The Hate You Give / THUG by Angie Thomas

Starr had been leaving a party with Khalil her sixteen year old friend when a white police man pulls them over and shoots Khalil dead. But she had also seen her fellow friend get shot when she was even younger in a drive by.

Garden heights is the block they live in and Starr's family live with brickz a pitbull for protection. Her dad drug dealed and landed himself in prison when she was little. Since getting out he has owned the family shop which within the book, becomes part of a justice protest/riot over Khalil's unlawful murder and thus becomes engulfed in flames while Starr and her friends as well as her white boyfriend, Chris, are trapped inside.

Tupac is a running theme within the book for the whole black/white culture clash displayed throughout in the book, using his lyrics and title of the book too. It hits on a touchy but unfortunately true matter within how such issues should be handled and I commend Angie for an intricately detailed account of hate crime at its worst.

Sad Perfect by Stephanie Elliot

Pea meets Ben at Jae's sixteenth birthday party and they get texting after Jae, her best friend gives him Pea's number and they arrange to go cinema. They go on a series of dates and he understands her eating disorder as well as his parents being understanding too.

Pea lives with her mum, dad and older brother Todd although the household is strained, her dad is more invested in sport, Todd isn't interested in the family much and her mum drinks too much wine, their house is stressed and uneasy.

Last spring Pea had a boyfriend, Alex, who didn't get her eating disorder and dumped her when she loved him and became severely depressed needing to take medication, Zoloft to be able to function again it wasn't helped that her ARFID causes depression, anxiety and also makes her feel like she's missing out on life.

Her mum makes her attend therapy with a therapist called Shauna who never reveals what she's in recovery for herself but she does better with Pea than the psych ward does, even allowing Pea to try new foods when she can but not pressuring her like her parents had done.

Then she starts to self harm with a safety pin scratching away at her wrists after a rocky patch with Ben. This lands her on a psych ward after a tip off from a later revealed source that surprised me at first but made sense.

Personally, I can and can't relate to Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. I have had EDNOS but on a spectrum alike this since I was around four, and anorexia around age fourteen. Eating disorders are hard to categorize because there's usually an element of cross over and in this book ARFID is a unique one as unlike some eating disorders, you look normal and weight a normal weight and do eat some foods just select ones which often wouldn't sound like a problem but the depression and anxiety with it shows more issues. It was a great book to sahow the role of relationships and how they can help or harm, her parents pushing her didn't help but Ben encouraging her allowed her to relax and challenge herself to try.

I commend Stephanie and her daughter, for raising awareness of this disorder and I hope it helps others to realise they can get better or reach out for help.

Crush by Eve Ainsworth

When school hottie, sixteen year old Will, notices her, Anna can't believe it at just fourteen that he'd be interested in her. Yet the relationship isn't as it seems, not noticing the digs and remarks Will makes about her friends, hair, body, food choices etc he continually gets more controlling before physical bruising and hair pulling occurs. Unable to realise what is happening, they continue their relationship.

Her dad is an ex boxer and her ten year old brother Eddie goes to school still despite her dad seeming to be depressed and unable to cope, leaving her to do most chores like cooking and cleaning while they live off a lot of takeaway's due to her mum up and leaving with her dad's best friend.

Her friends get turned against her as they clash with Will and start to leave her out and hangout with new people leaving them to it and her more isolated than ever before when she really needs her friends close to help.

Will has issues too, his mum has a form of depression, anxiety and possibly agoraphobia too I think, which are threaded through out in his perspective which makes him snap at her and even slap her in one scene. Will was beaten as a child and believes loving someone and hurting them is right from his past experience sadly.

I commend her friend Dan in the book coming to the rescue and seeing the hints and signs as Anna too starts to realise what has been going on which she was blind to before.

My fellow Eve has written this book stunningly, true to the abusive relationship types out there this one is alike a mild experience I had around the same age their characters unfortunately. However, I did get out of it before anything bad occurred and telling truly is the way to solve the issue of safety around the individual doing the abuse either verbal, emotional or physical.

Help is always out there! It was a hard hitting read and relatable which will strike a chord among those who have any links to abuse at all and inform others who may be able to help someone.

A completely necessary book for today's society to take note of!

It Gets Worse by Shane Dawson

Based on his life and back for a second book, with a few more hard hitting life issues thrown in besides his unique wit Shane certainly can entertain and outrage in one go.

