All About Mia by Lisa Thompson

Mia is the middle sibling between perfect university heading Grace and younger high achieving swimmer Audrey.

when Grace returns from her travels with a shock, she's pregnant and her boyfriend is with her vowing to stick by her so they move in after an explosive grilling from her parents.

In the story Mia wears an All About Mia t-shirt, going out drinking tons, losing her virginity, planning a holiday with her mates and looking for love and attention from anyone and anywhere. She has a neighbour whom she baby sits for and even makes a pass at him, a forty year old.

Then her friends fall out with her, one over a guy, and her little sister goes missing as well as suddenly, her older sister going into labour!

Mia is a live wire and can't be contained, she is a firework, sparking off until she explodes as her actions become worse and worse and they do get her the attention she craves even if she can't see it at first. She is all about herself, as the title suggests, however she seems insecure and unhappy and overall wants toto be someone she isn't. It was an eventful book and will leave you remembering such a wild character in Mia.

We Come Apart by Sarah Crossan and Brian Conaghan

In this book we meet Jess, caught shoplifting when out with her so called friends whom help to really put her in the mess she winds up in. Unhappy at home with her mum and stepdad whom seems a sleazy guy whom commits severe domestic abuse.

We also meet Nicu, escaped to Britain whilst his parents try to find him a wife back home for him who's suitable for which they'd return home eventually for them to marry after earning enough money.

As the pair both partake in an ordered community service charge of cleaning the community they meet, but both hide their secrets from the other until they start to hang out more, coming together before they get brutally ripped apart by a tragic act of self defence but too serious to ignore...

A tragic love story of right blooming out of wrong doing as the pair fall into their very short love story. Told in verse it was quick to read and the action flowed featuring an array of important topics from refugees, immigration, kleptomania, domestic abuse and general life wrong from right.

This book will haunt your memories of books you've read as you'll never find one like it again, I'm sure.

The Opposite Of You by Lou Morgan

Bex and Naomi are identical twins leading opposite lives, though Bed doesn't realise this, at first. Supposed to be having an important exam, Bex sits it to realise Naomi never turned up.

Bex soon takes it upon herself to unearth her sister's secrets and find her after her parents have reported her missing to the police and Bex meets a nice friend there, Josh who listens to her troubles and they commiserate their situations together.

Naomi however, has a backstage pass to a festival though plans soon go awry upon arrival and has her stuff stolen, yet she meets  a supposedly kind stranger, Max at the festival after having had her bag stolen and he gives her his and it's contents to survive off.

Bex and Naomi use their unique twin telepathy to let each other get snippets of the situations and when Naomi ends up in a bad place with a drug dealer alone in his ran down flat, it is up to Bex comes with the help of Josh and the police to find her before it's too late.

The key to the plot of the novel and the title, is that Naomi has struggled to find her own identity and her sense of self. She has a secret life of partying and dressing up and reinventing a new her all the time. Yet her sister is more down to earth as she knows she wants to be an artist, study hard and enjoy life as it flows.
We also learn of how secondary school really tore their identical twin bond as Naomi played tag along to Bex and her new best friend, Kay. Bex comes to realise as does Naomi that they are closer than they have felt in years and they can't break their unique bond and more importantly, they don't want to.

I thought it was a great unique book the way it looks into the twin bond and how each one can try to break apart but the bond in will never break and nor should it have to.

The Baby by Lisa Drakeford

At Olivia's seventeenth birthday house party, we see how Jonty her boyfriend is a controlling bully and commits domestic abuse, Ben is her gay best friend and Nicola is her best girl friend but hasn't known she was pregnant until that night as she gives birth!

Thing's only get worse when Olivia discovers whom the father and is broken despite the betrayal we see how she manages to cope and all the others too as their story is told a month by each character focusing solely on them and their life alike in an episode of Skins.

We see Nicola struggling then taking to mother hood whilst Ben deals with his sexuality and crush on a football playing boy, a typical jock character. We see Jonty change in attitude and approach his mother issues too.

However, in a final twist when first times get discussed things take a shocking twist we should be able to have seen coming!

I was hooked and read this in the sun outside in one go I couldn't leave it at all alike her book The Crash, it was gripping with the plot developments and seeing how each friend coped with the baby whom now effects all their lives. The original plot lead from the party which I didn't think it would start with straight away but in hindsight still believe a bit more foresight into their former friendship dynamic might have been more beneficial.

A Seven Letter Word by Kim Slater

Finlay is a young teen with a stammer and a talent for playing scrabble. It was him and his mum's thing to do but as his mum disappeared two years ago from him and his dad's lives and hasn't made contact since.

So when online playing scrabble, Alex, a stranger, starts talking to Finlay and coincidentally mentions they have had a new stepmum for the past two years and she walked out on her family, Finlay wants to investigate believing she could be his mum.

Meanwhile, he has to contend with the school bully Oliver whom is a part of the school scrabble team Finlay ends up joining where he befriends Maryam, a refugee girl whom has to put up with bullying from Oliver also.

Then Finlays house gets broken in to, clues on his mum's things become apparent and suddenly, Finlay finds out his mum wasn't as perfect as he first believed...

The book deals with a lot of serious topics from racial bullying to the pressure of making friends and of course the book's main topic, of stammering. It's ironic Finlay is so good with written words as he can't articulate himself clearly verbally. It was great combining a mystery with a medical/life problem and stammers are rarely written about in children's fiction too which makes it even better and hopefully if anyone reads it whom had a stammer will feel at ease with a relatable character written about.

Goodbye Perfect by Sara Barnard

When perfect student Bonnie goes missing no one least of all her best friend Eden, expects her to have fun off with Mr Cohn, her music teacher! She called him 'Jack', so Eden assumed he was their age despite her acting so secretive over it.

Growing up in care, Eden's life has been turbulent but with steady friend Bonnie vanishing she experiences anger, jealousy and despair over wanting her back, over her friends selfishness at how she's treating her caring family, something she never naturally had.

However, through all this, Carolyn her adoptive mum and her biological daughter Valerie, Get a bit closer to the family Eden has craved after for so long. As well as Connor her steady boyfriend helping in any way he can being supportive and devoted to helping her.

The only twist is all along since Bonnie ran off, Eden has been getting texts from her telling her about where they are and going to. But Eden can't cope and eventually the weight of knowledge gets too much...

Set over a dramatic week when taking GCSES plus a flash forward to August results day, we see how grooming works from the point of an outsider and not one of the couple involved.
It was a dramatic read but the ending didn't satisfy me completely as we don't find out what specifically he got charged with, how Bonnie is doing and how she coped in the time following the couple's split.

