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Heath, Cliffs & Wandering Hearts: A Young Adult Friends to Lovers Romantic Comedy

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Life for sixteen year old Savannah Franks has just been turned upside down. Her Mum’s business has failed and they’re forced to move into a maisonette in the rough end of town.

She doesn’t want anyone to know her dire situation, not even her besties. So when the rest of the money for the school ski trip is due she can’t be seen not to attend. Everyone is going! She just needs to find a job. Add that to the list of getting a boyfriend and losing her pathetic virginity.

But working every spare hour in a job she hates on top of school work and mounting secrets doesn’t prove easy. Soon she’s keeping so many she’s not even sure herself what’s true and what’s not.

The only person she can lean on to tell the truth is her best friend Heath.

Only…did he get hot recently? That won’t make things awkward between them…right?

Readers can't get enough of Heath, Cliffs and Wandering Hearts

'The theme of friendship, love and all the angst of being a teenager is portrayed brilliantly' - Rae Reads

'Another brilliant book by Laura Barnard' - Book Lovers Emporium
'Hooked from the first page'- Obsessed Book Reviews
Winner of Best Young Adult Book 2016 - Jo and Isa Love Books Reader's Choice Awards

356 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 15, 2016

18 people are currently reading
239 people want to read

About the author

Laura Barnard

19 books513 followers
Amazon Bestselling Author Laura Barnard lives in Hertfordshire, UK and writes British, quirky laugh out loud romantic comedy.

In her spare time she enjoys drinking her body weight in tea, cuddling dogs, matchmaking her friends, binging True Crime, dancing in Popworld, indulging in the power nap and reading past her bedtime.

www.laurabarnardbooks.co.uk

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
Profile Image for Claire.
2,324 reviews737 followers
October 16, 2016
2.5 - "I don't mean to be a judging bitch... it's just in my nature." Stars.

This is the first book I have read by Laura Barnard, and I hate that I didn't love it. This is one of those reviews, that I don’t really want to write, because I have heard so many good things about her books that I was expecting to absolutely fall in love with her writing and stories as well.

I am in the minority with my thoughts and feelings though, so please do not let my review deter you from giving this book a go, this is after all only my opinion, and as readers we all take very different things from the same story.

Firstly, there are some truly funny moments in Heath, Cliffs & Wandering Hearts the first half in particular had me giggling to myself on several occasions, it’s just everything that happened around those occurrences became more and more of a struggle the further I read.



I did really enjoy the blog instalments you get from her brother; Dylan, who for the whole book is backpacking around Australia, but unfortunately the rest of the book in relation to the plot and characterisation was just a little too busy and underdeveloped for my liking. Don’t get me wrong I can 100% see why readers love this authors work, but being the first book I have read I have no frame of reference, so my thoughts are totally based on Heath, Cliffs & Wandering Hearts, and on this alone, I just found it all a little lacking.

I will reiterate, this is just my opinion, I was provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review, and that is what I have given. I am just sorry that I cannot offer a more positive sum-up on this occasion.

Profile Image for DJ Sakata.
3,307 reviews1,780 followers
October 16, 2016
Favorite Quotes:

Jessica's dad is standing at the door grabbing people and literally throwing them out. People too scared to go near him are jumping on the sofa and flinging themselves out of the window into the flower beds outside... 'GET OUT, GET OUT!' he screams in his thick Irish accent. It makes it seem scarier. Like a seriously pissed off leprechaun. Who stole his pot of gold?

We are going to be crushed! Crushed to death by a car in a family planning clinic! And everyone will know we were here. God, the shame. They'll probably slut shame me at my funeral, even though it wasn't even me!

My nostrils flare, which is never attractive.

I can tell she's anything but calm. Underneath the surface, I can tell she's enraged, boiling over. Her eyes are bloodshot as if she can't physically keep the rage in. At any minute I'm expecting her to tear off her clothes and turn into the Incredible Hulk.

I beg, sounding like a child. I don't care; I'm scared. I've never felt this ill in my life, and I'm a little bit scared that I may be dying. I don't think that's dramatic at all.

