Songs of the Runaway Heart

by Marisa Fendi

Kamelia’s goal was to get into Harvard. It led her to loneliness, spending nights studying, deserted by friends.

Haikal did not have a goal. His main concerns were his motorcycle, his nights out in Kuala Lumpur, and his brothers.

Despite their fathers’ bond over wealth and luxuries, Kamelia and Haikal’s bond was made up of glares and stolen ice pops. But one day, everything stopped. The banter, the bag-tugging, the eye-rolling.

Kamelia had disappeared, gone overnight.

Nine years pass. Haikal’s life revolves around his daughter rather than his motorcycle. His main concerns are balancing work at the law firm and being a single father. But then he meets a woman with chaotic brown hair, red lips, and sunglasses, living in her van. Regardless of her appearance, he knows it’s her—Kamelia, the girl from his childhood. Memories come flooding back, and Haikal is determined to find out what led to Kamelia’s mysterious disappearance.

Genres: Romance

384 pages, Paperback

First published September 25, 2024

About the author

Marisa Fendi is a born-and-raised city girl with a passion for storytelling. She finds delight in travelling between the pages of a book and creating enchanting worlds within the comfort of her home. Aside from writing, she enjoys binge-watching her favourite TV shows, listening to the same three songs on repeat, and stuffing her face with ice cream. She lives in Malaysia with her family.

Reviews

[Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just need everyone to read this book right now.
Everything screams perfection 😭
I love family found trope macam ni.

Kamelia comes from a broken home so she basically lives for herself only.
Not until she meets her nemesis, Haikal, and his son, Zara, that she thinks it is ok to open up and give them a chance to enter her life.
She hops from one place to another, never staying in one place, but when she finds them, she wants to stay for them.

The slowburn, the subtle romance, the affirmation, the gaze, the bickering, I love them all.

Now i want Alif's story 😫

[✨ sufina ✨ (thebadassreader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You're an idiot when you're in love"

🔸 Synopsis: Kamalia abandoned her childhood friend, Haikal, overnight without a warning. 9 years later, they crossed paths. Will Haikal finally get his closure?

STAY with me so that I can convince you 🫵🏼:

✫ there was never a dull moment 🥹💗 Every page, every dialogue, every paragraph leads to an important event. No filler.
✫ each character has very distinctive personality, the best part was that you can tell by just reading the dialogues.
✫ Haikal & Kamalia's banters were top tier ‼️ I love their clap backs at each other 😂
✫ THE FAN SERVICE 🫦

Tropes you can find in this book:
🎸 single dad
🎸 childhood friends to lovers
🎸 he fell first then he fell harder

I have read many romcoms and this is one of my favs bcs of how enjoyable the characters are, the light hearted plots and the fun journey.

Everything felt natural, it's as if the author really breathed a live into the characters.

My first 5 ⭐️ read of the year!
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
Please @legenbooksdary & @marisa.fendi, make the Khair Brothers series happens‼️ Alif & Syamil deserve their own stories too 😍

Thank you so much to @bukubookiut for sending me this book in exchange for a review. It is now available in Book Capital (link on Bookiut's bio) and bookstores soon!

[Ainun Agustine Budiyawan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is like a slice of Kuih Lapis, layered and colorful. The top pink layer is a romantic comedy between childhood friends, Kamelia and Haikal, but beneath that lies a deeper layer: a story about how, at the end of the day, we're all just kids trying our best to make our parents proud, even if it means losing a part of ourselves along the way.

I genuinely enjoyed this book. It was fun, often hilarious ( A CHICKEN???) and the plot twist caught me completely off guard (in the best way). The story was well-developed, and I was both surprised and relieved to see that every plot point was explored thoroughly and resolved with care. If I may, and I meant this as the biggest compliment ever, this felt like a TV3 drama but without all the nonsense, and all the characters and plots are developed well. In a perfect ideal world, this is the TV3 drama they would be airing.

Although I’ll admit, it took me a while to really get into the story and immerse myself in the world, and the mystery of Kamelia took too long to be resolved I started to loose interest. But once I was in.. oh, I was in, babyyy. The banter between Kamelia and Haikal was chefs kiss. The interactions between the Khair brothers were so wholesome, cute, and downright funny. Syamil, in particular, was the star of the show. His comedic timing brought so much joy and lightness to every scene he was in. And the interactions between the Khair brothers with Kamelia was endearing.

