Heart on My Sleeve

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Author(s)

Ellen Wittlinger

Publisher

Simon & Schuster

Genre(s)

Romance

Age Range

12+

Release Date

June 29, 2004

ISBN

0689849974

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"I'm not picking Cartwright just because I met Julian there. For all I know he'll change his mind and not even go Although that would be a shame because I want him to be the father of my firstborn child. KIDDING : -}" While on a college visit, Chloe meets Julian, another prospective freshman, and infatuated, the two high school seniors begin a long-distance relationship. Chloe is thrilled that she'll have a boyfriend at college, although she doesn't know how to break the news to Eli, her best friend whom she's sort of dating. As Chloe and Julian prepare to meet again, they must face the question of whether their relationship is based on who they really are or who they imagine each other to be.

Editor reviews

2 reviews

Online Romance to Real Life Love?

February 28, 2007 (Updated: June 12, 2026)

Overall rating

5.0

Plot

5.0

Characters

N/A

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Ellen Wittlinger tells the story of Chloes summer before college entirely through emails, letters, postcard, and instant messaging chatlogs in Heart On My Sleeve. At first, I was skeptical of this idea. How can a comprehensive story be written by simply using emails and letters? But Wittlinger incorporates communication between all major characters so smoothly, that you really feel like you are getting the full story.

Chloe is just finishing up her senior year of high school, and she cant wait to go away to college. She loves writing songs, singing and acting, and she looks forward to meeting all of the kids at her college who share her interests. On her weekend college visit, she meets Julian, the man of her dreams, and now they are constantly emailing each other as they count down the days before they can see each other again. In her emails to her older sister, Veev, Chloe recounts her wonderful weekend and gushes about how great Julian is. But in order to avoid she tries to keep Julian a secret from her other high school friends, especially Eli, her boyfriend. She doesnt feel bad about meeting Julian though. After all, shell be leaving in a few months for college; its not like she and Eli will be able to stay together. But soon, the secret gets out and Chloe is forced to rethink what it really means to leave all of her friends behind for college.

The relationship between Chloe and Julian blossoms over email, and they both feel like theyve found their soulmate. In August, Julian plans to come visit Chloe as he competes for a scholarship in a singing competition. The two spend so much time talking to each other online and via letters that they feel they really know each other well. But when Julian finally comes to visit, they are both in for a big surprise!

Many subplots are woven into the story so that all the characters are involved. I feel like I am logged onto somebody elses computer and reading all of their emails! A list of characters and their screen names at the beginning of the book comes in handy, but the format is never confusing to follow. Wittlinger does a wonderful job of showing Chloes life, from her perspective and the perspective of her friends without judging any of her characters.

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User reviews

9 reviews

5 stars

11%

4 stars

56%

3 stars

22%

2 stars

1 star

11%

Overall rating

3.6

Plot

3.6(9)

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giving in to love

December 06, 2008 (Updated: June 12, 2026)

Overall rating

4.0

Plot

4.0

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Reader reviewed by c-alexis

I've actually been hoping to read this book for awhile. Mostly because I loved "Hard Love" and "Sandpiper" by Ellen Wittlinger. Much like that novel, this novel is about the complications and difficulties with liking someone, much less getting into a relationship with them. It gives a real look into the way teenagers can be about their life. The decisions and choices we make end up changing who we are. I don't want to ruin this book for those who haven't read it and want to... but I do want to say that with all that Chloe and Julian went through, I was hoping for a slightly different ending. Though I have to say that the ending was just fine as it is... it's its own "happily ever after" with a litle bittersweet taste.

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bookreviewer3455: It was an interesting way to write a book.

May 07, 2006 (Updated: June 12, 2026)

Overall rating

3.0

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3.0

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Reader reviewed by Annika

The concept of writing the book through emails, letters, and IM conversations only made for an interesting concept, but you did not get that personal feeling with the characters. There wasn't much connection when you never heard what they were ACTUALLY thinking, only what they were telling other people. It was overally pretty confusing, unless you have a good memory for screennames. But kudos for the idea!

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Its a great step!

January 10, 2006 (Updated: June 12, 2026)

Overall rating

3.0

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3.0

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Reader reviewed by Val

Its a great step towards the new format for books. Which is of course iming and letter/ email formating. I liked it because it wasn't one of those happy ever ending books but it didnt make you sad either. It was different because the ending was bitter sweet its a lesson that is rarely stressed which is you can never truly know a person even through emails and letters regardles of the late 90's hit you got mail with meg rayan and tom hanks. wHich by the way if you've ever sen the movie they actually knew one another! :)

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Cute title but cute story?