I pat the spare side of the bed to him, smiling as seductively as I can...'You okay?' he asks, with a quizzical look. 'You got a stomach ache or something?'... Okay. So I obviously failed if I look gassy.


My Review:

I frequently smirked and laughed aloud as I read this amusing tale. I rarely read YA, but I will read just about anything this talented author cares to churn out, and she made YA fun. Granted this would be what I've seen labeled as "upper YA" as the characters experience sex, overindulge in drink, swear, and sneak into dance clubs. Which is most likely why I enjoyed it so much, I am going to call it Naughty YA. Laura Barnard is wicked funny, her clever humor resounds across several levels for me. Her first venture into YA was written from the POV of Savannah, a seventeen-year-old senior in high school to those of us in the US - or sixth form in the UK. Savannah was an angst-ridden, melodramatic, drama queen. She was riddled with self-doubt, as well as overly self-conscious, and prone to irrational fears and helplessness around boys. The narrative of her inner musings may appear disjointed to some, however, if you have spent any time whatsoever in the company of teenage girls, you will realize that is exactly how they talk, think, and behave.

Ms. Barnard either spends considerable time in the presence of teens or has excellent recall of being one. She has fully captured that confusing, exciting, mortifying period of zits, first boyfriends, constant drama, nervous uncertainty, lip curls, boredom, eye-rolls, and the desire to completely disown one's own family and being horrified at the thought of sharing their gene pool. Savannah's family was a source of constant embarrassment to her, and they were hilarious. I would have loved having a pink convertible Mini driving Nan that took me to a tarot card reading, bought me a gel bra, gave me a denim mini skirt and encouraged me to throw an unchaperoned party.

The story was highly entertaining; the characters were lovable, interesting, and quirky; and the writing was crisp and unfailingly engaging. I adored Ms. Barnard's uniquely naughty YA and would read it again anytime.
Profile Image for ItaPixie.
1,279 reviews151 followers
October 17, 2016

This was a nice story.I've read it in one sitting during a lazy Sunday.

I was so curious about Heath,Cliffs & Wandering Hearts because this is the first Young Adult written by Laura Barnard.

I think the author has neiled the main characters depiction .Savannah and her friends are immature, but their poor choices and over dramatic behaviour is acceptable at their young age.

I would have appreciated a more accurate development of some delicate events that left a bad taste in my mouth.


Copy kindly provided by the Publisher/Author.

Profile Image for Brina.
408 reviews87 followers
February 25, 2025
1 Star

I am honestly surprised and also quite shocked about the high reviews Heath, Cliff & Wandering Hearts received. I don't really understand. This books is just so bad. Really bad.

The entire story is basically an advertisement for alcohol abuse by teenagers. 16-year old teenagers are at a different party every weekend, which is every second chapter in the book, and get wasted on the heaviest alcohol there is. The are 16! One of them even had to be brought into hospital due to alcohol poisining. What is wrong with them? Is that really what teenage years look like in the UK? Why do the adults don't say anything about it? Probably because they drink with them. I mean, Savannah's grandma allows her to plunder through her alcohol stash.

Speaking of the grandma. She was constantly bringing Savannah down and told her she should act her age and go to parties, drink alcohol, and get a boyfriend. Because what Savannah is doing (being more or less responsible by going to school, doing homework, studying) is not normal and not something a 16-year-old should be doing. What is so wrong in what Savannah is doing. Nothing is wrong with her. Grandma, just accept her for who she is and stop saying she is weird.

Another thing that pissed me off was the amount of times they called each other bitch or whore or slut. Seriously. Everyone was a bitch. And the lack of female support was exitente. Here a small sneak-preview:

The girls don't really like her because she's a bit of a whore.

Jesus, what a total ho-bag!

My god, how easy is Karen!

Lucky bitch!

Back to hers? Hello! Slag alert!

I mean, what if she's a massive slut and wants to jump your bones?

I casually join in on the conversation of rating the girls in our year.

Heath never checks me out, and he really shouldn't be doing it in front of his girlfriend. Even if she is a classless tramp.

This is something other slutty girls did. But here she is, Zhara, my friend, the slut.

I mean, since when did you start behaving like a slut?

Handy, seeing as this school is full of sluts.

