By Popular Demand Gracie Dart Book 3 by Jess Vallance

In book three we see how Grace tries to become more popular and make new friends. However, we soon see you can't force these things as she comes to learns as she by chance falls in with a popular girl and so her friends do too.

As she helps her new friend to run her cake and entertainment party business she also deals with the crush she has on her, only her new friend is straight...

We also see how Grace comes to realise alike in the other books just how much true friends matter and how you should pay attention and help them in times of need. Gracie always has such an adventurous life and experiences some odd and hilarious at times too situations which this book didn't lack at all once again.

I, Cosmo by Carlie Sorosiak

Max and his little sister Emmeline love their dog Cosmo as their parents fight and make home life unpleasant for the pair Cosmo offers up his view of the situation throughout the book as it's remarkably told from his doggie perspective.

Max has a lot of anxiety and Cosmo dotes on him the pair are a true duo especially as they hope to enter a dance competition and win the chance to be in a film which Max hopes will save their family.

However Cosmo is an old dog and suffers with arthritis and general old age dog issues and as the book goes on things decline in all ways before getting better for the future ahead...

This book shows how special a pet is to kids, families as a whole and how sensitive and aware an animal they truly are and just how caring they can be too. Prepare yourself to read a heart warming but tear inducing read!

Split by Muhammad Khan

Salma wants to be an actress more than anything more than her communities judgmental eyes and her hard working mother's wishes

Salma has a huge audition to possibly get to play Cinderella only after things go wrong a ripped dress and a non binary fairy godmother in the form of Billie later can she finally get her chance to be her full non split in two self and get closer to her dream?

I really enjoyed this book as Salma is feisty and doesn't give up on her dream despite fearing judgement. She was a fabulous character and the LGBTQIA rep was the best I've read in any book as well as the tone of language I really felt the terror Salma must have felt when the gangster lads were about. The aspect of a modern Cinderella and a Pakistani one was a modern twist and I wish we could really see the play happen, I just wish this was a full length novel it was so good!

Morgan Charmley: Teen Witch by Katy Birchall

Morgan isn't a normal thirteen year old, she can cast spells as taught how to by her mum and Dora her mum's best friend who's like a sister to her and home schooled Morgan until now when she can finally go off to school.

But being able to cast spells with the click of her fingers soon causes chaos for Morgan as she catches the attention of Owen, bully Felix who thinks she's a freak and Iris whom she's put in a group with to dance for the talent show.

Feeling like a social outcast a few spells should help to change things instead, her head teacher can't stop dancing, Felix is chased by hoards of bats and Morgan accidentally also causes dragons to appear too!

Just what will she do next and can she stay friends with Owen when they discover what each other is?

Never one to read teen fantasy fiction I actually really enjoyed this book as I have all of Katy's previous books and found myself fully invested in the drama of witch life and general teen life issues. I enjoyed the witches vs warlocks aspect too and the secrets in the book that need to be kept mean the next book will surely have tons more drama with that cliff hanger of an ending!

No Big Deal by Bethany Rutter

Emily is comfortable in her own skin, plus sized and sick of hearing about her mum's diets she's trying out relentlessly as well as trying and failing to get Emily to do them as well.

However when her best friend Camila comes home no longer Emily's plus size best friend and partner in crime, things change between the pair as Camila dates Emily's old crush Ryan as he fancies her now she's lost weight and couldn't deal with Emily's size after their failed kiss.

Emily then instantly likes Joe, a guy she meets at that party briefly and then befriends him after going to his family's record shop.

Throughout the novel we see how they get closer and even nearly sleep together until horrible Holly comes along but helps Emily realise that she's fine as she is and not to let her odd doubts get the better of her.

The book was very My Mad Fat Diary inspired, to me at least, with the record shop element and plus size main character fancying the normal sized glasses wearing cute guy. I liked her other two best friends being a gay girl couple representing the LGBTQIA community in teens and the positivity that Emily has not hating on herself but accepting herself like the wonderful unique girl she is which is an amazing and inspiring lesson to us all!!

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

Jemima Small Vs The Universe by Tamsin Winter

Jemima Small hates how she looks bigger than the other girls and her surname, small for being her opposite.

