The Anatomical Shape of a Heart by Jenn Bennett

The Anatomical Shape of a Heart

by Jenn Bennett

Artist Beatrix Adams knows exactly how she's spending the summer before her senior year. Determined to follow in Da Vinci's footsteps, she's ready to tackle the one thing that will give her an advantage in a museum-sponsored scholarship contest: drawing actual cadavers. But when she tries to sneak her way into the hospital's Willed Body program and misses the last metro train home, she meets a boy who turns her summer plans upside down.

Reviewed by Leigha on

5 of 5 stars

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Bex meets a mysterious graffiti artist on a late night bus in this utterly charming young adult contemporary romance.

The first Jenn Bennett book I read was last year’s Alex, Approximately. I devoured it within days, falling in love with the characters, setting, and plot. I’ve since read her follow up book, Starry Eyes, but I’ve been holding back on reading her first foray into the genre. I wanted to save it for a day when I desperately wanted something good to read. I finally caved during a quiet weekend in October, and it was just as amazing as I knew it would be.

The Anatomical Shape of a Heart is everything I want in the genre. Bex and Jack are complex characters with vibrant personalities and interesting motives. Their journey from friends to lovers is the perfect blend of emotions – lust, confusion, excitement, fear, joy, etc. Their relationship captured the very essence and experience of first love. Not only did I fall in love with them, but I fell in love with their story. The secondary characters are enjoyable, but it’s truly the two leads that shine best here.

My one minor – super, super, super minor – complaint is the cover. I want to immediately go buy a print copy of this book, but the cover does not do it enough justice. There are so many interesting and/or cute young adult graffiti covers out now – where were they all in 2015? I’m hoping this book will be released with a more vibrant or interesting cover in the future.

tl;dr A charming romance exploring the complexities of falling in love for the first time.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 7 October, 2018: Finished reading
  • 7 October, 2018: Reviewed