Emma Whittaker - Chalk Hearts
4⭐
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Romance
Pages: 326
Format: Paperback
Publisher: SRL Publishing
Date Published: 6th December 2022 (Hardback), & 28th February 2023 (Paperback)
Huge thank you to SRL Publishing for sending me a copy of the Chalk Hearts to read and review.
Book Blurb:
Secretly ashamed of her loser reputation, Amy hides her ex-pupil status from the staff, even pretending that she has never met Joel, the once-cherished teacher who unexpectedly becomes her colleague.
Under the guise of a confident woman, Amy is determined to eclipse her troubled past. But when she hooks Joel into a deep and passionate relationship, the fear of bursting his bubble with her true identity pushes her ever closer to being exposed.
My Review:
Such a feel-good book Chalk
Hearts was! I really enjoyed reading it! I wanted something easy and cosy during long autumn nights and this book ticked all those boxes. It was easy to read, cosy, and had romance in it but also explored other significant topics, such as
insecurities, trust, personal love and acceptance.
This story follows Amy who
struggles to deal with past trauma from a violent boyfriend. With her parent's push, she decides to apply
for a teaching job at her old Primary School, Woodbrook. She gets the job but
decides she needs a fresh start, including not telling anyone
at her new job that she is local and that once she attended Woodbrook Primary.
That is until she is faced with another challenge, one of her current colleagues
is her old and favourite PE teacher, Joel. To her surprise, Joel doesn’t remember
her and with growing attraction towards each other Amy tries her hardest not to
reveal her past to him…
I liked that this book was much
more than just a romance. It was also a story of personal acceptance and love.
Amy throughout the years, especially in her primary school felt insecure and
unworthy, as well as numerous times was a laughing stock of pupils and the only
person who ever believed in her was her favourite teacher. Throughout the book
Amy grew so much as a person and as a teacher, she believed in students who
other teachers branded as no good, she stood up for herself and her beliefs and
she became more confident in herself by starting to love herself and feel worthy
enough. I liked that aspect of this book a lot.
For me, this
book was about Amy finding herself and her place to belong. Also at times,
I wanted a bit more romance in this book, just like a few chapters more, however, it is still a beautifully written novel.
Overall: Very cosy and easy read
for long autumnal evenings. I enjoyed the storyline and characters, even though
it was a bit different from the romance books that I am used to. This book also has some
brilliant and likeable characters that would make you laugh and love.
About the Author:
Emma Whittaker has had a lifelong obsession with words, composing poetry and stories from a young age. With a BA (Hons) in English and Creative Studies, she has enjoyed a career in magazine journalism as the Editor of various craft and hobby publications.
In her novels, Emma explores emotions, behaviour, and relationships, bringing a voice to the issues we encounter in life that all too often go unnoticed. She blends these themes with descriptive settings, fuelled by her passion for nature, and as an avid reader of romantic fiction, she champions sweeping love stories.
Her home in West Sussex, sandwiched between the coast and the countryside, provides endless inspiration for her writing. She lives with her husband, two children, and a houseful of dogs and cats. Chalk Hearts is her debut novel.
twitter.com/emmalwhittaker1
No comments:
Post a Comment