Cherry Blossom Dreams by Gwyneth Rees

In this book we meet Sasha who's mum is moving in her toyboy boyfriend who just happens to be a teacher at her school!

Her best friend is Lily, a girl who's brother Rafferty she has a crush on while she discovers that her brother Sean's best friend Zack is who actually like her!

As their strict grandma is set to come visit as she disapproves of their mother's actions and choices things are a bit tense especially as Sean's snake goes missing in Blossom House, a place they love going to to escape life at home as their mum is an estate agent with the keys to the house Sean takes!

I easily saw what was coming and even the last few pages were no surprise sadly but the story was still great even if it didn't shock me with what happened! I really did enjoy this book however especially the Blossom House part as the kid's feel it's their place to get away to and also how the kids adapted to their mum and teacher getting together too.

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!

Because Of You by Eve Ainsworth

In this book, Poppy is Struggling with her mum moving in her boyfriend after throwing her dad out months ago.

Poppy lives her dad but hardly sees him now he's got a job but he also likes to drink and forgets about everything when he does...

In school however Poppy starts to have a tough time as she stands up for a girl who's getting picked on by a bully. However the tables turn as the bully who's her ex friend then turns her attention to Poppy and picking on her and when a video she takes of Poppy goes online things get out of hand...

I enjoyed this book but I did think there would be more incidents of bullying in the book, even though obviously any is bad enough! It raised so many issues from new families and missing parents, being bullied, fake friends and more it was a great little story though and another great book from a fellow Eve.

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Isadora Moon Gets In Trouble by Harriet Muncaster

In this book Isadora and her cousin Mirabelle have fun with a dolls house and even become part of it with a nifty spell!

However as pink rabbit remains miniature, the girls also struggle with a new oet, a dragon!

As the Dragon causes havoc at school and Isadora's parents have no idea about any of this going on, how long will they be able to keep it all a secret?

It was such a cute and fun story to read and especially as we meet more of Isadora's family it shows how they have different skills and creates more fun for us to read!

Toffee by Sarah Crossan

Sarah Crossan has once again written a brilliant verse book telling the story of Allie who becomes Toffee to Marla, a woman suffering from dementia who's house and shed she ends up squatting in after running away from home.

Only her home wasn't a home as we see through flashback memories Allie recall's as her father was violent towards her and his girlfriends after Allie's mum died.

We see how Allie tries to find Kelly-Ann who was her dad's last girlfriend and stayed the longest, caring the most and discovers a life changing fact from her too, can they find each other and rebuild their lives together?

Marla was a spot on depiction of dementia as I have an aunt who's even worse with her dementia though at one time she was like this she is now bedridden and doesn't understand a thing. The abuse was horrific but made the novel pack a punch, that phase may not be the most nicest way to put it considering the subject matter but the book will shock and make you empathetic to Allie and her situation, a true masterpiece.

Help Wanted Must Love Books by Janet Sumner Johnson

In this book Shailey is sick of her dad being too tired after work to read her a bed time story and so she sets about interviewing all of the fairytale characters from the ginger bread man, Hook, Goldilocks, Snow White and her dwarfs and more!

All about appreciating your family and the joys of sharing a bed time story it was a great book and with lovely illustrations to bring it to life.

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

One More Time by Nancy Loewen

A story all about perseverance and getting up and trying again in this case riding a new scooter, this will teach kids try and try again, never give up and is very short and to the point.

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

Sophie's Shell by Jo Rooks

Sophie is a lovely little snail shy about starting school and likes to pop back into her shell when it all gets too much until she makes a new friend, Stanley!

This picture book was super sweet all about overcoming shyness and the initial starting school jitters and nerves, the illustrations were great to illustrate the take and were super sweet and vibrant.

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

Beautiful Bodies by Kimberley Rae Miller

In this memoir about lifestyle, nutrition and bodies, Kimberley opens up on her life and opinions about how harmful so called diet culture can be in modern day.

Talking openly about her struggles with weight and anorexia like behaviour, to gaining all the weight back after another restrictive and dangerous diet.

Talking about diet culture and media influence, as well as her own early modelling days and adults telling her younger self to watch her weight, we learn how damaging and worrying it plants itself into youngsters and still happens nowadays too.

She also talks about refeeding syndrome and how it takes time to repair metabolic damage once it has occurred, it can take months to repair properly a damaged metabolism.

Kimberley has opened her life to us for judging, relating and commiserating with through every high and low all women face she is brave and beautiful for doing so, any girl who has struggled will appreciate this book.

Running From The Rainbow by Karen McCombie

For Rainbow starting a new school is hard as she has to hide the fact her mum is the new teacher and in a bid to not stand out choses to go by Rosie a more simple less attention grabbing name after she suffered bullying from class mates at her old school.

She slowly makes new friends and also friends with the school class president who helps her feel more confident in herself and her name.

This book is great for showing how not everyone is the same and things can get better and friends will come along and understand you even if last ones didn't. A fun little read about dealing with a lot of change.