What reading level is Love hurts?

Love hurts by Beverly Scudamore is at a Level 3 reading level (Lexile 560L). Recommended for Lower Grades readers (Ages 5-8).

What age is Love hurts appropriate for?

Love hurts is recommended for Ages 5-8. HootRating: 8ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is Love hurts?

Love hurts is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does Love hurts have any content warnings?

Love hurts has a HootRating of 8ME (Moderate — Emotional). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Love hurts?

Love hurts by Beverly Scudamore is 139 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

Love hurts

Beverly Scudamore

Love hurts

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Beverly Scudamore

Reading Level 3 8ME Ages 5-8 Heads Up

The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

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About This Book

The sharp click of a ring on the table echoes in Mel’s ears as her heart races faster than ever. She’s caught between the memory of Dustin and the new spark with Colter, who’s suddenly everywhere she goes. But when things start moving too fast, Mel feels a chill—what if love isn’t just about fun?

Themes

Friendship Coming of Age Romance Family

Quick Assessment

This early reader explores the complex emotions of young love and friendship among middle schoolers. It addresses themes of dating, peer pressure, and the importance of recognizing healthy boundaries in relationships, suitable for ages 5-8 but best for readers around grade 3. Parents should note that the story touches on emotional intensity related to romantic feelings and social challenges.

Why we rated Love hurts 8ME

Love hurts is written at a Level 3 reading level with a Lexile measure of 560L across 139 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Love hurts works for readers up to grade 5.0.

We rate Love hurts as 8ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.

Thematically, Love hurts explores friendship, coming of age, romance, and family — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

✓ Children in the Ages 5-8 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, coming of age, romance.

Maybe not for

! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.