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Heart on My Sleeve
Having met each other while visiting a college, Chloe and Julian begin a long-distance relationship and come to know one another through a series of emails, letters, postcards, and instant messages, but both are still nervous about what they have to offer and worry if the relationship will hold up when they finally spend actual time together in person.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published June 29, 2004
8 people are currently reading
479 people want to read
About the author
Ellen Wittlinger
34 books272 followersEllen Wittlinger is the critically acclaimed author of 15 young adult novels including Parrotfish, Heart on My Sleeve, Love & Lies: Marisol's Story, Razzle, What's in a Name, and Hard Love (an American Library Association Michael L. Printz Honor Book, a Lambda Literary Award winner, and a Booklist Editors' Choice). She has a bachelor's degree from Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois, and an M.F.A. from the University of Iowa Writer's Workshop. A former children's librarian, she lives with her husband in western Massachusetts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
January 17, 2011
The entire book is a series of emails, handwritten letters, and online chats, which at times gets a little annoying. Instead of looking at the cheat sheet at the beginning with the email addresses and names, I usually scanned the email for the salutations and signatures to figure out who was talking. There are quite a cast of characters, but the main focus is Chloe and her flame of one 1/2 day visit to her future college, Julian. This book is a great lesson in you can be who you want to be online and totally different in person. Because, after months of emails, Julian and Chloe meet for a competition of Julian's and it goes completely awry. People just weren't who they thought they were.
I liked the concept, there were a few quirky characters albeit maybe a few too many, including parents, siblings, and other annoying friends and gossip (the chatter about prom and camp and goals and dreams, etc.) but it's a great story to read before college to get your head ready and realize that many friendships will die, some will be resurrected, and new friendships will be created, you just need to find yourself.
I liked the concept, there were a few quirky characters albeit maybe a few too many, including parents, siblings, and other annoying friends and gossip (the chatter about prom and camp and goals and dreams, etc.) but it's a great story to read before college to get your head ready and realize that many friendships will die, some will be resurrected, and new friendships will be created, you just need to find yourself.
July 24, 2017
"You're only 18. You're allowed to flit from one person to another, at least for awhile. That's what college is for. That's how you figure out the kind of person you want to be with for a long time."This modern epistolary novel (told through emails and IMs) tells the story of Chloe and Julian, two high school seniors, and their friends & family. I thought it was a bit gimmicky at first, what with the fake email thing, but it was interesting...you get to see how people act differently when writing to different people.
April 20, 2016
I hard core love me some Ellen Wittlinger, and was thrilled when I discovered she wrote a book using emails, as I've been trying to find more of those to help me figure out how to write those sections in my own novel. I have loved ever book I've read by her, so I was definitely expecting to love this one as well and had no qualms about purchasing it instead of going to the library for it.
However, I was sorely disappointed in this one. Whereas Wittlinger's other characters are very well-developed and deep as people, I was considerably less impressed with Chloe and Julian, who both seemed so juvenile and silly compared to her other protagonists. Chloe annoyed me almost from page one, as I couldn't quite get behind the fact that she was so into someone she had met for just one weekend. I thought it was actually kind of creepy that she started emailing Julian right away, even though they both thought they were into each other, and never quite got over the creepy feeling.
The email structure also read a little awkwardly to me. It didn't flow as well as Wittlinger's other writing, nor was the prose as complex or interesting, and I found myself skimming through many of the emails, despite the fact that it was already a short book. I was glad that at least Chloe and Julian emailed and IM'ed with other people in their lives, since that added a little more dimension to their stories, but in the end it was still too much about their flirtation and non-relationship for my taste. I was really hoping for an intense story about a long-distance relationship, but instead got something I didn't quite believe or ship.
Overall, I was just not impressed with this one. The writing style was very different (read: much more simple and uninteresting) than Wittlinger's other books, possibly because of the email and IM format, and because of this I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as Hard Love, Love and Lies, Parrotfish, or Sandpiper. I'm sorry to say I didn't enjoy this one since she's one of my favorite authors, but I guess I might not love every book by every favorite author.
