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Heartsick

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Quinn is looking forward to her senior year at Poe University. She has big plans to hang out with her best friend, flirt with a certain boy genius, party at her favorite dive bar and figure out what she's going to do after graduation with her not-so-useful art major. But that's before she meets Luke, a hot townie who's moved back home to help take care of his dying sister. And it's before a weird epidemic sweeps across campus, mysteriously turning people's eyes purple.

Is it an odd side effect from a new party drug?

Is it a rogue virus developed in a campus lab?

Is it the mark of the devil?

Soon the town starts blaming the university and the student religious group becomes frighteningly aggressive in their on-campus accusations. Quinn and Luke are caught in the middle—until a tragic accident forces Luke to reveal the one part of himself he's kept carefully hidden. That he's so much more than the happy-go-lucky boy next door Quinn had believed him to be isn't a surprise…but this truth might be too dangerous for her to handle.

81,000 words

166 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 16, 2015

3 people are currently reading
364 people want to read

About the author

Caitlin Sinead

6 books30 followers
I am represented by Andrea Somberg at Harvey Klinger, Inc. and my debut novel, Heartsick, was published by Carina Press in 2015. My writing has appeared in multiple publications including The Alarmist, The Binnacle, Crunchable, Jersey Devil Press, and Northern Virginia Magazine. I earned a master's degree in writing from Johns Hopkins University in 2011 and have also studied writing at the College of William and Mary and Yale University. I currently work as an web content manager and continue to keep an eye out for good stories.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
Profile Image for Laura.
471 reviews580 followers
January 29, 2015
| ARC kindly provided by Carina Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you a lot! |

|2.5 stars|

description

Heartsick cuenta la historia de Quinn, una joven de 21 años que está en su último año de universidad en Allan, un pueblo tan pequeño que, si un perro camina en dos patas, es merecedor de salir en la primera página del diario local. En la universidad de Poe las cosas están por cambiar: un brote de personas con ojos violetas que cambiaron de la nada es la noticia del pueblo. Hay varios bandos; por un lado los fanáticos de la religión, quienes piensan que todo es obra del diablo y los contagiados deben ser bendecidos, y por el otro los que simplemente piensan que todo el asunto es demasiado extraño, los que quieren aislarlos o que abandonen el pueblo.
En medio de todo se encuentra Quinn, quien tras liarse con un chico llamado Luke, el cual recién volvió al pueblo para cuidar de su hermana enferma, se despierta con los ojos violetas.

¿Podrá Quinn descubrir que es lo que está ocurriendo? ¿El pasado la atrapará y la alejará del chico indicado o será capaz de olvidarlo todo para seguir adelante?

description

Realmente quería que me gustara el libro, en serio. Tenía ése algo lleno de secretos que sólo te provoca seguir leyendo para ver que cuernos está pasando, pero no fue el caso. No iba por la página 19 cuando ya estaba cansada de leer. ¿Saben lo triste que es eso? Bastante. Quinn se me hizo un personaje muy duro de leer, no me sentí identificada con ella en lo absoluto. Me irritaba mucho su manera de pensar, si soy sincera. Entendía su punto de vista, de verdad, pero simplemente se me antojaba superficial de a ratos y luego sin coherencia. Ojo, mi desagrado no tiene nada que ver con su posición de "chica rica blanca" usando sus propias palabras, no, sino que Quinn fue el intento de hacer un personaje con muchas facetas pero que se quedó corta en todas. Desde su relación con Mandy, su mejor amiga, hasta con Rashid, el chico nerd caliente por el cual babeaba desde hacía un tiempo y, por supuesto, con Luke.
Creo que el único personaje que me agradó fue Conrad, en serio.Y, bueno, Luke no me importa mucho, así que la cosa va.

description

Lo cierto es que me sentí decepcionada, no puedo ocultarlo. Hasta escribir esto me está dando flojera porque me hace pensar en lo que acabo de leer y que paja.

Un virus que está cambiando los ojos de los estudiantes de una universidad y que los está haciendo curarse a una velocidad imposible suena muy bien. ¿Qué podrá ser? ¿Una droga? ¿Veneno en el agua? ¿Humos tóxicos? ¿Una maldición?
Osea, la cosa pintaba muy bien. El romance entre Luke y Quinn estaba sobrando.

¿Y todo aquel misterio con el trabajo de Luke? Pff. ¿Por qué la autora decidió que ser un detective era algo ultra secreto? Quiero decir, trataron el tema como si el tipo traficara con mujeres, en serio. Y los clichés, señor. Usualmente no me molestan, creo que sólo me molestan aquí porque están rodeados de personajes egoístas, volátiles e infantiles.

No sé si es que el libro llegó en un mal momento para mi (err, ninguno, la verdad) pero no me llegó.

description

En fin, no se dejen guiar por mi. Si no les importa mucho los narradores volátiles y eso, pues, deberían darle una oportunidad al libro.


Profile Image for Hazel *Craves the Angst Reviews*.
770 reviews289 followers
February 26, 2015
Find This and Other Reviews At Craves The Angst.

Heartsick is a New Adult Mystery Romance written by Caitlin Sinead. I was gifted a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review through InkSlingers PR.

3.5 Stars!
Mysterious and Intriguing! Great Debut Novel...

The Review:
Though this read took me a couple of chapters to get into, I really enjoyed it once the story started flowing and the characters were being fleshed out. There was a great deal of mystery surrounding the happenings at Poe College and the town of Allen, VA. and it kept me interested and eager to know how it was going to end. The hero was sweet and likable and the heroine, though she had a few quirks I didn’t like, turned out to be a solid and brave character.

This was this authors debut novel and thought there were some plot points and character actions I think could have been better, this was a solid, interesting story that ended on a great note and left plenty of room for more should the author decide to continue it.

