Time to work on catching up on some reviews! This one is definitely a catching up – apparently I had requested this as an ARC from NetGalley years ago and never saw the notification that it got approved. Surprise! Luckily, this book was absolutely delightful, so let’s get into it.
About the Book
Title: Hello, Cruel Heart
Author: Maureen Johnson
Series: none
Genre: YA
Pages: 206
Edition Read: eBook ARC
Dates Read: July 12-14, 2023
Blurb: An electric new story of teenage Cruella de Vil in an original novel inspired by the upcoming Walt Disney Studios Live Action Film, Cruella.
Swinging London, Summer 1967. Sixteen-year-old Estella, gifted with talent, ingenuity, and ambition, dreams of becoming a renowned fashion designer. But life seems intent on making sure her dreams never come true. Having arrived in London as a young girl, Estella now runs wild through the city streets with Jasper and Horace, amateur thieves who double as Estella’s makeshift family and partners-in-(petty)-crime. How can Estella dedicate herself to joining the ranks of the London design elite when she’s sewing endless costumes and disguises for the trio’s heists?
When a chance encounter with Magda and Richard Moresby-Plum, two young scions of high society, vaults Estella into the world of the rich and famous, she begins to wonder whether she might be destined for more after all. Suddenly, Estella’s days are filled with glamorous parties, exclusive eateries, flirtations with an up-and-coming rock star, and, of course, the most cutting-edge fashions money can buy. But what is the true cost of keeping up with the fast crowd-and is it a price Estella is willing to pay?
Review
This book was just too damn cute! I originally requested this one because I love Maureen Johnson. The fact that it was a Disney tie-in was, quite frankly, not even considered. In fact, you could take away anything Disney related and this story would still stand on its own. I haven’t seen the Cruella movie, and you definitely don’t need to in order to enjoy this book, but reading this has made me want to check out the movie as well. If I get around to it, I’ll post a review of the movie here too.
On to the book. I love Estella so much! She is sharp, plucky and a survivor, letting nothing stand in the way of her dreams. Her fashion designs are cutting edge and so creative – she has to be creative when she has so little to work with – but it’s that and her sheer nerve that get her both in with high society and eventually lead to her temporary downfall. She is doing technically bad things, like stealing and lying to get ahead, but you still can’t help but root for her.
I also loved Jasper and Horace. Found family is one of my favorite tropes in literature and those two are just so cute. I also did really like Magda, even if she’s a self-centered airhead. A bit two-dimensional though – I was really hoping she would end up being more than what she did.
Overall, this book was just charming and very fun to read. Not super deep and definitely won’t change the world, but you will have a good time running through the streets of London with Estella and her schemes.
GoodReads Rating: 4 Stars
Categories: Books I've Read
Life With No Plot 
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