Ticking Off Breast Cancer by Sara Liyanage

In this honest open look into life loved with through and starving breast cancer, Sara talks us through her discovery and treatment to recovery from breast cancer complete with lists to help herself and aid is readers too along with tips on how to offer help and support to those we know suffering from cancer of any sort.

I really enjoyed Sara's way of writing this book with her worries about the uncertainty of cancer and the future she faces as well as how bravely she faced everything from fear of needles to coping with the cancer and treatment itself. I also happily read How supportive her friends and family were rallying round to help and how her young children coped super well too, I truly recommend you give this book a read.

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

Meet Me At Pebble Beach Part 2 In Too Deep by Bella Osborne

Carrying on from part one we see how Regan reacts to the news that Charlie shockingly dropped at the end of part one which was a shock.

As she and him set out on a relationship of sorts, he helps Regan discover what she wants to do next with her life and career leading to her getting a job she likes as a stop gap until she gets her feet in the ground and opens her own market stall!

Can taking chances guide her in work and love?

I can't wait for the next part once again Bella is a world wizard and I'm also intrigued into Cleo coming back from her work trip and reacting to everything that's changed for Regan too this story so far has me hooked and rooting for Charlie and Regan to work out and enjoy their happiness no matter how short lives of could be!

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

A Story About Cancer With A Happy Ending by India Desjardins

In this book, we meet a fifteen year old teen girl who has been fighting leukaemia since she was just ten years old. She lost her friend to leukaemia and we see how she feels about feeling a burden on her family and feels they'd be better off without her.

The images are full of mixed emotions with dark sad images for her hopelessness she feels and warmth with colourful happy memories about her life.

Victor is her other friend, nothing to do with cancer but her school, she falls in love with him and we see how they grow together despite the cancer between them that could be a ticking time bomb.

It was sweet and moving with little words, the story comes across well in pictures and is sure to tug on your emotions as we can imagine being the main character as she faces her future and appreciates her past.

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

Love, Lucie by Marita Conlon-McKenna

This book is set from Lucie's perspective as she writes in her notebook to her mum after she dies from cancer.

The year noted in the notebook shows how the family do and don't cope with the matters as their dad struggles to cope with work and childcare whilst older sister Chloe develops anorexia it seems as she hardly eats and becomes worryingly thin.

The stress on the family is obviously amped up but the summer holiday to their grandparents in France makes them happier as the girls find summer crushes and can relax away from home and school more. The year shows how tough all their relative's take their mum's passing and how much it can affect someone but Lucie copes well writing all the thoughts down while in contrast we see how it can make someone else become destructive to themselves. It was a touching book and a truthful one as many families are effected by cancer year by year.

Paper Avalanche by Lisa Williamson

In this book we meet Ro Snow a girl who's grown up too soon having to look after Bonnie her mum who's a singer and a hoarder. Her dad has a new family who come first and Ro feels pushed out and alone, but used to it.

So when Noah moves next door she finds a friend despite him going away to boarding school and harbouring a secret about his own family after his dad's actions before their move...

Meanwhile at school Tanvi an old student who fought cancer rejoins and befriends Ro persistently pestering her until she wears her down to be more friendly.

As Ro falls ill thanks to her mum's hoarding, she then tries to join a national choir with her natural singing talent, she has to face facts that holding down her job and trying to look after her mum whilst live the normal teen life isn't happening after getting drunk at a Halloween party with the popular crowd everything comes out and her worst fear, social services appears after a fire...

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it keeps you wondering how long it will be until things get out about the hoarding to her school and her friend as well as wondering if her parents would change their ways. It was a great read highlighting how damaging it can be to grow up too soon and not get to be a teen in a stable home as envied Tanvi for her stable home life she so desired. It was nice for her to have Noah throughout the story to keep in touch with and he gave her some happiness, ultimately the book is unforgettable.

We Are All Made Of Molecules by Susin Nielsen

Stuart and Ashley are forced together as their parents, Caroline and Leonard move in together.

For Stuart he lost his mum to ovarian cancer and used to want a sister as he recalls his childhood early on and Ashley's dad came out as gay and moves on with boyfriend, Michael where as Ashley wished he hadn't and can't face telling people.

