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Beautiful Broken Things #2
Fierce Fragile Hearts
'This time around, I'm going to be so much better. I'm going to prove to them that it was worth waiting on me.'
Two years after a downward spiral took her as low as you can possibly go, Suzanne is starting again. Again. She's back in Brighton, the only place she felt she belonged, back with her best friends Caddy and Rosie. But they're about to leave for university. When your friends have been your light in the darkness, what happens when you're the one left behind?
Fierce Fragile Hearts is the stunning sequel to international bestseller Beautiful Broken Things.
Two years after a downward spiral took her as low as you can possibly go, Suzanne is starting again. Again. She's back in Brighton, the only place she felt she belonged, back with her best friends Caddy and Rosie. But they're about to leave for university. When your friends have been your light in the darkness, what happens when you're the one left behind?
Fierce Fragile Hearts is the stunning sequel to international bestseller Beautiful Broken Things.
368 pages, Paperback
First published February 7, 2019
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2968 people want to read
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December 7, 2018
Actual rating 3.5/5 stars. This is the second instalment in the Beautiful Broken Things series.
Beautiful Broken Things is the story of best friends Caddy and Rosie and what happens to their friendship when their ranks are infiltrated by new girl Suzanne. She is rebellious and restless. She is erratic and emotional. She is trouble and troubled. She promises the lives and friendships of all those around her will never be the same again.
Fierce Fragile Hearts takes place two years after Suzanne has left. She is set to return to Brighton, and the best friends she left there, but she knows she also must face all of the trials from her past, as she does so.
Whilst the first book was told from Caddy's perspective, this latter instalment is told from Suzanne's. I'm so glad the reader was provided with a chance to hear of her story, in her own voice, as I felt there was so much left to learn about her character, after Beautiful Broken Things concluded.
Whilst this provided the same levels of teary-eyed heartache and laughter-filled bellyache as the first book, I did find that I missed some of the best friend magic, of the former. The relationship between the three did form the crux of this novel but romantic relationships were blossoming and detracted some of the focus from the trio, somewhat. That is not to say that Barnard created some badly-made Lotharios, it is merely a case of my personal preference being for books that remain primarily romance free, which is what I so appreciated in BBT.
At its centre, however, this is a novel about Suzanne, best friends and potential boyfriends aside. Her traumatic past still haunts her and the reader continues along with her journey as she attempts to come to terms with this. Every section that featured her alone had me hooked on every word and Barnard did her terrible story true justice. Suzanne really proved herself as bearing a fierce, fragile heart and almost broke mine as she came to realise this.
Also, Dilys is the best fictional character in creation!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Sara Barnard, and the publisher, Macmillan Children's Books, for this opportunity.
Beautiful Broken Things is the story of best friends Caddy and Rosie and what happens to their friendship when their ranks are infiltrated by new girl Suzanne. She is rebellious and restless. She is erratic and emotional. She is trouble and troubled. She promises the lives and friendships of all those around her will never be the same again.
Fierce Fragile Hearts takes place two years after Suzanne has left. She is set to return to Brighton, and the best friends she left there, but she knows she also must face all of the trials from her past, as she does so.
Whilst the first book was told from Caddy's perspective, this latter instalment is told from Suzanne's. I'm so glad the reader was provided with a chance to hear of her story, in her own voice, as I felt there was so much left to learn about her character, after Beautiful Broken Things concluded.
Whilst this provided the same levels of teary-eyed heartache and laughter-filled bellyache as the first book, I did find that I missed some of the best friend magic, of the former. The relationship between the three did form the crux of this novel but romantic relationships were blossoming and detracted some of the focus from the trio, somewhat. That is not to say that Barnard created some badly-made Lotharios, it is merely a case of my personal preference being for books that remain primarily romance free, which is what I so appreciated in BBT.
At its centre, however, this is a novel about Suzanne, best friends and potential boyfriends aside. Her traumatic past still haunts her and the reader continues along with her journey as she attempts to come to terms with this. Every section that featured her alone had me hooked on every word and Barnard did her terrible story true justice. Suzanne really proved herself as bearing a fierce, fragile heart and almost broke mine as she came to realise this.
Also, Dilys is the best fictional character in creation!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Sara Barnard, and the publisher, Macmillan Children's Books, for this opportunity.
February 23, 2019
FIERCE FRAGILE HEARTS did not disappoint carrying on the story of the three friends but this time with Suzanne as the protagonist. I was absolutely ready to get into Suzanne’s head and life; she was messed up and complex but I loved her honesty, humility and character growth. Suzanne was bravely stepping into independent life, in a bedsit and with a job.
Suzanne, Caddy and Rosie were two years on, 18-going-on-19 and they were all transformed in a realistic way. Lots had happened since the days of BEAUTIFUL BROKEN THINGS and Caddy seemed to be the most different, sometimes good and sometimes not so much. Suzanne had a big heart, it might have been fragile but I could feel it getting stronger and from this, her individuality began to shine.
Kel and Matt were brilliantly woven into the story. I loved Kel’s friendship and everything to do with Matt was welcome. Dilys was the warmest addition to the storyline as was Henry.
This duo of books finishes in a good position and yet I still want more so if Sara Barnard would please write these three, especially Suzanne in the future, I will be queuing to buy it.
I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.
Suzanne, Caddy and Rosie were two years on, 18-going-on-19 and they were all transformed in a realistic way. Lots had happened since the days of BEAUTIFUL BROKEN THINGS and Caddy seemed to be the most different, sometimes good and sometimes not so much. Suzanne had a big heart, it might have been fragile but I could feel it getting stronger and from this, her individuality began to shine.
Kel and Matt were brilliantly woven into the story. I loved Kel’s friendship and everything to do with Matt was welcome. Dilys was the warmest addition to the storyline as was Henry.
This duo of books finishes in a good position and yet I still want more so if Sara Barnard would please write these three, especially Suzanne in the future, I will be queuing to buy it.
I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.
December 5, 2019
The perfect example of older YA/New adult fiction. Sara is a master of her craft. I love that this included stuff like dealing with a leaking pipe, trying to survive in your first flat - all the skills they don't teach in school, but are so important!
February 25, 2019
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Two years after hitting bottom, Suzanne was happy to be returning to the one place she felt she belonged and to her two best friends, Caddy and Rosie. Adjusting to life in Brighton on her own was not as easy as she thought it would be, but it ended up being an eye opening, and positive, experience for Suze.
• Pro: I was ecstatic to catch up with Suzanne, Caddy, and Rosie. Though this was Suzanne's story, Barnard still dedicated a lot of time to the trio's friendship. The ups and downs and ins and outs were explored, and I was happy to see their friendship grow along with them.
• Pro: This was such a raw and honest look at Suzanne's life. She had some really difficult moments in this book, but she also discovered so much about herself. She came to terms with some things from her past and was finally able to set her eyes on the future.
• Pro: It was really sad, that Suzanne's family could not love and support her in the way one expects from their family, but she was so lucky to have assembled such a wonderful support system, even if it took her quite a while to realize they were there for her. Caddy, Rosie, Matt, Aunt Sarah, Kel, and Dilys -- I adored them all, because of the way they loved, supported, and encouraged Suzanne.
