Heartsound

by Clare Stevens

Sixteen-year-old Chrissie’s first love is a girl.But it’s the eighties, and she fears rejection from her rural community, so her relationship remains secret. When her friend vanishes, Chrissie bears her heartache alone.Decades later, her long-lost love resurfaces, but all is not as it seems.It takes a global pandemic and a brush with death to spark the resolution Chrissie craves.Heartsound is a tale of unspoken truths, broken promises, almost-forgotten dreams, and hope.

402 pages, Paperback

Published March 15, 2024

Reviews

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a deep and powerful love story. I felt a strong connection with the characters from the beginning, and the writing went straight to my heart.

This story is in three parts. The first part takes place during the 80s, the second part in the mid 2000s, and the final part in 2020. It felt comforting and somewhat nostalgic to read, and I became very invested in the story. It both warmed my heart and tugged at my heartstrings.

If you're looking for a rich, romantic read, or a tearjerker, Heartsound may appeal to you also.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dorothy Winsor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartsound starts in 2020 during the worst of the pandemic when England is under lockdown. Stuck at home, Chrissie is sorting through some boxes in which she’s saved various memorabilia. She finds the box for 1981, the year she was 16 and she fell in love for the first time with a girl she met at school named Tara. Most of the first half of the book traces the way their love for one another develops. But, it’s 1981 and they feel pressured to keep their affair a secret. Under the pressure of that secrecy, the relationship eventually ends badly and Tara disappears.

Then the book cuts to 2005. Chrissie now has a 16yo daughter. She’s had a series of romantic relationships mostly with men but she’s never loved anyone the way she loved Tara. And then Tara comes back into her life. Secrets turn out to be involved there too. Among other things, Chrissie is in London, near Paddington Station when the London subway bombings happen. That disrupts her meeting with Tara, and then secrets unravel.

The book then goes back to 2020, the book’s present as Chrissie works out her relationships with the people around her.

I got more and more into this book as I read it. It’s a fascinating look at moments in history, including attitudes toward LGBTQ relationships, the pandemic, the terrorist attack on the Tube, and the way the internet has changed how we interact. If that sounds appealing to you, I recommend it.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clare Steven's second book is a tale of love, loss, coming-of-age, memories and hope. It covers a 40 year period, from the mid 80s through to the Covid epidemic.

The book is very much character driven, with beautifully imagined realistic people who go through the trials of growing up, and we follow their lives, friendships, successes and failures into adulthood and middle age. The main character is Chrissie (Christine) Carlisle who is a teenager in Bath - a city in the west of England - in the 1980s as she starts college with her friends. She soon meets a Canadian girl called Tara who is beautiful and sophisticated, and much to Chrissie's surprise they begin an intense relationship which they must keep hidden.

Music is strongly themed throughout the book, with songs from each era in the text and in many of the chapter titles. A sense of place is also very strong and so well described that the reader can feel and see the locations used (Bath, Nottingham, Ljubljana, London).

It is also a cleverly crafted book. Beginning at the start of the first Covid lockdown (2020) Chrissie sorts through boxes which contain letters, leaflets, diaries, flyers and even and an old Nokia phone. Each item leads seamlessly into memories of that time.

It is an intense read, evocative, memorable and well worth reading. I look forward to Clare's 3rd book.

[David Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartsound in a word to me is relatable. The story follows our protagonist Chrissie through three different and extremely impactful periods of life. 1981 (teenage years), her mid-thirties with the tube explosion in London, and a more recent era of the Coronavirus pandemic, with her female love interest Tara at the center of it all.

The first half of the book, the teenage years, shed light on the LGBTQ+ community in the 1980s, the stigma tied to it and even legal repercussions; on top of all of the drama and confusion of being a teenager and dating. Chrissie and Tara navigate these situations and start their love story which fizzles out due to societal pressures, but not for long.

We get to hear of Chrissie again when she rekindles with Tara during her thirties and has drama in losing jobs, starting new careers, raising children, and then the feelings for the only girl she has been in love with coming back up. This portion of her live comes with a variety of twists and turns that I don't think anyone can predict coming, and leaves us wanting more.

The last chapters of Tara's story comes in 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic is plaguing society and shutting everyone's doors. Chrissie is thrown into anxiety, stress, and panic attacks which nobody was impervious to during that time. The way the author portrays the entire experience was extremely vivid, she painted a picture that I couldn't take my eyes off of. I was brought to tears by the perspective of first responders, those affected with the virus, and the families involved as it hit home to my own experiences. Extremely well written and appreciated the point of view and the way it was so applicable to my own life.

As the book progresses it becomes easier and easier to relate to Chrissie and Tara and many other characters that come into play and can be compared to our own friends, family, and drama. It was educational in highlighting some of the historical events that have happened in near history and really diving into what everyday life was like in these eras. An additional fun aspect is seeing the way things change over the time periods, including the acceptance of being gay at this time, and the technology that made our world so much smaller. I would certainly read more novels by Clare Stevens and recommend it to anyone who enjoys romance, nonfiction, and a book that is inspiring in the face of adversity.

