Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Hearts #1

Kaleidoscope Hearts

Rate this book
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.

This is a standalone.

295 pages

First published January 1, 2015

Loading interface...
Loading interface...

About the author

Claire Contreras

54 books16.7k followers
Claire Contreras is a New York Times Best Selling Author. Her books range from romantic suspense to contemporary romance and are currently translated into over fifteen languages. When she's not writing, she's usually lost in a book or hanging out with her family.

Sign up for text alerts by texting BOOK to 21000.

Find her on:

TikTok: @clairecontreraswrites

Instagram ➙ ClaireContreras

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
9,092 (36%)
4 stars
9,622 (38%)
3 stars
4,810 (19%)
2 stars
1,225 (4%)
1 star
388 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,689 reviews
Profile Image for Christy.
4,077 reviews34.5k followers
April 20, 2015
5 stars!

 photo 50758e49-ec56-4ae7-b727-7813169cddac_zps8f507b09.jpg

Kaleidoscope Hearts had three things going for it from the very beginning... First, it’s a second chance romance. Second, it’s a brother’s best friend book. I am a sucker for those. And third, it’s written by Claire Contreras. Claire is one of those authors for me who never disappoints. Her writing is top notch. I feel like this book is different from her others, but that’s not a bad thing. It’s not just a love story. It’s a story of healing, moving on and learning it’s okay to let go of the past and give in to love.

 photo dd8943b1-3e99-43ae-b50c-ce84c06fdbfd_zps5ef955bb.jpg

Elle and Oliver have known each other since they were young. Oliver has been Elle’s older brother, Vic’s best friend since they were just kids. As they grew up, they started to have feelings for one another. But it was forbidden. Oliver was too old for her, and when she got older, there was Vic. And Oliver’s school and ambitions. It was just not their time. So Elle did what she needed to do and moved on while Oliver finished med school. Elle’s path lead her to heartbreak once again.

 photo b69ebfa1-50c6-4555-92dc-ead8614120bf_zps1bbc7f0d.jpg

Now that Oliver is back in Elle’s life, he’s determined not to let her go. It’s so hard for Elle to move on, to trust again. She’s been scared from her past. She’s a little broken and she doesn’t want to shatter again after she’s just so recently begun to put herself back together.
He was the one I loved first. He was the one who broke my heart first, and here he is again. For how long this time, I wonder? Does it matter? My heart bleeds.

 photo 4ebbaef1-7e4a-4763-b04b-58075f0a85e8_zpse84b57d4.jpg

Elle and Oliver were both characters that I adored. Elle is creative, outgoing, selfless, giving and kind. I enjoyed the work she did and the heart she put into it. I never held her stubbornness against her, because I got the place it came from. Then there is Oliver. Sweet, sexy and swoony Oliver. I loved Oliver’s determination. I loved watching how much his character grew from his past chapters to his present.
“All my life I’ve been all about preparing for things and planning things out, and when it comes to you... I’m completely lost when it comes to you.”

 photo 44d40065-2fac-47c4-92e3-b6bad8b25224_zps29308a2a.jpg

This book was a sweet romance, but it also made me FEEL. I love reading books that can evoke emotion out of me. Whether I’m happy, sad, stunned or just moved. And I was. All of the above. Kaleidoscope Hearts was brilliantly written- the writing had a wonderful flow. I must have highlighted half the book. There were so many gorgeous quotes.
Every second counts. Live in this moment. This is life. This is what matters.

 photo 83842604-c67f-4f98-98a1-726281e71558_zpsa6395629.jpg

Elle and Oliver’s journey wasn’t always an easy one, but in the end, it was more than worth it. Worth all the pain and the heartache. This was a beautiful and captivating read I won’t forget. I loved it completely from start to finish. To give love another chance after your heart has been broken isn’t easy. That was captured perfectly. The Kaleidoscope Hearts used in the story... it was just such a clever way to showcase that even shattered hearts can be put back together and made beautiful once again.

This is written as a standalone, so no cliffhanger or anything like that. I really do hope that maybe down the line Claire will give us a book on a certain older brother I ended up loving ;)

 photo d2b7310a-28de-4c0b-9d16-31fc89e48e82_zpsca3d83d6.jpg
 photo 5edf5586-e123-4b65-aabc-e59743177fba_zpsf705ae1e.jpg

 photo fbfe5257-5c23-4da3-b325-31eaf8f2110a_zpsd0802295.jpg
Profile Image for Patty ~ Wrapped Up In Reading Book Blog.
1,260 reviews10.1k followers
February 9, 2015
*****FIVE STARS*****
{BR with my BEAUTIFUL Bestie}


"Love is beautiful, shattering, moving, haunting. Love is everything."


 photo 9cde1140b0d170e369997627bfc87256_zpsd03c405e.jpg


OMG, I don't know how to even begin to express how much I fell in love with this story. When I started reading this yesterday, I was having serious doubts on whether I would end up liking this one. The first 35 to 40% had me in such a confused fog. It takes place in the present and I got that Elle and Oliver had a history but I wasn't connecting with them because I didn't know their past. Well once we get around the 37% mark, we get Oliver's POV from the past, and that's when this story grabbed on to my heart and wouldn't let go. This book became unputdownable from that moment on.



Oliver has been Elle's older brother, Vic's, best friend since grade school. He's always viewed her as a little sister until one night when he drive's Vic home after partying at a frat house. Elle is 16 and he's seeing her in a whole new light. Oliver finds himself drawn to her, and Elle is feeling the same connection. Since Vic is an overprotective brother and has made it clear that his sister is off limits to his friends, the two keep their attraction a secret. This will span over ten years.



In present day, Elle is getting over the death of her fiance. She's an artist and owns her own gallery. Oliver is a pediatrics resident at the local hospital and he has decided it's time to go after the only woman who has owned his heart.


"I always thought you were mine."



Elle has had her heart broken too many times by Oliver, and so she spends a lot of time pushing him away. I was frustrated with her throughout the story. Her stubbornness was causing so much unbearable angst.



There are some incredibly steamy scenes. One that I won't soon forget was the photo shoot. And then Oliver completely stole my heart with the notes with pieces of broken glass hidden under them. At this point I am crying my eyes out and wishing that I could jump inside the pages of this book and claim Oliver for myself!!!