• Pro: The friendship that developed between Suzanne and Dilys was so, so special. It was very pure and beautiful. These two lonely souls found comfort in each other, but they also gave so much more to one another. This was definitely one of my favorite parts of this book.
• Pro: Barnard is so good at writing boys! Both Kel and Matt won my heart. They were sweet and considerate and that brand of soft boy that I love so much.
• Pro: I just re-read the ending again, and yes, there are tears sliding down my cheeks. It was just really lovely to see Suzanne moving in the right direction. Was it perfect for me? No, because there are two or three things I would have changed, but it was touching and heartwarming and I was happy for Suzanne.
Overall: A total gift to those of us, who loved Fragile Like Us, but also a book that stands on its own. It was heartbreaking, heartwarming, and hopeful.
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Two years after hitting bottom, Suzanne was happy to be returning to the one place she felt she belonged and to her two best friends, Caddy and Rosie. Adjusting to life in Brighton on her own was not as easy as she thought it would be, but it ended up being an eye opening, and positive, experience for Suze.
• Pro: I was ecstatic to catch up with Suzanne, Caddy, and Rosie. Though this was Suzanne's story, Barnard still dedicated a lot of time to the trio's friendship. The ups and downs and ins and outs were explored, and I was happy to see their friendship grow along with them.
• Pro: This was such a raw and honest look at Suzanne's life. She had some really difficult moments in this book, but she also discovered so much about herself. She came to terms with some things from her past and was finally able to set her eyes on the future.
• Pro: It was really sad, that Suzanne's family could not love and support her in the way one expects from their family, but she was so lucky to have assembled such a wonderful support system, even if it took her quite a while to realize they were there for her. Caddy, Rosie, Matt, Aunt Sarah, Kel, and Dilys -- I adored them all, because of the way they loved, supported, and encouraged Suzanne.
• Pro: The friendship that developed between Suzanne and Dilys was so, so special. It was very pure and beautiful. These two lonely souls found comfort in each other, but they also gave so much more to one another. This was definitely one of my favorite parts of this book.
• Pro: Barnard is so good at writing boys! Both Kel and Matt won my heart. They were sweet and considerate and that brand of soft boy that I love so much.
• Pro: I just re-read the ending again, and yes, there are tears sliding down my cheeks. It was just really lovely to see Suzanne moving in the right direction. Was it perfect for me? No, because there are two or three things I would have changed, but it was touching and heartwarming and I was happy for Suzanne.
Overall: A total gift to those of us, who loved Fragile Like Us, but also a book that stands on its own. It was heartbreaking, heartwarming, and hopeful.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
July 13, 2019
I haven't loved a book as much as I love this in a long time.
January 2, 2023
4.5 STARS
March 13, 2022
oh my gosh! wow! you’ve literally just done it again sara. what an incredible sequel!
that was so so amazing yet so so sad (again!) - had me sobbing.
i can’t explain my new love for sara barnard’s books. they’re all so mind blowing and incredible. every. single. one. just wow!
although, i think for me it was slightly less relatable as they were older and in uni etc
that was so so amazing yet so so sad (again!) - had me sobbing.
i can’t explain my new love for sara barnard’s books. they’re all so mind blowing and incredible. every. single. one. just wow!
although, i think for me it was slightly less relatable as they were older and in uni etc
February 25, 2024
4 Stars
Fierce Fragile Hearts (FFH) wasn’t very high up my TBR after reading Beautiful Broken Things (BBT), book one, last year. I liked BBT but something held me back from picking up FFH – until last month. Now, I’m actually glad that I read it because I really enjoyed the story.
This time around we get to read the story from Suzanne’s POV who moves back to Brighton in the beginning of the story. Just like BBT, the main focus is the girls’ friendship – this time around it’s a long distant friendship though, since both Rosie and Caddy move away to study in different parts of the UK. The issues the friends have to face, e.g. finding new friends, having your first real relationship, finding out who you truly are with a possible change of character, staying less in contact with old friends, are pretty accurate and were presented very well by Barnard. Change is never easy and it’s difficult for everyone but it’s inevitable and sometimes necessary to grow as a person and as friends.
What I enjoyed the most was getting to know Suzanne properly. Even though she was already a main character in the previous book, the reader only got to know her through Caddy’s POV. The reader never had the chance to look behind her always tough and happy façade – until now.
Suzanne is a really interesting and complex character. I understand her better now and also finally know the reason for the things she did.
There were only a few characters in this book that I didn’t like: Suzanne’s mom and Caddy. Whereas Suzanne’s mom was simply a bad person, Caddy was mostly annoying and a bad friend in my opinion.
I really liked Dilys and Rosie. Is there a book planned for Rosie?
Besides tackling friendship issues and living alone for the first time, FFH is also about accepting yourself for who you are, conquering your fears and demons, and coming out stronger on the other side. It’s easy for some of us and difficult for others, but I believe that choosing yourself in certain life situations is the key to being happy. Choosing yourself is not selfish and it doesn’t mean that you think others are not important. It simply means that you value yourself because you are important too and you should do what’s best for you and not for others.
“This is your only life, and it is short. Surround yourself with people who love you.”
To me, FFH is different than other typical YAs these days. The story is refreshing but mostly real, and honest. I didn’t think I would enjoy FFH as much as I did. But those are the best books right?
“Of course I’m scared of [love]. How can I not be? That’s what I don’t understand. Giving yourself to someone that way, exposing all the vulnerable parts of you. How could you ever trust anyone that much? How could you ever trust yourself that much? Letting someone love you like that is giving them ammunition to destroy you. The more you care, the more it hurts.”
**********
I enjoyed this way more than book 1!
RTC!
Fierce Fragile Hearts (FFH) wasn’t very high up my TBR after reading Beautiful Broken Things (BBT), book one, last year. I liked BBT but something held me back from picking up FFH – until last month. Now, I’m actually glad that I read it because I really enjoyed the story.
This time around we get to read the story from Suzanne’s POV who moves back to Brighton in the beginning of the story. Just like BBT, the main focus is the girls’ friendship – this time around it’s a long distant friendship though, since both Rosie and Caddy move away to study in different parts of the UK. The issues the friends have to face, e.g. finding new friends, having your first real relationship, finding out who you truly are with a possible change of character, staying less in contact with old friends, are pretty accurate and were presented very well by Barnard. Change is never easy and it’s difficult for everyone but it’s inevitable and sometimes necessary to grow as a person and as friends.
What I enjoyed the most was getting to know Suzanne properly. Even though she was already a main character in the previous book, the reader only got to know her through Caddy’s POV. The reader never had the chance to look behind her always tough and happy façade – until now.
Suzanne is a really interesting and complex character. I understand her better now and also finally know the reason for the things she did.
There were only a few characters in this book that I didn’t like: Suzanne’s mom and Caddy. Whereas Suzanne’s mom was simply a bad person, Caddy was mostly annoying and a bad friend in my opinion.
I really liked Dilys and Rosie. Is there a book planned for Rosie?
