365 Days Without You by Akhira

Another beautiful selection of poetry focusing on the year after a break up between two partners. Simple well thought out sentences and verses packed with emotion of questioning why the relationship ended and why what happened did happen for them to break up or the relationship fall apart the way it did so. Gut wrenching and honest display of feelings of grief of the relationship and losing the future they had idealised too a poetry book packed full of poems you'll surely find one to relate to.

Thunder and Daisy by Mercedes Paradiso

Wow what an emotive potry book with the contrasting sides ofthe title a kin to light and dark it was certainly a journey through what felt like many different people's diffent stories of love, longing and desire with sketches added alongside the poems for more effect to visualise the poetry too. It was such a moving collection that anyone can surely find a poem that resonates with them.

Charlie And Me 421 Miles From Home by Mark Lowery

In this book we meet Martin struggling with his family and the state they're in, his mum is depressed and a shadow of her former self whilst their dad is working all hours of the day.

So with a plan to go back down to St Bernards in Cornwall where they had their last family holiday and were happy, especially Charlie as he loved seeing the local dolphin, he and Charlie sneak off one morning to travel by train down there alone.

Through escaping the police and deterring attention from them they meet Hen a girl whom helps them with her friends help too as she too is escaping her parents and likes to be independent and travel around with no ties holding her down.

The book was unexpectedly heart breaking but it was a great adventure the siblings take on and highlights how much change can alter young people's lives and how seeking happiness is good but can go too far!

Mum Never Did Learn To Knock by Cathy Hopkins

After her mum passes away, Emily has been left devastated but able to see and communicate with her mum despite her being gone.

However, her dad sends her to a councillor who doesn't understand but she and Mark become a couple and he supports her through it all unquestioned.

A moving heartfelt story about grief and loss and the effects of can have on you especially when you're young.

Owen And The Soldier by Lisa Thompson

Owen likes to visit the local memorial garden where he talks to a stone soldier statue after losing his dad and his mum becoming withdrawn and depressed.

So when he learns the garden is to be changed and the soldier gotten rid of, an opportunity at school to speak up and tell the council and everyone how he feels may help change their minds.

He also gets the chance to get help for his mum's grief and depression as well as make a friend himself in Megan.

A powerful story about a boy channelling his grief and finding a cause to move forward and fight/live for to make his dad proud.

Letting Go by Cat Clarke

In this book Astrid goes on a hike with her ex girlfriend Ellie and her new boyfriend Steve.

As they say goodbye to Ellies mum, they realise their unfinished romantic history needs closure, but when trouble strikes and Steve gets injured suddenly their solemn day becomes one filled with panic and worry.

This book delved into multiple issues in one go, death and loss, sexuality, relationships, friendship and facing a tough situation too. I highly reckon this for quick thrilling read.

Donut Dreams Book 1 Hole In The Middle by Coco Simon

Lindsay works the counter selling donuts in her family's restaurant alongside her cousin Kelsey.

She dreams of getting through middle school with enough money saved to leave the town where everyone knows her as the girl whose mum died and start fresh elsewhere.

When her friend Casey comes back from camp and the girls are having to pick dresses for an upcoming dance, Lindsay learns that things may be about to change once again and isn't best pleased.

All about living in the moment and learning to live on despite the past, this was a great start to a new series based around a family. The concept is a fresh idea from Coco and the donuts are a delectable idea to bring into her new series and will have us all hooked on wanting to read more.

Owl's Outstanding Doughnuts by Robin Yardi

In this book we meet Mattie who lives with her aunt Molly after her mother passed away. In the night she keeps seeing a truck come and dump waste material on their shop site and an odd owl called Alfred who also keeps appearing and noticing the waste dumped too it seems and also is partial to a doughnut!

As she tells her friends Beatrice and Sasha she tries to get them to believe her and see it themselves too.

Can the girls work together to help save the doughnut business before they get shut down?

These girls are cunning and brave standing up for the shop they love and believe in I loved how the owl Alfred became a friend to them and the concept was unique and unlike a book I've read before. I also felt happy that Alfred was supposed to like the doughnuts too it added a cute twist in the tale, what real owl would love doughnuts?!

Dancing The Charleston by Jacqueline Wilson

In this book, Mona lives with her auntie who cares for her after her mum passed and so did her dad too when she was just a baby and he was in the war.

Her auntie is a seamstress for a lady and when the lady passes the pair worry they'll be made homeless.

Mr Benjamin the youngest son, moves in after his mum passed who's the kindest of all the Somerset's and likes Mona a lot even if he is very flamboyant with his tastes and company he keeps.

He does however turn Mona and her aunt's lives around as her aunty gets an amazing knew job for Harrod's!

However after Mona falls out with her friends after getting a trial to go to a proper high school giving her a better looking future, she befriends the Somerset children and they go on an adventure to London which a shock twist comes out there about Mona's mother everyone knew but her...