However, I was sorely disappointed in this one. Whereas Wittlinger's other characters are very well-developed and deep as people, I was considerably less impressed with Chloe and Julian, who both seemed so juvenile and silly compared to her other protagonists. Chloe annoyed me almost from page one, as I couldn't quite get behind the fact that she was so into someone she had met for just one weekend. I thought it was actually kind of creepy that she started emailing Julian right away, even though they both thought they were into each other, and never quite got over the creepy feeling.
The email structure also read a little awkwardly to me. It didn't flow as well as Wittlinger's other writing, nor was the prose as complex or interesting, and I found myself skimming through many of the emails, despite the fact that it was already a short book. I was glad that at least Chloe and Julian emailed and IM'ed with other people in their lives, since that added a little more dimension to their stories, but in the end it was still too much about their flirtation and non-relationship for my taste. I was really hoping for an intense story about a long-distance relationship, but instead got something I didn't quite believe or ship.
Overall, I was just not impressed with this one. The writing style was very different (read: much more simple and uninteresting) than Wittlinger's other books, possibly because of the email and IM format, and because of this I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as Hard Love, Love and Lies, Parrotfish, or Sandpiper. I'm sorry to say I didn't enjoy this one since she's one of my favorite authors, but I guess I might not love every book by every favorite author.
March 20, 2008
I thought the author handled the crux--the relationship between Chloe and Julian--really well. But there were parts that were anachronistic--I don't think I could be convinced that modern freshman roommates are ever going to care that they have matching bedspreads, or that a 20-year-old would refer to her girlfriend as her "lover". And parts of the coming-out story didn't ring true to me; I thought all the teenagers reacted too strongly, and it seems odd to me that Chloe, folk music junkie, wouldn't really know anyone who was gay (although what do I know? all the teenagers I know go to Girl Scout camp, so they're not a great barometer. But wait, Chloe's been going to theatre/art camp for ten years. Come on, now.)
And maybe it's just because I've never used text messaging, but any time you put conversation into those text message abbreviations, it makes the characters sound less intelligent.
Maybe the biggest problem is that neither Chloe nor Julian is very likable, in my opinion.
And maybe it's just because I've never used text messaging, but any time you put conversation into those text message abbreviations, it makes the characters sound less intelligent.
Maybe the biggest problem is that neither Chloe nor Julian is very likable, in my opinion.
December 4, 2010
Chloe is a senior in high school: she has a good family, a good boyfriend, and good friends. But when she meets Julian at a prospective student weekend at a college, life begins to change.
Told through emails and (!) handwritten letters, this book seems woefully out of date, though it's less than a decade old. More importantly, the characters feel so real that they are boring and uninteresting. Chloe is an aspiring singer-songwriter who titles her emails with folk songs, which is supremely irritating, much like her.
While this does realistically portray how relationships slowly end and crumble at the end of high school, I did not learn much or get much from the characters. Yet somehow, I was captivated and couldn't stop reading. What gives? One more to add to the list of life's mysteries.
Highly disappointing.
Told through emails and (!) handwritten letters, this book seems woefully out of date, though it's less than a decade old. More importantly, the characters feel so real that they are boring and uninteresting. Chloe is an aspiring singer-songwriter who titles her emails with folk songs, which is supremely irritating, much like her.
While this does realistically portray how relationships slowly end and crumble at the end of high school, I did not learn much or get much from the characters. Yet somehow, I was captivated and couldn't stop reading. What gives? One more to add to the list of life's mysteries.
Highly disappointing.
January 18, 2013
I just finished this book, and let me tell ya.. If you are a student who loves drama and romance, this book is for you. I can honestly say there is nothing I dislike about this book. I really enjoy the fact that it is written in email and letter format. Writing books like that really makes a reader intrigued.
Another thing kept me into this book was the fact that I am a high school student. I love reading books about others my age, even if it's fictional! It's sort of inspiring when you read a book and the main character has struggles just like a regular, living human being. Books like these give me hope for getting through high school.