Besides tackling friendship issues and living alone for the first time, FFH is also about accepting yourself for who you are, conquering your fears and demons, and coming out stronger on the other side. It’s easy for some of us and difficult for others, but I believe that choosing yourself in certain life situations is the key to being happy. Choosing yourself is not selfish and it doesn’t mean that you think others are not important. It simply means that you value yourself because you are important too and you should do what’s best for you and not for others.
“This is your only life, and it is short. Surround yourself with people who love you.”
To me, FFH is different than other typical YAs these days. The story is refreshing but mostly real, and honest. I didn’t think I would enjoy FFH as much as I did. But those are the best books right?
“Of course I’m scared of [love]. How can I not be? That’s what I don’t understand. Giving yourself to someone that way, exposing all the vulnerable parts of you. How could you ever trust anyone that much? How could you ever trust yourself that much? Letting someone love you like that is giving them ammunition to destroy you. The more you care, the more it hurts.”
**********
I enjoyed this way more than book 1!
RTC!
May 2, 2019
4.5 stars. Fantastic explorations of wounds, healing and the journey towards self-acceptance. A lot of Suze’s struggles and battle scars resemble mine, so the book connects with me in a personal level and inspires me to make empowering life choices.
Want to read
August 11, 2018i need this immediately
February 23, 2019
My emotions are an utter mess after devouring this book. I read Beautiful Broken Things by Sara Barnard last year and adored the book so much, I've enjoyed each of Sara's books but BBT had a more mature and darker theme to it. FFH continues Suze's story, I was thrilled when I found out we'd be learning about Suze's future in this book.
I was expecting an emotional roller coaster but I still ended up crying horrendously by the end of this book. Suze's story contains very mature themes such as abuse and trauma, so please make yourself aware of all the triggers before reading it.
The main focus of this book is Suze's various relationships, her new found friendship with her elderly neighbour Dilys, her friendships with Caddy & Rosie whilst they're away at university and how she deals with the loneliness and helplessness she feels at times. How friendships can change, fall apart or strengthen over distance and time.
The feelings, emotions and actions explored in this book are all important in Suze's journey of recovery, however they can be difficult to read about. I was hooked from the first page to the last, I was fully invested in Suze and would urge you to read BBT & FFH if possible.
I was expecting an emotional roller coaster but I still ended up crying horrendously by the end of this book. Suze's story contains very mature themes such as abuse and trauma, so please make yourself aware of all the triggers before reading it.
The main focus of this book is Suze's various relationships, her new found friendship with her elderly neighbour Dilys, her friendships with Caddy & Rosie whilst they're away at university and how she deals with the loneliness and helplessness she feels at times. How friendships can change, fall apart or strengthen over distance and time.
The feelings, emotions and actions explored in this book are all important in Suze's journey of recovery, however they can be difficult to read about. I was hooked from the first page to the last, I was fully invested in Suze and would urge you to read BBT & FFH if possible.
March 6, 2020
I re-read Beautiful Broken Things before picking up Fierce Fragile Hearts and it really helped me appreciate the story more, I think. It reminded me how friendships were formed and about the different dynamics. It was great to go from Caddy's to Susanne's POV – I hope we get to hear from Rosie's perspective someday!
Continue reading this review over on Pretty Books.
#gifted: Thank you to the publisher for sending me this book for free in exchange for an honest review!
Continue reading this review over on Pretty Books.
#gifted: Thank you to the publisher for sending me this book for free in exchange for an honest review!
September 9, 2021
Only the last few chapters were worth reading.
March 6, 2019
(4.5). I really did contemplate giving this a 5 but it was missing just something. I really really enjoyed it and I genuinely think I preferred it to the first. It has a gripping story and address mental health so well.
March 16, 2019
I loved this so much! It was beautiful, but most heartbreaking and it teared me up loads of times! Whenever I wasn’t reading I found myself thinking about it and looking forward to picking it up again! 🙌🏻 I think it may be one of my new favourites! Definitely recommend 😊
December 6, 2019
3.5
This book is the companion noven to Beautiful broken things but this time we follow Suzanne 2 years after the first book as she moves back to Brighton, just as Caddy and Rosie are about to head off to Uni.
I did enjoy this one more than the first one although I once again found myself growing extremely tired of the characters. There was no character development despite the fact 2 years had passed, they were still the same conceited girls as before.
My favourite character had to be matt, I loved the romance aspect of the book and I just think he was such a sensitive soul, hiding beneath all of the bravado. (typical ya guy I know)
Again, I did like this book, the actual story was good and I found myself smiling/giggling along many times I just couldn't deal with how the characters were portrayed.
This book is the companion noven to Beautiful broken things but this time we follow Suzanne 2 years after the first book as she moves back to Brighton, just as Caddy and Rosie are about to head off to Uni.
I did enjoy this one more than the first one although I once again found myself growing extremely tired of the characters. There was no character development despite the fact 2 years had passed, they were still the same conceited girls as before.
My favourite character had to be matt, I loved the romance aspect of the book and I just think he was such a sensitive soul, hiding beneath all of the bravado. (typical ya guy I know)
Again, I did like this book, the actual story was good and I found myself smiling/giggling along many times I just couldn't deal with how the characters were portrayed.
February 15, 2019
This review was originally posted on The Moonlight Library
I've read the first book in this series, and I've read Barnard's other books as well, so I knew exactly what I was getting into.
Even when I was asked to join the blog tour, and I said YES PLEASE, just imagine me on my knees, unbuttoning the top few buttons of my shirt, and offering myself to the pointed blade that is all the feels that flood from reading a Sara Barnard book. And she's standing at the other end, gleefully pointing the sword at me.
That's me and this book.
And I fucking love it.
I love it so much that it's hard to put into words exactly why I love it.
It's the story of a young woman coming to terms with her life after recovering from an abusive father. Two years after a downward spiral nearly took her life, Suzanne returns to the only place she's ever felt like home: Brighton, England, where her two best friends live. Only, Rosie and Caddy are going away to university, and Suzanne is stuck in a one room bedsit with no friends, no family, no emotional stability, and a job that barely covers her bills and rent.
The blurb didn't say much about the book but that's OK, because I'd read and loved Beautiful Broken Things, which was from Caddy's point of view. I was glad to switch over to Suzanne's point of view in this book, because she's brutally honest and beautifully vulnerable, her armour barely holding her together with nothing but determination.
I won't spoil the plot, but I will mention that this book is just as beautiful as Beautiful Broken Things, maybe even more. Barnard writes with a kind of clarity that strikes me right in the heart. I lived in England for two years and it was the toughest two years of my life next to my husband becoming disabled. I find Barnard's writing really personal, like she writes specifically just for me, like she knows all of my deepest secrets and fears and desires and lays them out on the page for me to cry over. I lost count of how many times I cried reading this book, and I cried three separate times in the first 100 pages.
I never even particularly liked Suzanne before I read this book, but Barnard writes so beautifully that I formed a deep connection to this fictional character and ended up really caring about her through the novel. I also felt like the secondary characters had really great motivations and stories of their own that we didn't get to see all of because they're living their own lives and we're seeing everything through Suzanne's limited POV.
