Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of Hello, Cruel Heart in exchange for an honest review.

I was let down by Disney Publishing's Cruella backstory /i/ Evil Thing /i/ last year so when I found out they were publishing another one this year, I was tentatively excited.

While I did enjoy /i/ Hello, Cruel Heart /i/ a lot more, I think that mostly just comes down to Johnson's writing style and not the actual content of the story. There really isn't a lot of backstory to draw on when making a Cruella backstory which in theory should give writers a lot of artistic freedom, but so far they seem to go the route of trying to tone down and normalize Disney's arguably most over the top villain and it leads to a kind of boring narrative that's difficult to get invested in outside of sheer curiosity ovdf how Cruella will be handled.

I enjoyed this. I can't say that I've ever wondered about the backstory behind Cruella DeVil but I requested the DRC because I'm a fan of Maureen Johnson. The story was interesting and entertaining even if you have never read 101 Dalmatians and you probably don't need to have seen the movie either.

Who doesn't love a good villain story? Especially one that tells the story of before they became infamous. This grabbed me as it reminded me of Heartless which I adore. I loved seeing the vulnerable side of Estella and see that glimpse of a relatable young girl. At a yong age having to fight to survive it was a great foundation to the villain we live to hate. I loved the inclusion of Jasper and Horance and why Cruella seems to keep them around despite their incompetence. I wish we knew if there was a sequel to bring made because that ending has me wanting for the next book to tie up that ending. Definitely a great read!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and I got something I really wasn’t expecting. Much like Jennifer Donnely’s “Stepsister,” this is an origin story for Cruella. And it was all sorts of cool. I didn’t expect to be taken back to 1960s London, but I absolutely adored it!!! That’s probably my favorite thing about the book: the completely authentic rendition of swinging 60s culture......the clothes, the music, the stars, and did I mention the clothes?! My gawd. The Clothes!!! So very cool. So groovy. This was a righteously edgy and totally brilliant read. 💜📚💜

On it's own, this was a good story. I mean, since we know how Cruella ends up in the future, it makes it a bit obvious how this one will end. But, I enjoyed reading about her younger life. The few issues i have mostly relate to how it coincides with the Cruella we all know. First, there would have to be a major leap from the events of this book to a puppy skinning mad woman. Estella just doesn't seem that far gone when we leave off. Maybe a second book will show how she becomes such a horrible person? Secondly the whole Dalmatian detail thrown in at the beginning seemed so forced. so so forced.

First off I would appreciate it if someone could tell me why I love retellings/origin stories so much. Even if I don’t know anything about the original stories. That’s not to say that that was the case with this book; i know just as much about miss Cruella de Vil as any other average pedestrian. But I digress.

Because I usually love a good recycled concept so much, it saddens me greatly to say that I found this book to be…. underwhelming. eSPECIALLY considering how much I love everything else I’ve read by Maureen Johnson. I guess you could say I had some expectations that just weren’t met.

The story is basically: a teenage Estella aka Cruella sews stuff and shoplifts with her street urchin buddies until she starts running around with some posh hipsters and the guitarist of a boy band. she also lowkey becomes famous in the fashion industry for a hot sec before everyone promptly forgets about her?

Writing it out like this makes me realize how little aCTUALLY happens in this book. The climax is virtually nonexistent, and by the end pretty much everything is just back the way it started.

I still have questions though? Because her super tragic backstory includes the death of her mom, but we never really find out why what happened……. happened? I thought the scene hinted at answers to come, but I guess I was fooled.

As for the characters, I wouldn’t go so far as to say that they’re all unlikable, but certainly none of them are too memorable. Jasper and Horace, Estella’s cronies, had potential, but there just wasn’t enough of them to leave any real impression.

Overall, I don’t think this book lives up to its potential. If the characters had just a little more substance, if the plot had higher stakes, if it really showed us any of Estella’s development into an evil murderous villain, it probably would’ve been fantastic. But the thing is, I don’t even quite see how this story ties into the character of Cruella de Vil, like, at all. Besides them sharing a name. I feel like I’m just ranting at this point; y’all get what I’m trying to say. I hope.

Anyway, all that said, I still think this book was a fun enough read. If you’re looking for something light, quick, and easy, this one may just be the one for you.

Was Cruella always so evil? Was there ever any good in her life? This story tells of her life as a teen and her "family" situation. A quick read for younger fans of Disney.

I absolutely adore Maureen Johnson. Her Shades of London series is one of my favorite YA series, and one I really loved despite the fact I'm not a teen anymore and I tend to stay away from YA books. I was really excited when I heard she would be tackling Cruella De Vil in a new origin story. It sounded like a perfect matchup.

