Cruel Heart Broken

LoveReading Says

In a Nutshell: Deceit • Decisions • Doing the right thing   A gripping, emotionally-charged page-turner about guilt, regret and finding the strength to face the truth.

15-year-old Laurie has always been a good girl, but confesses a guilt-ridden secret right at the start of her story, before taking us on a rollercoaster ride through the months that led to the moment “poison seeped into my blood”. Before that moment, Laurie’s life was sorted. She’s always been focused on fulfilling her ambition to become a doctor, while having fun hanging out with Charlie and Maya.

They were the “three peas”; best friends since primary school, until a painful chain of events are set in motion when she and Charlie get together after a party. He goes cold on her, the inconceivable happens and Laurie's world implodes. She’s alone with the burden of making an excruciatingly difficult decision, and it turns out that Charlie has a seriously high-stake secret of his own.

This riveting read strikes the perfect balance between keeping you turning the pages and digging deeper into big issues that have big resonance. It’s about the ripple effect of one decision; how lives can be thrown off-course in one brief moment but, ultimately, it’s about stepping-up to put things right when everything goes wrong, which Laurie does with tremendous courage and maturity.

When Charlie remarks, “there's no way back” Laurie agrees, but adds, “we can go forwards”. Tense, taut, and teeming with characters you’ll care about, this comes highly recommended for fans of thrillers with extra emotional depth.

Reviewed by Joanne Owen
Joanne Owen’s lifelong love of reading and writing began when she was growing up in Pembrokeshire, and very much wished that witches (and Mrs Pepperpot) were real.
More reviews by Joanne Owen

About Cruel Heart Broken

Laurie is a good girl – so everyone thinks. But seven months ago she did something that she can’t undo and it’s tearing her apart. Charlie used to be her best friend. He’s done something he regrets too...and now someone has died. Two impulsive decisions. Two toxic secrets. Too many hearts broken. Partly inspired by a true story, this is a heart-wrenching novel about impulsive mistakes, and their devastating consequences.

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