This was my first Claire Contreras book and I am happy to say that I am definitely a fan of hers now!! I look forward to the next book in this series and plan to read her other works soon. I definitely am highly recommending this one because I think all the ladies out there need to meet Oliver Hart!
Profile Image for Hulya Kara Yuksel.
986 reviews1,268 followers
November 18, 2016
18.11.2016
Bu serideki ilk 2 kitabı tam 1 yıl önce orijinal dilinde okumuş ve bayılmıştım.:) Sağ olsun benim kitap önerime güvenerek çok sevgili dostum Halime Yazıcı'da bu hikayeyi okumuş, o da en az benim kadar sevmişti. Bundan 1 yıl sonra ise Halime'nin çevirisini yaptığı bu muhteşem kitabı ellerimde tutuyorum ve sanki ilk defa okuyacakmış gibi heyecanlanıyorum. Onun kelimeleri ile Oliver ve Estelle'in aşklarını bir kez daha okumak için sabırsızlandığımı belirtmem lazım. <3

Halimeciğim, başarılarının devamını dilerim canım arkadaşım. Bu güzel hediyen ve özel notun için de çok çok teşekkürler. <3

Şimdi sırada ise benim favorim olan 2.kitap yani Mia ve Jensen'ın hikayesi var.. Umarım Yabancı Yayınevi onu da bir an önce çıkarır ve ben de tekrar okurum... :)




-----------------------

Date I finished this book: October 5th,2015

Well, that book was freaking awesome and I might be mentally cheated my husband with this Oliver guy while I was reading damn book... :D
Whatever, I'm not even sorry for that hot hours. hahahah :D




April 17, 2017
***3 STARS***

I'm not really going to review this one because it's pointless. The book didn't do anything for me and most likely I will forget all about it soon. It was typical and cliche. I will not be rushing to read book 2 or read it at all.



I know a lot of people loved it and I can understand so...

Maybe I will review it a little bit one day...
Profile Image for Rachel  L.
1,938 reviews2,397 followers
February 20, 2015
3.5 stars

 photo heats.png

This was a book I was super excited to read and in the end, I just kind of liked it. Claire Contreras is a very talented author, she wrote one of my favorite new adult books titled There is No Light in Darkness, and that book had all of the feels I love to see in a book. Plus it had Cole. If you've read that book, you understand.

So going into this:
 photo expectedmore.png

Kaleidoscope Hearts is the story of Estelle and Oliver. Oliver is Estelle's brothers best friend, therefore Estelle is supposed to be off limits. But when Oliver was 19 and she was 16, the two forged a connection that would last throughout the years. That's all I'm really going to say about the plot, the less you know the better.

I will say, I was a bit disappointed in the romance. I liked the connection the two had in the flashbacks, but their grand romance felt a bit forced. The majority of it they were both dating other people, so it was hard for me to believe they loved each other. And it was hard for me to believe Estelle was crushed when Oliver left for med school because they technically weren't together, and he made her no promises. Yeah, it sucked that he left, but not to the point where she would cling to what happened years later and throw it back in his face.

Oliver, well, he's not my favorite guy. I liked him, he seemed sweet but I thought he wasn't very memorable. Sure he's cute and he's got a man-bun, which is sexy 90% of the time. But like I said, the whole relationship felt forced to me. And in the end, I didn't care if they ended up together or not.

I feel like I've done nothing but bash this book and that's not my intention. I enjoyed reading it, but I guess I hyped it up too much in my head. This book didn't make me feel like this authors' other books have before. It's a sweet, predictable romance that I think lots of readers will enjoy.

PS: I read two different hair colors for Oliver in this book, blond at 59% and brunette at 91%. It drove me frickin crazy!!!
Profile Image for Geri Reads.
1,232 reviews2,117 followers
January 31, 2015
4.5 stars!

"...all beautiful things are a little broken."


My first Claire Contreras and it's a winner!

But before I talk about what made this book for me, can I just say something about the cover? I love LOVE the cover! It captures the tone of the book perfectly. It's sweet, whimsical without being cheesy. I simply adored this cover.

Now that's out of the way, I got say that I loved this book. It wasn't perfect and I have issues with the way certain characters handled things but it really worked out well in the end.

Elle has been in love with his brother's best friend ever since she could remember. He felt something for her then, too but his ambition and warnings from Elle's older brother Victor made a relationship between them almost impossible. It resulted in heartbreak for Elle, and Oliver, despite the shitty way he handled things, couldn't quite get Elle out of his mind.

"Love is beautiful, shattering, moving, haunting. Love is everything."


Elle moved on only to get her heart broken once again by a devastating loss. Trying to pick up the pieces of her life, Elle moved back in with her brother, which brought her into Oliver's orbit once again. And while the attraction still simmers between them, Elle isn't too keen about letting Oliver in once again.

Oliver for his part wanted Elle but he wanted a lot of things too. And it became a source of conflict between them aside from the fact that they need to keep everything a secret because of Victor. And although, I want to both smack them upside in the head sometimes, I loved their connection.

Most of them, with these types of stories, I lament the lack of real connection between the hero and the heroine, but I really felt it with this book. I understood why Elle never really moved on from Oliver and continued to carry a torch for him despite loving another man. I wasn't sure at all about Oliver's feelings until I read his POV, which really gave insight into why he was so driven to succeed. I didn't always agree with his decisions but it was consistent to his character and he won me over at the end.

"My mind is yours. My hands are yours. My heart is yours. Everything I have is yours. Everything I am is yours."


*swoooooon*

The story, the characters and the writing just gelled for me. I'm not familiar with Contreras' previous work but in this book, her writing style is easy, straightforward, engaging and emotionally nuanced. Once I started reading, I couldn't not put it down.

Overall, it was delightful read. I loved the significance of the kaleidoscope hearts. I would definitely read more from this author.
Profile Image for Catarina.
896 reviews2,207 followers
January 26, 2015
4,5 Kaleidoscope Stars.

Oliver and Elle fell in love when she was 16 and he was 19. But he had issues to deal with and Elle was his best-friend younger sister. So things didn’t quite work out.
A few years later life brings them together again, while Elle is temporarily moving in with her brother after selling the house where she and her deceased boyfriend lived.
This time Oliver is determined not to lose Elle again, and his willing to do anything to have her. But not only isn’t Elle sure if she’s ready to fully move on… she’s also determined not to trust Oliver again. After all, there are just so many times a girl can have her heart broken by the same men.

description

Let me just tell you: This was my first book by Claire Contreras but will definitely not be the last. Her writing style is breathtakingly beautiful.
This was a great book and despite some minor annoyances was so far, one of the best romances I’ve read this year. (I know, I know….we’re still in January. But whatever.)
The connection between the main couple was great and almost palpable and even when they were apart and she was with someone else it was clear that they never stopped loving each other. And the way that was described was beautiful.
This is a whimsical and heartwarming love story and a book any romance lover should miss.


description

Rating: 4,5 Stars
Characters Development: Oliver was amazing. Yes, he was a little screwed up in the past, but as an adult he was a great male lead. Sweet, sexy and completely swoon worthy. Elle was nice… but too immature. They weren’t teenagers anymore and still she was stuck to high-school memories. She was a little hard for me to connect with sometimes. The supporting characters were pretty good, and I do hope we get a book about some of them, especially Vic and Mia.
Steam: Some heated moments.
Sensible Subjects:
Love Triangle:
Cheating:
HEA:
Profile Image for Beverly.
1,005 reviews792 followers
January 25, 2015
Oh this story and the feels! This book came highly recommended from my book-mate and I love brother’s best friend books, so I wanted to read it asap. With these type of books they are usually pretty easy going and I love that about them, but this one definitely brought the feels. For a book with limited angst there was just something about it that had me feeling everything. This is my first book by Claire Contreras, but it will definitely not be my last.