Story...
Quinn is finishing up her senior year at Poe College where she’s studying art and dance. One night at a party seems to change everything, when her roommate and best friend, wakes up with purple eyes. One by one, more and more people start to turn up with this mysterious manifestation and soon it’s discovered the purple eyes aren’t the only affliction from this “disease”.

And what’s worse, some of the residence of Allen aren’t to happy with infected people roaming their streets and take up arms against those they deem evil.

This story spirals out of control really fast and about half way through the book, things pick up and don’t let up until the very end!

Characters...
Quinn wasn’t my favorite character. She was distant and definitely against any and all romance. And other than the one incident from her past, I didn’t understand why. I also didn’t understand all the secrecy around her parentage other than maybe she just didn’t want to be treated differently. She didn’t seem to have the best relationship with them but to me, it wasn’t explained clearly as to why they were so off limits. She also has a secret in her past that I wish had of been explored with her love interest. She never right out confesses to him why she’s so afraid and I felt that needed to be explored in order for their relationship to progress. They didn’t have a lot of “get to know you” time where their pains and pasts were divulged. But I did like how Quinn stood up for her friends and vigorously went after the truth.

Luke was a great hero. He’s moved back to the town he grew up in to help take care of his ailing sister. He also has a secret, though I’m not sure why his profession would scare off or reign in “certain” women, but he keeps that part of himself locked away from Quinn for the first half of the book. It was easy to guess. The author did a great job laying down clues for us to figure out. But Luke is still a mystery to me. I liked his character. He was sweet and seemed honorable and brave and the fact he came back for his family gives him extra gold stars in my opinion. But his past isn’t really explored. You never get a clear reason as to why he left town though you do get the impression he was desperate to do so and hated the fact he had to come back. And there seemed to be a desperation in his attraction for Quinn. There are several instances where he thinks she might be in danger and he’s almost frantic in making sure she’s safe, like perhaps he had a lost love in his past but that was never fleshed out or revealed. There just seemed to be more there that wasn’t spelled out.

There’s an intriguing cast of characters written in this book. Each one was distinct and well done and I loved the red herrings the author creates.

There was a wonderful mystery surrounding what was happening in Allen. I had my guesses early on and though parts of it were right, I was pleasantly surprised that I wasn’t able to guess it all.

The writing was in present tense and was a little shaky in some places. I stumbled over a few “quirky” lines that I didn’t fully get but other than that, it was well done and I loved the poetic beauty of the authors descriptive words. Well done!

The Wrap Up:
All in all, this was a really good read. I’d definitely be up for part two if the author decides to write more in this intriguing world she’s built. Heartsick leaves off in a good place but there is a ton of room for more and I hope to see the residence of Allen again in the near future.
Profile Image for Kimber Wheaton.
Author 4 books248 followers
January 17, 2015
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Heartsick is a character driven story featuring romance, mystery, suspense, and a freaky epidemic. I actually picked this book to review due to the mystery but ended up enjoying it for the characters much more than the plot itself.

Ms. Sinead has a way with characters. It's kind of funny, actually, that the only character I didn't really like was main character Quinn. Though I didn't dislike her, she seemed somewhat bland when compared to other characters in the book. I think it had to do with her laid-back attitude, and her can't-we-all-just-get-along mentality. There was a whole slew of well-written, intriguing secondary characters that had a tendency to outshine the main ones.

Romantic interest Luke was sweet and hunky, caring and also a tad on the bland side. In that regard, I suppose he and Quinn made a perfect pair. The part of himself Luke kept hidden was no surprise, nor was it all that worth hiding. The love triangle aspect of the plot, I found rather annoying, but then again I really don't like them to begin with. Quinn wasn't looking for a relationship, yet had two desirable men hounding her. Rashid, the other romantic interest, did not seem like a good match for Quinn at all-- they had nothing in common. Rashid lived and breathed science, and Quinn was obsessed with art in many forms.

The story is fast-paced-- I read it in a few hours or so. For the first half, I was flipping pages, desperate for more info about the epidemic. I wish the book had delved deeper into the mystery. The entire premise is fascinating, but this novel was more about people and their reactions to the mysterious epidemic than the cause of the epidemic. There was a twist at the end that I didn't see coming, so that was great, but the cause of the epidemic, I guessed quite early on. The romance... I just didn't feel it. It seemed almost thrown in.

I enjoyed Heartsick even though it didn't meet my expectations regarding the mystery and the epidemic itself. I love the fact that this is a standalone story, though the ending is open for future novels if the author wants to continue. This is one of those novels that I'm on the fence about. There were so many things I really enjoyed, yet my review seems a tad negative. I don't normally post ratings on my site, but I think I'll make an exception in this case, just so you know that I really did like it. 4 Stars
Profile Image for Dianne.
6,817 reviews633 followers
January 17, 2015
Something strange is happening in and around Poe College, which does not endear the students to the small town community or the state health officials or the Federal health department. The town and students are quarantined, no one in and no one out. Why? Because someone or something is infecting people with violet eyes! I know, shades of Elizabeth Taylor! Purple Eye Disease is spreading and doctors think it is carried through bodily fluids.There are other side effects, too, that are not exactly bad, just unexplainable.

Caught in the middle of this is a pretty college student, Quinn, a carefree college senior, looking to have fun with her friends, avoid romantic entanglements and heading straight toward a lopsided triangle of sorts. One young suitor is a fellow college nerd and friend, the other, a townie, Luke is a bit older, a little more worldly and kind to a fault. When events in town get nasty, as the fear of the purple eye disease grows, the college is blamed and anyone associated with or having purple eyes becomes a target for violence and even death. Through it all, Quinn becomes embroiled in the fray, she always seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, trying to help, but causing more trouble and coming under the scrutiny of the law. And the other shoe drops as she discovers Luke has been withholding a secret that really wasn’t necessary. Will ground zero be found? Will the culprits come forward? Was it just a fluke or is there more than meets the ”eye” going on? Will the gulf between the college and the town grow even wider?

