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Don't Let It Break Your Heart
You only get one soulmate, and I'm not throwing mine away.
Alana and Gray have been the perfect pair all through high school, and neither of them think that should have to change just because Alana came out as a lesbian. Sure, their romantic relationship is over, but their best-friends-since-forever dynamic is stronger than ever. Really, the only difference is that instead of kissing Gray herself, Alana sets him up with other girls to do that.
Enter Talia: tall, confident, gorgeous. Gray's master plan is simple: befriend Tal and charm her into being his girlfriend. With Alana's help, of course.
But as Alana spends more time with Tal, she is introduced to a world of possibilities. A world outside her small town. A world in which Alana can fully embrace her queer identity. A world where Alana and Talia are . . . together.
As the two get closer, Alana must juggle her loyalty to Gray with her growing feelings for Tal. Can she stay true to herself and to her best friend? More importantly, does she want to?
Alana and Gray have been the perfect pair all through high school, and neither of them think that should have to change just because Alana came out as a lesbian. Sure, their romantic relationship is over, but their best-friends-since-forever dynamic is stronger than ever. Really, the only difference is that instead of kissing Gray herself, Alana sets him up with other girls to do that.
Enter Talia: tall, confident, gorgeous. Gray's master plan is simple: befriend Tal and charm her into being his girlfriend. With Alana's help, of course.
But as Alana spends more time with Tal, she is introduced to a world of possibilities. A world outside her small town. A world in which Alana can fully embrace her queer identity. A world where Alana and Talia are . . . together.
As the two get closer, Alana must juggle her loyalty to Gray with her growing feelings for Tal. Can she stay true to herself and to her best friend? More importantly, does she want to?
321 pages, Hardcover
First published August 27, 2024
42 people are currently reading
6647 people want to read
About the author
Maggie Horne
4 books89 followersMaggie Horne grew up near Toronto, Canada. She now lives in the UK with her wife, where they keep a selection of dogs and children.
Maggie is the author of HAZEL HILL IS GONNA WIN THIS ONE (an Indies Introduce Summer/Fall 2022 Selection, Indie Next pick, and Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection) and NOAH FRYE GETS CRUSHED from HarperKids, as well as DON'T LET IT BREAK YOUR HEART and FREDDIE AND STELLA GOT HOT from Feiwel & Friends. She’s always trying to write the queer stories she wishes she could have read growing up.
Maggie is the author of HAZEL HILL IS GONNA WIN THIS ONE (an Indies Introduce Summer/Fall 2022 Selection, Indie Next pick, and Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection) and NOAH FRYE GETS CRUSHED from HarperKids, as well as DON'T LET IT BREAK YOUR HEART and FREDDIE AND STELLA GOT HOT from Feiwel & Friends. She’s always trying to write the queer stories she wishes she could have read growing up.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews
August 16, 2024
This was a really inspiring story about how friendships may evolve as we grow up and learn how to find our own paths in life. I was engrossed in the story from the beginning and found it impossible to put it down. The main theme of this narrative is a girl's attempt to integrate her new identity with the life she has always known. Teen readers will undoubtedly be able to relate to this.
Alana knew exactly what she wanted out of life. Gray was both her best friend and her boyfriend and they planned to attend the same college. However, Alana's coming out as a lesbian the summer before their senior year caused a lot of friction among her friends, who feel uncomfortable with her. And now she has to figure her live again,
I adored how Alana and Gray's relationship evolved during the course of the novel. It's evident that they're attempting to adjust to their new circumstances, but neither of them truly wants to let the other down. Furthermore, at least initially, neither of them is particularly interested in things changing.
The romance between Alana and Tal is endearing and challenging, even if the novel isn't as much of a romance as I had anticipated because it focuses more on Alana discovering who she is. I cherished every small moment they shared.
I believe Horne did an excellent job of creating teenage characters who read like teenagers. This was a great debut book and I’m hoping to reading more works from Maggie Horne in the future!
Alana knew exactly what she wanted out of life. Gray was both her best friend and her boyfriend and they planned to attend the same college. However, Alana's coming out as a lesbian the summer before their senior year caused a lot of friction among her friends, who feel uncomfortable with her. And now she has to figure her live again,
I adored how Alana and Gray's relationship evolved during the course of the novel. It's evident that they're attempting to adjust to their new circumstances, but neither of them truly wants to let the other down. Furthermore, at least initially, neither of them is particularly interested in things changing.
The romance between Alana and Tal is endearing and challenging, even if the novel isn't as much of a romance as I had anticipated because it focuses more on Alana discovering who she is. I cherished every small moment they shared.
I believe Horne did an excellent job of creating teenage characters who read like teenagers. This was a great debut book and I’m hoping to reading more works from Maggie Horne in the future!
September 18, 2024
Cute but kinda unfulfilling
March 1, 2024
Lesbian book with a Louis Tomlinson song title? sign me the heck up!
01 March 2024
I got to read it. Thank goodness for that. This cover? Also a slay.No one can convince me that this isn't fanart *cough* of cis girl Harry and Louis Tomlinson. I will die on this hill
I read this in 2 days and I was obsessed that entire time. I needed to know everything that happened and this book became my sole focus on Tuesday and Thursday this week. Good tidings to me!