All in all, this was an enjoyable read. I laughed. I cried. I gasped and yes obviously, I giggled.

[matchastroberi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Song of The Runaway Heart by Marisa Fendi

genre — romcom, slice of life, coming of age
trope (s) — frenemies to lovers, childhood friend, first love, overachiever rival, I thought you hate me x I never said I hate you, found family, single dad, lawyer x rockstar, he fell first and harder, family drama, hot brothers😮‍💨 (i hope all these can convince you enough cuz if not, very not demure of you)

personal rating; 4.8/5🌟

📝 SOTRH is basically about unresolved pasts and unexpected reunions. The dutiful daughter and the rebel, that's what people used to call them. Kamelia was focused only on one thing, getting into Harvard, period. But her sudden, unexplained disappearance left Haikal, her mischievous childhood friend in confusion. Fast forward nine years, Haikal is now a single dad to Zara. His life revolves around his daughter and his career as a devil lawyer, until he unexpectedly finds Kamelia living in a van. Now, Haikal is determined to find out why she vanished and what really happened all those years ago.

---

Kdrama enthusiast, this book is for you.

The banter, the flirting, the dialogue with humor are all on point!! its so smooth and realistic, like you’re right there listening to an actual convo. No awkward or stiff lines, just natural flow that pulls you in. honestly, its crazy how well its done im in love😭🫶🏻 i can say that the writing and grammar are good for a beginner dont worry nggak bisa basa inggris pon you will easily understand✊🏻

talk about the vibe and plot, it was lighthearted with a bit of angst. such a page turner!! got me hooked and intriguied even at the very first chapter. every Kamelia and Haikal dynamic made me giggling, laughing, kicking, screaming, sobbing like can yall just get married istg😭 the AYAM scene was iconic🙂‍↔️ the.indirectly.mad.confession.ooff🫦 the.tears.afraid.of.losing.her!!🫦

On serious note, few issues has brought up in this story. it highlights a kid’s struggle to constantly prove themselves, trying to be the best in their parents’ eyes, craving approval and love till it affect them. I also love the message of this book where it shows that not all exes are bad, and co-parenting can actually work.

I love how carefree Kamelia is and how loser Haikal can be when it comes to love HAHA he kept a whole country map in his room just to track down where Kamelia went BROOO😭 how warm and sweet their relationship development like even just seeing in each other eyes, they know theyre each other's home🥹🤍 i love when they remember each other details like it was insane for not saying theyre not in love😤 Zara and Auntie Jamie on the other hand are truly biggest KamKal shipper✊🏻 (sukati aku je buat nama ship) Loving Zara and Kamelia chemistry so much tooo! Not to forget the contributing of Runaway Rascals team especially Anushia OH I LOVE HER! her theory test was so funny helppp😭 Syamil and Alif? shesshh i cant wait for their own book (im begging)🙏🏻

most importanly, please confess to your crush. either now or never dude.

BECOME ONE OF MY FAVOURITE READ THIS YEAR! I LOVE THIS BOOK WITH ALL OF MY HEART PLEASE RUN AND GET THIS BOOK ON YOUR HANDS NOW

[Mslvoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

No wonder everyones loved it! A story about a sad one sided crush return to your life when you just got scammed 😅

I was tremendously surprised and entertained by Marisa's writing style. Im hooked!

Love the way Haikal being clingy to Kamelia. Quite an enjoyable read from beginning to end.

[Sofea Zainal · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 ugh gonna do full review later!!! btw love love this book sebab semua chaotic nak mampos sbshshsh

[Elvina Zafril · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG, if you’re looking for a book that's full of LOL moments, cute vibes, and a sprinkle of romance, you NEED to read this one! 💖 Songs of the Runaway Heart will have you hooked from start to finish, no cap!