Overall, it was alike Anne Cassidy's books and it did keep me entranced to read on and on.

I'll Be Home For Christmas by Various For Shelter

This is an anthology of short stories based around various people and their versions of home. The stories range and all feature many things from broken families, new step siblings and parents, being gay and coming out, love and crushes, friendship and work.

From the anthology my favourite was Juno Dawson's Homo For Christmas, a story about coming out to your parents as in his case he has a boyfriend and is very happy with him but is anxious anticipating his mum's reaction.

All for a great cause, homelessness these stories are gripping and hard hitting as well as being fantastic quick reads.

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

After she finds out her dad has three months to live and with a history of running away at bad news, Taylor isn't coping well at the prospect of one last summer together at Lake Phoenix.

Lucy and Henry live next door to their house at Lake Phoenix now. Henry hates Taylor for what happened before between them. Five summers before Lucy's parents filed for divorce and Lucy liked Henry when Henry and Taylor had realised their feelings for each other.

Forced to work at the beach together, Taylor and Lucy slowly rebuild a friendship and work things out between themselves after Taylor opens up about her dad's stage four cancer.

Henry also eventually comes around to Taylor and the pair rekindle their relationship as well despite Taylor's dad deteriorating and Taylor wanting to flee yet again.

Ah this book was one of those you know the end is going to be tragic and it hits you hard! Taylor is such a relatable character with her boy history with friends being hurt and losing a parent will always be hard but the time she spends with her dad is so good with how he keeps going out with her then sharing old memories, leaving her a surprise too a sad but necessary read!

Lying About Last Summer by Sue Watson

Skye witnessed her sister Luisa being murdered poolside at their old house last summer. This summer, she is returning to a nearby grief activity camp for a week to try and move on and accept her sister's death.

All she knows is her sister was in a relationship with Nico, a bad guy and a drug user whom didn't seem right for her unlike their old farm shop working friend Toby.

At the camp, she discovers creepy Joe who seems over friendly and too controlling who's girlfriend committed suicide. Meanwhile she befriends Brandon, Fay and Danielle.

As time wears on, Skye starts to receive messages supposedly from Luisa on their messaging app only something somethings seems off as Skye realises it can't truly be her, can it?

So Skye sets off investigating all those at camp with her, from drug takers and old friends, before a final explosive near death this book may start slowly, but the investigation culminates in a satisfying way for sure as a minor plot also overtakes the original one. I found by the end I was thoroughly satisfied with a nice quick mystery thriller and Sue has a couple more you should check out as well if you like this one!

A Library Of Lemons by Jo Cotterill

Calypso loves to read, so does new girl Mae. Set over the year following them meeting, we watch them both grow together as they learn a lot.

Calypso's dad has made her believe she doesn't need people and being independent, solitary and reading not interacting with others is good as it makes you strong. Only Calypso is the adult we soon learn as she lost her mum and she has forcibly taken over the care of herself and her dad as he works endlessly on his lemons he grows and writes a book about.

When Calypso is with Mae she is happy and joyous as she discovers her mum is lovely and including her into their family life like a fellow daughter.

Calypso lost her mum to cancer and loves to know her books are close by as they link them, so when she discovers them to be discarded by her dad, something becomes clear that there's a deeper issue and we fellow all of them as her father starts counselling for depression and Calypso begins attending meetings for other young carers alike her.

This was a moving and emotional book which shows how tough loss, depression and isolation can be for someone especially so young as Calypso was eleven in the book. The title and her dad's hobby was so random but the phase when life gives you lemons, ironically plays it's role eventually making the book more bittersweet that just bitter from the death of Calpyso's mum and all hope is not lost as her new friendship with Mae gives her everything she'd been shut away from. A unique and strange but great story.

Bus Stop Baby by Fleur Hitchcock

When sisters Amy and Eden walk home after getting off the bus after school, they never would expect to find an abandoned baby, but they do.

After taking it home to their dad and calling the police, the story follows the girls learning more about another abandoned baby that was found back in 1966.

As their grandma, Zelda helps research the baby from the past, she acts shifty whilst also being overly keen to help investigate the latest abandoned baby's history and see if anyone in their village saw anything the night she was found.

Zelda then reveals a huge secret the family have to adjust to as they begin to track down a special new member of their family...

Throughout this story, the girls face how they to were abandoned in a way by their mum as she lives abroad in Australia, Amy also has to deal with friendship issues as she questions all of them after her Christmas money and her new purse go missing.

A hidden secret can have the biggest of impacts only the story here showed us family comes first as they stick together and embraced the new. Zelda was a lovely caring grandma and Amy a determined young girl. It was gutting they couldn't keep the baby and I would've loved to see whom was the abandoning parent in the end as I wondered if it would be another young girl plot twist.

The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli

Whilst her twin, Cassie gets a girlfriend, Molly is left sidelined only to be told by her sister she will find her a boyfriend so she isn't left out.

Molly ends up epically annoyed with her twin and her easy life right now as she herself battles with her feelings towards Reid, whom she works with and Will, a friend.

Add in how our seventeen year old Molly feels being a bigger girl in today's society. Reid is also talking to newly single Olivia, making Molly jealous and also opening her eyes at how she is really deep down feeling.

This book was really good and an honest look at dealing with a crush and emotional feelings. The book also focuses on modern day app Pinterest as reference to a lot of Molly's crafting.

Extraordinary Means by Robyn Schneider

Lane has tuberculosis, going away to a hospital with a boarding school side to it he stresses over his AP's more than his body a lot of the time.

Then he see's Sadie, a girl from his past only now very much a more confident character and he finds himself envisioning her being in his life a lot more.

Then a new medication, Proctocillin is administered as it shows hope of working on TB cases. But Sadie unlike the rest wishes to die and not go back to her life at all...

A book all about life and living to the full, hoping for the best and the impending tragedy of possibly losing someone. Sweet but harsh in the realities the book holds.

Bad Girls With Perfect Faces by Lynn Weingarten

Xavier and Sasha are best friends, Sasha fancies him though while he's recovering from a breakup with his wild ex Ivy.

Ivy is a crazy whirlwind of a character as she uses drugs, drinks, parties hard and disappears sometimes for days on end.

So when she tries it on again with Xavier, Sasha is jealous.

Sashas jealousy leads her to create an online pseudonym of Jake, in order to hopefully catch Ivy out and prove she doesn't want to be in a relationship ever again with Xavier as Sasha knows it's just a matter of time until she will break his heart again.

However, as Sasha leads Ivy astray, they eventually arrange to meet but once face to face with the true 'Jake' Ivy doesn't lose face, but she does later lose her life...