Heartsick by Caitlin Sinead is far more than just another NA romance where every scene must test the boundaries of sexual awareness. There is mystery, intrigue, moments of grave anger and even death as the search goes on to discover who is responsible and how will this “ailment” be cured. Not too deep, always moving at a good pace, Ms. Sinead flips from scene to scene and emotion to emotion brilliantly without slowing down of clogging up the pace with over-details. Although filled with a few dark moments, overall this is an airily light and quick read with just enough “difference” to be refreshing and completely enjoyable. I mean, really, do you think Elizabeth Taylor sees purple eyes as a drawback?

I received this ARC edition from Carina Press in exchange for my honest review.

Publication Date: February 16, 2015
Publisher: Carina Press
ISBN: 9781426899607
Genre: New Adult Romance/Suspense
Print Length: 224 pages
Available from: AmazonBarnes & Noble
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com

Profile Image for Michelle .
2,128 reviews304 followers
February 28, 2015
Heartsick is a new adult suspense, with paranormal twists. Heartsick was different than I thought it would be, but not in a bad way. I thought it was some kind of disease that acted as a love potion of sorts. I know that sounds silly, and I have no idea why I even thought that (other than the title of the book) but I could have sworn that I read that somewhere in the summary when I first got the book. So when I started reading, I was a little surprised at the direction the story was going in. I even stopped and re-read the summary. Then I realized that I totally got this book wrong, but I was still enjoying the plot line, which felt very mysterious. So I just went with it. And I am glad for my original misconception, but I ended up really liking Heartsick.

Luke is the love interest in the story and there promises to be a big secret about him. The reader finds out what that secret is pretty early on in the book, and I was happy to see that Quinn learned his secret before the half way point of the story. I have been starting to get a little fed up with plot lines that have one of the main characters holding on to their secret until 80 or 85% mark of the story and then it causing some big problem right at the end. It was a pleasant surprise that this was not the case in Heartsick.

I loved the mysterious aspect of the "disease". There are many different theories running around town about just what is going on, and it was fun running along side Quinn while she tried to figure it out for herself. Religion does play an aspect into the story. Some of it was a hit with me and some of the religion was a miss. I know this can be a touchy subject for some readers, so I won't go too much into it, but just be warned that there is a religious aspect to the story. But never fear, there are quiet a few other side plots to make the story feel more fleshed out. Like the whole rivalry between the townies of Allen and the Poe University students, and the minor love interest with Rashid. I never really liked Rashid. I don't entirely know why, but every time I saw him I just wanted to swat him away from the pages. I think it was because I liked Luke so much.

I found Heartsick to be a refreshingly different read. The disease captured my attention right from the start, and there were plenty of twists and plot developments to hold the readers interest. The possibility for a second book is there. It was kind of left with an opening, and I am interested to see if anything will happen next.
Profile Image for Kade Gulluscio.
975 reviews65 followers
August 17, 2022
Heartsick is a new adult book that discusses a brand new type of "pandemic." the type of disease brought up in this book was unique and not something I've seen featured in many books, so that was nice to see.

The writing style was great. It was easy to stay engaged, and I truly wanted to keep reading more and more.

We are following MCs Luke and Quinn through this book. As with most "romance" books, Luke has secrets, but he thankfully fills Quinn in on those early on in the book. During the book, we are following Quinn as she tries to figure out what the "disease" is that is occurring all across town. My biggest complaint in this book is that religion is mentioned more than I'd like. I much prefer books that don't involve religion to be fair.

The book itself is written well, and I'd read more by this author for sure.
Profile Image for Books Movies Fandoms.
219 reviews12 followers
February 17, 2015


My Star Rating for HEARTSICK is: 4 out of 5 stars.

My ‘Blogging Reader’s Review’ after reading an ARC Copy of ‘HEARTSICK’(via: BooksMoviesFandoms.wordpress.com):

This is my review after reading a copy of “Heartsick” by Caitlin Sinead. This is listed in the New Adult genre but can also be listed in suspense, mystery, paranormal and romance. It was very enjoyable because of it wasn’t strictly just focusing on the romance and included other interest facets to the storyline. This novel is written in the main female character’s P.O.V.(point of view) by the the name of Quinn Bellingham.

Quinn attends Poe University and lives in a small town named Allan. The town is a blend of the local “townies” and those who attend the university. Her best friend and roommate is Mandy Malone who is the perfect example of opposites attract. It sometimes works out that way with friendships, too. Where Mandy is outgoing, flirty, and fun, Quinn is reserved, friendly, and isn’t as outgoing as her friend.

The day begins like most days, they meet up at Sally’s Bar and hang out except this time things begin to go differently. She meets a stranger with the most alluring green eyes and something about him seems to draw her in with curiosity. Soon after that, things get strange. Her best friend Mandy suddenly experiences a noticeable and drastic change in her eyes. They assume it is probably an allergic reaction to something. This one incident starts off as just one random student, then another until it begins to become a huger ordeal in the town of Allan.

The stranger with the green eyes seems like a mystery at first but he seems to be familiar to the local “townies” so Quinn realizes he must be from Allan. The stranger’s name is Luke and his life hasn’t been so easy. He was away and moved back to help care for his sister with ALS. He seems like someone Quinn could be interested in but she doesn’t want anything serious because of something in her past. Due to the events that occur from the start of this novel, the mystery quickly begins to build, making the journey and entertaining one. One that makes you want to read it and find out who it all unfolds.

This was a fairly enjoyable, intriguing, and easy read. The storyline is made to draw readers in with the mystery and suspense that mounts up pretty much from the start. The romance is there but it isn’t the focal point of the story and the way it is written out, I was okay with that. I recommend this for readers looking for something to read that isn’t hot and heavy but more of a decent mystery, with a slightly science fiction feel and a dash of romance. Get you a copy if this sounds like something right up your alley.


