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These Twisted Hearts
Not yet published
Expected 2 Feb 27A romantic YA Midwestern gothic thriller, from the New York Times bestselling author of Dark and Shallow Lies, featuring a storm-chasing teen girl in a town cursed with violent weather.
One year ago Ezra Winslow vanished from storm-plagued Promise, Oklahoma, and seventeen-year-old Jubilee Callahan hasn't stopped searching for her him, her first love and tornado-chasing partner, since. Then a monster twister touches down and the strange and beautiful Star Holloway walks out of the wreckage claiming that he’s there to stop the deadly storms, and that Jubilee is destined to help him.
When the search for Ezra leads Jubilee to blood-soaked secrets buried just below the prairie dirt, the land itself turns against the people of Promise. Tall grass grows wild, animals flee, and red rain falls across dying farms.
Now, to make things right, Jubilee and Star will have to unleash a storm powerful enough to wipe Promise clean, right down to the bones.
Steeped in storm magic, buried sins, and ferocious longing, These Twisted Hearts is perfect for fans of The Raven Boys and House of Hollow.
One year ago Ezra Winslow vanished from storm-plagued Promise, Oklahoma, and seventeen-year-old Jubilee Callahan hasn't stopped searching for her him, her first love and tornado-chasing partner, since. Then a monster twister touches down and the strange and beautiful Star Holloway walks out of the wreckage claiming that he’s there to stop the deadly storms, and that Jubilee is destined to help him.
When the search for Ezra leads Jubilee to blood-soaked secrets buried just below the prairie dirt, the land itself turns against the people of Promise. Tall grass grows wild, animals flee, and red rain falls across dying farms.
Now, to make things right, Jubilee and Star will have to unleash a storm powerful enough to wipe Promise clean, right down to the bones.
Steeped in storm magic, buried sins, and ferocious longing, These Twisted Hearts is perfect for fans of The Raven Boys and House of Hollow.
288 pages, Paperback
Expected publication February 2, 2027
About the author
Ginny Myers Sain
5 books1,134 followersGinny Myers Sain lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and has spent the past twenty years working closely with teens as a director and acting instructor in a program designed for high school students seriously intent on pursuing a career in the professional theatre. Having grown up in deeply rural America, she is interested in telling stories about resilient kids who come of age in remote settings. Dark and Shallow Lies is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
This was a great YA thriller dripping with delicious Gothic vibes. I could not turn the pages fast enough. It was a pretty short book, under 300pgs. I would have liked a little more time with the characters.
Want to Read
February 7, 2026"A Midwestern gothic horror novel about a 17-year-old storm chaser and a smooth-talking boy who claims he can control the weather—and the evil they uncover while investigating the killer twisters haunting a small Oklahoma town with a brutal past."
November 9, 2026
I am very grateful to the publisher for this ARC! All opinions are my own and unbiased.
The plot centers around Jubilee, a teen in a small rural Oklahoma town with frequent destructive tornadoes. She is a bit of a storm chaser and on one excursion, she meets Star, a newcomer to the town. Together, they confront the mysterious and magical forces that are controlling the town.
Pros:
This is a quick, fun read. The writing style is light and very YA so it was good for a weekend escapist read. Jubilee is a smart and brave MFC. As a weather nerd, I definitely enjoyed that aspect!
Cons:
The characters are a bit one-note and the writing is a bit TOO YA for me. The romance was too rushed.
The plot centers around Jubilee, a teen in a small rural Oklahoma town with frequent destructive tornadoes. She is a bit of a storm chaser and on one excursion, she meets Star, a newcomer to the town. Together, they confront the mysterious and magical forces that are controlling the town.
Pros:
This is a quick, fun read. The writing style is light and very YA so it was good for a weekend escapist read. Jubilee is a smart and brave MFC. As a weather nerd, I definitely enjoyed that aspect!
Cons:
The characters are a bit one-note and the writing is a bit TOO YA for me. The romance was too rushed.