Now to the book.. There are soooo many events that you just don't see coming. This book will never leave you bored. Of course, I'm not going to give the details because I would deffinately recommend this book for those who see this review.
Another thing kept me into this book was the fact that I am a high school student. I love reading books about others my age, even if it's fictional! It's sort of inspiring when you read a book and the main character has struggles just like a regular, living human being. Books like these give me hope for getting through high school.
Now to the book.. There are soooo many events that you just don't see coming. This book will never leave you bored. Of course, I'm not going to give the details because I would deffinately recommend this book for those who see this review.
August 24, 2007
I didn't enjoy this as much as I enjoyed Hard Love, mostly because I felt the epistolary style of it (and Chloe's hippie-dippy folk music crap) was so contrived; the only character I really bought in this story was Chloe's older sister Genevieve, struggling with coming out to her perfect heterosexual family and struggling with losing the first love of her life. But Genevieve's a dream of a character, and she kept me going through most of Chloe's insipid teenage angst, which is why it gets three stars. Not for the stoic or those who can't stomach a whole lot of schmoop.
February 4, 2008
"You're only 18. You're allowed to flit from one person to another, at least for awhile. That's what college is for. That's how you figure out the kind of person you want to be with for a long time."
This modern epistolary novel (told through emails and IMs) tells the story of Chloe and Julian, two high school seniors, and their friends & family. I thought it was a bit gimmicky at first, what with the fake email thing, but it was interesting...you get to see how people act differently when writing to different people.
This modern epistolary novel (told through emails and IMs) tells the story of Chloe and Julian, two high school seniors, and their friends & family. I thought it was a bit gimmicky at first, what with the fake email thing, but it was interesting...you get to see how people act differently when writing to different people.
March 13, 2008
I thought this started off well but then I began to get irritated by the two main characters, plus I felt the author was being too self-consciously hip.
June 15, 2009
Unexpectedly addictive.
April 20, 2021
Ok, I literally finished this thirty seconds ago, so I'm collecting my thoughts. The ending was VERY abrupt and I'm not sure how I feel about that.
I love most epistolary novels as a rule, so this got bonus points for that right off the bat. Unfortunately, I didn't really care about half of the characters. The main character, Chloe, was fine, but the others? Not so much. *SPOILERS AHEAD*
high school bf, Eli: Yeah, no? Whiny child, naive to think Chloe ever liked him.
Chloe's parents: Nope. Star-crossed bigots. Contribute nothing to the story besides ONE letter at the end that's supposed to make you forgive them for stinking for the majority of the book.
love interest #1, Julian: Eh? Kind of has no personality and I don't really get why Chloe likes him? Seems like an annoying theater kid without any of the fun stuff. Was super crappy to Chloe towards the end. Has zero backbone whatsoever and does what anyone tells him. Ends up with a girl he bagged on for months (poor Nina).
Nina: Not a super deep character, but I hate the "he hates me and I'm obsessed with him" trope. Lame.
Julian's mom: Blech. Contributed nothing to the story and I have no idea why Julian was so loyal to her.
Julian's sister: NOPE. Obnoxious with zero redeeming qualities whatsoever. I wanted to skip every single thing she wrote.
Chloe's sister, Veev: She's fine. She at least has personality and a nice character arc. But at the beginning, she seemed like kind of a stuck-up jerk who only tolerated Chloe, even though they were supposed to be best friends.
Chloe's friend Kate: Annoying. Not supportive of Chloe and not a very good friend for someone Chloe's known forever.
love interest #2, Gunner: Very predictable enemies to lovers trope, though I guess it's not his fault. I think this is the only time I've disliked an enemies to lovers arc EVER. What does that tell you? And that email he wrote to Chloe at the end? BARF.
I guess the more I write, the more I realize this was a pretty lame book? I didn't like anyone but Chloe and even she bugged me occasionally. I'd say the storyline was predictable but it became unpredictable in the worst ways at the end. All of a sudden a bunch of dumb stuff happened at the end. I realize this review makes me sound so mean but, what can I say? This book made me CRABBY.