I also feel like you don't have to have read Beautiful Broken Things before reading Fierce Fragile Hearts (although you should totally read it because it's amazing). There's enough information and backstory given through the novel to get a strong grasp of what Suzanne went through two years ago.
Basically if you've ever read one of Barnard's novels I think you'll love this one just as much, and if you're into contemporary novels, or like having your heart ripped out and stomped all over, you'll probably like this one, too. There is a kind of a romance but I wouldn't call this a contemporary romance, so that's OK for people who aren't into that, too. Basically, everyone should read this and then we can all cry together as Barnard bathes in a pool of our tears.
This book review is part of the #AusYABloggers blog tour.
I received a copy of this book from Pan MacMillan in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I've read the first book in this series, and I've read Barnard's other books as well, so I knew exactly what I was getting into.
Even when I was asked to join the blog tour, and I said YES PLEASE, just imagine me on my knees, unbuttoning the top few buttons of my shirt, and offering myself to the pointed blade that is all the feels that flood from reading a Sara Barnard book. And she's standing at the other end, gleefully pointing the sword at me.
That's me and this book.
And I fucking love it.
I love it so much that it's hard to put into words exactly why I love it.
It's the story of a young woman coming to terms with her life after recovering from an abusive father. Two years after a downward spiral nearly took her life, Suzanne returns to the only place she's ever felt like home: Brighton, England, where her two best friends live. Only, Rosie and Caddy are going away to university, and Suzanne is stuck in a one room bedsit with no friends, no family, no emotional stability, and a job that barely covers her bills and rent.
The blurb didn't say much about the book but that's OK, because I'd read and loved Beautiful Broken Things, which was from Caddy's point of view. I was glad to switch over to Suzanne's point of view in this book, because she's brutally honest and beautifully vulnerable, her armour barely holding her together with nothing but determination.
I won't spoil the plot, but I will mention that this book is just as beautiful as Beautiful Broken Things, maybe even more. Barnard writes with a kind of clarity that strikes me right in the heart. I lived in England for two years and it was the toughest two years of my life next to my husband becoming disabled. I find Barnard's writing really personal, like she writes specifically just for me, like she knows all of my deepest secrets and fears and desires and lays them out on the page for me to cry over. I lost count of how many times I cried reading this book, and I cried three separate times in the first 100 pages.
I never even particularly liked Suzanne before I read this book, but Barnard writes so beautifully that I formed a deep connection to this fictional character and ended up really caring about her through the novel. I also felt like the secondary characters had really great motivations and stories of their own that we didn't get to see all of because they're living their own lives and we're seeing everything through Suzanne's limited POV.
I also feel like you don't have to have read Beautiful Broken Things before reading Fierce Fragile Hearts (although you should totally read it because it's amazing). There's enough information and backstory given through the novel to get a strong grasp of what Suzanne went through two years ago.
Basically if you've ever read one of Barnard's novels I think you'll love this one just as much, and if you're into contemporary novels, or like having your heart ripped out and stomped all over, you'll probably like this one, too. There is a kind of a romance but I wouldn't call this a contemporary romance, so that's OK for people who aren't into that, too. Basically, everyone should read this and then we can all cry together as Barnard bathes in a pool of our tears.
This book review is part of the #AusYABloggers blog tour.
I received a copy of this book from Pan MacMillan in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
March 4, 2019
I received a copy for review via Netgalley.
You know you’re reading a good book when you’re so engrossed that not even loud-eaters on a train can distract you.
This follow up to Beautiful Broken Things centres on another fresh start for Suzanne. Recovery is far from linear and this is all about the ups and downs of life following trauma and what happens afterwards.
Suzanne’s family are very much in denial about the abuse she went through, a story which I believe is painfully true of many cases. As she tries to move forward, she battles her desperation to be loved by her parents with her determination to be consumed all over again. Meanwhile, we get an insight into Rosie and Caddy’s lives through their first year of university. While the girls are going through vastly different experiences, one thing remains the same. The pivotal year of turning 18 is dramatic for any teen.
While I’m not usually a fan of books so character-led, I felt complete empathy for Suzanne and found myself reading this book from start to finish in 24 hours. The glimmers of romance, the almost-family and the discussion of class are all well-written, although I did find it confusing that Suzanne could barely afford food but would pay for train tickets. This felt contradictory as train tickets in the UK are known for being expensive.
Sara Barnard is a talented YA author with a track record for excellent writing and incredible characters. I can only hope we get another story about Suzanne, Caddy and Rosie.
You know you’re reading a good book when you’re so engrossed that not even loud-eaters on a train can distract you.
This follow up to Beautiful Broken Things centres on another fresh start for Suzanne. Recovery is far from linear and this is all about the ups and downs of life following trauma and what happens afterwards.
Suzanne’s family are very much in denial about the abuse she went through, a story which I believe is painfully true of many cases. As she tries to move forward, she battles her desperation to be loved by her parents with her determination to be consumed all over again. Meanwhile, we get an insight into Rosie and Caddy’s lives through their first year of university. While the girls are going through vastly different experiences, one thing remains the same. The pivotal year of turning 18 is dramatic for any teen.
While I’m not usually a fan of books so character-led, I felt complete empathy for Suzanne and found myself reading this book from start to finish in 24 hours. The glimmers of romance, the almost-family and the discussion of class are all well-written, although I did find it confusing that Suzanne could barely afford food but would pay for train tickets. This felt contradictory as train tickets in the UK are known for being expensive.
Sara Barnard is a talented YA author with a track record for excellent writing and incredible characters. I can only hope we get another story about Suzanne, Caddy and Rosie.
November 5, 2019
3.75
I was really excited to read this book, and had really high expectations and fortunately most of them were met.
I intended to read Beautiful Broken Things again before reading this,but in the end,decided to start anyway.
I felt like Caddy was a completely different person,and I am still not sure whether I liked the drastic change or not,and I feel like Rosie and Caddy swapped personalities a bit,but I could be wrong. Also,Suzanne was a relatable character but not so much. I liked how she thought of herself first in problems,and I really liked how stronger she was in this book.
I liked Beautiful broken things better than this one. And Matt's personality was really so nice :)
There were some really nice quotes in the book too,and it felt like I was living the book,a really fast read. :)
I was really excited to read this book, and had really high expectations and fortunately most of them were met.
I intended to read Beautiful Broken Things again before reading this,but in the end,decided to start anyway.
I felt like Caddy was a completely different person,and I am still not sure whether I liked the drastic change or not,and I feel like Rosie and Caddy swapped personalities a bit,but I could be wrong. Also,Suzanne was a relatable character but not so much. I liked how she thought of herself first in problems,and I really liked how stronger she was in this book.
I liked Beautiful broken things better than this one. And Matt's personality was really so nice :)
There were some really nice quotes in the book too,and it felt like I was living the book,a really fast read. :)
April 29, 2020
4.5/5 stars.
