Our Chemical Hearts by Krystal Sutherland (review)

Henry has small dreams for his senior year—hang out with his friends Lola and Murray, edit the school newspaper, and have no interesting scandals or dramas. Enter Grace Town, an unkempt girl in boy’s clothes who somehow invades his territory and steals his heart. She’s quirky, but he has long experience with quirky; what he has no experience with is the pull she exerts on his heart and the tragedy she carries with her. While it’s a little hard to believe that he doesn’t do more internet research on her situation, the reveal that she has been in an accident that killed her long-term boyfriend won’t come as a complete shock to readers. However, by the time Henry finds out just how damaged she is, he is in way over his head. The question is—will she ever be ready to move on, and when she is, will it be with Henry? The draw here, besides the romantic melodrama, of course, is the voice. Henry’s first language is clever, angst-driven wit, and this pair is as sharp and quippy as John Green’s Hazel and Gus, crafting multiple personae who always have the right things to say on the tips of their tongues or fingers (when texting), even as they avoid getting too close to the truths of their breaking hearts. The secondary characters are just as over-the-top in their adorable comic set pieces, making this a story of family, friends, and first love like it never was but we wish it had been, smart and smart-alecky with some genuine heart thrown in. Fans of romance driven by stylized narration are the audience for this.