My star rating for HEARTSICK is: 4 out of 5 stars.


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Profile Image for Hooked On Books.
1,887 reviews65 followers
February 14, 2015
4 star review
Heartsick starts off with the introduction of Quinn our main female protagonist who through all of her abbreviated Gossip girl style loquaciousness often seems scattered with no discernible thought pattern, rather her mind wanders in a million different directions with a completely endearing inner monologue running at full kilter through her noggin’. Rather than find this to be confusing or annoying it makes her character really really likeable, neurotic and sassy and down-right original, think a mix of Buffy, Blair and Veronica Mars.
The only main problem I had with Heartsick was the sort-of love triangle between science boffin Rashid and mysterious detective Luke. Quinn’s character is the embodiment of confusion and indecision but I felt the romance lacked severely for a story named Heartsick, there was never any real connection or big moment where I felt that Luke and Quinn belonged together, Rashid too was simply a side player sent in to disrupt the flow of the romance between them and someone that got on my nerves a bit as he was forever attempting to kiss Quinn no matter how many times she told him no. Luke was a perfect blend of gentleman, romantic and loyal especially to his family but again I feel Quinn messed him around a bit with her lack of acknowledgement in how she felt for him.
Apart from the slow romance aspect, the rest of the storyline was intriguing, a modern day segregation of a town based purely on eye colour as a mysterious virus sweeps through the college town initiating fear and the isolation of those infected. Quinn steps up and transforms into a mature Nancy Drew style heroine as she battles through hatred, fear, lies and manipulation to get to the bottom of the mysterious virus and its origins. She’s resilient and brave in the face of extreme adversity and near-death experiences as the townspeople fears spill over into violence and mayhem. Heartsick was a completely different story, it was something I’d never read before and best of all it had a heroine who was proactive and who had initiative and wit and intelligence. If you’re looking for something a little sci-fi ish with a touch of romance and a lot of action and drama then Heartsick is going to appeal to you.
1 review
December 22, 2014

***Review to come shortly!***

I received an ARC from a friend and fellow Jaguar (we went to high school together) for her debut novel Heartsick…picked it up and couldn’t put it down! I enjoyed it so much I had to purchase it and make it a permanent part of my library. :o) Caitlin Sinead did an amazing job and I couldn’t be more thrilled for her! Please take the time and take a look at her novel!

Can’t wait to read your next one Caitlin!

Find it here!!!
Profile Image for Jessica.
Author 55 books129 followers
November 14, 2016
HEARTSICK is great NA Spec Fic! I enjoyed the mystery/epidemic side of the story, as well as Luke. Oh, Luke <3 4/5 stars. Is there going to be a sequel? It certainly seemed like there would be. I'll be tuning in if that's true!
Profile Image for Michel Reinhard (Saucy Southern Readers).
1,761 reviews52 followers
February 16, 2015
Blog Banner photo banner2_zps0a9ef8c3.jpg Heartsick by Caitlin Sinead is refreshing change in the New Adult genre. It blended the Romantic Suspense and Fantasy genres to the mix. The plot was unique. There was some mild romance with a romantic triangle thrown into the mix.

What happens when a group of college friends start changing. Their eyes become lavender colored and their immune system is that of a super hero. Their ability to heal is surreal. What is causing this phenomena with these students?

Quinn is the main character in this book. She is an art major at the exclusive Poe University in Virginia. She is looking forward to her senior year. She doesn’t want to be tied down and wants to enjoy her final year with friends. Those hopes are about to change when her roommate’s eyes change to lavender.

It seems as though there is a virus or some kind of chemical change that is affecting a group of students. Their eye colors are changing and their DNA is changing. They are able to heal quickly from severe injuries and physical trauma’s. This phenomena is infecting Quinn’s inner circle of friends, including herself. When it starts to spread among the campus and small town, the government authorities are called in. The pandemonium begins.

At the same time Quinn has just met the sexy townie Luke. He is unlike most of the men she has ever dated. Although she doesn’t really want a relationship, she cannot deny her attraction for him. Luke is also a detective. When this odd virus begins to spread he puts his investigative skills to work.

When murder comes into play it is clear that everyone at Poe University and citizens of the town are in danger.

Heartsick was a riveting romantic suspense. I am going to say romantic very loosely. The reason I am saying loosely is that the build up, sexual tension, and desire between Luke and Quinn was not overly convincing. I never felt the heat between them. I never felt the attraction. In fact it didn’t feel like Quinn was overly interested at all. Then there was another contender added to the mix. Quinn had a history with Rashid. He was still vying for her interest. I never really felt any connection between these two at all.

Although this plot was unique, there were kinks throughout the story. The characters were obscure in some ways. It was hard to get a handle on who they were. Their personalities just didn’t come to life. Their connections to one another were confusing at times and hard to grasp. The sequencing of the story was hard to follow at times. I felt different passages were jumping all over the place. In the end I felt like the conclusion was somewhat rushed.

Overall Heartsick was an interesting story. I just felt like it needed some work to reach the potential it promised.

_____________________________
Profile Image for T.H. Hernandez.
Author 10 books214 followers
February 18, 2015
Although it starts off pretty slow, it picks up about halfway through and turns into a pretty good page-turning mystery. When Quinn's roommate, Mandy, begins showing strange symptoms, not the least of which is lavender eyes, she finds herself embroiled in the mystery of the century. As more symptoms and victims pile up, the small town of Allen, Virginia finds itself at the center of a media and panic firestorm. Caitlin is torn between brainy Rashid, fellow student at Poe University, and towie, Luke. Each has something to offer, making her inability to choose somewhat understandable. But I had a hard time with understanding the way she bounced back and forth between them, sometimes hour-to-hour or even minute-to-minute.

