How did I know that this book would mess with my heart? The ending of the last one set me up and I had no idea what was going to happen next. I just knew that my heart would never be the same. And it wasn't. But at least it didn't break me. This story may have wrung out every emotion I didn't even know I had in me, but it didn't break me. It was beautiful in its pain and stunning in its angst. Still not your typical love triangle but it had plenty of drama.

I don't even want to get into the plot of this one because it will spoil it for those who haven't started this journey yet. I don't want to give away what happens after the end of book one. Just know that it's hard. It's tough. It's heartbreaking. It's gorgeous. It's surprising and glorious and full of so much heart. The love that binds these characters together is something that should be shared amongst everyone. If we could all find family and friends and soulmates the way these people had, the world would have no choice but to be a better place.

Emma Scott gifted us a story that personifies romance. I cried and smiled and prayed for this woman who explained to her readers the understanding of 'Before' and 'After'. I'm grateful to this woman who got me to actually enjoy a story involving a love triangle.

It's hard to describe my relationship to the Beautiful Hearts series. It's a sort-of love triangle inspired by Cyrano de Bergerac, yes, but it's much more than that. I fell in love with Emma Scott's writing with IN HARMONY, and after finishing this duology, I can say with certainty that I'll read anything she publishes.

I honestly don't know how to say this but I was quite disappointed with this one especially with how the story ended on the first book.

I kind of hoping for more angst, instead what I got was sweetness. Too sweet in fact, to the point of cheesiness.

Even though everything wrapped up perfectly in the end, it was just too perfect. I don't believe it. Sure, this was fiction, but still, a little tantrums and unacceptable of the situation perhaps was more realistic IMHO.

I'll admit I lost interest in reading so I skimmed a bit. The exciting part was around 70% which I devoured, but then some OTT situation join the bandwagon so yes... I rolled my eyes. Not to mention the cliche' after that. My eyes rolled non stop.

What I loved the most and what deeply touched my heart was how Professor O. reaches out to Weston. How he go beyond what is expected from him just to encourage him to move forward and to not give up.

This is the conclusion to the Beautiful Hearts duet and should be read in order.

Copy provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn't really sure which avenue this author was going to take for the second part of this duet. She could have chosen so many avenues, because at the ending of first part of this duet, we were literally left in the unknown. I will say that, this is most definitely not your average duet. Nor is it your average ending. I have never seen anything remotely close to the second half of a duet. It is so different, but more unique than anything I have ever read. It is one of those things that shows you that, your happily ever is what you choose it to be, no matter what your circumstances are.

The second half of this duet was hard on me. I normally read to escape reality, to live in a fictional world, and this book was like living reality. A very hard reality. It shows you no matter what life throws at you, no matter what obstacles you face, you choose your fate, your own reality. Emma Scott's writing is so profound, and heartfelt that it almost makes it unbearable to read. It is brutal, but beautiful. Raw but challenging, so damn challenging. I literally have no words. Life is so unfair to so many deserving people, and most of us do not even take the time to notice that.

This book has challenged me to be more aware, more humble. I am not going to say more, because this book, ahh this book needs to speak for itself.

Do I recommend it?? Absolutely.

Where do I begin? This book was amazing! I am talking like I wanted to hop on a plane and find Emma Scott and just hug the heck out her lol of course in a non stalker kind of way! Emma Scott should be on everyone's radar! She is an amazing writer and when I finish a book by her I'm like omg she keeps out doing herself!
Long Live The Beautiful Hearts continues the story from Bring Down the Stars and wow I am seriously at a lost of world. The emotions that Emma made me feel was amazing. Though my husband got a good laugh at my ugly cry face. All I can say is these two books are amazing and a must read! #Perfection

Long Live the Beautiful Hearts by Emma Scott is the follow-up to Bring Down the Stars, and let me just say, this duet is a MUST-READ (just in case all the other reviews and the hype for these books didn't already convince you).

I don't know how she does it, but Emma Scott shatters my heart before she carefully pieces it back together in such a way that I am reluctant to leave her characters behind and continue to think about them even after I've moved on to other books.

And I was very reluctant to finish this book. I wanted to race through to see what would happen, but at the same time, I never wanted it to end. Ever.

Moving, inspiring, stunning: an absolute masterpiece.

I cannot WAIT to see what she has in store for us next.

***I voluntarily read and reviewed an e-copy generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley.***

Long live the beautiful hearts begins where Bring down the stars ended with Connor and Weston in Germany.
When the path becomes more twisted, the hardships seemingly impossible to overcome Weston learns to accept his fate in life. He grows to become a fighter and a survivor.