Alana is a newly outed lesbian and in her last year of high school. She and her ex, Gray, are still extremely codependent and don't really know how to function without each other.
New girl, Tal, comes onto the scene and Gray sets his sights on her. Trouble is, Alana also has a crush on Tal.
Content warnings: a lot of alcohol consumption by minors, lesbophobia, homophobia, queerphobia, references to MC being outed, references to a cafe being targeted due to queerphobia, codependent friendship.
Rep: Alana (MC) is cis, white, and lesbian. Tal (LI) is cis, white, and lesbian. Side lesbian characters, one side POC character, side white enby characters.
01 March 2024
I got to read it. Thank goodness for that. This cover? Also a slay.
I read this in 2 days and I was obsessed that entire time. I needed to know everything that happened and this book became my sole focus on Tuesday and Thursday this week. Good tidings to me!
Alana is a newly out
New girl, Tal, comes onto the scene and Gray sets his sights on her. Trouble is, Alana also has a crush on Tal.
Content warnings: a lot of alcohol consumption by minors, lesbophobia, homophobia, queerphobia, references to MC being outed, references to a cafe being targeted due to queerphobia, codependent friendship.
Rep: Alana (MC) is cis, white, and lesbian. Tal (LI) is cis, white, and lesbian. Side lesbian characters, one side POC character, side white enby characters.
January 13, 2025
I looooved the first 70% of this book, then the next 20% gave me mixed feelings but I think I fell back into loving it at the very end.
My biggest "issue" with this book is that most, if not all, of the romance and history between Alana & Tal happens off page. We don't get to experience it with them. So it's a drastic jump for the audience to read like 2 or 3 of their kisses to them being in love.
Also, I don't think I really liked the main character all that much which kinda sucks but maybe that's just a me thing. She's whiny & relies too heavily on the people around her, but I guess that was sorta the plot lol.
All in all, I did enjoy reading this and am glad I did. Definitely a unique storyline and I loved all the side characters (mean girls aside of course)
My biggest "issue" with this book is that most, if not all, of the romance and history between Alana & Tal happens off page. We don't get to experience it with them. So it's a drastic jump for the audience to read like 2 or 3 of their kisses to them being in love.
Also, I don't think I really liked the main character all that much which kinda sucks but maybe that's just a me thing. She's whiny & relies too heavily on the people around her, but I guess that was sorta the plot lol.
All in all, I did enjoy reading this and am glad I did. Definitely a unique storyline and I loved all the side characters (mean girls aside of course)
September 24, 2024
there were only two reasons i bought this book: 1. the louis tomlinson song title reference. 2. i's queer and the cover is stunning. so i'm glad to tell y'all that this book was easily one of my favorites this year. it means so so much to me and y'all should read this like NOW. i loved everything about the story. alana is so relatable. i love lesbians in love.😭🥹💓❤️🩹♾️🫶🏻🫂👩❤️💋👩
April 18, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I really appreciated the messiness of this in a way - it felt very realistic, especially to teenagers figuring themselves out and learning how friendship evolves as you grow up - but I didn't really get on with the main character, I found her pretty annoying. The middle section dragged, but the first and last thirds of the book were pretty fast-paced and easy to get through.
I really appreciated the messiness of this in a way - it felt very realistic, especially to teenagers figuring themselves out and learning how friendship evolves as you grow up - but I didn't really get on with the main character, I found her pretty annoying. The middle section dragged, but the first and last thirds of the book were pretty fast-paced and easy to get through.
August 25, 2024
read on my blog
rep: lesbian protagonist and love interest, nonbinary side character; (lesbian author)
cw: forced outing, lesbophobia
**I received an ARC from the publisher through Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
Honestly, I requested this ARC because the summary screamed messy. I mean, a book about a lesbian (who recently came out), her ex-boyfriend (whom she recently broke up with after she came out and still remained best friends with), and the new girl (who they both like)? Sign me up. Heartwarming and gorgeously written, Don’t Let It Break Your Heart navigates the aftermath of coming out and how some things don’t need to stay the same.
Alana and Gray have always been attached at the hip, first as best friends, then as girlfriend and boyfriend, then as best friends again when they break up after Alana comes out as lesbian. It’s a somewhat unhealthy situation to say the least, considering they still basically act like they’re dating, which nobody understands. When a new student Talia transfers their senior year, Gray enlists Alana into being his wing-woman. The only issue? The more Alana spends time with Talia, the more she’s falling in love with her…
My absolute favorite part of the book are the characters and their dynamics. Alana and Gray have grown up with each other, and they’re so used to the same small town life. Gray especially loves it because he’s so lovable and easy-going. For her part, Alana does want life to change but she doesn’t quite know how.
I honestly want to study Alana and Gray’s friendship under a microscope. He takes their break-up in stride after she comes out (or rather, more that she’s forced to come out), and they soon return to their old ways. There’s an underlying current to their dynamic now though: Alana feels some residual guilt for having to end their romantic relationship and thus of course will help him get the girl of his dreams, and Gray might’ve taken their break-up a lot harder than he made it seem.
