing around us. It's magical even when it’s invisible, where the shadows lie.” 🩷

"Sometimes you need a perspective from very, very far away to see the beauty in the space you ached. Then you can see how pretty the shadows are in the starlight."🥹

Those are just two of the many favorite quotes I gathered from this beautiful story.

Hearts was one of the many novels I got a chance to read and review from last year. I just finished reading it today. 😊

What can I say? This story has left me in awe and warmed my heart from start to finish. It's an animated and romantic narrative that made me smile and swoon in a very sweet and simple way. I loved how fairy tales such as Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella feels added a unique blend and wonder to this story.

Though it is sweet and romantic with all the fairy tale vibes to it, Brittany also carefully touched mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, latter effects of trauma and insomnia. She handled it in the realest way possible.

The fusion of all this variety of elements are what made it a beautiful masterpiece. Reading this one following Wishes, I am beginning to get used to lyrical writing. I learned to appreciate this kind of writing because of Hearts. 🩷 Definitely a recommended read!

*I received an ARC copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
Profile Image for Amanda Wright.
Author 2 books57 followers
July 17, 2023
This book is special for several reasons. First, for the first time in my life, I had the privilege of meeting the author in person before reading the book. This was an unique and fascinating experience. As we sipped tea and chatted all things bookish, I quickly realized that I was in the presence of someone who embodied the term 'lovely' both inside and out. It soon become apparent that her book was the same. The second reason I call this book special is the actual writing. Brittany handles words with such deftness... it reminds me of someone delicately swiping a canvas with watercolour paints. The words are flowing, beautiful, and the style heartbreaking lovely. They remind me of the author herself. Third, this story is special. Necessary. Hearts handles the sensitive topic of mental health and panic attacks in a way that sings, "You are beautiful. You are loved. It is okay not to be perfect. You are not broken." What a message. I'll admit it took me a little bit to fully understand and fall into the swing of this beautiful novel (likely the fault of my chaotic brain this week), but once I did I could not stop reading it. When I turned the final page, I honestly felt blessed to have had the privilege to sink into this story. I think "Hearts" is a 'must' for anyone who is struggling with any form of self doubt, trauma, or mental/physical health trials. I'd hand this book willingly to anyone as young as twelve and upwards of a hundred and twelve.
Profile Image for Shannon Marie.
Author 1 book6 followers
June 30, 2023
I really enjoy the setting and characterizations. The descriptions of everything were absolutely beautiful. And the premise was awesome! Secret identity, Artist-type, and Childhood Trauma. Check, check, and check!

This book is not for every reader out there, no book is. So here’s a few reasons it might turn away some:

-The characters didn't act like modern people. The story is set in the 21st century, but everyone acts like it is 1920. They all focus a lot on etiquette roles and social rankings, the way everyone spoke (even the landscaper) leaned consistently formal, etc. This could also be due to the fact that it’s set in a fictitious country that’s undergone major government regime changes (going from a monarchy to a more parliamentary/democracy type deal) in the recent history.

-The writing and narration are extremely prosaic. So if superfluous and metaphorical internal dialogue/narration aren’t your cup of tea then let me inform you there’s several gallons of it in this beautifully written book.

At the end of the day, this is a sweet, clean, ya romance book that romanticizes even the smallest details of regular life, while also normalizing being different.
Profile Image for Amber Kirkpatrick.
Author 7 books55 followers
April 23, 2023
Endorsement: "After her outstanding debut novella Wishes, Hearts has everything I have come to expect from an Eden book. A thoughtful exploration of mental health, darkness and light, and achingly romantic, this lyrical novel is an experience to savor with many pots of tea. Lincoln is a leading man to yearn for and Elizabeth gives us an intriguing mix of fragility and strength while learning a lifelong lesson: Be strong, not bitter." ~ Amber Kirkpatrick, author of Until the Rising and the forthcoming Unleashed.
Profile Image for Shai Z.
87 reviews
June 3, 2023
3.5 stars

My biggest problem with this book was the the characters didn't acted according to the era they lived in. The story occurs in practically nowadays (the mc has a laptop), but everyone acts like it is 1920. They all really cares about etiquette roles and social rankings. Also the female characters are always wearing dresses.

Another problem was that the book was too lyrical. The characters didn't spoke like real people.

But overall this is a sweet, clean, ya romance book.
2 reviews
May 23, 2023
A lovely, whimsical and sweet love story capturing so achingly all the emotions, moments and beautiful fragilities of life and relationships! Brittany Eden is truly gifted and I find myself reading sentences over and over to savour all of the poignancy she manages to crystallize with her words.
Profile Image for Kay.
Author 4 books5 followers
Read
June 16, 2024
Wow. Breathtaking!

This book was so beautifully written and took real life and made it a magical experience! I will be in a book hangover for weeks over this masterpiece!! 💖
Highly highly recommend!!
Word to the wise:
Enjoy slowly - savoring every morsel!
Profile Image for Crystal Roberts.
431 reviews11 followers
December 8, 2023
I am always nervous reading an Alice in wonderland retelling as I am such a snob about it…. I have read several and always they have fallen short of my expectations until now……..
Hearts decided to reimagine the story telling a story of loss and love. The main character Libby is beautifully broken and lost in her own world but is being gently forced back into the world. This book has so many beautiful moments and beautiful quotes that I have a secret project myself I will share later and I have a project for my artist to do as well…..

I absolutely fell in love with the story and down that rabbit hole….. Britney Eden wove a beautiful character Rich tale.
Profile Image for Kaitlyn Carter.
Author 6 books77 followers
November 25, 2023
An absolutely lovely sweet romance filled with cake, tea parties, a gardener with corded arms, and tons of references to Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and Sleeping Beauty. If you love fairytales in the real world, prose that reads like poetry, and a sweet, heart warming (totally a pun) romances, definitely do not miss this one!

And if you haven't, totally check out Wishes, a novella by Brittany that exists in the same world as Hearts (and you'll find just as many references and tie ins!)
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.