** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE ** 

 Copy received through Netgalley 

 ~ 

 Hungry Heart, by Jem Milton 

★★★★★ 

 256 Pages 

 Content Warning: mentions of anxiety, eating disorder, identity crisis, coming out 

 Reps: POV, trans, disables, pansexual, non-binary 

 Hungry Heart is a super-cute romance story between opposites. 

 Laurie is half-English, half-Scottish, from a “wealthy family” – the type with a big house that's too expensive to run/live in, but too deeply ingrained in the DNA to let go of. His parents are separated and he's dealing with an eating disorder he's trying (and sometimes failing) to recover from, as well as anxiety, poverty, and the threat of losing his job, not to mention a food blog with only 2-digit followers. Oryan is his polar opposite – from a regular, middle-class family, he won a UK Kitchen chef competition when he was 19 and became an instant star. Now, he's struggling under the weight of stardom, doing more celebrity appearances than cooking, and losing sight of who he really is behind the flashing lights. 

 Together, they are the cutest, most normal and messed-up couple. They start as strangers, then Laurie is offered the chance to interview Oryan for a food magazine he freelances for. Oryan's sister works with Laurie's roommate and that is the start of their meet-cute. And a budding romance. 

 I really liked how Oryan's life wasn't bright and shiny just because he became famous, and presumably rich, at a young age. Yet, conversely, I love how normal Laurie was – working a dead-end waiter's job just to pay the pills, yet maintaining his blog for the love of food and working side jobs, like at the magazine, to try to further his career. I also love how carefully, respectfully and honestly their problems were treated. How Oryan had anxiety he tried to hide, was losing himself because no one would let him breathe, and Laurie was grinding away like the rest of us in life, without getting very far. The exploration of internet/social media trolls was well done, too, and such an important issue to highlight. 

 I loved the artwork. Both MC's were equally drawn as sometimes beautiful, blushing and cute, and often times just regular people, with regular issues. 

 Although it ended a bit abruptly, in what feels like the middle of a potential second storyline involving Violet, I did enjoy what I read. There was no mention of this being a Vol. 1 when I requested it from Netgalley, but I wouldn't be mad if it continued. I liked that the entire thing was realistic, with no magic bow to tie everything up, no cure for their real life problems, just acceptance, love, friendship and fighting to survive another day. 

 I won't lie, I'd also love to see more of Laurie's friend, Hugo, who seems to have a hint of a crush on Laurie. I adored him, even though he was a bit of a happy weirdo, and I loved all the cute nicknames he gave Laurie. 

 For fans of Chef's Kiss, by Jarrett Melendez.