In a good way!

He talks once again openly about his family, friends, potential boyfriends, his first girlfriend and of course haters. His story's from the paranormal encounter of a good kind to his first experience with a dating app which of course, leads to trouble. He expresses his issues with food once again only this time raising awareness of males having bulima which is rarely touched upon in books and I commend him for talking openly about it, hopefully it can help someone out there who picks up It Gets Worse someday.

His story's are so shocking it's like nothing you can even hope to make up and I wouldn't want to try and beat Shane's hilarious tales. Unlike the first book, his mum kindly adds a chapter to close off the book in which she describes her pride and surprise in her son as well as her first hater encounter in real life!

A truly fun read by a guy that's been through a whirlwind of things.

You Know Me Well by David Levithan and Nina LaCour

Mark and his best mate/wannabe boyfriend Ryan are two teens who go to gay pride together. While there Mark gets scouted for a modeling company but as he let's loose at the party full of strangers, he sees Kate from school.

Kate is there with Lehna, her best friend as well as June and Uma. Lehna wants to introduce Kate to her cousin Violet another lesbian whom Kate fancies but has never met.

Kate and Mark get talking at the pride and so starts a great friendship between the two as they try and get the love interests each so wants, successfully and unsuccessfully. We see how the two are there to support each other as Mark supports Kate when her artwork starts to get displayed and sold sharing in her joy despite his misery friendship rules.

It was a heart warming and affirming book showing how friendship can blossom unexpectedly and love can be tricky especially young, gay love too but shows how celebrated the gay community is.

Drag Teen by Jeffery Self

JT is a seventeen year old, gay guy who has boyfriend, Seth and best friend Heather by his side. He and Heather bonded over their body image issues.

Seth introduces JT to the idea of entering the Miss Drag Teen Scholarship Pageant as JT dreams of being a Drag Teen and is obsessed with RuPauls Drag Race, a popular real American TV show.

Missing out on his one chance of winning a scholarship at high school, his fathers set ideas for his life and spring break in New York on offer with a scholarship win possible he soon makes plans with Seth and Heather to get there and learn to be a better drag queen on the way.

Along the way, older drag queen Bambi teaches him make-up tips, Tina a kind old singer let's him use her old stage wear and wigs as well as coaxing his singing out of him and showing him he has power.

After a few minor hiccups they manage to get JT there and competes to win despite a sabotage effort by a jealous fellow drag queen. A surprise return of a helpful friend also shows life can spin you a lucky break.

A serious show of dedication all round and a powerful story about how your dreams can come true along with help from your great friends!

Jessica Darling's It List 3: Totally Not Guaranteed Guide by Megan McCafferty

After taking her sisters crushability test, an accident sees it wind up in the hands of her crush, Marcus!

Sets on finding out if he knows how she feels she drops hints he doesn't seemingly pick up on...

At school there's also petitions set up by Sara and Manda as they both fight to get the school dance back by trying to outdo each other on the amounts of signatures they can get. Leaving Jess and Hope to sign one friends each to make it fair.

Then comes a the announcement by the school that they'll be having... a square dance and not the disco/prom/sophisticated dance anyone dreams of having. The school makes them parted up boy and girl landing Jess in another situation with Scott yet again!

As Jess faces dancing with Scott and facing the consequences later, she is suddenly saved. By being kicked out of their square dance group! Will she be able to attend and fins out how Marcus truly feels about her?

A fun read full of the joy's of teenage life in school.

Jessica Darling's It List 2 by Megan McCafferty

Learning her Grandma is staying over for eighteen days, Jessica is excited to be able to bake sweet treats with her grandma and get her advice on her friend situations.

While Bridget keeps taking Jessica's homemade sweets and classifying them as her own to impress Burke, Jessica is expected to always be there all the time Bridget and her many potential break ups with Burke may occur.

Jess then gets her own spell of boy trouble between her and Scotty as Dori thinks they like each other. Jess later learns that actually Scotty has feelings and they're not for the girl he's dating after all.

Manda and Sara then seemingly peer pressure Jessica into holding a sleepover for them, Hope and Bridget though Dori and some of the guys end up attending too but it of course doesn't go to plan, ending in near death for one of them, leaving the sleepover early for others and Jess's grandma calling the police on the kids who snuck off!