There isn't a queue of skanks rolling out of the door alerting you to their bad decisions.

Will you listen and stop being a stubborn little bitch!

Savannah's brother left for Australia at the beginning of the book and updated his friends and family through blogpost which I couldn't give two shits aout. The blog posts contributed nothing to the storyline. They were just empty and ridiculous words.

The whole book was an entire toxix shit-show. I am still surprised that it went through the publishing process and was actually published. Who gave their okay for this book to be published.
The whole book was just a waste of time. Do not read it. Never. Under any circumstances. It's that bad.
Profile Image for Grass monster.
579 reviews17 followers
October 17, 2016
I do enjoy YA reads and I was looking forward to Laura Barnard's first YA book.
It has a catchy title and a colourful cover but i think it could of done with a couple of pictures on there just to give a bit more of an idea of what the book is about.
We meet 16 year old Savannah Franks, she is a typical teenager and a bit of a drama queen.
Sav as her friends call her, finds herself torn between best friend Heath and her first boyfriend Zach. Having never seen Heath as anything more than a bestfriend, Sav starts to look at him in a different light. But she is with Zach, who treats her like a princess. Can she make the right choice or will she end up breaking hearts?.
Her mum's business has gone bust and they have to move house into a run down area. Sav doesnt like the box room she has been given and keeps it to herself that she has moved house. Her Mum and Nan were a laugh a minute, her nan is constantly trying to get her to dress more wildly and act like a barbie doll. Sav's brother Dylan, has gone to Australia travelling with his girlfriend and we get to follow his blog and what he is up to each week. Sav has a great friendship group, with lots of parties, underage drinking, boys, loosing their virginity, pregnancy scares and dealing with ex girlfriends.
I really enjoyed this story, it had plenty going on and it was set around typical teenagers coming of age. I found myself laughing out loud in some parts and enjoying Sav's journey. At times I did want to shake her and tell her to man up but it was fitting for a YA Genres.
I did feel the story was cut a little short and I would of liked to see what happened with Heath and Zach or even the rest of her friends. Maybe we will get to revisit Sav and her crew at some stage.

Profile Image for Sheila Schoenauer.
1,093 reviews12 followers
September 16, 2016
Savannah Franks is just a simple 16 year old dealing with the ups and downs of life. She has friends and family who help her through every day. Unfortunately being a teen isn't easy and Savannah is learning that the hard way. Throw in the fact that she wants to lose her virginity and the fact that she is starting to have feelings for her best, and oldest, friend and you are in for a whirlwind of adventure.

I truly enjoyed reading this book. It brought me back to my teen years, years I wouldn't want to relieve, but years that I could so relate to. I was reminded of just how confusing emotions can be when you don't understand what exactly is going on. I was also reminded of how sometimes we all just want to fit in, no matter what we have to do.

I enjoyed reading about all the secondary characters in this book. They helped add that little bit of flair. I wouldn't mind reading some of their stories in the future.

Sometimes it's nice to be reminded of what it's like to be young again and this book definitely helped remind me of just that.
Profile Image for Rock Hard Romance.
243 reviews20 followers
October 13, 2016
*ARC Received
'It's just weird because we always thought you'd end up with Heath'

The book blurb pretty much explains the concept of this story,I enjoyed it for the most part-having read previous work by this author,I was expecting to be laughing out loud,loving the character's created and getting into the story quickly and not wanting to put it down until I'd reached the end.
The story did all that...Savannah's Mum and Nan were a hoot,a brother off travelling Australia sending blog posts to keep in touch,typical teenage happenings-great friendships,parties/underage drinking,bitchy girls and horny boys,getting a boyfriend...then noticing your best guy friend's got HOT!
My ONLY issue is that it ended a too quick..I would've loved it to be a bit longer...maybe an Epilogue,I can only hope that it is not the last that we see of Savannah,Heath and the rest of the gang!

Reviewed for Rock Hard Romance by Vicki RHR Rating 4*/5
Profile Image for Sharon.
185 reviews12 followers
October 18, 2016
A very enjoyable YA story. Would highly recommend this.
Profile Image for Susan.
1,161 reviews22 followers
June 22, 2017
Great little read.