Confused, Sasha recalls her actions and steps as she makes the brutal discovery, but she doesn't expect a surprise discovery that will shock her even more, just how well does she know the person she's close to most?

Xavier, Sasha and Ivys best friend Gwen s lives all change forever with Ivy scarred on their brains forever...

Running away, dead body hiding and being hunted down by someone, this thriller mystery book doesn't let up on twists and turns at any point. I was shocked at the relationships in the end and would've liked to have seen a more sinister ending but the dangers of online chatting and unknown real identities provided a final twist I enjoyed surrounding the anonymity that can provide us with the most danger of all. The split perspective from Xavier and Sashas points of view was good and the perspective where we could guess whom it is and it's not stayed first, but Xavier did feel a bit of a blank character as apart from his being a jock and depressed we didn't get more about whom he is apart from Sasha day repeatedly he's calm and kind.

Prepare to lose your trust in those your reading about!

The Summer Of Us by Cecilia Vinesse

Eighteen year old's, Aubrey and Rae are best friends but both dealing with a lot. Leaving to travel on trains from London to Paris, Berlin, Prague, Amsterdam, Florence, Rome and Barcelona along with their friends, Gabe, Jonah and Clara.

However the travelling makes things hard on them all after
Jonah catches Aubrey and Gabe kissing and it's not the first time they've kissed either...

Meanwhile Rae fancies Clara but believes she is straight so when she shocks her with what she tells her a spark of hope just might get struck alight within her heart...

As all the friends wind up in two's after Aubrey and Gabe's kiss,
there's parties, arguments, new couple's forming and whilst Rae doesn't want to move to Australia and fears letting to of everything and everyone, she realises they're all going to feel the same no mate how much they don't want to separate, it's just how life goes.

The book was told from a split perspective between Aubrey and Rae as it also features the girls romantic relationships predominantly as Aubrey has a heterosexual relationship whilst Rae has a lesbian relationship.

The descriptive writing of the girls describing things was really great and some nice metaphors were used throughout, the places they travel to felt real and the characters falling for each other was totally believable.

Over all it was a great travel book and is perfect for anyone heading off to university themselves and it could be reassuring for them in how they feel about moving being totally valid.

Get ready for adventure and self discovery!

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

Mustaches For Maddie by Chad Morris and Shelly Brown

For most Twelve year olds, they don't have a health scare or in this case when they come, they can be very, very bad. Happy girl Maddie with her infectious humor and love of mustaches has been having trouble settling into certain friendships and also dealing with her failing hand and leg.

Her friend Lexi is there for her always and even though she tried to be the friend popular girl Cassie would want to be seen with, wasn't unfortunately, apart from to use find out whom Devin Cassie's crush fancied which Maddie does.

Then it happens, rushed in for an MRI on her brain by her doctors, the worst news comes, she has a tumour pressing on her brain.

Her parents promise her a dream wish, a trip to Disneyland and are heartbroken that Maddie faces such serious and possibly life altering and life threatening surgery though her true friends utilise social media to get their friend smiling again by creating #MustachesforMaddie in which people send selfies of themselves with mustaches in on social media to make Maddie laugh.

I loved this book, I was shocked at the end though, as Maddie is real! A real living girl whom is the authors daughter actually went through having a tumor on her brain at a really young age. Maddie if you read the reviews of this book, you've done awesome and I wish for the best for you in the future girl!

Thanks to the publishers for allowing me a copy to review!

Under Rose Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall

Living with her mum and being fully dependent on her as she suffers with agoraphobia and has panic attacks as well as OCD traits, Norah finds herself living alone while her mum was supposed to go away on a work trip, but got involved in a car accident.

This means she has to face living alone until the hospital release her mum. Keeping her entertained and distracted is the new next door neighbour Luke. They have a few interactions but she feels uncomfortable knowing he will be hosting a party which means people who knew her before she had her brain tumor and everything following to now. Her therapist, Dr Reeves visits whilst her mum is away and tries to help her with her mental health issues and support her.

A true look at a life with a mixture of mental illnesses whilst a romance blossomed but didn't deter from the main storyline.

Love, Lies And Wedding Cake by Sue Watson

After escaping one unhappy marriage though she did get her daughter Emma out of it whom now has a daughter herself called Rosie, she found Dan a handsome Australian man younger than her.

When Dan's brother whom has Huntingtons takes a turn for the worse, Dan goes back to Australia without Faye as she needs to do her final degree year and take care of her adult daughter and young granddaughter she dotes on even to the point of not accepting his proposal as he wants to stay in Australia for good again.

Twelve months on, she sees her daughter marry Richard and settle down with him then focuses on getting Dan back, heading out to Australia and joining him at the cafe he runs. Only he acts cagey at first and then she discovers Saffron and Clover...

Another book by Sue full of laughs, many to do with little Rosie and the things she says but hilarious situations. Despite the serious side of the book being all about finding your way and doing your own thing whilst also finding love, we get a nice contrast between doing life for you as a parent but also still looking out for your children too.
The book shows age isn't a thing against getting married later in life at all and second chance happiness is always worth chasing!
A sweet story, even when it shocks!

As sweet as the lemon cakes served in the book!

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

Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

With her mum dying from cancer, Lina is left to go stay with Howard whom she believes is actually her father in Italy where he lives in a World War two cemetery of which when Lina goes on her morning run, meets Ren whom is also Italian American and will be attending school together.

When she gets her hands on her mums old journal she realises a lot of secrets where between them and it leaves her to trace down her real father and uncover what happened to her mum before Lina was born. Her friend from home Addie keeps in touch after Lina decides to stay despite her first nerves and Addie enjoys the drama but obviously helps Lina in any way she can as well as with Ten and his friends she meets.

It was such a great read and so different with being a mystery built into a loss story about the years before Lina would never know about along with her mum enjoying Italy as much as she is now she's settled in and soaking up the culture, places and hobbies.

Your Turn To Die by Sue Wallman

Staying in Roeshot house as she does every year with her mum and her sisters, this year it's all change. Here dad is with his new girlfriend while her Mum is with Steve, her auntie has a new partner and her young cousin is more ill than she first imagined.

The normal trio of her, her cousin Ivy and their mutual friend Jacob however is the same but with the addition of friend Tatum a girl a year older than them whom seems to hate Roeshot house since the beginning of their stay. There's also Ivy's sister, Poppy whose only eight but in a bad health way as she rarely eats her food and picks at certain things instead, she seems to be anorexic or at least have EDNOS.

However, they learn of Alice a local elderly lady who had a deathbed confession, that she killed her sister Rose and buried her at her house. Roeshot house.

