Jesse got two surprises the night of the school prom:
- His best friend Cas was kissing a girl who wasn’t his girlfriend
- He found out he has something terribly wrong with his heart
After time in hospital, tests and doctors appointments, Jesse learns he needs an operation, and it’s a biggie. Open heart surgery in fact. His mum is supportive along with his two best friends Cas and Morgan.
But there are fears Jesse can’t share. Sure it’s a scary operation, and he’s been told exactly what’s wrong and how they’re going to fix it, but one thing fills his mind. The doctor’s drawing of the scar he will have afterwards fills him with dread. What boy is ever going to look at him with that monster from neck to navel?
A talented amateur film director, Jesse and his friends had planned to make a movie in the upcoming holidays. His mum is dubious but the doctor gives him the thumbs up. This is when Jesse decides to tick off a few things in his life – the most urgent being finding someone to love before he goes under the knife.
His script is ready, Cas has found some amazing settings to film in, and Morgan has drummed up interest among her acting group for all the actors and extras they will need for filming.
Cas’s ex arrives to audition, making things ultra awkward but she is nothing like the last time they saw her on the stage. Jesse worries they have no leading man, until Cas’s handsome and smooth cousin comes to stay.
Maybe, just maybe thinks Jesse, he can help me cross off that important thing on his wish list?
Filming starts with a few hiccups along the way, family dramas, teens bent on revenge and a little espionage required for equipment, but they finally begin to shoot the movie. All is going well except that something is up between Jesse’s best friends and he can’t figure out what. Even asking them straight out doesn’t give him any answers?
Are they going to be able to finish the movie? Is Cas’ ex’s twin brother going to beat him up for cheating on her? Is their leading man the boy Jesse has been looking for all his teen life? Are the police going to forgive them terrifying members of the public with their zombies? And will Jesse’s heart hold out long enough to find out the answers to all of these questions?
A laugh-out-loud teen rom-com about a boy, his friends, a zombie movie in the making and a faulty heart. This story has lots of that – heart, and made me laugh, cry and shout at the book – ‘Just tell him what’s going on!’
What is going on ‘behind the scenes’ so to speak, is more complicated than main character Jesse knows, and was a wonderful reveal when finally spoken.
If you are a keen film maker or into retro or classic horror movies, Broken Hearts and Zombie Parts will be even more entertaining. I loved the many different types of relationships in this novel which enriched the narrative and had me wondering about all the different story threads as I read. We all have scars of some kind, some like Jesse after his op, but often internal scars from family behaviour or other circumstances. These ‘scars’ made the characters more authentic and likeable.
The author’s interesting afterword is an added bonus. My favourite male queer novel of 2023!
Author – William Hussey
Age – 15+
(2023, Harper Collins, Love, Romance, Friendship, Betrayal, Humour, Crush, Secrets, Queer, Confidence, Body Shame, Film Makin, Retro Horror Movies, Classic Horror, Film Geeks, Best Friends, Relationships, Operation, Heart Defect, Open Heart Surgery, Zombies, Actors, Scars, Funny, Gay, LGBTQ+)