Bethany Rutter always, without fail, is a banger for me. I loved No Big Deal and this was no different. I love that Bethany writes plus size characters so well, I wish I'd read it when I was a chubby teen. Both this and NBD would've made me feel a lot better back then!
Would love to see Rutter tackle a non YA novel in future.

Lily Rose definitely did melt my heart a wee bit in this delightful story about discovering who you want to be and who with. There are lots of great relationships in this book; Lily and her twin Daisy, the girls and their mum, friends, boyfriends, lovers... each are realistic and believable; the fractured relationship between Lily and Daisy as they grow apart, the excitement of first love and the horror of realising that you might have just ruined the best thing that's ever happened to you. Lily’s positive attitude to her plus sized body is a breath of fresh air and will resonate with many teenagers and adults who are fed up with being judged about how they look.

Everything about this book is phenomenal - a body positive, LGBTQ+ coming of age tale is always going to be something I want to read! I really found myself relating with Lily, getting to see her journey resonated with me on a personal level.
Also as a twin I can sometimes find it hard reading books that feature them - however that wasn't an issue at all for me with this book! Though I read the book as autumn has arrived it definetly would make a fantastic summer read, one I could envison sitting beside a pool in the sun with.
This wholeheartedly deserves a five star review!

I loved Bethany Rutter's debut, and this follow up lived up to my expectations. Melt My Heart explored lots of important themes such as sexuality, racism and comparison, but there was enough humour and fun to keep it engaging and relatable.

A great summer read, with a main character who is both strong and vulnerable.  I loved Lily's positive body confidence, and the fact that we get to see her being loved and desired by others (even in the face of potential competition from her 'perfect' sister Daisy!).  Her fears about change and what the future might hold surely ring true for every reader, and I think the book passes on an important message to young people about being able to change the path you're on if it isn't the right one for you.  
'Melt My Heart' also has a strong social conscience, with the main characters challenging acts of racism and homophobia, and worrying about the future of their small coastal town.  We're all living in a world where sometimes the bigotry and hatred can seem overwhelming and ever-present, so it was great to see young people taking a stand and fighting back.  Family themes are important here too, and despite their difference and disagreements I really loved the relationship between the two sisters, who are able to work together when it really counts.
This book always felt light and enjoyable, even when tackling some of the darker issues, and the romantic elements were wonderfully positive, even the ones that don't end up as a 'happy ever after'.
Overall, this is a book about figuring out who you are and what you want, and then being brave enough to let yourself have it!!

Oh, Bethany Rutter has done it again! Bethany is amazing at capturing the feelings, thoughts and CHAOS going through the brain of a teenage girl, making Lily into an amazing main character. Dealing with issues like body image, LGBT, and even going to uni whilst being tied up with a little summer romance makes Melt My Heart a must read!

Another great, fun, easy summer read from Bethany. The same body empowerment displayed in her other books which is why I connect to the characters soo much. Definitely recommend to anyone age 9+

A perfect summer read. I enjoyed the book and it's focus on a whole host of important issues. I especially loved the body positivity in this book and wish we saw more of it in books targeted at young adults

This book deals with a lot of important topics in YA. Things have talked about the need for in past reviews. Even not have the exact same story, it reminds me of what I think 'Read Me like a book' by Liz Kesser wanted to be but does it so much better. 

The romance is nice. Also this now the second YA books that I know of that involves working at Ice Cream stand during the summer. Maybe it should be a common setting despite me having never seen one outside a shopping centre in the UK. A lot are also sweet shops or cafes here. This is definitely an odd tangent to go on when I should be talking about the relationships.

The built-up of chemistry was done well. This book is in first person so we're in Lily's head as she figuring things out, so its really handled well and subtely.

A big part of this book is about subtle bodyshaming and fatphobia. Lilly is identical to her sister Daisy but "fat" as she calls herself. It doesn't go into specific body details. This has caused a small wedge between the sisters, as when Daisy talks about needing to go on a diet, Lily feels like that a dig at her. Lily is already positive about her body at the start of the novel, there's a few times where she feels insecure but I think that's normal for anyone to feel sometimes, especially experiencing a lot of romantic firsts. It nice to show that body positive is a process, not a resolution. 