Talia transferring into their school shakes things up in more ways than one. Other than her arrival shifting Alana and Gray’s dynamic yet again, she also brings Alana to her friend’s queer bookstore and café, exposing her to a community that understands her. Despite Alana being out now, she still doesn’t feel comfortable at their small-town high school, especially with the circumstances of how she had to come out.
Their romance was really cute, even amidst Alana’s clear guilt toward keeping it yet another secret from Gray. Like I said, this book is messy but in the best way. I love reading complex characters, especially in YA, so it was really interesting to explore this whole dynamic. I also really loved the writing and am excited to read more from Maggie Horne! I can’t recommend Don’t It Let Break Your Heart enough, especially if you’re in the market for a lesbian coming-of-age story with gorgeous writing and lovable characters.
original review:
finally some good food!! loved reading these messy characters (a lesbian, her ex-boyfriend and best friend, and the cool girl they both like)
November 11, 2024
I ended up with mixed feelings about this. I really appreciated how messy this was - all of the main character's relationships have their struggles and everyone made mistakes and people didn't handle everything perfectly. I liked how the character development wasn't a neat arc. I just wanted more of that same nuance and considerations towards the ending. I felt like everything got wrapped up rather quickly and easily, which made the ending feel rushed.
January 15, 2025
new, petty reason to dnf a book unlocked.
let me start by saying, I was not actually enjoying this up to this point. as for the pairing, I get why the mc would be into the LI, but I don't get why the LI would be into the mc.
the ex doesn't seem like good enough of a dude to justify the relationship there, either.
I'm sure there's some good processing for someone going through coming out and all that entails in this book for some readers to really connect with it, but it's not working for me, and the vibes are kind of a downer.
let me start by saying, I was not actually enjoying this up to this point. as for the pairing, I get why the mc would be into the LI, but I don't get why the LI would be into the mc.
the ex doesn't seem like good enough of a dude to justify the relationship there, either.
I'm sure there's some good processing for someone going through coming out and all that entails in this book for some readers to really connect with it, but it's not working for me, and the vibes are kind of a downer.
August 19, 2022
Giving this baby 5 stars because it's one of my favourite things I've ever written and I love it.
This book, my YA dream, is about a friendship that's the most important thing in the world, and a first romantic love that feels so powerful it might blow up that friendship. It's about what it means to be Small Town Queer and the leap between coming out and BEING out. Also, there are scones.
I'm so, SO excited for you guys to meet Alana, Gray, and Tal.
This book, my YA dream, is about a friendship that's the most important thing in the world, and a first romantic love that feels so powerful it might blow up that friendship. It's about what it means to be Small Town Queer and the leap between coming out and BEING out. Also, there are scones.
I'm so, SO excited for you guys to meet Alana, Gray, and Tal.
March 9, 2025
3.5 alana annoyed me but i could understand her. my biggest issue was that i don’t understand why tal loved her but this is also from alana’s perspective so it makes sense.
September 20, 2024
On my blog.
Rep: lesbian mc & li
Galley provided by publisher
It would be, I think, safe to say that no one in MG/YA at the moment is writing messy lesbian characters like Maggie Horne is writing messy lesbian characters. Do you want your lesbian protagonists to screw up? To hurt people? But more importantly, to have the space to make those mistakes and learn from them? Well, I have three books (for now) that can be for you!
Don’t Let it Break Your Heart follows Alana who, having come out as lesbian, finds herself in pretty much the same position as before, except she and her (now ex) boyfriend are just not technically dating. They’re best friends and still inseparable, which gets tested when a new girl arrives who they both happen to like. As per Maggie Horne’s previous protagonists, Alana decides that the only way to deal with this is to get Gray (the ex) together with Tal (the new girl) as a sort of apology for the break up. Because that makes sense and is totally healthy!
Each of Maggie Horne’s books so far has been kind of tragically funny, so I had some expectation of that going into this. “Don’t let it break your heart,” she says. Well, it’s a bit late for that, Maggie! Heart is well and truly broken! Because this isn’t just a love story between the protagonist and the girl her best friend is crushing on. It’s also about a girl who has been forced out of the closet before she’s ready and a group of friends who, if asked, would say they totally support her, but are actually just as unsure about how to deal with it all as she is. It’s about a girl who is, ostensibly, comfortable with being gay, but more in name than in action, who comes to see she deserves so much better than she’s settled for. All while being a complete and utter lesbian mess.
All of Horne’s books are quite character-driven, and her characters leap off the page. You feel like, for a lot of it, you could be stood right next to them as it’s all happening. But you’re also aware that everything you see in this book is through Alana’s eyes. So, every time you (and Tal) think that Alana’s being treated like shit, you get that kind of dissonance, because (for a lot of the book) Alana doesn’t see it (or even almost seems to think she deserves it/it’s normal). The whole seeing through Alana’s eyes works too on Tal, who is this perfect girl almost idolised by Alana, but it’s when that all breaks down that their relationship is most compelling. Some books you want to stave off any angst for as long as possible: this one I wanted it all (okay, perhaps some of this heart breaking thing was my own fault) and it was juicy when I got it.