I love most epistolary novels as a rule, so this got bonus points for that right off the bat. Unfortunately, I didn't really care about half of the characters. The main character, Chloe, was fine, but the others? Not so much. *SPOILERS AHEAD*
high school bf, Eli: Yeah, no? Whiny child, naive to think Chloe ever liked him.
Chloe's parents: Nope. Star-crossed bigots. Contribute nothing to the story besides ONE letter at the end that's supposed to make you forgive them for stinking for the majority of the book.
love interest #1, Julian: Eh? Kind of has no personality and I don't really get why Chloe likes him? Seems like an annoying theater kid without any of the fun stuff. Was super crappy to Chloe towards the end. Has zero backbone whatsoever and does what anyone tells him. Ends up with a girl he bagged on for months (poor Nina).
Nina: Not a super deep character, but I hate the "he hates me and I'm obsessed with him" trope. Lame.
Julian's mom: Blech. Contributed nothing to the story and I have no idea why Julian was so loyal to her.
Julian's sister: NOPE. Obnoxious with zero redeeming qualities whatsoever. I wanted to skip every single thing she wrote.
Chloe's sister, Veev: She's fine. She at least has personality and a nice character arc. But at the beginning, she seemed like kind of a stuck-up jerk who only tolerated Chloe, even though they were supposed to be best friends.
Chloe's friend Kate: Annoying. Not supportive of Chloe and not a very good friend for someone Chloe's known forever.
love interest #2, Gunner: Very predictable enemies to lovers trope, though I guess it's not his fault. I think this is the only time I've disliked an enemies to lovers arc EVER. What does that tell you? And that email he wrote to Chloe at the end? BARF.
I guess the more I write, the more I realize this was a pretty lame book? I didn't like anyone but Chloe and even she bugged me occasionally. I'd say the storyline was predictable but it became unpredictable in the worst ways at the end. All of a sudden a bunch of dumb stuff happened at the end. I realize this review makes me sound so mean but, what can I say? This book made me CRABBY.
Read
April 4, 2020Wittlinger explored the world of zines in her novel Hard Love. This more recent teen love story explores multiple viewpoints and various forms of non-verbal communication, including email, instant messages, and “old-fashioned” letters and postcards. Chloe and Julian are both high school seniors who connect and start dating (sort of) during a visit to a college they each hope to attend. After they meet, back in Massachusetts, Chloe struggles with a relationship she has had with a long-time friend, Eli, and in Florida, Julian resists being set up with a girl that admires him. There are lots of subplots, including Chloe’s sister’s gay identity and coming out process. When Julian comes to Boston at the end of the summer for a singing scholarship competition, the two main characters are surprised and angry to discover that they don’t really know each other all that well. This is “an interesting exploration of the implied intimacy of various forms of non-verbal communication” with a fun design that will appeal to teens.
October 26, 2020
I have to admit, when I was reading this book I felt like I could relate because when this book came out in 2006, I had been in an online relationship for about 3 years and this book best describes the whole online dating situation to anyone curious on what its actually like. This book really describes how your real life takes precedence over internet life and how things really are never what they seem and that sometimes things are better imagined in our heads than put into reality.
June 12, 2023
Told entirely via email, instant messages, letters, and postcards, this novel tells of two teens' long-distance relationship after they meet at a college visit during senior year of high school.
September 4, 2024
me after malaman na dinelete niya pala yung nga tag niya sakin nung nag away kami:
June 20, 2019
3.5 stars
Chloe met Julian when they were visiting Cartwright University on a prospective freshman weekend. They formed an immediate connection over music since both sing, had a romantic weekend, and decided to continue to communicate after they returned home. The two begin to write e-mails back and forth, exploring their attraction and becoming friends as well as falling a bit in love. Chloe also communicates with her best friend and sister, Genevieve, who is away at college. They discuss their lives and struggles with everyday issues.