This book does involves sexual activity for the first time. I'm so glad to read a YA book that doesn't spread the myth your first time should be bad. It can be awkward and sore since you don't know what you're doing but it shouldn't be actively painful and you should stop if it is.

Lily is having concerns whether she made the right decision in her uni course and not sure whether she ready to leave home. This is handled well for the most part. Uni is stressful process and Lily not having a plan for her future is pretty relatable.

Overall, I give this book 4/5 stars for Mango Sorbet. There's a lot going on in this book but manages to touch on everything pretty well. I would definitely recommend this as a summer read. I will definitely reading Rutter's other book.

You know when a character just makes a decision and you’re just like ‘WHY?’. That’s why this is a 2 star lol because problematic characters who make stupid decisions and don’t consider the fallout irk me. 
Lily Rose is settling into her final summer at home before heading off to uni. It’s her last chance to spend time with her bestie Cassie and the last time she will linger in the shadows of her beautiful sister Daisy, whom always seems to get first pick when it comes to boys. What ensues is plenty of ice cream, some cats, a beautiful boy from New Zealand, a bit of artistry and lots of deep meaningful conversations during a summer that Lily Rose will not be quick to forget.
First of all, I loved how Lily Rose loved herself. It was refreshing to read about a plus sized protagonist that didn’t spend the majority of the book hating on herself. She felt confident in calling out other people on their fatphobia and knew when she looked good in her clothes and I LOVED THAT. But that’s where my adoration for the main character begins and ends lol.
It was so obvious the entire time what was coming, and I was really disappointed! I felt like Lily Rose spends the majority of the book taking a guy for a ride because she’s confused and suppressing her feelings but knows that she isn’t head over heels for him. Rather than being an adult and calling things off until she sorts herself out, she keeps dragging the poor guy along. I always think it’s a stupid plotline when a main character spends so long being unsure but not thinking about the consequences for other people. It was a bit too much on the cutesy side for me with too many random sub-plots that weren’t explored properly… leading to a very dry story.

I love YA books and this is a prime example of why. I find them more fast paced with a lot going on and with an extra edge of excitement. All of those things are true of this book and I thoroughly enjoyed it

I was scared going into this book as I loved No Big Deal so much but honestly Bethany Rutter has done it again.

Melt My Heart is an adorable coming of age story that is perfect for YA readers. It didn’t take long for me to love Lily Rose and how in love she is with her body. What I loved the most is that she’s unapologetically human and she has her own flaws. She’s struggling with the idea of going to university, leaving her best friend behind and the feeling that she will never be on the same level as her twin sister Daisy. Lily makes mistakes in this book and she is rightfully called out for them which helped her grow as a character. 

I found myself absolutely loving her friendship with Carrie and how creative she was! She had Lily’s back and helped her feel more comfortable in her own skin. Carrie is the best friend we all deserve. I also really liked Cal’s character and honestly, he was adorable and one of the most genuine male characters I’ve seen in YA for a while. 

The family dynamic was a big focus in this book and I loved how even when Lily and Daisy aren’t getting along they come together to support their mother, who is hands down one of the best characters in this book! Daisy and Lily are both trying to come to terms with the fact that they’ll be separated whilst also wanting to be their own person. 

I could sit here for hours telling you about this book but I want you to read this for yourself. I want you to follow Lily on her journey of balancing her summer, her fears for the future and her life in general. 

This book is so much more than about Lily’s weight. Melt My Heart is a story about family, friendship, coming to terms with who you are as a person and loving yourself no matter what. This is a book about body positivity that everyone needs to read! 

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Books for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

A fun YA read and I loved the fact it was partly about body positivity, so nice to see this being supported and included so much more especially in books for YA readers. I loved Lily, she was a great main character and I loved how she struggled when th her conundrum, worrying about and trying to maintain her  relationships with everyone , it’s such a fun read but with lots of heart too. Fabulous read.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

I'm swaying between a 3 and a 3.5

This book was really cute and I really wanted to love it, there were some incredible parts that really highlighted how it feels to be anything but 'normal' in society. I was almost crying at some of the lines about body weight representation, and it was beautiful to see someone so proud in their body. But beyond these sections I felt a little like I was pushing myself through the book searching for more. Things just happened, there never seemed to be a big build up or an explanation really and the only thing that was built up, culminated in a bit of a rush. 

