I was equally as moved at the Authors Notes that closed off the novel and feel incredibly honoured to have been able to share what is clearly a very personal novel. Like his counterparts, Jesse was this lovely blend of wholesome and starry-eyed, also hilariously rambly at times and so relatable in his insecurities, as he navigated his complex friendships and crushes, lifelong and new, all while making his zombie movie passion project and dealing with a scary new health crisis.

If you like audiobooks, you should definitely listen to this one, because what Chris Nelson has delivered here is perfect. Just. Perfect.

Featured Reviews

I absolutely adored this book to the very depths of my soul. I think this may be the first time I’ve ever cried happy tears in a book but there were also plenty of sad tears and even more out loud laughter. This was honestly just the most magnificent book. Jesse is perhaps my favourite character of all time, with all his sweetness and his amusing babbling as well. He was so darn wholesome and downright hilarious, completely unintentionally. The narrator also had a great voice for his character and the delivery was perfect, really bringing Jesse to life. The writing was light and easy; it was simple to follow. I wouldn’t say it was particularly challenging, but it doesn’t have to be. It was just ... Jesse Sparks. Was like a teenager whose head is everywhere at the same time.

William Hussey is a powerhouse of LGBT+ fiction and Broken Hearts is a triumph. * Calum McSwiggan, author of Straight Expectations * Jesse Spark has just been diagnosed with a heart condition and needs to have open-heart surgery. And while he is scared about the operation, what worries him most is the scar he'll be left with and that no one will ever find him attractive because of it. So he starts a plan to get everything he wants before the surgery. First of all, he'll film the movie he's been writing for a while now and then, he'll find love. If not forever, at least for now. But nothing is so easy, and made worst by his two best friends fighting for an unknown reason. Jesse Spark is one of my favorite YA protagonists in a while! He was such a wholesome character and I appreciated the emotional depth that he was crafted with. His insecurities spoke to me and I loved how down to earth he was. I'm also an enormous horror fan, so the continuous references to classic films made me a happy camper. The plot was very well-paced and had some truly great scenes. the premise was wonderful and i do really like the concept but the execution just wasn’t my favourite sadly .One of the big themes of the book is that of body image. Jesse knows that gay men are often held to incredibly high standards when it comes to their appearance, and he’s afraid that once he has the operation – and a scar on his chest – he won’t be considered datable. One of his best friends, Morgan, has felt insecure about how she looked her whole life, and while Jesse and their other friend Cas do their best to help her, she sees doesn’t find any validation in what they say. I thought these issues and storylines were handled really well. I also appreciated that the author didn’t go into the specifics of Morgan’s appearance, such as her exact weight or clothes size, because these insecurities can plague someone no matter their appearance (and also avoids giving a number to ‘too big’ or ‘small enough’). Jesse Spark has a broken heart, and in a few short weeks, he'll require major surgery to repair it - which means he only has a month to accomplish two almost-impossible tasks. Your own heart will ache and feel like it might break, but it will also smile, laugh and feel so much joy it might even burst! ♥️

I really had a great time with this. I felt for Jesse and his fears and struggles. I was so intrigued by the whole situation with his friends, I really wanted to understand it all and could barely stop reading so I found out. I was also way into the whole movie aspect of the book and just found it so entertai Unlike his other books, this story doesn’t seem scary at all. It’s hilarious and fluffy and cute. But the scariness lies beneath the surface. Because what does it do to you when you’re facing an open heart operation at seventeen? When people tell you there’s a ‘huge’ chance you’ll survive? And when the result of that operation is an enormous ugly scar? Jessie must face all these things, and the underlying equation between Jessie’s psychological battle and the zombie film he was making is beautifully done. I will admit that, at the start of the book, I thought I knew exactly where the story was going, and I was still fully committed to the ride. Over the course of the book, though, the story changes direction ever so slightly, until we see just before Jesse does what the true ending will be. It kept me on the edge of my seat and very emotionally invested!Blisteringly funny, joyous and smart, with such a big, beautiful heart. * Simon James Green, author of Gay Club! * Wer Hörbücher mag, sollte sich dieses auf jeden Fall zu Gemüte ziehen, denn was Chris Nelson hier abgeliefert hat, ist perfekt. So. Perfekt! In short, I was right to be anxious. Through Jesse’s experiences, William Hussey manages to peel away my defences and and prod all the right nerves and break me down and then manages pours a cool, warm and wholesome balm over the wounds to make it all feel better. The problem is, he has a heart condition that will put him under a knife in 2 months, so time is of the essence. The story is overall tooth aching sweet and I am really glad that, even though there is some serious misunderstandings, the characters take time to talk, become honest with each other and resolve their issues together. It is also absolutely hilarious, making me laugh out loud often and for a long while. I will never forget Morgan's scene, when she entered the wrong car during filming. It was so hilarious, I read that scene over and over!! The comedy aspect of the book really helps dealing with the tension of multiple situations that are worrisome for these characters, so I really appreciate it!