I would have given a lot to read this book when I was a teenager <3 Unapologetically queer, sex-positive, and feminist, Jack of Hearts (and Other Parts) was a breath of fresh air in YA. The sex advice was non-patronising, useful, and narratively cogent (which I loved), and having a sex-positive queer YA main character felt like a sea change. That said, I found the stalker plotline a lot creepier than I was expecting, and it felt tonally jarring at times, with the eventual culprit's motives underexplained (and more hand-wavingly ascribed to "poor mental health" than I was comfortable with). I think, if I'd gone into the book hoping for a safe space to feel queer and proud as a teenager, some of the elements of the stalker plotline would have really been at odds with that sense of safety, although I do understand that it gives voice and concrete to worries and fears. Overall, though, Jack was a delight, and I would absolutely recommend this book. Fierce and unapologetic and queer. <333

Jack is an American High Schooler who likes having sex and isn’t ashamed of it. Convinced by a friend he takes up the role of relationship advice giver, but soon becomes the subject of a stalker whose actions become increasingly sinister.

I’m not going to lie, I very nearly didn’t read this book. I was fortunate enough to be approved for an eARC on NetGalley but the formatting was terrible – I mean really bad. The book is formatted wonderfully, with text conversations between Jack, Jenna and Ben laid out as images, looking just as you’d find them on a smart phone. The notes Jack received were also shown as images. In the eARC the texts were just plain lines of text, with no way of telling a) they were meant to be text messages and b) who was speaking at any point. The images of the notes were awkwardly split between pages, meaning I had to flick back and forwards and at points parts of sentences were repeated until it became unreadable. Fortunately I was intrigued enough by the premise to pick up a copy of the paperback and the rest as they say is history.

There are many many things I love about this book, the plot and the writing is absolutely wonderful. I loved the way it gradually built, with the story intensifying, the tension I felt skyrocketed as I started the wonder where it would eventually end! Once I reached a certain point in the book that was it, I just had to keep reading, I needed to get to the end, to find out what happened to Jack. The notes and the actions of the stalker got increasingly sinister and I needed to see if they discovered who was leaving the notes and stalking him, or if something terrible would happen as there were certainly some worrying signs!

The main reason I cared so much were the wonderful central characters Jack, Jenna and Ben. As characters they felt very real; they’re not perfect, sometimes they did stupid things and made bad decisions but they’re teenagers, it’s to be expected! Also it was very clear there was a genuine affection between the three of them, even if they have disagreements. One of the things I really appreciated about the book was the fact they drank, they did drugs and they had sex, for me it added to the realness of it all. Some (although not all) teenagers do at least one of these things and there’s not point in pretending they don’t…

I thought the addition of Nance as a supportive adult was fantastic, and I was so pleased to see Jack had someone on his side. Especially when he was made to feel like he couldn’t approach his mum about everything that was happening.

Which brings me on the Principle Pattyn; Principle Pattyn was not a likable character but for me one of the most important – Principle Pattyn was at the centre of a theme that really struck a chord with me, the idea of victim blaming. As a mixed race woman it’s something that I’ve thought about before, what if something were to happen to me and the person I reported it to decided it was some how my fault, that because of the clothes I happened to be wearing at the time, or the fact I’d gone out drinking meant I was some how asking for it. Or quite frankly because of the colour of my skin and their own prejudices they decided I deserved it and couldn’t be bothered to pay more than lip service to any sort of investigation. I have Principle Pattyn personified that fear of mine, rather than taking Jack’s concerns seriously he suggested it was his own fault, that he was some how asking for it by living his life the way he was and if he changed the way he chose to live, to fade back into the shadows, maybe the stalking would stop. He was far more concerned about policing Jack’s behaviour than doing anything to establish ways they could locate the stalker. What’s even more terrifying is to think that this is taking place in New York City, supposedly a liberal, metropolitan city – if you can be faced with this sort of response from a person of authority here, just imagine how much worse it could be in another much more conservative state…

After my complaining about the formatting of the eARC I also must say how much I enjoyed the layout of the paperback. The inclusion of the messages, laid out as they would be in a group chat made the conversation feel quick. There was no need for additional text to clarify who was saying what, it felt very snappy and just real, I also thought the way the notes were shown in the book was really effective.

