Hello everyone and welcome back to the blog! Today is my spot in the “The Reckless Kind” Blog Tour, and I have a review with some favorite quotes and a playlist for you guys.

A review copy of this book has been sent to me via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

And now without further ado, let’s start with this post!

A genre-defying debut, this queer historical YA centers a wild and reckless trio who fly in the face of small town traditionโ€”full of compassion, love, and determination to live the lives of their choosing.

Itโ€™s Norway 1904, and Asta Hedstrom doesnโ€™t want to marry her odious betrothed, Nilsโ€”even though a domestic future is all her mother believes sheโ€™s suited for, on account of her single-sided deafness, unconventional appearance, and even stranger notions. Asta would rather spend her life performing in the village theater with her friends and fellow outcasts: her best friend Gunnar Fuglestad and his secret boyfriend, wealthy Erlend Fournier.

But the situation takes a dire turn when Nils lashes out in jealousyโ€”gravely injuring Gunnar. Shunning marriage for good, Asta moves with Gunnar and Erlend to their secluded cabin above town. With few ties left with their families, they have one shot at gaining enough kroner to secure their way of life: win the villageโ€™s annual horse race.

Title – The Reckless Kind
Author – Carly Heath
Release date – November 2nd, 2021
Genre – Young Adult Historical Fiction

Rating: 4 out of 5.

This has been a fantastic read with even greater representation. In “The Reckless Kind” you get a disabled main character, an ace one and two gay people, one half deaf main character and the list continues. Like many have said already before me, this story was quite unique and important.

Whilst I had my troubles keeping up during some parts because I just couldn’t follow with the P.O.V. changes between Asta and Erlend I loved the writing of Heath so much. I have to admit that I kind of fell in love with the writing style because it felt so “vintage”. Something I don’t usually come across to as I’m more accustomed to the “modern” kind of writing style, even in historical fiction novels.

During the middle part, I started to really enjoy the novel, and I’ve gotten fully immersed into it. Which makes me glad that I stuck with the book until the very end because the pacing was definitely not one I enjoy as it was slow. A bit too slow for my tastes. Nevertheless, “The Reckless Kind” is a well executed and unique read with an amazing setting. And I’m sure you’ll enjoy reading this book at least as much as I did.

Favorite Quotes

Disclaimer: I changed the name of the characters with xx so that I won’t spoil anything important to you.

TW: Physical disability (missing arm)

“Quite unwell meant xx arm was quite missing and the rest of him quite unconscious.”

“With xx knowing xx’s influence on so many of us, the pastor once remarked on the dangerous trend toward softness amongst the young men of our generation and, though he didn’t mention xx’s name, the reference was undeniable.”

“Being peculiar in the eyes of our schoolmates had a way of making us understand certain truths a great deal more than everyone else.”

“[…]snapping together like the steel jaws of a bear trap. A romance, sort of, but without any bothersome longing. Snug, cozy, agreeable.”

“After all, no lady would want some spinster calling on her husband for conversation and companionship.”

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52689775-the-reckless-kind

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1641292814/ref=x_gr_bb_amazon?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_bb_amazon_ca-20&linkCode=as2&camp=15121&creative=330641

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-reckless-kind-carly-heath/1138741643?ean=9781641292818

Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Reckless-Kind-Carly-Heath/9781641292818?ref=grid-view&qid=1633122437430&sr=1-1

Indigo: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/the-reckless-kind/9781641292818-item.html?ref=isbn-search

IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781641292818

Carly Heath (she/they) earned her BA from San Francisco State University and her MFA from Chapman University. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Carly teaches design, art, theater, and writing for various colleges and universities. She spends all her time and most her money tending to a menagerie of rescued farm animals. The Reckless Kind is her first novel.

Author Links:

Website: https://www.carlyheathauthor.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/carlylheath

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlylynheath/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19638125.Carly_Heath

As we are reaching towards the end of this post, please don’t forget to check out the posts of my fellow bloggers. You can see the tour schedule by clicking on THIS link.

*DISCLAIMER: A review copy of this book has been sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

Thanks to TBR & Beyond for the chance to be on this tour.