Then Aleck, really known as Marcus and Jess share a few laughs again and Marcus still acts really sweet around Jess despite the sleepover events.

Hope then being her new best friend really, confides in Jess about her period coming and that being why she acted oddly at Jess's sleepover. Jess feels happy knowing she's a trusted friend and realises being a slow developer body wise may not be a bad thing after all.

Her sister Bethany tells Jessica she has a chance at readmission to college and not all hope may be lost for her after all!

Another fun read which may have the attitude of high schoolers but will make you laugh all the same with a great fast paced storyline.

Scars by Cheryl Rainfield

Carolyn is therapist to fifteen year old self harmer and psychosis sufferer Kendra. We learn that she was assaulted five months ago if not for a long period beforehand too.

In school, Mrs Archer her art teacher encourages her talent, which she gets from her mum who is struggling to cope with Kendra after telling of her abuse. Their family also faces worrying times as finances start to crumble and they may need to move away as a result.

Sarah was Kendra's friend until feelings got in the way and so when a girl, Meghan, sticks up for her and they grow closer, convincing their deepest secrets with each other their bond grows and love blossoms in the wake of traumatic events and despite Kendra's mum not understanding her daughters sexuality, doesn't stop Meghan supporting her and being around.

Yet as weird things keep happening to Kendra, convinced her abuser is following and watching her through her life as she tries to stay alive, a promise she made her abuser plagues her mind as she realises maybe ending things is the only way to stop him getting her first...

A raw deep account of how trauma can effect a person in many mental and physical ways as well as showing how crucial a support system and regularity is.

Jessica Darling's It List by Megan McCafferty

Starting high school is a big step, especially if you want to be popular like your sister was!

For Jess, her sister Bethany guides her with a list of things to accomplish to have a great school experience, she needs to choose a great boyfriend, join cheer group and make the right friends.

However, her best friend Bridget soon becomes everything the list needs, getting on cheer team, bagging a boyfriend and fitting straight in while Jessica realises that maybe being herself is best?

After all Jess makes cheer team but not as it seems, makes friends and loses them in some ways and learns of growing apart as well as having enough best friend boyfriend drama to do without boy drama of her own!

There's also the fact that she's in the wrong elective and takes woodshop with eleven boys and she's the only girl. Still, it means she meets Aleck, Marcus as he's really known.

Yet as Jessica's sister confides in her a huge secret to do with school, Jess realises she maybe doesn't have it as bad as she thinks.

Countless by Karen Gregory

For Hedda life is changing fast, living alone in a ran down flat after leaving her eating disorder unit she had been in on and off since age twelve and not living at home or having the option to.

She now faces a big decision, right after her best friend and bulimic, Molly die in front of her from a heart attack months ago, she realises she would have conceived her now twenty three week old foetus around that time and as she faces the choice whether to terminate or have the baby she faces another battle, her eating disorder Nia as she calls it.

We follow her meeting a new and caring neighbour Robin when he moves into the next door flat and how he takes care of Hedda, cooking for her and keeping an eye on her as she progresses through and beyond her pregnancy.

But just why is he so good at looking after her and the baby, you may want to brace yourself!

Don't worry, no spoilers for that cliffhanger I'll leave it on for you, but Hedda soon realises how she has come a long way allowing herself to have the baby and create something amazing with her beat up body.

She also finds her sister, mum and dad aren't as happy as she though they'd be with her not a worry in their lives as much as before but learns why too late to help.

Countless shot to the top of my tbr pile when I was scrolling through Amazon a few days ago, hearing about it months ago in YouTube video's. I am so glad I read it, Hedda is a strong girl in will and power eventually as she seeks further support. Her situation is one we haven't visited before the idea of a girl set severe into anorexia/recovery and facing a life altering decision either path she should choose. Karen did a great job nailing the subject with a good amount of shocks along the way.

Solitaire by Alice Oseman

Tori follows her curiosity of the mysterious trail of post it notes to find a computer with Solitaire, a new empty blog open on the screen. Then she meets Michael a new guy before her old childhood friend Lucas also resurfaces.

Meanwhile her brother, Charlie is recovering from anorexia and self harm and we see how protective she is over him as he gets attacked by a bully who Solitaire later ensures gets a taste of his own bullying back.

Through the book, Michael and Toria grow closer while her best friends grow distant and more involved in other plans than friendship until Solitaire progresses. Then she realises, Solitaire or more importantly, who runs Solitaire is trying to talk to her and it's revealed to shows Toria who she can really trust and who cares for her truly.

It was hard to understand the whole concept of Solitaire and their plan overall but it was okay and had some good themes raised with male anorexia and self harm.

Vegan Virgin Valentine by Carolyn Mackler

Mara is a high achiever, sights set on Yale with hopefully Valedictorian honors at the end of her time in school.

Until hurricane V her niece a year younger than her moves in and creates hell for her. Where Mara is straight edged, V smokes pot, acts like all the boys want her and she let's them have her if rumours are true and she even has a thing with Mara's ex, Travis.

Yet Mara also has issues at work too, Claudia she works with fancies their boss James. However, James and Mara seem to be having sparks fly between them so just how will that play out and not break any hearts?

The book is ultimately about fitting in and doing you not what somebody sets for you. We see V find stability she needed while Mara develops her dreams and separates her dreams from her parents idealisation for her future. Once again Carolyn has written a great book, the second in the series, Guyaholic, I read before this one and remember we see V get more settled and enter a relationship too, worth a read!

Nick and Charlie by Alice Oseman

Nick and Charlie are a young couple, two guys who have been together two years but now Nick is off to university and Charlie can't comprehend him not being there always.

One night at a party, Charlie gets drunk and finds out another strong couple have broken up before university and in a drunken fit of emotion breaks up with Nick regrettably for both of them.

After a break in communication, Charlie approaches Nick and they reconcile but can they get back together knowing the future?

It was a great little story and I did thoroughly enjoy it. Nick and Charlie seem like a great couple being together from I think, fifteen especially shows their connection was always there and not going to be easily broken!

Kiss Cam by Kiara London

Jasper, June and Lenny run a successfully partnered channel with a YouTube style company called Vlog It. They do dares and q and a's whilst fans love Jasiper and shipping a couple out of the three.

Lenny becomes a back part member as fans challenge Jasiper to do a kiss cam challenge meaning that they kiss in a q and a but then fans want more.

A whole series over Christmas in fact, which once complete after they started with a shared promise of no feelings threatens to tear their friendship and channel apart.

Then when Jasper starts to get close to Elaina, we see their friendship sort of resolve until Alison listens to her friends woes about it all and points out what June hasn't realised yet.

Maybe June and Jasper are meant to be more than friends and just kissing buddies after all?

For me it wasn't the best book around YouTubers and navigating those friendship to romance relationships, yet it was fun with the challenges set by fan's and it did flow better than some books by more established authors.

A cute contemporary for teens and tweens who love relationships around YouTube and online personality's.

Shuffle, Repeat by Jen Klein

When June starts to get lifts to school with Oliver, her boyfriend doesn't get jealous at all, Itch is calm and accepting despite asking her why she doesn't get her own license. Which we later learn the mystery behind.

June and Oliver don't talk at first during their riding together instead they choose to play a playlist of which a song chosen by each of them gets added the more they learn.

Despite the growing attraction June slowly feels towards Oliver, her mum starts a relationship with her interior designer/builder Cash who becomes a staple around the house as they fall into a relationship.

Then, June breaks up with Itch after they both admit they kissed other people but Itch acts like he isn't bothered and moves on to the next girls while June can't and Oliver is still with his girlfriend anyway.

There's a lot of twists in each of the friends relationship which play out towards the last half of the book. It was a bit bland as I thought there would be more emphasis on music and not more on the love triangle storyline as the title suggested but still worth a read.

Ask My Mood Ring How I Feel by Diana Lopez

For Erica, life is being turbulent. Not only does she have to deal with her younger sister who likes to think she knows everything and is older than her actual age, her younger baby brother but now, her mum has revealed she has breast cancer and is having a breast removed and replaced with a prosthetic instead.

After surgery, Erica wants to help her mum any way she can as she tries to get well. However, her mum is tired from all the radiation treatments whilst her dad sets a strict set of rules to make the household more quieter so they don't wake their resting and recovering mum. Meanwhile, her sister starts to power dress for school and persistently show OCD traits by counting to a certain number before moving/eating/leaving etc.

Throughout the book though, Erica sets herself a goal of running or walking a 5k race for cancer and campaigns to raise money from at least five hundred people for her mum and other sufferers.