All of which to say: I couldn’t recommend this one enough. It’s definitely one you don’t want to be missing out on (along with all of Horne’s other books, yes that’s a hint).
Rep: lesbian mc & li
Galley provided by publisher
It would be, I think, safe to say that no one in MG/YA at the moment is writing messy lesbian characters like Maggie Horne is writing messy lesbian characters. Do you want your lesbian protagonists to screw up? To hurt people? But more importantly, to have the space to make those mistakes and learn from them? Well, I have three books (for now) that can be for you!
Don’t Let it Break Your Heart follows Alana who, having come out as lesbian, finds herself in pretty much the same position as before, except she and her (now ex) boyfriend are just not technically dating. They’re best friends and still inseparable, which gets tested when a new girl arrives who they both happen to like. As per Maggie Horne’s previous protagonists, Alana decides that the only way to deal with this is to get Gray (the ex) together with Tal (the new girl) as a sort of apology for the break up. Because that makes sense and is totally healthy!
Each of Maggie Horne’s books so far has been kind of tragically funny, so I had some expectation of that going into this. “Don’t let it break your heart,” she says. Well, it’s a bit late for that, Maggie! Heart is well and truly broken! Because this isn’t just a love story between the protagonist and the girl her best friend is crushing on. It’s also about a girl who has been forced out of the closet before she’s ready and a group of friends who, if asked, would say they totally support her, but are actually just as unsure about how to deal with it all as she is. It’s about a girl who is, ostensibly, comfortable with being gay, but more in name than in action, who comes to see she deserves so much better than she’s settled for. All while being a complete and utter lesbian mess.
All of Horne’s books are quite character-driven, and her characters leap off the page. You feel like, for a lot of it, you could be stood right next to them as it’s all happening. But you’re also aware that everything you see in this book is through Alana’s eyes. So, every time you (and Tal) think that Alana’s being treated like shit, you get that kind of dissonance, because (for a lot of the book) Alana doesn’t see it (or even almost seems to think she deserves it/it’s normal). The whole seeing through Alana’s eyes works too on Tal, who is this perfect girl almost idolised by Alana, but it’s when that all breaks down that their relationship is most compelling. Some books you want to stave off any angst for as long as possible: this one I wanted it all (okay, perhaps some of this heart breaking thing was my own fault) and it was juicy when I got it.
All of which to say: I couldn’t recommend this one enough. It’s definitely one you don’t want to be missing out on (along with all of Horne’s other books, yes that’s a hint).
August 21, 2024
We’ll call it 3.5
I was all in and wholly invested in the first half. It was all the messiness I remembered from high school but queer. I had a few conversations over the course of the 24 hours it took me to read this from cover to cover, talking about how if books like this has been around when I was in high school, my life probably would have been a lot messier but I would have understood myself sooner. Maybe, probably.
The banter was genuinely funny. I loved what Alana-and-Gray represented: the best friends of different genders who are just so close that they can complete each other’s thoughts. I loved the genderbent “gay best friend” - but make it not tokenization. I loved Alana’s very real response to being outed. Alana was such a REAL person that it made the progression of her story just work so well.
Personally, I thought the cooking and baking came into the story too late / as kind of an afterthought that eventually became super important. Also what high school has homecoming in mid September?? And the 50-80% section dragged, mostly because Alana was stuck in her own head and didn’t have an actual conversation with anyone (but she’s a teenager, so). Also the side characters apart from Olivia and Logan did not stand out at all, which led to me constantly confusing Sydney and Savannah (which is unfortunate because I think Savannah ended up being decent?)
We also didn’t know much of anything about Tal other than that she’s pretty, has curly hair, and draws everyone in - and that she stands up for Alana, but that doesn’t make her a PERSON in the same way that Alana and Gray were people. That was probably my biggest gripe with the whole thing, honestly.
{Thank you FierceReads for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review; all thoughts are my own}
I was all in and wholly invested in the first half. It was all the messiness I remembered from high school but queer. I had a few conversations over the course of the 24 hours it took me to read this from cover to cover, talking about how if books like this has been around when I was in high school, my life probably would have been a lot messier but I would have understood myself sooner. Maybe, probably.
The banter was genuinely funny. I loved what Alana-and-Gray represented: the best friends of different genders who are just so close that they can complete each other’s thoughts. I loved the genderbent “gay best friend” - but make it not tokenization. I loved Alana’s very real response to being outed. Alana was such a REAL person that it made the progression of her story just work so well.
Personally, I thought the cooking and baking came into the story too late / as kind of an afterthought that eventually became super important. Also what high school has homecoming in mid September?? And the 50-80% section dragged, mostly because Alana was stuck in her own head and didn’t have an actual conversation with anyone (but she’s a teenager, so). Also the side characters apart from Olivia and Logan did not stand out at all, which led to me constantly confusing Sydney and Savannah (which is unfortunate because I think Savannah ended up being decent?)
We also didn’t know much of anything about Tal other than that she’s pretty, has curly hair, and draws everyone in - and that she stands up for Alana, but that doesn’t make her a PERSON in the same way that Alana and Gray were people. That was probably my biggest gripe with the whole thing, honestly.
