Darkhearts by James L. Sutter

Darkhearts is a teenage band that began with three boys, David, Chance and Eli. Only, David got ditched after one of their frequent arguments, or at least that is the story as he tells it. That the band went on to become famous without him, builds a deep resentment within him. It is only after the death of Eli, that David and Chance gradually renew their friendship. But Chance is now rich and famous, leading the life of a super pop star, whilst David is still back at school. Is a friendship even possible given the different paths their lives have taken?

The central character David, or Holc as Chance calls him, is a deeply flawed person, knit with self-doubt and jealousy. It takes a long time for him to realise that he is repeating the same mistakes his mother made when she walked out on their family: the things he blames her for, are the same things he does to his friends. It is that horrible teenager time where a kind of tunnel vision blinds him to his own failings and the blame is always somewhere else. Yet Chance Kain seems willing to give him another ‘chance’.

Reconnecting with Chance becomes one of those hate turns to love situations, but Sutter describes the gradual steps towards intimacy so well, so authentically, that the reader feels all the awkward moments, but also the humour, that the boys share. There couldn’t be a better depiction of the tentative sharing of consent.

I was thoroughly wrapped up in this story, never sure where it was going to go. I’m glad it didn’t disappoint. It isn’t a ‘happy ever after’ ending, but a very realistic portrayal of people learning to negotiate and trust again after a difficult time.

For more insight into the motivation for the book, read Sutter’s own review of it on Goodreads. I liked his message about “learning to just be comfortable with who you are - queer or straight, rock star or otherwise”. Darkhearts is YA fiction at its best.

Themes: LGBQTI+, Jealousy, Romance, Self confidence, Consent, Boy band.

Helen Eddy