Plot
The plot centers around the mysterious illness plaguing Poe University students as it spreads from Caitlin's roommate, Mandy, patient 0, to the broader Allen community. Numerous theories abound, including it being the work of the devil, a side-effect of a new club drug, or a manufactured virus. When another symptom appears to be miraculous healing in those with purple eyes, sick people from everywhere come to Allen hoping to catch the virus, and with it a cure for whatever ails them. The love-triangle subplot is almost thrown in as an afterthought. If you come for the romance, stay for the mystery, because that's what really drives this story.

World Building
The author creates a believable world of small town paranoia and life for both locals and students when an exclusive university is the biggest thing around.

Characters
The cast is pretty large, but Caitlin is the main character. She's not particularly likeable, but she does have her moments and by the end, I found myself rooting for her. Mandy is the most interesting character, with her tragic backstory and her love for a nerd when she could have almost any hot guy she wanted. Luke, one of Caitlin's love interests, is more rounded and sympathetic than hot, brainy, Rashid. There's also a whole host of colorful locals and college students to make a tapestry of characters that drives the plot.

Top Five Things I Enjoyed Heartsick
1. The Mystery. I love a good new adult romance wrapped up in a mystery. It might be my new favorite genre.

2. Luke. He's totally badass with a nice soft underbelly and a big heart.

3. Danny. What's not to like about the loveable Freshman?

4. Mandy. She's feisty, spunky, and as loyal as they come. Sometimes I think she deserves a better BFF than Caitlin.

5. Allen, Virginia. This small town has heart and soul and perfectly encomasses a place where everyone knows your name and your business and aren't afraid to tell you what they think you should do about your life.

Bottom Line
Heartsick is a surprise hit. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it exceeded my nebulous expectations.

Disclaimer
I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Brittany.
51 reviews7 followers
January 25, 2015
**I received an ARC copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

3.5/5 stars

Heartsick was an intriguing book that kept me flipping the pages until the very end, it was captivating and definitely refreshing! It was different than I expected, but definitely in a good way!

Quinn (the main character) is a normal girl that just wants to make the best of her college experience. Unexpectedly, students start turning up with purple eyes around campus and she decides that it's up to her to decide what is the cause behind this. Quinn is a very determined character and I really liked that about her, even though sometimes it could have gotten her into major trouble she was driven and intelligent enough to get to the bottom of the strange occurrence.

Of course along the way she meets a guy, Luke, who becomes interested in her. While I don't really have anything horrible to say about him, I wouldn't say he's my favourite male character ever. Sometimes I felt he could come across as a bit rude, but then again sometimes i think we're spoiled with perfect male characters that make us forget that real people aren't as perfect as books make them seem. So I guess he's actually fairly realistic then. There is a bit of a love triangle involved, but it isn't the driving force behind the storyline - which I really liked. Quinn wasn't necessarily driven by romance which is a little different than many stories, she recognized that she wasn't in the best position in life to have a relationship, so good for her for sticking to it.

Probably the most interesting component of Heartsick is the mystery aspect behind it. It leaves you wondering and trying to figure out who is behind this mysterious disease, and ultimately why. Quinn takes it upon herself to figure this out, making this book filled with suspense and mystery. Will she figure it out before bad things start happening? Who can she trust? There are so many questions you are plagued with while reading, and the story captivates you from beginning to end. The pacing is pretty good, it feels like it drags on a little bit but I'm also very impatient and I really just wanted to get to the bottom of what was happening - so it could just be me who thinks that!

Overall, Caitlin Sinead did a really good job with this, she managed to intertwine romance, mystery, and suspense into a book that leaves you flipping pages until the end. One tiny thing I would say is that it leans a little bit more towards upper young adult rather than new adult, so if that is a factor that would make you more inclined to read it, it's just something to think about.
Profile Image for Rhiannon St. Clair.
387 reviews11 followers
February 20, 2015
**I received an ebook ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review**

This is Caitlin Sinead’s debut novel and all I can say is … wow.

Quinn and Mandy are best friends, roommates, and students at Poe University, which is located in a small Virginia town. The two are living seemingly normal lives until something weird happens on campus and people start cropping up with purple colored eyes. The townies—who are notorious for disliking the university students—automatically blame the students, but it’s unclear what the cause of the purple eyes is. Everyone in the town, from the police to the students themselves, starts working to figure out what the cause is. And … well, you’ll need to read the rest of the book to find out. ;)

Sinead did a wonderful job of writing a mystery book that kept me on my toes and left me guessing at all corners. I would form one theory in my mind, and no sooner had I settled on it then something happened which would make me question my own train of thought. I was constantly looking for clues in the characters' actions and motives, and even when I wasn’t actually reading the book, I would often find myself thinking about the course of events in the story, and trying to figure things out.

A big part of what made the book so enjoyable for me was how Sinead wove some real life current events and issues into the plot. Whether this was done intentionally or not I can’t tell you, but things like a pandemics, religious conflicts, and governmental agency involvement all play a role in the book.

Sinead did a terrific job with the characters in this story. Each character had a few qualities about him or her that stood out, and these qualities were always apparent in some way throughout the course of the story. And even though I really wanted to dislike the townies (thanks to Natalie), I just couldn’t because of Luke, who I easily fell for shortly after he was introduced to the story.

Oh, and Sinead plops a little romance right smack dab down in the middle of this book, which it only adds to the already awesome storyline. I found myself rooting for love to prevail between Quinn and Luke because I liked them together so much.

Heartsick kept me craving more and Sinead kept the plot moving forward, but twisting and turning in the best of ways. I can’t wait to see what this author brings us next, and I would definitely suggest anyone who enjoys mystery, romance, drama, and new adult titles give this one a read.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Lindy.
828 reviews199 followers
January 16, 2015
My Thoughts:

Heartsick by Caitlin Sinead was a book unlike any other that I've read, which is saying a lot. After reading so many books, I tend to pick up on similar themes, phrases, and ideas. It was such a refreshing treat to read a book that was unique and hasn't been overdone or as far as I know, been done before. I love the beautiful book cover, and once I read the synopsis for the story, I was curious. I am happy to say that Heartsick kept my attention from the beginning to the very end.