I really enjoyed this book. I loved seeing these characters evolve and grow up more. A big part of this book is about recovery and I loved how realistic it was. I loved how realistically optimistic the end of this book is. "I will never be better, because better is not a thing. I will always be just me, and maybe that's ok. Maybe that's even great. I am sitting in my garden with my dog on my lap, and arrow on my back that will always point up, and I am surrounded by people who love me. Yeah. I'm doing just fine. " Now dilys. I loved her and I honestly was expecting her to get better and teach Suzanne piano and so her death hurt. A lot. But I can see how it was crucial for Suzanne's growth. Overall I love this duology and I am so happy I read them.
I really enjoyed this book. I loved seeing these characters evolve and grow up more. A big part of this book is about recovery and I loved how realistic it was. I loved how realistically optimistic the end of this book is. "I will never be better, because better is not a thing. I will always be just me, and maybe that's ok. Maybe that's even great. I am sitting in my garden with my dog on my lap, and arrow on my back that will always point up, and I am surrounded by people who love me. Yeah. I'm doing just fine. " Now dilys. I loved her and I honestly was expecting her to get better and teach Suzanne piano and so her death hurt. A lot. But I can see how it was crucial for Suzanne's growth. Overall I love this duology and I am so happy I read them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2022
You can always rely on Sara Barnard to write something that appreciates the complexities of people and their relationships with each other.
This is technically the second book in a series, but imo you can dive into Fierce Fragile Hearts without having read Beautiful Broken Things first. Barnard does a really good job of recapping what needs to be recapped and showing the depth of the pre-existing relationships.
I always love the way this author writes friendships as well as mental health struggles. Nothing gets romanticised. Instead you get the mess of things, and everything feels so much more real and engaging as a result.
If you enjoy YA conemporary that tackles some heavier topics but isn't without some fluffier moments, I highly recommend checking out anything by Sara Barnard.
Trigger/content warnings:
- depression
- PTSD
- attempted suicide (mentioned)
- parental abuse
- gaslighting
- slut shaming
- death
This is technically the second book in a series, but imo you can dive into Fierce Fragile Hearts without having read Beautiful Broken Things first. Barnard does a really good job of recapping what needs to be recapped and showing the depth of the pre-existing relationships.
I always love the way this author writes friendships as well as mental health struggles. Nothing gets romanticised. Instead you get the mess of things, and everything feels so much more real and engaging as a result.
If you enjoy YA conemporary that tackles some heavier topics but isn't without some fluffier moments, I highly recommend checking out anything by Sara Barnard.
Trigger/content warnings:
- depression
- PTSD
- attempted suicide (mentioned)
- parental abuse
- gaslighting
- slut shaming
- death
March 11, 2019
Follow the Fierce Fragile Hearts blog tour here for more reviews, interviews with the author & book giveaways!
Fierce Fragile Hearts follows on from the story of Caddy, Rosie and Suzanne from Beautiful Broken Things two years after the events of the first novel. In the first book Caddy, the main narrator, is not a very likeable young woman. She is understandably immature, cruel to her peers and looking for entertainment in what she describes as a boring life for herself. All pretty typical for teenagers, especially being melodramatic, however Caddy's perspective is expanded when her best friend Rosie befriends new girl Suzanne and invites her into their circle making Caddy feel like the outsider. This causes many dramatic situations, we learn about their lives and trauma and from it all comes friendship for the three girls and personal growth.
Now, in Fierce Fragile Hearts we are following Suzanne as she arrives back in Brighton for another fresh start with her pals Caddy and Rosie by her side, but her dilemma is they're leaving for university and they've become happiness and strength in her life. Suzanne now has new challenges ahead of her and while she still has the support of her friends she has new romantic prospects in her life, making this book more romance driven compared to the first that was very friendship based. She's also out of the care system now and her previous trauma is making an appearance again causing grief.
I don't often read contemporary novels or young adult that deals with abuse or similar themes so I'm glad I got one with an author that has such a powerful writing style to put the reader into the shoes of Suzanne and make you feel her anguish but also those hopeful times too. It was one of those good books you can just get lost in and become the character for the time you're reading it, feeling what they're experiencing and enjoying the story. It was very much like with another one of her books I loved, Goodbye, Perfect, where the strong friendships or events made such an impact and I was just totally absorbed in their world. I really enjoy all the books from Sara Barnard I've read so far and I'm looking forward to reading whatever she creates next!
(Thank you to Pan Macmillan Australia for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Fierce Fragile Hearts is available online and in store.)
Fierce Fragile Hearts follows on from the story of Caddy, Rosie and Suzanne from Beautiful Broken Things two years after the events of the first novel. In the first book Caddy, the main narrator, is not a very likeable young woman. She is understandably immature, cruel to her peers and looking for entertainment in what she describes as a boring life for herself. All pretty typical for teenagers, especially being melodramatic, however Caddy's perspective is expanded when her best friend Rosie befriends new girl Suzanne and invites her into their circle making Caddy feel like the outsider. This causes many dramatic situations, we learn about their lives and trauma and from it all comes friendship for the three girls and personal growth.
Now, in Fierce Fragile Hearts we are following Suzanne as she arrives back in Brighton for another fresh start with her pals Caddy and Rosie by her side, but her dilemma is they're leaving for university and they've become happiness and strength in her life. Suzanne now has new challenges ahead of her and while she still has the support of her friends she has new romantic prospects in her life, making this book more romance driven compared to the first that was very friendship based. She's also out of the care system now and her previous trauma is making an appearance again causing grief.
I don't often read contemporary novels or young adult that deals with abuse or similar themes so I'm glad I got one with an author that has such a powerful writing style to put the reader into the shoes of Suzanne and make you feel her anguish but also those hopeful times too. It was one of those good books you can just get lost in and become the character for the time you're reading it, feeling what they're experiencing and enjoying the story. It was very much like with another one of her books I loved, Goodbye, Perfect, where the strong friendships or events made such an impact and I was just totally absorbed in their world. I really enjoy all the books from Sara Barnard I've read so far and I'm looking forward to reading whatever she creates next!
(Thank you to Pan Macmillan Australia for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Fierce Fragile Hearts is available online and in store.)
February 15, 2019
*4 Stars*
ARC kindly received via Pan MacMillan Aus in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first book by Sara Barnard, and let me tell you, it was quite intense. At times I found it hard to read. It really pulled you into the story and made you feel the things that our main character Suzanne did.
When she was insecure, I was insecure. I actually had to put this down for a while and read something else in the middle, to give myself a break.
The book deals with very serious issues, surrounding abuse, particularly emotional abuse. We follow Suzanne as she comes out of foster care and is making a new life for herself. She's finding her footing and where she fits in with her friends again. She's trying to make changes to how she reacts to things and treats other people, and she's trying not to spiral out of control again.
Very intense, but a great story.
Review also on my blog - Fierce Fragile Hearts by Sara Barnard
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ARC kindly received via Pan MacMillan Aus in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first book by Sara Barnard, and let me tell you, it was quite intense. At times I found it hard to read. It really pulled you into the story and made you feel the things that our main character Suzanne did.
When she was insecure, I was insecure. I actually had to put this down for a while and read something else in the middle, to give myself a break.