Freaked by the news the teens set about investigating themselves into the matter and find out the predictions they made before, may just be about to come true...

Tatum is a film student, she records snippets of their investigation throughout but as strange things to do with their predictions swirl in Leah's mind, she starts to doubt Tatum and her wanting action to happen, as well as doubting her mum's partner Steve needing to look into more evidence he just may have...

Another great read from Sue once again, though this one wasn't as loud in the action as the previous ones where more drama and strange plots lied, the simple twists and turns as well as an old murder still have it a thrilling and chilling edge enough to have you gripped!

None Of The Above by I W Gregorio

Krissy and Sam are a couple attending homecoming with their friends, Faith and Vee whom is currently injured.

Yet on homecoming night, after having sex, Krissy is in a lot of pain. She makes a doctors appointment and knows the importance of getting checked out after her mum died from cervical cancer.

What she doesn't expect is to be told she has no cervix/uterus and that she really has small testicles instead as she has two small lumps. Devastated at the news she is not a girl but half girl and boy and awaiting further tests to confirm that she is possibly, intersex.

Her father struggles to take in the news as well because in some cases the undeveloped testes can be cancerous. However, takes comfort that Krissy won't die from cervical cancer alike her mum.

Krissy comes to realise that being neither man nor woman on her forms at the doctors makes her none of the above, so again she finds it a struggle to deal with. She finds a contact for an AIS support group and messages them with her number so she can be contacted.

Yet after bullying occurs, surgery options, losing people she was close to before she told her secretnand having her dream of college hanging in the balance just what future does she face?

This book, oh my, it was perfect. Truly original as I never even knew about intersex and what goes into the medical side of what the person he or she has to face. It was an emotional and shocking read not to be missed.

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

Lorali by Laura Dockrill

This book is about mermaid Lorali whom winds up on a beach in Hastings naked with legs after finding out from her mum Queen Keppel about her real father, leading her to reject the sea. She gets found by Rory whose supposed to be celebrating his birthday but instead sets about helping the girl he found and takes her to hide by his home.

His best mate Flynn's grandfather knows about mer folk and knew Lorali's heritage thanks to his love of antiques and history.

As the mer folk led by Queen Keppel send Opal to the human or walkers land to help campaign for the return of their princess, they tell the walkers of their existence shocking them especially when their children come at risk.

Then Lorali gets taken from Rory as his other best friend betrays him as he teams up with the pirates after Lorali. However, Lorali is taken by the Cavities and so the Cavities vs pirates fight ensues.

Overall I enjoyed the book.
Told from a split perspective of Lorali, Rory, the sea personified or another story character I really liked the idea of a mermaids story being told as a tapestry on their tails. I do however have a hard time getting into fantasy fiction books and did find it a hard slog to get through but from persevering, I feel it was worth it. I would have liked there to be a more developed base plot line about Lorali ending up on the beach and what she planned on doing though and I wouldn't think she'd be willing to wander off with any human the way her mer folk spoke of them, surely she would be felt more uneasy.

A sparkling tale of history and fantasy.

Charlotte Says by Alex Bell

Jemima or Miss Black arrives at a school to be an assistant alongside Miss Grayson, a strict woman whom she doesn't end up getting along with on the Isle of Skye for girls who've been involved in crime and it's a big change to her past experience in London of holding séances alongside her mother, she has just suffered the loss of her mother in a fire.

Back there in London after a séance to contact a man's dead daughter, Vanessa whom had the dolls herself too. The man became her mother's husband and then starts abusing the pair in an alarming way...

Her old friend Henry who loves her is there for her along with his dog Murphy. They are close and he calls her Mim, the only person who does.

Then from her old school Whiteladies, Vanessa's frozen Charlotte dolls are sent to her in a box carved with her name and inside the dolls are shattered porcelain in places. Girl's start dying Charlotte plays games about harm and death after the myth is she died by freezing hence the dolls name. Upon talking to a doll they will start to call their new owner mother.
Which soon becomes the girls at this school, then Jemima herself gets infected with the frozen Charlotte's voice and many bad things begin to happen.

The Frozen Charlotte's love to play the murder game...

This book was a great sequel with a tension building last quarter. It was creepy, horrifying and a great teen horror book set to scare us all!

Leah On The Off Beat by Becky Albertalli

Set a year after the events in Love, Simon, we meet Leah who is bisexual but isn't out to her friends, just her mum.

Abby still dating Nick, is a girl Leah used to like and possibly still does even though Garrett is also showing an interest in her too as the pair hang out more.

As prom and graduation are about to arrive, we see loved up Simon get promposed to while the girls stress over their college choices after failing to get in for some of them. However after Abby goes through some relationship drama with Nick, she heads off to Athens with Leah as the pair take a campus tour and get close while there where feelings take a toll on them both and it becomes an emotionally charged trip.

Leah is a talented artist and draws for a hobby and uploads them onto her art blog. Leah is also the drummer of the girls and Garretts band which is an issue as the band faces separation as they part ways for college.

This sequel was everything romantic, cute and LGBTQ friendly to the maximum! If you want a cute read about prom, love and friends this book is for you and it was super to see the characters lives beyond Love, Simon.

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

Stargazing For Beginners by Jenny McLachlan

Meg is left on her own suddenly with her baby sister Elsa and their dog Pongo after their mum spontaneously gets offered to go abroad and help children suffering and in need of nursing. Their granddad lives nearby and he offers to help but his house is full of experiments and unsafe for them to live in.

Meg loves space and has the chance to visit Houston NASA if she wins the competition she's entering through her school in a pair with Ed but she struggles to get her speech ight.  She's known there as a geek, especially by Bella and Ed from her class.

However, after turning up late to school and ending up in detention, she meets a group of other students in the gifted group she gets put into with Annie, a cerebral palsy sufferer, Rose a shy girl and sporty Jackson. They call themselves the Broken Biscuit Club after the teacher gets them boxes of the broken biscuits at each meeting.

Ed then asks her to the school dance whilst he later proves how much he likes her after as dramatic turn of events lead him to giving up his speech to try and  win the competition as her grandad's life is hanging on the balance in a quarry...

 Then her mum finally comes home after realizing her children do need her but will they want her back after everything?

A book similar in style to Lily Alone by Jacqueline Wilson only these do have an adult nearby even if he doesn't act as responsible as he should do. Meg is under so much stress for a young teen and her mum is a irresponsible parent for leaving her especially to cope with her baby sister too. It was a sad but hopeful book as she didn't give up no matter how tough things got. It was well written and the conclusion was nothing like I expected for this book, it was dramatic and heartstopping, a true thrilling end which you will remember!