"Life is short, and brutal, and painful, and it takes loved ones away from us as quickly as it brings them into your lives, but it’s also beautiful.”

When the story begins we meet Estelle, she goes by Elle or her childhood nickname Chicken. Elle has just lost her fiancé a year ago and she is gradually trying to move forward. As apart of that plan she is selling their home and moving in with her brother temporarily. On her first day there she is greeted by the one guy who always had the power to destroy her, Oliver.

"Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about Oliver Hart, but the only one worth remembering, is that he’s bad for my health.”

Oliver appears to be a great guy, he is a doctor, good looking, charming. His only downfall has always been the power he holds over Elle and his own feelings of self doubt and insecurities. Oliver is three years older than Elle, and it wasn’t long before he noticed she was growing into a beautiful woman. He also knew she was completely off limits, since her brother would never approve of them dating. Now we see that story line a lot in books like this, but the thing I loved about this one was that it is also different. Oliver had insecurities and fears based on his childhood and then Elle is trying to move forward.



The story is told alternating from present to the past, not every author can execute this well, but the story flowed perfectly from one time to another. I loved this style since it allowed us to see how things progressed while they were growing up, versus how things are progressing as adults. I fell in love with Oliver and Elle’s story from he beginning. I loved how both characters were likable and completely relatable. I loved how Elle showed strength in her time of weakness, she wasn’t overcompensating her feelings were justifiable.



Oliver wasn’t perfect, but this isn’t a perfect love story. Both characters have to overcome so much, part of that being a past where they hurt each other. While Oliver seems like the perfect guy on the outside he has so many insecurities when it comes to actually settling down.



The story is told mostly from Elle’s POV, but we do see glimpse’s of Oliver’s. I felt like the story was told perfectly: going from past to present and then seeing the right POV at the right time. I was able to connect to both characters and feel their heartache. This is a beautiful story that had me feeling so much. It is true I am sucker for these types of romances, but even if you aren’t I think you will enjoy this book. It had the perfectly level of sexiness, angst, and feels.



I highly recommend this beautiful story about second chances, growing up and overcoming heartache.
Profile Image for Flo.
286 reviews590 followers
February 12, 2016
3.75 **chicken & bean** STARS



“Love is beautiful, shattering, moving, haunting. Love is everything.”


Kaleidoscope Hearts was my very first Claire Contreras read and most definitely not the last. All my friends seem to love this series and I'm not sure what took me so long. This is a second chance romance story, and we all know they are my thing. Period. My go to romance trope. So, naturally I was quite taken with the premise of Kaleidoscope Hearts. Spoiler alert. I loved it in the end, but I had a few issues in the beginning. But more of that later.

Let's talk story...



“He’s like your drug. No matter how far you go or what crazy measures you take to stay away from him, you always end up back where you started.”


When we first meet Estelle 'Elle' Reuben she is twenty-five years old and is still dealing with the loss of her financé one year ago. Wyatt was an artist, her mentor and died far too soon at the age of thirty-five. Part of getting on with her life is selling the house they lived in and moving in with her big brother...temporarily.

“I always thought you were mine.”


The first night there Elle runs into Oliver 'Bean' Hart. Her brother's best friend, she has known him all her life. He is also the man Elle has been in love with ever since she can remember, the first guy who left and broke her heart into pieces. And it would appear he is back to stay.

Suffice it to say those two have an interesting past and an even more juicy future.



“We live in a galaxy of our own,” I whisper, kissing his earlobe. I smile when his breath quickens. “Where the storms pass, and the light fades, and everything ceases to exist except for us.”


The story is told from a dual POV. While Estelle leads us through the present, Oliver's perspective shows the past, which was both brilliant and very much needed. As I mentioned above, I had a few issues with this book. My biggest complaint was my lack of understanding who these characters were and why they had such issues with each other. In a way we are thrown into the action without much explanation and initially that left me a bit lost. Luckily over the course of the book the flashbacks completed the picture and really made me appreciate the story. It just took my a long time to get sold on their love and actions.

Don't get me wrong, Elle and Oliver have a pretty sizzling chemistry the first time we see them together in the present, I just wondered where it all came from and who these people were and what made them that way. That's all. I can honestly say it all gets explained and quite thoroughly so. In the end I was a sobbing mess because Ms. Contreras made me feel all the feels and on top of that she made me fall in love with my favourite romance trope all over again. For a second chance romance this was on the more imaginative side.

All in all a very well written book, interesting side characters and a sweet love story. I especially was drawn to Elle's independence and strength. There was one point where she pointed out that being with Oliver didn't make her complete as a person, that she was content just on her own, but he made her a better version of herself. I think the sentiment is much more realistic than depending on a partner to make you you whole. Both in the fictional and in the real world. Anything else equates to setting yourself up for disaster.

That's all. Thank you for your time. I'm going to jump head first into Mia and Jensen's story. Wish me luck.





Profile Image for Mia Asher.
Author 8 books3,535 followers
January 7, 2015
I've read three great books by Claire Contreras, and this is by far my favorite. It's fresh, fun, heartfelt, angsty, steamy, and the hero is oh so delicious.
I recommend it to all <3

Read it!! You won't regret it.

And ...

Oliver is MINE. MINE. MINE. MINE. <3
Profile Image for Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾.
2,118 reviews13.1k followers
September 10, 2015
4.5 Stars

Love is beautiful, shattering, moving, haunting. Love is everything.


This beautifully written and emotional book is everything that I love about second chance romance. Everything. I'm not sure where I've been that I'm only discovering this fantastic author and this series now, but boy am I glad that it's finally on my radar. Everything about this book worked for me; the writing, the secondary characters, the story, the romance, and most especially the H/h. Simply put, I adored it.
Does he make your heart race like I do?
Does he make you feel like you can't breathe sometimes?"


Oliver has always been Estelle's older brother's best friend...until a kiss changed everything. They had a few stolen moments together and then everything changed when Oliver walked away. Estelle may have moved on and got engaged to someone else, but she never got over Oliver.

A lot has happened with Estelle since that fateful night with Oliver, she met someone else and fell in love...only to lose him to a tragic accident later. After a year of mourning, Estelle is back in the town she grew up in and living with her brother, and Oliver is now determined to right the mistake of their past.
Your simplicity is maddening. Everything about you drives me crazy.


I loved the alternating flashbacks from past to present in both their POVs. It truly allows the reader to be fully engrossed in their story and fall for both them just as hard. The writing is beautiful and flawless and it gripped me from the first chapter alone. I simply couldn't put this book down.