So, we start with some major nostalgic feels—Kamelia and Haikal grew up together, always teasing and being low-key flirty, until boom, Kamelia just disappears one day. Both come from rich fams, so their lives were super intertwined. Fast forward and Haikal’s now a single dad to the cutest 4-year-old, Zara 🥺, and guess what? He runs into Kamelia at a festival! Like, talk about fate.

Haikal’s looking for a singer for Zara’s bday party (because Zara is THAT girl lol), and guess who’s perfect for the gig? Kamelia! Not only does she meet adorable Zara, but also Haikal’s bros, Syamil and Alif. And OMG, the tension when Alif tries to make a move on Kamelia had me grinning so hard—Haikal’s been crushing on her since high school! 😏

One of my fave parts? Watching Kamelia and Haikal’s bond get stronger. Their chemistry is sooo natural and sweet, it’s giving wholesome vibes. And Zara? She’s legit the cutest little sunshine, stealing the show every time.

The whole story is just chef’s kiss—funny, charming, and full of moments that had me hooked. AND the best part? Each chapter has its own song picked by the author! It adds such a vibe to the scenes, like you’re literally watching a rom-com in real time.

I was giggling non-stop! It’s light, but deep enough to make you love the characters. Plus, the humor is ON POINT. If you’re into childhood friends-to-lovers stories or just need something heartwarming, this is a MUST-READ! 📚✨ #Obsessed

[Aina D. (pagesofaina) · Rating 5 out of 5]

for those who have always felt unwanted, never wanted. this is for you. ♡

long overdue because i didn’t know how to review this book. i was fully absorbed into the story and each scene played in front of my own pair of eyes clearly. it got me feeling all sorts of emotions my god. the most important thing is that it made me believe in love again. your right one is out there, and will come with time.

songs of the runaway heart core 🎸🏍️✨
🎸 childhood friends to lovers
🎸 trio brothers
🎸 hot mmc x witty fmc
🎸 single dad raising a kid in kindergarten

kamelia and haikal were inseparable—always glaring and having banters with one another since they were kid. until one day, kamelia left without a word. life between these two crumbled but things get back on track over time, until they bumped into each other again, nine years later. kamelia living in her van. haikal raising his kid, alone.

first of all, the banters!?!?! SO CUTE and idk if it was the past-12-AM hormones when i was reading or the book just keeps getting cuter and cuter??? the amount of times i had to stop reading and squealed my face onto the book???? unhealthy. i literally palmed myself on the book countless times because *i* was blushing

and thank YOU marisa for kamelia’s witty character 😭🙏🏻 there’s definitely more than one “i love kamelia” annotation on my copy. i love kamelia so much i love her humour. [i think i’m just so bored with innocent characters who blurt out “huh, awak suka saya? 😦” kind of thing you know what i mean]

there’s a song dedicated in the beginning of every chapter and i played the songs accordingly for the said chapter, and it DID NOT DISAPPOINT. 🔛🔝 the song choice fits its own chapter SO well (read: the brothers seem hotter with the background song), i 100% recommend playing the songs accordingly cus what an experience 💯!!!

i also appreciate how kamelia and haikal were given the character development that they deserve. other characters in the book receive theirs too, in fact (it made me sob in my bed in the middle of the night).

[special shoutout—i feel so much for alif. my roman empire is alif being left alone, breaking down in the hospital, with his own thoughts, pain, guilt, and feelings.]

a must read for sure. i’d say it’s a light read (though it made me cry a few times LOL) but it’s definitely a book that’ll make you squeal in silence cus you don’t want people to think you’re crazy

[Dhia Yana · Rating 5 out of 5]

AHHHHHH best gila buku ni. Honestly kalau bukan sebab book club, memang takkan baca. Buku ni semua ada, gembira, sedih, lawak. And the plot twist???? Tak sangka gila. First thought bila baca buku ni, rasa macam tengok kdrama tapi version baca. Baca sipnopsis ingatkan macam cliche and cringe romance tapi tak. Bonus on the songs???!!!! I love when the songs got dedicated by each chapters. Also all the songs is very sesuai with all of the scenes???!!! Bon Jovi ✅, Taylor Swift ✅, Seventeen ✅.

[aliaareadstoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Songs of the Runaway Heart by Marisa Fendi takes us into the world of Kamelia and Haikal, childhood friends who were separated due to a life-changing incident.