The book deals with very serious issues, surrounding abuse, particularly emotional abuse. We follow Suzanne as she comes out of foster care and is making a new life for herself. She's finding her footing and where she fits in with her friends again. She's trying to make changes to how she reacts to things and treats other people, and she's trying not to spiral out of control again.
Very intense, but a great story.
Review also on my blog - Fierce Fragile Hearts by Sara Barnard
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May 10, 2019
**Disclamer: I did received this book via NetGalley. This had in no way, shape or form affected my opinion on it.**
Full review on the blog!
First thing first, Our main character is suffering with Complex-PTSD from her past abuse; having went through therapy in the past and is still getting helped through the novel. Although we do not have the same illness, as I am suffering from anxiety and not PTSD, I relate to Suzanne alot with how she react to it; avoiding the ones that loves her when her “crisis” happens as she refuse to have them worry for her.
The relationships in this book are really well made! We see how Suzanne’s two best friends (Caddy & Rosie) means so much to her and help her through the novel. Although that don’t mean they don’t pick up fights – which makes the all so much more realistic to me. We are following the long-lasting relationships of those three girls, while discovering three new ones aswell. They are forming and evolving throughout the book, just like real friendship does; I particularly appreciate the bits where Suzanne “loses control” and get mean with them, and shockingly they stay. Because they love each other and we all know fury can make us say crappy things we don’t actually means.
Full review on the blog!
First thing first, Our main character is suffering with Complex-PTSD from her past abuse; having went through therapy in the past and is still getting helped through the novel. Although we do not have the same illness, as I am suffering from anxiety and not PTSD, I relate to Suzanne alot with how she react to it; avoiding the ones that loves her when her “crisis” happens as she refuse to have them worry for her.
The relationships in this book are really well made! We see how Suzanne’s two best friends (Caddy & Rosie) means so much to her and help her through the novel. Although that don’t mean they don’t pick up fights – which makes the all so much more realistic to me. We are following the long-lasting relationships of those three girls, while discovering three new ones aswell. They are forming and evolving throughout the book, just like real friendship does; I particularly appreciate the bits where Suzanne “loses control” and get mean with them, and shockingly they stay. Because they love each other and we all know fury can make us say crappy things we don’t actually means.
February 11, 2019
Last year, Sara Barnard dazzled me with
Beautiful Broken Things
. Now, thanks to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan, I got my digital hands on an eARC for the sequel: Fierce Fragile Hearts is narrated by Suzanne and tells the story of what happens to her months after the conclusion of Beautiful Broken Things. This book is just as good, if not better than, the first one. Every time I didn’t think it could get any better, any time I thought Barnard had made me care the maximum I could possibly care … I turned the page and there was something new to cry about.
Suzanne has turned 18 and will officially leave care to become an independent adult, yikes! After time in a group home and group therapy, she is more … together. Yet she is still nervous about returning to Brighton and reconnecting with Caddy and Rosie, who will soon be leaving for their respective universities. Suzanne, on the other hand, her schooling interrupted by her mental health issues, isn’t sure yet what she wants to do for further education or a career. First she has to adjust to living on her own—and accept, maybe, that living on your own doesn’t mean doing everything on your own.
Trigger warnings in this book for discussions of child abuse and neglect, discussions of suicide attempts, and anxiety.
Although I haven’t been through the same experiences that have shaped Suzanne, there was definitely a lot about this book that really resonated for me—not just in Suzanne’s character but the others as well. Early in, as she is getting settled in to her new place and reconnecting, Suzanne reflects at how she feels undeserving of her friends:
Usually I’m the Caddy in this situation. I’ve got a facility for words and a need to make my friends feel good by saying nice things to them. Some of my friends just … don’t respond, though. And with some of them, fine, I’m going to try a little less next time … that’s how friendships go. But what Caddy knows and Suzanne isn’t letting herself admit is that sometimes you have those friendships which are worth the effort. I have one friend in particular who seldom replies to my texts (but makes up for it in myriad other ways), and I’m sure sometimes she feels the way Suzanne does here. So after reading this passage, that was what I texted her in my morning message to her the next morning: it doesn’t matter if you think you deserve me or not; I think you deserve me, so there.
We don’t always get to choose whether people want to help us.
And then soon after Suzanne reflects: “What I really wanted was to be the kind of person who had friends like that. I wanted it more than I’d ever wanted anything.” And, wow, do I ever feel that big mood. I was just reflecting on a similar feeling in a podcast episode with my friend Rebecca. I confessed to her, tried to articulate this feeling I had had in previous years of our friendship, watching her be her gregarious self and go out to bars, etc.—things I don’t do. It wasn’t that I wanted to do those things. It was that I wanted to be the person who did those things, which I think is a separate thing entirely. Much like Suzanne, I had to do the work of learning to love myself for who I am and who I might become, not who I thought I should be.
I also love how Barnard handles Suzanne’s relationships. There are her friendships with Caddy and Rosie, of course. These are fraught with complexity in the best possible way, particularly when Caddy and Suzanne have a minor falling out. And it’s a thing, but it isn’t a thing—it isn’t an all-consuming plot point or a dramatic, end-of-the-world fight like you might get in some books. Rosie makes the point: best friends have these problems sometimes, but they will get over it. That doesn’t stop me from identifying hard with the way Suzanne is so anxious and concerned about what’s happening, because she has clung so hard to these friendships and is so worried about what happens if they slip away.
Suzanne also befriends a much older woman, Dilys. In addition to the pleasure of seeing an intergenerational friendship of this type, Dilys can be read as aromantic/asexual:
That’s about as close as you can get without using the words on the page (which obviously would have been preferable), and we’re 11% of the way through the book at this point and I’m just like … yes. Yes, thank you for normalizing this by just making it part of a minor character’s backstory and not a whole Thing.
Immediately after that, Suzanne asks if Dilys was lonely as a result, and Dilys’ reply is … exquisite:
It’s moments like this, passages like that, when I feel so seen, as a nearly-thirty aro ace person who has no desire to date or have a partner. I get lonely sometimes, but isn’t from being alone, it’s just from being human. And it’s really nice to see that acknowledged.
Lest you think Barnard is merely throwing me a bone before pivoting full bore into a romance subplot, allow me to reassure you, dear review reader, that is not the case. Fierce Fragile Hearts indeed has a love interest, and there is indeed an element of romance going on here. Barnard has to walk a fine line between portraying how Suzanne’s trauma has influenced her wariness about romance and misrepresenting trauma and abuse victims as being “unlovable.” This is not an easy thing to do, and as someone who hasn’t had these experiences, it’s not in my lane to comment on it. What I will say, though, is that I love how Barnard tries to defuse and subvert the idea that a romantic partner (particularly a man dating a woman) will somehow “fix” someone:
It would be so easy to write a story where the love interest swoops in and saves the day, lifts Suzanne up, shows her how amazing she is through his eyes, and somehow restores her to a fuller version of herself. And that is … not realistic. We all deserve love—but we don’t all necessarily need or want romantic love—and sometimes these fairytale narratives proliferate to the point of being harmful. Barnard’s subversion is so direct, pointed, and honest that it’s beautiful.