This was a fun little read I laughed at some parts. I found the humour the best part of the story if I'm honest.
This book would be ideal for teenage girls it took me right back to when I was of a similar age to the characters in this book.
All the usual high school drama that'll make you smile.
I fun little read from start to finish.
Profile Image for Rachel Raithby.
Author 18 books342 followers
September 2, 2017
Heath

I found parts of this book slow and the ending cut short. But all in all an ok quick read
Profile Image for Busy Bees.
266 reviews6 followers
October 26, 2016
Star Rating - *****

Savannah Franks is 16 and her world has just been turned upside down as her mums business has gone under and her family including Nan and grandad have had to move to a little maisonette in a really rubbish town. Savannah is so ashamed of this she keeps it from all but her best friend Heath. Things are even worse when school plan a ski trip and everyone who is everyone is going so Sav needs to get a job quick to pay her share without giving away her family can't afford it. Gosh life as a teenager is rough, not only has Sav now got to get a job but she had planned to get a boyfriend as well and it's all too much at once.

Wow what can I say about this? This author is one of my faves and I was chomping at the bit to get my hands on her latest book. This is the first YA she has written and I loved every page of it. I laughed so hard I was nearly crying at some points, this author knows good comedy. There were plenty of characters to bond with and I was really rooting for the love interest throughout. At one point I thought it was going to end on a cliffhanger but phew no, we got our happily ever after. Can't wait to read more work in the future.

Natty Bee


Star Rating - *****

Yet again, this author has managed to provide us with an amazingly funny, heart warming, star quality story! I have read all the works by this author and although this one is different - being YA - her writing hasn't changed and she is still coming forward with those witty one liners! I would love to spend a day in her head, it must be a right laugh! I can just imagine all those characters floating around, I just don't know how she does it time and time again!

Savannah is your typical 16 year old, who just cannot wait to lose her V plates. We follow her story through all of her embarrassing moments and on occasion, I found myself blushing along with her! In walks the conundrum....her best friend Heath and her 'new on the scene' boyfriend. Will they all get along happily or will Savannah follow her heart, breaking another in the process? Thats enough! I can't say anymore!

This was obviously going to be a 5 star read for me, I just knew before I had even picked it up! This authors writing really is star quality and I would never hesitate to read something new from her. This wasn't my typical read, I'm normally into more contemporary romance, but I didn't second guess picking up this YA book by one of my favourite authors! It's safe to say that I am and always will be a Barnard Backer!

Betty Bee
Profile Image for Caroline Ferriday.
113 reviews11 followers
February 7, 2017
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

Heath, Cliffs and Wandering Hearts was the first book of Laura's which I've had the pleasure of reading, and the book was a light hearted ya romance set in Britain. The book had some hilarious moments, especially at the dog salon, and some confused teenagers trying to make sense of the world. As well seeing life through a teenage girl's eye, you got to experience the second hand view of Australia through a blog.
Sav, Savannah, is a typical teenage girl who has her life changed through something beyond her control. So she hides are huge secret from her friends, because who would want to be friends with someone who lives in the rough part of town? Well, more people than Sav thought possible. I generally liked Savannah, her morals are good!, but I wanted to tell her that life isn't bad when it changes, it's just different. She's a loyal friend with a spunky attitude and likes to work hard. Her family is unusual, especially her nan, I liked her father and grandfather as they acted like should have whereas her nan tried to change how Savannah looked and acted which annoyed me even though the reasons were from the heart. When Savannah realises how her best friend is gorgeous and the kind of boyfriend she'd want, but there's an issue with realising how much she likes Heath. Her boyfriend.
Heath is a guy who every teenage girl wants. He's sweet, caring and a gentleman as well as being a great best friend. His jealously was so cute, even though he got a girlfriend in the book, but reading about him through Savannahs eyes really made him stick in my mind. But when Savannah and Heath are together, fireworks and electricity! I loved them together.

