Alison Doherty is a writing teacher and part time assistant professor living in Brooklyn, New York. She has an MFA from The New School in writing for children and teenagers. She loves writing about books on the Internet, listening to audiobooks on the subway, and reading anything with a twisty plot or a happily ever after.
I love Kristina Forest’s romances for teenagers and adults. Forest writes beautiful love stories that somehow manage to feel like fantasies and deeply relatable at the same time. But when I first read the description of her newest YA novel, Heartsick, I was surprised. The book looked like it was going to include many of my favorite romance tropes, including second-chance romance, opposites attract, and being on the run. But for the first time in one of Forest’s books, there was a big speculative twist that served as the catalyst for the story: a pill that could erase heartbreak.
It sounded like something akin to one of my favorite movies, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I was instantly intrigued by how this mixture of romance, science fiction, and adventure would play out.
Heartsick by Kristina Forest
Margot is a senior in high school who dreams about becoming a journalist one day, but has an internship at Healing Hearts Inc. because her parents think that’s more impressive. Every day at her internship, she helps customers through the process of taking a pill to erase their heartbreak. And even though she’s heartbroken herself after a recent breakup with Isaac, she’s never tempted to take the pill. She doesn’t want to give up on the possibility that they will work through their differences and get back together. But then Isaac walks into Healing Hearts, and she wonders if he wants to take the pill and erase everything they had.
Isaac desperately wants to get back together with Margot, but he still doesn’t have his plans together for what’s happening after graduation. Meanwhile, she knows exactly what she wants. He’s always felt Margot was out of his league. For a moment, he thinks about taking the pill that will help him move on. But seeing Margot, he knows he can’t do it. Only he left his hat at Healing Hearts. And now it’s majorly awkward. He vows to tell Margot everything when he goes to pick up his hat. But before he can, Margot overhears the Healing Hearts Inc. executives saying some sketchy things about how the pills might be unsafe. And suddenly, Margot and Isaac are on the run from the executives’ bodyguards. The police are looking for them, too. And Margot’s parents don’t believe her when she tries to get help.
With the help of some Internet sleuths, Margot and Isaac travel across the country trying to get enough evidence for Margot to write an exposé that reveals the truth. Their interviews with past customers provide an interesting psychological depth to the many reasons different people took the pill. This thematic exploration of heartbreak makes Margot and Isaac’s rekindled romance even more satisfying. I may have even exclaimed, “Finally!” when the two straighten out their misunderstandings and get back together.
Read This Book
One book recommendation to help you cut through the noise
Somehow, this book is thoughtful, hilarious, and (of course) romantic all at the same time. It’s definitely my favorite YA read of the year so far!
English (US) · 