{Thank you FierceReads for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review; all thoughts are my own}
Want to read
February 8, 2024"Pitched as a cross between Some Girls Do and Netflix's The Half of It, the novel is a queer love story that centers on two best friends (and recent exes, after one of them came out as gay) who find themselves developing feelings for the same girl." 🥺🥺
update: okay but... the meme cover??
update: okay but... the meme cover??
April 9, 2025
MAGGIE JUST GETS ME I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO TELL YA
September 12, 2024
If you're anything like me, you've been craving a YA novel that focuses more on the nuances of friendship than on the romance. On the outside, Don't Let it Break Your Heart sounds like another love triangle romance, only with queer characters. But that synopsis hides the real main plotline: friendships and the line between inseparable and toxic.
TW: lesbophobia (including slurs and bullying); homophobia; anxiety; forced outing; aftermath of a hate crime; past use of revenge porn
Alana and Gray are the It Couple at high school, always together since they were babies. Then Alana comes out as lesbian, and... nothing really changes? She and Gray aren't dating anymore, but they are still attached at the hip and as close as ever. [This dynamic was SO interesting and unlike anything else I've seen in YA.]
When Tal moves to town both Gray and Alana develop feelings for her. Only Gray expects Alana to help him get the girl, because why wouldn't she?
At first I thought Tal was going to be kind of manic pixie dream girl-esque, but thankfully she developed into a wonderfully complex character that suited both Gray and Alana's character. But of course, Tal really isn't a main character. The story focuses on Alana and Gray.
There are quite a few side characters that sometimes blurred together, but their purpose was also to showcase different types of friendships, especially the contrasts between Alana and Gray's friendship and Alana and Tal's friendship.
I also want to give bonus points for the perfect small town Maine setting. The author really captured what it's like to live in a small town, especially when you are always the elephant in the room, regardless of where you go.
The discussions of being queer vs being part of the queer community were also enlightening, a topic I want to see explored more in LGBTQ YA. Now that it's become more socially acceptable to be gay and in high school, there are different expectations from the others around you. If I had to rank the order of importance for these different themes, that would be number two, after the discussion of friendships and toxicity.
I don't think there is anything else I want to share, other than that you should read this book. Especially if you feel like you've read everything YA has to offer. Don't Let it Break Your Heart is a fresh take on the genre and already incredibly underrated.
Rep: lesbian main character, queer major character, Black lesbian side character, side character who uses they/them pronouns, multiple other LGBTQ+ side characters
Thank you to the publisher for a finished copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
TW: lesbophobia (including slurs and bullying); homophobia; anxiety; forced outing; aftermath of a hate crime; past use of revenge porn
Alana and Gray are the It Couple at high school, always together since they were babies. Then Alana comes out as lesbian, and... nothing really changes? She and Gray aren't dating anymore, but they are still attached at the hip and as close as ever. [This dynamic was SO interesting and unlike anything else I've seen in YA.]
When Tal moves to town both Gray and Alana develop feelings for her. Only Gray expects Alana to help him get the girl, because why wouldn't she?
At first I thought Tal was going to be kind of manic pixie dream girl-esque, but thankfully she developed into a wonderfully complex character that suited both Gray and Alana's character. But of course, Tal really isn't a main character. The story focuses on Alana and Gray.
There are quite a few side characters that sometimes blurred together, but their purpose was also to showcase different types of friendships, especially the contrasts between Alana and Gray's friendship and Alana and Tal's friendship.
I also want to give bonus points for the perfect small town Maine setting. The author really captured what it's like to live in a small town, especially when you are always the elephant in the room, regardless of where you go.
The discussions of being queer vs being part of the queer community were also enlightening, a topic I want to see explored more in LGBTQ YA. Now that it's become more socially acceptable to be gay and in high school, there are different expectations from the others around you. If I had to rank the order of importance for these different themes, that would be number two, after the discussion of friendships and toxicity.
I don't think there is anything else I want to share, other than that you should read this book. Especially if you feel like you've read everything YA has to offer. Don't Let it Break Your Heart is a fresh take on the genre and already incredibly underrated.
Rep: lesbian main character, queer major character, Black lesbian side character, side character who uses they/them pronouns, multiple other LGBTQ+ side characters
Thank you to the publisher for a finished copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 7, 2025
I didn’t expect to like this book as I did. It was such a cute story about finding your community and your place in the world as a queer person. Since I am also a part of the queer community, I could relate to a lot of it, and how being apart of it brings so much sorrow but also so much joy. Also i actually feel like the main character had a lot of character development which I loved and I related to a lot of her feelings as well. This book was also so funny, exactly my kind of humor, so dry and ironic and I loved how much it managed to make me laugh. It’s really a very cute YA book that I would actually recommend! I didn’t give this 5 stars because I feel like some of the characters weren’t fleshed out enough, I wanted to know a lot more about Tal, the love interest, wanted to know what makes her her, she felt a little bit flat to me.
But overall, this was such a heartwarming story, with the characters making stupid decisions from time to time, making mistakes, which just made this book feel a lot more realistic and it also just reminded me how much I love this community.
But overall, this was such a heartwarming story, with the characters making stupid decisions from time to time, making mistakes, which just made this book feel a lot more realistic and it also just reminded me how much I love this community.