In Heartsick, we are dealing with a story that encompasses mystery, suspense, and a little bit of romance. College Art major, Quinn is in her senior year. One night after she goes to a college frat party with her good friend and roommate, Mandy, their lives are turned upside down. Mandy wakes up the next morning with purple eyes. Soon Quinn, and other students eyes also begin to turn people, with interesting side effects, and no known reason.

Quinn is determined to solve this mystery. Religious fanatics think that people with purple eyes are evil and going to hell, others hypothesize that this is a side effect from a new recreational drug, or that this was a manufactured virus. As Quinn begins digging with the help of Rashid, a science nerd, and Luke a detective, (both are guys that she's dating,) she gets closer to the truth... Simultaneously, chaos is breaking out with murder, mandatory quarantine, looting, violence, and danger all around.

I enjoyed the elements of mystery and suspense in this story. I was determined to solve the mystery right along with Quinn, and had fun coming up with my own theories of what was happening. There was a little bit of romance between both Quinn and Rashid, as well as Quinn and Luke, but it was not the focal point of the story. Quinn just wanted to have fun with both guys and wasn't looking for a commitment. The end of the story left room for a sequel. We are given an answer to the mystery behind the purple eyes, but there are a couple of loose ends that made me think there will probably be a sequel.

My Rating:

I give, Heartsick, 4 Mysterious, Suspenseful, Imaginative, and Intriguing Stars! If you are looking for a story with a new idea that hasn't been overdone, puzzle solving, and a small amount of romance, try out Heartsick.


*To Read More Book Reviews, Visit A Bookish Escape at http://www.abookishescape.com
Profile Image for Jaclyn House.
115 reviews10 followers
January 25, 2015
I received an ARC for an honest review!  I really liked this book!  When I read the synopsis, I had to learn more about a town where there's an outbreak of people who's eyes turn purple!  I loved the heroine Quinn, she's smart, brilliantly talented, and as I read this story, I came to the conclusion she has a knack for getting herself into sticky situations!  This book is told from her POV.  The author does a great job of pulling the reader in from the beginning and setting the stage for the drama that ensues.  The town of Allan, where Quinn attends college, is haunted by a tragedy that has created two communities, the "townies", and the "Poe kids" Add in the super cute, kind of mysterious hometown boy Luke, you're ready to embark on an interesting story.  I thought this story would be about aliens coming down from the sky trying to take over the world!  Wrong!  In Heartsick, you experience so many different layers.  There's mystery, love, deception, suspense, and loss.  I loved how there's even a bit of spirituality sprinkled in.  With Quinn as the narrator it was easy to become apart of the story.  As her and friends try to unravel the "purple eye" mystery I felt like I was right there with them.  From every pumpkin beer that was drunk, to the leaves rustling, I was so into everything going on in the small town of Allan!  Quinn and her friends also have some personal struggles that they are going through.  In the midst of what's going on in the town, having to fit in personal issues really gave the story some depth and insight into why the characters behaved they way they did.  There's an unsung hero in this book, Conrad, whom I absolutely loved!  He provides so much guidance and wisdom.  He is a the ray of sunshine in this dark town. My fav quote comes from him "forgiveness is a powerful thing but it's not necessarily the same as absolution.  You can forgive someone for hurting you while still seeking justice."  Something else I really enjoyed about this book was the things I thought were insignificant, proved to be MAJOR clues. Pay attention to every conversation and every action.  If you love putting together pieces of a complicated puzzle, this book is for you!  This book kept me engaged to the very end.  When I hit 98% complete, I was still trying to figure out how it would end! A great story that captures small town drama and takes you on a "who dun it" journey, Heartsick is a great read! 4⭐️
Profile Image for Lustful Literature.
1,822 reviews336 followers
February 17, 2015
**JOSIE'S 3.5 STAR REVIEW**

Heartsick was a bit hard for me to get into in the start of the story but once the suspense and mystery started the story picked up and held my interest. Heartsick by Caitlin is a romance novel that deals with a mystery illness. The story is set in a Poe college. Quinn the main character is excited that this is her last year. She just wants to have fun and finally figure out what she plans on doing after college. I am really glad I stuck with this story because when it picked up I found myself trying to solve this mystery illness. There are threats to the students who succumb to this mystery illness and besides the government there is a religious group who are hell bent on making sure they never get out.

Quinn’s character took some time for me to warm up to, but when they story started getting deeper, so did Quinn’s character. Although there was danger from the unknown and the cult, Quinn was determined to find out the cause of the illness. Half the campus is in quarantine and not allowed to leave but Quinn is constantly breaking the rules and finding more and more clues. She meets Luke right before the epidemic and is constantly defying his wishes. She is determined to help her friends and others.

Luke is a loveable character. He is handsome, sweet and caring. Luke is keeping a secret which when it come out I am not sure why, but it does add to Quinn’s confusion. Neither Luke nor Quinn were looking for a relationship but the epidemic brings them together. Rashid another possible love interest is a scientist. I did not really see the connection. Luke was true to his character throughout the story. His interest and concern for Quinn’s safety and those who took ill never wavered.

When we finally dive into the mystery illness, the author gives readers danger and suspense. There are twist and turns that I did not see coming. I would have liked to focus more on how this epidemic came about. I really would have liked to have had more of Quinn and Luke too, but the story is fast-paced. This is a stand-alone but I think from the ending there could possibly be another book. There were parts that I did not understand but overall it was a good read. I would like to see if the author comes out with another book that digs more into this illness and its cause.
Profile Image for Lorna.
1,787 reviews110 followers
February 18, 2015
Different is usually good for me when reading a book. This book was very different, and kept me reading pretty much non-stop. When I read the description for this book on Net Galley, I still didn’t have any idea what the mystery of this book was going to be, or where this book would take me as a reader. It certainly was an interesting road to get there.