It was a heartwarming book and I like how the mood ring and her ambitions help to sort of guide Erica through the tough time that her family face and the choices she makes in her school and love life.

The Haters by Jesse Andrews

At a jazz camp, two friends, Wes and Corey meet Ash, a different girl who's billionaire father funds the trio via credit card usage to go on their 'The Haters Summer Of Hate' tour in Ash's van.

They believe touring around will get them heard and sounding better than any summer camp would ever achieve for them all.

The name being The Haters for the band is simply caused by them enjoying music types to a certain degree because they hate it so much. It's so awful, it's good kind of feelings.

Through their touring they make many friends, perform in restaurants and other small areas to get heard before finally their parents track them down which we only hear from them at the end which I thought as they'd be missing from camp and not home, police would have found them sooner surely?

Overall it didn't thrill me, many jokes fell flat for me, I don't like boys typical humour though that's alike many girls and I found the story to have a lagging beginning that I ended up skipping through to get to the more adventurous parts of the book and despite it picking up in certain areas with some drama, it failed to make me love it.

The Best Medicine by Christine Hamill

Philip is a twelve year old wannabe comedian. His best friend Ang at school knows he gets targeted by The Yeti, as he calls his bully as well as Ang knowing about Lucy, the girl he likes.

However, when Philips mum starts acting strangely and allowing him to have baked cakes and watch all the Harry Hill he wants to, he starts to realise something is different.

Which is when his mum friend Susie starts coming round more as his mum breaks down and reveals she has breast cancer and faces treatment. Philip is shocked and can't believe it, he writes more letters to Harry Hill with all his issues and doesn't give up.

Then when his mum meets others with cancer, the Harry Hill appreciation society is created as the patients all take off their wigs and also Philip shaves his head to fit in and make his mum feel less alone.

Then something amazing happens and Harry Hill gains a protégée for a performance which makes a dream come true!

I have had relatives close to me suffer with cancer unfortunately and this book is an amazing unique twist on how an idol can keep spirits alive in the face of the unknown to come.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

Working in a museum over summer, Bailey meets Porter. At first she can't stand him but soon they become a really cute couple. Not to mention they bond over some horrific past incidents, for Bailey she was shot and her mum divorced her dad and moved away. Whilst for Porter, he saved his dad from a great white shark despite it getting his fathers arm, he survived.

There's also the added mystery of Bailey using her nickname, Mink online to chat to a person called Alex. Despite never having met face to face, Bailey wants to know them in real life.
She soon does though!

It was predictable with the storyline and a retelling of other stories together. Despite that it was well written and enjoyable just not overly exciting as hyped it got.

Kill The Boy Band by Goldy Moldovsky

The Rupert's made four girls friends but the band could now tear them apart too.

The girls end up kidnapping one of the four boys called Rupert from the band and after tieing him up in their hotel room, resigning him from the band as he was the weakest member in their opinion and also said some rather horrible things about one of the girl's weight and the other's dad being dead.

Whilst Erin is the mastermind behind the book's title essentially by wanting to eradicate the idea of the Boy Band completely after a bad experience with the members back at a concert she attended they held in Dublin. Only they don't expect a certain event to happen that changes their hostage situation forever.

Each girl has a lot of issues to their history making them a force to be reckoned with as one! I personally do not like boy bands in their traditional sense which drew me in because of the title.
However, the first half of the book seemed rather slow with laying down the main plot line behind their hidden plan.
I do think many younger readers would appreciate the book a lot more but it was good.

My Invisible Boyfriend by Susie Day

Heidi lives in a boarding school with her best friends. Her parents own the boarding school and her mum seems more like a sister the way she talks to Heidi for a lot of the book.

The book was very juvenile in its language and so tried my patience a lot sadly and I found it dragging on.

The idea of the story was good with Heidi having to create a fake boyfriend and deal with the history of the two of them etc. As well as her friend group being very varied with a gay friend and his boyfriend as well as a model and a goth as well as her boyfriend showing a true array of real life people cast in the mix.

If you are a young teen this book maybe for you but older teens you may find it a bit of a drag unfortunately.

Words Written On Bathroom Walls by Julia Walton

Adam is young and suffering from schizophrenia. Taking part in a drug trial, he is writing diary entries to record his thoughts and feelings throughout the process of his dosage being altered around to his needs as the voices and characters he sees and hears become stronger again.