As Chloe and Julian grow closer, Chloe worries about Eli, her longtime boyfriend. She doesn't consider herself 'in love' with Eli, he's just a good friend. But Chloe doesn't want to hurt him regardless. Throughout the remainder of their senior year and the summer that follows, Chloe and Julian write back and forth, anxious for the day when they will see each other again. But when that happens, will each be all the other has dreamed about?
This modern-day epistolary novel is told entirely in e-mails, instant messages, letters, and postcards. It takes a touching look at growing up and learning who you really are. It's amazing how well the reader can get to know Chloe just by reading her letters to others, but it's quickly apparent that she wears a mask for some people, and is more herself with others. After Chloe and Julian finally meet again, their letters to their respective sisters tell more about the encounter than one could get from just reading a narrative account. The reader gets both sides of the story, which gives a complete picture.
I particularly liked the ending, because it's very true to life. It's happy, but in a different way than you might expect. Although the format makes this appear to be a light romance novel, heavier issues come up -- such as lesbianism and parental disappointment. These give the book depth and meaning beyond the surface. On one hand, Heart on my Sleeve is full of honest love and commitment, and on the other hand it's heartbreaking. This is a great choice for a rich, intriguing reading experience.
Chloe met Julian when they were visiting Cartwright University on a prospective freshman weekend. They formed an immediate connection over music since both sing, had a romantic weekend, and decided to continue to communicate after they returned home. The two begin to write e-mails back and forth, exploring their attraction and becoming friends as well as falling a bit in love. Chloe also communicates with her best friend and sister, Genevieve, who is away at college. They discuss their lives and struggles with everyday issues.
As Chloe and Julian grow closer, Chloe worries about Eli, her longtime boyfriend. She doesn't consider herself 'in love' with Eli, he's just a good friend. But Chloe doesn't want to hurt him regardless. Throughout the remainder of their senior year and the summer that follows, Chloe and Julian write back and forth, anxious for the day when they will see each other again. But when that happens, will each be all the other has dreamed about?
This modern-day epistolary novel is told entirely in e-mails, instant messages, letters, and postcards. It takes a touching look at growing up and learning who you really are. It's amazing how well the reader can get to know Chloe just by reading her letters to others, but it's quickly apparent that she wears a mask for some people, and is more herself with others. After Chloe and Julian finally meet again, their letters to their respective sisters tell more about the encounter than one could get from just reading a narrative account. The reader gets both sides of the story, which gives a complete picture.
I particularly liked the ending, because it's very true to life. It's happy, but in a different way than you might expect. Although the format makes this appear to be a light romance novel, heavier issues come up -- such as lesbianism and parental disappointment. These give the book depth and meaning beyond the surface. On one hand, Heart on my Sleeve is full of honest love and commitment, and on the other hand it's heartbreaking. This is a great choice for a rich, intriguing reading experience.
February 12, 2012
I adore YA Lit. I think it's come a very long way since even I was a kid (although it's been argued that Catcher in the Rye would have been a YA novel had it been released in the 21st century), but even if it hadn't come a long way, I'd still love it. *Especially* in epistolary form!
If a book is classified as epistolary fiction, I am far more likely to read it (if it isn't already within a genre I'm comfortable with). Something about feeling like I'm nosing into people's lives a little more (even though it's fiction!)...or that it feels like I'm reading a bunch of short chapters, which I always enjoy...
Although I love reading, I don't love reading books that are too difficult. Reading is an escape for me, and I don't feel like stopping to look up words or rereading paragraphs that I don't understand. I feel like I have a pretty good grasp on the English language, so this preference doesn't limit me too often (although you'll never see me reading Joyce). But in general, YA books are a bit more accessible than so-called 'adult fiction,' so I almost always like them, and will try unfamiliar genres in YA lit far before I'd try them otherwise.
This book was a mite fluffy, but ended up being a little deeper than I'd expected. I fully enjoyed reading it, and spent about three days catching pages here and there until I was finished.