- I really enjoyed Haikal and Kamelia's dynamic. Their banter reflects how comfortable they are with each other, knowing exactly which buttons to push to get the reactions they want. I found myself giggling through most of their exchanges—do they even realize they’re actually flirting? 🤭

- I love how Haikal and Kamelia’s pain stems from similar sources, yet they find themselves in very different situations. Their experiences and coping mechanisms feel relatable, either personally or through someone we know.

- Zara is such a witty and adorable character! She has everyone wrapped around her finger effortlessly, and her taste in music is top-notch.

- Alif and Syamil are the ultimate wholesome brothers for Haikal. I love how fiercely protective they are of one another. Do whatever you want—but if you mess with any of them, you’ll have to face their wrath, each in his own way. If the author ever writes a Khair Brothers trilogy, count me in!

Overall, this is a light and engaging read that keeps you turning the pages. I ended up finishing it in just 11 hours—despite spending time out with my family that day! Highly recommended.

Dear Marisa, you did it again! 🫶

[honestlyjaen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The romance is the only thing that matters, it’s what I’m living for! It literally carried the story on its back. I was screaming, giggling, kicking my feet in the air over every moment. I’M LIVING FOR THE PART WHERE THEY FINALLY STARTED DATING. Clingy Haikal lives rent-free in my mind 24/7.

Zara is a literal ball of sunshine, I love her sm!! Let me give her smoochies and huggies 🫂💘 And Syamil, I'll give him credits for making this book more fun to read. Zara and Syamil are literally my favv duo 😼😼

I’ll try to overlook the hollow feeling I got from the plot because, honestly, it barely felt like it existed. I only got glimpses of the past, and I was expecting more. It should’ve delved deeper into what led to her family’s disappearance. And Kamelia’s emotions of grief and sorrow, which the author intended to convey, didn’t resonate with me that well 😔

And fr, I don’t get the hype over Alif. I couldn’t bring myself to sympathize with him, his insecurities about Haikal and desperation for validation didn’t justify his actions.

[buttercup · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.9🌟

✍🏻 Haikal and Kamelia were childhood bestfriends but they were never on the same page to begin with. Fights, banters, ‘who’s going to do better’ are the only thing that revolve around them. Out of sudden, Kamelia’s absence on the day they promised to meet left Haikal wondering. She did not come back. After years—or nine years, to be precise, they finally got their eyes lock again when Haikal begged the street girl that was singing in a festival, to come over for his daughter, Zara’s, birthday party. Only then, he realised that the street girl he encountered was Kamelia, his longlost peer or should I say… his 𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓼𝓽 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮?

-

Twinkling Watermelon + Love Next Door. These two K-dramas are running in my mind while reading through this 300+ pages of bulky paper. It’s literally the sum up of this story (nah I’m exaggerating. It’s just because of the dynamic and friendship’s similarities)

Everyone is getting Alif’s name coming out of their mouth NOW CAN I HOLD A BOARD UP WITH SYAMIL’S NAME BECAUSE HE’S LITERALLY THE FUNNIEST CHEEKIEST HUMAN BEING IN SoTRH’S UNIVERSE🥹 i would say i’ll rank Syamil the first if not because of Haikal being an unhinged male lead shjdhdjdhd this whole Instagram caption wouldn’t be enough for me to write a whole damn essay about his essence. But let me tell you…

If you love Choi Seunghyo from Love Next door, with a mix of Ryu Sunjae from Lovely Runner’s loserism, PICK THIS BOOK UP NOW. DON’T WASTE A SECOND TIME OF YOUR LIFE. It has been added in my favourite (AND FUNNIEST) read of 2024 already!! Marisa’s straightforward writing had left me hooked. Don’t let me start talking about the relationship build up and chemistry—IT WAS IMMACULATE😭🫶🏻

I LOVE EVERY BIT OF HAIKAL, KAMELIA AND ZARA’S (with her chicken😔) EXISTENCE!!! the dynamic, the sarcasm, the threatening and frightening humour of Kamelia😭, Zara’s susceptible lines, Syamil being an idiot at a moment, Haikal’s subtle flirting and BEING HOT at the same time (a friendly message to Haikal: you’re someone’s dad, you know??? It was ILLEGAL to make me gush over you) i’m a loser if i did not include THE FRIENDSHIP BAND. every character in this story has their own personality (which is very contra😂) and functions to keep the storyline intriguing.