One final thing I absolutely loved were Jack’s advice columns! It may be a novel but there was some absolutely fantastic advice contained which I hope will help some of the books readers in their own lives, whether it’s about sex, communicating in relationships, or preparing to come out for the first time there’s some great advice to be found in this book! Not just for teenagers either!

Final Thoughts
I’m so pleased I didn’t let the bad formatting of the eARC I downloaded put me off and went out and bought a copy. Jack of Hearts is such a wonderful book, it doesn’t sugar coat issues, teenagers have sex, and drink, and smoke and swear and the book isn’t afraid to show that side of life. I really grew to love Jack, and was genuinely concerned for him as the stalking escalated. I think through Principle Pattyn the book portrayed a very real attitude that prevents victims from speaking up and it was great to see Jack still get support from one of his teachers. Also the advice Jack gives in his column were fantastic!

I would like to thank netgalley and Penguin Random House UK Children’s for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Full of love for the LGBTQ+ community.

I really gave this book my best shot but it just wasn't for me. I absolutely hated Crystal and her plan to convice a guy guy to become her boyfriend.

Really enjoy this fast paced book!
I’d recommend having few trigger warnings before the actual text starts such as bullying, eating disorders, drug used, alcohol used, swearing...
I like the representación of minorities in the USA, which this book is based, although I couldn’t relate to the main character I could feel his pain, and I loved Jena and Ben as his side kicks. I like that the characters are good people and for that reason they didn’t need to change or grow up too drastically. That was refreshing!
I think is well written and keeps you entertained while manage to give some “good-ish” advice about sexuality from a white gay man POV which in a way bother me as I feel I’d prefer him to be any another ethnicity.
I can’t give it 5 stars as I felt the ending was rushed, and there were times where “remember to use a condom” felt forced, as if the author just remember to say it and then was inserted by the editor. Also I’m not so sure about the whole rich kids using drugs being so open about their sexuality yet they were not really honest with their friends.
I know humans are complex and nobody is perfect but I felt the characters were a little modelled to fit a certain criteria to sell to the public, and keeping it as safe as possible while still being a bit risqué.

I couldn't get into this book. I really tried. Just not my cup of tea. The writing style was hard for me to get into as an older YA reader.

A bold book with a strong message which could apply not only to gay people but to people of any sexual orientation.

Jack is a 17 year old high school student who is openly gay. He doesn’t want a boyfriend and just wants to play the field and have fun. He has two best friends Ben and Jenna and likes to drink, get high and party. When Jenna approaches him to do an agony aunt column for her online magazine he is wary at first but agrees to do it. It’s around this time he starts getting ‘love’ notes left in his locker which is slightly creepy.

If you are a prude or in any way easily offended then this is not the book for you. Otherwise it’s a solid three star read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced read copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

I feel like this book shouldn’t really be marketed to YA as it’s very explicit and covers very graphic and disturbing issues such as abuse, drugs and alchol that might be a little too much for YA readers. I think it’s more of a new adult? I understand the need to be open around teens so they can find answers to their questions but there is a line between being open about it and actively encouraging it. Moving aside from that though this book is a good insight into the life of an open character who isn’t afraid to be himself. The mystery had me hooked although I did start to suspect who it was by the midway point. This book is unapologetic and that’s one of the best things about it.

Move over Carrie Bradshaw! Jack Rothman is bold, honest, and sex positive - a true breath of fresh air. This story works as a reassuring companion for queer teens, with a little 'Pretty Little Liars'-esque thrill to keep your turning the pages even faster!

Has anyone else been in a reading slump this year? You know that feeling when you want to read, but can't bring yourself to pick up a book, or you end up reading the same novel for weeks? I needed something funny to pick me up and Jack of Hearts (And Other Parts) was the perfect choice: part Pretty Little Liars, part Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. A much filthier version.

Continue reading this review over on Pretty Books: https://prettybooks.co.uk/2019/03/24/mini-reviews-the-seven-deaths-of-evelyn-hardcastle-jack-of-hearts-and-other-parts-in-at-the-deep-end/

This book was bold, funny and amazing. The main character Jack Rothman was absolutely amazing. I loved how he accepted himself and don't care the others. Like i said this book was bold and i loved it.

