Very dark psychological thriller that will keep readers guessing. I love thrillers that are not easily solved by readers. This is one that we'll keep readers on their toes. I did not care for the explicit sex scenes. The twists and turns led the way to an unexpected ending. Recommended.

Oh my goodness!!! This book was everything! The story is told in 5 parts with alternating POVs between Geo, aka Georgina, and Kaiser, a detective and an old friend. The chapters are mostly in present day but we also have flashbacks of Geo and Kaiser’s high school years.

Right in the first chapter we know Geo, a successful business woman, is on trial. Fifteen years ago, Angela, Geo’s BFF, had gone missing. Now, at age 30, Geo is on trial for helping her ex boyfriend, Calvin, hide Angela’s body. She gets hit with 5 years while Calvin gets sentenced for life.

I was getting all types of Orange is the New Black vibes while Geo was in jail. She gets smart real quick learning who to stick with during her sentence. It quickly passes and Geo is about to get out and start a new life. The day before she gets released she sees on the news that Calvin has escaped!

Kaiser and his partner are called to a scene that’s eerily familiar from Angela’s case. Kaiser is certain it is Calvin’s doing. He must find him immediately before more bodies show up.

I don’t want to give any more away. I loved this. I loved that some of the main characters were mixed. I love that Geo was smart and never had doubts. I also loved Kaiser. I loved everything! Ugh so good. I am not doing this book justice by my words. Just do yourself a favor and read this book. Out in June!! 5 awesome stars!! Highly recommend!

Holy moly! Loved this way more than I thought I would! Excellent book with great characters.

What I liked: The characters, all of them, even the ones you are supposed to hate, I just really enjoyed the story.

What I didn’t like: This may be nit-picking, but the overuse of the word “compartmentalize.” I also felt the ending was a bit rushed, but I’m not sure if that’s just because I looked down and realized when everything clicked that I only had like 50 pages left, or if it really was just a rush ending.

What I loved: The story!!!! Great storyline. Really just sucked me right in and I finished it in less than 24 hours.

Jar of Hearts turned out to be not what I expected (possibly because I didn’t re-read the synopsis). I thought it would be a Serial-style mystery of what happened to Angela Wong. Instead, it was a thriller – the reader knows who was responsible for her death when years later, after a trial, new bodies start turning up.

I didn’t like these characters as much as I wanted to. Maybe that was the book’s intention. But I did find this book a compelling read with an interesting plot twist. At the very end, things got a bit cheesy and melodramatic for my taste. (You can read my full opinion on that under spoilers in my Goodreads review.)

But overall, this is a solid thriller for those who like serial killer stories, and stories about people in the thrall of serial killers (think Killing Eve or Silence of the Lambs).

Geo, Georgina, finds herself falling out with her popular high school cheerleading friends and in love with the older, and abusive, Calvin. Both surprised by his attention and struggling to understand his version of 'love', Geo becomes increasingly isolated from her peers. Then one fateful night, she is encouraged by her closest friend Angela to attend a high school party and the girls, both end up stumbling to Calvin's apartment where Geo dazedly witnesses her boyfriend rape Angela and then strangle her. Forcing Geo to assist him, they find a place to hide Angela's body, in a most horrific way. Calvin knows he must run, but returns to Geo's house one more time to encourage her to leave with him. When she refuses, he rapes her. 
Her return to high school is brief when Geo discovers that she is pregnant and the community continues to search for her missing friend. To hide her pregnancy, she completes school at home with the support of her father and determines that she should put the baby up for adoption. 
Eventually, Calvin is captured and imprisoned for the murder of Angela, whose body was found dismembered and buried in the woods close to Geo's house. Geo is also imprisoned for withholding information and helping to hide the crime. But when new women, also dismembered, and their children, begin showing up dead again it is Calvin they look to again for the crimes as he escapes prison. Certain that Calvin's real target is Geo, a childhood friend, now a cop, tries to protect her. 
The truth behind the murders and all of your beliefs about who is truly responsible is truly a shocking surprise, as is Geo's last move to save herself.

This book introduced me into the complex, but fictional world of Geo (Georgina) Shaw which was a captivating read from the very first page through to the last. It has also introduced me to a very capable writer who has a style that draws you in and won't let go until the story is finished. Geo got involved in some very foolish and criminal activities whilst still at school leading to a prison sentence years later. But that's only the start of a tale that the author has woven for this character. I can recommend this book and suggest that before you start, find a quiet spot where you won't be interrupted as you will not want to put the book down again.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Stars!

Thank you to Minotaur Books for gifting me an ARC of this book!

Geo's Ex boyfriend also known as the sweet boy strangler is on trial. Geo's best friend, Angela, was murdered fourteen years ago and there's finally been a break in the case. Calvin is known as a serial killer but in the court room he's not the only one speaking to the court, so is Geo.