Ashley soon warms to Stuart little by little after finding out he gets to be around and talk to Jared her crush. But soon enough after they get talking she realises Jared isn't as nice as she thought he was after an incident at her house where Stuart is to the rescue which also helps her opinion of him improve again.

I really loved the concept of Stewart keeping his mum's blanket and feeling closer to her as he has the idea her molecules are on it, it's a lovely comforting idea.

The book tackles homophobia, being in the LGBTQIA community, divorce, death, step parenting and acceptance. Each issue is pretty much set to one key character and played out through them with an overlap on divorce and parenting being for both Stuart and Ashley. At first Stuart seemed intriguing and Ashley vain and harsh in her attitude but we do soon seen her and Stuart's development character wise as they both change their opinions of each other and their newly combined lives together. I loved the dual perspective of how each now sibling was feeling and adapting to their lives colliding and it worked better than if it had just been from one perspective overall, great work Susin!

Differently Normal by Tammy Robinson

Hello everyone! Today's post is part of a blog tour for this amazing novel, I hope you enjoy and check out everyone else's blogs too!

Maddy has an autistic sister, Bee and is one of her carers along with her mother. She juggles her full time photography job with looking after her sister and keeping her routine up.

Albert works full time at a stables to try and impress his father, whom never seems to appreciate his son and how he does at anything. Seemingly never feeling his son is enough for him whilst he doesn't see what a horrid character he himself is judging people so harshly but maybe it comes naturally as he's a police officer.

Maddy and Bee go to horse ride at the stables and Albert notices Maddy instantly and pursues going on a date with her, while she stresses over her sister's care and keeps work colleague Kyle wanting more dating gossip while he's partnerless right now.

As Albert and Maddy spend more time together, they hang out at the beach and relax there together falling into a happy relationship full of happiness and first times. They make each other happy even when their home lives aren't as Maddy has Bee to help and Albert can't seem to please or make his dad proud of him and his brother is very much the same way towards him not caring enough about his life but judging it anyway.

They see the good and bad in each other and love each other despite anything. However one day at the stables, Albert gets offered the chance to train to be more than a stable hand at the yard but to be a therapist instead there  were we see just how much they care for each other as things take a turn...

This was a gutwrenching read and so heartbreaking too, I never expected the ending at all and I thought it was so tragic yet provided the perfect basis for his parents to finally face facts even if his horrid dad didn't at least his mother finally stuck to her guts about her situation. Maddy and Albert had such a strong love that  came across throughout the last half of the book especially that when the last ten percent of the book happened so was shocked, it really is alike The Fault In Our Stars and you will love it too, just have tissues ready!

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

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

After she finds out her dad has three months to live and with a history of running away at bad news, Taylor isn't coping well at the prospect of one last summer together at Lake Phoenix.

Lucy and Henry live next door to their house at Lake Phoenix now. Henry hates Taylor for what happened before between them. Five summers before Lucy's parents filed for divorce and Lucy liked Henry when Henry and Taylor had realised their feelings for each other.

Forced to work at the beach together, Taylor and Lucy slowly rebuild a friendship and work things out between themselves after Taylor opens up about her dad's stage four cancer.

Henry also eventually comes around to Taylor and the pair rekindle their relationship as well despite Taylor's dad deteriorating and Taylor wanting to flee yet again.

Ah this book was one of those you know the end is going to be tragic and it hits you hard! Taylor is such a relatable character with her boy history with friends being hurt and losing a parent will always be hard but the time she spends with her dad is so good with how he keeps going out with her then sharing old memories, leaving her a surprise too a sad but necessary read!

Mustaches For Maddie by Chad Morris and Shelly Brown

For most Twelve year olds, they don't have a health scare or in this case when they come, they can be very, very bad. Happy girl Maddie with her infectious humor and love of mustaches has been having trouble settling into certain friendships and also dealing with her failing hand and leg.

Her friend Lexi is there for her always and even though she tried to be the friend popular girl Cassie would want to be seen with, wasn't unfortunately, apart from to use find out whom Devin Cassie's crush fancied which Maddie does.

Then it happens, rushed in for an MRI on her brain by her doctors, the worst news comes, she has a tumour pressing on her brain.

Her parents promise her a dream wish, a trip to Disneyland and are heartbroken that Maddie faces such serious and possibly life altering and life threatening surgery though her true friends utilise social media to get their friend smiling again by creating #MustachesforMaddie in which people send selfies of themselves with mustaches in on social media to make Maddie laugh.