I appreciated how the author managed to show the difference between Estelle's love for Oliver and her deceased fiance without downplaying what she had with him. That's no easy feat in my opinion. It's clear that Estelle loved her fiance but Oliver was always her one. Nothing was ever undermined or belittled. It just flowed.
Shattered or not, if you look carefully enough, you'll find something beautiful in them, and all beautiful things are a little broken.


If you're looking for a touching and beautiful second chance romance, this series is an absolute must read. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to dive straight into Paper Hearts because after meeting both Jensen and Mia in this one, I'm practically salivating for their story.

For more reviews visit


Profile Image for Mallory.
1,698 reviews132 followers
January 30, 2015
2.5 stars

I'm going to keep this short. I don't truly think Oliver loves Estelle. Because if you honestly love someone, you don't treat them the way Oliver treated her throughout the years. Even in the present day with all of his protestations of wanting to be with her, Oliver never treated her like she was special. It just served to piss me off. As for Estelle, she was the biggest doormat I may have ever read. After the way he treated her in the past, if I was her I would have never given him another chance. So no, I don't think Oliver loved Estelle, and that just ruined the book for me.

Also, can someone please tell me what the fuck 'Grace night' is??? Because I, along with Estelle, never figured that out! I need to know!
Profile Image for [~Ami~]♥Sexy Dexy♥ .
501 reviews472 followers
January 6, 2015
3 stars



Compared to other books I've been reading lately I really like CCs writing style. I found Oliver soooo sweet but towards the end it was a tad cheesy for my liking. Now Estelle I found a bit bitchy but I think considering the circumstances it didn't bug me much

There was a good amount of feels and I enjoyed it at first but after a while it went round in circles. I will recommend if you like:
Brothers best friend
Sexual tension
Second chance romance
Hot guy in scrubs
Sweet romance

ARC provided by the Author. Release date: 22nd Jan
Profile Image for S.M. West.
Author 40 books1,199 followers
August 19, 2015
5 "One date, Elle.” STARS

“This is our canvas. Let’s paint it how we want it.”


I must admit I didn't plan on reading this book. I've only read one other book by this author and for me, while the writing style was good, the story was meh. I did plan on giving the author another try with her Darkness series but my Slut Sistas were doing a BR and I couldn't resist. I'm truly glad that I read this book!!

I had so many feels for this story and immediately loved both Estelle and Oliver.

 photo estelle_zpsvz9tqxpb.jpg

 photo oliver_zpskb6fuebn.jpg

This story is all about how you can't plan life or love. It happens and you're either ready to accept the chance with open arms or fight it because the timing or circumstance isn't ideal. Well, let's face it, life isn't perfect or planned or ideal, it's messy and complicated and beautiful even with its flaws. And that's what Ms. Contreras reminds us with this moving, heart wrenching love story.

“A storm of lust rises inside me, and my heart continues to trip over itself as his lips descend on me over and over.”



“I always wondered what it would be like to kiss you,” she whispered.
“And?” I asked.
“It was…everything.”




If you're a die hard romantic and love the younger sister, big brother's best friend/forbidden love troupe then you'll thoroughly enjoy this book.

 photo hearts_zpslukz9ovd.jpg

I'm already looking forward to Mia and Jensen's story.


For more reviews and blog posts.

Profile Image for ~♡AB♡~.
974 reviews686 followers
January 21, 2015
★★★★ 3.5 Stars ★★★★

Now LIVE!
UK - http://amzn.to/1yHXzEN
US - http://amzn.to/1umhtQ4




This was a sweet second chance romance about loss and healing and rediscovering the joy that life can bring you. Told in dual POV with some flashbacks into the past it was a really nice story that kept me turning the pages.

Estelle is suffering from the loss of her fiancé when she finally decides to sell their shared home and move in with her brother Vic whilst waiting to decide on the next phase in her life. Oliver is Vic's best friend who she hasn't seen for a long time, but shares a secret and awkward history. Vic is a very protective brother and is unaware of the attraction between his sister and his closest friend.

It was sweet and it was hot, with plenty of sexual tension but I found it a bit slow in parts like I was expecting something major to happen, which is the only reason I couldn't give it the full 4 stars. This is totally my issue though so if you are looking for a great second chance, forbidden romance that flows nicely and gives you a few butterflies then this is a wonderful book to pick up.

ARC received from author in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for Paula M.
556 reviews633 followers
April 10, 2022
I’ve lost count of all the NA titles that I have read since I decided to be a book reviewer. But I can tell you that’s A LOT. I’m saying this because I think I have that as a reason to question every book that I will read with ‘OKAY, WHAT’S UNIQUE ABOUT YOU? WHAT MAKES YOU SPECIAL FROM ALL THE BOOKS I HAVE READ BEFORE?’

So yeah, I asked that too while I was reading Kaleidoscope Hearts. And sadly, it didn’t give me enough answers to rate it higher than 2 stars. I’m not saying this is a horrible book. Not at all. Claire Contreras’ writing is beautiful. This is my first from her and I can say that it won’t be the last. She reminds me of Amy Harmon. All lyrical but on point. (I don’t even know if that makes sense) Anyway, what I’m saying is I like the way she writes.

But plot-wise, uggggghhh. Honestly, I am expecting so much. But unfortunately, it’s one of those ‘been there, read those kinds of books before’. I won’t rehash things that happened in my reviews and I won’t make an exception here. But here’s the gist: it’s one of those I-want-him-but-I-am-repelled-by-him kinds of situations. And what happens next is pretty much predictable, of course, the girl would just want him more. So the book turns into a NA CLASSIC: A GAME OF BOY-GIRL CHASING (annoying best friend included) It’s so frustrating.

The girl is all talk but loses sense when the guy (who broke her heart so much in the past) comes in. I don’t blame her that much, since this kind of thing happens in real life too but gosh, IT’S ANNOYING. The things she’s saying are so different from what she’s doing that I just lose it. She’s too complicated and painful to read.

The characters are MEH. All of them. So sad about that, truly. I thought there’ll be at least one of them whom I’ll like so much but it turns out, all of them just made me forget their names the moment I closed my kindle. I reviewed this book right away since I know I’ll forget everything soon.