I really enjoyed this book, as someone who had a grandma who made theatre costumes I could relate to Mona's feelings about talented seamstresses and sympathise over how she felt her familial loses too being so young and we know how grief is at that age. Friendship can be fickle and that point came across well too overall this book was another great by the one and only Jacqueline Wilson.

The Little Bakery Of Hopes And Dreams by Kellie Hailes

Callan lives in his bakery with young daughter Mia as Christmas approaches, Josie find herself arriving at their bakery and applying for the job going as front of bakery assistant.

Abigail was Callan's wife who sadly passed away and left him to coepwith Mia and running the bakery, which it's obvious he's failing to manage as his bakes aren't up to much instead being hard and not the gorgeous delicacies his wife used to bake, which is where Josie comes in and changes things...

In a really sweet read Kellie has centred a whole story around a bakery that revives its Christmas spirit with renewed love and a new match made family thanks to Christmas spirit and magic. I loved the way the characters didn't fall for each other straight away but slowly and then suddenly especially little Mia as she comes to love and accepting Josie being around. I also love that Josie was the main characters name as my auntie Josie would've loved this book of she was here still and being nearly a year on since losing her, I encourage anyone who loves Christmas as much as she did to definitely give this book a read, it was quick and eventful but leaves you feeling happy and content with the story you've devoured and the sweet Christmas bakes you had too!

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

Moonrise by Sarah Crossan

In this devastating story told in verse, we see how Joe suffers with his family, his sister Angela is always there for him however their drunk mum left them to travel and escape while their aunt Karen helped for a while but couldn't cope as their older brother Ed got sent to death row and is awaiting execution.

We see how Joe arrives to visit him during his brothers final months of life, appeals his case and finds a friend in Nell.

Filled with twists and sadness this is a powerful and devastating novel told in verse and once again is a brilliant book by Sarah Crossan.

Starworld by Audrey Coulthurst and Paula Garner

When Zoe approaches Sam to get her to help the school play, they have no idea of what's to come.

Sam's best friend Will is also shocked as he used to fancy Zoe and she never noticed them before now.

Zoe however has a lot to deal with, her mum has breast cancer and has to contend with the realities of that.

Yet both girls have a lot to learn about friendship and love as well as their family dynamics being solved at last if they can.

A pain filled emotional novel as well as being very touching and good for showing how sexuality can be a guessing game when you're young trying to find where exactly you got and what exactly your feelings are.

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

Clowfish by Alan Durant

In this book we meet Dak, who's just lost his dad and his mum has since withdrawn from life and is struggling to come to terms with him being gone.

The best thing for Dak is hanging out at the aquarium where his dad used to take him only as it threatens to be shut down, Dak must work together with Stephen and Violet who work there too only Dak wants to keep the aquarium open for a bigger reason, his dad is a clowfish in there...

So he believes as he doesn't want to move on and withdraws from school and life to stay at the aquarium with his dad and feel comforted by the fact he can stay and help try to save it by campaigning and raising money.

An emotional book detailing how grief can effect you in various ways from not accepting it, depression setting in and finding comfort in any way. A really thoughtful book and very unique.

The Cornish Cream Tea Bus by Cressida McLaughlin

After losing her uncle Hal, he leaves Charlie his beloved bus, Gertie.

After breaking up with her boyfriend Stuart and her beloved uncle, her best friend Juliette comes back from Cornwall where she lives and alongside Charlie's dad and boss try to get her to take a break and have a holiday as she throws herself instantly  into making Gertie a success and have her uncle Hal be proud of her for keeping the bus going now he's gone.

After a first disaster, she and her dog Marmite end up in Portgollow where Juliette lives. The area is a bit ran down and in need of revival, however there's the matter of Crystal Waters, a high end spa ran by Daniel.

Not everyone is welcoming to Charlie, Marmite and Gertie but can they change their minds?

Charlie and Marmite her yorkiepoo are setting up the Portgollow food festival to help raise the areas profile and make their businesses a success as she runs her Cornish Cream Tea Bus.

As she reunites with Oliver from The Marauding Mojito, Daniel invites her to the spa after her opens up about helping and failing to give her friend a job.

So on enough she has a choice to make and to address her feelings, safe Oliver but sexy and risky choice Daniel, who'll she realise her feelings for?

Charlie has to confront her true feelings for Oliver and Daniel especially when it seems one might have a wandering eye and not been honest with her alike she with them but only worse...

We also see how she plans to tour her bus around now and begins to trial her plans too!

In the final part of Charlie's story, we see how she discovers who sabotaged her bus stopping her trading which was of no surprise to me who'd done it, the clues are there all along...

However the whole village comes together to make it better including with regular food festival's!

But will she and Daniel finally sort out their feelings?

I have truly loved this book. Once again Cressida has written a remarkable story with characters that I wish really existed as this bus sounds amazing and I would love to support it!
I love the idea of keeping and using a vintage bus as a cafe it's absolute genius and I wish it existed. Even early on the chemistry is building between her and Daniel and the Cornish village life looks set to get vibrant, I was hooked on this book Cressida just keeps writing thrilling entrancing books you need to read!

