This Violent Heart is told between two life moments: 2012 and 2025,; going back and forth between high school years and the present day. Summer is Devon's best friend, and when she dies by suicide, everything changes. Devon moves on to become a therapist, but the death of her of her friend always haunts her. Devon feels guilty for what happened back in high school. And now, with the turmoil that is happing in present-day, Devon needs to go back home and sort out what really happened. Complicating things is Devon's relationship with Summer's twin brother. A complex subject and a compelling plot made this read hard to put down. Mature subjects are a part of this read.

I love a small town whodunit, especially when the main character returns after many years, ruffling the feathers of the townspeople who thought they got away with something. This story perfectly weaves together the past and present in parallel and I felt like I was solving a mystery along with the main character. I appreciated the sensitive way that themes of belonging, identity and trauma were captured and interwoven throughout the story.

I cannot put into words how much i enjoyed this book, it was one i couldn’t put down without wanting to pick my kindle back up again to find out what happened next. I liked the flashbacks from when she was younger to present day, as well as the journal entries that showed a different side to the story from a different perspective. I typically find it harder to get into books that are written in third person but i didn’t have that issue here.

Es un libro que aborda temas como la orientación sexual, la violación, el suicidio, el abuso de poder, la religión y las ideas anticuadas.

La historia sigue a Devon, quien en su juventud vivió en un pueblo muy religioso y de mentalidad cerrada. Ella era bisexual, pero no podía decírselo a nadie, ya que la gente lo veía como una aberración. En las partes narradas en el pasado, podemos ver cómo fue vivir de esa manera y cómo la afectó. También exploramos sus relaciones con sus mejores amigos, su desempeño en la escuela y el tipo de relación que tenía con sus padres, entre otros aspectos.

En las partes del presente, se muestra cómo se convirtió en psicóloga, ayudando a víctimas de abuso sexual. Además, descubre que la muerte de su mejor amiga podría no haber sido un suicidio y quiere averiguar la verdad, lo que la llevará a un viaje al pasado.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for this Advanced Reader Copy.

Heather Levy’s This Violent Heart takes readers into the heart of small-town America, exploring the deep scars left by suppressed identity, lost friendship, and buried trauma. Devon Mayes, a therapist-in-training, is forced to confront painful memories when she returns to her conservative hometown after a recent tragedy. The plot unfolds in two timelines—Devon’s teenage years and her present—as she pieces together the truth about her best friend Summer’s tragic death, a haunting mystery that has shaped her life.

The novel beautifully captures the tension of growing up in an environment resistant to change, where identity and self-expression are stifled by rigid expectations. Devon’s evolving feelings for Keaton, Summer’s twin brother, and her struggles with her own bisexuality add layers of depth to her journey. Levy’s portrayal of small-town life in Oklahoma, with its Bible Belt constraints, felt authentic and raw, and she masterfully uses journal entries and flashbacks to keep the mystery alive.

While some parts of the story were predictable, Levy’s storytelling still kept me engaged. The pacing lagged slightly in the middle, but the unexpected twists in the last chapters made up for it. The ending, while open to interpretation, offers a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness.

For readers who enjoy emotional, atmospheric thrillers that delve into identity, trauma, and redemption, This Violent Heart is an addictive read that resonates long after the last page. I’m already looking forward to what Heather Levy brings us next!

This is my first book by this author and it definitely won't be my last. I thoroughly enjoyed this and can't wait to read more. The pace and the story kept me intrigued. Thank you so much for the ARC!

This is definitely a super well written novel with a beautiful and strong message. The storyline is good and I think it will resonate with a lot of people. Heather has a way with words and I command her for approaching such a difficult subject and putting it to light. I might have just not been the appropriate audience for it as I was expecting maybe more of a thriller and less of a romance, but I know it will appeal to a lot of people!

Honestly it wouldn’t be something I would pick up myself if I saw it at the book store however after reading reveals the fear of feeling trapped in a world of “old school charm” and the mystery of the passing of Summer. The first thing that came into mind was 13 reason why. I very much I enjoy the reading I hope to read more about this author.

In this haunting journey into the confusion and desires of growing up, a therapist reluctantly returns to her hometown, where she revisits the memories that could reveal what really killed her best friend all those years ago.
Devon Mayes thought she was done with the small conservative town she once called home. She fled when she was eighteen after her best friend Summer took her own life, leaving Summer’s twin brother, Keaton, lost in his grief. But when tragedy strikes again, Devon has nowhere to turn but back to the place that first broke her heart.
Being back in Arkana means struggling with the old guilt that shrouds her bisexuality and her feelings for Keaton.
There’s so much she’s still hiding from him-and so much of their shared past that’s now resurfacing. It’s not long before Devon has reason to believe Summer’s tragic death wasn’t suicide after all. Summer had secrets, too...and she wasn’t the only one who didn’t want them exposed. As Devon and Keaton piece together the mystery of what happened that fateful summer, they must reckon with their own truths before they can move forward. But one person will do whatever it takes to stop them.

