In a world that often asks us to settle, to compromise, or worse—to look away—Pat Green refuses. Instead, he acts and he writes. He writes about heartache, survival, and the complex human spirit that refuses to break thinly disguised as nostalgia. His latest book, Hearts of Glass: Living in the Real World, is not just another novel; it is a call to action and a recalibration of the moral compass.
If you are a woman living in these times, this book matters.
The Power of Perspective Shift
I’ve known him for almost 40 years. Pat’s not just a writer; he’s a lifeline to those drowning in a world that gaslights, minimizes, and erases. His work forces us to move beyond the tired fear induced excuses, beyond the self-imposed apathy, and instead dares us to feel, to see, and to act. His first YA novel, Hearts of Glass, is a story about people who don’t fit into neat, marketable boxes. It’s about survival in a system designed to keep you compliant. And yet, despite the overwhelming forces that threaten to break them, his characters do what so many of us have been forced to do: they adapt, they endure, and they find ways to thrive in the cracks of a broken world.
For me, this book is personal. As a professional and a woman who has had to fight for every inch of respect in boardrooms still dominated by men who dismiss feminist discourse as “emotional,” his words feel like an ally in the fight.
The stories we tell, and the ones we choose to support, shape the culture we live in. That is part of why we’re going backwards and losing ground.
A Friendship That Changed My Life
Pat doesn’t just write stories that recalibrates moral compasses, he recalibrated mine. And not just in the theoretical sense, but in a real, tangible, life-altering way.
Back in the 80s, I was lost, literally and figuratively. My life was in chaos. Enter Pat Green.
In all his stubborn and determined glory, he refused to give up. He helped me, made calls, and ultimately led me to the reunion that I thought would never happen. I found my father and had a safe place to heal and grow. And that’s the thing about him—he shows up. He listens. He takes on fights that aren’t his because that’s just who he is. He was seventeen and I was eighteen when we went through that.
That was the recalibration to a truer North. You step into the lives of others when they need help instead of praying for them or wishing them well. You offer to help even if you don’t know how in that moment. You believe in the possibilities and not the limitations.
Our friendship isn’t perfect. We’ve made mistakes. We’ve hurt each other. We’ve gotten lost in our own messes. But through it all, we’ve always found our way back. Because when you find someone who will fight for you, who will believe in you; that’s a bond that doesn’t break. That’s what we have. And I can say, without a doubt, he’s saved my life in more ways than one. I’m not the only one.
And now, though neither of us keeps score, I want to return the favor.
This was not the original article. I was going to give you the review of his book below and encourage you to support the Indiegogo. After reading what Jenny and Sapphire wrote in their articles while knowing the Indiegogo’s struggles are affecting his ability to reach teens experiencing domestic violence and sexual assault, I had to step it up. He needs to reach those teens like he used to be. He knows their experiences too well.
I can’t fathom how everyone who knows him has not jumped in on the Indiegogo and shared it. Is he imperfect, passionate, chaotic, messy, and sometimes offensive and uncomfortable? Absolutely! But that’s what makes him beautiful. While we run around botoxing, veneering, and sharing memes to cover our true selves, he’s put himself out there as he is with vulnerability asking only that we do the same. When I speak of a recalibrated moral compass, that is what I mean.
And I know him well enough to know that these last three articles mentioning his strengths is hard for him. It’s easy for him to adopt his mistakes, but not his goodness.
A few years ago he invited me to a weird weekend thing in Chicago about emotional intelligence. In one session we were in teams and each person took a turn in the center of a circle as everyone else gave their wishes for you. He couldn’t bear the kind words of others as they mostly wished he could see how wonderful he is as he is and how inspirational that is.
These last three columns have been a coup by the living Fem Friday’s and the daughter of one no longer with us to lift him up and this project.
This review is not impartial, but it is honest.
A Review of Hearts of Glass: Living in the Real World
Green’s novel is an unexpected masterclass in character-driven storytelling. He’s always been a good columnist, but this is not something you would see coming if you know his writing over the last 20 years. But it is a natural evolution.