This book has a bit of everything. Drama, love, romance, bitchy girls, gorgeous guys and an incident with a dog. For me, it needed a little bit more romance and a deeper plot line. I'd have loved to understand why Savannah's brother left for Australia and why Savannah's mother lost her business. But I'd definitely read more books from Laura.
Profile Image for Samantha Ortegon.
Author 1 book50 followers
October 22, 2016
I started Heath, Cliffs & Wandering Hearts by Laura Barnard and finished it this morning. I found myself wanting to finish this young adult best friends romance. It's a perfect read for young adults or women who want to be reminded of the good ole days when it was fun to get in trouble with friends.

The characters in this story all standout and are easily likable,well maybe not one. The main character Savannah Franks, is not your typical teen even though she tries not to be the adult in the family. She has a great group of friends, the girls in the group have a virginity pact and have certain rules to making sure that moment is special. These teens hormones are roaring, will they be able to stay true to their promise. Savannah's life seems to be a mess with her mother losing her business and the family having to move to a small apartment with the grandparents and they have no money to pay off the balance due for the school ski trip Savannah had already signed up for, things just couldn't get worse...or could they?

Filled with embarrassment to where her life is, the only person she feels she can tell is her best friend Heath, who she has practically grown up with. Savannah never really noticed the changes in her best friend til others did, all she knew was that she needed to have him by her side to pick her up and talk to, he knew her better than any of her friends.

This is a sweet story of friendship, falling for the cutest guy and thinking he is the one, partying so hard with friends that bad decisions could be made and forgiving them for those decisions. I really did like this story, the only reason I am taking a star away is because I wish Savannah's brother would have added to the story line in a different way, that is just my opinion. After reading this story I do want to read other books from Laura Barnard, she has a cute sense of humor and makes a reader feel as if they could be one of the characters.
4 Stars for this fun but at times serious read.
Profile Image for Alison.
878 reviews68 followers
October 18, 2016
I have read books by Laura before so was happy to take part in the blog tour and review this one when she asked me.
The title lead me on a path of expectation which was totally off the mark but eventually it all fell into place. I confess it took me a while to get into this. I suddenly felt very old as I was reading about schoolgirls and the desire to lose their virginity! But Laura has a way with words and by about 30% in I found myself absorbed in the characters dilemmas. Bear in mind it is a YA book.

Savannah the main girl is so scatty, she fears she will be a big fat virgin all her life (she is 17!) she has a whole bunch of friends, male and female and the basis of the story revolves around their erratic lives!
Filled with teenage angst, jealousy, group friendship, plenty of drunken moments with some hilarious consequences. Possible pregnancies it really does feel like being a fly on the wall of a youngster or maybe resurrecting memories from ones past!

I liked the diversion of Savannah’s brother Dylan travelling around Australia and sending blog emails ‘home’ describing his adventures. They provided a fascinating contrast.

Savannah’s childhood friend Heath always has her back, takes care of her, rescues her from marauding boys .. Savannah seems oblivious to his appeal to other girls, he has grown up whilst she has been looking at all the alternative boys in the group.

A very light entertaining read if you put yourself in that mindset, once I picked up on the humour I found myself giggling or squirming with embarrassment on their behalf. I creased up at the incident in the car park of the family planning clinic .. that kinda set the scene for me and from then on I read the majority in one sitting!
Thanks to Laura for my ARC ….
183 reviews1 follower
October 20, 2016
I’m not a huge fan of YA books in general, however when Laura Barnard asked me to join in with the blog tour for Heath, Cliffs and Wandering Hearts I was happy to do so. I am a big fan of Barnard’s previous novels (romantic comedies) and I was interested to see how her writing translated for a younger age group.

As with all of Barnard’s books, Heath, Cliffs and Wandering Hearts has a fabulously catchy title and from the first chapter I knew that the story would be packed full of humour. In fact, there were some real laugh out loud moments throughout and it was interesting to see Barnard’s view on the comedy that is teenage life. Whilst there is certainly a lot of angst and drama, there is also a wonderfully comic note running throughout the story.

The characters are one of the strengths of this story. Between Savannah Franks, her friends, family and her bonkers grandma – there’s never a dull moment to be had! I particularly enjoyed the strong theme of friendship running throughout the story. Barnard described a strong friendship group and has done so in a very realistic manner, including the fractions and squabbles which will naturally occur in such a close-knit group.