Thank you NetGalley for the advance reading

My first NetGalley book! I really enjoyed this book. I chose it based on the cover alone so I really had no idea what to expect. Switching between the past, the journal and then present day made it so hard to put the book down. I couldn’t get enough. When I started understanding the triangle forming between Devon, Summer and Keaton, I questioned if I would enjoy reading on, but it was worth it. I feel like it was slightly anticlimactic when the truth came out between Devon and Keaton, but the choices the characters made felt like what someone would do in real life. I’m looking forward to reading other books by Heather Levy.

3.25 stars

This Violent Heart speaks deeply to the lived experience of feeling trapped within the confines of your upbringing and what wounds result from said confinement.

I applaud author Heather Levy as she explores the complexity of small town adolescence and the struggle to find identity in a place that is rigid in its morality. I thought the alternating timelines and the use of journal entries was mostly effective throughout, though I feel like the pacing was off in certain places. The ending felt too rushed, while portions of the middle stretched too long.

While I did see an integral part of the ending coming a mile away, I thought the way that the plot unraveled was still interesting. The connection between Devon and Keaton was interesting to read, but it felt underdeveloped, which made their ending feel off. But I like that the author sought to add light at the end of the tunnel of what would otherwise be a heavy book.

Overall, I had a positive reading experience and felt that the scenes from the past resonated the most.

Wow! This book was amazing! This had me feeling all different types of ways! And I’m so happy with how it ended! 🥰

I really enjoyed reading this book, it had that romance aspect that I was looking for and was invested in what was happening. The characters felt like they were supposed to and enjoyed the overall story going on. Heather Levy wrote this perfectly and was glad I got to go on this journey.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ebook in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 rounded up. This was alright. I think the whole twin thing put me off a bit, without revealing too much about it. I didn’t enjoy that. I did like Keaton’s character as well as Devon’s though and it was a nice read, with an appropriate ending.
This was my first book by this author and after reading up about her I am looking forward to reading more of her work.

This book was interesting, it took me a minute to get into it, but after a few chapters this book had me wrapped. Devon was such an amazing character, I couldn’t have pictured this book going any other way. If this book is definitely one that will keep you up at night reading. This book had me wondering at every page and twist and turn.

In “This Violent Heart,” readers are taken on a haunting journey through the complexities of growing up, identity confusion, and unresolved trauma. The story centers around Devon Mayes, a therapist who returns to her conservative hometown after years away. Her return is prompted by a new tragedy that forces her to confront the painful memories surrounding her best friend Summer’s death, which occurred when they were teenagers.

The narrative unfolds as Devon and Keaton work together to piece together the mystery of what truly happened during that fateful summer. Their journey compels them to confront their own truths and the hidden aspects of their pasts. However, they soon realize that someone is determined to keep those secrets buried at any cost.

Heather Levy’s novel is a gripping blend of mystery and emotional depth that invites readers to reflect on their own experiences with love, loss, and the quest for truth.

I loved this book and I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed both the mystery and relationship plots and especially appreciated the dual timeline.

This Violent Heart by new to me author Heather Levy, published by Lake Union Publishing,
is a suspenseful thriller, drama laden and action packed. It took me a minute to get into the story that goes deep. A fantastic read, 4.5 stars.

This book is an emotional and atmospheric whirlwind, blending deep-seated grief, unresolved secrets, and a love story simmering just beneath the surface. It masterfully pulls together love, loss, and suspense, leaving you haunted by its emotional twists long after the final reveal.I absolutely loved reading it.

4* An addictive read, but had it not been told in flashback, I think it'd give bi-rep a bad name, sadly.

This is my first read by this author, and whilst it drew me in, the blurb is misleading. I didn't get what I expected, but it was a decent if painful and slightly 'suspend disbelief' read.

The surviving leads in this book are 31, and the tale flashes between 2025 and 2012. Devon's realisation of her bisexuality is well done in how she's made to feel because of her upbringing, the church, the locals, the small-mindedness of people, and her mother's stance and shame. This 2025 small-town America sounds a lot like modern-day India/similarly traditional countries in how fingers are pointed, which is shocking and sad, and which I grew up with. It's hard being different.

I don't want to spoiler it, but I can't help feel that 17yo Devon got away with having her cake and eating it - pretty much literally and metaphorically - because of all of the above and her age. Had this happened at 31, sadly, I think bi-rep likely would've gotten a bad rap. Or even rep.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Montlake for my reading pleasure.

I enjoyed this book, the central storyline was very intriguing and I liked both the split points of view between Devon and Summer’s journal and the flashbacks to the summer where the traumatic event happened. I found Devon likeable on the whole, but couldn’t help feeling so frustrated with some of the decisions she made throughout. The writing was easy to follow and the pacing was good so that the story didn’t feel like it was being rushed or that it was dragging by. It’s not the type of book I’d usually pick up, but I’m glad I read it as it was an enjoyable read.