Heartstrings by Ali Novak

Every once in a while, you stumble across a YA romance that hits all the right notes—sweet, engaging, and surprisingly meaningful—one that makes you believe in first love all over again while reminding you why these stories still matter at every age.

I found it to be a sweet and endearing YA romance—one that teens will love, but mature readers can easily enjoy as well. It’s the kind of story that makes a high school dream about experiencing a similar whirlwind romance, while also giving older readers a nostalgic tug.

Beyond the love story, it has strong coming-of-age elements as the FMC learns more about herself outside of her first romance. I also really appreciated the food allergy representation. It doesn’t get nearly enough attention in books, yet it’s a serious issue that impacts so many people. Novak weaves it into the story with care—never heavy-handed, but in a way that feels both entertaining and educational for readers. Even better, she normalizes the awareness around food allergies without turning it into an “issue book,” which made it feel authentic and impactful.

The plot kept me fully engaged, and I ended up finishing it in a single sitting. Although it’s part of a series, it works beautifully as a standalone. You can sense that events have taken place before, but Novak does a wonderful job weaving in just enough background so you never feel lost. Even better, she does it in a way that makes you want to go back and read the first two books without worrying about spoilers, even if—like me—you start with book three.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Renée Chambliss, who captured the voice of an older teen perfectly, sass and all, while keeping a comfortable pace at 1x speed. Full disclosure: at first, I hadn’t realized this was YA, so when I heard her youthful tone, I felt a little dread since it’s not a narration style I typically enjoy. I bumped the speed up to 2x, which helped, and once I fully understood the FMC’s age, her vocal choices made complete sense—and that shift in perspective softened my initial hesitation.

The book releases on October 14, 2025, and it would make a perfect holiday gift (or just-because gift) for the teen reader in your life. The bonus? You can read it too and enjoy the sweet, heartfelt romance as it unfolds.

A heartfelt YA romance that blends charm, authenticity, and meaningful representation, offering both a nostalgic tug for older readers and a relatable, empowering story for teens.

I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Macmillan Audio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.