And I'm glad to say that, for the most part, it was. Johnson's wit and humor were really given a chance to shine through Estella. She brought even more life to an already unforgettable character. I also think Johnson did a great job of invoking the time period and setting. Half of the fun of this book was experiencing a little of London in the 1960s, and Johnson really made this an experience to remember.

Overall, the story was a little slow for me. However, because I was really invested in Estella and was enjoying my time in this world, this didn't really bother me all that much. I think this will be a great lead-in to the new movie!

I love this book. Estella is an awesome character and its interesting to see the relationship between herself and curella. I love that jasper and horace have such a large part of her life. I cannot wait to read more by this author.

I requested to read this from Netgalley for two reasons. 1.) I am obsessed with all things Disney and 2.) I love Maureen Johnson and her writing.

This was a very quick read and one that wasn’t a bore to read. If you go into this thinking you are getting a backstory of Cruella herself, you’ll be saddened by the fact that in this book she is just an alter-ego who is in the mind of Estella (if that’s what you would call it). She is only present when things get tough and Estella needs someone to push through it all without holding back.

I did like parts of the book as well as the writing. Estella is a strong girl who goes through a lot and yet she doesn’t give up on her dreams. That is something to be admired. She doesn’t always make the best decisions but that’s what makes her human.

Backstories can always be iffy especially when they are written after the original material. I have seen 101 Dalmatians (both the animated and cast multiple times) and to me this story takes away who Cruella is. I have not seen the trailer for the new movie and so I can’t say anything about that when it comes to this book or the original movie. I am curious though.

There are a lot of things that happen to Estella that do correlate with the original movie, i.e. why she doesn’t like Dalmatians, but it doesn’t make sense. I won’t say as to keep this spoiler free but it just felt over the top and not even explained after the fact.

She also treats those who have been there for her like trash. Horace and Jasper aren’t as dim-witted as they seem in the movies and have brought her when she was down in the dumps. At one point she says they are like brothers but also says they aren’t her friends. Even when she gets left behind by her so-called new friends and a boy, they bring her back into their lair without a hesitation. They are loyal and definitely deserve more respect from her.

The plot can be predictable and I saw both of the plot twists coming. This could just be because a villain needs a lot of rough patches to make them who they are.

Overall, it was good for what it is. I don’t think it was the worst backstory but there were just elements that left me questioning the creative choice.

Is this all your destined for?
Maureen Johnson spins a new origin story for the villain Cruella Deville, that rewrites the story of the famous dog napper. Sixteen and a self-proclaimed genius, Estella wants nothing more than to be famous for her brilliant fashion. Having never finished school, Estella uses her gifts of disguise to steal. Her friends Jasper and Horace help her pickpocket tourists, and take expensive bolts of fabric. With the sudden opportunity to exhibit her skills, she falls into the world of the rich and frivolous. She even finds a bit of a romance. Too bad her inner voice Cruella has her own selfish plans. This book explains a few burning questions such as why she hates dalmatians, where she got the name Cruella, and the origin of her black and white hair. Maureen Johnson does a brilliant job describing 1967 London, filled with music, locations, and fashion. Though, she often repeats minor details, which becomes a bit redundant. Cruella’s new story fits her character very well, and brings more depth to her motivations. Motivations that are entirely selfish, and then rationalized. All of which makes Cruella such an iconic and fascinating character. A great book for those who like sympathetic villain retellings, and fashion.

Hello Cruel Heart is a villain backstory for Cruella De Vil, set in late 1960s London and written for a YA audience. Knowing where it was headed, I was braced for heartbreak and betrayal as crucial moments in Cruella’s villain coming-of-age, and the story delivered ... it’s pretty sad. There aren’t a lot of redeeming moments aside from her found family with Horace and Jasper, fellow orphans and thieves. But, the story does humanize Cruella (originally Estella) up until the point that she’s betrayed by so-called friends and chooses a life of crime and vengeance. And I think teenage readers will enjoy the fashion storyline and the heists. I’ll be curious to see how this matches up with the characterization in the new Disney movie.

I was really excited to read this being a back story of Cruella DeVil. It honestly fell short for me because I didn’t think it gave off any Cruella vibes at all. The story wasn’t too bad and the characters were okay. But it just didn’t feel like the Cruella I knew and loved. The writing was also a bit weird and repetitive at times. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if it wasn’t labeled as a Cruella story. Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy of the arc in return for an honest review!

I absolutely adored this! Cruella is one of my all-time favorites and I'm so glad she got her own origin story. I am surprised that this is the first novel that I have read by Maureen Johnson especially since she's been on my TBR list for the longest time and I was not disappointed. The joys of London are well described and the tone making the reader imagine themself in this lovely city. I especially loved the time period which demonstrates the start of colorful fashion and upbeat music after the war. In the end, you clearly understood Cruella's journey to villainy! This story was exactly what I needed it to be. Maureen Johnson clearly knows how to create Disney magic!

