The Anatomical Shape of a Heart

by Jenn Bennett

[whisperingchapters]

This review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews

How perfect is this book?!! I mean, seriously. I cannot stop gushing over it. While I had requested this because I wanted to read it, I was unsure of whether I would like it and boy, I was in for a surprise because I ended up adoring it! It even made it into my 2015 faves!!

Beatrix wants to draw actual cadavers not only because she's very interested in doing so but because she will have an advantage to win a scholarship. One night, Beatrix meets Jack and her world is about to change. She wants to get to know Jack because he is so fun and caring but Jack has scars that go so deep, they cannot be seen.

This book was an adventure, an experience, a journey. I fell head-first into it and I was attached to the story and to the characters right from the start. I haven't read many books when it comes to art so this was a pleasant surprise seeing as I enjoyed it a lot! I loved how the author was so descriptive with the drawings that were talked about and I could vividly imagine them in my head. The Anatomical Shape of a Heart taught me something, a kind of art I had no idea even existed! I knew that people would draw cadavers for images and whatnot but for it to be something like a profession in life? This was new information to me. I love when books teach me something completely new because it expands my knowledge and makes me want to keep on searching for more on this subject.

This story is so different from what I've ever read seeing as the main character is a little bit of complex when it comes to her hobby or what she wants to do in her life, which is to draw cadavers. I was creeped out by this factor but it didn't stop me from reading once I started. Beatrix was a joy to read about. She was so full of life even with everything she had gone through in her life with her family. Beatrix is the kind of character many will look up to. She knew what she wanted out of life and if she had to do it on her own to reach that goal, she would do it and she did.

When Jack gets introduced, I immediately needed to know more about him. He's a mysterious characters with secrets of his own that no one really knows. Aside from that secret, he also hides that he does graffiti and is actually the most wanted one in their area. Jack's life is far from perfect yet he continues to smile and to have fun, to continue enjoying life. And did I like Jack and Beatrix's relationship? YES! It was so much fun! I definitely wanted more of their fun and witty banter and I definitely wanted to read more of their relationship.

Seeing as the relationship wasn't the big aspect, I will tell you the two major aspects I found in this story. The first important aspect is family is extremely important. We have two different families (Bex's and Jack's). Bex's family is very close and united whereas Jack's is kind of drifted. This is very important to the story because of Jack's secret and let me tell you I got tears in my eyes because I was not expecting that at all.

The second important aspect I had mentioned before is actually the want to fight for what you know you want out of life and if along the way you get obstacles, to give it your all and overcome those obstacles and ultimately achieve exactly what you thrived for. With that being said, I think this book is very empowering to teens, especially Senior high school teens. This book shows a new take on various things of life and while it is Young Adult, it does have its complexity but it's what makes this story so real and makes it come to live.

Jenn Bennett is a new author to me even though she has written other genres before. I hope she goes more in-depth with the YA genre because I certainly want more from her.

This review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews