Review: Kaleidoscope Hearts by Claire Contreras

Kaleidoscope Hearts by Claire Contreras
Publication Date: 20th January 2015. 
My rating: 4.5 stars

He was my older brother's best friend. He was never supposed to be mine. I thought we would get it out of our system and move on. One of us did. One of us left. Now he's back, looking at me like he wants to devour me. And all those feelings I'd turned into anger are brewing into something else, something that terrifies me. He broke my heart last time. This time he'll obliterate it.

With the reading funk that I had been in I really needed a book which I would fall head over heels for and didn’t want to put down. Unexpectedly Kaleidoscope Hearts was that book. I found myself totally absorbed into Oliver and Estelle’s world not wanting to do anything but find out how things would end up for them.

Oliver and Estelle had a crazy sort of relationship; Estelle was Oliver’s best friend’s younger sister, so totally out off limits as far as Victor was concerned. But Oliver and Estelle just had that connection one night and ever since then no matter how hard they tried, they just couldn’t resist one another. Of course Oliver had the reputation of being a ladies’ man, so of course Victor wouldn’t want his sister messing around with him. But Oliver and his charms were just really hard to resist, honesty I know I would have seriously a hard time too. So the times that their paths collided Oliver and Estelle just have eyes for one another, until one eventful night things completely change. I can honestly accept and understand Estelle’s reaction and the decision she makes, it was a big night for both of them so you wouldn’t expect Oliver to do that if he really cared about her. So what Estelle decided to do is perfectly understandable. But of course fate wouldn’t leave it that way and Oliver and Estelle’s path end up colliding once more.

I was super curious to find out what exactly had gone down with Oliver and Estelle in the past, I wanted both of them to be able to move forward together, but there was still that doubt of trust in Estelle’s mind and with everything that she had been through, was she even ready to move on?. And with Oliver for that matter? I really liked how Contreras gave us Oliver’s and Estelle’s story, the switch between the present and past worked really well, showing us the slow build up of their relationship. The back and forth between them in the present day could be annoying at times, but Contreras gave us the right amount of slow burn, teasing us slowly until I couldn’t really take it anymore. Plus the constant fear of Estelle’s brother finding out the truth, added extra spice to their time together. Let me say Oliver and Estelle’s relationship was hot! Also I may have previously mentioned that certain characters names really work for me (I have a mental list that I always associate with hotness and Oliver is right up there, also a hot Dr. who could ever resist?) Both Oliver and Estelle shared immense growth over the course of the story, they weren’t teenagers anymore and over the years of missed chances, stolen kisses and grief they had to deal with they both grew up. And I’m glad to say they did especially where it concerned Oliver, because Estelle was risking a lot giving him a second chance, but it was clear to me from the very beginning, Oliver’s flirting and banter aside, he was serious about making their relationship work. My only minor irk was how Estelle and characters kept sabotaging Estelle’s ex afterwards, he seemed like a decent guy to me with what we were told of him, but more so I don’t respect making comments after that individual is no longer around to defend themselves. Despite this however Kaleidoscope Hearts was everything I could have hoped for and so much more. It was a story where I fell pretty hard for the characters and couldn’t stop thinking about for days afterwards. So thank you for that Ms. Contreras, I can’t wait to dive into more of your reads.