This story is making me so excited for the movie release!

I love to read Disney retellings and backstories, and I also love everything Maureen Johnson writes. Hello, Cruel Heart was fantastic! I’m not sure how well the story fits with the new Cruella movie coming out, but the book doesn’t totally align with the Cruella of 101 Dalmatians. The novel is well-written and interesting, though, and I had to keep turning pages at the end of every chapter!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was excited to see one of my favorite authors, Maureen Johnson, writing this backstory of Cruella de Vil, so I was eager to dive into this novel.
In the beginning of the novel, we learn that Cruella is actually Estella, a sixteen year old orphan living with her mates Jasper and Horace in late 1960s London. I was disappointed in the setting because it is hard to imagine London if you've never been there, but I kept reading further.
The story gives glimpses of how Estella, or Stella, steals to get by. One day, Stella is mesmerized by a brother sister duo in the fabric store while she is trying to steal some pieces of cloth to make her next creation, and Stella admits to them her biggest secret...she steals. The sister notices how fashion forward Stella is and how she can make clothes that no one else has seen, so she allows Stella to become part of their circle of friends. Unfortunately, Stella is just being used for her talents and in the end is thrown away and forgotten landing her right back in the slums with Jasper and Horace.
Throughout the story, Johnson weaves Cruella, Stella's alter ego in her mind, into many of the scenes so the reader expects that at any moment Cruella will push Stella aside and take over her personality. Even with the disappointing setting and inevitable ending, I cheered for Stella to become her true self, and Johnson delivered a believable backstory to the Cruella we all love to hate.

101 Dalmatians was my favorite movie as a kid - we wore out multiple VHS tapes (remember those?) Then the live action version came out, and I don't think anyone can top Glen Close's performance as a modern day Cruella.

So when this popped up I JUMPED on my chance to read it and devoured it in one sitting. (I will admit, for some reason I was expecting yet another modern Cruella,..? But I was happy to be wrong!) Teenage Cruella, or Estella, captures your attention immediately. It's another "They weren't always a villain" but without the apologetic angle. Estella is a lean mean teenage thief. Sympathetic, but you can still see her trajectory into the future Cruella. A chance meeting changes her life and seems to give her the path she wants to her goals.

The ending is haphazard. There's too many unanswered questions and few dropped storylines. It kind of feels set up for a sequel...? Hoping there is because as a standalone, it leaves the reader feeling restless.

It is all in the details - in both fashion and mystery, the details make or break the final product. I don't know who pitched the idea of selecting Maureen Johnson to pen the origin story of Cruella de Vil, but she's truly the perfect choice. Her attention to crafting a scene and her ability to hide clues in plain sight is exactly what this story needed, plus it seems right on trend with Easter eggs in the Disney franchise. All necessary indicators to seeing a transformation unfold are right in front of the reader the whole time, but there's still the awe of the outcome that makes it a page-turner.

Little Estella was born to stand out, but that maddening streak of temper never helped her make friends or do well in school. So, once she's asked to leave her suburban school, her mother decides she'd be better in London, especially since Estella was born with a keen sense for sewing and can craft stunning designs destined for the runway. But, on the way to London, tragedy strikes, and Estella is an orphan in a big city. She's taken in with Horace and Jasper, a pair of street urchins who help her hone a distinct set of skills necessary to maintain their lifestyle. And it is all well and good until Estella wants more. There's a force inside of her breaking free and Estella could mind her manners and politely ask the voice in her head to kindly leave, or she can harness the power and right the wrongs that keep her from getting what she wants. So good!

Let me start off by saying as the writing goes it was pretty decent. Though the pacing did feel a bit off and slow at times. The story itself wasn't bad.

With that said I was really looking forward to reading a Cruella de Vil origin story ; since in my opinion she is one of the most interesting Disney villains. Unfortunately as origin stories go this fell flat. It just didn't feel like a Cruella de Vil origin story at all. I kept waiting for that moment when Cruella's story really begin ; that moment i'm like yes, this is the Cruella we all know and hate to love. I'm sad to say that moment never came. The whole idea of her becoming Cruella seemed more like an afterthought. Then anything else.

I really do think if this wasn't a Cruella origin story and was just simply the story of Estella then I would have enjoyed it more ; since I would have been able to enjoy it for what it was and not what I expected.

Overall this didn't work for me as an origin story, but the story itself was an okay read.

This was a great prequel and taste for the new Cruella movie, I enjoyed how the author was able to create a voice for Cruella that works for Emma Stone's characters and the animated version. It was an engaging read and I enjoyed the storyline that was going on, this is my first book that I read from Ms. Johnson and I enjoyed the way she writes. I really enjoyed reading this book and it made me excited to watch the new movie.