***This review has also been posted on The Social Potato

I've loved everything I've read by Jenn Bennett and she is on my autobuy/read list so this review might be slightly biased.... BUT THE BOOK WAS REALLY GOOD OKAY?

I went into this book expecting to fall in love and that's exactly what happened. NO SURPRISES THERE. Jenn writes the most amazing romances that won't fail to make you feel tingly on the inside and give you all the shipper feels. On top of that, she weaved in important issues and some diversity into the novel to make it an absolute winner. Her characters are complex and developed intricately so you cannot help but love them in spite of their imperfections.

The biggest issue I had with this book; however, was the slut-shaming. I will say that the main character kind of redeemed herself towards the end but there were some things she said and the people around her said that bothered me. The book aside from this one thing, is very sex positive (I *will* elaborate on that later) so I just wished the slut shamming didn't happen. I don't like it when characters are talked about in negative ways because of their sex lives. Let them live the way they WANT to.

The other issue I had--which wasn't nearly as big of a deal--was the way things wrapped up. There were some things I would have liked to see more of instead of just being told about it. I wanted to see Noah and Heath together a little more (and figure out the dynamics of their relationship); I wanted to find out more about Jack's family and some of those dynamics and I wanted to see more of Bex's relationship with her father.

Moving on...

Bex is an amazing character. I love how complex and imperfect she is. I love her struggle to find out who she is outside of her family. I love her determination. AND I LOVE HER WIT. I love watching her grow over the course of the book and become more comfortable within her own skin.

Jack is also equally amazing. He is also swoony. *melts into a puddle* No. I am not giving you more deets but I will let you know that his persistence is rather charming. *giggles*

The way sex is handled in this book is fucking amazing.It is the way sex should be handled not just in YA lit but also in adult lit. Jack and Bex sit down and actually talk about sex and what they like/don't like and then they ask each other to make sure they are okay with what is going to happen. Consent. *fist pumps* It's a magical thing that is so fucking important and hats off to Jenn for the way she handled it. *throws confetti in the air*

Which is why the romance works too. It's all about communication and we all know how important communication is. They aren't always amazing with their communication but the constant reminders that they are there for each other are fantastic and I love that. It's why you cannot help but ship them and that's what makes Jenn's romances some of the best I've ever read. She just knows. Perhaps magical powers? Who knows. WE WANT TO KNOW YOUR SECRETS, JENN.

This book also features other great relationships.Namely between Bex and her family and Jack and his sister. The only I would have liked to see more of would be friendships. Friendships are some of the most important relationships out there and I think it would have been nice to see Bex interact with some of her friends (who were not there for the summer but hey, skype calls are great too!)

The book also deals with mental illness in a way that makes me want to high five Jenn (maybe I just really want an excuse to high five her. Is that too much to ask for?)

Anywayyyy, I would 100% encourage people to add this book to their enormous TBRS. This book is a fantastic contemporary romance that won't fail to charm you and make you swoon.

Note that I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

http://witandsin.blogspot.com/2015/10/review-anatomical-shape-of-heart-by.html

The Anatomical Shape of a Heart is a completely charming, utterly addictive, and – best of all – wholly unique story that’s sure to make you smile. Bex and Jack are wonderfully quirky and their spirit and heart make the pages of their book fly by.

Bex is a rising high school senior who hopes to be a medical illustrator. It’s a competitive field and she hopes to win a museum-sponsored scholarship contest by drawing real cadavers. But when she misses the last train home, she’s stuck taking the night bus. It’s there she meets Jack, another rising senior who is unlike anyone Bex has ever met. Jack is handsome, quick-witted, and unique. He’s also a notorious graffiti artist with a major secret. Their chance meeting and flirtation leads to more and soon the two are having breathtaking adventures and falling harder for one another than either could have imagined.

It’s easy to like Bex and Jack. They’re both smart, refreshingly different characters with big hearts that carry a few scars from the past. I won’t spoil the story by revealing what they’ve been through, but author Jenn Bennett gives both her protagonists fully fleshed-out histories and families that are important to the story. In fact, every character is fully-realized and beautifully drawn, imperfections and all.

The Anatomical Shape of a Heart isn’t all late-night escapades and cadaver drawings – there are family struggles, heartbreak, and consequences that have to be faced. The book tackles mental issues, divorce, and more. Most of all, the story has hope. Hope gets our hero and heroine through the dark times and makes you believe they can face any challenge on the road ahead. I loved the sense of realism imbued in the story. Ms. Bennett does a great job of mixing it with the breathless fall into love and the heady sense of adventure and freedom Bex and Jack feel when all of San Francisco is laid at their feet. Jack and Bex’s romance is joyful and completely spellbinding. I dare you not to fall for them and their tale.

Jenn Bennett is an auto-buy author for me no matter what genre she writes in. The Anatomical Shape of a Heart is Ms. Bennett’s first foray into the young adult genre and makes me believe there’s nothing she can’t write. The Anatomical Shape of a Heart made me laugh, tear up, and smile. I absolutely adored Bex and Jack and their quirky, witty, captivating romance is one I’m sure to enjoy again and again.


Note: In the UK, Australia, and New Zealand The Anatomical Shape of a Heart is titled Night Owls.

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I am totally in love.

With Jack...
the art thingy...
and this book in general

Just don't go and break my heart, Bennett!