Quinn, and her best friend Mandy, are college seniors at a prestigious college, and share a house off campus. They hang out at a bar in town, and are pretty typical college students. Mandy has a geeky, but cute boyfriend, named, Zachary. Another handsome man named Rashid, is enamored with Quinn. And then one night at the bar, Quinn meets a townie named, Luke, and he is interested in her as well. When one of these characters suddenly develops bright purple eyes, their lives get turned upside down-to say the least.

Yes, this was a mystery, and included an unexplained, heartbreaking death, arson, and a town turned upside down in controversy. But it was also a commentary about people, and how they react to something they don’t understand. I was reminded of when AIDS first hit back in the 80’s, and what happened with Ryan White, and how he was treated. And lastly, it’s a romance, and a pretty great one!

I found the story to be unique, and that’s saying a lot for me! It was well written, with good characters, and even the villains were pretty well realized as well. Religious zealots, and townies that pretty much hate all the students, made for quite a few villains, as well as others.

On purpose, I am not telling any more about the actual story, so the reader can be as surprised as I was. It made for a quick read, and one that was actually very thought provoking.

I recommend this book to New Adult/Adult readers, ones that enjoy a different sort of read, and one that is exciting as well. A copy of this book was supplied by the publisher by way of Net Galley in exchange for an honest and fair review. (PureTextuality.com)
Profile Image for Nelia Madeira.
409 reviews16 followers
May 26, 2015
When I read the synopsis of this book I knew I wanted to read this book, it really intrigued me, love, virus, people's eyes turning purple? I mean??? Seriously...I had never heard anything like it, so I had to pick this one from NetGalley right away, so glad I got it.

So, Quinn is our girl, is a senior at college in a small town, she loves art and dance and is pretty lay back, that is besides hanging out with her best friend and flirting with a boy genius at their favorite dive bar. She has no clue what she is going to do with her not so useful art major, but she isn't too worry yet, she just wants to have so fun on her last year at college, no string attach relationships, that's for sure, well that is until she meets the town's hottie, Luke, who just moved back to take care of his dying sister.

Everything is going right for Quinn and then her best friend's eyes turn purple, and she is just the first one. Before they know it, more and more people are getting the purple eyes virus and they don't know where it's coming from, and once Quinn gets it, she doesn't stop until she finds out where this virus came from.

Was it a side effect from a new party drug?

Or was a virus developed right in the campus lab?

Or is it the mark of the devil, like the university student religious group believe?

Luke falls for Quinn but keeps a part of himself private, he doesn't want to scare Quinn away, but when an accident happens and Quinn and Luke are caught in the middle of it, Luke's is forced to tell the truth to Quinn and is surprised to see Quinn's reaction.

I really loved reading this book, I wanted a little more relationship development from Quinn and Luke and her friends too. Quinn felt a little bit winning at times, but she did get better, I loved Luke, he was always there when you needed him. But the end was pretty good, it was a good closure. No spoilers...you will love to know what causes the purple eyes and what Quinn and Luke finds out.

I gave a 4 out of 5 stars for this book, I recommend it.
Profile Image for Melanie.
2,073 reviews96 followers
January 14, 2015
Heartsick by Caitlin Sinead was something I really wasn't expecting. I knew from the synopsis it was going to be slightly sci-fi like, maybe have some mystery thrown in there too and was labelled as a New Adult book. However I didn't realise how much I was going to enjoy the story.

I love a good mystery and from the onset with Heartsick we are left wondering what has happened and why people have the mysterious purple eye disease. The story is told from Quinn's point of view and she's a great character to tell a tale. Quinn is very artistic - she's paints, makes sculptures (Well, she is an art major) and also dances too. So her outlook on life and the way she sees things in my opinion is slightly less straight laced and she is certainly more open in her views.

There are 2 love interests in this book too which I really enjoyed as they are both VERY different. I loved that Quinn wasn't a 'romance fuelled' girl looking for love blah blah blah, giving her more of (Dare I say)typical teen male view towards relationships made her that much more fun to read about.

This review and others are also featured on my blog - http://www.bewitchedbooks.co.uk/

I loved Luke, he just sounded so fun and I adored his personality. Quinn's best friend Mandy is great too and their friendship dynamic is really great to read about.

The story has good pace, there's adventure, mystery and plenty of fun. The reason for my lower rating was I would have liked a little more romance. This book was labelled as a New Adult book which insinuates it is for the more mature audience, yet if you took the 1 sex scene out of it and 1 foreplay scene, in honesty it could have been more of a YA. I just wanted a little more 'adultness' if that is even a word.

Over all though I enjoyed this story, I do think it was dragged out a little but it is still worth a read. I gave it 3.5 stars, it just wasn't a 4 star book for me I'm afraid.
Profile Image for Jenna.
170 reviews47 followers
May 8, 2015
Heartsick presents a unique view of segregation & prejudice, while holding readers captive with a character driven mystery.

I love reading a story with well developed characters to go along with a great plot, so Heartsick hit all the right notes for me. Not only were the characters intriguing, but the story itself was an emotional ride that had twists and turns.

I have to say that I didn’t connect with Quinn, the main character, as well as I did with other characters while reading Heartsick. It wasn’t that I found her uninteresting, just that I related more to other characters, like her friend Mandy more. However, as Heartsick progressed, Quinn’s character started to endear herself to me because of her tenaciousness in trying to find out more about the disease, despite the danger that surrounded this enterprise.

The one downside for me was the quasi love triangle between Quinn, Luke, and Rashid. I’m not a big fan of love triangles to begin with, and I felt this one was unnecessary, especially since Quinn didn’t seem to have a lot invested in her relationship with Rashid from the start.