In the before: The silent guy thought he was unworthy of love because of his own inner demons.
In the after: The silent guy found his worth by finding love.
In the Before: The silent man based his worth on the failings of an absentee father who should have loved him.
In the After: His Love was replaced.

Story: The poems were truly beautiful. They gave me chills and leaky eyes.

These characters continue to strive for purpose and worthiness in the high expectations placed upon themselves. They want to be relevant and lived meaning lives.

Overall: Emma wrote a different story than the first, yet still just as poignant and beautiful. The poetry continued to add an element of passion. The aftermath of the army was extremely intense. I loved how each character adjusted, transitioned, reformed, and emerged through the changes. Reading about their strengths and weaknesses was rewarding.

Man you guys, I BLEW through this book and the previous one (Bring Down the Stars) in two days. This is unheard of for me at this point in my life. I just don't usually have the time available to dedicate to reading so much in a row. But I read about 6 hours in one day as we took a day trip to a wedding three hours away. But I couldn't stop reading this book. From the cliffhanger from book 1 to the beginning of this one.

It's almost impossible to discuss this book without getting into the land of spoilers. I'll do my best. I mean the description is so vague that you don't know who even came back from war. So...how do I even discuss this book?

Where I struggled with knowing inevitable conflict was coming in Bring Down the Stars, I felt like I was passed the hardest part because the damage had already been done. Now it was just about unraveling the lies in time and seeing how Autumn would handle them. Yet in so many ways, the struggles were only just beginning by the time we start Long Live the Beautiful Hearts. If there's one thing I wish I could change about this book it would be that Autumn had discovered (or been told) the truth sooner and that she would have had time throughout the book to recover from the lies in a slower manner. While I wasn't entirely unsatisfied with how everything was handled, the resolution and forgiveness did feel a bit like a switch was flipped and she changed from sad and hurt to happy and forgiving a bit too jarringly to feel realistic.

I was so impressed with the poetry actually featured in Bring Down the Stars. Specifically, the last/main poem of the book. And so for that to be the case, I found myself a little disappointed with the poems included in Long Live the Beautiful Hearts. They weren't bad, but I just didn't find them as striking.

What was striking though was the difference in the Before versus the After--especially when considering the real-life events that Emma Scott was dealing with. She lost her daughter, Isabel, in between books to a massive heart attack due to a rare complication she'd had since birth. These two books being one complete, thought-out story with every piece being perfectly executed and planned from the beginning makes the Before and After of the books mirroring Emma Scott's own Before and After poetic and heartbreaking. Real life imitates art imitating real life. As a mother, my heart breaks for Emma Scott and what she's gone through even more than these beautiful characters that she's written about in this story.

I honestly had mixed thoughts about the disability pieces of the story-line. On the one hand, it was so refreshing. I can say I've probably read only other book with a main character that had a similar disability. I imagine Emma Scott researched tons about these types of disabilities before making any decisions for her character, but I don't have that luxury or knowledge base. So there were some things that I just have no knowledge base for. Other aspects were so heartbreaking to think that I've never thought about these things before. And it opened my eyes to the need for more compassion and consideration from me.

Favorite quotes (that aren't too long or spoilers):
-Was there any greater gift from one human being to another than understanding?

-"In my mind, [...], that has always been the fault of your armor; you have built it so strong that it doesn't protect you so much as it hurts you to carry its impossible weight."

Long Live the Beautiful Hearts was a beautiful end to a wonderful story. I started this series fearing how the retelling would be handled, but Emma Scott worked it so well. And the reasons that our characters felt unworthy of love are so much better and deeper than some big old ugly nose. I want to say so much more about this book and this series, but I just can't spoil it for any potential readers. This book and the series weren't completely perfect so I'm not giving this book 5 Stars, but it heartily deserves 4.5 Stars. Have you read Long Live the Beautiful Hearts? What did you think? Let me know!

