Rebel Hearts is one of those books that grabbed me from the very first page and didn’t let go. I was completely swept up in the intensity, the chemistry, and the fire that fuels this story. Tanya Byrne has such a sharp, honest way of writing that makes you feel every moment: the tension, the anger, the longing.

I really connected with Ren as a character; flawed, fierce, and trying to navigate a world that expects her to be everything to everyone. Her voice felt so real. And then there’s Pearl, whose calm intensity and quiet strength were the perfect balance. Watching their dynamic shift from enemies to something much more complicated was one of my favorite parts. The slow burn? Absolutely worth it.

I also really appreciated how the book tackled activism and not just as a backdrop, but as something personal and powerful. It wasn’t romanticized or simplified. It showed the conflict, the cost, and the courage it takes to stand up for what you believe in, especially in the public eye.

This is a story about passion, in all its forms, and about finding your voice, even when it's hard. I loved every second of it and was sad to say goodbye to these characters.

This one will be instantly inspiring to the young people i work with - the two leads are really well-developed characters and as a reader you are so engaged with their journey, both within their activism, and their evolving relationship with each other. Without spoilers, certain characters became a little cartoon villain for my personal liking, but I am not the target audience here, and the high drama that was created will be gobbled up by them.

I really, really liked this!

I loved how Byrne engaged in the topic of climate change, particularly with how young people view the state of the world, and all the mixture of hope, despair and anger that comes with it. I loved the discussions on what the ‘right’ thing to do is, and how it often feels, even when trying your best, how you’re not doing good enough or you are not enough — and how this can be weaponised by climate deniers, or people with a lack of hope, against you.

Byrne creates a really good, well rounded character in Ren. She’s great. I loved how she was thoughtful, and how we got to see her character life through this world and grow and engage. The best thing was seeing her take a moment for herself to regroup and recoup her energy and her sense of self. I loved Pearl too, and how she challenged and contrasted Ren and her views, yet complimented her too. I loved how their romance slowly formed as they got to know each other better.

I loved the side characters of Pearl/Rens family of Aunt Celeste, Jacinta, Iris, Oren and co., and I can’t forget the two best — golden retrievers Buffy and Willow!

I liked how this book also engaged in conversations of social media. It took a glance at troll culture, online bullying, whether an online platform is enough, and how social media can change a person. I thought it was a sha,e that all went down with Melody, especially since Ren also lost a few people in her life, but I thought it was all well built up to.

This book is a slow burn tangled in protest signs, viral videos, and generational guilt. It is bold, tender, and complicated in the best ways.

Tanya Byrne has done it again!!
I’m such a fan of her writing and the fact that it is accessible and compelling whilst tackling huge topics.

Rebel Hearts is about activism at its core, which is a topic that everyone hears about, but it difficult to engage with due to the taboo certain activist groups have caused (not a judgement, just a fact).
But Rebel Hearts will be hugely inspiring for young people (and beyond), offering insight into what we can do to help save our planet.

As usual, Byrne characterisation and character development are sublime. Ren is such a powerful main character, Pearl is a classic, well written rival-turned-love interest, and the other characters each have their own personalities and quirks and do not blend together at all.

Despite being fiction, it taught me as a 26 year old a fair bit I didn’t know about the climate crisis, so I imagine it will be more impactful for teens and young adults.

This is a brilliant, factual, trope-filled novel and I can never fault Tanya Byrne’s craft (but I would have liked to see Ren and her mother’s storyline be a bit more well rounded, but you can’t have it all!)


Thank you to Hachette/Hodder Children’s and Netgalley for the ARC!

I loved this book!

Rebel Hearts by Tanya Byrne is an empowering, thought-provoking story that effortlessly combines teen activism, romance, and self-discovery, all set against the backdrop of a summer that promises to change everything. Centered on Ren Barbosa, a passionate 16-year-old climate change activist with a massive following, and Pearl Newman, an eco-conscious influencer with a more restrained approach to activism, the novel dives into the complexities of both personal growth and social responsibility.

The story begins with Ren’s growing influence as part of the group Out of Time, an activist collective focused on pushing back against climate inaction. Despite her fame, Ren grapples with the pressures that come with being in the spotlight. Her relationship with her genius yet absent mother, a former eco-activist turned government figure, adds another layer of tension and complexity. Add in Pearl, her polar opposite in both personality and ideology, and the stage is set for a dynamic summer of rivalry, growth, and unexpected connections.

Ren is an incredibly well-developed protagonist. She’s passionate, impulsive, and sometimes reckless. Her growth throughout the book is a journey of self-discovery, learning when to push and when to step back. Watching her navigate her activism, personal relationships, and the weight of her own fame is a beautiful arc. As much as she irritates some readers with her “burn it all down” mentality, there’s an underlying heart to her character that makes her impossible to not root for.

On the other hand, Pearl’s more measured and restrained approach to activism makes her an intriguing foil to Ren. Their rivalry, full of tension and mutual dislike, makes for some of the novel’s most electric moments. The tension between them, both in terms of their ideological clash and their growing attraction, is palpable and wonderfully written. I especially enjoyed seeing how their relationship evolves from distrust to understanding, and ultimately to something deeper and more genuine. The romance feels authentic, capturing the sweet, exhilarating rush of first love with all its complexity.

This was a really interesting YA contemporary focusing on activism in different forms - an always timely issue that Byrne explores with nuance. The characterisation is stellar as usual too.

I absolutely ADORED this book! The writing was easy to read and so compelling while tackling such an important and often difficult to engage with topic. The book was also hugely inspiring and will teach people, of all ages, about what we can do to help save our planet.

Ren is a rebel and watching her educate about what it means being a teen activist was an incredible journey to go on. There was so much I actually didn't know about the climate crisis but the book made it accessible to understand and in a language which I think will appeal to teens of today.

Beyond Ren's teen activist storyline, it was nice to see her romance with Pearl - the rivals to lovers trope was in full swing!

I would have liked to see the storyline with her mum develop a bit more but you can't fit everything in and I fully understand that.

Tanya has absolutely well and truly done it again! There’s nothing this woman could write that I wouldn’t read. Whilst climate change was at the heart of this story it was also a wonderful book on grief, the importance of community and I don’t think I’ll be able to forget a love like Ren and Poppy’s for a long while!

Utterly incredible, made me feel hopeful, motivated and opened my eyes to the dire state our world is in

I absolutely loved this book!

Rebel Hearts follows Ren Barbosa on her 'one perfect summer'. She's an impressive teen activist, with millions of followers and a somewhat absent albeit genius mother. Passionate about the climate crisis and saving the world, Ren has accomplished incredible things in her 16 years. However, with her notoriety comes risks and enemies, and this story delves into how she deals with these as well as trying to live a semi-normal life.

I loved Ren, she was passionate and impulsive at times, and watching her character develop and grow over the course of the book was wonderful. I could learn a lot from her changing attitude! The supporting characters were all well written, with developed back stories for the more prominent ones, although I would love to learn more about Pearl's history. Pearl herself is more measured and restrained, and I adored the contrast between her and Ren. The romance that develops is beautiful and well written, and really captures the heady days of when you first fall for someone. The location descriptions are incredible, especially the farm. I could picture it clearly, and it made me long for a place I can never go!

The inclusion of so many details regarding climate change has inspired me to do my own research, and make changes to my own lifestyle. Likewise, the idea of 'switching off' really appealed to me, and I am planning on working out a way I can do this in my own life.

I found Rebel Hearts endearing and inspiring, and I am looking forward to reading many more books for Tanya Byrne in the future!