Dnf at 77%
I honestly loved everything until I felt “betrayed” by the author: the conflicts that take part in the centre are overused and tired, and honestly didn’t make any sense to me, as they could have been resolved quickly by just talking a bit. After all the protagonist and the love interest know each other since they were little kids and were best friends, so…meh. I was extremely disappointed and it made me not care anymore about anything. It made me abandon the read, and it’s a damn shame, cause I loved the prose (poetic when needed and colloquial and true to the protagonist otherwise), loved the characters (from the protagonist’s family to the cast of friends), loved the slow burn romance and the setting. I guess everything wasn’t really enough for me to counteract that feeling of betrayal.

4.5 Stars

Quiet and shy Henry Hamlet's life changes when his best friend, Len, kisses him during a party game and he discovers feelings he never knew he had.

This was so cute. I took too long to write this review and now my memories are mostly snippets and vibes from this book. But I read this in one day, absolutely devoured it, and needed to know what would become of Len and Henry's relationship every second of the way. They were so adorable and I absolutely love the friends-to-lovers trope and Lennon was in love with Henry for so long and Henry was completely oblivious! Not gonna lie, I wish some of this was from Len's pov too because I need to know what he was thinking!

I really loved this every step of the way. I hardcore need to reread it (audio maybe??) soon so I can remember details better but ahhh. So cute. But also painful. Like this may make you cry if you get as invested in the relationship as I did. I definitely cried and then thought about my feelings for many days afterwards.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Alcohol, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Homophobia, and Outing

Minor: Ableism and Cancer

This was so cute and wholesome! I love the way it was written, too. It was fun and was buzzing with all the feelings of first love and identity exploration. I wish Len and what he was going through had been explored a bit more, though. It’s something a lot of queer teenagers go through and I think it would have been good to read more details about how he dealt with it. Otherwise, I loved it.

Thank you to Charlesbridge and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this novel in exchange for a review. This novel released on Oct. 18, 2022.

Henry is in his last year of high school and trying to figure out his future before graduation, he has a best friend Len that he had developed feelings for. This is a friends to lovers book which has been overly complicated.
I think this book was not for me. The start was funny and interesting, but it went downhill from there and the ending looked rushed.

Ah, I'm honestly a bit stumped here, I don't know where to start with this review. I was really excited about this book, the cover was super cute, it seemed exactly like something I would love, and it had amazing reviews. And yet, this ended up being really underwhelming for me. I see why people would love it, but alas, it was not for me.

Henry Hamlet's Heart is a coming-of-age story, following the titular Henry through his last year of high school. We follow him as well as his friend group, specifically (importantly) his popular, charismatic, best friend, Len. Who Henry might have a crush on. They've been friends since forever, but could you even date one of your best friends without things going wrong?

So, this book promised all of the elements I usually love - a story about teens growing up, the awkwardness and messiness of that transitory period of your life, not knowing what the hell you're supposed to do next, yearning for someone you think is not interested, all that jazz. It promised all of that, and I can't say it didn't deliver, but the delivery left something to be desired for me.

I will say, the book started off strong, I really enjoyed the first third. We get introduced to the characters, Henry and Len have been friends for ages, Henry's family is super chaotic (but in a good way), and his bisexual grandma is getting married to her girlfriend. We see that Henry is definitely interested in Len, and there is definitely some yearning involved. The teenage experience is pretty much spot on, it's messy, it's confusing, it's dramatic. The story is set in 2008 I believe, so there's definitely some good nostalgia (and some that should've been avoided, but more on that later). I liked that there was a lot of talk on self-discovery. In the beginning, it seemed like some heavier themes so I was waiting to see how that plays out, but there wasn't really too much on that.

So, onto the things I didn't enjoy as much. Firstly, I wish Henry's friend group was more fleshed out, almost all of his friends seemed exactly the same to me. The friendships they had seemed a bit flimsy, I wasn't sure they actually liked each other. I was half convinced Henry wouldn't stay friends with any of them by the end. Many of the side characters felt really flat and two-dimensional, and I didn't really connect with any of them. The most interesting ones were Henry's family, and I truly did enjoy his grandma, she was very entertaining (I honestly would've preferred reading about her life, but oh well). Even Henry and Len, the main characters we're supposed to be rooting for, remain pretty surface-level for most of the story.