We Are Young by Cat Clarke

When Evan and Billy attend their mum's wedding to Tim, they never expect the night to go how it does.

The evening turns sour when their new stepbrother, Lewis has been in a car crash with strangers and is in intensive care. What's even more strange is that Lewis doesn't ever hang out with anyone else so just who died?

This is a gripping book with mystery being the heart of the story as Evan tries to piece together just why the crash involved all people she knew and just what they were doing together. Evan is a likeable character and also a realistic teenager dealing with sex and relationships alike most teens do along with new step parents to deal with as well. There are references to drugs and suicide raising awareness of how they can go unnoticed but not without consequence.

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

Bad Nanna: Older Not Wiser by Sophy Henn

Jeanie is seven years old, with a large extended family including her mum, dad, younger brother, three nana's including Bad Nana and her aunts, uncles and cousins too.

Her Nana isn't bad in the traditional sense like stealing or other crime committing, though she does love the stories that come with them from others like in the news. She is an eccentric character who loves dressing in all black and glitzy earrings and has a fond addictive love of sherbet lemon sweets.

Through mini tales we see how she has a set park bench, gets to go along and help at the younger kids school and go on the trips too, she can put all the men in their places too handling them effortlessly! She sticks up for the kids in hilarious ways and is a very creative grandmother.

Overall, it's huge fun, shows family love, has some really cool designed characters in simple drawing graphic style that's really effective and bold artwork throughout the whole book with popping colours for contrast.

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

Always And Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han

Wow what a finish to the Lara Jean trilogy this was, with a death, engagement, wedding, break up, college applications and friends parting ways to go achieve their dreams its all change ahead for Lara Jean and co!

As she applies and misses her most favoured college Lara Jean finds herself a little unsure of what's ahead for her as best friend Chris is going travelling on a gap year and her boyfriend Peter got in to their most favoured college while Lara Jean didn't. Facing a future apart or long distance the couple has a minor bump which they seem to work through while the Song family expands another way...

I really enjoyed the sisters and the reality of growing up as the girls talk more of body changes, boys and sex as they all have such differences in age between them. We can all relate to choosing colleges and finishing school too of course.

A sweet wrap up to the Song girls trilogy giving them a fantastic send off!

P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

Following book one of Lara Jean's story, we catch up with her as she goes on her first real date with Peter to the cinema only to have to escape unseen by Genevieve who's also at the same film showing!

When a video circulates around the school of Peter and Lara Jean making out in a hot tub but mistaken for them having sex, the pair try to trace who spread the video while dealing with the after effects of everyone seeing it.

Kitty also sets up their dad dating with their lovely neighbour Ms Rothschild as well as Lara Jean getting a reply from her fifth letter's recipient John who reveals some past truths about how he felt towards Lara Jean. As the pair get reacquainted, they also see Genevieve and Peter together leading to a broken heart of sorts and igniting Lara Jean to win a contest between the old friends who shared a treehouse as kids.

But who holds Lara Jean's heart now?!

This book keeps up with the Covey family antics as well as upping the drama which we all love as events unfold with the guys and girls!

To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Lara Jean is a girly girl with five letters, one written to each boy she ever loved letting her feelings live on paper leaving her free from the past relationship. She lives a homely life with her Obs/Gyn  working father, two sisters with her the middle and unfortunately no mother but they keep her spirit alive.

When Margot her older sister breaks up with Josh before heading away the college, she struggles to imagine her sister not around all the time. She also can't understand why she broke up with Josh but secretly is happy they can still hang out as she used to like him before he dated Margot.

Only that doesn't happen!

When the letters accidentally disappear along with her hat box, Peter approaches her as the first boy to have received the letter to him followed by a camp crush's letter being returned then Lucas who's gay tells Lara Jean he's flattered and likes his letter. Of course, Josh also gets a letter from past Lara Jean too after he told her he had a crush on her when they were younger!

But she doesn't expect that Peter and her will turn fake love into real love to make his ex girlfriend and her ex childhood friend jealous. The two later get into drama over a ski trip and then secrets come out surrounding the letter mystery and Lara Jean, Margot and Josh have some things to tell each other too!

A lot of drama but girly goodness in a book unlike any other I've read. I particularly like Chris who is Lara Jean's complete opposite yet a great friend full of drama from sex, partying and drinking! I can fully appreciate the greatness of Jenny Han and her Lara Jean creations!

What's A Girl Gotta Do? By Holly Bourne

Lottie is having a hard time, her hippie parents are pushing her to attend Cambridge or Oxford so she can follow her dream of being prime minister which is great until they want her to stop the spinster club!

Whilst the spinster club is thriving and helping her immensely after she faces sexual harassment every morning walking by some pervy builders who feel it's okay to catcall her and make comments I'm glad to say she sticks it to them well and stuffs them good and proper.

As Lottie and Will get closer, hanging out more and teasing each other tons soon they find themselves facing facts that they like each other more than friends when an argument fires their passion...

It was great to read the next spinster club installment but I do think it could have been shorter as there was more on feminism issues as is Lottie and the girl's passion which obviously isn't a bad thing, however the book did feel like a bit of a trawl through and not as great as the two before it unfortunately.

How Hard Can Love Be? by Holly Bourne

Amber's going abroad to visit her mum whom she's not seen for two years and escaping her evil step mum and stepbrother as well as her dad, she's looking forward to being in her mum's sole focus, which actually never happens as her mum keeps her helping at the summer camp she owns.

Her mum was an alcoholic and doesn't seem to remember anything meaningful to her daughter between them. She seems controlled and settled into just being with her 'bum chinned' husband Kevin.
As she gets closer to Kyle despite her mums warnings, she finds out a lot from him about her mum's addiction struggle still now and why she has it in for Kyle specifically.

She keeps in touch with Evie and Lottie online through email and Skype, even when she runs away from the camp with Kyle after a huge row with her mum. Everything is too much and not enough at the same time in her life and we see the struggles of growing up with an addict parent over crucial years of a child/young teens life.

It raises a serious issue about alcohol abuse and how it can cause alcohol issues in their children too. It can after all be in the gene's. It also features how they look for love in any form to rely on and feel loved. I really enjoyed the whirlwind storyline which evolves over the summer holiday's in this book.

Am I Normal Yet? By Holly Bourne

Evie has OCD and has been recovering from a debilitating spiral into the condition. She has been going to therapy and has even now got her first date with a guy called Ethan.

However, at the party together he ends up drunk and in bed with another girl whilst it makes Evie feel rubbish, it makes her rekindle her friendship with Lottie and Amber, two girls from her past whom she meets again at the party.