FURTHERMORE HAIKALLL MANNNN WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU’RE CRYING WHILE ASKING FOR HER TO STAY??? THIS BOOK IS DRIVING ME MAD CRAZY BECAUSE HELL YEAH, I DID TEARED UP SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH HAIKAL😭 the way Marisa left my mouth open while reading THAT PARTICULAR PAGE!!!! It was very cruel of her to do that, because everyone in the house was sleeping by the moment i wanted to scream my lungs out because of Haikal’s fictional existence😇

everyone’s talking about how deep Haikal’s love to Kamelia. But can we talk about Kamelia loves Haikal? Her monologues everytime she stares at Haikal, being the only thing she loved during her past when everyone was against her. Kamelia my baby, she doesn’t deserve to be blamed like that💔

On top of that, this book implied about some people just want their dreams to be heard and seen, not to get pushed all over again, becoming their parents’ trophy. It’s simply about what we are going to do and face in the future, not what others’ are saying and babbling behind our back as if they’re responsible for the pain we go through while pursuing that course.

Huda, in the other hand, I eminence her as Zara’s mother 💓💓 Although I want KamKal as the endgame (ikut ship name Dinu) she’s such a strong soldier because maam, I would’ve fall head over heals towards my husband😔

Alif, to some extent, people might point him as the bad guy. But to me, he’s just at the wrong place and time. All he wanted was to be praised and become his father’s pride and joy. He wasn’t good at expressing his feelings and as an eldest daughter, I understand his side.

The storyline is just as beautiful as the cover🤍🏹 Rasa macam nak pergi bilik Dumbledore and pull out my memories of reading this book into the pensieve pun ada😂 i’ll be waiting for the Khair siblings’ next book (to be precise, Syamil’s. Urgh that freaky troublemaker) !!! <3

[Fey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Started: 5 October 2024
Finished: 1 December 2024 (Long gap because I had important MUET exams huhu)

“No. Haikal didn’t like Kamelia.
He loved her. He was fine with that. He was fine with just loving her quietly. As long as she was around. As long as he could see her. It was enough.”

The moment Marisa Fendi announced this book, I was over the moon, literally jumping around my room in excitement! I’ve been a fan of her writing since her debut, and I’ve vowed to devour every book she puts out. Songs of the Runaway Heart reminded me exactly why I made that vow in the first place.

This story follows Kamelia and Haikal, childhood best friends who were known for their nonstop bickering. Haikal was the classic high school bad boy, while Kamelia was the perfect daughter—responsible, proper, and everything he wasn’t. Their friendship came to an abrupt halt when Kamelia and her family disappeared without warning. Fast forward nine years, and their paths cross againz Haikal is now a single dad to the most precious little girl, Zara, while Kamelia is living in the van, carrying the weight of everything she’s been through.

From the very first page, I was completely invested. The plot was engaging, the pacing was just right, and the writing flowed so smoothly. I found myself annotating nearly every page, which I couldn’t help it! There were no plot holes or awkward transitions, just a beautifully told story from beginning to end.

One thing I absolutely loved was how distinct every character felt. No one faded into the background. My favorite? Definitely Alif (MONEY TALKS? MONEY TALKS!!!) (though let’s be honest…Haikal had me swooning. To Haikal, if you read this, hi! *shyly*). A single dad with a soft heart and a forever crush? I’m sold! Okay, fine! love all of them.

The banter in this book deserves its own five stars, especially between Haikal and Syamil. Their brotherly dynamic was hilarious and heartwarming. And Zara? The way that little girl lit up the story, she stole every scene she was in.

But beyond the humor and romance, what really touched me were the deeper themes Marisa wove into the story. Through Kamelia’s character, we get a powerful message about self-worth, healing, and the strength it takes to walk away from even the people you love if they hurt you. There’s one scene in particular, where Kamelia doubts herself because of how her father treated her, that genuinely made me cry. And then there’s Haikal, showing up for her the way we all hope someone would. His quiet loyalty? Top tier. Absolutely top tier.