As we see his life in diary form and his medication doses up and down, we follow him make friends with Dwight and get a girlfriend, Maya at his new catholic school his stepdad pays for him to attend. We also see his mum and step dad face a new challenge and not just with Adam as he manages his schizophrenia.

It was a very good book and especially as we see him fall in love despite hiding his illness from everyone around him, he finds strength and support when he needs it most. It shows truly how people suffer with the condition day to day and proves they can still lead normal lives just in a different way to a lot of us.

Thank you to the publishers for allowing me a copy to review!

Get Well Soon by Julie Halpern

Overweight and placed into psychiatric hospital at risk of suicide, Anna writes in her diary and through letters to her best friend, Tracey. She talks about the residents and her growing crush on Justin.

We learn of the issues each of the teens in there have and rules they have to live by upon admission to hospital. For instance, binge eating adds weight for Anna and causes her to feel negatively towards herself and her body.

We follow her through her stay and see how emotionally impacting it is on her for being admitted by her parents.
It was a good book with an array of true too life characters and scenario's.

Girlhood by Cat Clarke

I couldn't believe my eyes when I stopped this book available for review, the latest young adult fiction novel from Cat Clarke!

Having previously read and enjoyed all of Cat's books, I'm so excited to share a review and overview of this book with you all!

Set in Duncraggan Academy, an expensive boarding school, Harper is trying to get on with her life after the death of her twin sister, Jenna who died because of heart failure as a result of a post Christmas diet of Harper's suggestion.

Harper has a key group of friends at the Scottish boarding school, Ama, Lily and Rowan. Kirsty becomes a talked about 'legend' after surviving initiation which the four friends make her undertake as it's essential for new students.

Kirsty and Harper both bond over their shared loss of each one's sister, Kirsty's sister died as the result of a car crash in which Kirsty is now scarred on her body from.

The girls games, truth or dare and the like result in an awkward situation and Rowan and Harper become distanced over Kirsty. Harper really likes Kirsty whilst Rowan seems very off towards her and wary.

The title being Girlhood shows it's true of the novel as we see Harper becoming distanced from her core group of friends as she becomes closer to Kirsty.

However, the truth surrounding Kirsty and her past comes to light and the girls have to help Harper realise before anything can happen to her, after all Kirsty likes shooting at the Clay pigeon's, would she shoot Harper?

You'll have to read it to find out what happens!

In the book, Harper is bisexual and rowan is lesbian, the sexual themes are unique as in older boarding school books I can't recall a same situation where it has been pointed out. Also, the girls are accepted and not outcast for being their true selves. It also shows that death can be a bonding opportunity over recent losses at the same time even though it's a bittersweet deal.

Cat Clarke has written another stellar book and is sure to be an essential teen read this year, pick it up when it's released!

Jaq Hazell author Q and A!

So for this afternoon's post, a special Q and A with an author who's book                              I reviewed a little while ago now! 

The book has been released today and below is the interview with author, Jaw and links to purchase her lovely book too, enjoy!

What made you think of the main idea of a character who is 'living' as a bench?

I was out walking with my dog and as we passed a line of benches I imagined hearing a bench complain about being a bench. It was a teenage voice, someone with a bit of attitude who wanted to be elsewhere with her friends having fun. Initially I wrote a 300-word story and eventually it grew into a novel.

Do you believe we could, after we pass away, become like the character Ren and be a voice in our surroundings, or do you think it's wishful thinking the end is never the end?

My rational side thinks the end is the end and that’s it but at the same time there is so much we don’t understand so who knows what is possible. A few times I’ve thought I may have seen a ghost (while staying in old buildings while travelling), and have woken up feeling confused, but I assume I’ve imagined it because I’m overtired or half-asleep and dreaming.

How did you choose the setting for the book?

As the benches are located in quite an area that isn't in for example, a busy street in the centre of town.
Ren’s bench is close to where I had the initial idea for the novel. There are many benches all along the river and one or two are dedicated to young people who have passed and they are particularly sad. I deliberately chose a position where there is a lot to see (the bridge in one direction and in the other a café and restaurant), and yet at the same time it’s not buzzy enough for Ren. She’s young and would rather be in the centre of town.

Is there a character who stands out for you in the book now reading it through which didn't necessarily when the book was just in planning?

