Book Review: Diamond Heart by M.A. Hinkle

**Disclaimer: I received a free electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
Genre: YA, Romance
Release Date: February 4, 2019 
Description:

" Gareth has a problem. He got expelled. Now he and his twin brother, Morgan, have to start over at an artsy new private school, and it’s all Gareth’s fault. Not to mention Morgan’s crippling social anxiety and Gareth’s resting jerk face aren’t making them any friends, and their father is furious with him. Gareth could live with this, but Morgan’s mad at him too, and Morgan is the only person alive who can make Gareth feel guilty. Good thing Gareth has a plan. Cute, bubbly Felix, a student at their new school, has a crush on Morgan, and they both want to act in their school’s production of Midsummer Night’s Dream. Gareth figures it’s the perfect way to help Morgan come out of his shell and set him up with Felix. Then, maybe Morgan will forgive him, and Gareth can go back to not caring about anything or anyone. But Gareth has another problem. He’s been cast as Oberon, and Felix is Titania. Oh, and Morgan doesn’t like Felix back. And maybe Gareth is enjoying the play and making new friends and having a good time at his new school. And maybe—just maybe—he’s got a crush on Felix. Can Gareth keep up his tough-guy act long enough to repair his relationship with Morgan, or will Felix get caught in the fallout of Gareth’s dumb schemes?"

Well, I did read the first book of this series, "Death of a Bachelor" in preparation for this one, and yes, it did give me insight on some of the characters, mainly Felix, but for the most part, this could be read as a standalone novel. Reason being is that it is told during the same time frame, but in Gareth's perspective, a character that isn't mentioned much nor does he make many appearances in the previous novel. 

Although the first book was good, I will say that I enjoyed this one more. Perhaps it's because my favorite character Felix plays a much larger role in this book, but also because Gareth is such an interesting character. In the first book, he was only ever known as the mean twin. Even though he tries to maintain a tough exterior, we all know that he is just a big softie at heart, which has been pointed out a couple times through the course of the novel. I also like how it was pointed out by his father that Gareth is trying to be tough while using his brother as an excuse for his actions. While the first book dealt with grief with Damon and Cathal, we don't get much insight with Felix and how he is dealing with his grief, which this novel did. I'm glad Gareth was there to lend his ear and shoulder for Felix because we all know this little puppy needed one. 

Like any book focused on twins, there is quite the contrast between Gareth and Morgan. Gareth is the protective tough guy, while Morgan is timid and battles with severe social anxiety. Although it's a battle that Morgan tries to fight, it is clear that Gareth also struggles to help Morgan conquer it as he can only do so much. Even though the book was not too plot heavy, nor were the events in the book new to the reader (if you read the prequel), the main focus was on the characters (Gareth, Morgan, and Felix) and the relationships (friendships, romances, and familial reconciliations), which I believe are its strengths.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read. If you are interested in a book that does not contain a complex plot and interesting characters, then this might be for you. 

Overall rating: 3.9/5 😀