Too Jagged To Hold by Kristen Hornung

TW: Rape and trauma mentions. A brave collection of poetry inspired after rape and the trauma following it showing the fragility of life years on after the traumatic event occurs. The collection also looks at the cycle of life and loss, family and expectations and reality of your own situation. It was deeply moving emotive poetry and you could really immerse yourself in feeling everything as you read through the collection, especially if you know anyone who has faced trauma, it was so honest and open it really was a courageous collection to write and share and I know it will help so many survivors feel so less alone reading this, realising others do, sadly, understand the same depth of pain and trauma.

The Butterfly Project by ANR

This collection of poetry draws on people's experiences with their mental health and the struggles of feelings and actions they've had to face too. Some stand out poems to me were: Silence, about feeling numb to life and open to the idea of death after feeling so deeply sad. Fourteen, was a harrowing poem of the side effects of bullying and self harm at the tender age of 14. Focussing on themes of sadness, depression, anxiety, friendship, abandonment, loneliness, self reflection and hate, it's a dark but open discussion collection of poetry to make you sit and reflect, or relate to and feel less alone in your own struggles, past or present.

I Know Her Name by Shanti Hershenson

This was a powerful collection about the effects of going to school and bullying as well as sexual assault. Jokes and Bathroom Stall were too harrowing yet bold poems about the reality of physical harm and threat and the anxiety it causes you to feel in the wake of the harm faced unable to escape it. What Do I Do? Again, was a strong poem imagining the authors future child in the situation she faced and in particular the pain to feel that you couldn't stop in happening in future alike the present and knowing how it effected you affects your future thoughts on reflection. A bold and necessary collection that depicts bullying at it's absolute worst, yet I'm so happy that, Shanti didn't let it hold her back from her dreams of being an author and instead has owned the pain to turn it into poetry and share to us to relate and reflect on.

Conversation's I'll Never Have by T L MacRae

TW, this collection and review talks of abuse, rape, suicidal thoughts. This was a really deep, unfiltered book about the effects of abuse, rape and the trauma that follos can have on you and how it alters your life forever moving forward. A few poems of this collection really spoke to me: Poem 9, about preferring books to real life for escapism and the way you can create a better world to exist in even if fantasy. Poem 29 and 31, were deep poems about abuse and the effect it has on you and your life in love and trust of others. No. 50, a large poem/story, Hope was a powerful piece about a woman's resilience for her life and her children and really explains the depths of what the author has been through, which is a lot. To still hold onto hope after facing everything discussed in the book, is a wonderful show of resilience to inspire fellow women not to give up or give in and anyone picking up the book able to sadly relate to issues by themselves or friends or family members experiences will surely feel this part deep of the book the most.

You Can't Hide by Sarah Mussi

In this book, Lexi escapes her old life with her mum to get away from her mum's abusive boyfriend Charlie.

Following their life, she wakes up in hospital to her aunties and no mum in sight and no recollection of her memories of what happened.

We discover she was in love with a boy called Finn after she stole him away from his old girlfriend Jules using a spell as she believes she's a witch.

When Jules gets dumped by Finn she vows revenge and plots and pushes our star couple to land themselves in trouble in the name of a rather revealing art project for school fueled by Jules's jealousy.

It was a bit odd with the witch reference and not heavily used just hinted at a few times to be honest it could've been left out and been an amazing book about the dangers of girls over jealousy and envy of what someone else has like a boyfriend they fancy.

Charles wasn't mentioned a great deal just the odd account from him interspersed every so often and t could've been made better in my opinion as I found the culmination a bit of a let down and not what I hoped for at all. Jules was a devious character who made the drama for sure what it became but ultimately she was in a position to do more and just didn't hit the mark for me.

What Kind Of Girl by Alyssa Sheinmel

Mike is the school golden boy who abused his girlfriend and we see her, Maya, come to terms with telling the school and her mum as she goes over their relationship.

Meanwhile we see the perspectives of other in school after learning about Mike's actions, in the form of Maya his girlfriend, Junie her best friend, Tess Junie's ex girlfriend and Hiram a guy who they know who can get you pills as his dad works in medicine and has a link to Maya.