3.5 stars.
“Long Live the Beautiful Hearts” is a very melodramatic take on the young wounded warrior trope. Even if I prefer the strong, stoic hero, I enjoyed this more vocal hero and his story, and found myself morbidly fascinated by Weston’s eloquence (sometimes verbosity) about his personal tragedy, his feelings of inadequacy, rebellion, and rage, and the impossible love triangle he got involved in.
I really appreciated the depiction of the paraplegia; I found it realistic, well-researched, not avoiding the disagreeable details and the hard recovery. Kudos for author Emma Scott’s rendering of very insightful descriptions of how paraplegics reach orgasm.
There’s a certain alluring, poetic justice and beauty when we watch Weston’s path from despair and grief to acceptance and peace with his new physical condition and much of it has to do with consolidating his vocation/destiny as a poet.
But perhaps being a wounded warrior, a former Marine, a poet (a Whitman’s admirer, no surprise here), a racer, a lover, a friend, a son, is too much for a sole hero. While I enjoyed (sometimes reluctantly) the highs and lows of the story’s emotional rollercoaster, I also found the love triangle plot a bit over the top, based on a tangle of lies that could have been dealt with or brought up earlier (and the story would have been much shorter).
I didn’t care much about the heroine, Autumn (and I really didn’t need to know so often what she was wearing), nor the secondary characters, sometimes some of them felt a bit stereotyped and the dialogue contrived.

This was a wonderful conclusion to the first book, with so much strife growing these beloved characters. The anguish, pain, despair, love, hope, anger, joy... All the feels!

Autumn's attempts to keep everything together as it falls apart were ao very fitting for her character. Her relationship with the boys makes this an interesting non-love triangle in ways. The bromance between Conner and Weston is incredibly important, and I love the respect that was given to it.

Every aspect of Weston's new life felt very authentic, without being hamfisted or melodramatic.

Long Live the Beautiful Hearts by Emma Scott

A beautiful story and a new favorite...

๏ Links ๏
๏ Kindle eBook | Add to Goodreads | Add to Booklikes ๏

๏ ๏ ๏ Book Blurb ๏ ๏ ๏
(for book 1, just in case you don't want spoilers)

I fell for Connor Drake. I didn’t want to; I fought against it, but I fell in love with him anyway. With his words. With his poetry. With him. The gentleness and beauty of his soul that speaks directly to mine. He writes as if he can feel my heart, hear its cadence and compose the exact right lyrics to accompany every beat and flow.

I’m in love with Connor…so why do I feel an inexplicable pull to his best friend, Weston? Grouchy, sullen, brooding Weston Turner, who could cut you down with a look. Fiercely intelligent with a razor-sharp wit and acid tongue, he’s the exact opposite of Connor in every way, and yet there’s electricity in the air between us. The thorny barbs Weston wraps around himself can’t keep me away.

But the more time I spend with these men, the more tangled and confused my emotions become. When they both sign up for the Army Reserves during a time of increasing strife in the Middle East, I fear I’ll never unravel my own heart that sometimes feels as if it will tear straight down the middle…for both of them.
Until it wasn’t.
Until it all came crashing down when I discovered the deep love I thought I’d found was nestled in a web of lies—so soft and silken I hadn’t noticed it was there.
Until it was too late.



๏ ๏ ๏ My Review ๏ ๏ ๏

This past year I've really become acquainted with the writing of Emma Scott, I've read a total of 4 books by her and I'm planning on at least two more in the near future...she has cemented herself as one of my favorite Authors with this latest book, Long Live the Beautiful Hearts.

This is book 2 of the Beautiful Hearts duet and if this had been one book, it would have been 5 stars easily...as it is with the two books, rounded out (I gave book 1 at 4.3-star rating), it's at about 4.7 or 4.8-star rating. Bring Down the Stars wasn't an easy read for me, see my review here, as it explains it more in depth why that is. This second book, I flew through the pages...because the story felt like it was more on track with where I needed it to be.

A heartbreaking yet ultimately uplifting story of courage and the power of true love. With amazing characters and an amazing storyline, I completely loved this...and I'm not even really upset about this being sectioned into two books anymore because overall the beauty of the story makes up for it. If you're worried that this story is about cheating...don't, it's way deeper than that.


๏ ๏ ๏ A Bookish Obsession Favorite ๏ ๏ ๏

๏ ๏ ๏ MY RATING ๏ ๏ ๏

☆5+☆STARS - GRADE=A++




๏ Breakdown of Ratings ๏
Plot⇝ 5/5
Main Characters⇝ 5/5
Secondary Characters⇝ 5/5
The Feels⇝ 5+/5
Pacing⇝ 5/5
Addictiveness⇝ 5/5
Theme or Tone⇝ 5/5
Flow (Writing Style)⇝ 5/5
Backdrop (World Building)⇝ 5/5
Originality⇝ 5/5
Ending⇝ 5/5 Cliffhanger⇝ Nope.
๏ ๏ ๏
Book Cover⇝ its fit the book beautifully
Series⇝ Beautiful Hearts #2
Setting⇝ Amherst and Boston, MA
Source⇝ I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
๏ ๏ ๏