If a book is classified as epistolary fiction, I am far more likely to read it (if it isn't already within a genre I'm comfortable with). Something about feeling like I'm nosing into people's lives a little more (even though it's fiction!)...or that it feels like I'm reading a bunch of short chapters, which I always enjoy...
Although I love reading, I don't love reading books that are too difficult. Reading is an escape for me, and I don't feel like stopping to look up words or rereading paragraphs that I don't understand. I feel like I have a pretty good grasp on the English language, so this preference doesn't limit me too often (although you'll never see me reading Joyce). But in general, YA books are a bit more accessible than so-called 'adult fiction,' so I almost always like them, and will try unfamiliar genres in YA lit far before I'd try them otherwise.
This book was a mite fluffy, but ended up being a little deeper than I'd expected. I fully enjoyed reading it, and spent about three days catching pages here and there until I was finished.
June 4, 2013
2. Heart on My Sleeve: Ellen Wittlinger
Chloe Gillespie, a senior in high school, ready for Cartwright and the absolute college life. She had an ordinary life: Family and best friends, Eli and Kate. What's better? After a visit to Cartwright, she meets Julian, another freshmen that has a brilliant voice. These two seniors of high school do not realized their long distance relationship until they find themselves constantly emailing each other.
Boom, bad news comes, Chloe finds herself kind of falling for him. But, there is just one small problem. Okay, it's a big one. Eli, her best friend, whom she is kind of dating, doesn't know anything. What will happen to their relationship?
Are you a romance lover or email freak or high school student? Then Heart on My Sleeve by
Ellen Wittlinger is the perfect book for you. It is written in the form of a series of emails and letters. Besides Chloe's own relationship, there is SO much going on with the people surrounding her. Think you could keep track of all of them? If yes, try and you will fall in love with it. If no, open the first page and start reading. :]
Chloe Gillespie, a senior in high school, ready for Cartwright and the absolute college life. She had an ordinary life: Family and best friends, Eli and Kate. What's better? After a visit to Cartwright, she meets Julian, another freshmen that has a brilliant voice. These two seniors of high school do not realized their long distance relationship until they find themselves constantly emailing each other.
Boom, bad news comes, Chloe finds herself kind of falling for him. But, there is just one small problem. Okay, it's a big one. Eli, her best friend, whom she is kind of dating, doesn't know anything. What will happen to their relationship?
Are you a romance lover or email freak or high school student? Then Heart on My Sleeve by
Ellen Wittlinger is the perfect book for you. It is written in the form of a series of emails and letters. Besides Chloe's own relationship, there is SO much going on with the people surrounding her. Think you could keep track of all of them? If yes, try and you will fall in love with it. If no, open the first page and start reading. :]
Read
January 8, 2013Tjis book is abt a girl named Chloe who meets this guy, Julian, at a college visit weekend in Connecticut. Chloe lives in Massachusetts and Julian lives in Florida, but that doesn't stop them from forming a close friendship over email. Chloe thinks she's falling in love, and Julian even sends her a dozen roses --- which wouldn't be so bad if they hadn't arrived as Chloe and her boyfriend Eli were having their pictures taken for their senior prom!
So everything in Chloe's life gets kind of crazy after that, between breaking up with Eli and fighting with her best friend, and heading off to summer arts camp. Chloe shares all of her problems with her older sister, the outrageous Genevieve. But Veev has a few problems she needs to share with Chloe as well.
Julian's life isn't exactly perfect, either. His mom and wanderlusting sister fight all the time, and now his sister is getting married to someone he doesn't even know. He's growing apart from his best friend and is tired of everyone telling him that he should date Nina, who has had a crush on him since forever.
So everything in Chloe's life gets kind of crazy after that, between breaking up with Eli and fighting with her best friend, and heading off to summer arts camp. Chloe shares all of her problems with her older sister, the outrageous Genevieve. But Veev has a few problems she needs to share with Chloe as well.
Julian's life isn't exactly perfect, either. His mom and wanderlusting sister fight all the time, and now his sister is getting married to someone he doesn't even know. He's growing apart from his best friend and is tired of everyone telling him that he should date Nina, who has had a crush on him since forever.
