A Thousand Heartbeats
Reviews
Literally finished in one sitting. Could not put down
(spoilers)
okay so i actually enjoyed this book way more than I thought i would. absolutely loved the two main characters they had me giggling kicking my feet when they finally got together. also glad her betrothed died never liked him he sucked. I liked her brother but he kinda got on my nerves when he up and left like bro i get your in love but like gonna just abandon your sister like that?? but anyways still was a good simple read.
3.5 stars, technically, but Goodreads doesn't do half stars, so I rounded up. It's an adorable enemies-to-lovers story, also has a sort of star-crossed lover theme thrown in for flair. I liked the characters. The romance between Annika and Lennox escalated a bit too quickly for my taste, and at times, it felt that the world-building fell flat. I liked that it has a sort of fairytale feel to it, but the ending felt rushed and forced. The title-A Thousand Heartbeats-was overused a bit in the book. Otherwise, it was a nice, clean romance that was a quick, fun read with a happy ending to boot.
Yk you've been reading too much dark romance/fiction when you cry over fluff. This was such a nostalgic book for me, considering the selection is what got me into reading in the first place. The whole story had a very similar feel, however as someone who doesn't love split pov, that's where I feel it felt short. 4 page chapters were a highlight for me though, and the 550 pages blew past in a few days. Annika's character was resilient, but not obnoxious. She was an excellent balance of a determined fmc, with a strong love and sense of duty to her country, with a kind heart, and a reasonable head on her shoulders. She had the typical teen longing for love you find in the romance novels she was unknowingly a part of, without making it her whole personality. I liked how she was willing to sacrifice it all for her true love, Kadier. Lennox fell a bit short for me (unlike his hair which puts me off him a little). His storyline was interesting, and there were a few heartfelt moments in his perspective. Realistically, he felt like Aspen Leger being thrown into another world where he actually gets the girl in the end. Don't get me wrong. Overall, the feet-kicking-giggling-on-the-floor-type-level fluff was ultimately what had me and I surprisingly liked this a lot more than I expected.
This is such a good book, it's nothing like her other books but there's so much emotion in this one
relied on every stereotype and trope there is from scorned lovers to star crossed ones. Nothing really romantic, honestly a pretty poorly told story.
I cried. I laughed. I swooned. I fell in love.
THIS BOOK. I can’t contain the amount of joy this book brought me, especially at a time where I’ve was feeling very low. This fairytale-esque, enemies to lovers book that was yes, cheesy at times, terrifying at other times, and very much a ya romance found its way into my heart and quite possibly my top ten for the year.
The two opposing lands, my gosh. One was so fairytale light and cozy while the other was muddy (what I pictured) and so very challenging. Somehow, two people who are so unalike, came out of every trial so regal and lovely, I literally cried. If I ever posses an ounce of Annika’s kindness and forgiveness, phew.
Anyway, my reviews very rarely make sense but if you need a sweeping world full of action, romance, tears, laughs and more, pick up A Thousand Heartbeats. This is coming from someone who’s never read The Selection series but definitely plans to one day.
Also.. Thistle had such a small part, but I’ll forever love her.
Read if you like:
YA Romantasy
Enemies to lovers
Star-crossed romance
Brother & Sister love
Tons of action
Forgiveness
Heart racing moments
Fierce & Brave MC
Like-able characters
Found family
Dual POV
Highlights
I understand now what love can do to you. And I understand what grief can do. Because grief is simply love with no one to receive it.
“We have so little time with the people we love; we shouldn’t waste it.”
Annika was beautiful in the same way a sunset was: so heartbreakingly sweet your soul could only stand taking in one glimpse a day.
It had been fascinating to watch how love chipped the jagged edges from somneone, made them sharper in some ways and softer in others. It left me, for the first time, awed by the prospect. Love was complicated.
Complicated, but so unexpectedly beautiful.
I shrugged. "She has a role to play in life, and so dolo role does not define our value, and so I shall treat her - and anyone else I can-with kindness."
“Love doesn't look like anything," he told me in a whisper. Love has a sound. It sounds like a thousand heartbeats happening at the same time. It sounds like the rush of a waterfall or the still of the world at daybreak. You can hear it at night, lulling you to sleep, and, in the middle of your darkest days, it breaks through like a laugh.
“The thing is, some of us have been taught to listen for it, so when it comes, it's all too easy to hear over the noise. For others, there are too many other sounds drowning it out. For them, it takes longer. But when it finally breaks through, it's a symphony.”
Rhett
You may take my freedom, but you will not be permitted to touch my joy.
“My position is a product of my birth, and not one I could control. And I don't deserve your judgment for it."
"You know, even in places that are dark, even in the midst of war, sometimes, people find light in each other.”
Blythe
And there was my new goal. Not flourish. Not enjoy Survive.
Escalus reached down and pulled his own needlework out of the notions basket and settled back on the stone bench beneath my window. We were given unique educations; we liked to share them.
The night sky was the best dressed lady at court, the stars her finest dress and the moon her perfect Crown.
The scent of old books hit me the second I opened the library doors, andI felt the slightest bit of the weich. I'd been carrying ease from my shoulders. I survey the space, taking everything in, basking in the peace the library brought me.
There was so much information in this room, so many stories. Toward the front, there were low shelves to walk through, almost like a maze, and open spaces with desks for studying. When the afternoon sun came through these windows, it was spectacular; studying in here allowed me to both read and be warmed by the sun like a cat. Bliss.
The scent of old books hit me the second I opened the library doors, and I felt the slightest bit of the weight I’d been carrying ease from my shoulders.