The book tells Evie's struggle between OCD and 'normal' as she wants to never again be seen as she was before with old friend Jane when she was at her worst with her condition. As her family pick up on signs Evie is relapsing, she becomes aware that she needs her friends but still refuses to confide in them about her OCD but soon she may be forced to as she faces being resectioned...

This is a great book about the issue of OCD in teens, a lot of people think OCD wouldn't happen with teens as they are supposed to be messy and carefree or stressing over exams not ultra clean and tidy. It shows the bigger issues and deep set thoughts on the mind causing behaviors and actions with full effect. Guy and Ethan who were Evie's love interests I found very awful to read how they treated girls but at least the spinster and feminism club was born!

A Tragic Kind of Wonderful by Eric Lindstrom

For Mel, life has been hard. At just sixteen years old, she is struggling to cope with the fact that her younger brother is dead and that they both in fact have bipolar disorder.

Mix into the issues her old friends want nothing to do with her and one of them, Annie has left town to go live in Paris parting with leaving, Zumi and Connor's belongings on Mel's doorstep after not speaking for ages. This leads the way for Mel to talk to them and their relationship slowly over the novel repairs.

Mel has also not told them about her being bipolar and hides it from them. She does cope well with her job, caring for others in a residential care home which I feel reflects that she is kind and accepting of everyone's issues with health in life. It is also there she meets David, the boy whom see's her as more than just the bipolar girl.

During the book as secrets are revealed from Mel's past, the turbulence in her relationships is thrown into turmoil and we see her bipolar disorder switch gears and reflects truthfully how sometimes intermission by hospital or sectioning helps and doesn't hinder the individual but stops them harming themselves intentionally or otherwise.

The raw open account of what it's like to live with bipolar and how you feel the world see's you against what they really view you like makes this book even more truthful and appealing. Thank you to the publishers allowing me to review this book, I encourage anyone with or without bipolar to read this book to help to understand the condition more.

Piglettes by Clementine Beauvais

Mireille is used to winning the top award for being ugly, started by her ex friend from school, Malo.

As she discovers this years ranking, falling short of winning gold, she befriends Astrid and Hakima whom become quick friends to her.

They all have a reason to get to Paris by July 14th, as on that date, Mireille's real but secret father the president's husband is part of a party of which Hakima's brother whom is an ex soldier who's lost his legs in the war, wants to raise awareness of his inquiry into events that happened out at war.

The girls all use Mireille's bike's and borrow a trailer to use to sell sausages to fund their trip as they gogo, united by their love of good food.

As they venture on, more publicity builds from stalking reporters to more social media roar about them and their journey.

Malo also surfaces along the way and causes hassle and they also experience new things from parties with alcohol to getting your first period and making memories and lasting friends or sisters.

I loved Mireille's sarcasm and humour she was a vibrant, witty and unforgettable character from the start of the book and really knew how to handle any situation thrown at them, I also loved how she called Kader, her crush 'the sun' as he's so hot to her, truly relatable to teen girls with a huge crush! The story itself had such deep meaning behind their quest as they set out to prove ugly girls are great girls and looks aren't everything as they raise money for a good cause and do it together having fun and making memories. Meanwhile the vibe of the book being about breaking standards of beauty set in schools and by society as we harshly judge each other is so true and relevant now Clementine did a great job with!

Summer At The Castle Cafe by Donna Ashcroft

Jay lost his brother ten years ago and now work on Lifeboats saving lives and stopping people getting into danger in the sea. He has also just split from his long term girlfriend as she moves to Dubai for her career.

Alice left London months ago after managing a restaurant to work in Castle Cafe only we see how amazingly clumsy she is at the start of the book! But we also see how well she fits in there with Cath and Lily whom work there too.

After she attempts to try and swim in the sea Jay interrupts her before she can into any trouble they also run into each other when Alice is on her bike and again when Jay offers his carpentry skills to the cafe to fix the cupboard she broke off the wall.

Alice and Jay train for the triathlon together after Alice reveals she is doing it for her mum who always took part who's just passed away months before as Alice has just moved to finally be with her despite it being just too late. As the story develops, we watch as Alice and Jay become friends and how they both help each other as Alice injured her ankle and Jay needs someone to help him organise, not to mention they wind up rescuing someone while our on the water which causes Alice to confess something to Jay.

As Alice prepares to leave for Thailand to live with her dad and his new wife, Beth she helps Cath find her happy ever after with the right guy and finds it hard to say bye to Jay after their relationship developed so much. But will be give up on them?

The main castle setting is a lavish sounding and seeming affair, like something out of a Disney film with many offerings besides just a cafe. The tone of the book is very holiday like and idyllic, I felt like it was a believable story and really enjoyed it. Drama aside, there were funny times, emotional times and I praise Donna for including about the lifeboats services for all they do saving lives and risking their own under bad or good situations.
The cover is also gorgeous and so pretty with all the pastel colours popping and catching my eye all the time!

A perfect girly read for this time of year in the Spring/Summer sunshine!

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

The Truth & Lies Of Ella Black by Emily Barr

Settled at a home and happy with two best friends, Lily and Jack in her life, but Ella has her dark side, Bella or Bad Ella to contend with where she imagines committing murders.

When her parents whisk her away to Rio de Janeiro, she unexpectedly finds her seventeen year old life is built on lies and terrible secrets upon discovering an envelop containing documents securing the knowledge that she is adopted.

Her parents aren't her parents or family at all, to her anyway, it soon makes sense to her why they ran away to Rio so swiftly and why her so called parents were acting shiftily.

Still, she has Christian and his friends in Rio that she meets and help her as she uncovers the truth about her adoption and her true birth mother and just who she was.

This was a really great book and keeps you thinking about what could be coming next in suspense! I was rapt from the beginning and loved the way their supposed family unit was in the beginning compared to when Ella finds out the truth. There's a great mystery to uncover about her birth and we stay with her as she finds it all out.

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

Girls Can't Hit by T. S. Easton

Fleur along with best friends Blossom and Pip, see a sign about girls boxing which spurs fleur on to want to have a go.
Blossom is set in her feminist ways so it's down to lanky uncoordinated Pip to accompany Fleur to her first session.

At the club as she persists with training and getting heavily invested in it all, the boys accept her, Ricky agrees to train her on Wednesdays as she's serious about boxing properly and Tariq runs with her whilst she cycles a with her dad too.

Even when Bonita her rival/worst enemy from school comes along to get involved it doesn't deter her spirit even though her boyfriend George and her mum don't approve of her boxing.

This was another great book about difference and pursuing what you prefer over feeling pressured to stick to the norm. It's an inspirational book and maybe a young girl who picks it up will one day make a boxer too!