I’m really fond of Lionel, the old bench next to Ren’s. I didn’t know he was there until he started talking and it was a pleasant surprise. He’s a kind and thoughtful presence who reminds me of my Irish and English grandads.

The ending was very tragic – especially the lost love and future between Ren and Gabe – how do you think his life will play out?

That’s difficult to say without any spoilers. I would like to think that justice is served in the end and that the good characters in the novel go on to eventually find the right path in life, while those that are not so good receive their comeuppance at some point.

Did you already know how you wanted Ren to have died when you began writing?

From the start, I knew that Ren’s death was traumatic but I didn’t know the details. It does help to have a rough idea of an ending but I don’t like to plan too much because I find it’s more exciting to leave room for a few unexpected developments along the way.

One of the characters treats Ren very badly. Do you think that character will ever see the error of his/her ways in how he/she acted and treated Ren?

There is a certain character who lacks empathy and is only out for what suits him/her, and I would think it unlikely he/she would change as I think that character has little or no conscience.

Did you have any vices when writing, a specific place, song etc?

Like most writers, I drink a lot of coffee and can be easily distracted by biscuits, chocolate and social media. My desk is messy (a sign of creativity) and I sometimes shift my work to the kitchen table for a little more space. If I’m out and about, I can write pretty much anywhere – trains are good and I often write in the car if I’m waiting for one of my daughters.

Do you have any actors in mind for if the book was adapted into TV or film one day?

As the main characters are so young, they’d probably have to be newcomers, but if I was picking well-known actors I’d say someone like Maisie Williams or Chloe Moretz (if she can do an English accent) or Saoirse Ronan would be good for Ren and Jacob Anderson/Raleigh Ritchie has the looks for Gabe. Michael Gambon as Lionel would be amazing (and he’s the right age), or maybe Jim Broadbent or Bill Nighy.

Finally, do you have a playlist that's based around the book and events?

Like Ren, I’m an Amy Winehouse fan and I listened to Amy’s music while writing and also to the singers that influenced her. It was fun to research the music she liked and to imagine how Ren would react to these earlier artists. When it came to the party scenes, it was a case of checking out the tunes that were big a few years ago (when the novel is set) to work out a party playlist.


A huge thank you to Jaq for allowing me to interview her for the blog and you guys!


Links:

Amazon US
https://www.amazon.com/My-Life-Bench-Jaq-Hazell-ebook/dp/B01MYEI2XL/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493734668&sr=8-1&keywords=My+life+as+a+bench

Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/My-Life-Bench-Jaq-Hazell-ebook/dp/B01MYEI2XL

Almost Adulting by Arden Rose

Arden is a popular YouTube personality which is of course, why I picked up her book.

The book is full of different story's and lessons which we can all learn from as we read. From sex to moving out young or even handling a close ones illness, we can appreciate how one young person handled the situations we also may be faced with. I also feel like younger readers will be able to take some strength from the book's part about body image. In a society where body image is so changeable and pressurized, Arden reminds us that it's perfectly fine to just be your own you and not someone's imagined version of you!

The book was hilarious yet serious in all the right places and we really got a feel for her life experiences so far. It shows that not even the most popular online personality's get away from situation's unscathed and a lot of us have bad experience's growing up. Let's all enjoy Arden's book and commiserate of the bad and laugh at the great together!

The One Memory Of Flora Banks by Emily Barr

The book focuses on the life of Flora, a seventeen year old girl suffering from amnesia after a brain tumor.

Or so we believe her parents have been looking after her after the tumor, let me tell you, this story will shock you.

Anyway, as her best friend Paige's boyfriend is leaving to study in the Arctic, he kisses Flora on the beach the night before he leaves!

The issue is Flora believes she loves him and so she writes it down all what happened, on post it notes, in her diary and on her arms so she can't forget despite never actually forgetting it happening proving her memory is getting better!

However, Paige finds out and just as Flora's parents are set to go stay in Paris with Flora's Ill brother, it leaves Flora home alone and to fend for herself which when suffering such severe amnesia as she is, she actually does well until an idea comes along.

As Flora sets off to fly to find her true love in the Arctic alone, no one knowing her plans etc we see that this seventeen year old is recovering the right way, but it won't be for long...

The story flips at the last part, I was shocked at what I read and honestly the ending made the book for me. The story was good but last part made it for me as it did slow up. I would highly recommend this book to you and I know it's been popular among readers this year too so far.