December 16, 2024
Finished within one day!
This book was amazing, I can’t stress enough how much I loved it 😍
Sapphic YA, finding your place and voice.
2 best friends (used to date each other) fall for the same girl. It’s funny and fast paced.
I just love it so so much!
This book was amazing, I can’t stress enough how much I loved it 😍
Sapphic YA, finding your place and voice.
2 best friends (used to date each other) fall for the same girl. It’s funny and fast paced.
I just love it so so much!
May 15, 2025
the comp to The Half of It is correct
this book is written like the way I used to write when I was in high school. Which is to say: kind of a lot and (I think) exactly the right vibe for this book
also, we love to see supportive adults in queer YA
this book is written like the way I used to write when I was in high school. Which is to say: kind of a lot and (I think) exactly the right vibe for this book
also, we love to see supportive adults in queer YA
June 12, 2025
I've been having such a hard time sorting out my thoughts about this book, and honestly, I don't think I have actually managed to yet idk
ANYWAY, the biggest shock picking this up was probably that this is YA when i genuinely thought it was NA or adult?!
let me start out with what i liked
— i loved the concept!! a girl in a small town figuring out she's a lesbian but still emotionally stuck in the comfort of her friendship/relationship with grey. i was entirely hooked by the second chapter and provably pushed through to 50% in one go!! props to the narrator for this, btw, they were a big part of that!!
i liked the ending so much!! alana finally breaking free of her small town restraints and doing something for herself while also making a new friend that's just for her, entirely separate from her small town. it was so satisfying to see her do what she wanted because she wanted to!! big fan of that type of ending!!
-
here's where it gets tricky, i almost never completely loved something as it was, there was always or at least usually something bothering me about it..
— front runner for this category: alana's relationship with grey!! and listen, yes, this is YA, and we spent so much time with the two of them, and yet it still felt like something was missing, not to mention that certain things just never got explained?
remember when i said i'd liked the concept? and i did, the execution, however? the execution fell a little flat for me by the middle.
i wish we'd seen more of alana's comphet and of her sitting with the complexity of it all more by the end.
grey and alana's relationship had THE potential imo!! it could've been even more complex than it was already written as and i would've loved for them to sit with it and explore it more. as it was, i was disappointed by the way their issues got resolved.
The main plot was supposed to be Tal and Alana's falling in love, which was so meh btw, but everything would've worked much better if it'd been her comphet and relationship with grey.
obviously, tal was a big part of this story and she was supposed to be this catalyst but she wasn't really in the way she should've been imo. I didn't much care for them falling love in the first place, which for the most part happend off page anyway so really what was thr point?
I would've loved for alana to come to the conclusion that the way things kept going wasn't the way it could continue to go, on her own!!!!! instead, we got this confrontation forced by alana and tal's fall out, which I appreciated in the sense that alana, in fact, wouldn't have gotten there on her own. grey washer safety net in every way imaginable, especially when things went south and she clung to him even tighter.
idk if it was just me, but where grey was anxious, alana was depressed. they fit together so well for their comfort, and both refused to let go whatever happened.
I liked the ending for alana. again what i disliked was the way and how quickly everything got resolved. grey and her didn't talk much but it didn't feel like either dud much reflecting, nor did they properly talk about anything which made me so mad.
-
finally, what i didn't like at all
— alana's relationship with her parents, they were entirely useless. at least her mum got some of her shit together by the end.
-
all in all there was so much to unpack in alana, her comphet, being outed, grey, her friendships in general, her town, the school, her parents and being depressed and this got shoved in this neat little romance box where nothing quite fit as it should.
this had the potential to be exceptional, alas it was not.
ANYWAY, the biggest shock picking this up was probably that this is YA when i genuinely thought it was NA or adult?!
let me start out with what i liked
— i loved the concept!! a girl in a small town figuring out she's a lesbian but still emotionally stuck in the comfort of her friendship/relationship with grey. i was entirely hooked by the second chapter and provably pushed through to 50% in one go!! props to the narrator for this, btw, they were a big part of that!!
i liked the ending so much!! alana finally breaking free of her small town restraints and doing something for herself while also making a new friend that's just for her, entirely separate from her small town. it was so satisfying to see her do what she wanted because she wanted to!! big fan of that type of ending!!
-
here's where it gets tricky, i almost never completely loved something as it was, there was always or at least usually something bothering me about it..
— front runner for this category: alana's relationship with grey!! and listen, yes, this is YA, and we spent so much time with the two of them, and yet it still felt like something was missing, not to mention that certain things just never got explained?
remember when i said i'd liked the concept? and i did, the execution, however? the execution fell a little flat for me by the middle.
i wish we'd seen more of alana's comphet and of her sitting with the complexity of it all more by the end.
grey and alana's relationship had THE potential imo!! it could've been even more complex than it was already written as and i would've loved for them to sit with it and explore it more. as it was, i was disappointed by the way their issues got resolved.
The main plot was supposed to be Tal and Alana's falling in love, which was so meh btw, but everything would've worked much better if it'd been her comphet and relationship with grey.
obviously, tal was a big part of this story and she was supposed to be this catalyst but she wasn't really in the way she should've been imo. I didn't much care for them falling love in the first place, which for the most part happend off page anyway so really what was thr point?