She's proudly smart and is excited when an opportunity to take part in Braniacs her favourite TV show arises she's happy but at the same time, everything said to her by the kids, bullies, strangers all builds up.

Jemima has a great best friend in Miki who never fails to stick up for her while her old best friend Alina ditched her to hang out with Lottie who bullies Jemima.

As she faces joining far club forced to after being humiliated in school, she makes friends with others who feel like she does and makes a friend in Gina who runs the course.

Throughout the novel Jemima is courageous and learns that being herself is a great thing despite her issues around her weight, mum and bullies. She is a brave character and a typical teen when she wants to dye her hair rainbow which some of us can relate to! I loved her brainiac personality and zany family Tamsin has created a book that'll be forever important for girls now and in the future, her writing is some of the most relatable and hard hitting making the YA fiction we need.

Some Girls Bind by Rory James

Jamie is gender queer binding her chest and hiding her secret from her friends Levi, Nora and Eric as well as her family and brother Steve in this novel told in verse.

Over the course of the novel we witness her friends come out to mixed reactions and approval as well as disapproval too.

Jamie is a good, bold and proud character whilst also being anxious over reactions she could face. The book raises issues straight to the point around gender and sexuality and the fluidity people can have freely now. It is a good bold read and will surely open eyes to the subject matters raised.

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

Diary Of A Parent Trainer by Jenny Smith

As her mum gets a new boyfriend after their father's death, Katie and her older sister and younger brother set to jeopardize the relationship as Stuart is a tragedy in dodgy clothes, cars and hobbies. As he changes their mum, the three are horrified and Katie is even more infuriated when her best mates also go boy crazy too especially as one of them starts dating the boy Katie likes.

Let's not forget of course that their home is in Bridletown where all their family live too.

There's plenty of fun to be had from this diary entry style book as it consists of tips to control your human better and how to handle their moods and anything they may do, really. As it is it's actually quite realistic and funny due to that fact and the points being proved true throughout! All about the joys and woes of rebuilding a family in a different way to before and accepting new people. 

The Snowman by Michael Morpurgo

 

In this retelling of the classic Raymond Briggs story, we see how Michael has adapted it into another version of the beloved story, still as moving as ever!

 

In this story, James has a stammer which leaves him feeling lonely and friendless in school. After building the classic snowman, he discovers the magic of friendship and Christmas as the snowman takes him on a magical journey to meet Father Christmas and the snowmans family in the North Pole.

Also in the book James has a grandmother who also witnessed the magic and partakes in a flight with the snowman which adds to the Christmas magic sharing it with others!

I really enjoyed venturing back into the childhood classic we all know and love it was a great spin on the traditional story and the addition of grandma as a character was funny sharing the magic even more making Christmas even more meaningful any one will adore this retelling.

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

Another Place by Matthew Crow

Claudette has bipolar one and after release from her section she finds that her distant friend Sarah has gone missing. Sarah grew up not knowing a true home as she grew up in care.

The streets are tough and we soon learn Sarah was mixed up in something bigger than herself. As Claudette focuses on Jacob, a photographer, Ross a local lad and Dan a dangerous individual whom many owe things too, she sets about discovering the truth of what happened to Sarah and if she's alive or dead.

It's gripping and worked well flashing back to the past seeing the girls become friends and how Sarah had to fight to survive. It combines so many issues from drugs, care, family and friendship as well as knowing who you can rely on to trust the most.

The Girl In The Window by Penny Joelson

When Kasia one night see's a young girl looking like she's being kidnapped she also sees a person in the window facing hers across the road.

Ellie her best friend visits her as Kasia can't leave her bedroom, after suffering tonsillitis, she developed an infection leading to CFS/ME. Leaving her chronically tired and weak.

As she begins to pace herself into getting downstairs and then to visit Mrs Gayatri next door, she also wonders who's in the window opposite hers as no girl ever leaves and the owners deny her being there. It is thanks to Mrs Gayatri she meets Navin and gains a new friend.

As new friends are made, new hobbies found and even getting themselves into serious danger to save many people, this book proves much drama despite Kasia having ME/CFS and being confined just to her house some days she has an adventurous time finding out about the girl in the window.