How could anyone think Geo is part of this and needs to testify in court? She's a super successful woman who has a lot of money and is about to marry a very successful businessman. The police must have gotten it wrong, right? The funny thing about her warrant is that her other best friend from fourteen years ago is the one who has to take her in...

This book not only dives into the murder case but also what it's like to be a convicted felon and how to work with it. The chapters continuously hop back and forth between fourteen years ago an present day. So we get to know who the characters were in the past and how they've evolved in present day.

Trigger warnings: if you don't like abuse, rape, graphic violence or sex then I wouldn't suggest this for you. The acts are very detailed in this story.

Overall I would recommend this book, especially for thriller lovers! It comes out June 12th!

This was an extremely fast-paced dark psychological thriller !! The characters were hard to like but I was quite interested in getting to know them and see where their life were going, I wanted to keep turning the pages even though I was scared !!
This would be a great pic for a book club and something to read wrapped up in a blanket with the fire going.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Highly recommended read! Thanks for providing through Net Galley. Five Stars *****

So many books are written with the switch between the drama of the character's early years and the repercussions they feel decades later, so I liked that the narrative included Georgina's prison years. That's what moved Geo into the realm of likability for me versus just being the same cardboard character from any old thriller. I was worried Hillier was going to try too hard for Orange is the New Black, thank goodness she had her own ideas.

This rollercoaster thriller had a twist coming every time I was pretty sure where the story was going. The final resolution may not have been completely unexpected, but I didn't see it coming from that angle. Hillier writes the climax of the final scenes with just the right level of tension and humor. It left me feeling the same way I do watching a horror film, wanting to yell, "It's him, Geo! It's him!"

The book is open-ended and ripe for a follow-up...

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review!

The past never remains in the past. It follows you and shows up when you least expect it. Before you start this thriller make sure your schedule is clear, as you will not be able to put it down! I have read several very good psychological thrillers over the last month but this one sure left an impact on me. The engrossing plot is gripping and suspenseful, with twists and turns and cliffhangers that leave you having to read more to figure out what is going to happen next. I love the way Jennifer Hillier used alternating points of view with flashbacks to guide us along this rollercoaster ride complete with moral dilemmas and various conflicts centered around love (or lack of it) between friends, families, and lovers. The characters seemed very real, although several are not very likable. I will never look at a cinnamon heart without remembering this book...powerful! Many many thanks to Jennifer Hillier, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC. I will be recommending this book to everyone. Watch for it on bookshelves on June 12th. Don’t wait to pick it up as I am sure it will be the book of the summer!

Gripping thriller could not put it down characters are well developed plot moves along nicely.a real edge of you seat thriller

Creepy Good!

“In every story, there’s a hero and a villain. Sometimes one person can be both.”

A murder, a coverup, and a twisted relationship are at the forefront of Jar of Hearts. This book is not only about what happened the night a young girl is murdered, but also about the after effects on the perpetrator of a crime.

14 years ago, Angela Wong was murdered. Her remains have been recently discovered, along with evidence pointing to her best friend, Georgina Shaw. Georgina is sentenced to 5 years in prison for her role in Angela’s murder. Bits and pieces of the how and the why behind Angela’s murder are slowly revealed, along with buried secrets and lies. Georgina's point of view adds a layer of depth to this novel.

This is a fast-paced psychological thriller that kept me riveted. The dark, sinister characters were my favorite part of reading Jar of Hearts. There is an underlying element of creepiness throughout, which made me uneasy and kept me on my toes. There are some moments that are extremely disturbing (including a pretty descriptive rape scene), which resulted in me having to take reading breaks.

I was expecting this book to be focused on why the murder happened and was pleasantly surprised to discover that it's about much more. There are flashbacks to the past to expose what really happened the night Angela was killed, so the reader is able to gradually understand the part Georgina played. This element also serves to provide an interesting juxtaposition of Georgina’s character. I found the ending to be seriously disturbing, but I wasn’t fully sold on the epilogue. Overall, I would recommend this to psychological thriller fans!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's/Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review.

A standout addition to the thriller genre, with truly complex characters and marvelous plotting. A must buy for all collections.

THIS BOOK!!!! The writing the storyline the characters... all of this had me totally hooked.

Geo just had me all over the place. I loved her and (cant say hate) felt strong negative emotions for her at times. With that said I can kind of get her decisions throughout the course of the book. The last 70 percent of the book I read with my mouth wide open in a permanent wtf state of mind.

This book is one of my favorites of the year and I cannot wait to recommend it.

What an amazing surprise this book was. It’s my first by this author, and from the jacket description I was somewhat ambivalent about it. But the first chapter had me hooked, and it only got better from there.