I would've loved for alana to come to the conclusion that the way things kept going wasn't the way it could continue to go, on her own!!!!! instead, we got this confrontation forced by alana and tal's fall out, which I appreciated in the sense that alana, in fact, wouldn't have gotten there on her own. grey washer safety net in every way imaginable, especially when things went south and she clung to him even tighter.
idk if it was just me, but where grey was anxious, alana was depressed. they fit together so well for their comfort, and both refused to let go whatever happened.
I liked the ending for alana. again what i disliked was the way and how quickly everything got resolved. grey and her didn't talk much but it didn't feel like either dud much reflecting, nor did they properly talk about anything which made me so mad.
-
finally, what i didn't like at all
— alana's relationship with her parents, they were entirely useless. at least her mum got some of her shit together by the end.
-
all in all there was so much to unpack in alana, her comphet, being outed, grey, her friendships in general, her town, the school, her parents and being depressed and this got shoved in this neat little romance box where nothing quite fit as it should.
this had the potential to be exceptional, alas it was not.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2024
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley, and have also had it preordered since last year. It comes out very soon—August 27!! And I’d absolutely recommend it.
The School Library Journal published a review calling it “completely relatable,” which is exactly how I felt reading it. Don't Let It Break Your Heart explores parts of the queer experience that I don't always see represented in YA. Often, we see books that focus on the ordeal of coming out and/or understanding and coming to terms with your own self, books that focus on queer joy and leave out the harder parts, and books that deal directly with intentional homophobia. None of these things are wrong to write or read about and I've enjoyed plenty of examples of all of those things and more. What I liked here, however, was the focus on some of the places that exist in between.
The negative and positive feelings of both being seen and understood and of slipping under the radar, and wanting both at the same time. The difference between, as the book puts it, coming out and being out. Having friends who fall in various places between "literally homophobic" and "entirely, effortlessly supportive," because there are a lot of other things that people can be. When good intentions are enough and when they aren't. The pain and beauty of relationships that change with you, and the joy of new, easy friendships you didn't expect to find. Being yourself and being part of something and what that means.
Meanwhile, I think a lot of the typical YA fare that is also found here is written well and feels genuine and realistic, even where some of the same things don't all the time. For example, a large amount of the plot is built on a secret that we as the reader know is going to be blown wide open eventually and can imagine the ways it will hurt various parties. This is a trope that can either work so well or feel like the most infuriating, unreasonable thing you've ever read. I loved it here.
There is so much about this book that felt so real and relatable to me. There's a lot of nuance in the situation, experiences, and relationships that Horne is writing about here, and I think she handles it excellently. I loved the main characters and I love that they're allowed to feel so many things that, again, I haven't always seen in YA novels.
I'm so pleased to have gotten the chance to read this book a little early, and kicking myself a little bit for letting it sit on my kindle for a solid few months before I did. I can't wait to get my copy in the mail later this month and have it on my shelf with some of my other favorite books!
The School Library Journal published a review calling it “completely relatable,” which is exactly how I felt reading it. Don't Let It Break Your Heart explores parts of the queer experience that I don't always see represented in YA. Often, we see books that focus on the ordeal of coming out and/or understanding and coming to terms with your own self, books that focus on queer joy and leave out the harder parts, and books that deal directly with intentional homophobia. None of these things are wrong to write or read about and I've enjoyed plenty of examples of all of those things and more. What I liked here, however, was the focus on some of the places that exist in between.
The negative and positive feelings of both being seen and understood and of slipping under the radar, and wanting both at the same time. The difference between, as the book puts it, coming out and being out. Having friends who fall in various places between "literally homophobic" and "entirely, effortlessly supportive," because there are a lot of other things that people can be. When good intentions are enough and when they aren't. The pain and beauty of relationships that change with you, and the joy of new, easy friendships you didn't expect to find. Being yourself and being part of something and what that means.
Meanwhile, I think a lot of the typical YA fare that is also found here is written well and feels genuine and realistic, even where some of the same things don't all the time. For example, a large amount of the plot is built on a secret that we as the reader know is going to be blown wide open eventually and can imagine the ways it will hurt various parties. This is a trope that can either work so well or feel like the most infuriating, unreasonable thing you've ever read. I loved it here.
There is so much about this book that felt so real and relatable to me. There's a lot of nuance in the situation, experiences, and relationships that Horne is writing about here, and I think she handles it excellently. I loved the main characters and I love that they're allowed to feel so many things that, again, I haven't always seen in YA novels.
I'm so pleased to have gotten the chance to read this book a little early, and kicking myself a little bit for letting it sit on my kindle for a solid few months before I did. I can't wait to get my copy in the mail later this month and have it on my shelf with some of my other favorite books!
August 29, 2024
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
This is more a coming-of-age story than a romance, with Alana figuring out her future and how to navigate it, thanks to meeting Tal. She sees herself in queer spaces, makes friends with queer people, and finds her purpose, mostly due to an act of homophobic vandalism that leaves her unmoored. Alana also experiences outing by a person who had been a friend (a frenemy), which could feel traumatic to some readers.
