Heart the Lover by Lily King (Sept 30, 2025) I was inspired by a number of reviews of this one to grab it, first among them @books_with_bex because if she rates a book 5 stars, I stand up (ok, sit up) and pay attention.
Twenty years ago, in her senior year, Jordan meets intensely academic minded roommates Sam and Yash who are living in the opulent house of a professor on sabbatical and she’s slowly pulled into their world of academic ambition, drinking, games, and intellectual debates. As with many college friendships, passions flare, lines are blurred, and the relationships are transformative. Fast-forward to the present and Jordan is living the life she’s always wanted. It is messy and complicated but full of love. Then she gets some alarming news that pulls her back into the past with Sam and Yash, forcing her to reflect on the past and the present.
So, fun story. I was traveling for work and got toward the end of this book as we were boarding the plane. I ended up sobbing in the aisle seat of row 19. This book is both self-indulgent academia in the spirit of A Secret History and perfectly capturing the intense emotion and passion of in college from Deep Cuts (if you haven’t read this 2025 release, please do so immediately, it is being adapted to the screen). The book is divided into sections and the payoff in the second half of the book is SO WORTH IT. It is a reminder about the complicated nature of relationships and how those key relationships that helped shape us stay with us, no matter time or distance.
🎧 Audiobook Thoughts: Rebecca Lowman brought me to tears with this narration. No notes. Just perfect. It is a quick listen at 5 hrs and 52 mins – so go grab it!
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🎧 Audio performance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🔥 Spice: 🌶️
Book Smart Kate 