And the ending? Chef’s kiss. It gave me everything I wanted and more. I don’t usually read much rom-com, but Marisa Fendi has officially converted me.

Thank you, Marisa, for writing this book. And thank you for giving us Kamelia, Haikal, and the beautifully chaotic cast that made this story unforgettable!!!

Rate: ♾️/stars

—Fey

[mooncake ۫ ꣑ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

spectacular! this is my first rom-com book and my first time reading a book by a local author,
and i can confidently say i'm not disappointed

[Showering · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes i'm late to the party but guess what?! I LOVE IT?!?!

[fatihahnorman · Rating 5 out of 5]

memang comel. the banters 😫😫

[Alea Aizad · Rating 3 out of 5]

"𝑰𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒚, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒖𝒑 𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒕"

Kamelia and Haikal always had been a polar opposite. A preppy nerd girl and naughty biker high school boy. Despite their differences, they both came from a quite wealthy family. Sharing their playful relationship with most of time, Kamelia being annoyed with Haikal's charade, both of them know that they would always be with each other. But not until, one of the accident started to change their dynamics and leading to Kamelia's disappearance. After 9 years, they are bound to meet again but with thousands of secrets and past come between.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

Sweet and simple romcom ! I mean what could you ask for more ? It was so easy to read with a few laughable scenes and some of tender-hearted moments andddd even a bits of cringey romance in between ❤️

I just love that as the plot thickens, both Kamelia and Haikal went tremendously major characters improvement. It's been known that both of them came from a quite broken family but despite all of that, they managed to heal together. From Kamelia that would always have an 'avoidant attachment' to her holding on steady relationships with people around her. And Haikal becoming a father and having a sweet father-daughter relationship is a top notch of the story too !

Is it weird that i also love 'abang alif' here ? like i know he did some mistakes but he never meant any of that to happened at all but maybe i have this tendency to lean to a a antisocial grumpy characters 🤣 but having to see their brother's dynamic was kinda funny though with Syamil being unserious most of the time.

Romance between Kamelia and Haikal too doesnt feel forced or whatsoever and it just came to the readers naturally too. and Zara is literally the MVP. Most of her one-liners iconic as hell 🤣 And i also adore that every single chapters came with their own songs ! It was definitely pleasing for a song freak like me !

Overall, i did enjoy reading this one and for people who are not really good with reading in english, this one it's just perfect for u 🙌🏻

[Akmal Zahrudin · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thoughts?

1. New favourite unlocked! Weh sumpah best gilaaaa buku ni kuasa 1000. Unexpected betul. Dah la cover comel dengan sprayed edges lagi. Penulisan penulis straight forward dan sangat mudah difahami. Suitable for beginners.

2. Aku paling suka dialog2 dalam buku ni. Sumpah best dah lawak. Dialog dia simple je lepas tu sarkastik pulak. Penat aku gelak 🤣 Tak pernah lagi jumpa buku yang aku mantain gelak dari awal sampai habis.

3. Watak2 dalam buku ni semua aku A++

Kamelia - macam hippies pun ada 😆 sempoi je, travel around in a vintage Volkswagen van. Definitely can sing and play guitar. Masa sekolah best student, calon Harvard.

Haikal - the devil lawyer yang hesmes. Masa sekolah troublemaker student. Geng motor, suka belasah orang 🤣 Terbalik pulak. Masa dewasa Haikal yang successful dan Kamelia tunggang terbalik

Alif - ikut jejak langkah ayah. Successful businessman. Abang sulung. Hesmes jugak.

Syamil - rebellious. Rockstar. Ada band sendiri. Adik bongsu. Aku suka betul watak Syamil ni haha macam2 masalah.