To drive it home, in case you still weren’t getting it, Barnard drops one more on us near the end of the book:
Review reader, I made the mistake of finishing this book during my half hour of lunch at work and … yeah, I was crying by this point. I was crying for the whole ending, the overall poignancy of the conclusion—but if I hadn’t been crying already, the above moment would have pushed me over the edge. (I tried to keep it together because there was someone else in the room and I didn’t want to freak her out, but I’m pretty sure she noticed and was just playing it cool.) I’m crying now as I write about this. That quotation is my everything. I have never had a romantic partner, never dated, never wanted that. But I love my friends so deeply, and especially in the past few years, I have found certain friends who are my “everything,” as Suzanne says.
There’s so much more to talk about in Fierce Fragile Hearts, of course. Everything involved in Suzanne learning to live on her own. Her relationships with her family. The way that she grows demonstrably from beginning to end of the book—I think this ending is perfect and am tempted to quote the final lines to you, but I think I’ll leave that for you to discover on your own. Just as I’ll leave discussions of these other elements to people who feel like they can be more coherent about them, since at the moment I’m starting to feel like I just want to go into a corner and babble more about how much I loved this book.
Fierce Fragile Hearts is honest but never brutal. It’s raw but never cruel. It has moments of profound sadness yet also moments of incredible happiness and hope. In short, Barnard gives us a microcosm of our existence and a reminder that our lives will never achieve some mythical state of perfection. We are, all of us, going to have fuck ups and difficulties and moments of abject misery—but we can get past those. We can ask for help. We have friends who are looking out for us. We are not alone.
This is a beautiful book.
Suzanne has turned 18 and will officially leave care to become an independent adult, yikes! After time in a group home and group therapy, she is more … together. Yet she is still nervous about returning to Brighton and reconnecting with Caddy and Rosie, who will soon be leaving for their respective universities. Suzanne, on the other hand, her schooling interrupted by her mental health issues, isn’t sure yet what she wants to do for further education or a career. First she has to adjust to living on her own—and accept, maybe, that living on your own doesn’t mean doing everything on your own.
Trigger warnings in this book for discussions of child abuse and neglect, discussions of suicide attempts, and anxiety.
Although I haven’t been through the same experiences that have shaped Suzanne, there was definitely a lot about this book that really resonated for me—not just in Suzanne’s character but the others as well. Early in, as she is getting settled in to her new place and reconnecting, Suzanne reflects at how she feels undeserving of her friends:
Caddy beams at me, as happy as if I’d just complimented her personally, and I think, for the millionth time, how much I don’t deserve her. No one’s ever believed in me like she does, and she kept on doing it, even when I gave her no reason to. She emailed me every single week for the entire time I lived in Southampton, even when I didn’t reply. (And to be honest, I usually didn’t.)
Usually I’m the Caddy in this situation. I’ve got a facility for words and a need to make my friends feel good by saying nice things to them. Some of my friends just … don’t respond, though. And with some of them, fine, I’m going to try a little less next time … that’s how friendships go. But what Caddy knows and Suzanne isn’t letting herself admit is that sometimes you have those friendships which are worth the effort. I have one friend in particular who seldom replies to my texts (but makes up for it in myriad other ways), and I’m sure sometimes she feels the way Suzanne does here. So after reading this passage, that was what I texted her in my morning message to her the next morning: it doesn’t matter if you think you deserve me or not; I think you deserve me, so there.
We don’t always get to choose whether people want to help us.
And then soon after Suzanne reflects: “What I really wanted was to be the kind of person who had friends like that. I wanted it more than I’d ever wanted anything.” And, wow, do I ever feel that big mood. I was just reflecting on a similar feeling in a podcast episode with my friend Rebecca. I confessed to her, tried to articulate this feeling I had had in previous years of our friendship, watching her be her gregarious self and go out to bars, etc.—things I don’t do. It wasn’t that I wanted to do those things. It was that I wanted to be the person who did those things, which I think is a separate thing entirely. Much like Suzanne, I had to do the work of learning to love myself for who I am and who I might become, not who I thought I should be.
I also love how Barnard handles Suzanne’s relationships. There are her friendships with Caddy and Rosie, of course. These are fraught with complexity in the best possible way, particularly when Caddy and Suzanne have a minor falling out. And it’s a thing, but it isn’t a thing—it isn’t an all-consuming plot point or a dramatic, end-of-the-world fight like you might get in some books. Rosie makes the point: best friends have these problems sometimes, but they will get over it. That doesn’t stop me from identifying hard with the way Suzanne is so anxious and concerned about what’s happening, because she has clung so hard to these friendships and is so worried about what happens if they slip away.
Suzanne also befriends a much older woman, Dilys. In addition to the pleasure of seeing an intergenerational friendship of this type, Dilys can be read as aromantic/asexual:
There have been women I’ve loved very dearly, but in friendship. There have been men I’ve loved like that too. All very platonic, you see. I never felt like I needed anything more than that.
That’s about as close as you can get without using the words on the page (which obviously would have been preferable), and we’re 11% of the way through the book at this point and I’m just like … yes. Yes, thank you for normalizing this by just making it part of a minor character’s backstory and not a whole Thing.
Immediately after that, Suzanne asks if Dilys was lonely as a result, and Dilys’ reply is … exquisite:
Yes, sometimes, but what you have to understand is, relationships aren’t a shield against loneliness. Not romantic ones, that is. One of my dearest friends was unhappy in her marriage for many years; that’s a type of loneliness…. I get lonely now, yes. That comes with being old.
It’s moments like this, passages like that, when I feel so seen, as a nearly-thirty aro ace person who has no desire to date or have a partner. I get lonely sometimes, but isn’t from being alone, it’s just from being human. And it’s really nice to see that acknowledged.
Lest you think Barnard is merely throwing me a bone before pivoting full bore into a romance subplot, allow me to reassure you, dear review reader, that is not the case. Fierce Fragile Hearts indeed has a love interest, and there is indeed an element of romance going on here. Barnard has to walk a fine line between portraying how Suzanne’s trauma has influenced her wariness about romance and misrepresenting trauma and abuse victims as being “unlovable.” This is not an easy thing to do, and as someone who hasn’t had these experiences, it’s not in my lane to comment on it. What I will say, though, is that I love how Barnard tries to defuse and subvert the idea that a romantic partner (particularly a man dating a woman) will somehow “fix” someone:
He hesitates, then nods. “I want to make you happy,” he says. “I want to be the one who makes it right.”
“You can’t,” I say. “And that’s a terrible foundation for a relationship, anyway.”
“I know,” he says. “But I want it anyway.”
It would be so easy to write a story where the love interest swoops in and saves the day, lifts Suzanne up, shows her how amazing she is through his eyes, and somehow restores her to a fuller version of herself. And that is … not realistic. We all deserve love—but we don’t all necessarily need or want romantic love—and sometimes these fairytale narratives proliferate to the point of being harmful. Barnard’s subversion is so direct, pointed, and honest that it’s beautiful.