As for the main focus of the book, I really wasn't sold on Henry and Len's relationship. Even as friends, at some point. I said I mostly enjoyed the beginning of the book, it was because it seemed promising, but as far as character depth and development go, I don't think any progress was made during the story. We are repeatedly told the two of them have been friends for years, but there are next to no scenes that show us any of that. A lot of the time even in the present day in the book, they seem pretty distant, and besides us being told they're so close, there's little to actually show that. I did like the yearning and pining from Henry's perspective in the beginning, but they both lacked personality in my opinion, especially Len. I really thought the author was setting him up to be a really great, interesting character (again, the beginning had potential), but it fell short. I didn't really care about the story as it progressed.

Another issue I had was the writing itself. Henry and Len definitely reinvented miscommunication as a trope and brought it to a whole new level. I really dislike it in the best of books, and I despised it here. I am usually the biggest apologist for teens being dramatic and annoying and also for books being just vibes, with nothing happening, but this book stretched my patience thin. The middle of the book dragged so much, I really didn't care about anything by the time the drama was resolved.

Henry and Len have a painful amount of conversations that end with one of them saying "nevermind" and leaving, and I was so over it. I absolutely understand teens are terrible at communication at the best of times, but this was so annoying after a while. It doesn't make for an enjoyable experience if every two pages we just have the same thing, the same conversation. The author used quite a lot of repetitive phrases, which also wasn't my favorite. The pacing was excruciatingly slow for most of the book, but also everything that happened was surface-level so it felt too slow and too fast simultaneously. And as I mentioned, a lot of more serious topics, related to Len's family were kind of just dropped and not fully explored, and I expected more.

Last, but certainly not least, as for the nostalgia-to-avoid I mentioned, I really feel that for a queer book written in 2021 it is entirely unnecessary and a bit embarrassing to have HP references. I understand it was everywhere in the year 2008, I remember it, but seriously this was just not it.

Also, additionally, I felt very weird about the fact a certain character kissed his first cousin, was proud of it, and mentioned it three times. Wasn't sure why that was necessary, truly.

All in all, while I do get why people like this book in theory, in reality, it fell just a bit short of being enjoyable for me. Despite it being everything I would usually enjoy, I ended up bored for most of the book. As per usual, this is just my opinion, and it seems I'm in the minority here, so if you feel like reading it, don't let me stop you.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!

Henry Hamlet is a senior in an Australian all boys school. He is an excellent student and school leader, and has a great group of friends who call themselves the Boiiiys. His best friend Len is popular enough that being bisexual doesn't affect his status in school, but Henry doesn't know anyone who is out as gay, and doesn't believe that his classmates would be supportive. Henry isn't even sure if he is gay, but he can't stop thinking about the drunken dare that led to Len kissing him at a party. He doesn't want to ruin their friendship, but he can't help but wonder if they could be more than friends.

UGH OH MY GOD YOU GUYS THIS WAS SO ADORABLE. definitely on my all time fav romances list. this book is the strongest argument for the best friends to lovers trope I can muster because. oh my god. the pining. the yearning. the dorkiness and the angst and the fluff. the love for each other that bleeds through every page. this had super brittana from glee vibes (if they were both guys), from the yearning to the timeline and everything. (probably the highest compliment I can give a ship lol). also: debate, dumbass boy besties, gorgeous gorgeous writing, Emilia, MARTIN AND HENRY GOD. also this book starts with henry’s grandma coming out as bi and in love with a woman (who she later marries in the book veteransapphicweddingveteransapphicweddingveteransapphicwedding!!!!!!) which is literally all you need to know about it. ALSO this featured supportive parents and friends and minimal homophobia which was really refreshing, especially for the timeline??! SO YEAH IT GAVE ME A MASSIVE ADRENALINE HIGH AND I FINISHED IT IN A DAY AND ITS MY NEW STANDARD FOR THE FRIENDS TO LOVERS TROPE AND ROMANCE IN GENERAL. the only thing I didn’t like was the third act break up (sigh) which felt like it was just there to add a ton of unnecessary drama at the end, and I kinda wish the book had just ended at the 75% mark tbh. HOWEVER it didn’t sink the whole experience for me and did a pretty decent job of redeeming itself…even if I wish it hadn’t happened in the first place?? anywayyyyy I’m still on a sugar high from this HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND

thank you to netgalley for providing me with an arc of this in exchange for an honest reviewwwwww

This beautiful is one of those books that will change your life completely, it's a queer story that will connect with so many people.
Please give it a chance,

This book came up out of nowhere and punched me in the gut. It was another one I requested on a whim hoping it would be a good fit for our school's queer book club, and instead I found myself staying up until 2 AM crying while I finished it and then regaling my student lunch bunch with how beautiful it was. Rhiannon Wilde's debut novel is a stunning story of figuring life out, falling for your best friend, and how to let go of your childhood.