I loved Penny's last book so much, this one I'm glad to say didn't disappoint me at all either and instead I got quite emotional reading about Kasia's struggle with ME/CFS. As a sufferer of Fibromyalgia of which ME/CFS goes with hand in hand, I know what it's like to be in constant pain, be never endingly tired and dream of a life living not just existing and plans on hold. It was definitely relatable and new to young adult fiction being brought up as I haven't come across another book to mention or include a character with ME/CFS. It was a great story concept and shows how little trafficking is mentioned in fiction for young adults so brought a whole new element to the mix and not just making it a ghost storyline again like in a lot of books. I found myself reading it in one sitting, full of drama and mystery it's a thrilling read.

The book dealt with the subject of human trafficking very well and showed the danger girls can be in realistically.

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

Rosie Loves Jack by Mel Darbon

In this book, we meet Rosie a girl with Downs syndrome whom is in love with her boyfriend Jack. The only trouble is her dad who wants them to split up as Jack has anger issues due to his head being hurt as a baby.

So when Jack gets sent away to deal with his anger, he writes to Rosie via postcards her dad hides away but she discovers.

Using her initiative and wanting to be with Jack, Rosie plans with her friend Lou's help, a way to get to Brighton and sets off with her bag of belongings including her birthday money to fund her trip.

Only things don't go to plan and she finds herself encountering kind strangers, new friends, kind mum's, then a darker world of secret work and the dangers it can lead you into to, especially when you can't escape...

Rosie is determined, brave and severely in love. This book was amazingly bold and daring whilst it captivated me from the start with the unique collision of characters and plot. We go on a journey with a smart protagonist proving her parents she able to do things and not giving up on love especially.

An absolutely astounding debut from a brand new author in YA!

Behind Closed Doors by Miriam Halahmy

Josie lives with her mum in their house full of her mum's so called treasure, which is just charity shop buys hoarded so much they can't use hardly any rooms of their house and all their money funds the collection.

Tash lives with her mum and at times her mum's creepy boyfriend who seems to fancy Tash and make creepy advances towards her touching and striking her as well as trying to get into her room late at night.

When Josie's mum forgets to pay the council tax, she ends up in prison and Tash finds solace in the secret hoarder house after Josie confides in her about her mum and meets Tash stay as she isn't safe at home.

Throughout the novel we are the girls struggle to cope on hardly any money and having to plan showers, washing and food, as well as deal with serious criminals and getting boyfriends. It's light and dark, mixed in moods as they face better and worse times as they fight to survive together and not get taken into care. It was a remarkable read, fighting to survive and being made homeless aren't seen enough in YA books and this sets the standard.

Nowhere Else But Here by Rachel Cotton

Rose and everyone at school knows Theo has been missing for two days, posters are up everywhere now so when Theo lands on her doorstep with secrets to hide and Rose can keep him hidden but safe, he takes her offer.

She lies to her parents, her best friends Grace and Naya and they all notice she's acting strangely and then she meets Theo's parents in school. She also knows the reason, or a reason why Theo ran away, even if her parents later tell her they found out the real reason, along with him being in her room.

No more secret movie nights, sleeping close or shared kisses in her room, he is with his mum though now safe. But Rose is angry with her parents but relies on her friends after finally confiding what had happened.

Eventually they have to talk and realise their feelings are there between them but then more secrets come out about her ex boyfriend and Theo after the way her ex treated her.

The book was a very different concept, the way Theo just turns up and relies on Rose to keep him a secret. I can't say I found it wholly believable but I liked the idea nonetheless. I did approve of the deeper reason Theo runs away and found it understandable why he would lie though he should be able to tell Rose as she helps him so much.  I do think a split perspective and seeing Theo as his life goes back to being with his mum and possibly flashbacks to deeper worse times to back up the reasoning of running away. Aside from that, the second half they fell into a loving but intensely dramatic relationship like a lot of young first loves can be.

An intense way of discovering love suddenly.

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

Ten Things We Shouldn't Have Done by Sarah Mylnowski

When April learns her father has a new job and plans to move April and her step mum with him, she puts her foot down to stay as she's loved up with her boyfriend, Noah and her best friend Vi is older and wants to stay with her.