I loved this book, I was shocked at the end though, as Maddie is real! A real living girl whom is the authors daughter actually went through having a tumor on her brain at a really young age. Maddie if you read the reviews of this book, you've done awesome and I wish for the best for you in the future girl!

Thanks to the publishers for allowing me a copy to review!

Being Miss Nobody by Tamsin Winter

Rosalind has selective mutism and can't talk in front of people or struggles so much she can perhaps only get a single word or two out instead. She is fine around her mum and dad but in school it has always marked her out as the weird one and gotten her bullied. However, she is a very bright girl who loves to read and play with her brother whom unfortunately has leukaemia.

After starting her new high school, she soon gets bullied by Connor, Maisy and others whom do and say despicable things to her as thwy know she won't fight back or speak up for herself.

This angers Rosalind and despite finding solace in hanging out in the library and helping with upcoming book events, she can also write in her notebook blog posts for her new blog she starts with Seb's help. Her blog is titled Miss Nobody as she is made to feel that way by the bullies. On there, she names and shames and gets students to stand up for the ones being picked on which eventually sees the bullies turn on each other too.

Throughout the last half of the novel, Aisla is a new student who gets paired with Rosalind and thankfully she helps stick up for Rosalind and she's kind and patient with her.

Seb worsens throughout the novel and we can guess what we expect to come for him in the story heartbreakingly as he had so much spirit and a warm character.

Being Miss Nobody was a great book and I really enjoyed it for the uniqueness of Rosalinds life situation and how she manages to cope with her SM and everything her family is going through, which is tough enough on anyone let alone Rosalind despite the bullies trying to cut her down some too from being ignorant to her struggle.

Tamsin is a great new author to watch for sure!

A Room Full Of Chocolate by Jane Elson

When ten year old Grace gets sent to stay with her granddad after her parents split and her mum fights cancer. Though Grace always tries to block out any thought that she has surrounding cancer As she tries to put it to the back of her mind.

As she stays with her granddad though, she discovers her mum's old childhood best friend Allie along with her daughter, Megan still live by them in the same house after her granddad sent his daughter away to school so As to split Allie and Grace's mum Chloe up. Granddad then tries to do that now too with Grace and Megan as he deems Megan a bad influence.

Megan is a wild free spirit even with a pet pig who sticks up for Grace at their school though As Grace gets bullies by Lucy and her group causing physical harm to Grace as well as sending her horrid texts.

As they plan to run away back to London from their trip to York, they enlist the help of some boys on a school trip there too only their coach is too down to london, as they leave the boys Mitchell and Grace exchange numbers bonded by their shared sadness over their mums. There's also the case of keeping their travelling pig a secret too!

I loved this book, a contrast to typical modern day life we get to experience country life on a farm as well as the struggles of being a child and having to cope with a seriously ill mother no matter how much you try to block it all out of your mind. We see the joys of friendship and family even in bitter circumstances and of course the joy of animals! The writing was serious but fun too as Megan helps Grace to cope with her changing life.

180 Seconds by Jessica Park

Allison was adopted by Simon her gay adoptive dad at sixteen and a half but is now at college. However a chance meeting with Esben Baylor making a video of 180 seconds of eye contact with the help of his sister for his social media platforms makes a bond form between Allison and Esben.

Allison only knew of Esben as he is in her psychology class and she didn't know he was an internet sensation until Steffi her best friend whom she met in care tells her. The two are as close as sisters.

Esben and Kelly also have a lot of heavy discussions around parties and the rape/sex consent situation which often features in teen books. In this case, it also deals with guilt over a mistake.

As Esben, Kelly his sister and Allison all bond across country, Steffi finds out that her cancer is back and despite shutting out everyone, her foster parents and then Allison, social media gets them to her in time as she sees the error of her ways in being strong alone.

A very different book in terms of the story from the title but with a lot of usual storylines that are hard hitting and dramatic.

You and Me, Always by Jill Mansell

Since Alice's mum passed away of cancer when she was little, Coral her mum's best friend brought her up alongside her now sadly dead husband, Nick.

Alice's mum Jo had written her a series of letters to reach her on set birthday's only this year in the final one for her twenty fifth, the love of her mum's life's surname is finally mentioned as the bracelet he gave her mum is now left to Alice.