I liked the story and it's guaranteed to have a great impact and teach about the signs of domestic abuse and violence, but in story terms fiction wise I felt we should've seen more previous scenes between Mike and Maya leading up to the present of her coming forward about the abuse. However saying that, being so quick to tell at least it gives the message speak up sooner rather than later which is obviously the best solution for a great outcome but not fully realistic. There was rep for self harm, bulimia, drug use and LGBTQIA communities and of course the former need a trigger warning.

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

Sparrow by Mary Cecilia Jackson

In this book we meet Sparrow who is friends with Delany and Lucas we follow her on her ballerina journey and as she discovers how her past changed her specifically her mother's involvement in her life and how it helps her accept she was abused.

As she doesn't see how Lucas feels about her as he copes with his father's death nor understand the warnings from her friends and family about Tristan her boyfriend, she's putting her stunning expected ballerina future in jeopardy, can she realise what she needs to do before it's too late?

I loved Sparrow being a broken Many bird who had to break and grow into a stronger beautiful girl rising above all the abuse and pain in her life. A challenging awakening novel about the dangers of hiding abuse.

Many thanks to the publisher's for allowing me to review this book for them!

The Benefits Of Being An Octopus by Ann Braden

Zoey is the eldest of her mum's children and since learning about octopuses from an old documentary she watched figures she could do with being one as she has to run around her siblings, Hector, Bryce and Aurora whilst their mum works.

They all live in a trailer park with Lenny, Hector's dad and their mum where they struggle for money as her mum's a waitress. Kenny is quite scathing towards their mum especially as he knows she works with Connor, a kind man at the pizza parlour she works in whom likes Zoey and the other kids.

Zoey has just started middle school with Fuchsia her friend where she learns about a debate team and her teacher insists on her taking part. Whilst in school shots are fired outside, a gunman whom Zoey later realises she knew of as he knows Fuchsia.

Neither girls home lives are secure it stable, happy ones and so each girl asks their mum about an idea they have to leave the controlling father figures in their lives well away from them but instead all survive together. They just need to speak up and out to the police and courts, if they can persuade them that is...

The book raises the issue of domestic abuse and all the spectrum of can occur from physical threats and acts to emotional abuse verbally and trying to control a person. We see how it impacts the whole family and Zoey has a lot to cope with hence her feeling comforted by her octopus passion as she knows how she could do with enough arms to do everything she has to do but envy them as they don't have to juggle school work or look after their siblings.  It was nice to see she found debate club a way for some own time and be able to connect more with other students while developing a passion.

Raw and intense look at life as a grown up but while still being a child yourself.

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

Chinglish by Sue Cheung

Jo and her crazy Chinese and English aka Chinglish, family move to Coventry to live in two rooms above a Chinese takeaway her parents run.

As her younger sister makes friends with an older girl, shoplifts and smokes, her brother Simon was caught stealing and went to live with their grandparents while Jo is left longing for a better future than being married off or owning the takeaway!

We see Jo make friends with goth Tina, get her first boyfriend, deal with bullies, discover a passion for art as a career and also how disappointed she feels about her parents as we get to see how truly horrific home life can secretly be behind doors.

Raising awareness of domestic abuse/violence this book was open and honest showing the raw side of life within some families. I loved hearing about dancing bonkers goats and entering a competition to win a scholarship to fashion school which sounds crazy amazing and in general this book was a fabulous debut and everyone will laugh, cry and love this book, I guarantee.

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

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.

Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson

This book is a collection of raw poetry that looks through Laurie's life at some of the tough situations she has had to face and deal with. From being a pastor's daughter, dealing with her parents issues including miscarriage, war and depression to her own issues that arised, rape and how that affects a person as they learn to cope and adapt to their changed selves especially when you can't report it and make them pay for their crime.

The book also explores the relationship between men and women and why we objectify women and see men or used to see men as higher up than us instead of equals. Hugely emotional and thought-provoking if you can relate to the issues raised, you simply need to read this book.

I Hold Your Heart by Karen Gregory

Gemma first spots Aaron with his dog when her brother Michael is playing football.

She then has him arrived unexpectedly at her work before she spots him in school and he also leaves a comment on her YouTube channel.

A keen country music lover (who doesn't love Kacey Musgraves!?)  and aspiring artist thanks to the encouragement of her best friends Esi, Rachel and Cal she gets the opportunity to enter a music contest with Cal, only for Aaron to believe she's cheating with Cal, the he starts to track her phone...