October 8, 2026
Book Review: These Twisted Hearts by Jean Myers Sain
Current Rating: 3.75/5 ⭐
Original rating: 4/5 stars
I received These Twisted Hearts by Jean Myers Sane as a Goodreads giveaway ARC (Advance Reader Copy). Going into this book, I expected more of a traditional gothic thriller, with a stronger focus on twisters and a smaller romance subplot. However, what I got was something much more whimsical, emotional, and fantasy-like than I anticipated. Even though it wasn’t exactly what I expected, I still found it enjoyable and memorable.
One of my favorite aspects of this book was the characters. Jubilee, our main character, is hot-headed and deeply attached to her past, her previous relationships, and her family’s traditions. At times, I felt like she was so caught up in her past that she struggled to enjoy the present, which affected how she acted toward other people. Starr, the quirky Southern Texan who works as a weatherman, was also an interesting character. Since the story is told from Jubilee’s perspective, we don’t get much insight into his thoughts, but his emotional side still comes through in his own way. I especially loved the side characters, including Flora, a curious and quirky young girl who wants to be adventurous and involved but is kept at a distance by her family. The characters’ humor, clothing styles, loyalty, and protectiveness toward one another made them enjoyable to follow.
The emotional intensity of the story was another thing that stood out to me. Ezra’s death during a twister near the beginning of the book creates a heavy emotional atmosphere that carries through the story. The characters experience some incredibly intense emotions, and the fictional elements sometimes reminded me of Powerless, where some characters have abilities and others don’t. However, I wouldn’t go into this expecting a full-blown supernatural story. It felt more like an unusual work of fiction with fantasy-like elements.
I also really enjoyed the foreshadowing. I annotated several details early in the book because I suspected they might become important later, and many of them did! Some parts were a little predictable, but the story still felt original because I haven’t read anything quite like it. The lies, miscommunication, betrayals, disappearances, and family secrets reminded me of We Were Liars. The founders and almost-found-family elements also reminded me of Clown in a Cornfield, while the storms naturally brought Twister to mind.
One of my favorite quotes was, “We got that in common, Jubilee. We both been kissed by the sky.” I loved the imagery and the connection to the sky and storms. It captures the unusual atmosphere of the book and is a line that really stuck with me.
Although the book held my interest, I did feel that the pacing was a little slower than I expected. I also anticipated more twisters, but they were more subtle than I thought they would be. The romance was another surprise because it made up a much larger part of the story than I expected—roughly half the plot, in my opinion. I’d rate the spice level 2/5, with glimpses, kisses, and sexual content. There was also frequent strong profanity. While I enjoyed the story overall, I think the writing had a mix of strengths and weaknesses, and the book’s genre description gave me different expectations going in.
Despite those differences, I really liked the conclusion. The ending felt satisfying and wrapped up the majority of the questions raised throughout the story, while introducing new information the characters hadn’t known before. I appreciated that the book didn’t leave me with a bunch of major unanswered questions.
Looking back, I think my rating for These Twisted Hearts has shifted a little since I first finished it. At the time, I gave it 4 stars because I was genuinely excited to receive an ARC through Goodreads, especially since the author had sent it to me, and I think that excitement influenced my rating more than I realized. Now, if I’m being completely honest with myself, I’d probably rate it closer to 3.75 stars. That doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it, though! I still think about this book, and I think its unique atmosphere, interesting characters, and memorable imagery made it stick with me. While it wasn’t everything I expected, it was still an enjoyable and memorable read.
Overall, I would recommend These Twisted Hearts to readers looking for a whimsical, unusual thriller with emotional characters, family secrets, foreshadowing, and fantasy-like elements. I would especially encourage readers not to go into it expecting a strongly gothic atmosphere or a traditional murder thriller. This story is more about disappearance, grief, uncertainty, and the emotional consequences of the past. Because of its emotionally heavy material, I also recommend checking the content warnings before reading.
Even though it wasn’t quite the book I expected, These Twisted Hearts left an impression on me. It may not be a full four-star read for me anymore, but its originality and memorable moments are still reasons I enjoyed it.
Advanced reader copy from author
Current Rating: 3.75/5 ⭐
Original rating: 4/5 stars
I received These Twisted Hearts by Jean Myers Sane as a Goodreads giveaway ARC (Advance Reader Copy). Going into this book, I expected more of a traditional gothic thriller, with a stronger focus on twisters and a smaller romance subplot. However, what I got was something much more whimsical, emotional, and fantasy-like than I anticipated. Even though it wasn’t exactly what I expected, I still found it enjoyable and memorable.