So. If you’re willing to read a classic NA and okay with predictable endings then I recommend this. The writing is great too so there are a lot of phrases to quote. Extra points for some. BUT. If your time is precious and you want your book intense, deep and meaningful.. then sorry people, nothing to see here!
Profile Image for MELISSA *Mel Reader*.
1,388 reviews1,454 followers
January 25, 2015
5 "I Want Everything" Stars!
(BR with Sharon)

 photo 27e158ec-5682-4eba-96ad-ec9c3b8c039c_zps105b226b.jpg

 photo 720c32a7-bc8a-4ab8-bdc4-8453b51736c0_zpsd44e98d7.jpg

Estelle Reuben aka Elle/Chicken is a 25 year old woman living in Santa Barbara, trying to piece her life back together after a tragedy rocked her world a year ago. She is very close with her family, and leans on them for support. She is in the process of moving in with her brother Vic until she gets back on her feet.

 photo 700ff610-eafe-471f-9020-118e7e92ca4d_zps6b24df15.jpg

Elle owns an art gallery/studio called Paint it Back. She makes and sells sculptures with broken glass called Kaleidoscope hearts. These beautiful creations are what she's most known for in the art world.

 photo 4303b697-72d0-43c8-b340-fda760805776_zps86d21e56.jpg

The first day Elle moves in with her brother, she see's a man she's known since she was little who through the years has made her pulse race, and touched her heart like no one else. His name is Oliver Hart aka Bean. He is her brothers best friend, and the one guy she's always wanted, but could never fully have. They never labeled what was between them, and over time, their lives go in different directions,& they lose touch with each other. Elle is left with a broken heart that never truly heals.

 photo b98e1c87-b6f8-4640-a291-1305a3a920a8_zpsc682648a.gif

-The thing about life is that you never know when it will show you something that touches you so deeply that you can't help but be grateful for everything...even the bad.

-I'm fucking terrified of having Oliver in my life because the last time I let him in, I barely made it out with my heart intact.

-"Some things never change," I say. His eyes darken. "Sometimes they get better."

 photo c37e2aa0-a439-4b5a-a294-8a43ada5838e_zps44ce8844.jpg

Oliver has regrets about Elle from the past. He is now finishing up his residency to be a Dr. and has always put his ambitions first. He is a planner & a perfectionist. Seeing Elle again after all these years, he realizes he let her slip through his fingers. He was always worried how her brother would react about them, and felt the timing wasn't right, with him leaving for college. Oliver never cared again for anyone like he did Elle. Now that he's around her again, he wants another chance.

 photo 5de32c63-4e13-49f4-9b6e-5cbb08b03ae1_zpsd23164f4.jpg

The unattainable beautiful Oliver is suddenly everywhere Elle turns. He's trying to be her friend, but all too soon Elle realizes he's pursuing her. Elle can't control her heart around him, and hates she still wants the boy she thought she could never have. Oliver is determined to win her over, and show he's changed. He knows what he gave up all those years ago, and won't make the same mistakes. Poor Elle is scared of being hurt & terrified of all he makes her feel, but she just can't resist him.

 photo 5d069fba-c5a8-45d9-b0f3-ae764a66ef1d_zpsef76c2d2.jpg

-Something happens to me when I'm around Oliver. It's like the world vanishes around me. Everything can be falling apart, but in his arms, I'm whole.

-"We live in a galaxy of our own."

-"Where the storms pass, and the light fades, and everything ceases to exist except for us."

 photo f849f7d5-9e38-4eaf-be2b-e5bf9c25dd5f_zps24f8f531.jpg

I just adored this book so much! I loved the gorgeous, charming Oliver with a heart of gold. This story was about love, loss, regrets, second chances, & big brother's hot best friend. It's about meeting that one person that's "it" for you, & then stupidly letting them go, & then being lucky enough to get another chance to chase after the one person who owns your heart. This book really touched my heart & reminded me why Claire Contreras is one of my favorite authors! This was just such a beautiful story & the epilogue was amazing! :D

 photo 2d90a814-b4c5-428c-aec5-a179e6e6fcc0_zps9a295688.jpg

-Every second counts. Live in this moment. This is life. This is what matters.

-"Love is beautiful, shattering, moving, haunting. Love is everything."

Profile Image for Katy Loves Romance ❤️.
434 reviews753 followers
August 20, 2015
5 My favourite person EVER stars

 photo FEF92A72-5E78-4186-8F7A-B02D7C5D1F39_zpscrexx2z9.jpg

You know there are times in our lives where we want to feel secure and we need reliability, we want comfort and we want a future. Then there is the thirst quenching toe curling heart beating love and I'd say this book is how both kinds of worlds collide together...

This is the kind of read where your heart clashes with your head and there is the summer salt of emotions where you question what they WANT and what they NEED.

"I always thought you were mine," ~ swooooon

This book is about timing and healing and what should be done. It goes over a period of time, some past chapters from Oliver's POV and to present with Elle's POV. It's a gradual development of the characters and where you have an understanding about Who they are, where they're coming from and how their story progresses from A to B.

 photo 61D458D7-D9D3-43C1-B6F4-0F276F0CD2BB_zpsarizr7wg.jpg

Oliver and Elle have been childhood friends. Oliver is Elle's brother best friend from a young age therefore he has fitted into the brother place in Elle's life. To Everyone else that's who they are, brother and sister yet to them they're so much more, no incest here it's just how her real bro Vic is, he's protective and it's how it happens. Therefore they tread there relationship carefully. I can't really explain much else apart from its how the story was told to me rather than the actual relationship. Don't get me wrong it's a beautiful book but the way Claire so eloquently wrote emotions and sentiments throughout the book blew me away, I COULDN'T put it down once I got to a certain point. I highlighted the whole book LOL

"Sometimes we give up a lot of ourselves for the people we love,"

I feel there are several parts in our life as we grow a journey of sorts, this to me was alllll that and more. We take chances and risks and we grow into the people we are as we do so, again Elle and Oliver learn how to breathe with each other as they grow, they learn about LIFE and about how to LOVE but more importantly the different kinds of love.

 photo C7EF2948-372F-432E-952B-F33D80CCFE51_zpsmjekefef.jpg

I will just say if you haven't read this, take the plunge. A real feel good read, not too much angst just enough to keep you pushing the pages forward.

 photo 9ba43a65d486cb6b3044e94541169a34_zpsw9o78z8v.gif

"I don't want to say that I feel complete when I'm with him- but when I'm with him I feel like a better version of myself. And I think that's what has always drawn me to Oliver. He makes me feel good about who I am, and I don't feel like I need to change or pretend when I'm around him. I'm just me, and being me has never felt better."

And a BIG Thank you to Elizabeth and Suzanne
For the BR!! Love ya girlies <3

I'm sooo looking forward to Jensen's and Mia's story roll on September!!

For more reviews and blog posts

Profile Image for * Meli Mel *.
856 reviews672 followers
September 25, 2015


♥ ♥ ♥ 4.5 STARS ♥ ♥ ♥




●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●

"Love is beautiful, shattering, moving, haunting. Love is everything."

●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●



Oh, this book! It had me from the start. You know what a sucker I am for a good second chance at romance story, and this one did not disappoint me in the least.


Elle and Oliver have known each other since they were kids. Oliver is best friends with Elle's brother, so they are all pretty close. But one night things change. Oliver notices that Elle has grown up and the attraction between them grows with each night they talk. However Oliver has a plan he must do first before he even thinks about starting a relationship. Elle feels strongly for Oliver no matter how much she tries not to let it show. She knows he doesn't do relationships, especially not with his best friends little sister, but she still hopes he will. Unfortunately it only leads to heart ache when he leaves for medical school where he seems to be moving on with his life. She tries to do the same, any only gets more hurt.