Set in the late aughts in Australia, Henry Hamlet (usually affectionately referred to by family and friends alike as "Hamlet" or just "Ham") is an awkward, neurotic mess of a teenager. He is thoroughly unprepared for the end of school - or what comes after - and has no clue who he is as a person. Is he a person? Is he different people to those around him? Why is that so much pressure? But what he does know is that he has always had - and always will have - his best friend, Lennon Cane (Len), to lean on. If Henry is a barely-human wreck, then Len is a mysterious, suave heartthrob of perfection. But they fit. Or, at least, they did; until a dare to kiss at a party shows Henry everything he's been missing with Len, and he catches a case of the feelings... For someone who is prone to running away as soon as things get difficult.

I just genuinely loved everything about Henry Hamlet's Heart. Maybe it's because, between the setting in the late aughts and Henry himself, it felt a lot like reading a story that could have been written about myself or my crew. Henry is such a relatable, lovable mess of a human, with a family that loves him unfailingly. Gran and Goldie are treasures. Mark that down. Len is a bit more difficult to comprehend, but is no less a stunning character in his own right - so quick to withdraw and hide the minute things get complicated. These are normal teenagers with normal problems depicted brilliantly. It's set during that weird between time where it wasn't bad for us to be anything-but-straight, but it also wasn't something that we allowed to just... openly say, either. And the book depicts that weird betweenness brilliantly.
I found myself smiling delightedly every time Wilde referenced pieces that say so much about these characters and this time: a stolen My Chemical Romance Shirt that nearly sends Henry into a spiral when he sees it on Len, feeling feelings to The National, late aughts emos! It's about a group of friends who are thrown together mostly by necessity but love each other through it anyway, knowing that it will end when school does. And the humor. If I didn't giggle every time the name "Spew Grant" was mentioned...

I genuinely wish I could have given this book five stars. I really do. It brought me so much delight. But there are two huge caveats here that made me deduct a star.
1. A very blatant and entirely unnecessary Harry Potter reference. It would have been so easy to skip over.
2. This cast of characters is... very white. People of color don't particularly exist in this story.
It's a bummer, because it's such a lovely story with a great theme and message and everything that could have been a solid five stars with just a few easy changes.

This was a really quick and entertaining read. Henry Hamlet is such a fun main character to read and following his journey was a blast!
I feel like Len could have had a little bit more depth as to why he acted the way he acted, because the reasons stayed very surface level throughout the second half of the book.
Also, the ending could have been just a couple of pages longer

CW/TW: Grief, verbal abuse, homophobia, underage drinking and smoking

‘I wonder, suddenly, if I’ll leave it soon. If next year I’ll be like, “That yellow house ob the street with the café at the end? The one with the leadlight windows? Yeah. That’s my parents’ place.” Who I’d say it to. If there’s people I’ll know, just out there existing, while I’m lying here, staring at the ceiling.’

Henry Hamlet’s Heart is truly a charming life story. This story stars a group of friends in their twelfth year-- (equivalent to senior year in a US high school system) and more notably focused on our MC Hamlet. `The ins-and-outs of being a high school boy on the cusp of what society deems as the importance and beginning of adulthood. Figuring out your future career and dipping into the waters of individuality and singularity is tough on its own, but Hamlet’s hilarious and tenderhearted family dynamics mixed with coming of age romance feels effortlessly told here.
At first, the first ten percent of this novel felt underwhelming compared to the rise and climax of stakes throughout the last twenty percent. In the beginning I begged the question of whether the character Hamlet would be the better main character to see this story through rather than the love interest. However, I was proven wrong.
There were admittedly times where the story staggered. Readers who fancy epic proportions of drama and action will most likely find fault with the pacing of this story, but it’s the story’s pacing fault won’t make you put this book on the No, Thanks List. Hamlet shines through and through. At around two-hundred and fifty to three hundred pages it reads as a slow coming of age with rom-com laughs and heart-swelling moments that lead to waterfall tears.
What makes this debut glitter is the depth to the characters themselves. From the progressive, sometimes unbearably understanding parents that Hamlet has to real-life glimpses of grief and messy families such as Len’s. The varying of life experiences is sold as simply opposites attracting, but I found that both Hamlet and Len were stretched to the very inch of their creation in the sort of way that made me think, “Ah, I know them better then I know myself”.