Alice and her friend Patsy along with her younger brother, Dan care for Alice and don't want her to get hurt but are so happy for her when he does respond to Alice's letter and comes to meet her, Declan is as thrilled to meet them all as he was to meet her mum years ago. He also catches the eye of Coral who can't believe it's a real crush she's feeling and goes into denial but she can't fight those feelings...

There's also the factor that by chance, Alice is dating Eddie Tessler a film star. Yet when media get hold of her story and her father sells his lies they end up involved in a whole new load of drama.

It was so so so much better than I anticipated, having struggled to get into this book I really struggled on and loved it by the end. The characters are so quirky, the places chaotic or quaint in description as well as the storylines in the book being so explosive with drama, lies and betrayal.

The Comeback Season by Jennifer E. Smith

Ryan meets Nick at a baseball game on the fifth anniversary of her father's death. On the same day her mum and Kevin her step dad announced they are pregnant much to the joy of her little sister. Meanwhile, Nick and Ryan work together on a maths project whilst they hang out so much they don't go to the school dance together but Ryan does get a shock when Nick reveals he has and has had osteosarcoma tumors which is why he keeps having his arm break.

After getting over the shock, a silly mind bet and blaming herself for unforeseeable issues that rock the couple, Ryan and Nick sure have an eventful life together.

A really baseball heavy book but with a good The Fault In Our Stars only not as sad or dramatic edge that made me find the characters stories working really well.

Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy

Alice's leukemia changed her life, even after splitting up with her boyfriend Luke, seeing her mum cheating on her dad and dealing with how childhood friend Harvey feels for her love wise.

Harvey was always jealous of Luke being her boyfriend until they split up and Alice enlisted him to help her get revenge on him by using photo evidence of a certain shock kiss.

A Year later from her diagnosis, she is still friends or possibly more than with Harvey at times, given their past shared kisses. Alice still has cancer until shockingly against the odds her body enters remission, allowing her hair to grow back and those closest to her trying to get her back on track into ballet and school which Alice doesn't care about. Instead, she begins to pull away from Harvey and grow closer to new guy at school, Eric.

Until Eric is leaving and Harvey found them together at hers. However, he goes on to date his best mate, Dennis's twin sister, Deborah.

But there's still hope for Alice and Harvey yet on holiday...

Throughout the story the bullying between Celeste, Mindi, Luke and Alice over what she caused them at school in terms of public humiliation. The group's revenge against Alice however takes a sick turn which is disgusting and horrifying, unimaginable to me how they could do such a thing to Alice after what she's been through already.

It was a shocking book to read but one I had wanted to get into for a while. The storyline was a serious one all round and certainly brought up issues that a wide range of people can relate to. The characters of Alice and Harvey to me seemed reversed and thus a good thing, showing girls can be tough and boys can be the weaker for lack of better phrasing there that is.
You will really enjoy this book I'm sure.

Ask My Mood Ring How I Feel by Diana Lopez

For Erica, life is being turbulent. Not only does she have to deal with her younger sister who likes to think she knows everything and is older than her actual age, her younger baby brother but now, her mum has revealed she has breast cancer and is having a breast removed and replaced with a prosthetic instead.

After surgery, Erica wants to help her mum any way she can as she tries to get well. However, her mum is tired from all the radiation treatments whilst her dad sets a strict set of rules to make the household more quieter so they don't wake their resting and recovering mum. Meanwhile, her sister starts to power dress for school and persistently show OCD traits by counting to a certain number before moving/eating/leaving etc.

Throughout the book though, Erica sets herself a goal of running or walking a 5k race for cancer and campaigns to raise money from at least five hundred people for her mum and other sufferers.

It was a heartwarming book and I like how the mood ring and her ambitions help to sort of guide Erica through the tough time that her family face and the choices she makes in her school and love life.

The Best Medicine by Christine Hamill

Philip is a twelve year old wannabe comedian. His best friend Ang at school knows he gets targeted by The Yeti, as he calls his bully as well as Ang knowing about Lucy, the girl he likes.

However, when Philips mum starts acting strangely and allowing him to have baked cakes and watch all the Harry Hill he wants to, he starts to realise something is different.

Which is when his mum friend Susie starts coming round more as his mum breaks down and reveals she has breast cancer and faces treatment. Philip is shocked and can't believe it, he writes more letters to Harry Hill with all his issues and doesn't give up.