●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●

“We live in a galaxy of our own,” I whisper, kissing his earlobe. I smile when his breath quickens. “Where the storms pass, and the light fades, and everything ceases to exist except for us.”

●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●

Years later, they end up crossing paths again. Oliver is back to finish off his residency. Oliver and Elle may have not had good timing in the past, but Oliver is determined to not let go of her this time. Elle has had so much hurt thrown her way that she is really reluctant to let Oliver back into her life. She doesn't know if she wants to experience any more pain, especially now that her heart is not completely healed. But, with Oliver being very insistent, it really is hard to resist.




●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●

"I always thought you were mine."

●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●

This book was so freaking good. This was my first book from this author and definitely won't be my last. I just loved Elle and Oliver. Elle was passionate about her art, very kind and giving, comfortable in her skin, and quite stubborn. But I just liked her. Oliver, what to say about Oliver except SWOON!! Seriously this guy is so perfect even when he isn't. He was super sexy and so damn sweet, I adored him. I didn't care how many times he frustrated me, he just stole my freaking heart. And then there was the sexual tension and the angst. Both of those things were just the right amount that the story needed. I can't tell you how happy I was that I was able to connect with these two completely. Loved!

●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●

"My mind is yours. My hands are yours. My heart is yours. Everything I have is yours. Everything I am is yours."

●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●

Another thing that I loved about this, was how well written it was. I really appreciated having those chapters in the past where we get to see how things developed between Elle and Oliver. It doesn't always work in every book, but it really flowed so well in this one. I loved watching these two grow, heal, and overcome all the hurt. The ending was perfect. Loved everything about it and left me with a huge grin on my face. Overall, It was a really beautiful and quite an emotional story. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it definitely comes highly recommended from me. I cannot wait to read the next one.

Profile Image for Michelle.
2,082 reviews882 followers
May 2, 2016
Once upon a time there was a little girl that was afraid of the dark who grew up and fell in love with a boy that wasn’t supposed to love her back. And this little girl, when she grew up she learned the hardest lesson about love... the lesson of how much it hurts when your heart breaks.

Well that little girl grew up to not only suffer the broken heart of her first love, but a new sort of pain that fractured her already broken heart just a little bit more. Elle is making her attempts at moving on, her first steps in a year. One of those steps delivers her to her brother’s doorsteps with luggage in tow as she begins a new chapter in her life. Even if she knew running into Oliver was a possibility, nothing prepared her for the moment she opens the door to him standing there.
Oliver, not quite the same teenage boy that Elle remembered. All grown up and knee deep in his residency, Oliver is still striving to put his life into complete order before he actually starts living it. He had been warned off of Elle since they were kids. Vic’s little sister was off limits, but somewhere along the way, that no longer mattered to Oliver. All he saw was a sixteen year old girl with tears in her eyes that made him want things he never thought were possible.

Elle knows that Oliver breaking her heart for a second time is something she won’t survive, but she’s never been able to say no to him and not give in. Even after all these years. But Elle is still Vic’s little sister and Oliver is still focused on his career, time may have passed but he obstacles remain the same.

Kaleidoscope Hearts is a story of picking up the broken pieces and going forward. The lessons of how a broken heart is still worthy of love, still a beautiful thing after being smashed. A lesson in how life doesn’t wait for your version of perfect to appear, it moves along with or without you and often taking your chances along with it.

Elle is that character that you can be frustrated with in one breath and then want to wrap your arms around in the next. And Oliver... well he was perfect.

There were these little things that he’d do – ways he’d stand, look at Elle... all these small things that you could just picture in your head and these things... well they give you this yummy image to work with as you read along. He was flirty but you could just sense that bit of serious beneath the surface. I loved that we got glimpses of the teenaged Elle & Oliver and loved it even more that it was in Oliver’s POV. I think that ultimately gave him so much depth and showcased his emotions far better than what we saw just through Elle’s eyes. I fell head over heels for Oliver when Elle opened Vic’s front door and he stood there. It was that simple.

I absolutely love a second chance romance and I love the sister falling for her older brother’s friend (all the angst that comes with it is just icing on the cake). The combination of those two aspects just made this book a complete hit. But it was so much more than that. The story itself, the lessons it held. The deeper meanings... it all just was absolute perfection.

You will love in your lifetime and you will have your heart broken. But a broken heart is still capable of love, it can still be something beautiful, even fractured. Someone will see those cracks, fragile pieces glued together and find something valuable in it, something that they want to own – to cherish.

Life happens. It doesn’t stand still for you just because you’re not ready yet. There is never a perfect time to fall in love, it happens and sometimes that love will disrupt your life...your plans. It’s the decision of what is more important that matters. It’s a lesson of learning the hard way what the wrong choice could cost you and not taking it for granted when life hands you a second chance.

Claire did a brilliant job creating this romance. I think this is one of those stories that has the ability to touch readers beyond just with the written words on the pages, but somewhere deeper – some place in their own lives, their own experiences. Beyond the ability of this woman as an author, this woman is an inspiration.

I know we are not even ten days into the new year yet, but Kaleidoscope Heart is easily going to remain a favorite read for me for 2015. One that I hope Claire gives thoughts to expanding to some of the other characters she introduced us to.

ARC
April 14, 2016
Estella's been through a rough time lately but she's starting to get her life in order. And wouldn't you know it? Her heart breaker from the past is mixing things up again.

Oliver is Estella's brother's best friend but they all grew up together. The problem is Oliver and Estella (Elle) are extremely attracted to each other but her brother has sworn all his friends off Elle.

Naturally, they have some history. We get the past stories from Oliver's POV and the present from Elle's. I loved getting both POVs and learning about what happened in the past.

The one problem I had is that Oliver's never gotten serious with anyone. He has a goal in mind (of being a doctor) and he goes after it...girls are just there for fun. So, it's hard to take him seriously. And it doesn't help that he is a huge flirt and doesn't mind the girls flirting with him...in front of Elle! They are trying to keep their relationship secret but still I had a hard time matching his actions with his words!

description

I did like Elle even if she was a bit forward at times. She knows what she wants and goes after it...even if she's not sure if she's really ready. And she does try to be smart about things this time around. I really enjoyed the element of her being an artist and what it brought to the story, especially her specialty of making broken heart sculptures.

I loved the family aspect to the story. Elle's parents are wonderful and I even like her brother, Vincent...and Vincent's friends. Elle's friend, Mia, fits right in too.

The whole Santa Barbara/surfer vibe worked well too. I loved all the long hair!! And I'm a sucker for the beach so I loved the affect it had on Oliver and Elle.

Oliver and Elle are pretty steamy when things get going but I really enjoyed the sexual tension too. I probably could've even used some more drama and angst but I was happy with how things went.

description

The last chapter and epilogue were amazing. I loved all the parts with the glass pieces. And hell ya about not waiting...that was awesome.

It's stated that this book is a standalone but things are set up quite nicely for a Mia's and Vincent's books...I would love that!


description

Favorite quotes:

♥ “I always thought you were mine.”

