Melissa Albert

The New York Times bestselling author of The Hazel Wood returns with a darkly gripping, contemporary fantasy with dual timelines, family secrets, mystery, and magic

Secrets. Lies. Super-bad choices. Witchcraft.

The suburbs, right now . . .
Ivy’s summer break kicks off with an accident, a punishment, and a mystery: a stranger whose appearance in the middle of the road, in the middle of the night, heralds a string of increasingly unsettling events. As the days pass, Ivy grapples with eerie offerings, corroded memories, and a burning question: What if there's more to her mother than meets the eye?

The city, back then . . .
Dana has always been perceptive. And the summer she turns sixteen, with the help of her best friend and an ambitious older girl, her gifts bloom into a heady fling with the supernatural. As the trio’s aspirations darken, they find themselves speeding toward a violent breaking point.

Years after it began, Ivy and Dana's shared story will come down to a reckoning among a daughter, a mother, and the dark forces they never should’ve messed with.

Our Crooked Hearts

Lara Engle

A delightfully witchy book that draws you in to a generational drama with realistic characters in unimaginable situations.

Christine Bruce

Ivy is adrift at the start of her summer. She just broke up with her boyfriend, she can't connect with her mother, and a naked woman just caused a minor car accident that busts her lip. She realizes there's more to her mother, to the cute boy across the street, and herself. Meanwhile, 20 something years ago, Dana is discovering the reality of magic. While she and her best friend have always each held a kind of ability for things, meeting Marianne changes everything. Magic becomes tangible, something you can use, and wield, and hurt with. They musty each come to terms with the past, and find a way to move forward as mother and daughter, if they can.

Albert does it again. As with her Hazelwood series, she hides the truth beneath secrecy and a winding web of lies and mystery. A true master at her style and craft, no one is doing it like her. As the truth and the history unfolded, it was like a treat. Worth every second of tension building. 

I especially loved the sweet romance between Ivy and Billy, their history and the way they are able to find each other,. It was so pure and good in a story so full of dark twisted things. 

And overall delight to read, and an official sign that Melissa Albert is an auto-read from me.

Pretty good, easy read, liked the way chapters were separated. Would definitely read again although felt like the ending was slightly rushed. Could see a sequel happening 🤞

🌞Laur🌞

I really enjoyed this book! The alternating timelines was done in a fairly engaging way (as in, I was not so desperate to go back to the opposite timeline) and I found the shift in POVs seamless. The ending was simultaneously satisfying and not?? I still have questions.

The story was compelling, and both main characters had a solid amount of development; although, I think Dana could have had more/could have ended on a solid trajectory towards change.

Holly

I really enjoyed this book! The alternating timelines was done in a fairly engaging way (as in, I was not so desperate to go back to the opposite timeline) and I found the shift in POVs seamless. The ending was simultaneously satisfying and not?? I still have questions.

The story was compelling, and both main characters had a solid amount of development; although, I think Dana could have had more/could have ended on a solid trajectory towards change.

TW: animal cruelty

Most of this book just felt like a slog to me, which is saying a lot since it’s barely over 300 pages. Really interesting premise that I just don’t think was fully explored or written that well. Honestly I just don’t think this book was for me and the only reason I read it is because someone gave me the really gorgeous Bookish Box edition. 

Katie Allard

I absolutely love this book. It’s secrets and magic. The betrayal. Ugh yes. Though I felt like the ending was rushed a little. That’s probably the only bad thing I have to say about it. I would totally re read this book again. It has become a favorite for sure. I love the magic, the guessing, the darkness about it. Honestly I can’t recommend this book enough. 4.5/5 9/10 

Kaitlyn Grooms

Sheila Masterson

Loved the realistic magic and the multigenerational story. The timeline was a bit tricky to follow at times but the writing was beautiful, creepy, and atmospheric.

Ashley

Amira BEN

Sherany

Secrets. Lies. Super-bad choices. Witchcraft. This is Our Crooked Hearts, a darkly gripping contemporary fantasy from Melissa Albert, the New York Times bestselling author of The Hazel Wood The suburbs, right now . . . Seventeen-year-old Ivy’s summer break kicks off with an accident, a punishment, and a mystery: a stranger whose appearance in the middle of the road, in the middle of the night, heralds a string of increasingly unsettling events. As the days pass, Ivy grapples with eerie offerings, corroded memories, and a secret she’s always known—that there's more to her mother than meets the eye. The city, back then . . . Dana has always been perceptive. And the summer she turns sixteen, with the help of her best friend and an ambitious older girl, her gifts bloom into a heady fling with the supernatural. As the trio’s aspirations darken, they find themselves speeding toward a violent breaking point. Years after it began, Ivy and Dana's shared story will come down to a reckoning among a daughter, a mother, and the dark forces they never should’ve messed with.

Our Crooked Hearts

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