Barnard has wonderfully captured the cringe worthiness of teenage life, telling the tale with such vividness and humour that I felt thrown back to my (long-forgotten) high school days. I enjoyed the story and found myself feeling somewhat nostalgic for my younger years, whilst also wishing that I could give the girls the benefit of some well-placed advice!

Heath, Cliffs and Wandering Hearts is a story of underage drinking, wild parties, boys and friendship. A great book for teenagers and about teenagers!
Profile Image for Rachel (Rae).
703 reviews59 followers
December 31, 2016
When I saw Heath, Cliffs & Wandering Hearts by Laura Barnard I couldn’t wait to start it. I did notice that it was a YA story which to be honest I haven't read too many of. However I enjoyed The Debt & the Doormat so I was pretty sure I would enjoy this. So what did I think...

The first chapter introduces Savannah brilliantly and I couldn't help but laugh as the chapter ended. Savannah is a typical teenager and even though I'm (whispers) 32 years old. I can just about remember being a teenager and I found Sav and her friends escapades so much fun!

I thought Savannah's family was a great addition to the story especially her unconventional gran. All of her friends are written well and they are such a fun group of friends who were there for each other.

The friendship that Heath and Savannah share is lovely. The question is are they just friends or could they be more?

I was pretty much either smiling or giggling to myself throughout this book. There are so many comical moments, this book was great at cheering me up.

The story kept a really good pace and there were times when I didn't want to put it down. The blog posts by Savannah's brother were a nice touch and kept things light.

Overall:

The theme of friendship, love and all the angst of being a teenager is portrayed brilliantly. I wish I could have carried on reading about Savannah, her friends and family.

Heath, Cliffs & Wandering Hearts is full of charm, fun and laughs.

Five stars from me!

Thank you to Laura Barnard for kindly sending me a copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Profile Image for Nash Norden.
296 reviews36 followers
October 19, 2016
I've previously read Laura Barnard's Porn Money and Wannabe Mummy. I was intrigued when I heard that the author is writing for Young Adult.

Savannah's life was changing. Her family was forced to move into a smaller place her mother's business failed. And now, her brother, Dylan has gone traveling to Australia with his girlfriend. Savannah was afraid that she was going to stay as a virgin, but now, she got a boyfriend, Zach. However, she can't stop thinking about her best friend, Heath.

Heath, Cliffs & Wandering Hearts is full of drama and friendship. But, I have to warn that there was a few scene are not suitable for children. Savannah and her girlfriends were constantly worried about boys, and how their peers see them. Sometimes, they made some reckless decisions. I have to say that I was worried about all partying scenes. There seem a bit too many parties going on. But it was interesting to see how they overcome their teenage life as friends.

My favorite character from this book is definitely Savannah's Nan. She didn't act like how a normal grandma always does, despite her age. Heath would come in second. I love how he always take care of Savannah.

Heath, Cliffs & Wandering Hearts is definitely an interesting read. I enjoyed the author's voice. But, there are some scenes that I don't think was necessary and the ending was a bit too rushed in my opinion.

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my review.
Profile Image for Stacey .
665 reviews17 followers
October 24, 2016
This was my first read by Laura Barnard but I've heard only good things about her books so I was looking forward to this - especially as I needed a bit of humorous escape right now!

With Savannah and Heath being best friends since they were little, that's all Savannah thought their relationship was - and would ever be. I could tell right away that it was more than that for Heath though. When both of them enter into a relationship (Savannah with Zach, and Heath with Mercedes) I had a feeling it might not end well for either of them.

But, it wasn't a dull journey, far from it! I loved Savannah's circle of friends, even if it got a bit bitchy at points, which is true to teenage real life anyway! There was the token cow bag though of course - Amelia, Zach's ex. The relationship between all the characters was written into the story brilliantly.

I loved the escapades Savannah got herself into - I had so many laughs throughout. I liked the format within each chapter of using hash tags, it is very YA so fitted in well. The emails from Savannah's brother were hilarious too.

Overall, I adored my first read from Laura Barnard and I will definitely be reading more!