As the relationship grows we learn of conflict with his mum and past love Cherie only spun to his merit not the truth, as he grows more angry and raging, controlling making her have unprotected sex, expensive gifts and keeping her away from her friends and family after showing her they don't appreciate her after he plants the idea in her head.

Many stereotypes of controlling behaviour gets shown and explored as we witness the sweet relationship sour very quickly until he can move on to the next unsuspecting girl making himself anger as the novel wears on and Gemma more insecure we can see the relationship is not how love should be at all with no compromise no safety and a lot more tears than should ever be shed. It is a true work of genius and a great addition to Karen's young adult fiction books I've loved before. Raising a sensitive topic to teens and hopefully opening their eyes to signs of abuse this is a book every term needs to read.

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

All The Things We Never Said by Yasmin Rahman

Mahreen is a Muslim teen whom feels she can't compete or stand out in her family against her brother or cousin who are both high achievers and has what she call The Chaos in her mind telling her to cut and causing her depression.

Cara is a disabled wheelchair user after a car crash changed her and her mum's lives forever and she feels stifled by her mum now too.

Olivia is a girl from a rich broken family background with a sinister secret about her mum's new boyfriend and wants to escape her life.

The girls get put together after they each individually sign up to a suicide pact website, MementoMori.

Only as the girls complete the tasks and hang out more they become friends. Until things change after they stop doing the tasks set to them from the website and instead have their lives ruined by the person behind the website as they manipulate all the information about the girls as they can. As each girl hits a new low, one of them goes too far but with the girls not talking, can they come together to save each other in time?

The plot reminded me of the Hollyoaks teen self harm pact with a digital edge from the website involved in this book. It doesn't belittle mental health but shows the sinister extent teens could go to harm or end their lives. The website reminds me of the anorexia buddy websites we hear about causing harm to teens mental health and this book broke down boundaries that mental health only effects one type of person as we get the three very different girls all suffering. I particularly like Olivia telling her story in verse as she came across as a ghost in her own home forgot by her mum as she suffered abuse unnoticed. This book will make you appreciate all the good in the world, as it can be horrifically dark.

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

Me Mam Me Dad Me by Malcolm Duffy

In this book, Danny and his mum move from a small flat into the huge house of Callum, his mum's boyfriend.

Things started out well but soon enough Danny spots the signs that his mum is being domestically abused by Callum even if she can't see it or face up to it herself.

So, on a mission to save his mum, convinced she'll die at Callum's hands, he sets off to find his dad to get him to kill Callum, if he can.

Danny knows his dad's been in jail and so feels he'll help despite him never wanting to know him before. Danny is a motivated and dedicated kid you can see from the way he wants to protect home mum and that makes this book more raw and moving as the dangers of domestic abuse and effects it has on a family come to light. This is read you won't forget for good reason.

A Vintage Summer by Cathy Bramley

When Lottie moved to London with boyfriend Harvey for his personal training career to take off they were happy. Only over time and him not getting anywhere career wise, Lottie getting promoted in her crematorium gardening job, Harvey becoming more controlling and emotionally draining her Lottie decides to take her life back after talking to a stranger who knew the situation too.

Evie her sister is trying to foster after parting from husband Darren after their lengthy struggle to get pregnant and the stress it put on their relationship.

Meanwhile their dad has gone off travelling the world as to fulfil his wife's dream they shared of retirement travelling only that doesn't go to plan...

As Lottie finds herself at a vineyard by chance to work and build her life back up, she makes new friends, learns new skills and meets the handsome Jensen, the grandson of her new boss whom looks out for her as if she were family...

As Lottie faces a tough choice after finding out a shocking life change and with her ex looming over her and Jensen caring for her closely just what's her happy ending to be?

This book made me smile lots and taught me a lot about wine making too! The story has very serious topics from illness, pregnancy, death, grief, infertility and abuse but if course we see how her life changes from making tough decisions. It's a great summer read for sure and you'll love Lottie and root for her as I did!

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

The Words That Fly Between Us by Sarah Carroll

Living with her investor stressed dad and her mum, Lucy doesn't like to be around her dad when he's in a mood and he is often, causing verbal and emotional pain on his wife and daughter.

