Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier

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INITIAL THOUGHTS

I read Jar of Hearts for a book club and was unprepared for how deeply this story would affect me. I expected a typical psychological thriller, but I got something far more personal, raw, and emotionally resonant. From the first chapter, I was gripped, uncomfortable, and immersed.

WHAT IT IS ABOUT

Geo, a successful executive, is arrested for her involvement in a murder from her teen years, one connected to her missing best friend and her first love, who turned out to be a serial killer. As Geo serves time and begins to rebuild her life, new bodies start appearing, and her past refuses to stay buried. The story is a gritty, emotional thriller about truth, consequences, and the long reach of trauma.

MY REVIEW

Writing Style

Jennifer Hillier’s writing is sharp, visceral, and emotionally unflinching. She captures both the brutality of the crimes and the quiet, aching aftermath with precision. The pacing is tight, and the time reveals come with expert control.

Themes & Messages

This book doesn’t just explore crime; it examines the ripple effects of trauma, the silence surrounding abuse, and the complex morality of survival. It asks: Who do we become when we carry unbearable truths? And how do we move forward when the past claws at our heels?

Characters

Geo is flawed, complicated, and incredibly human. Her inner conflict and emotional journey felt deeply real. Kaiser is a solid contrast, loyal but haunted. Calvin is chilling, not just for what he does but for how easily he blends into the lives of others. Even minor characters are well-crafted and serve a purpose.

Vibes, Settings, and Tropes

Dark academia is adjacent in its “past-haunting-the-present” vibe. The Pacific Northwest setting adds a damp, brooding atmosphere. Tropes include childhood trauma, toxic first love, prison redemption arc, detective/former-friend investigation, and buried secrets.

Favorite Quotes

“In every story, there’s a hero and villain. Sometimes one person can be both.”

“Living a life that isn’t meant for you is its own version of hell.”

“The past is always with you, whether you choose to think about it or not, whether you take responsibility for it or not. You carry the past with you because it transforms you. You can try to bury it and pretend it never happened, but that doesn’t work.”

What Worked For Me

• Emotional honesty that hit close to home.
• Realistic portrayal of trauma and its aftermath.
• Twists that genuinely shocked me.
• A female lead who isn’t easily likable but deeply compelling.
• The tension that builds and builds, then explodes.

What Didn’t Work For Me

• The ending stretched plausibility a bit.
• Some side characters could’ve used more development.
• Extremely dark content, hard to stomach, even when necessary.

Final Thoughts

I wouldn’t recommend Jar of Hearts to just anyone. It’s harrowing. But if you appreciate thrillers that go deeper than whodunnit, books that dig into the emotional wounds of their characters and still manage to thrill, you’ll find this one unforgettable.

Let’s Talk

Have you ever read a thriller that felt more emotional than suspenseful? What do you think about morally complex protagonists like Geo?