I guess at its core its a good book, and I can imagine it will mean a lot to a lot of people, but I was just expecting more from it.

Firstly, I have to say that Rutter crafts amazing, very believable teenage characters that I never struggle to engage with and just utterly fall in love with.  Her books are just filled with gorgeous romance and thought-provoking discussion of incredibly relevant issues for myself and my peers. She has such a gift for bottling the sunshine-soaked feeling of summer love in this feel-good YA contemporary about love, family and finding yourself & your path.

The setting was just perfect for me, in that it’s set in the summer after A Levels, with that mix of endless possibilities, limitations and conflicting ideas. That stretch of time often feels infinite and Rutter explores the effect this has on Lily really well. She’s not entirely sure where she wants her future to go and a lot of the story revolves around her being able to find her own path. She’s also majorly impacted by the constant comparisons between her and her twin sister Daisy and the hurtful words Daisy sometimes uses towards her. Melt My Heart is very character-driven, showing how Lily moves beyond her sister’s shadow and into her authentic, true self.

 Mixed with this is a beautiful exploration of identity and sexuality, which meant so much to me and will do for so many other readers out there. Rutter ensures that while her discovering her sexuality is hugely significant, it is just one part of her, rather than the sole focus of her character. This is also reflected with her being plus size, as the effect that fatphobic society has on her is discussed, but she is not just relegated to the role of being the ‘big girl’. These are just facets of her brilliant, talented and effervescent self. 

Melt My Heart is a feel good, heart-warming story of finding your identity, family and love from an impactful author to watch.

The book follows our main character Lily who has always felt like she is in her twin sister, Daisy's, shadow - she's fat and has never received the same attention from other people her age that Daisy gets as she is seen as the 'less pretty' twin. She's hopefully heading off to Leeds after the Summer to do an art history degree but at the same time is scared to leave her best friend Cassie behind. One night, she meets Cal and the two instantly form a connection, but he also happens to be Daisy's crush, which complicates matters even more. 

I want to preface this review by saying that this book is absolutely adorable! It's set in a small seaside town where our main character works in a small ice cream stand by the beach, and as someone who lives near several seaside towns, it's not only an accurate depiction of this, but just the best Summer vibes, in my opinion!

I absolutely loved Lily as our main character. She's a fat girl who is in love with her body and unapologetically proud of who she is, and as a fat woman myself, I wish I could've had this representation when I was growing up. Lily's passion for art was so lovely to see and her fears of painting people because it's like revealing your innermost feelings about them felt so real and relatable to me, even as a not arty person! Cassie, her best friend, was so much fun! She sews her own clothes from old scraps of fabric (we love a sustainable queen) and doodles the people who buy ice cream from her family's ice cream stand. Seeing their friendship grow through the book was so cute and I loved how they always rooted for each other! I also really loved Cal - he's one of the most genuinely kind and caring male characters I've read in a long time. The way he reassured Lily about her body and how he loved her was really something I needed to read and I'm so happy that young girls will finally get to be able to read it while they're growing up too.

This didn't seem like a plot heavy book to me, which I really don't mind, I'm a character driven book kinda gal anyway, but the little plot twists (hello Señor Mango Sorbet!) had me audibly gasping! The complicated, yet healthy, family relationships in this book was also something I really loved - Lily and Daisy's mum was so sweet! Of course, the book deals with fatphobia, biphobia and xenophobia, which I think was dealt with very well. The fatphobia, for me, was quite difficult to read at times, but really showed how, what may seem like insignificant phrases to other people, can be really hurtful to fat people. Although, as a lesbian, I can't speak for the bi representation, I did love the slow burn friends to lovers romance. Saying that, although you could see hints of it before Lily realised her own feelings, the 'realisation' that she is bi and in love with her best friend felt very sudden to me. But, as a friends to lovers stan, I'm willing to let it slide!

Overall, I really, really loved and appreciated this book and I'm so shocked by how underrated it is (cue me never shutting up about it again!). I cannot recommend it enough for a cute, Summer read that also deals with some hard hitting topics in an accessible and respectful way!

I received a digital advance copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Children’s Books for my copy.