Beautiful Broken Things by Sara Bernard

Two best friends at separate schools, Rosie and Caddy start to hang around with new girl Suzie who lives with her aunt, Sarah after she reveals about her past at home and how unsafe it was for her.

Rosie goes to school with her and introduces her to Caddy who soon gets dragged into Suzanne's life, hanging out at night going on long journey's as well as smoking, drinking and disobeying her parents.

Suzie has had a traumatic childhood thanks to her abusive father. Her brother, mum and social care all can't help her and after she attempts suicide previously can't see a positive future easily. When she and Caddy end up in an abandoned building and a serious accident occurs both girls bear scars from it, mentally and physically as well as a heavy dose of self blame for Suzie who goes off to try and end it all...

A very detailed look into trauma and its catastrophic effects on lives over time as well as how it effects everyone around them they influence.

Truly Madly Awkward by Beth Garrod

Bella is back! Along with Tegan and Rach of course as the girls are excited about a competition to win their favourite band The Helicans to come and play a concert at their school. However, there's many stages and other schools to compete against as the radio station prolongs the process over a number of rounds per week.

Fit Adam and Bella go on a date that turns out to be just a friend date, much to Bella's disappointment, naturally.

Meanwhile Tegan is acting strangely with more and more gymnastics practise along with a strange Jaden Smith lookalike hanging around her a lot too...

As well as the boy drama, concert excite in their school goes crazy as Bella becomes a mini celeb all the students are rooting for and their headmistress too as she wins their way through the rounds of the competition by luck and effort alone. Bella also has to deal with her mother launching her new dog ice cream shop, Give A Dog A Cone! Let alone a new lodger taking up residence in their home in the form of, Shay a so called high flying TV producer.

There's tons of drama from Bella's ex Luke or Puke as she prefers to call him! As he's now dating so called model Ska, but there's more than meets the eye with the shifty pair.

As per usual, Bella promises hilarity and a side stitch from laughing so much as you read!

This is a super fun book and the second part in Bella's series so far and I totally can't wait for more as Bella and Adam may finally get to where they both secretly want them to be at!

Lucky Break by Rob Stevens

Leon's twin Lenny passed away a year ago while not looking when crossing the road, since then their mum wants to keep Leon away from anything dangerous to the point of extreme worry all day everyday for her now.

New student, Arnold provides a welcome distraction for Leon with his strange ways and regular misunderstanding a of situations. Arnold is a foster kid and left alone by his foster family whilst they go to visit sick relatives, he needs somewhere to stay and Leon helps by sneaking him into his!

Together, they wind up in a few very extreme situations from finding a wallet, helping a homeless guy, winning big on arcade slot machines, causing a fake bank job and then getting questioned by the police!

Arnold shows Leon it's okay to remember Lenny by enjoying rugby and cricket as a family as Lenny would've loved to have them playing it with him still now if he was alive still.

Leon also reveals to his over anxious mum that he doesn't need her trying to always protect him and tells of his guilt he feels from not being able to save his brother.

As a random choice of book to review, it swung it for me having cricket, death and comedy mentioned in the write up. Comedy and death in a novel could be a bad choice but here it works, Lenny was a joker and loved to have fun especially by playing cricket and we see the emotional turmoil the memories have his family in, super understandable and relatable too. Arnold provides welcome distraction and is a guy Penny would've loved to hang out with like Leon too.

A touching novel with a comedic edge!

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

The Start Of Me And You by Emery Lord

Paige is dealing with a lot, her divorced parents are now back dating whilst Paige is suffering with a recurring nightmare of drowning every night after her boyfriend Aaron drowned months before now.

Moving on, she joins in with Quizbowl and thus grows closer to Ryan and Max who are cousins and after liking Ryan before, now finds herself having more in common with Max despite her still dealing with emotions from her past maybe she can finally move forwards?

This book was really great about teens dealing with grief in respect of love and especially under the circumstances Aaron sadly passed away due to. The brief dynamic of a love triangle simmering with Paige and her boy thoughts is gripping and we slowly feel warmer towards one boy or the other or at least I was rooting for one more than the other!

See How They Lie by Sue Wallman

Mae and Drew are best friends turning sixteen, both have parents who work within the Hummingbird creek mental health facility where they may have use of facilities, but are still treated as patients abiding by strict rules. Drew's dad may be a caterer there but Mae's dad is a doctor and owner of the facility, controlling meds, care and everyone pretty much there away from the outside world.

However more deadly secrets exist as Mae finds out. Her parents lied about their pasts, including family within which her Grandma just died.

As her dad fires staff and gets rid of drew her best friend as a 'bad influence' a new patient arrives in the form of Noah a British patient who falls for her and her alike him. The two together work on figuring out the mystery behind the hidden family photos Mae has found as well as why everyone has to take a specific drug 'HB' unnecessarily deemed as vitamins which it isn't as more patients become unwell, develop aches and pains the race to escape the facility becomes real as the man supposedly her dad becomes a real monster with a lot to hide.

A gripping mystery with a medical edge for teens who like a crime novel with love, drama and a nice dose of betrayal thrown in the mix too. It kept me hooked and I really enjoyed it!

Rules Of The Ruff by Heidi Lang

Jessie is staying with her aunt, uncle and cousin Ann where she's left out and bored. she does make a friend in soccer playing Max but they get off to a rough start as he assumes she's a bit for a start!

she has always wanted her own dog but after her mum passed away, never again touched the subject with her father.
When she meets local dog walker Wes, she manages to convince him to let her be his apprentice and she has to learn his rules of the ruff, all about dog walking, handling and getting used to them all.

Then they discover a new dog walker is taking clients they had from them! The woman she is shocked to find out knows Max and that makes it so much worse as the walk wars is on. Meanwhile Ann's friend Loralee is stealing Max away just like she stole Ann from her and Jessie is out for revenge with Wes against their dog walker stealing newcomer.

Wes also has to deal with his relationship with his ex wife and dog owners which come to involve Jessie too when their plan to sabotage Monique the other dog walker goes a bit extreme and finds out Ann hasn't completely changed as she helps her against Max and Loralee.

The responsibilities of pet ownership come as a welcome theme as many believe pets are easy to keep and look after but none are and children can learn that with this book as well as the way friendship has no barrier, age or gender wise. I really love the book and if you know a child who is dog mad, they would enjoy this one I'm sure.

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

The Art Of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson

David secretly dresses up as a girl, he knows he's not actually a he inside. He is a girl born that way in the wrong body. He endures torment from Harry the bully at school who calls her a freak show. Still, Essie and Felix her friends and a couple themselves are always there for her, whatever the issue.