Long Live the Beautiful Hearts is a pass me the tissues, gut wrenching, soul searing more then 5 star read. This one is not only emotionally beautiful but so filled with love on so many different levels. I'm so in love with Connor and Weston. For different reasons and once you read this and yes I know you may question why they did what they did. Go oh poor Autumn how could they. But once you feel for the full story you over look that. You see a lot of love and healing from everyone. Connor and Weston have gone to hell and back and both are trying to heal in their own way. Autumn is trying to just move on knowing she will soon see them both again you feel for her. She has such a big heart and once everything comes to life you just want to hang onto all of them. I cried a few times throughout this one. You feel the raw pain and the healing that come out of it as the love the characters have for each other shine through. I'm so in love with this duet. Once you read both parts you'll understand why. Pick up both books and just prepare your heart for the ride it didn't know it was missing out on.

This is a series review:
Book 1=2.5 Stars
Book 2=5 Stars

I won't lie, I struggled BAD with Bring Down the Stars, until about the last maybe 15-20%. I don't think I can do NA anymore. The characters and stupid drama absolutely drove me fricken insane. I didn't like Connor. At. All. I know he was supposed to be the fun, easy going, lovable one, but I just couldn't with him. His charisma and huge smile just didn't do anything for me. My heart belonged to Wes; the tall, dark, broody one. Then there was Autumn; the down to earth, incredibly smart, fall in love with every molecule of her soul one. I wasn't always fond of her, either. I often wondered where the hell her brains were at and how did she not know who was writing those letters and poems. Even if I wasn't privy to who was writing them, I would have known.

On top of that, the book moved slow and I was bored. I was totally over Autumn's wishy washy should I or shouldn't I. Way over it! Also, while I adored the hell out of Wes, I wanted him to stop his bullshit and man the fuck up. I get he felt love and loyalty to Connor and he felt as though he didn't deserve anything as good as Autumn, but man I wanted to slap him, while screaming at him to take what's his. To stop doing everything and anything for Connor. *ugh*

Then there was the fact I didn't feel any connection between the characters (Autumn and Connor or Autumn and Wes) at all. None. But I pushed through as this series ended up being a favorite on a friend's list last year. And since I trust her book judgement I was determined to reach the end. So I skimmed, then skimmed a little more. Until I reached that all-consuming pivotal point.

All I can say is holy fuck! Where the hell did that come from?! No more skimming for me. I was devouring each word as though it was the last. That last 15-20% was definitely not the same book I had been reading for what felt like forever. That "book" was so damn different that I went from not caring about the second book to craving it. Needing it immediately. That book gave me the feels, causing leaking from the eye area. That book contained the heat, the chemistry, the connection, and the emotion that the first 80-85% didn't. My mind went from ugh, when does this fucking end to... holy fuck, I can't stop this pain in my heart and my eyes from leaking all this wet stuff.

I'm so glad I hung in there. If I hadn't I would have missed the stunning and poignant essence of Long Live the Beautiful Hearts.

Thank you, Kim, for rec’ing this series and encouraging me to continue. You were right, book two was everything and more. Everything book one wasn’t: emotional, angsty, heart wrenching, likable characters, and growth. So much growth!

I LOVED this book with my entire being. A solid 5 star read. My emotions were on over drive. My eyes permanently red from the tears flowing. My anxiety ramped from the despair and anguish I felt pouring off the pages. I had to step away a few times; the agony wrecked me. Wes’ pain. Connor’s pain. Autumn’s pain. It was all too much to handle in one sitting. It hurt so much it was hard to breathe at times.

Oh god, Wes. I wanted to wrap that man up in a shit ton of hugs. I wanted to make it all go away, for life to go back to the way it was for him. I wanted to kick Connor in the junk for him, even though I got that Connor was too feeling his own guilt and anguish. I wanted to make ever thing they experienced disappear. I wanted to heal them, take away their injuries and memories. This duo was unraveling quickly, bleeding and nothing but time, patience, and love could help them, but being a fixer, I wanted it to be an immediate fix.

While the Bringing Down the Stars may annoy the shit out of you, Long Live the Beautiful Hearts will destroy you, in a good way. Wes, Connor, and Autumn were beautifully written. Breathtaking, actually. Their growth is tenfold. They had absolutely no choice but to grow up. And I found that the things that annoyed me in book one: the lies, the lack of conversation, and the need to keep things hidden didn’t hit the same nerves this time around. Those things were small in the grand scheme of things, in the process of healing. I got why Wes couldn’t reveal the things he was part responsible for. I got why Connor acted like he did. Why he leaned so heavily on Wes. I got it all, and I just wanted them to find an HEA. I was okay with how long it took for the truth to unfold. I was okay with how it was handled and the pacing of it.