5 fabulous stars from me.
Profile Image for Nicola.
951 reviews4 followers
October 16, 2016
Read on behalf of a Book Lovers Emporium

I really enjoyed Heath, Cliffs and Wandering Hearts by Laura Barnard. I found it to be very refreshing and funny. Many times I laughed out loud reading it.

The characters are all very young, in sixth form, and do have silly teenage tendencies. Therefore this book may be more suited for those who enjoy the lighthearted teenage years.

The main story is of 16 year old Savannah, who is a typical teenager in every sense. She disaproves of her Mum's business going bust and having to move into a smaller home. Her Nan is continually trying to get her to look like a barbie doll, the horror! And of course no teenager is complete without friends, all of which are likeable. There are parties, too much drink, pregnancy scares, races to lose virginities and BOYS!!

I have always liked this authors work, and I do enjoy knowing that I will be literally laughing out loud whenever I read a Barnard story. This book doesn't disappoint.The writing stye is easy to follow and the chapters are all just about the right length. Another brilliant book by Laura Barnard.
Profile Image for A Book Lover's Emporium Book Blog.
2,816 reviews171 followers
October 16, 2016
I really enjoyed Heath, Cliffs and Wandering Hearts by Laura Barnard. I found it to be very refreshing and funny. Many times I laughed out loud reading it.

The characters are all very young, in sixth form, and do have silly teenage tendencies. Therefore this book may be more suited for those who enjoy the lighthearted teenage years.

The main story is of 16 year old Savannah, who is a typical teenager in every sense. She disaproves of her Mum's business going bust and having to move into a smaller home. Her Nan is continually trying to get her to look like a barbie doll, the horror! And of course no teenager is complete without friends, all of which are likeable. There are parties, too much drink, pregnancy scares, races to lose virginities and BOYS!!

I have always liked this authors work, and I do enjoy knowing that I will be literally laughing out loud whenever I read a Barnard story. This book doesn't disappoint.The writing style is easy to follow and the chapters are all just about the right length. Another brilliant book by Laura Barnard.
Profile Image for Katy Roxburgh.
20 reviews
October 17, 2016
*ARC received*
I enjoyed this book! Granted I am not the target audience, but I think young readers would really enjoy it; it's funny, heart-warming and even a bit sexy! For adult readers it reminds us just how we made mountains out of molehills when we were younger, getting wound up over the smallest things.

The main character, Savannah, is a bit of a drama queen (but she knows this) and finds herself torn between two love interests. As the reader, we are screaming at her to make the right (and obvious) choice, but, she's seventeen and confused. The ending is lovely and I'd like to have read a bit more, maybe an epilogue, or perhaps Laura Barnard will continue in an anthology fashion, developing books based on the numerous background characters, that would be fun.

I do love Laura's writing style, and hats off to her for trying a different genre - it's a really fun and captivating story.
Profile Image for Susan Trewick.
571 reviews18 followers
October 16, 2016
I really enjoyed reading this book, it took me back to my teenage years and reminded me of all the drama! Everyone just wants to fit in and sometimes will do anything to make that happen. Savannah is dealing with the every day ups and downs, with her friends and Heaths help. Just wanting to fit in, she doesn't tell them about her parents problems and having to move to a rough part of town ( only Heath knows) throw in her brother going to Australia, wanting to lose her virginity and her growing feelings for Heath and you have a roller coaster of a story. I loved the background characters and her brothers blog, this is a funny read that will appeal to young and old readers. I wish there was an epilogue and i hope we here more from Savannah, Heath and there friends in the future.

* * Reviewed for Sweet and Spicy Reads-ARC provided for honest review * *
Profile Image for Book Relations.
3 reviews
October 18, 2016
This was a very sweet contemporary romance I would consider it YA if asked my personal opinion. I loved the story line, the lead character Savannah doesn't feel she's good enough if she doesn't have money like her new friends and I enjoyed the build-up to the major surprises that happen towards the end. I also loved Heath, but am now left wondering if there will be another book after this one with more of what happens next with him and Savannah. I was a little stunned by the eagerness to forgive so easily by the boyfriend, and curious if there is a specific reason that may be revealed in another book to come. Laura did a great job overall though, I enjoyed the book, and didn't find anything I can say I didn't specifically dislike at all. So I rate this book 4 stars and think it's definitely a good book to pick up and read on a rainy day. Great job Laura!
437 reviews6 followers
October 17, 2016
ARC recieved for a honest review.

