Title: Henry Hamlet’s Heart
Author: Rhiannon Wilde
Publisher: Charlesbridge Teen
Publication date: October 18, 2022
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Summary
It’s Henry Hamlet’s last semester of high school and he’s not sure what he wants to do when he’s finished. His only talent seems to be his ability to make pretty much every situation awkward. Especially when compared to his best friend, Len, who is perfect in almost every way. They might be opposites, but their friendship has always been something that’s worked.
Everything seems straightforward until Henry falls in love at a party. One kiss, and his life is changed forever. Len has always been there, but Henry never realized his feelings until that kiss. And that maybe Len has similar feelings, too. Now, Henry has to figure out if risking his friendship is worth falling in love for.
Review: Henry Hamlet’s Heart
Thanks to NetGalley and Charlesbridge for an advanced copy of Henry Hamlet’s Heart to review! One of the comp titles for this book is Red, White, & Royal Blue, and while I don’t necessarily agree with that comparison, it did make me want to pick up this book.
Guys, the pining. If teenage pining is your jam, you’ll love this book. The moment Henry and Len kiss, a light just clicks in Henry. Honestly, the chemistry between the two of them is really what makes this book. You can feel the yearning, the emotions surrounding first love. They want to be together, but they’re not sure they’ll be accepted. Wilde nails all of those emotions, bringing you on an emotional ride throughout the entire book.
However, just because there is an MLM romance doesn’t mean it reads like Red, White, & Royal Blue. I actually think a better comp title for this would have been Heartstopper. For me, it read more like that story. Best friends, falling in love. One of them still trying to figure out their identity. It fits those vibes and that storyline to a tee.
The only thing that I think would have made this an absolutely stellar book was a better sense of the time. It’s mentioned once that it’s supposed to be like 2008 or something, but it’s a blink and you’ll miss it reference. It’s also set in Australia, though, so maybe I just missed some of the references. The time period is important though, as Len and Hamlet are afraid of coming out. While this is still true for couples today, some of the homophobia and other things made a bit more sense.
All in all, if you love a good classic friends to lovers queer romance, you’ll probably love this book!
4 stars