♥ "Because I spend most of my nights doing rounds in a hospital, unless I get really lucky, and then it’s Estelle night.”

♥ “Love is beautiful, shattering, moving, haunting. Love is everything.”


♦ BR w/Melissa!
Profile Image for Melissa.
373 reviews642 followers
August 27, 2015

♥{Ever So Mela}♥{Bloglovin}♥{Google+}♥


I'm so tired of writing these reviews over and over again. It feels like I'm on this never ending shit luck cause I search and I search and I can't find that 5 star book. The thing is a lot of these start out great-marvelous even- and I'm floating in the clouds thinking "This will be the one! I have finally found it!" but then reality beckons and gravity takes a hold of me and I come crashing down...on the cold, hard, spike filled (yes it has spikes) unforgiving concrete. And as the saying goes "the higher you fly the harder you fall.


I was so sure I was heading towards something beautiful. I mean, this is an author everyone loves and gushes about, so yeah. I had pretty high expectations. Skyscraper high.

So the thing is the blurb reads as if Oliver had broken her heart but I don't think that's true. As you start to get into the story you will see that they were NEVER really together. They hooked up randomly and then lost contact for months. I'm sorry but in my definition that is not love. That's the good ol' friends with benefits. All the good stuff without the compromise. Granted they got along and really were friends but it was never more than that. So it drove me up the wall every time Estelle would act like he committed the highest treason when they had sex(that one time!) and he left without saying goodbye. It was one freaking time! Get over yourself!


So this is supposedly an adult romance...riiiiight. These two read like hormonal teenagers. Immature and insecure and it was just tiring to have to listen to their inner mumbo-jumbo crap.

I just think this was over done drama that could have been resolved by talking but every time something happened Estelle would avoid everyone and go on about her way and then get mad when Oliver didn't keep on calling to suck up.

Repetition, repetition repetition. That is all this was. Same thing happening over and over again.

There were so many other aspects that irritated me to no end but I refuse to keep on wasting time detailing it out. There are too many books out there that need to be read so....Peace out!
Profile Image for ✰ Liz ✰ .
1,365 reviews1,317 followers
January 19, 2015
4.5 Fantastic Stars

Kaleidoscope Hearts is a tender read full of passion, heartbreak, healing love, and second chances. Claire Contreras is the master of creating characters that you can connect with. A memorable story of second chances, Kaleidoscope Hearts has something we can all relate to. Love is always enough!

description

The story begins with a heart broken Elle. She has experienced a great loss and is trying to cope with starting over. While seeking refuge, she decides to move in with her older brother. Elle has a strong circle of friends and family offering her support. I found the text to offer healing to me personally as I though about losses that I have faced in my own life.

description

Elle is an artist and she has made a name for herself by creating art out of broken glass. Elle is no stranger to pain. The inspiration for her broken glass art was the rejection she faced from her first love Oliver. Oliver happens to be her brother's best friend. Out of nowhere, he seems to make his way back on Elle's radar. He offers Elle the opportunity to teach art classes at the hospital that he works at. She shares her passion for art with cancer patients and the time spent with Oliver begins to stir up old feelings and emotions. Elle is such a strong heroine. I was so impressed by her strength, confidence, and strong spirit.

"It's already broken, but I use the pieces to rebuild it. The difference is that the heart has a second chance, and maybe it'll get broken again, but it's already shattered, so maybe the fall won't be as bad."-Elle

description

Oliver has always struggled with his feelings for Elle. He doesn't want to disrespect his best friend by being with her, and yet he cannot deny the feelings he has for her. Somewhere deep in his heart he knows that he has always loved her. Now he has a second chance to win her love. Elle is so strong. She isn't willing to allow her heart to be broken again.

"What do you want, Oliver? What do you want from me? You want to kiss me? You want to come into my life like the hurricane that you are and tear down everything I've rebuilt before you disappear again?"- Elle

"It's my turn. I've let you go a million times before, and I don't want to miss the chance with you. Let me take you out. One date, Elle."- Oliver

description

The tension is high watching these two make a way together. The story is written in dual POV and the time shifts from the past to the present. These unique glimpses allow the reader to understand the depths of pain and love Oliver and Elle have experienced together. The pacing of the book was just right. There is just the right amount of tension and release between these two (both emotionally and physically).

I highly recommend this read to anyone who enjoys a story based on the healing power of love and the beauty of second chances. Oliver and Elle are one of those unforgettable book couples that I will always remember.

"My mind is yours. My hands are yours. My heart is yours. Everything I have is yours. Everything I am is yours.....You are my favorite girl in the world."-Oliver

description

I received an ARC via the author in exchange for an honest review.
June 1, 2023
3.75 ✰ rounded up

“𝑴𝒚 𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔. 𝑴𝒚 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔. 𝑴𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔. 𝑴𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔. 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔. 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒊𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔.”

This is the second book I have read by Claire Contreras and I must say I really enjoy her writing style and the way she sets up her stories.

In Kaleidoscope Hearts, we follow the story of Estelle (Elle) and Oliver (Bean) who is the best friend of Elle’s brother, Victor—thus clearly off limits—and how they went from developing this intense chemistry and connection when they were in adolescence which led to them hooking up on and off over the years—unbeknownst to anyone in their circle (except Elle’s bff Mia)—until one night they finally go all the way, but then the next morning Elle wakes up and there is no sign of Oliver and all that remains is a shattered heart that she now has to mend, the ghost of Oliver, and the rumination’s of what could have been.

Fast forward to the present, where they haven’t seen each other in a few years—Oliver is now Dr. Hart 🧑🏻‍⚕️and Elle is an artist/gallery owner 🎨—and yet, that connection is still alive and sizzling between them when they finally see each other again for the first time because Elle is temporarily living with her brother after she finally decided to move out of her deceased fiancés house, since it has been over a year and she wants to truly start moving on with her life.

As much as I enjoyed their story, I did feel like the will-they-won’t-they aspect of their still-not-even-official-relationship went on for far too long. I mean by the 89% mark they were STILL not officially together and figuring out how they were going to move forward from some drama that had just went down. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Oliver was making it clear to Elle pretty early on in their reunion that he wanted to take her out on a date, essentially start over, be with her seriously, but of course, Elle—rightfully so—was hesitant, skeptical, and didn’t fully believe Oliver, especially when he would tell her he wasn’t involved/with anyone else at all. She was very protective of her heart, but at a certain point I just felt something needed to give because she’s so head over heels in love with him, but there were so many trivial games being played, especially involving OM (she never was intimate with them in any capacity tho) and it was mainly on her end that I lowkey wanted to throttle her hehe and just push her to give them a real chance!!!!😫 I feel like Oliver needed to step up a bit more because his passivity at times when it came to her had me…😀😀😀 At least he FINALLY did towards the end of the book, albeit a bit late there buddy, but nonetheless.👏🏼👏🏼

To be honest, as cute as they were, when they finally officially got together I felt underwhelmed, the ending was quite rushed, and all of a sudden he’s proposing and they are getting married when I really think they should have just dated for a while now that their relationship was known by everyone aka Elle’s brother finally freaking knew—which was made out to be this HUGE worry and dealbreaker through out the story and when he finally finds out it all blows over rather quickly and he’s fine with it🙃—and just be stable and serious, truly explore their love together since they don’t have to hide it anymore and with no worries, fears, drama, other people involved, games, etc.