Then David meets Leo, born a girl and now a boy he himself knows the challenges all round the issue of being transgender. The pair face off Harry bullying but Leo has his own issues of navigating the love life unbeknown to him before. Alicia his friend wants more than friendship and wants to go to the Christmas ball together.

But as the pair have found each other at crucial times of their lives who knows what may happen between them as they head off on a specific journey to find someone, together...

A beautiful read about both sides of transgender transitions which is a great twist and highlights this book to be a good influence on the teens hopefully picking it up and becoming more open and accepting towards the issues around the subject.
A book full of inspiring characters for sure.

Girl Detatched by Manuela Salva

Aleksandra is a sixteen year old who's just lost her beloved gran and is left to live with her mum, Megan is her neighbour whom helps her by introducing her to Camilla, Dani and Kayley as well as Ruben.

Going from shy stutter sufferer though she doesn't on stage though her beloved theatre is closing down. But through it all Ruben is her new boyfriend whom she adores and as her first, is clueless to see the world she's sinking in to.

While Megan leads her into a dangerous group as girls disappear with the other guys, get bought presents of clothing and make-up and Aleks feels uncomfortable as Ruben makes her take her clothes off by drugging her with ecstasy and giving her alcohol until she can't stay awake.

As she changes her look, is failing school and was raped as she horrifically recalls her theatre friends gather her up and confront and threaten the bullying rapist and friends though they unearth a video, from that night Aleks was with them at a party.

Then they decide to get their own back and revenge on Ruben and his twisted group of so called friends, a court battle ahead with Megan finally an ally, sisters against the cruel monsters.

The book was intense, emotional turmoil for such a young teen to have to face along with so many other life changes that should be happy instead are sour after falling into the wrong crowd. A look into a life we overlook in young adult fiction as I've never read a book about this subject before. Rape and prostitution is a harrowing thing for anyone to face and go through, unimaginable but the author dealt with the subject covering all elements in a hopeful way of justice being served.

Powerful look into a dark hidden world...

Skylarks by Karen Gregory

After birthday celebrations at a restaurant for her brother, Jack, Joni first spots Annabel. As Joni learns Annabel has joined the library too to work, the pair get closer forcibly but soon learn they're completely opposite in their way of life.

Joni's family and their home is threatened while Annabel lives in a huge home with plenty of cash for boarding school available, not that Annabel liked boarding school. Both of them may be studying for A Levels, but Joni and her family have a petition to see through about saving their home after her parents have already lost their jobs, but can they get more signatures and involvement with their petition in time?

Joni has experienced being with a girl before while Annabel had never acted upon her feelings. Until now that is.

Unfortunately, by part three I had predicted what was going to happen but it's not to say the story wasn't great at all as it was and went how I wanted it to go sadly! I understand the Skylark was a symbolism of their freedom and love also with how they recreated and became alike them themselves through their actions. Utterly brilliant plot and refreshing to see lesbian relationships unjudged in teen fiction for once too by the characters parents.

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

Kiss by Jacqueline Wilson

Carl and Sylvie have been friends since they were babies, growing up as close as can be to the point that Sylvie is sure they'll get married one day. They even write or started to write a fantasy novel between them both. While Carl is passionate about glass collect I and has a huge varying range of items in it.

Sylvie gets asked by school popular girl Miranda to a party at hers so Miranda can meet Carl as Sylvie says he's her boyfriend. Only at the party after some drinking, they all play a form of spin the bottle making them all have to kiss one another, outside the room.

After that, Sylvie, Miranda, Carl and his friend Paul all get hanging out including for outings bowling, at each others houses, visiting Kew gardens and shopping. That is until Carl and Paul fall out and Carl Locke himself away.

But once he stops running, the girls are there for him against Paul, after he's the one with the issue...

Following friendship as the lines blur between romantic interest and friendship we see how homophobia can impact lives especially as verbal abuse could turn physical. The strengths of friendship are shown here as the girls are supportive and appreciate their friend is going through a very hard time. However I didn't like Sylvie assuming Carl would marry her eventually as he never hinted he would when she recalls memories growing up it seemed very unrealistic and a crush that would fizzle out eventually after so long unrequited I would've thought. Though over all for an early LGBTQIA+ book it was well written and awareness raising.

I Stop Somewhere by T. E. Carter

Ellie loves Caleb but one night can change everything.

Ellie just wanted to blend in at school, fourteen is a hard age after all and so Kate, a neighbour who's older helps her by cutting her hair and sharing clothes as well as learning that Ellie later meets Caleb, brother of Noah a boy she knew. Only when she warns Ellie to be careful does something seem odd.

Told through a split time narrative from Ellie's point of view flicking between past events up to now, do we begin to realise Ellie may have wanted a boyfriend but Caleb always seemed more a possessive predator at times despite odd sweet moments when you don't know someone you should be careful how much you trust them...

Because when #WheresEllieFrias gets created and printed onto flyers by other victims of rape, just how long is it till secrets out?

This book is a harrowing read about rape, murder and the fight for justice and closure for many. Ellie is a typical girl who thought she was falling in love only to fall victim to rape and murder telling her story as she can't pass on without closure for not just herself but her father who's quite rightly upset over her sudden disappearance. It may be saddening for the most part but the novel carries an important message about trust and reading people which is a warning to us all.

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

#fashion Victim by Amina Akhtar

Anya is a fashion editor obsessed with Sarah and wants to be her best and only friend especially as Sarah could be in line for her job and so befriending her keeps her close enough to be able to keep a close eye on the competition as there's six weeks until the best girl wins...

When one of the other girls at their work turns up dead however, obviously the police are involved and start to question everyone after its obviously a murder, even trending online under the title hashtag whilst we see Anya's character is not at all nice, in fact she's violent and sneaky as well as only ever looking out for herself to the point her past is hidden away...

With multiple murders they use online for news while the magazine staff all have to stay looking their fittest by seeing a Dr. M whom works with them all to achieve their best looks wise and gives them probably unnecessary prescriptions.

There's the usual work drama working for a magazine and writing articles to deadlines, gaining online traffic etc. But there's also the murderous side to one of the girls we see whom leads to a shocking conclusion of the book which I enjoyed but left me wondering just what would happen next? No one's safe still aren't they worried even a little?

Besides that, it was a good book, if a little stale in some parts, I would've liked more action and maybe the staff members trying to figure out who it is a doing the killings rather than assuming once the finger was pointed with persuasive evidence at one person over another and they believed it easily enough too, not doubting a thing. I would still be uneasy over it all happening so close but still the main mystery kept me reading wanting to know who did it all and I wasn't let down with the last quarter of the book at all it was the better part to me at least.

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