One of my favorite aspects of this book was the characters. Jubilee, our main character, is hot-headed and deeply attached to her past, her previous relationships, and her family’s traditions. At times, I felt like she was so caught up in her past that she struggled to enjoy the present, which affected how she acted toward other people. Starr, the quirky Southern Texan who works as a weatherman, was also an interesting character. Since the story is told from Jubilee’s perspective, we don’t get much insight into his thoughts, but his emotional side still comes through in his own way. I especially loved the side characters, including Flora, a curious and quirky young girl who wants to be adventurous and involved but is kept at a distance by her family. The characters’ humor, clothing styles, loyalty, and protectiveness toward one another made them enjoyable to follow.
The emotional intensity of the story was another thing that stood out to me. Ezra’s death during a twister near the beginning of the book creates a heavy emotional atmosphere that carries through the story. The characters experience some incredibly intense emotions, and the fictional elements sometimes reminded me of Powerless, where some characters have abilities and others don’t. However, I wouldn’t go into this expecting a full-blown supernatural story. It felt more like an unusual work of fiction with fantasy-like elements.
I also really enjoyed the foreshadowing. I annotated several details early in the book because I suspected they might become important later, and many of them did! Some parts were a little predictable, but the story still felt original because I haven’t read anything quite like it. The lies, miscommunication, betrayals, disappearances, and family secrets reminded me of We Were Liars. The founders and almost-found-family elements also reminded me of Clown in a Cornfield, while the storms naturally brought Twister to mind.
One of my favorite quotes was, “We got that in common, Jubilee. We both been kissed by the sky.” I loved the imagery and the connection to the sky and storms. It captures the unusual atmosphere of the book and is a line that really stuck with me.
Although the book held my interest, I did feel that the pacing was a little slower than I expected. I also anticipated more twisters, but they were more subtle than I thought they would be. The romance was another surprise because it made up a much larger part of the story than I expected—roughly half the plot, in my opinion. I’d rate the spice level 2/5, with glimpses, kisses, and sexual content. There was also frequent strong profanity. While I enjoyed the story overall, I think the writing had a mix of strengths and weaknesses, and the book’s genre description gave me different expectations going in.
Despite those differences, I really liked the conclusion. The ending felt satisfying and wrapped up the majority of the questions raised throughout the story, while introducing new information the characters hadn’t known before. I appreciated that the book didn’t leave me with a bunch of major unanswered questions.
Looking back, I think my rating for These Twisted Hearts has shifted a little since I first finished it. At the time, I gave it 4 stars because I was genuinely excited to receive an ARC through Goodreads, especially since the author had sent it to me, and I think that excitement influenced my rating more than I realized. Now, if I’m being completely honest with myself, I’d probably rate it closer to 3.75 stars. That doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it, though! I still think about this book, and I think its unique atmosphere, interesting characters, and memorable imagery made it stick with me. While it wasn’t everything I expected, it was still an enjoyable and memorable read.
Overall, I would recommend These Twisted Hearts to readers looking for a whimsical, unusual thriller with emotional characters, family secrets, foreshadowing, and fantasy-like elements. I would especially encourage readers not to go into it expecting a strongly gothic atmosphere or a traditional murder thriller. This story is more about disappearance, grief, uncertainty, and the emotional consequences of the past. Because of its emotionally heavy material, I also recommend checking the content warnings before reading.
Even though it wasn’t quite the book I expected, These Twisted Hearts left an impression on me. It may not be a full four-star read for me anymore, but its originality and memorable moments are still reasons I enjoyed it.
Advanced reader copy from author
Review of advance copy received from Author
Do you know what a toad strangler is? Or the reasoning behind a southern folklore tradition of hanging dead snakes on a fence? Find the answers to these and lots more fun Oklahoma terms woven thru out this eerie fantasy of
🌪Dark skies
🌪Buried sins
🌪and Dangerous love
If you enjoy dark small town secrets mixed with southern gothic esthetics, a magnetic fatal attraction, and eerie sprawling settings in Oklahoma. . . then be sure to grab this one!