All that to say, I am very excited to get to Mia and Jenson’s story🤭 and continue on with the rest of the series and I did like this one, but definitely not a couple I will remember and found it pretty predictable, a bit dragged-out at points, and somewhat frustrating, but it had its super sweet and HOT moments and the epilogue was really heartwarming. 🥹
Profile Image for Sophie's Reading Corner .
851 reviews379 followers
October 6, 2015
4.5 beautiful stars!!

That was a really beautiful friends to lovers story! If I have time I'll make a full review about it.
I can totally recommend this to my friends who haven't read this yet! :)

BR with Alice & Stephanie! Thank you so much, girls! <33

Also thanks to my sweet Alice for the gift copy! <33
Profile Image for FMABookReviews.
635 reviews403 followers
February 14, 2016
❝Love is beautiful, shattering, moving, haunting. Love is everything.❞


I am speechless. ‘Kaleidoscope Hearts’ is the fifth book that I have read from Claire Contreras. While I loved them all, this was my favorite. There is something so beautifully lyrical and poetic in her words. Contreras’s stories are to be experienced, not just read because they will overwhelm you and take up residence inside your head and heart.

❝I realized that sometimes in order to move forward you have to let go of the past, even if it hurts. Especially if it hurts.❞


‘Kaleidoscope Hearts’ is a beautiful second chance romance, that I read in one sitting. It is a story of two people who fell in love as teens. He is her brother’s best friend and she is the younger forbidden girl - the one who her brother warned his friends about, it was a rule, they could not date his sister. This relationship blossomed over the years, during secret meetings where dreams were shared and kisses exchanged. They found themselves coming back to each other no matter where life took them. Each time they saw one another their hearts knew what their heads were afraid to recognize. They loved each other. They were each other’s destiny, the other’s matching puzzle piece.

❝In his eyes,
I find our past and our questionable future.
It holds the sadness of lost years,
the torturous longing of a million what-ifs,
and the possibility of what could be.❞


I regret not having read this sooner because it definitely would have made my Favorites list for 2015!

goodreads banner
Profile Image for Dee Montoya.
942 reviews597 followers
February 10, 2015
****4 Sweet Stars****

(BR with my lovely bestie, Patty)

 photo 940ed11a-d683-45b5-ac7a-62f9a922804e_zps6b750bb3.jpg


I love Claire Contreras writing style; she's always coming up with different stories; always sweet and heartfelt...

We first meet Elle when she's facing a really hard time in her life, everything she had planned suddenly disappeared with her fiancé Wyatt and she's now trying to pick up the pieces of her broken heart. Now single, she runs into the boy who's always been dangerous to her health, Oliver, the one the got away...

Oliver is one of Elle's older's brother childhood friends; they practically grew up together and her brother was always warning his friends to never, ever date or even look at his sister but Oliver and Elle always had a deep connection, one that started when she was young and only got more complicated as the years passed. Elle used to dream about Oliver finally making his move and becoming hers but he was only focus on his career to become a doctor; women only mean temporary fun for him and even though Elle means something more, he can't betray his best friend and he really can't see himself in a committed relationship.

We learn how on and off, Elle and Oliver constantly reconnect throughout the years until Elle meets another man and eventually moves on, but now that she's lost and broken, trying to rebuild her life, Oliver wants a place in her life again, but she's too scared of falling for him only for him to leave her high and dry, she's tired of his antics.

 photo 70a9ebd6-62f4-4dac-9876-c1317baa1164_zps76fb2e67.jpg

I loved the dynamics of this group of friends, they are all so close, always having fun together and providing support for one another. This is a friends to lovers story that will fill your heart and mind with happiness and a big load of sweet. I wasn't a big fan of Elle, simply because I felt she kept playing games with Oliver and I completely fell for him, I do have a thing for gorgeous, long hair, charming, doctors. This book is a real crowd pleaser, just too sweet to pass up, so don't...

My Kaleidoscope Hearts music playlist:
* The One That Got Away by Katy Perry
* Lucky by Jason Mraz ft. Colbie Caillat
* Foolish Games by Jewel
*This Love By Taylor Swift
* Feel Again by One Republic
Profile Image for Jacqueline's Reads.
2,926 reviews1,507 followers
November 4, 2015
4.5 Broken Hearts Stars

Kaleidoscope Hearts is a standalone and is part of the Hearts series. This will be an audio review. This is my third Claire Contreras book. I love her covers and I love her stories so I was really excited for starting the audio on this one. I’m also a fan of the older brother’s best friend story as well.

This book is excellent in audio. I love the leading female narrator and she captured the heart of the story. The pace was perfect and the length of book wasn’t too long or too short.

Elle is picking the pieces of her shattered heart. Her ex died and she’s trying to move forward. He’s an artist and they own an art gallery together. She’s in the process of selling his artwork and slowly letting him go.

Oh the feels I felt in this one. The emotions Claire Contreras made me feel! I know I said that already, but it��s just so heart breaking. I felt for Elle. I felt her pain, her sadness and I found her very brave. I loved the beginning because it was showed the end of her grieving. She’s boxing up her ex’s things and it just breaks you into a million pieces.

I really enjoyed Christy Romano’s voice. It’s older, but girly. I pictured her as Elle. She doesn’t really change her voice for the male parts, I know that is annoying for some listeners, I’m indifferent. I have Sweet by Tammara Webber in audio and because of her I will bump that one up.

Oliver is best friends with Elle’s brother. I know! Oliver and Elle have a history, but nothing really came of it.

Vikas Adam has a really deep voice. It’s not distracting, it’s kind of sexy and I got really into it. This is my first narration with him and it won’t be the last.

I love Oliver and Elle’s history. I loved that it started years ago, but the timing was always off. Oliver is the Hero that was a bit too late, but now is getting a second chance. There is some slight angst as Oliver and Elle try to reconnect and I ate this up!

I was rooting for the two of them and I enjoyed some of the flash back scenes because it really developed the relationship. It also gave me a better picture of the Oliver and Elle dynamic. Even though Elle is single now, she still wants her brother’s approval and knows she will never get it.

I liked how Oliver and Elle’s ex represented two different forms of love. I truly believe you can love more than one person if that original person isn’t there anymore. Call me romantic, but I love second chance reads!

If you want a gripping emotional story, then read Kaleidoscope Hearts.

Kaleidoscope Hearts (Hearts, #1) by Claire Contreras AMAZON
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,689 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.