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

Getting Away With It by Anne Cassidy

When Mark and Katie go out it changes their lives forever, as Katie takes the brunt of the accident Mark becomes haunted by her constant presence and soon realises he can't get away with not being punished for the accident...

All about facing your fear, owning your grief and appreciating life while you have it this is a poignant book and made a great quick read.

The Art Of Hiding by Amanda Prowse

Nina leads a luxury life with her husband Finn and Connor and Declan their two sons. That is all turned upside down by one phone call from the hospital telling her that her husband has been in a car accident and has died.

Nina later comes to find out that they are millions of pounds in debt and facing everything being repossessed to pay back her husband's debt landing them having to uproot from their normal lives as they know, no more private school for the children either as they move in with Nina's sister, Tiggy on a ran down council estate.

It was a great book about a woman whose unknown strength gets her family through the toughest times they face as they hit rock bottom in life. Flipping their life around despite bullying the boys endure, finding a job being a struggle these are all things which we can relate to a lot and it could keep some hope that we can change our lives like in this work of fictional magic.

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

Chessboxer by Stephen Davies

In this book we meet Leah, a tough teen with a passion and set for stardom for her chess skills being ranked one of the best players there is and ranking higher and higher until she quits one day as the grief she has for her father gets too much and stifles her from her clear set path to being the highest ranking player there is.

Instead, she gets a pet python, gets a job at a donut shop and quits her blogging for others making it private documenting her life as she meets a blog reader, Kit who changes her life.

The air together play money in the park for money but she soon learns about chessboxing, a high intensity complex, thrilling game she desires to turn her talents too now and despite her mother's fears, leah is ruthless is getting what she wants to happen and refuses to back down...

All about loss, grief and pain as well as taking a stand for your future and discovering your passion in life, this is a fantastic high energy read about seeing your goal and achieving it no matter the odds or fears and proving you can and will succeed or at least try your hardest to get there and prove yourself.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review the book and take part in their bookstagram tour today too!

The Wrong Side Of Kai by Estelle Maskame

When Vanessa's mum died her life fell apart as her dad was battling his grief and her and her sister were left to fend for themselves which made Vanessa acting out and sleeping with random guys easy to do with no one to stop her.

However after breaking off her latest fling with Harrison, she discovers he has leaked a recording of her to their whole school and her life starts to fall apart...

Until Kai transfers in from another school also with a grudge against Harrison and the pair team up to get revenge...

This book was fabulous, I loved the dynamic of a good duo teaming up to get revenge in YA and it was done really well and the twist at the end while being easy to predict was a great twist nonetheless and made me as a reader happy with the outcome of the book overall.

Wishbones by Virginia Macgregor

Feather was a small and light baby, her mum however is obese and seemingly always has been on the larger side of the scale which over time has attracted local press attention as her mum has many phobias and one means she can't leave their house and she actually hasn't in thirteen years.
(This reminded me of Tracy's mum in Hairspray.)
Virginia has her best friend Jake and his mum, Steph around for her to rely on. Jake has a girlfriend we learn early on as Feather nearly full on kisses him as she leaves to go home to celebrate new years at home with her parents.

Unfortunately, events take a turn for the worst and Feather's mum is rushed into hospital, resulting in the village watching on as a crane is used through the living room window to reach her mum and get her out. This is a wake up calk for Feather who sets out on getting her mum healthy again after learning her mum weights over 30 stone. She tries to entice her mum to eat healthy foods, invites the local slimming group round and wishes her mum would make friends again especially with Steph.

Throughout the novel the issues surrounding weight gain such as depression and postnatal depression arise as well as the issues surrounding weight loss in the form of character, Clay whom feels guilt over past events and suffers severely with anorexia.

The novel is great for raising awareness around the mostly silent issue of male anorexia and also pushes the point that it's never just about the food, it's mental abuse we often use towards ourselves in the form of past horrible memories and feeling towards ourselves.

The book has a brilliant mystery woven into it around the issue of Clay arriving and Feather's mum acting weird around him raising Feather's awareness that's things aren't right.

There is a great contrast between healthy and competitive swimming in Feather and proving that passions shared through families can keep them together even if one takes a step back and how families share the same interests.

This book is sure to be a hit with many of us young adults and teens alike. This book was sent to me by the publishers for review and I can't rate highly enough that this book is one of 2017's best to come out this year for sure.

A Patchwork Family Part 1 by Cathy Bramley

Gina and her husband Eric split amicably where she leaves being a teacher behind to become a child minder. Eric evidently winds her up and belittles what she does from the off and her parents never gave her much attention either despite her wacky cool hair colours.

As she discovers a dishy new headteacher, gets an Ofsted inspection and faces taking on more kids to childmind including a selective mute girl who's just lost her dad, she has her hands full so facing buying not renting her home from her elderly friends is exciting until a huge shock flips her plan upside down...

This book intrigued me into the ways of a working and older friendship and especially as they lose a beloved friend and family member sending their lives into chaos Cathy has me hooked I need to know what happens next!

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