When I saw a call for Oklahoma ARC readers to apply to take part in a physical ARC book tour, I ran to apply! The main characters are storm chasers. . .so in the state of Oklahoma that mostly means, tornado chasers. So I'm thinking this will be kind of like a Twister movie retelling. . . what I thought and what I got were not the same! I, like a lot of people, enjoyed the Twister movie, but take that movie and put an eerie fantasy spin on it, and you get this amazing story!!! And I'm not talking about the normal erriness that surrounds a storm! This has a really creepy/almost horror like part that intertwines thru out the book. It was a complete surprise!! Again I thought this was going to be more of a romance between 2 storm chasers. . . and there is some of that, but oh that's just a side part. At first, the story was like I was expecting, with a few eerie or seemingly odd phrases thrown in here and there. . . .THEN it takes off!!! Hold on, because once you hit that part of the book, you don't want to put it down. I seriously can't wait for you to get to read this one!!!
🌪Dark skies
🌪Buried sins
🌪and Dangerous love
If you enjoy dark small town secrets mixed with southern gothic esthetics, a magnetic fatal attraction, and eerie sprawling settings in Oklahoma. . . then be sure to grab this one!
When I saw a call for Oklahoma ARC readers to apply to take part in a physical ARC book tour, I ran to apply! The main characters are storm chasers. . .so in the state of Oklahoma that mostly means, tornado chasers. So I'm thinking this will be kind of like a Twister movie retelling. . . what I thought and what I got were not the same! I, like a lot of people, enjoyed the Twister movie, but take that movie and put an eerie fantasy spin on it, and you get this amazing story!!! And I'm not talking about the normal erriness that surrounds a storm! This has a really creepy/almost horror like part that intertwines thru out the book. It was a complete surprise!! Again I thought this was going to be more of a romance between 2 storm chasers. . . and there is some of that, but oh that's just a side part. At first, the story was like I was expecting, with a few eerie or seemingly odd phrases thrown in here and there. . . .THEN it takes off!!! Hold on, because once you hit that part of the book, you don't want to put it down. I seriously can't wait for you to get to read this one!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Netgalley, Penguin Young Readers Group, and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Have you ever wondered what would Satan be like if he was a tornado? Yeah, me neither! This was new, exciting, and very fun to read. If you are a weather nerd, or a fan of movies like Twister or Twisters, you will enjoy this. It took me a while to get into the story since I wasn't sure what was happening, but I was quickly pulled into the story's immersive plot and characters. It's got tornadoes, people going missing, creepy small town vibes, demented roses, paranormal activity, storm chasing, and a cute cowboy. The grass on the prairie warning EVIL EVIL EVIL gave me chills. The main character, Jubilee, was a very likable and believable character who was tough, loved deeply, and stubborn as hell. I was touched by her determination to find what happened to Ezra, and her courage to fight for her loved ones.
Have you ever wondered what would Satan be like if he was a tornado? Yeah, me neither! This was new, exciting, and very fun to read. If you are a weather nerd, or a fan of movies like Twister or Twisters, you will enjoy this. It took me a while to get into the story since I wasn't sure what was happening, but I was quickly pulled into the story's immersive plot and characters. It's got tornadoes, people going missing, creepy small town vibes, demented roses, paranormal activity, storm chasing, and a cute cowboy. The grass on the prairie warning EVIL EVIL EVIL gave me chills. The main character, Jubilee, was a very likable and believable character who was tough, loved deeply, and stubborn as hell. I was touched by her determination to find what happened to Ezra, and her courage to fight for her loved ones.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I absolutely loved These Twisted Hearts. I love that Ginny Myers Sain’s books always are so thick with atmosphere that you feel entwined but this one definitely takes the cake in my opinion!
There was something eerie, beautiful and poetic about the way the sky and the prairie were reclaiming the town.
I also loved Jubilee and Star’s friendship and the way it unfolded despite Jubilee’s hesitation. I loved the deep connections that were weaved between everyone and everywhere in Promise.
