The Space Between Our Hearts by Hannah Stone is a heartfelt and tender story that beautifully explores themes of healing, belonging, and personal growth. From the very first pages, I found myself rooting for Riddy, a complex and guarded protagonist whose journey is both emotional and deeply relatable.

One of the strongest elements of the novel is Riddy’s development as a person. Stone does a lovely job of showing how she gradually learns to trust, love, and let others in after a life of feeling isolated. Watching her find the family she’s always deserved was incredibly moving and left a lasting impression.

The emotional depth of the story is complemented by a sweet and sincere tone that makes the book a comforting read, even as it delves into difficult territory. It’s clear the author poured a lot of love into these characters and their relationships.

That said, I did feel the ending was a bit rushed. After such careful and nuanced buildup, the resolution came a little too quickly for my taste. I would have liked to spend more time with Riddy as she stepped into her new life and embraced the growth she worked so hard to achieve.

Overall, The Space Between Our Hearts is a touching and memorable read that highlights the strength it takes to be vulnerable. It’s a beautiful reminder that healing is possible, and that love—both found and chosen—can be transformative.

Thank you NetGalley and Whimsical Publishing for the advanced reader copy.

This is a story about Rindy and the setbacks she faces as she ages out of the foster system, but it is also about how our past experiences impact the decisions we make in relationships, moving beyond the narrative we tell ourselves about who we are based on our past experiences, and defining who we are without external pressure.

I flew through this and was felt immersed in the story, and it has stayed with me after reading. It has inspired me to be more like her friend Mina, to read between the lines and offer help without judgement.

I do feel like there were a few loose ends, so would love to see the story continued in some way.

Can a book meet readers’ expectations and yet completely surprise them at the same time? That’s how I feel about The Space Between Our Hearts. I was privileged to read an advanced copy of the novel and knew from the moment I started that it would be the balm my heart needed in these turbulent times. What I wasn’t prepared for is how unique this story is, how real Rindy’s problems are and how welcome it is to have a heroine that looks and acts like someone I might befriend. I was deeply moved by Rindy’s story; everything about this book is wonderful.

Told from the first person POV, Hannah Stone puts us directly in Rindy’s mind and heart as she navigates life after aging out of the foster care system and continues to face obstacles most of us have never imagined, much less experienced first-hand. The intimacy I felt with Rindy helped me truly understand her mistrust of people and the decisions she made to protect herself. As scared and sad I was for her circumstances, I felt her history and experiences telling her to keep her private life private, and I agreed with her determination to make it on her own.

So often books show us people failing in life and we spend 75% of the novel yelling at them to do better, but Rindy’s story doesn’t follow that path. With the insight we have to every emotion she’s feeling, we doubt her new friends’ sincerity and question their loyalty right along with her. By the time the story finishes we have lived through every mistake and triumph Rindy experienced and are filled with as much hope and optimism for a new future as she is.

The Space Between Our Hearts is rich in characters you want to root for, beautiful imagery that puts you in Tinlee Bay right along with Rindy, and a happily ever after that feels like it will genuinely last a lifetime. If you want a beautiful story to challenge your misperceptions about people and help you feel genuine hope, this is the book for you!

This book really was emotional for me, I loved every second of it and it is so worth it for anyone looking for a cute romance!

pretty well done, cute, fun romance. i found it pretty cool and in general a fun read. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

I am an absolute sucker for a romance where the main characters has a history in the foster system, and this did not disappoint! I loved following Rindy’s growth and her relationship. I don’t usually pick up YA but i’m glad I did!

This one really pulled at my heartstrings. It was such a beautiful love story between two homeless teens who find love along the way while discovering themselves. I absolutely loved it!

What a gorgeous gorgeous story! I loved the beautiful story of someone coming from not the most duel of circumstances and finding love and making a life for themselves. I was crying and rooting for them from the first page

“I finally discovered that home is the hand I hold - not a fixed structure.”

The Space Between Our Hearts follows the story of Rindy, a girl fighting for worth and security in a world that has deemed her worthless and forgettable. Within the first few chapters, she proves that even the best-laid plans don’t always go as expected—and that you have to adapt to survive. And a survivor, Rindy has certainly proven herself to be.

Nolan, on the other hand, has never had to worry about survival the way Rindy has, especially since she has been passed around in the foster system. But there’s more to Nolan than first impressions suggest. Is he really the free spirit he initially appears to be, or is he hiding some crushing expectations of his own?

I didn’t think a story could be so heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time, but those are always the most rewarding to read. This book will have your heart aching for Rindy while also filling you with joy as she begins to find her place in a new home with a new family she finds herself. Even the supporting characters will steal your heart just like they did Rindy’s.

Hannah Stone has truly hit it out of the park with her debut novel, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next.