Final Rating:
Date of Completion: 07/02/2025
Published by: Simon & Schuster Audio
ISBN: 9781797190105
With its clever execution and captivating prose, ‘Cross My Heart’ was entertaining from start to finish.
Cover:
Writing:
Storyline:
Main character(s):
Secondary characters:
Narration & Audio:
Like most popcorn thrillers, the first half of this book introduces key characters and sets the scene for the mayhem to come. Instead of feeling tedious, the gradual unfolding of crucial backstories and information drew me in, along with Megan Collins’ lush prose and vibrant imagery. The second half of the story is marked by a major plot twist that brilliantly heightened the suspense and made me reevaluate everything I had read up to that moment. Further plot developments then lead to a tense, unpredictable climax and satisfying ending.
words are how we heal our wounds.
I enjoyed the storyline and execution so much that I easily overlooked the awkward choices made by the main character, Rosie, due to her desperate yearning for love and marriage. Still, her character served to highlight deeper themes surrounding organ transplants, loneliness, and misogyny—particularly the labelling of women as “crazy.” This not only added layers of depth to the story but also allowed for Rosie’s heartwarming character development, which contributed to the satisfying ending.
Besides Rosie, Morgan is the only other character who receives substantial attention and depth. Though I ended up disliking his character, I loved how his perspective was mainly conveyed through witty email exchanges that brought a creative flair to the story. Similarly, most of the characters in this book weren’t particularly likeable, but all had intriguing roles and ties to Rosie or Morgan that made them memorable.
it’s easier, sometimes, to be miserable in love than it is to be alone.
Narrators Gail Sharon and Chris Andrew delivered natural and nuanced performances that made the audiobook even more immersive. Both skillfully used vocal pacing and inflexion changes to capture the essence of each character and elevate the thrilling, character-driven story.
Discussion Questions (Contains spoilers!):
Q: Which of the themes explored in this book did you find most interesting?
The theme of self-love, explored through Rosie’s character, seemed most compelling. Her shift from obsessing about dying alone to embracing life and connections with friends was truly heartwarming.
Q: Did you figure out who Morgan’s killer was?
I was not even close! I fell for the obvious red herring, pointing to her best friend, Nina, and I was convinced Rosie was missing the obvious. Blair was not even on my radar, so that revelation caught me entirely by surprise, making the story all the more impressive.
Q: Have you ever experienced unrequited love?
Absolutely! I went through a sad period when I had a series of crushes who all turned out to be in relationships. Letting go of the budding feelings was tough, but I prioritised respecting the existing relationships and avoiding unnecessary emotional drama.
Q: Do you have any similar recommendations?
If you enjoyed this, you might like A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay. It’s another popcorn thriller with an engaging character-driven first half and some unexpected twists in the latter half. Rosie also reminds me of Sydney Shaw from Freida McFadden’s The Boyfriend, though I found Sydney more annoying and lacking in growth than Rosie.
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