“Love has a sound. … It sounds like a thousand heartbeats happening at the same time. … The thing is, some of us have been taught to listen for it, so when it comes, it’s all too easy to hear over the noise. For others, there are too many other sounds drowning it out. … But when it finally breaks through, it’s a symphony.”
from A Thousand Heartbeats
The Selection series by Kiera Cass was a treat for me to read when I was younger and developing a taste for literature. Not only were the dresses on the book covers breathtaking, but I enjoyed the story. It was lighthearted, bright, and magical—three traits that I love in any book I am reading.
After finishing The Selection trilogy, I hadn’t touched another book by her again. A flood of other titles in my TBR came pooling in, so I forgot and was not keeping up with Cass’ new releases. I am delighted to see that there are more books by her for me to read.
A Thousand Heartbeats has been tugging at my attention since I saw its cover and read the blurb. The model’s purple dress caught eye first—purple is my favorite color, particularly that shade. I saw the book at a thrift store, was teetering on whether to betray my TBR and read it. I finally caved and got it on Kindle Unlimited, eager to revisit my late teens and become lost in a happily-ever-after love story. Now I’m determined to get a paper copy.
As a Swiftie, I was not disappointed by the emotions that this story evoked in me. If I recall correctly, The Selection was popular around the time of the release of the Fearless album. (Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong in my dates!)
There’s something about Cass’ writing—I really think it is the “color” she adds to her characters—but the book made me nostalgic. It felt like I was listening to Love Story for the first time, as I was introduced to Annika and Lennox.
These two characters’ POVs form the novel, telling a dynamic story. They are both broken, in desperate need of the sunshine that only comes when the heart is opened. Lennox, in particular, had many reasons for shutting his heart away—so when the scene came when he at last allowed himself to be happy, I nearly teared up. In that scene, he is a broken soul accepting happiness he thinks is undeserved. What a powerful thing to read!
As princess, Annika is determined to do what she must in order to serve her people and maintain a stable kingdom. She has felt alone in the world since her mother’s disappearance, suffering since childhood as she wondered if her mother was alive somewhere, or had been killed. Her father has his demons, and is not who he used to be. Only her brother and her ladies’-maid, Noemi, are worthy of her trust. In all, hers is a lonesome existence, and it’s bound to become lonelier when she agrees to marry a man she does not love, a man who is boring as cardboard, and one who tries to tell her how to wear her hair. How dare he!
Annika and Lennox are complex and endearing, flaws and all. I was satisfied with the ending. I’d spent an entire day glued to my kindle, waiting for the moments that make love stories worth it. This is a profound yet light love story, a quick read, a suitable escape.
I am glad I returned to the world of Kiera Cass, and look forward to more books by this nostalgic author!
Mariella Hunt 
Leave a comment