April 28, 2008
-from inside flap-
During a weekend at Cartwright College for prospective freshmen to get to know the school, Chloe meets Julian, and they hit it off. Chloe is thrilled that when she starts school in the fall, she'll have a boyfriend there. The problem is, she can't tell Eli, the boy she's sort of going with but thinks of more as a brother.
In a novel told exclusively through e-mail, instant messages, letter, notes, and post-cards, award-winning author Ellen Wittlinger looks at how important communication is in regard to friendships, love, and long-distance relationships.
This was book was okay. I love the whole idea of a book written only in IMs, letters, e-mails, etc. I didn't really relate to any of the characters and didn't get a true sense of who they are. Also, the ending felt really rushed and unfinished to me. This book was not bad, but not great either.
During a weekend at Cartwright College for prospective freshmen to get to know the school, Chloe meets Julian, and they hit it off. Chloe is thrilled that when she starts school in the fall, she'll have a boyfriend there. The problem is, she can't tell Eli, the boy she's sort of going with but thinks of more as a brother.
In a novel told exclusively through e-mail, instant messages, letter, notes, and post-cards, award-winning author Ellen Wittlinger looks at how important communication is in regard to friendships, love, and long-distance relationships.
This was book was okay. I love the whole idea of a book written only in IMs, letters, e-mails, etc. I didn't really relate to any of the characters and didn't get a true sense of who they are. Also, the ending felt really rushed and unfinished to me. This book was not bad, but not great either.
April 30, 2010
Synopsis-This is a script about a girl named Chloe who is leaving for college. When she goes to tour her college she meets a boy that is the sweetest thing to her. They keep in touch after they meet but Chloe still has a boyfriend. She goes through struggles trying to figure out she wants to tell her boyfriend she just wants to be friends and go to college with the boy she met.
Classification-This book would fit teens and adults. Maybe some kids that are older and mature. This book would really be suitable for teens leaving high school so they can relate.
Critism-This book is a good literature. The script is written out good so its easy to read and understand. I like how the characters open up and the expierenxces can be related too. This author wrote the b script very well and painted a clear picture. In some parts some things werent explained well.
Classification-This book would fit teens and adults. Maybe some kids that are older and mature. This book would really be suitable for teens leaving high school so they can relate.
Critism-This book is a good literature. The script is written out good so its easy to read and understand. I like how the characters open up and the expierenxces can be related too. This author wrote the b script very well and painted a clear picture. In some parts some things werent explained well.
February 23, 2022
i remembered that this was one of the better teen epistolary novels i read in the 2000s & i’m glad to be validated. the last one i read was the ttyl series which was really pretty bad. this had more interesting relationships and characters and better writing. it really does capture a moment in time - no smartphones and no texting meant handwritten letters and trying to get to a computer in the library when away over the summer. the im-speak was a little over the top but the emails weren’t, and i remember writing novels of emails that did indeed use paragraphs! even the sister coming out plot was handled better than i’d expect from a 2004 book; not perfect by any means but honest and respectful anyway. i’m glad i used the free thriftbooks reward on this and i’m glad i own it. this was a fave in the library when i was young and it pretty much lives up to my memory.
December 15, 2015
What I really liked about this book was that it showed two teens who seemed to connect, but then realize through a series of online interactions that they aren't right for each other -- and it wasn't one sided. In most chick-lit like this, the girl is not at fault -- the guy is just an ass and she finds another, better guy instead. But in this book, both Chloe and Julius are portrayed as being flawed without being dismissed as jerks. They are realistic people, not one-dimensional caricatures. There are two sides to the story. And it turned out to be okay that they didn't get together and have a typical romantic happily-ever-after. The book imitates life. They move on, and there are hints of more to come in each of their futures. A refreshing YA novel.
December 26, 2007
Chloe and Julian met and hit it off at a pre-freshman college orientation. Both are singers, although Chloe is more folk-y and Julian does musical theatre (yay!). The book covers their correspondence with each other and their parents, sisters and friends and all their changing relationships.