[Nick Jowett · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Heartsound' is terrific storytelling, taking us from the 1980s right up to the pandemic. The characters are strongly drawn and the relationships absolutely convincing. The novel is particularly vivid and rich in its picture of the youth culture, the music, the fashions and the whole lifestyle of young people in the 1980s, and the first half of the novel is especially enjoyable because of this. Clare Stevens tackles a pretty difficult subject, that is the way an intense teenage relationship can affect a whole life of other relationships and in some ways spoil them - the whole of subsequent life is effectively a come-down, or an endless living in hope: Chrissie the narrator can never find any relationship to match what she had with the wonderful Tara. And this is complicated by the fact that Chrissie is confused and to some extent remains confused about her own sexuality. So there is a risk that the second half of the novel - the time after Chrissie's teenage years are over - will be less exciting and compelling than the first. Clare Stevens narrates well enough mostly to avoid this danger and keeps us on tenterhooks about the return of the longed-for lover, but I found I was a little less engaged at this point. But there are some excitements and tensions before the end, and this is never less than a page-turner. The story has some wonderfully drawn, interesting characters, especially the tall, magnetic Tara and her rather horrible mother! Well worth a read!

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another outstanding novel from Clare Stevens, Heartsound is a deeply moving exploration of love, loss, resilience, and hope, handled with both tenderness and authenticity. Clare’s meticulous research is evident throughout, bringing to life a specific time, place, and set of attitudes. From the vivid descriptions of 1980s Ljubljana—an era and location I knew little about—to the richly detailed settings, every aspect feels immersive and real.

Each chapter is paired with a carefully chosen song that perfectly sets the tone, and several of these have now found a place on my playlists. The music adds an inspired extra layer to the storytelling, making the experience even more memorable.

Although I was eager to see how the story would unfold, I felt a bittersweet sadness as I reached the end. The final pages left me with tears in my eyes—a testament to the emotional depth of the writing. I’m already looking forward to Clare Stevens’ next novel and can’t recommend Heartsound highly enough.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It might be because I’m only a few years younger than the main character and the story focuses on a brief period in the early 80s and references so many shared musical memories. There’s also the perspective of the adult reflecting back on her youth, in the mid 00s and then again during the coronavirus lockdown. Again, a lot of shared experiences here: what I was doing on that specific day; shopping in near-deserted aisles; no aircraft in the sky. This book resonates on so many levels and I’m sure other readers will pick up on their own specific harmonics.
Fundamentally it’s a book about relationships; how we go about accepting who we are, and who others are. It also touches on mortality and time and the need to be happy, not just to conform to other people’s expectations. Highly recommended.

[Aoife Hanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever listen to Desert Island Discs - the music that we describes a moment or feeling? And holds the moment there? Well Chrissie, the main character possesses a jukebox of such moments. Definitely a trip down memory lane that gives me cause to reflect...why do I seem to have missed out on most of the 90's? Was I just one of those boring people, back then?
Without spoiling the plot, the story is backdropped by the pressure to comply to cultural norms (straight sex) and the long shadow cast on relationships blighted by this pressure. The story swerves from the conflicted lives of a bunch of students into the present day, tracing Chrissie's life as a graphics designer who hankers after the 'poignant' past. And the consequences that colourful past has for Chrissie's more mundane present.

[David Parkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this enjoyable trip through the ages quickly. Charting both young love and uncertain middle age, Heart Sound is a page turner that would make a great holiday read. I found the passages on intense young love particularly relatable and I like the way the book is peppered with historical events.
I was just a tad too young for the references but anyone who was a teenager in the 80s will love it.
An assured, readable work about youth, aging, music and the the compromises we make. Funny, touching, heartfelt with a subtle twist in the tail. Highly recommended.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a compelling story presented in such a realistic way that I felt a sincere emotional connection with the characters. With each new high and low, Clare Stevens brings the reader along for the ride, but it doesn't feel forced.

Even though I do not share many characteristics with the main character, Clare does an outstanding job helping the reader feel a part of the story. I highly recommend taking some time to read this book. You won't want to put it down!

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book which covered pivotal periods in my own life. The story was well structured and the characters very believable in that most were flawed in a very relatable and somehow sympathetic way. I enjoyed the parallel sound track to each era which brought back vivid memories. This is a great story of youthful romance, mistakes and misunderstandings, vulnerability and finally hope. I genuinely wanted to know what happened next ?

[Christie]

A page-turner with a built-in soundtrack! Chrissie's passionate, tumultuous adolescence, I think, is something everyone can identify with. Covering universal and contemporary topics, coalescing in the Pandemic lockdown of 2020, it's ultimately a story of second chances.

[No rating because I'm biased, I know the author!]

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second book from Clare Stevens is a real page turner. The characters are wonderful and the nostalgic feel of life in the 80s which was created must have come from some significant research- the music, the shops, the clothes! All my era! A great story of teenage life and love and well worth a read.

[Susan Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another page turner from Clare Stevens

First of the all the cover of Clare’s latest book is beautiful and really sets the tone for what’s to come
As a Nottingham girl in the 80s I loved all the local references: it was a real trip down memory lane. The musical sound track that accompanied the chapters really placed the characters in that moment
A thoroughly good read

[Alison Lockley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars - I couldn’t put this one down. In some ways a traditional romance, but so much of everyday life included which prevented it from being too predictable. And so many historical points from the past almost 45 years. And some heartbreak and tear jerking episodes.

[Anne Goodwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

First love and how adolescence shapes and scars us – and it can take until middle age to sort through its ramifications, which becomes a challenging lockdown project for the protagonist, Chrissie.

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed Clare Stevens' second book. I identified with the era that Heartsound is set in. The music was instantly in my head. I am also very familiar with one of the locations the story is set in. I liked the way we were gradually brought up to date with some surprises along the way. It was interesting the way certain historical events were weaved into the story and also the way attitudes to LGBTQ relationships have changed. I liked the ending, which is always important!