Zara - Haikal's daughter. Comel nak mampus budak ni. Kecik2 dah minat Joan Jett. Bakal rockstar 😆

4. Aku suka penulis decribe relationship 3 beradik. Alif, Haikal dan Syamil. So chaotic! Semua beza perangai and everything. Relationship Haikal dengan Kamelia pun aku suka sangat. Comel gila. Slow burn dan tak beria sangat. Baca tu memang rasa nak sengih je memanjang haha

5. In conclusion I really really love this book! Kau dapat mystery, conspiracy, adventure, friendship, family drama and of course a lil bit of romance all in one book. Hat's off to author Marisa Fendi

[Daebutt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aside from the slightly confusing POV moments and the very very short scenes at times, I highly enjoyed reading this book. The plot is well written, characters are loved, and I am a bit sad about Alif and I do wished that he could have his HEA but I guess not everyone could.

[nur reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5⭐️: “You are really an idiot when you’re in love”. My most favourite line in the book and it’ s literally a line that sum up the book.

This is actually my first time reading a childhood friends to lovers trope and I tell u this book really made me love the trope so so much. The way they started with being enemies at first is just so cute. Like what the author has warned, pls it is so true I really blush af and giggle like crazy throughout reading this book 🤭🤭.

I can say this is a really an easy and chill reads because there’s only a few heavy plots other than that are just hilarious moments (like wdym chicken as a pet tibe gila HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA), super cute moments of Zara and swoon moments of Haikal and Kamelia.

There’s not a lot of things I can say about this book because it felt really easy reading it. All of the plots and the characters are well developed, but cumanya I am a bit curious about Kamelia’s parents like what happened to them and how is her dad after the confessions happened. Also, I think it would be nice jugak if Kamelia and her parents have a closure at the ending.

All in all, it’s a very loveable book, it really made me giggle, cried, laughed, and lastly it made me swoon away over and over again with Haikal 😚😚. I really recommend everyone to read this book and also maybe to yall that are currently in the slump this book can surely help yall 🫡🫡.



P/s: This is tibe but I think maybe I blushed so hard reading this book pun is bcs my first ever crush nama Haikal jugak 🤭🤭🤭

[Thea (HereTheThea) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tells a story of Haikal, an attorney with morals (slay!) & single dad to his lovely daughter from his 1st marriage & Kamelia, distraught girly trying to find her footing in life. Well, it's not just their story of a reunion with a childhood friend that was gone without a trace, it's filled with family drama (in a good way, not the crappy ones you see on TV3 7:00 pm slot, if you're Malaysian & you tuned in that slot, you know it!) & secrets that even these main characters were shocked to have discovered the truth behind all of their past. THE TEA WAS PIPING HOT, BABY!

Now the characters omg! Haikal oh Haikal, lemme tell you this man.... Find a person that will love & protect you even though you have "disappeared" from their life & a great dad for loving his daughter. Only papa's girl unite (me!!!!)

What I love about this book is the side characters had their side of the story resolved & that left me an impression to this author's work! I enjoyed the story and the writing so much that I finished the book in 3 days, wow! Truly an amazing reading experience! I am excited to read the 2nd book - Chords of The Reckless Heart, soon.

Highly recommend, plot was amazing!

[lilladybulan · Rating 5 out of 5]

ONE DAY AND IVE FINISHED READING THIS BOOK. SERIOUSLY WITH NO DOUBT,SONGS OF THE RUNAWAY HEART DESERVE TO BE CALLED AS A MASTERPIECE.

I’m so in love with the story line. From childhood friends to a lovers. I’m kind of amuse reading a book about childhood memories and this one book stabs magically straight into deep of my heart. Say less, prove it. Words flowed beautifully from this book indeed an exquisite. characters written by the author leaving a thousand wounds that turn into wisdom, wounds magically vanished, heal itself miraculously. As i read the first chapter, i know i would immediately fall my knees down for the sake of this book.

Haikal actually proved to us that a men could never forget their first love.

Oh i also have this one quotes said by kamelia,
“It's funny how ungrateful humans can be," Kamelia said. "Sometimes we don't realise it. We don't realise all the good things we already have. We don't realise that we're probably living the lives other people dream about."