However, Vi and April plot to live together as Vi's mum is not at home and is working away leaving the girls free to live however they wish. They gain a hot tub and cat as well as new friends whilst they learn some hash real life truths along the way about money, love and friendship.

It was unrealistic in many actions such as being given a cat and just spending money suddenly on a hot tub but relatable in the fact that STD's are real and can happen to anyone as well managing finances as an older teen, not younger and that cheating partners exist too. It was fun and it did keep me entertained with their crazy antics and many wild times.

Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver

Dara and Nick are sisters who've been torn apart by a tragic traffic accident and a broken friendship.

As Nick struggles to accept what happened and what she truly lost, all is not as it seems as a nine year old girl goes missing mysteriously and the action grips us in a psychological twister of a book!

As Nick tries to cope with moving back in with her mum, you won't expect the end twist and I didn't at all but so much did and didn't make sense due to it looking back on what I read. However, it was an amazing twist and worked okay but the missing girl part could be been so much more than we got! It kept me reading but overall I can only keep thinking of more to change and add.

Zoe Letting Go by Nora Price

When sixteen year old Zoe's mum leaves her at Twin Birch, an inpatient recovery for eating/mental disorders, with six girls staying for six weeks. She finds herself with Caroline as a roommate.

As Alexandra her therapist encourages her to write letters and
Journal, she feels like Elise will be there for her but as she grows erratic at getting no replies from her best friend, Zoe finds herself being outcast by a fellow inpatient after she reads her folder and finds out what truly happened to Zoe and Elise.

A mystery interwoven which was half expected to be truthful as unfortunately cases as in this book are tragically true whether in person or online friends. The issues raised where approached sensitively but I would've liked more input into Zoe's mum's life and her views as she wasn't really in the book much.

A Bad Boy Stole My Bra by Lauren Price

Alec and Riley are new next door neighbours that meet when Alec steals Riley's Disney bra as a date one night. Vowing to get it back Riley issues him and tries to get it back but instead gets a friendship and flirtation instead as we learn of Alec's cocky nature in this super sweet contemporary which will having you bawling with laughter, especially at Alec's one liners which are stunners!

There's also Kaitlin, Tony and Tiana whom all have bad linked memories for Riley and as she comes to terms with that, or not in some cases as her panic attacks come on stronger, we see how much Alec cares about Riley as he takes care of her as they strike and finally reveals to him just what happened surrounding the night to do with Kaitlin her cousin.

From a new young Midlands author this is one amazing debut that you will adore of you like contemporary and Young Adult fiction books. Alec is a typical cheeky guy and Riley an outraged girl at his actions and fights back feisty. The pair made the perfect cocktail for a loving, funny, eventful couple for the book to base around the drama was truly heart wrenching and truthful as grief can strike for times after a tragic death.

This is the cutest contemporary YA novel I have read this year!

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

Star By Star by Sheena Wilkinson

Stella lost her mother to the great flu ranging on throughout England and Ireland both, during the first world war. Setting off for where her mother used to know in Ireland and being expected there were she meets Sandy and an array of older women whom love together in a sort of lodging house together.

Sandy is an soldier of war and Stella helps him to re focus his life as he helps her garden and later helps a local couple too. As women start to be able to vote and the war ends, tragedy stills strikes....

This is a heartbreaking story about coping with illness and war and I could imagine all the grief and joy they feel over the events that happen during the book. Something that tickles me about the book is a coincidence that main character Stella Graham is actually a name comprising of both my parents first names! A coincidence which have us all a laugh but at the same time very wartime esque appropriate!

Love, Hate and Other Filters by Samira Ahmed

In this book Maya is an aspiring filmmaker and dreams of attending NYU but her traditional Muslim Indian parents don't approve. They dream of her marrying and staying at home and being a good girl as they dream.

However, after her dream seems within reach, an act of terrorism causes more violence in her life and not just to the public as she and her family face physical and verbal abuse.

She also has to battle with a crush on Phil she's harboured for years but as the pair grow closer and closer, things escalate till the future seems too hazy to hope for together...

The book looks at the future of a hopeful student but as she goes against all her strict parents wishes whilst she experiences love but also a terrorist attack that directly affects her life and unfortunately this is all too true an occurrence. It was a real book with deep issues that many people can relate to.