Even though the story ends on a happy note, you can’t help but feel sad for all of the lives lost along the way. I also want to mention I really appreciated how thoughtfully the author handled the history of the land being stolen in the first place.
The atmosphere, the supernatural elements, and the relationships made this story perfect!
There was something eerie, beautiful and poetic about the way the sky and the prairie were reclaiming the town.
I also loved Jubilee and Star’s friendship and the way it unfolded despite Jubilee’s hesitation. I loved the deep connections that were weaved between everyone and everywhere in Promise.
Even though the story ends on a happy note, you can’t help but feel sad for all of the lives lost along the way. I also want to mention I really appreciated how thoughtfully the author handled the history of the land being stolen in the first place.
The atmosphere, the supernatural elements, and the relationships made this story perfect!
October 4, 2026
3.5 (although I’m between a 3 and a 3.5)
What a cover, right?? It is absolutely what made me pick this up. But, I mean, Midwestern gothic supernatural stormchaser romance is also such a fun idea that I was intrigued. It took a bit to fully draw me in (I thought at first that it was a historical? Maybe I misread the author’s note, but I thought it said the book took place in the 1890s), but it was engaging overall, and spookier than I expected (tbh I didn’t expect it to be spooky at all)! I do think I might have given up on this book if I didn’t want to use it for a reading challenge, but I’m not mad that I finished it, and by the end I honestly didn’t want to put it down.
Hand to teens intestered in stormchasing and atmospheric gothic romance/horrormance.
Thanks to Putnam for the ARC! It’s out in February 2027.
What a cover, right?? It is absolutely what made me pick this up. But, I mean, Midwestern gothic supernatural stormchaser romance is also such a fun idea that I was intrigued. It took a bit to fully draw me in (I thought at first that it was a historical? Maybe I misread the author’s note, but I thought it said the book took place in the 1890s), but it was engaging overall, and spookier than I expected (tbh I didn’t expect it to be spooky at all)! I do think I might have given up on this book if I didn’t want to use it for a reading challenge, but I’m not mad that I finished it, and by the end I honestly didn’t want to put it down.
Hand to teens intestered in stormchasing and atmospheric gothic romance/horrormance.
Thanks to Putnam for the ARC! It’s out in February 2027.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ginny Myers Sain is such a fantastic author. I was fortunate enough to meet her several years ago. I feel very blessed to have been chosen for her ARC tour through Oklahoma. As a life long Okie myself I found this book to be absolutely amazing in how it described our state and the weather that we have. The imagery that Ginny evokes is just absolutely phenomenal. These characters and their history of their small town was so interesting. I was on the edge of my seat for the whole book. I read it in one sitting. Our main character Jubilee was such an interesting character to follow because she had been through so much in her life and was hurting in so many ways. Then our stranger that shows up was so neat to learn about. The history of this town was so spooky and vibey.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Midwestern supernatural thriller with some gothic horror elements along with YA romance. The midwestern spin felt kinda odd to me, but might be more normal for someone who has spent a good deal of time in Oklahoma. I was initially a bit unsure how I felt about the romantic elements, but by the end I think the relationship worked out well. The weird mystery of it all was really what kept me hooked though. Definitely an unusual book.
Review of advanced copy of ebook received from NetGalley.
Review of advanced copy of ebook received from NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I flew through this book and loved every minute of it! It was the perfect mix of thriller, romance, and storm chasing which kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. The story was very exciting and impossible to put down. This book quickly found a special place in my heart with the Oklahoma history in there! Perfect read for any romance lover. 💕
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I enjoyed "These Twisted Hearts." The combination of botanical magic and weather magic was a great one. There were bits I felt like it dragged, and there were some parts that weren't explained nearly enough. Overall, a solid read with a really unique theme and setting.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Oh Ginny did it again!!!
Thank you for the privilege of being an ARC for this one!! I will update my review after this has been released!!!
Thank you for the privilege of being an ARC for this one!! I will update my review after this has been released!!!
October 7, 2026
The connection between Jubilee and Star was so heartfelt and electric, I almost didn’t miss the way I wished it was more of a slow burn. But I do wish the book had gone on just a little longer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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