I liked the story told from the messy, angsty inside of a high school girl’s brain; it felt like Inside Out 3 with all the thoughts whizzing around Alana’s head. She’s very intuitive, and doubts the intentions of most of the people she’s been “friends” with for her whole childhood.
The book started out murky for me, due to all the characters, their nicknames, and Alana’s internal monologue, but I soon got into the swing of it.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
This is more a coming-of-age story than a romance, with Alana figuring out her future and how to navigate it, thanks to meeting Tal. She sees herself in queer spaces, makes friends with queer people, and finds her purpose, mostly due to an act of homophobic vandalism that leaves her unmoored. Alana also experiences outing by a person who had been a friend (a frenemy), which could feel traumatic to some readers.
I liked the story told from the messy, angsty inside of a high school girl’s brain; it felt like Inside Out 3 with all the thoughts whizzing around Alana’s head. She’s very intuitive, and doubts the intentions of most of the people she’s been “friends” with for her whole childhood.
The book started out murky for me, due to all the characters, their nicknames, and Alana’s internal monologue, but I soon got into the swing of it.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
September 2, 2024
I knew with a comp to The Half of It I was gonna love this but I really loved this.
December 4, 2024
Really, really loved this one. Full of big emotions, beautiful friendships, personal growth, and genuine love. Had me tearing up!!!
July 10, 2025
3.5/5
this book told me to go back to therapy😔
also god forbid a high school girl not know what she’s doing in life!!!!!!
also also…i definitely did NOT just pick up this book bc the cover is an exact copy of that iconic tumblr pic………how did they get away with that…..brilliant….
this book told me to go back to therapy😔
also god forbid a high school girl not know what she’s doing in life!!!!!!
also also…i definitely did NOT just pick up this book bc the cover is an exact copy of that iconic tumblr pic………how did they get away with that…..brilliant….
August 21, 2025
lesbians with a louis tomlinson song title? i said oh i'm sure
February 4, 2025
maybe a 3.5 - the type of book I needed to read at 17
November 9, 2023
BRUH ????????????
August 17, 2024
Don't Let It Break Your Heart is really something special. Maggie Horne's YA debut follows Alana Lucas, a high school senior who has spent her whole life as part of an inseparable Gray-and-Alana unit. The two of them have been friends for their whole lives and dated for three and a half years until Alana came out as a lesbian. While they're no longer dating, Alana tells herself that their friendship is as strong as ever. When new girl Tal transfers to their school, Gray is immediately taken by her and he's determined to charm her into being his girlfriend–with some help from Alana, of course. As Alana spends more time with Tal, however, she finds herself falling for Gray's dream girl and finds herself torn between loyalty for her best friend and feelings for the girl who's opened her up to a whole new world.
Horne proves herself an instant talent at crafting messy and layered characters with complex relationships in this novel. When Don't Let It Break Your Heart opens, Alana doesn't really know who she is. After being Gray's girlfriend for so many years, she's now left trying to find herself and her place in the social hierarchy after coming out as a lesbian. She's still figuring out what it means to be openly queer–how it redefines her relationship with her ex-boyfriend, navigating the subtle but pervasive homophobia of her school, and what it means to understand herself as part of a larger community with shared joys and struggles. When Tal comes along, Alan finds herself really falling for someone for the first time in her life, while also worrying that her feelings could destroy the oldest friendship in her life. Determined to preserve her friendship with Gray, Alana tries to bury her feelings for Tal, but finds it's not so easy. My heart really ached for Alana in this novel as she tried to discover where she fits and what her future will look like, but this isn't a sad story–it's also one of first love and teenage chaos, of the messiness of discovering who you are and the joyous certainty that comes from finally figuring it out. There's so much love and empathy in the way that Horne writes these characters and the result is a rich, heartfelt coming-of-age story that both tugged at my heartstrings and gave me a warm hug. I can't wait to see what else Maggie Horne has in store.
Horne proves herself an instant talent at crafting messy and layered characters with complex relationships in this novel. When Don't Let It Break Your Heart opens, Alana doesn't really know who she is. After being Gray's girlfriend for so many years, she's now left trying to find herself and her place in the social hierarchy after coming out as a lesbian. She's still figuring out what it means to be openly queer–how it redefines her relationship with her ex-boyfriend, navigating the subtle but pervasive homophobia of her school, and what it means to understand herself as part of a larger community with shared joys and struggles. When Tal comes along, Alan finds herself really falling for someone for the first time in her life, while also worrying that her feelings could destroy the oldest friendship in her life. Determined to preserve her friendship with Gray, Alana tries to bury her feelings for Tal, but finds it's not so easy. My heart really ached for Alana in this novel as she tried to discover where she fits and what her future will look like, but this isn't a sad story–it's also one of first love and teenage chaos, of the messiness of discovering who you are and the joyous certainty that comes from finally figuring it out. There's so much love and empathy in the way that Horne writes these characters and the result is a rich, heartfelt coming-of-age story that both tugged at my heartstrings and gave me a warm hug. I can't wait to see what else Maggie Horne has in store.
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