How do you un-know someone if you only know most of you because of them?
How do you even try?

The teenage angst, school stress and friendships had a death-grip on my heart by the time I finished. While I thought towards the end that I wished I had gotten to know side characters like Harrison, Ged and Vince more aside from their comedic discussions and horsing around, I was still pleased with their relationships within the close friendship and how they developed. It was enough, but I will say I wanted more. Say, more serious moments and scenes where they could have possibly sharpened into focus.
Regardless, I enjoyed this novel more than I expected. I shed tears, laughed my head off and took several screen-shots of quotes that speak to my very gay heart. I fell for Hamlet, as well as Len, and dearly hope this author writes a short story or some other thing because I have a feeling I will have to recover from Henry Hamlet’s Heart-sickness soon. I miss them already, doesn’t that tell you what I think? And I do happen to have a soft heart for angst-ridden, broody golden retrievers whose love interest is so obtuse they lose their mind.

Any delusions I’ve harbored about being over him disappear completely. I go into full Bella-Swan-in-New-Moon wallowing.

Your honor, I want to smother them with my love and frustration.

“Because people aren’t like ideas.”
“What do you mean?”
“They don’t change based on who’s looking at them. People just exist, as they are-- it’s what makes them human. You couldn’t love an idea.”
“Hamlet?” he says after a while.
“... Yeah?”
“Nothing.”

This author falls under the “the beginning isn’t too important, lets get to the real beginning” spell and recovers victoriously. Upon a second read I spy in the future, the slow start won’t even matter. One hundred percent do I believe that this novel is a comfort read. Splendid. I look forward to more.

“You’re half of me,” he says, his voice soft and serious. “What else is there?”
And, yeah. There’s not much need for talking, after that.

Henry Hamlet's Heart is set in Brisbane, Australia and is a beautiful friends to lovers story. It is senior year for Henry and his friends and everything is changing around them. Time seems to just be speeding forward forcing them to make decisions about their future. This brings up alot of emotions especially with the idea of being separated from each other. This becomes very much true for Henry and his best friend Len.

Henry Hamlet is dorky, awkward, and has a tendency to be a total klutz. He avoids all social events and is the total opposite of his best friend Len. Len is part of the social crowd. He is an attractive jock and has charisma for any situation. On the surface, his friendship with Henry does not make any sense but, he helps break him out of his shell a bit. Both characters are attending a party with their classmates and game of truth or dare is started. Len is dared to kiss his dorky fiend and when he does suddenly there are sparks bubbling under the surface.

These sparks are unexpected for Henry.. His is not supposed to have these feelings for his best friend. He tries to ignore them but it becomes very difficult. Everything is now in a completely new lens. All of this felt so real and developed. It really did have this feeling of first love within the walls of the high school. The push pull between Henry and Len is so well done. They have such a deep emotional connection which leads to tension and longing between them. I was so invested in the two of them.

The fact that Henry and Len are opposites really worked for their dynamic. Len provided Henry the support to put himself out there; and Henry pushes Len to break down his walls. Each of these characters help create the tenison between them as both characters have difficulty changing. They had their teenage innocence but also their teenage stubbornness. I really enjoyed the high school setting with Len, Henry, and their friends. It was set during the time when I was experiencing high school so there were some things I could relate to. The group of friends reminded me a bit of mine at the time - each having their own personalities and interests - but all of them having each others backs. There were several laugh out loud moments for me.

Henry's family is basically the perfect example of what a teenagers family should and could be like in alot of ways. His parents are supportive but also give Henry space to make his own decisions and mistakes. They have taken Len under their wing and treat him like a second son. And when the news about Henry and Len's changing dynamic is revealed they are slightly surprised but completely supportive. There is no questioning their sons sexuality. In comparison, Len's family is completely broken. His mother is deceased, his father is never there and when he he's drunk, and mean, and his older sister is trying to create her own path in the world. His sister tries to be there for him but, it also trying to figure herself out. It makes perfect sense that Len feels more comfortable within the walls of Hamlet household. My heart broke for him whenever their were moments were shared with his father.

Henry Hamlet's Heart is such a fulfilling young adult story. It has it's moment of comedy, moments of truth, and moments that are so very heartwarming. I thought it was such a beautiful story of first love, friendship, and character growth. Senior year can be scary but with the kind of support system that is in place within these pages it can be easier to survive. I think this book can provide a safe space for its readers.