I ended up okay with book 1 not being my cuppa, because it gave me a whole other appreciation for Wes, Connor, and Autumn. And for Emma Scott, as well. I needed to experience the young, foolishness of these twenty somethings to truly understand the importance of their personal evolutions.

I whole heartedly recommend the Beautiful Hearts series.

P.s. This was my first Emma Scott book and will not be my last!

I just finished this duology and am left breathless. What a sincerely beautiful trip through love found, love lost, heartache, strength and love re-built. I thought the first book was great, but this second book has left me in a haze of emotion. This novel and its characters burrowed firmly into my heart, breaking it, then mending it in such a inspiring way. I am not a reader of poetry, but this passionately written series made me feel the deep power that beautiful, heartfelt words can have. I don't want to give the plot away, but please, please pick up this soul felt series and learn what it is to find strength even in the darkest of times. (and trust Scott to return your heart to you whole at the end of this epic journey of self discovery.)

*** A thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book to enjoy in exchange for an honest review. ***

It is incredibly difficult to review this sequel without getting into spoilers, so allow me to tell you in broad terms how much I absolutely loved and devoured this ending to a beautiful duology. Emma Scott tackles so many different issues in this sequel - disability, grief, loss, PTSD, the harsh reality for military veterans and prejudiced people out on the streets - and ties it all together with one overarching theme: love. Love for yourself, for your friends and family and for the love of your life. It was simply a wonderful conclusion that satisfied me and left me excited for Connor's novella.

Weston met Connor on his first day as a scholarship student in a private middle school. He saved him from being the bullied poor kid, and their friendship was a strong from day one. They were as different as could be,but there wasn't much they wouldn't do for each other.
Including signing up for the Army to keep him company and have his back. They literally saved each other's life one day. Unfortunately, West was shot in the process, and found himself paralyzed in the process. Connor held so much guilt over this, he felt it was his fault. All the while, they both were still filled with guilt at what they had done to Autumn, so they push her away. Could they ever move on?
My favorite part of this book was that it was a love story in an untraditional way. The love between Connor and Wes as lifelong friends, brothers. It was also about - as Scott mentioned- the love for yourself you can find through the love others give you. i appreciated the way the paralysis was covered. i learned a good bit about what those in a wheelchair have to deal with, but it was done in a way that i felt pride for wes and his growth rather than pity.
i've read a few books by ms scott now and everyone has been written int eh same addictive thoughtful way. i can't wait for more. thanks netgalley and ms scott.

There were many times where I wanted to throw my Kindle because Autumn, Connor, and Weston made choices that just pissed me off. On the flip side, there were moments where I cried, cheered, and mourned. This book also made me cry because two of the characters have PTSD from war which is the same as my husband. I connected with these characters so much...my heart ached for these guys. 

The sweet romance that blossomed between two of the three characters melted my heart. They persevered, found acceptance, and their own second chances. The perfect ending for these three characters. Their road to recovery was hard fought and challenging. 

Weston's nickname was the Amherst Asshole, now that nickname is more true. Weston has finally returned to school with a few accommodations. The only thing he craves is his best friend--the one person who keeps avoiding him. He can live with losing his girl. Well, not really. But she's never really been his girl. Only in his heart. But getting the cold shoulder from the one man who has had his back since their time together at prep school. 

Autumn struggles with losing not one but two men in her life. She misses the talks with Weston. She misses how Connor used to look at her and touch her. Both are gone. 

Connor is riddled with guilt. It should've been him. Everything is all his fault. He is never enough in the eyes of his family. 

All three have struggles to overcome. Scott approaches their struggles with delicate taste. I adore these characters!! I only have one complaint about the ending--one of the character's love interest is a bit too predictable. I didn't really believe it. It seemed a bit forced.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this series. A well written book about loyalty, friendship, love and forgiveness.

Emma Scott is masterful with her story of love, hope, loss, betrayal, sadness and redemption. I was taken on a journey along with Autumn, Connor and Weston which had me feeling everything they felt. This book is beautifully written and left me dwelling on it days after I had finished reading. I wish I could give it 10 Stars. Truly a must read.

if book one was emotionally shocking, book two was simply fantastic, poetry transcended the pages. I could feel all the anguish and pain of the characters. And Wes and Autumn managed to rip my heart out of my chest. I sighed, smiled, cried, I dreamed awake .... It was a fantastic conclusion for these friends and without a doubt surpassed my expectations too much. Everything in this book is perfect, as impressive as Emma Scott leads people to feel everything she writes in this book. I love her books, but was the best of them all.
6/5 stars