Then when his mum meets others with cancer, the Harry Hill appreciation society is created as the patients all take off their wigs and also Philip shaves his head to fit in and make his mum feel less alone.

Then something amazing happens and Harry Hill gains a protégée for a performance which makes a dream come true!

I have had relatives close to me suffer with cancer unfortunately and this book is an amazing unique twist on how an idol can keep spirits alive in the face of the unknown to come.

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

Almost Adulting by Arden Rose

Arden is a popular YouTube personality which is of course, why I picked up her book.

The book is full of different story's and lessons which we can all learn from as we read. From sex to moving out young or even handling a close ones illness, we can appreciate how one young person handled the situations we also may be faced with. I also feel like younger readers will be able to take some strength from the book's part about body image. In a society where body image is so changeable and pressurized, Arden reminds us that it's perfectly fine to just be your own you and not someone's imagined version of you!

The book was hilarious yet serious in all the right places and we really got a feel for her life experiences so far. It shows that not even the most popular online personality's get away from situation's unscathed and a lot of us have bad experience's growing up. Let's all enjoy Arden's book and commiserate of the bad and laugh at the great together!

The Cows by Dawn O'Porter

Well of course I'm reviewing Dawn's latest book!
If you've seen past posts on here, you'll have seen my review of Dawn's previous book, Goose.

However I'm also really excited to be partaking in the blog tour to accompany the launch as well!

(Photo of Dawn courtesy of: David Loftus)

Tara works for a production company ran by a secretly gay boss, Adam and has a six year old daughter, Annie. When she goes on a date with Jamie, Stella's boss they hit it off and on her way home the texts get steamier between the two and so she accidentally ends up being filmed in public, indecently.

Stella's identical twin, Alice has died of ovarian cancer, her best friend has just announced that she's pregnant and Stella wishes she was pregnant and not newly dumped. She still wears her sister's clothes and even takes on her persona online on Tinder to find a man to have a one night stand with to get her wish of a baby before she has her mastectomy as her mum had breast cancer and carried the BRCA gene.

Cam writes a blog, an extremely popular one that can pay for her to live single in London. She has a younger lover by eight years she writes about as well as the fact she doesn't want children.

As all the drama ensues through out the book, Cam writes to stick up for Tara in all her media and going viral frenzy. Stella, who reads Cam's blog can't possibly understand how she can't not want children as it's her dream. We follow all their stories as they collide and there's hilarious moments ahead for sure! Also look out for the police officers names, truly made me laugh!

The book sheds light on dealing with various issues and the dangers of a videos going viral but finding friends in unexpected places. But seriously, it challenges the stereotypical gender role of a woman, to prove as the title suggests, we don't all have to be made to breed and we're not all bitchy characters, we have our own opinions on life and women can be happy alone, married, have children or have none at all.

Another great book from Dawn, many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review the book for them and take part in the blog tour for the release as well, now go check out the other reviews and Q & A's as well guys!

The Names They Gave Us by Emery Lord

Luce is a pastor's daughter, captain of the swim team despite her asthma and has a doting boyfriend, Lukas.
Yet, her mum fought breast cancer, to the knowledge of everyone as she is also the school nurse as well as pastor's wife.
For Luce, Prom was magical until doubts bubble up towards her mum's condition after the concerned head principal approached her.

After a double mastectomy they learn the cancer has spread to her mum's lymph nodes and so her parents ask her to keep things normal and go and work as a camp councillor for the summer at camp where she usually goes. She worries about her mum of course but goes to camp especially as her boyfriend has paused their two year strong relationship.

At camp she has a good time and makes friends with Anna, a fellow councillor. However the kids at camp have a lot of issues such as underage pregnancy, health conditions, being transgender, suicide and dead parents. At camp they can escape the bad and enjoy the activities on offer.

Then trumpet player Henry Jones sets Luce's pianist heart a flutter which is great, until Lukas turns up!

Cue a lot of drama ahead, a family secret found out by accident and then an emergency in the hospital the force of love within a family has never been stronger.

The books deals with teen pregnancy and the pressures of cancer on a family and the individuals it shows the good and bad of each and the way things get better or worse before they can flip around again and again but love around you never changes, never wavers.

A great new novel by Emery Lord, thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review it for them!