This book was great from start to finish. I just couldn’t put it down. Well definitely be recommending it to my friends

Honest, gritty and witty, this book about Jack - an gay teen who owns his sexuality and his love of sex - was (no pun intended) a romp of a read.

The book deals with issues teens face - not just their sexuality but also bullying, social media and forging their own way in a world full of stereotypes and expectations. Jack recieves threatening notes which try to control him and has to decide how best to deal with them and this - along with candid and explicit sex scenes and advice - drives the plot.

I loved this book, particularly Jack's blog advice columns and really hope there will be a follow up!

At first I honestly wasn't so sure what to think about »Jack of Hearts«. Yes, I knew beforehand that Jack is a really frank with his talking about sex and being gay and everything but well, I was still surprised how very detailed some parts of this book were. Which I don't mean in a bad way, it was just unexpected and I could imagine that not everybody likes to read about this stuff and some people would feel uncomfortable, which fortunately wasn't the case for me. But also, if you don't like to read people talking explicitly about sex than you can skip these parts easily, because they are mostly part of Jack's column.

But enough about that, let's talk about the books itself. After getting used to Jack's sometimes blunt language I really enjoyed reading from his POV. He is definitely a funny and likable narrator, which I liked a lot. But what I also liked a lot about this book was not just Jack itself and what he taught me - which is actually a lot, for example is straight people fetishizing gay people and pushing them into the world of straight people with saying stuff like "You're the woman/man in the relationship" something I never really thought about, even though it is quite obvious and I liked it a lot that this book made me think about stuff like that, because I never really thought about it before - but mostly the importance of friendship in this book. There's not really a romance in "Jack of Hearts" - refreshing, I know - because Jack's not ready for commitment and just want't to enjoy himself, but he seriously would be lost without his friends, who try to help him catch his stalker and are sometimes far more reasonable than Jack is. I can understand to some part why he doesn't want to talk with authorities about his stalker, because his principal really is an asshole to him about the column Jack writes. But still, I didn't really get why he wasn't talking to his mother, because the had quite an easy relationship, she was very understanding and gave Jack a lot of freedom - actually that much freedom, that it sometimes felt the two of them were more like flatmates than mother and son, but okay, if it works for them. Nonetheless I found it sometimes difficult to understand why Jack would try to solve this problem all on his own and sometimes not even talk to his friends, even though thy were very supportive. But that's maybe just me, who would probably act very, very differently, talking.

Another thing I really enjoyed about "Jack of Hearts" was the mystery with his stalker, because wow, that guy was going from kinda cute to hella creepy in two messages. I would have been totally scared if had been Jack or at least really, really uncomfortable. So yes, Jack's stalker was totally creepy and until the end I had no idea who it was. I was actually a little bit confused by the ending at first because the books ending was in my opinion a little bit abruptly and I would have liked a chapter or two more to wrap everything up nicely, but in the end I'm still quite happy with the ending because at least I was surprised which I am not that often. So, well done with that.

In conclusion I have to say I really liked this book. I enjoyed reading it a lot, even though I was a little bit hesitant in the beginning, but Jack and his friends grew on me, especially Jack. He is such an honest and entertaining narrator, which is probably what I liked the most about this book. It felt partially a little bit dramatic but in the end but at the same time I also think it felt quite honest.

I fpund this book interesting but a bit over the top and overly explicit at times. I loved the practical advice for young people but never quite felt like I was enjoying it as a whole book.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review contains spoilers.

Jack is a gay teen who is very open about his sexuality. This isn't anything new for YA fiction but the way that sex is discussed was something I've come across less often in YA.
Jack writes a sex advice column for his friend Jenna's blog. I really liked that the advice didn't solely discuss m/m gay sex. The columns spoke openly and without judgement about a range of topics which might be seen as taboo. This was refreshing to read. There was a real emphasis on being safe, speaking about what you feel and want and also about being truly yourself. No moral high ground or 'the best way to stay safe is abstain'.
The Jack of Hearts columns intersperse a storyline involving Jack having attracted the unwelcome attentions of a stalker. This was well written and did feel genuinely creepy at points.

There are some pretty explicit parts to the book but they are written purposefully, rather than to shock. A great read!