Her best friend Megan also gets put downs from her so called friend Hazel whom makes sly comments and digs at Megan's body and about her growing blog too. Despite Lucy's efforts she can't stop her best friend being effected by Hazel...

However as an aspiring artist despite what her dad says, Lucy has a generous heart and soon gets to know the mysterious artist next door after leaving her a gift anonymously and being left a gift back in return.

The main theme in this novel is about speaking out about abuse and it's never right to have to put up with especially at home. We see how the family changes due to stress about money from her dad. We also see how it's important to follow your heart and never giving up on passions and dreams. It was a really great novel in the way we can imagine being in Lucy's shoes and having to face so many issues alone.

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

Every Colour Of You by Amelia Mandeville

In this book, we meet Zoe and Tristan whom meet each other first in a hospital waiting room/ reception area. From there the pair meet through coincidence again until Zoe starts to befriend Tristan as she sees something in him he can't see in himself, despite his depression, Zoe is the colour to his world even if he takes some time to realise that fact.

Tristan suffered from losing his dad while his brother whom acts like his dad is now quite partial to drinking alcohol to forget everything that happened to them. Meanwhile Tristan has Misha, his dog to make him feel happier and loved when he feels low. He also suffers severely from suicidal thoughts and tendencies throughout the novel which is a very truthful look at how some one can swing from ok to suicidal quickly as can happen with depression sufferers.

It was a commendable book for featuring mental health so realistically throughout the book as it's the main subject tackled as well as other things from health troubles, family situations and deaths which feature too. I really liked how the main characters were like opposites but they connected super well and could see the best in each other's strange ways. A brilliant debut from a young author!

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

Fierce Fragile Hearts by Sara Barnard

In this sequel following Suze and her tumultuous life, Caddy and Rosie head off to university leaving her behind. As she struggles with adapting to not only living alone but feeling lonely away from her best friends, Caddy's boyfriend Kel introduces her to Matt a musician from London he knows who gigs around their area at times.

She also makes a friend in Dilys who lives in a flat below hers with her dog.

Then just as her friends, relationship with Matt and even a new goal career for the future look to happen possibly, her abusive father reappears just as life starts to get going good again throwing everything up in the air...

I really enjoyed this sequel more than the first book, raising awareness of abuse, stroke and the signs as well as effects of one, this book hits all the health points for mental and physical head on and shows how they can seriously effect our lives long term and that there's never a quick or simple solution instead showing how complex an issue it can be. The dramas are all real life, heart breaking and raw emotional issues all hitting at one time colliding. Realistic and dramatic another great read by Sara!

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

All We Could Have Been by T. E. Carter

Lexi is always the new girl, always starting over thanks to her family's situation and her dead brother. Only this time she's with her aunt and not her parents.

In her latest town she needs to finally make it through a whole school year to get to stay there and make friends and her grades.

As she makes friends with Ryan and gets a feel for her new school, she even wants to join the drama group and perform in their production or Romeo and Juliet.

However a slip of the tongue and her real name and past could just be a Google away...

So when she falls for the guy she gets warned about, Marcus the guy from across the road, she finds herself in danger of revealing her identity and her brother's horrific secret...

A story about discovering love, friendship and how to deal with grief when it hits full force. In the book we see how one person's actions can destroy multiple lives and the impact of devastating actions on the family in this novel are severely moving and sadly understandable. It was a gripping read and was a great book about rebuilding a life and becoming you again.

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

Indecent by Corinne Sullivan

Imogene is new to her job at a privileged boys school where she meets Adam, a pupil who intrigued her as she firstly finds out more about him then in turn after briefly talking, he pursues her and starts a relationship with her.

Then he tells the school head and he is believed over her. She pursued him, though really they were in it together and he went cold on replying to her. He bragged about dating their last apprentice to join the school to her and now she's just another one to add to that list.

Throughout the novel we read flashbacks to when Imogene was the boys age and deciding what to do for college, career and her first love and sexual encounters too.

This book is all about forbidden love and lust as we see both of the characters involved go hot and cold for each other at times though Imogene seemed mostly for the relationship despite her being his teacher. Overall it is believable but I would've preferred a split perspective and not just her perspective split between her age now and when she was Adam's age.

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