November 06, 2005 (Updated: June 12, 2026)

Overall rating

1.0

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Reader reviewed by safia

Nice title, nice cover, but HORRIBLE read. Mostly boring, this is a story told through emails, instant messages, letters, and postcards. It is about two young people who think they're in love after meeting for one weekend at a college tour thingie. Then they write to each other through the summer.

The first thing I hated about this book was that when something interesting happened, like when Chloe's older sis 'came out of the closet', the whole issue revolved and revolved from email to email, friend to friend, it just got sooo boring reading about it 10 times.

Oh, there were several other things I hated about this book, but all I will say is that it is a deeply unsatisfying read. Especially the ending. No, all endings shouldn't end in happily-ever-after, but it sill should've been better than the ending this book had. It makes you think reading the book was entirely pretty much pointless, which it is.

NOT RECOMMENDED!

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Another Ellen hit!

October 13, 2005 (Updated: June 12, 2026)

Overall rating

5.0

Plot

5.0

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Reader reviewed by Leah

Chloe adn Julian are both musical artists that meet at a college intro. they hit it off and continue e-mailing each other over the summer. The summer makes their love stronger but when they meet, it doesn't work out the way they plan it too.

Books through letter are sometimes hard to read but this was a really great story. If you like this you should also read TTYL.

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"Oh what tangled webs we weave. . . "

June 14, 2005 (Updated: June 12, 2026)

Overall rating

4.0

Plot

4.0

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Reader reviewed by LJK

Heart on my Sleeve does a great job of navigating that strange transition time between college acceptance letters and the start of college. Although it's always challenging to tell a deep story using the epistolary format (the story is told through e-mails, letters, and IMs), Chloe and Julian, and their extended circle of family and friends, shine through in this modern love story. Chloe and Julian meet at a college preview weekend, and a long distance romance is born, but their are unexpected changes in store for these characters. My one quibble is that the address list in the front seems to gives away some plot twists; other than that, I highly recommend this book.

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a love is born through e-mail

May 27, 2005 (Updated: June 12, 2026)

Overall rating

4.0

Plot

4.0

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Reader reviewed by noxzeema

Chloe goes to Cartwright for a pre-frosh event, and meets Julian. They hit it off right away and begin a relationship through e-mail. Chloe thinks Julian is perfect, only one problem.

Chloe is still going out with her best friend, Eli. Eli is deeply in love with Chloe, and she can't bring herself to break up with him. She doesn't have to. On the night of prom, Julian sends her a bouquet of roses, and Chloe's group of friends(including Eli and her best friend Meghan) their relationship is over.

But then Julian comes to Boston for a few days, and Julian and Chloe act anything but lovey-day, a good book to read on a rainy day, or just when your in the mood, Heart on my Sleeve will entrance anyone and everyone.

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good

September 26, 2004 (Updated: June 12, 2026)

Overall rating

4.0

Plot

4.0

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Reader reviewed by jess

it was good but i think chole should have been nicer to jullian whne he came to boston. But also i can see why she was liek that i like some1 that lives a long way away btu we r just friends but we still love each other...i think it would be easier if they imed each other rather then e0mailed because it is better for talking to each toher. But it was a really good book and i think many people can relate to it

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A Perfect Romance

July 20, 2004 (Updated: June 12, 2026)

Overall rating

4.0

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4.0

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Reader reviewed by Ria

Heart on My Sleeve is the story of two high school seniors. Chloe and Julian met at a pre-frosh event at Cartwright. They immediately clicked, and after the event was over, they remained in contact. They e-mailed each other constantly, and through their e-mails, their friendship progressed into a long distance romance. There was only one problem, Chloe was still going out with her best friend, Eli, whom she had known forever, and she couldnt bring herself to break up with him.

Chloe also kept in contact with her older sister, Genevieve. When Veev comes to visit Chloe during prom/graduation, Chloe senses that her sister has changed. Veev then drops a bombshell that startles the family.

Julian also keeps in touch with his older sister, Carly. Carly and their mother couldnt get along, and that strained the family. But Carly visits Julian during his graduation. Carly and their mother had another falling apart, which split the family more. Then, Carly suddenly announces that she is marrying her boyfriend of over six months (a landmark event).

Add in the suddenly crumbling relationship between Eli and Chloe when he finds out about Julian, and fights between Chloe and her best friend Kate; Chloes 8 week departure to Maple Hill Arts Camp and new revelations about the people there; and secrets and makeups between children and their parents, and you have Heart on My Sleeve.

Heart on My Sleeve was a really good book. Its told through letters, e-mails, and IMs. The book was good on relating on many levels of relationships, parents, friends, lovers. Ellen Wittlinger didnt try to sugar coat anything and didnt try to make everything end up happily ever after. She kept the story true to life and definitely something that readers can relate to. Heart on My Sleeve was an excellent book and I recommend this to anyone.

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