Jack Rothman loves partying, make-up and boys. His sex life makes him the hot topic for the high school gossip mill but it’s not a problem. At least not until the mysterious love letters he’s been getting take a turn for the creepy. As their threats and demands become more disturbing, Jack must unmask his stalker before their obsession becomes genuinely dangerous…

From the first page of Jack of Hearts I knew I was in for a very different reading experience. I read a healthy mix of YA and adult fiction, but I’ve never read such an unashamedly sex-positive book - and by sex-positive, I don’t just mean that it’s sexually explicit (which, heads up, it is). Jack’s sex advice column includes a positive and respectful discussion of asexuality, which was great - especially coming from a sexually promiscuous character. There’s also frank discussion of awkward and unpleasant sexual experiences, communication issues, consent, fetishization of queer relationships, romanticising abuse, victim blaming and slut-shaming. What struck me most was how openly these issues were addressed. Rosen doesn’t mention these things in passing - his sex-positive message is the driving force of the novel. I didn’t realise that I’d never read a novel that addressed sex and sexuality in such an open and honest way until I read Jack of Hearts.

Jack is a great character - witty, charming and unafraid to be himself. I also liked his friends, Jenna and Ben. The rest of the characters didn’t stand out much, but that was kind of necessary in order to keep the identity of Jack’s stalker a mystery until the very end.

Some scenes involving the stalker were difficult to read, particularly when Jack reaches his lowest point in the novel. Rosen very skilfully writes from the perspective of a victim of sexual harassment, showing how even someone as confident as Jack can be trampled down by abusive behaviour. But that made the ending - and the stalker getting their comeuppance - all the more satisfying.

Many thanks to Penguin for providing a copy of Jack of Hearts (and Other Parts). The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Publisher: Penguin
Rating: 5 stars | ★★★★★
Review cross-posted to Paperback'd Reviews, Goodreads and Amazon

Amazing, well written, funny and all the best adjectives a book deserve. Really liked, it's a little bit raw than Simon in the sexual aspects but still cute anyway,

I received an advanced copy of the book by the publishers (through Net Gallery) in return for a honest review.
After reading an number of LGBT teen books from Becky Albertalli, Adam Silvera and Simon James Green all of which I enjoyed so I went into this book with high hopes, however I was left disappointed.
Advance warning due to strong sex content and language this book is recommend for older teens (16+).
The book tells the story of 17 yr old Jack who a popular guy, he has wears the latest fashion (and make up) and plenty of money, and going out with every nice guy he can get with. All this makes him popular gossip at school.
However one day Jack finds a pink post it note in his locker from an admirer (who it from, is it someone making fun of him?). Jack decides to ignore them but he keeps receiving them and they are starting to get on his nerves.
So Jacks best friend Jenna thinks it will be a good idea if he writes a sex advice column in the schools paper to share and express his sex experience to follow students to stop the gossiping (not to the pleasing of the headteacher).
However the post it notes sender doesn't take nicely to what Jack is doing and starts harassing Jack to the point
Jenna and Ben (Jacks others friends) agree to help him uncover the identity of the post it note sender.

Overall the storyline is no different to previous LGBT books and by 2/3 through you can easily guess who the post it sender is.

The main issue I have with the book are the scenes when Jack is writing this blog, which to me is a full out (no details spared) sex guide for gay teenagers. Although I think the idea of answering all the questions young gay teens may have (the most likely ask question "whats it like the first time") is good idea and what has never been done before and will probably be a hit with the LGBT community but for me (who not a member) may found these scenes uncomfortable (I did after reading a few of the most graphic posts, I was coming to the decision to stop reading the book however decided to stick the blog post out).

So overall this book did nothing for me and I believe will be a hit and miss with readers, this is because the books story line is nothing new from other LGBT books out there (gay guy gets messages from mystery person, find out who person is who normally someone close, fall in love the end). however although I didn't like them I feel the sex advice is what will make this book popular as it is something that has never been done before which will give all young LGBT community and the answers and advice they may fell put out asking about.


Thanks again to the publishers (Netgalley) for the advanced copy.

I loved this book and ended up buying this on Kindle as I missed the deadline to download the title before it disappeared from my shelf. Brilliant cover and catching title , I want to read more from this author.