I picked this review copy up a while ago and due to school and work being a bit much recently, I'm posting this almost two weeks late.* I really try to have my responses published the week of publication but that week was also the week my first big paper was due, which I did great on, but still better luck next time.

Henry Hamlet's Heart is the story of Henry and Len, best friends that have been in each others' orbit forever. Henry has existed as the non-sexual know-it-all brainiac and Len has existed as the sexually fluid footballer who does what he wants when he wants with whoever he wants.

It's pretty clear from the outset that they've loved each other forever but Henry was too obtuse to realize it and Len was protecting his heart and living up to his playboy reputation. It took WAY too long for them to figure it out (or more likely it took me too long to get to that point in the story), but when they did, boy did the sparks fly and the pace of the story picks up! Even though I felt ho-hum about the story I could've spent so much more time with Henry and Len as they figured out who they were together but Wilde did a great job with the happy for now, future is a bright ending so I can't complain.

There were so many wonderful minor characters from all of Henry's family to "The Boiss" (the friend group) that I'm honestly surprised I didn't love the story more. There were definitely some that I felt should've played more of a role (Henry's best friend who dips in twice) but for the most part, they were just great and I enjoyed them. My favorite was a tie between Henry's bisexual grandmother who took no prisoners and his absent-minded author dad who was a space case but supportive.

Recommendation: Overall this one was sort of ho-hum for me. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't omg squee amazing either. I'm not sure if this is an Australia thing for me, seems the last few books set in Australia ended up sort of meh. The chemistry between Henry and Len was really well done and their fight and make-up scenes were SO good, but not enough to make me think this is a great book. It could be me and how exhausted/busy I've been but you never know. If I stumble across Wilde again in the future I wouldn't say no to trying another book by her.

*I received a copy of Henry Hamlet's Heart via NetGalley in return for my honest opinion. No goods or money were exchanged.

This was a big miss for me. I was bored for most of it and annoyed at the characters for the rest. I didn't like the Main Character and fully hated the Love Interest. The LI was a gaslighting, selfish piece of work. I did not see what the MC saw in him, but also the MC was very much incapable of making any sort of decision. And for me, the group of school friends, while very present, all mushed together as one. They weren't very layered and I could not tell one from the other.
The plot was so very slow, I swear nothing happened for most of the first half.
I don't know... Even the worldbuilding was weird and this is a contemporary book...
It wasn't the worst book I've ever read but it also definitely did not work for me... Sorry?

I received this ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion. While I enjoyed this book (friends to lovers it's one of my favorite tropes) the first part of the story dragged too much. It's just Henry and his friends doing daily things. And until part II, I was questioning if this was a romance or a coming of age (Final opinion: it's kind of both).
I love that the book is lighthearted and Henry it's an excellent narrator. And one of my favorite things it's that homophobia doesn't play an important role in the novel. There are doubts, and some hideous comments but it's not the book's central point, nor the major conflict.
I would definitely recommend this story if you are looking for a fast-paced, fun, and hopeful (especially if you want a book full of loveable characters (except for maybe one or two).

While the setting and basic plot line is guaranteed to have me hooked, and it did, this book lost a star by falling short of my high expectations.

The characters had depth. They were relatable and lovable and just adorable. They are clueless and cringey at times as teenage characters should be.

It’s set a bit before I was that age so I couldn’t really relate to some of the references and such but that was okay otherwise. The first part of the story was a bit on the slow side. Finally, this may just be a personal ick but I do not like friends to lovers stories that have only one character pining for years and the other not interested until they are.

Henry Hamlet is in his last year of school and isn't sure what he wants to do after graduation. He's at the top of his class, has a great relationship to his family and a tightly-knit group of friends. Everything is fine until he realizes he's in love with his best friend Len and figures his feelings are unrequited. But what if Len feels the same way?

I absolutely adored this book! Both Henry and Len are great characters and you just want them to be happy. All of the supporting characters like Henry's family and friends are really wholesome as well. The story is very realistic and though you can kind of figure how it's gonna end, it was still a very nice read!

What is there to say?! Henry Hamlet's Heart is about the heartache and joyful moments of falling for your best friend, and the journey that goes alongside it. I will NEVER get enough of these stories! Best friends to lovers is such an underplayed trope, and I love that we are getting more M/M romances in this trope!

Wilde did such a great job telling this story; the emotional journey that Henry Hamlet's Heart will take you on is a beautiful ride. Absolutely recommend!

Very cute and adorable book, with lovely characters and a wonderful writing.
The author did a very job and I enjoyed every single page of this book !