[Review] Darkhearts - James L. Sutter

Summary: When David quit his band, he missed his shot at fame, trapped in an ordinary high school life while his ex–best friend, Chance, became the hottest teen pop star in America.

Then tragedy throws David and Chance back into contact. As old wounds break open, the boys find themselves trading frenemy status for a confusing, secret romance—one that could be David’s ticket back into the band and the spotlight.

As the mixture of business and pleasure becomes a powder keg, David will have to choose: Is this his second chance at glory? Or his second chance at Chance? (Pub Date: Jan 24 2023)

 

I'll be honest, I have no idea how many starts to give to this one. It was a good read, it had me entertained, but it also felt like something was missing from it. While in the beginning this only made me look forward to when things really started, as it advanced and the feeling persisted, it just whispered to me: it should have been better.

3+

The story centers on David, who left his band as he felt the other two members were too much, despite being his childhood friends. Moments later, the band signs a contract and becomes a big thing. Two years later, he meets them again in unexpected circumstances: Eli died, and Chance is expected to return on stage too soon. But it becomes a way for Chance and David to reconnect. Even if it opens back the wounds that never healed properly.

This was my first book by James L. Sutter, and it seems like he did a big jump of genres from what Goodreads has listed under his name. It doesn't feel like it, though. And the story is good, the way David needs to get over himself is built stealthily, and it's rewarding. The romance is also cute, and at times hot. The couple has real chemistry. And maybe because of the author's background, the music  scene in Seattle was very well described—at least for someone who has no idea how it is supposed to be, lol. 

But as I said, there was something unfulfilling about the story. It would seem to be getting there but it never did. Maybe because we, the readers, could tell that as David was, the romance could never work out, so whenever he was with Chance, that dark cloud of doom loomed over. (I'll confess the parts about David's work were also a little too detailed and bored me a bit; good research, little use to make the plot more interesting).

The cover is pretty, the story is good, we have a lot of extra stuff going on that would be good discussions in book clubs. It goes beyond what many queer YA romances explore.

Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

Rating: 3 out of 5.