This book is done in emails, instant messages and letters. Sometimes I don't like this, but Ellen Wittlinger did it well. Although the IM shorthand was driving me crazy. gr8? 2dA? Any energy that might have been saved by typing fewer characters was expended more than twice over by me trying to decipher what was being said.
This book is done in emails, instant messages and letters. Sometimes I don't like this, but Ellen Wittlinger did it well. Although the IM shorthand was driving me crazy. gr8? 2dA? Any energy that might have been saved by typing fewer characters was expended more than twice over by me trying to decipher what was being said.
January 23, 2009
BRILLIANT!!!
A great story of a girl and a boy from two completly different states and up bringing. About a lonnnnnnnggggggg summer, full of romance, marriage, love, friendship, excepting a loved ones sexual preference and all of this was shown in this book just by the emails, IM conversations and letters of the characters Chloe, Julian and Eli.
A very well written book in which I would have never guessed the ending. I was very shocked by it, because the I wasn't even able to guess what one of the characters summers would end like. As I said before it was brilliant.
I highly reccommend this book too all my friend that love a chicklit full of suprises.
A great story of a girl and a boy from two completly different states and up bringing. About a lonnnnnnnggggggg summer, full of romance, marriage, love, friendship, excepting a loved ones sexual preference and all of this was shown in this book just by the emails, IM conversations and letters of the characters Chloe, Julian and Eli.
A very well written book in which I would have never guessed the ending. I was very shocked by it, because the I wasn't even able to guess what one of the characters summers would end like. As I said before it was brilliant.
I highly reccommend this book too all my friend that love a chicklit full of suprises.
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November 24, 2008Ellen Wittlinger is an author who is not afraid to tackle hard issues that face teenagers today. Her books Hard Love and Razzle attest to that, and so does her new novel Heart on my Sleeve, (which is one of those epistolary novels that pop up now and again). Chloe's life is hardly rough -- she's going to a private college next fall, she has opportunities to showcase her musical talent, and she's got a great sister and a nice boyfriend. But she does meet someone who seems to be her soul mate at a college visitation. Chloe and Julian seem perfect for each other, but is a couple of months of emails and IMs enough to really get to know a person?
March 29, 2015
This showcases the best and worst of the letters form--at times the book gets a bit tedious, but the same thing that makes it tedious at other times makes it intensely intimate, and you love the people and get a real glimpse into them. Wittlinger amazingly gets down all these distinct voices, a feat in itself, and you see these things they are going through from every side. Ultimately I think it's the best of YA, in with books where people are talking and figuring out things young adults (and grown ups) are trying to, in a way that's natural and effective, far from anything didactic (which would be the worst of YA, I'd say).
March 3, 2009
This book talks about how Chloe fell in love with Julian.They sent e-mail and letters, cards to each other. They were both trying to go to college. Chloe had a sister who was at college and she gave her good ideas about how to handle boys and lovers situations. Everyone was also getting ready for prom and graduation. Chloe had a decision whether too break up with his old boyfriend, Eli, who knew nothing about the relationship going on between Julian and Chloe. Julian also seemed as a nice guy and he was also very cute.Chloe ends up breaking up with Eli which was the sad part for me.
June 10, 2010
This book was really different from the other books I have read. It was in an e-mail and letter format. It turned out to be one of the books I actually took an interest to. From this book I learned, not to think you know someone too well just by one meeting. Also to not change your life for someone besides yourself. You should want to change because YOU want to change and only if it's for the better not the worst. You should think before you act, because if you do or say something you regret, you most of the time can't take it back.
September 30, 2011
This YA book is written using correspondence between the main character and her friends and family (email, letter, IM). Chloe is just graduating from high school and she is looking forward to going to college. She has to deal with leaving her friends, possibly breaking up with her longtime boyfriend, and a surprising secret about her older sister. On top of that, she has met an attractive new guy. The author does a good job of describing life changes that occur when someone starts a new chapter in their lives.
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