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theluminarylibrary's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
madivanthof08's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
yumnas's review against another edition
3.0
I was kind of hoping for an origin story... I think that because it wasn't an origin story, the ending did not have enough closure. I need a second book.
brittster622's review against another edition
3.0
This is the story of Estella. (Don’t you mean Cruella?)
No Cruella. Well a little I guess.
This is the story about Estella and how the events in her life led her to give in to the Cruella inside her. I enjoyed several of the aspects of this villain origin story. It was nice to see how Cruella met Horace and Jasper and this story makes their relationship believable and valuable. It was also interesting to see her love of fashion and how it drove her into the choices she made.
I thought the book was good, but I’m more excited about how it will play into the upcoming movie about Cruella, if at all. It gives me hope that the movie will be pretty good.
No Cruella. Well a little I guess.
This is the story about Estella and how the events in her life led her to give in to the Cruella inside her. I enjoyed several of the aspects of this villain origin story. It was nice to see how Cruella met Horace and Jasper and this story makes their relationship believable and valuable. It was also interesting to see her love of fashion and how it drove her into the choices she made.
I thought the book was good, but I’m more excited about how it will play into the upcoming movie about Cruella, if at all. It gives me hope that the movie will be pretty good.
bethhthelibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
Maureen Johnson is one of my favorite YA authors. If she writes it, I'll read it. I was especially excited to see what she would do with this prequel to Cruella. It seems to me that the upcoming live-action movie (which I am also extremely excited for) would be the perfect launching off place from where this novel ends. It was such a fun quick read, and would be perfect to read beside the pool or on the beach this summer.
Set against the glamour of London in the 1960s, Estella lives in squalor with her found family, Jasper and Horace. The three of them have to steal to survive, and for Estella to work on the amazing clothing designs she creates. She's got big dreams of becoming a famous fashion designer, and being extremely poor isn't going to stand in her way.
After a fortuitous meeting with a set of very rich siblings, Estella finds herself launched into the world of the rich and famous, where she and her designs finally get the attention they deserve. As the summer goes on, however, Estella, along with her cruel alter ego, Cruella, will discover that these people are not as welcoming as she had hoped, and if she wants to truly succeed, it's all up to her.
This book was so much fun. I love the recent publications of Disney villains backstories, but Maureen Johnson did a lovely job building up the world of 1960s London. I loved spending time there. I do wish we had learned more about Cruella, who would pop into Estella's head when Estella needed to be particularly cruel. I'm very excited to see where the movie takes us, because the ending left me both satisfied, but desperately wanting more. Like I said, it's quick, it's fun, and is a true delight to all who read it.
Content: There is some kissing, but nothing is ever graphically explained. There is some smoking (it was the 1960s), and of course, there is crime. Safe for a 7th grader who doesn't mind a mini romance subplot.
Set against the glamour of London in the 1960s, Estella lives in squalor with her found family, Jasper and Horace. The three of them have to steal to survive, and for Estella to work on the amazing clothing designs she creates. She's got big dreams of becoming a famous fashion designer, and being extremely poor isn't going to stand in her way.
After a fortuitous meeting with a set of very rich siblings, Estella finds herself launched into the world of the rich and famous, where she and her designs finally get the attention they deserve. As the summer goes on, however, Estella, along with her cruel alter ego, Cruella, will discover that these people are not as welcoming as she had hoped, and if she wants to truly succeed, it's all up to her.
This book was so much fun. I love the recent publications of Disney villains backstories, but Maureen Johnson did a lovely job building up the world of 1960s London. I loved spending time there. I do wish we had learned more about Cruella, who would pop into Estella's head when Estella needed to be particularly cruel. I'm very excited to see where the movie takes us, because the ending left me both satisfied, but desperately wanting more. Like I said, it's quick, it's fun, and is a true delight to all who read it.
Content: There is some kissing, but nothing is ever graphically explained. There is some smoking (it was the 1960s), and of course, there is crime. Safe for a 7th grader who doesn't mind a mini romance subplot.
hailey_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mheffner3031's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
ameserole's review against another edition
2.0
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, yes, I am super excited for the new movie 'Cruella' to come out. So it's really sad for me to say this.. but I was so disappointed and underwhelmed with Hello, Cruel Heart. I think the reason why was because I read two Cruella retelling books around one another. Which I probably should have dove into a completely different book in-between them. Maybe two different books.
I just couldn't stop comparing them to one another and it just made my experience with reading this a little less fun.
That being said, I liked Estella as a character but other than that.. she was kind of boring in this one. Again, I couldn't stop comparing no matter how hard I tried. It was interesting to see her being an orphan and finding her way through life but it just did nothing for me.
I am glad that I got the chance to dive into this but I'm just really disappointed in myself for not enjoying it. Maybe I will dive into this again but at the moment.. I think I need to take a breather from retellings for Disney characters.
This is definitely a 'it's not you but me' situation. Sorry.
Okay, yes, I am super excited for the new movie 'Cruella' to come out. So it's really sad for me to say this.. but I was so disappointed and underwhelmed with Hello, Cruel Heart. I think the reason why was because I read two Cruella retelling books around one another. Which I probably should have dove into a completely different book in-between them. Maybe two different books.
I just couldn't stop comparing them to one another and it just made my experience with reading this a little less fun.
That being said, I liked Estella as a character but other than that.. she was kind of boring in this one. Again, I couldn't stop comparing no matter how hard I tried. It was interesting to see her being an orphan and finding her way through life but it just did nothing for me.
I am glad that I got the chance to dive into this but I'm just really disappointed in myself for not enjoying it. Maybe I will dive into this again but at the moment.. I think I need to take a breather from retellings for Disney characters.
This is definitely a 'it's not you but me' situation. Sorry.