Anyways, for you who just gonna read this book, happy reading.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

MARISA FENDI HAS PROVED HERSELF TO BE ONE OF BOOKIUT'S BEST WRITERS, ALONGSIDE NADIAH ZAKARIA!

first of all, i have to admit i did not expect much from the book as sometimes booktok recs can be very disappointing *cough* coho books *cough*. but this book is FABULOUS.

the jokes? marisa's witty writing style? the very distinctive character voices and personalities? it's not easy writing a lot of characters, but marisa fendi nailed it!

the romance was a slowburn. i expected the ending but i still enjoyed it anyways, which i can't say for a lot of books with expected endings!

also the chicken is a fantastic side character.

[a. aurora · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is a 3.5⭐ for me

this gives off a good wattpad read, it's light and it does get people out of slump (me rn). booktok peeps wont be disappointed when reading this because the amount of top tier tropes in this book is immaculate 💯 good banter, a lot of folding, pining, groveling, angst (im such a sucker for these scenes 😮‍💨) it is a good book to binge in one sitting 👍

i recommend it to people who are in a reading slump or feeling overwhelmed by life currently. this book can definitely lift up someone's mood. this may not be a book that i will pick up usually, but im glad i did :D

p.s: alif is the hottest brother (if you don't agree, go talk to the wall)

[Adibah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not usually the type to leave reviews, but I had to for this one!

Honestly, I didn’t expect it to be this good. I’m not typically a fan of second marriage stories, but this one is definitely an exception. The way the author handles the characters’ emotions and development is so engaging. Plus, Zara is just too cute! 🫶🏼 The chemistry between Kamalia and Haikal is so cute too, and I found myself smiling and giggling throughout the whole book. This story really put me in a good mood, and the playlist? Perfect touch! Haihh, just read this book. You won’t regret it! Hihi.

[Nur Izzati · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

Took me a day to finish this. As always, i wont put high expectations much but… OH MY GOD! ITS A VERY GOOD. Not like every novel plot fr (for me). I LOVE EVERY CHARACTER IN THIS NOVEL EXCEPT FOR THEIR FAMILY LOLLL. I love kamelia so much. My girl had been through a lot and i love the fact she is not “menye menye”!! About the ml, a GREEN FOREST fr. AHHHH its more than that tbh.. and as for his eldest brother.. alif.. IDK I CANT HATE HIM because it wasnt really his fault but ok. At first, i kinda ship kamelia with alif but no.. i ship myself with alif (JK)

[airyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no words — this book is pure perfection.

I devoured it in one sitting and loved every bit of it: the plot, the pacing, the characters (well… not the parents). It’s the kind of story that pulls you in from the first page and refuses to let go. I need everyone to read this masterpiece ASAP.

Now, I’m counting the days until the sequel arrives. I seriously cannot wait to dive back into this world.

To the author: please never stop writing. Your stories mean so much — and I adore your work.

[Hanan Kia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was one of the luckiest to get hands on with the advanced copy, even the ombré painted was pretty to me 😭 feels very special.

I wasn’t expecting this outcome of the book. It felt was different but close to heart. I truly enjoyed reading it and it got me at the edge of my seat T^T, and it gives a different perspective with those who are used to be self independent. It caught me but I yearn to hear those words, and I am more than grateful I got to read this.

[dayen · Rating 4 out of 5]

IT'S DONEEEEE 😭😭😭😭😭

Kamelia. Ma nonchalant Wednesday 🤧👌🏻
Haikal. Hopeless romantic boy 🙂‍↕️👌🏻
Zara. The baby princess ✨️
Syamil. The jokester of the year. 😂👍🏻
and Alif. May your redemption arc makes me love you more. 🤧😌

Mixed them all up =
SONGS OF THE RUNAWAY HEART 🫶🏻💕

overall reading, i thought it will be an easy normal light reading. A twist of drama and mysteries make it more spicier instead. 🙂‍↕️👍🏻

Yang penting, i enjoy their journey.

[americanobam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awal awal lg dah kena KECOMELAN ATTACK 😭🤍 BEST WEH + COMEL DOOH i🤏🏻 sweet, funny, cute semua ada bebb 🤌🏻 So kita ada 3 brothers : Grumpy Alif, Badboy Haikal dgn Syamil The Sunshine 😆 Love the characters and the storyline 🫶🏻 One of my favourite book for this year for sure 🤍 GOT7 mentioned 🐣
‼️ family issues , cuteness overload ‼️