Scars Like Wings by Erin Stewart

Ava survives a fire which claimed her parents and her cousin, Sara. After going through dramatic changes physically in hospital through endless skin grafts she is finally released home. Or rather to her new home where Sara used to live. Now with her aunt and uncle, th y get her to start high school and we see how the kids react to her

At her support group she meets Piper, a loud mouth car crash survivor who's in a wheelchair seemingly only temporarily she also likes music like Ava and likes a band called Atticus only in real life the words are by Atticus the poet you can find on Instagram who I'm a huge fan off and was great to see mentioned in the book.

As Ava gets encouraged by Asad and Piper to reclaim her place on the stage in drama not just hide away and be a stage hand as her voice is better than queen B Kenzies she learns about Kenzie and Piper and how they used to be friends and just how their relationship changed.

Ava also has to deal with her aunt and uncle wracking up debt in her name for her surgery needs and how she copes with the memories from the fire after she remembers how she escaped and has to also deal with the mental scars from their separate accidents as Piper needs her.

Ava and Piper deal with a lot that's relatable from being social outcasts in school, dealing with stares, whispered chatter about them, healing, depression, counselling, unrequited crushes and more the girls bond is a united, complicated unity that highlights how healing and recovery are better with a support network around you. It was a great tale about dealing with the aftermath of death and escaping that despite gaining life changing injuries.

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

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Eleanor isn't normal, first and for most this is evident but then who is, she's just dealing with a lot.

Scarred from childhood in a fire she endures the mundane everyday life she's used to from going to her office job, going home, doing crosswords and keeping to herself drowning her sorrows in vodka too.

After all her mother drummed it into her from birth that she's not worth anything and no one will ever care for her...even her past boyfriend Declan abused her and she thought it was normal sadly.

So one day when she meets new IT worked Raymond and by chance they help an old man in the street when he takes bad they start to meet up with him and then at lunch too. Eleanor develops a sort of social life she never believed she would deserve thanks to her past.

Through the book we witness her highs and lows including when things with her mother come to a head spiralling her depression and her addiction to vodka and sending her to counselling and help her come to terms to with an unobtainable crush she had on a musician as well as discover her past trauma to help her heal from and accept actions aren't her fault at all despite the guilt she's let consume her the rest of her life.

This book tackles a lot of complex issues from trauma, addiction, loneliness and the end plot twist to do with her mum makes you realise just how bad things were for Eleanor. I felt empathetic towards the main character but was happy with the portrayal of how such horrific acts can cause PTSD/trauma effects.

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.