Lily-Rose grew up in the shadow of her gorgeous twin sister, Daisy. Even though Lily feels at home in her own body, she still feels like no one would choose her when they could have the thinner twin. When Lily meets Cal, a handsome sweet guy from New Zealand who also happens to be Daisy’s summer crush, she finally feels like someone could want her as she is. Lily splits her time between working at her best friend Cassie’s family ice cream hut, and with Cal. But she finds herself missing Cassie whenever they’re not together. On top of that Lily-Rose is terrified of what awaits her at university, and leaving everything she knows behind.

This book is a really sweet summer romance with both mlm and wlw representation. I loved the importance of family relationships in this book: Lily’s relationship with her Mum and her sister were at the forefront of a lot of this book. The evolution of the relationship between Lily and Daisy was very sweet, but can also be applied to the evolution of friendships.

I loved that the book was set in the summer before starting university, and dealt with the idea that university isn’t always the right decision for everyone whilst mentioning the pressure that young people feel that they need to go to university. This book had great representation in it too – a biracial side character, bisexual, gay and lesbian characters. Good exploration of sexuality, and how it evolves.

This book was really sweet, and I would recommend it to someone who enjoyed YA romance books, as well as finding yourself. This book has very good messages, and I highly recommend it.

A great YA book that covers a whole host of important issues. I love the dynamic between Lily and Cassie. A great quick summer read

I finished Melt My Heart after spending the last day of school on the Common like a teenager and this has all the ingredients of a modern British YA novel: a cute seaside setting, sibling love, female friendships, summer romance, artists, fashionistas, results day anxieties, anti-racism and a supportive mum.

Lily is a confident fat protagonist who challenges her sister's careless comments and "well-meaning" assertion, "I don't see you as fat" which is incredibly empowering! The love story here is adorable and it's great that Lily's body is never a source of conflict in the novel. The subplot of the bigotry of a small British town was really well written and particularly poignant in today's political climate. Yes it's a little light, but I think it's a great counterbalance to the stress of being a teenager right now. Such a joyful, body positive summer read!

Thanks so much to Macmillan Children’s Books, Bethany Rutter, and NetGalley for providing me with an eArc of this title! I knew I had to request this book when I read that it featured a fat protagonist who actually – gasp! – likes her body most of the time! And that adorable cover – can’t forget the draw of a good cover design. Minor warnings for mentions of fatphobia, homophobia, racism – but dealt with sensitively throughout. 

Melt My Heart is such a sweet and genuine YA story – Bethany Rutter has given us a wonderful, flawed protagonist, and I cannot tell you how much I, as a plus-sized human, enjoyed not having to hear an inner monologue full of how much she hates her body. Lily Rose owns her fatness in a way that I aspire to. She loves herself, and she knows it’s not for the rest of the world to decide that she should feel ‘less’ because of her size. I loved that. I don’t feel that it’s a spoiler to say that Lily is also bisexual. The similarities between she and I are endless! Lily’s worries about ‘coming out’, so to speak, were never about people being prejudiced (although this is touched upon), but instead had more to do with her worries about how it would affect her relationship with the person she had feelings for. This is another thing I was grateful for – sometimes it’s nice to read about an LGBTQ+ character that isn’t all about the struggles and the issues and the fear. Sometimes it’s nice to have it just be about the relationship. On the subject of relationships, I was super impressed at how naturally consent was worked into the romantic scenes – just really A+ work, there.

I’ve already mentioned it a bit, but this story touches on so many important issues; coming to terms with your identity in terms of sexuality, how you fit into your family, body image, and more. Alongside this, it also deals with the looming threat of xenophobia and racism beginning to infiltrate the town. At points, it felt as though Lily didn’t really understand the ways in which these things might make her best friend feel, given that Cassie is Black. It seemed as though Lily only really got it when the prejudice was against a category she was in, and there wasn’t really any conversation with Cassie about how it affected her.

Nevertheless, although Lily has to deal with a lot of different anxieties throughout, this was just a really charming read. I was never stressed, or worried about how things would turn out – and some people might see that as a detrimental aspect, perhaps it speaks to a lack of tension in the story, but I think it added to my feeling that this was just a nice, chill summer read. 

Rating: 3.5/5