Set against the backdrop of 1980s mall culture, the book follows Ford, a young man navigating love, identity, and survival in a world that feels both thrilling and treacherous. The narrative contains a loving nod to the 80’s, filled with the music, fashion, and cultural references that shaped Gen X’s coming-of-age years. But he creates a world that all generations can enter and enjoy. He treats the 80’s as one would create a world in any fantasy or science fiction universe.
It’s so much more than nostalgia. Nostalgia is the fantasy world he curates to set the story in.
The book doesn’t flinch in the face of hard topics: abuse, sexism, economic struggle, and the quiet battles fought by those society deems “other.” The dialogue is witty, his character work is intimate and real, and his pacing has a unique flow. It feels jarring at first, but you realize that it has a rhythm hidden in the soundtrack. Every interaction, from Ford’s uncertainty with love to the raw vulnerability of Jenny, a profoundly deaf model struggling against ableist barriers, is rendered with precision and care.
And then there’s Cassie—a character that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page. She’s my favorite! Her story is one of resilience, of breaking cycles, and of learning that sometimes, the best thing you can do is step away from the people who refuse to see your worth while setting boundaries for those who do.
Beyond its deeply personal narratives, Hearts of Glass also showcases a subtle critique of the economic and social struggles of the time. The 1980s mall culture isn’t just a nostalgic setting—it’s a microcosm of class divides, gender dynamics, and the ambition that defined the era. Ford’s journey isn’t just about growing up; it’s about finding his place in a world that is simultaneously thrilling and dangerous.
What makes this novel so compelling is how effortlessly it weaves the personal with the social. Through Ford’s story, we see reflections of ourselves—our insecurities, our dreams, our quiet rebellions. The book is full of intimate moments: a shared glance, an awkward first encounter, and a realization that love is not always enough to fix what is broken. He captures the delicate balance between vulnerability and resilience in a way that few writers can.
He has an ability to paint vivid, emotionally charged scenes that linger in your mind and your heart. The dialogue is witty, fun, authentic, and sometimes heart-wrenching, making the characters feel less like fictional constructs and more like people you know; maybe even people you’ve been. The dialogue of the novel is one of its greatest strengths.
The pacing of the novel is solid too. It moves between moments of levity and moments of deep emotional weight, never feeling forced. The relationships between characters evolve naturally, with tension and chemistry that feels relatable. Every interaction carries meaning, every choice ripples through the narrative in ways both subtle and sweet. I feel like I’m reading a movie written by John Green and directed by John Hughes who chose the soundtrack. For the use of music in this book alone it needs to be adapted to a Netflix show.
Perhaps the most powerful element of Hearts of Glass that Hughes could not quite master is its honesty. This is not a fairy tale. It does not offer easy answers or tidy resolutions ending with Bender’s fist in the air or Jake Ryan and his Porsche parked in front. Instead, it presents life as it is, messy, complicated, and full of moments that define us in ways we never expect. It challenges the reader to think critically about the world around them, to question the systems that shape our lives, and to embrace the imperfections that make us human.
His ability to make every scenes feel immersive, down to the scent of a Marshall Field’s perfume counter, makes this book feel less like a novel and more like a memory, lived and breathed by the reader. It is a reminder of a time that feels distant and eerily familiar, a testament to the fact that the struggles of yesterday are often the same struggles we face today.
Buy. This. Book.
Hearts of Glass: Living in the Real World is the kind of book that all generations can benefit from right now. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s exactly what we need in a time when truth and courage feel like a rare commodity. Don’t just take my word for it—experience it for yourself.
But first, fund it. Support the Indiegogo. Be the reason this story gets into the hands of readers who need it. Because in this world of glass ceilings and fragile egos, we need more stories that shatter expectations.
And Pat Green? He’s just getting started. This is book 1 in a 4 books series. And it may be the series we need to smile and fight the next 4 years.
Go to the Indiegogo, order a copy, and tell others to do the same.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/be-part-of-the-hearts-of-glass-story-and-mission#
In the words of the editor in chief:
Stay totally awesome!
Stay true to you!
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