ARC Review: Whispers of the Heart by Rae Knight
***May contain spoilers***
***Scroll to the bottom for my rating***
As a punk rock/pop punk girl growing up and having not quite grown out of this phase, this book was instantly made a must-read for me because of the vibes alone. Rae Knight did not disappoint with the song recommendations, character descriptions, and all the nods to a punk rock-loving kind of life. The flashbacks drew me back to my high school days, and the present-day moments had me swooning, tearing up, and smiling.
This book is an excellent tool for someone dealing with the grief of losing a spouse or partner. The grief that Elizabeth experiences is so palpable. Although I have never lost a partner myself, it opened my eyes to the grieving process and the pain of what could be. My heart broke for Elizabeth and Brian when their grief was laid out on the pages, and I wished I could reach through the book to offer them comfort and reassurance.
While the book took a bit of time to fully draw me in, the characters were so compelling and lifelike that I found myself devouring the pages. Once I got past the initial uncertainty, the book transformed into a beautiful, emotional journey that I couldn't put down.
Brian is a certified book boyfriend. Everyone deserves a Brian. His patience and attention to detail, not only for Lizzie but also for her children, while dealing with all these new emotions and events were amazing. He comes to everyone's rescue throughout the entire book while dealing with his own pain, past, and guilt.
The dynamic of Lizzie and Brian's past through the years and the rekindling of their relationship were expertly done. With the right amount of hesitancy and hiccups along the way, Knight did not make this relationship easy, which is part of the reason why I loved this book so much. It's real!
Some romances and books, in general, are phenomenal. Still, the reality is that they aren't always practical or super realistic, but Whispers of the Heart was. I was nervous, sad, surprised, happy, and had a whole slew of emotions while reading, which is why this book deserves a five-star rating from me. It may not be for everyone because of the strength of the grief element, but it is certainly worth a read if you think you can handle it. The emotions are high and palpable in this one, but the humor, spice, and even endearing moments break it up to make it quite unforgettable.
Rae, you did an excellent job with this book, and I cannot wait to read more of your work. Thank you for the opportunity to read it before its release. I am so sorry my review came so late, but I hope you like it!
As always, thanks for reading! 💜
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️