While Heartsick starts off a little slow, it was easy to get sucked into the mystery surrounding the unknown virus and what could be its cause. But, while this is the main plot point, the novel focuses more on the characters themselves and how they respond to the appearance of the virus. There was a little disappointment on my part that the cause of the virus wasn’t explored more, but overall, I really like Heartsick and recommend it to readers who like new adult mystery and suspense.
Profile Image for Zili.
790 reviews
February 6, 2015

3 - 3.5 Stars in my Sky!

The concept behind Heartsick is very clever and I enjoyed the mystery element.

The story focuses on Quinn, a University senior, as she faces a strange mystery, the last year of Uni and romantic entanglements. When people's eyes suddenly start turning purple, Quinn decides to work out why and find who is responsible. I wasn't sure if we were facing something supernatural or a simple mystery at first - I wasn't expecting things to turn out quite as they did, but I liked that the story wasn't predictable.

I wasn't entirely sure of the age range because it could have been a mature YA book or a younger NA. I did find Quinn's dialogue a little immature at times and the pacing didn't always seem balanced - But I think this was largely down the YA/NA crossover. I did like Quinn though and her carefree spirit was a refreshing change from the more angsty female leads out there.

The ARC I read did have some formatting and editorial issues, with words being joined together and a few typos, but I imagine this will be fixed for the actual book release. So I haven't let it influence my review.

Quinn made me smile with her 'modern' approach to romance. Her opinions on dating were hilarious. There's a sort-of love triangle between 'hot-nerd' Rashid (her words not mine) and sexy local Luke - who I loved btw!

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review!

More reviews on Zili in the Sky
Profile Image for Sasha Hibbs.
Author 12 books188 followers
March 12, 2015
3.5 stars!

* I received this novel in exchange for an honest review *

Thank you NetGalley and Ms. Sinead!

Heartsick is a novel that pushed me to read out of my comfort zone. This isn't a bad thing, actually, it happens to be a good thing. It's books like Heartsick that make me want to keep my eye out for novels like it. It makes me want to broaden my horizons in certain genres.

The beautifully haunting cover is what sucked me in. And then the premise of the book was so unique like a blending of genres that I couldn't resist.

I won't bore you with rehashing the synopsis, you can read that on your own. But my thoughts about the book are short, sweet and simple: Pick it up and read it if you're intrigued by NA, suspense, and romance with a nice paranormal-like theme.

I loved the town of Allen, VA. It felt as though I were there. The characters, Quinn, Mandy, Luke, Rashid, David....there were so many, I felt, were all fleshed out well with their own distinct voice.

I liked the superstitious religious guy on campus. I thought that was a nice way to add more speculation to the mysterious disease. And I felt the author did a great job describing college life, and the dynamic relationships shared between all these characters.

Overall, Heartsick was a nice, different read for me. I really enjoyed it.
Profile Image for Dayreader Reviews.
791 reviews63 followers
January 11, 2015
Heartsick by Caitlin Sinead is book of literary fiction /suspense. This is a very intriguing book that takes place on a college campus and it's not your typical college campus story. This is a fascinating story of a college wide outbreak of a generated virus. With people dying, religious groups protesting and police investigating, things are dangerous and confusing for Quinn.

All Quinn wanting was quintessential college experience, a little parting, a little studying, some flirting. Her only problem should be what is she going to do after college. That's how they start out in Heartsick for Quinn, but the don't stay that way for long. Then her roommate Mandy starts getting sick and strange things starts happening. Twilight zone, anyone?

This book had a little romance, I mean just a little. It was more mystery and a whodunit, Quinn is an art student turn Nancy Drew. I could really see this book on Lifetime, with all the little sound effects that goes along when the characters look off in the distance to ponder if they figured out the real person behind the chaos. This book has a lot of chaos and drama that kept my pages turning. It defiantly wasn't your typical college based book and I don't remember ever reading another mystery book based like this either. This one is in a class by itself in my opinion.

I give Heartsick 4 out of 5 stars!
Profile Image for Renee.
Author 109 books153 followers
January 20, 2015
This is the debut New Adult novel from Caitlin Sinead, expected to be published 15 February 2015. It is a fast paced, quick read, with an entertaining mix of mystery, romance and science fiction. I found the characters likeable and relatable. The plot was believable, something I could imagine happening. Issues such as drink driving, revenge, persecution of people who are different, fear of the unknown and forgiveness were incorporated, but didn't feel preachy. I was also inspired to find out more about ALS - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - a degenerative motor neurone disease.

I recieved this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Debbie.
688 reviews
February 24, 2015
Heartsick is a refreshing addition to the New Adult genre. Awesome writing gives life to memorable characters with a mystery that keeps the pages turning.

Set in a small college town in Virginia, Heartsick, delivers on those small town feelings and experiences along with familiar college problems and issues. Living in a small college town, this was very relatable. Sinead gives readers characters that are at once familiar and fresh. The suspense in the mystery kept my interest and kept me guessing.

I can't wait to read whatever is next from Caitlin Sinead.
Profile Image for Vanessa.
59 reviews8 followers
March 7, 2016
I really liked the storyline, it was interesting and definitely an idea I hadn't come across before. I liked the characters and I will admit I didn't see that plot twist regarding Mandy coming. I feel like the ending was rushed a little bit and I felt like the author could have gone on a little longer. Otherwise, I'll definitely be checking out more work from this author.
Profile Image for Tiffany Riach.
108 reviews5 followers
March 3, 2015
This book is not what I was expecting but still a good read. It is a quick read that takes a little bit to get into but with mystery, romance, sci-fi and good characters it will keep your attention. This was a good first book by Caitlin Sinead and I look forward to reading more from her.
Profile Image for Bettina Bogonko.
3 reviews
February 25, 2015
one of those stories that is fast moving and keeps you guessing all through has strong themes but presented in a way that is not off putting.
Profile Image for Arlenis Pena.
10 reviews27 followers
January 20, 2015
I liked this book a lot but I feel like I need to know more about Luke and Queen's relationship.
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