To drive it home, in case you still weren’t getting it, Barnard drops one more on us near the end of the book:
Let me tell you, anyone who thinks romantic love is the pinnacle of human emotion has never had a friend who looked at them like she looked at me. Love might burn the brightest fires, but fires burn out. Friendship is warm and steady, constant. It keeps me alive.
Review reader, I made the mistake of finishing this book during my half hour of lunch at work and … yeah, I was crying by this point. I was crying for the whole ending, the overall poignancy of the conclusion—but if I hadn’t been crying already, the above moment would have pushed me over the edge. (I tried to keep it together because there was someone else in the room and I didn’t want to freak her out, but I’m pretty sure she noticed and was just playing it cool.) I’m crying now as I write about this. That quotation is my everything. I have never had a romantic partner, never dated, never wanted that. But I love my friends so deeply, and especially in the past few years, I have found certain friends who are my “everything,” as Suzanne says.
There’s so much more to talk about in Fierce Fragile Hearts, of course. Everything involved in Suzanne learning to live on her own. Her relationships with her family. The way that she grows demonstrably from beginning to end of the book—I think this ending is perfect and am tempted to quote the final lines to you, but I think I’ll leave that for you to discover on your own. Just as I’ll leave discussions of these other elements to people who feel like they can be more coherent about them, since at the moment I’m starting to feel like I just want to go into a corner and babble more about how much I loved this book.
Fierce Fragile Hearts is honest but never brutal. It’s raw but never cruel. It has moments of profound sadness yet also moments of incredible happiness and hope. In short, Barnard gives us a microcosm of our existence and a reminder that our lives will never achieve some mythical state of perfection. We are, all of us, going to have fuck ups and difficulties and moments of abject misery—but we can get past those. We can ask for help. We have friends who are looking out for us. We are not alone.
This is a beautiful book.
January 23, 2021
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
Suzanne Watts has gone through a lot in her life. Moving to Brighton at 15, to escape an abusive father, she finds her very best friends in Caddy and Rosie. Fast forward 3 years, and she is now on the other side of a suicide attempt, recovery, and leaving the care system. Returning to Brighton is her biggest wish, but being alone, in a rundown bedsit, when her friends will be moving away for uni, may just prove to be too much. Can Suzanne overcome her loneliness, and deal with her past in order to have a future.
I'd just finished Beautiful Broken Things when I started this one, and was happy to see that there was a change of view this time around. Now the whole story was from Suzanne's perspective, and we learn so much about her. She doesn't sugar coat what happened to her with her family, nor her recovery at Gwillim or in Southampton. I will admit, there were times she got on my nerves with the repetitive self-sabotage, but I enjoyed seeing her grow from scared teen to a young adult, finding her place in the world, and looking towards the future. We do meet some new characters, like Matt (a potential boyfriend) and Dilys (a grandmother-like figure who takes Suze under her wing). Rosie, again, was sort of an afterthought, where I felt like there wasn't much to her, except for being the bold and brassy lesbian friend, who swoops in from time to time, but doesn't have her own story line. Caddy is less naive than she was, but I didn't like her changes in the two years that had passed. She now has a boyfriend (they were good together), but once she moved to Warwick she changed a lot, and was rude and not a very good friend. I'm glad I've read it, and learnt more about Suze, but this isn't a series I reckon I'd re-read.
Suzanne Watts has gone through a lot in her life. Moving to Brighton at 15, to escape an abusive father, she finds her very best friends in Caddy and Rosie. Fast forward 3 years, and she is now on the other side of a suicide attempt, recovery, and leaving the care system. Returning to Brighton is her biggest wish, but being alone, in a rundown bedsit, when her friends will be moving away for uni, may just prove to be too much. Can Suzanne overcome her loneliness, and deal with her past in order to have a future.
I'd just finished Beautiful Broken Things when I started this one, and was happy to see that there was a change of view this time around. Now the whole story was from Suzanne's perspective, and we learn so much about her. She doesn't sugar coat what happened to her with her family, nor her recovery at Gwillim or in Southampton. I will admit, there were times she got on my nerves with the repetitive self-sabotage, but I enjoyed seeing her grow from scared teen to a young adult, finding her place in the world, and looking towards the future. We do meet some new characters, like Matt (a potential boyfriend) and Dilys (a grandmother-like figure who takes Suze under her wing). Rosie, again, was sort of an afterthought, where I felt like there wasn't much to her, except for being the bold and brassy lesbian friend, who swoops in from time to time, but doesn't have her own story line. Caddy is less naive than she was, but I didn't like her changes in the two years that had passed. She now has a boyfriend (they were good together), but once she moved to Warwick she changed a lot, and was rude and not a very good friend. I'm glad I've read it, and learnt more about Suze, but this isn't a series I reckon I'd re-read.
January 12, 2019
Beautiful Broken Things was one of the first YA books I remember reading and loving, and ever since that day in 2016 when I devoured it in a single sitting, I have thought often of Suzanne, who was Caddy`s new best friend in that book who had to leave Brighton at the end due to difficult circumstances. In this sort of sequel, set two years later, we see things from Suzanne`s point of view as she returns to Brighton and attempts to build an adult life for herself after leaving the care system, while also having to deal with her past and her abuser continuing to torment her, a romance with a handsome musician she`s been warned off of and the way that her friendships with Caddy and Rosie shift when they leave for university. As you might have guessed, I already really loved Suzanne, and her narration only added to this; she is so flawed, yet utterly loveable, and I admired her so much for how far she has come since Beautiful Broken Things, and how hard she is still trying to create a happier life for herself, even though it is so unfair that she has to. I also love the portrayal of the friendship between Suze, Caddy and Rosie, Suzanne`s romance with Matt was gorgeous (I can`t tell you how hard I was rooting for them) and I adored the new additions of Kel and Dilys too. They all felt so real to me, and I think this was due to the super natural dialogue and inclusion of messages/group chats between them. I couldn`t put this down because I so desperately needed to see how everything was going to turn out, and the writing is so beautiful that it was very easy to lose myself in Suzanne`s story. I don`t think I`ll ever stop thinking about how Suzanne might be getting on, but I really like where we left her at the end of this. Prepare yourself to feel every emotion possible, and pick up Beautiful Broken Things and then this. I really don`t think you`ll regret it. 5/5
May 23, 2019
3.8 stars.
I wasn’t really into it at the starts but I have loved it at some point ❤️
The bad thing is that I also remember really few of BBT — it has been two years and the story wasnt that fresh in my mind.
I wasn’t really into it at the starts but I have loved it at some point ❤️
The bad thing is that I also remember really few of BBT — it has been two years and the story wasnt that fresh in my mind.
July 23, 2021
I really liked the first book, but I LOVED this one. Such a beautiful, relatable and hopeful story about struggling with mental illness. All of the characters are really three-dimensional and likable. Read this book!!
September 11, 2024
The most emotional rollercoaster of a book. Related to so much of it and so little at the same time. Balled my eyes out. Reminded me that no one makes the right decisions all the time and that’s okay. And you can still have people that love you, and that you love - despite all of that.
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