Sixteen year old Angela went missing, without explanation, never to be heard from again. Fifteen years later, her body was found in the woods behind her best friend’s—Geo’s— house. She was the first victim of serial killer Calvin James, Geo’s boyfriend. Geo kept the secret, until the body was discovered and she was arrested for the crime. She served five years in prison, while Calvin escaped shortly after his conviction and disappeared. When Geo is released from prison, a new string of murders begin, mimicking the death of Angela. Geo learns that some secrets can’t be kept buried, and her crimes continue to haunt her.

I particularly liked that the story jumped from past to present, allowing the revelation of information to eventually piece together what happened. Geo was a frustrating but likable character, largely because of her self-awareness, the guilt over her bad choices, the death of her best friend, always present despite her seemingly good nature. Angela, Geo, their third wheel and friend-zoned Kaiser Brody, who grows up to be the cop who arrests Geo and Calvin later, are all believable and relatable characters, faults and all.

Among many great books this summer, JAR OF HEARTS is a a surprise favorite so far. A perfect blend of mystery, action, and good characters.

A great thriller/mystery that was a very captivating read. Georgina, a very successful young woman is accused and sentenced to prison for coving up the murder of her best friend. But how and why did Georgina keep this secret for so long was the basis of the rest of the book. Many relationships are intertwined. Georgina's ex is the killer, who has recently escaped prison, and Georgina's other best friend Kaiser is the one who put Georgina and Calvin in prison. After Calvin's escape, other women are found murdered in a similar fashion to Angela's best friend years ago. Calvin is the suspect. As the hunt begins for Calvin, all is not as it seems and plenty of drama and twist and turns come. Even though I was beginning to suspect the ending, it was very well written and still a fulfilling conclusion. A bit sad and disturbing in parts, as many murder mysteries are, but definitely recommend.

Some actions we can never atone for, some guilt we must always carry, and some secrets never stay buried. Georgina “Geo” Shaw has it all, early thirties and already climbed the corporate ladder and engaged to a pharmaceutical company’s President. Some say she has it all, but that life suddenly crumbles beneath her when she’s arrested during an executive meeting for murder.
Nearly twenty years ago, 16-year-old Geo, her best friend, Angela, and infatuated Kaiser are inseparable. Angela is the head of the cheerleader team and a personality that over shines everyone around her. Kaiser reminded me a bit of myself, as I mostly had girl friends growing up in school. Kaiser is hopelessly in love with Geo from the moment they met. Angel and Geo’s friendship is put to the test when jaw-dropper, bad boy 21-year-old Calvin enters the scene in his red muscle car. When Angela’s center-of-attention role switched to Geo for once, jealousy begins to sink its fangs.
Geo does what almost every new-found love endures: friends are cast to the wayside as love blossoms. This love isn’t as picturesque as Geo has envisioned. Calvin can become an entirely different person when provoked, a violent person who isn’t the gentleman that she fell in love with. This other-Calvin is sporadic and short-lived and Geo learns to appease him when needed.
In an attempt to rekindle their friendship, Geo and Angela go to a friend’s party. By the end of the night, they are both drunk in Calvin’s apartment swaying to rock music and teasing Calvin with their erotic dancing. Geo soon passes out, but the party continues on. All actions have consequences and these consequences change several lives forever.

Wow. This was the first book that I have read by Jennifer Hillier and I dare say it will definitely not be the last. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from the start to the very last unexpected end! I couldn't put it down. Friendship, obsession, lies, betrayals, secrets... this book has it all.
And the story goes...
There once were three best friends in a small town in the Pacific Northwest who were living the high school dream. Until one of them goes missing. Angela Wong, the 16-year-old cheerleader that every girl wanted to be and every guy wanted to be with, disappeared after a party one night, never to be seen again. Georgina "Geo" Shaw, once Angela's best friend and dated Calvin James, the hot bad boy with a temper and trans-am, is now quickly climbing the ladder at her fiancé's pharmaceutical company. And then there's Kaiser Brody who once harbored not-so-secret feelings for Geo and was best friends with both girls, is now a Seattle detective determined to find out what happened to his friend.
14 years later, he does just that. And for 14 years, Geo has a secret... or secrets.
A riveting, psychological thriller filled with delicious plot twists that will keep you turning pages until the very end! Jar of Hearts comes out on June 12, 2018! Make sure to grab this amazing 5 ⭐️ summer read to find out what happened to Angela! And all of the secrets about to unfold...
Many thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and St. Martin's Press for the advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review!!
#JarOfHearts @JenniferHillier #NetGalley @StMartinsPress @MinotaurBooks

I received a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review. This was a really good suspense that anyone who loves the genre should read. Angela Wong disappeared 14 years ago and the police have recently discovered her body. Her best friend Geo played a part in hiding the body and must help have her ex boyfriend commited for murder. If Geo does this she only gets five years in prison. We learn so much more throughout the book there were so many twists. This book was great and would be a good one to take on vacation!