Once again Laura Barnard doesn't disappoint. The book is full of humour as normal and such a great read.

Sav is 17 and in 6th form. All her friends are having or ready to have sex and she is still a virgin. She meets Zach and she thinks he is the one. But what about her best friend Heath? Are the feelings she starts to have for him just coincidence, as they have known each other forever. Or is he the one?

Poor Sav is so unlucky as well. Anything that can go wrong for her does, and this is where the humour in the book comes in. Poor Sav she just seems to attract drama and mishap.

I hope there will be another book in this series as I would love to see how the story pans out and what happens with her friends.
Profile Image for Tasha Williams .
538 reviews49 followers
October 19, 2016
::..Reviewed for Red's Midnight Readers..::

I was given an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review. My actual rating is 3.5 stars.

Heath, Cliff & Wandering Hearts is a coming of age novel that reminded me of Angus, Thongs & Perfect Snogging.

As mentioned before it has a cute, eye-catching front cover and catchy title but the content unfortunately wasn't for me. I have no doubts that Laura is a talented author and you can't make everyone happy but this YA novel fell a little short for me. There were some laugh out loud moments throughout the book and I actually found myself quite invested in the story line between leading lady "Savannah" and her best friend Heath.

It's cute and funny and definitely more suited to it's "young adult" audience.

Profile Image for Laura Smith.
603 reviews20 followers
October 22, 2016
I love anything by Laura Barnard as she never fails to make me laugh and at times I'm literally rolling on the floor laughing! Her witty comments and fabulous characters never fail to draw me in.

This is a YA read about teenager Savvy and her day to day teenage struggles. Everyone knows being a teenager isn't easy. Savvy is facing a whole heap of trouble when she starts to develop feelings for her best and oldest friend Heath. Heath feels the same but neither of them act on it. Follow Savvy on her journey of love, friendship and definitely some embarrassing moments.

Another brilliant book by Laura Barnard and a well deserved five stars.
Profile Image for Linda Field.
224 reviews3 followers
October 20, 2016
Heath, Cliffs and Wandering Hearts
Laura Barnard

I love Laura's books and this is my first YA book by Laura.

This story made me laugh, which is what I expect from Laura with books that she writes.
The story will keep you entertained, the characters are brilliant and work well together, there are certain scenes which I loved ie Family Planning etc.

I read this book within a day. Which is normal for me when reading one of Laura's books as the just grip you and keep you wanting more.

Well done Laura Barnard another fab story.
Profile Image for Crystal.
335 reviews
October 27, 2016
This was a good YA book. The teens in the story dealt with relevant teen issues such as lasting friendships, peer pressure, popularity, confusing feelings and first times. I found the characters lacked the depth of typical characters in contemporary romance novels, but that is very true to real teens. They have not lived enough to form truly deep characteristics.
It was a good escape type of read. Not a lot of angst, but also not so predictable as to make it boring or uninteresting.
I give this book 3.5 stars.
934 reviews7 followers
December 27, 2017
This brings back so many memories of teenage outings and the feelings and drama of being a teenager and how everything felt so much more dramatic. Being an Aussie myself, I found her brother's antics hilarious and on point, laughing at having also visited Cheeky Monkeys. Savannah is your typical teenager, dealing with friends who are starting to sleep together, her first real boyfriend and all the drama that comes with life as a teenager. This had a great cast of characters and had me in fits of laughter with some of their antics. Great, lighthearted fun YA read. I would highly recommend.
Profile Image for Crystal Wilke.
1,598 reviews3 followers
January 27, 2017
Laura is a new author to me. I liked this story and wish Heath and Savvy's story continued. Savvy wants to blend into the background at school. She has her close group of friends and is ok with that. Her life turns upside when her mom loses her job and they have to move in with her grandparents. Savvy's best friend is Heath. Their moms are best friends so Savvy never looked at him as more than a friend. Twist and turns will take Savvy on a journey before she realizes what she wants.

YA, Drama, Romance, Suspense

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
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