Tender by Eve Ainsworth

Marty lives with his mum who's depression has worsened since his dad's sudden tragic death. His dad's friend J moved in but really only looks out for himself as he often disappears down to the pub.

Daisy is dealing with her worn out mum, hard working dad and little brother whom suffers with muscular dystrophy.

The pair meet randomly at a Christmas market and later properly at a young carers meeting Marty is new to and from there see each other in school too after realizing that they both go to the same one.

As their own lives progress with Marty watching his mum decline whilst trying to keep the social workers away, Daisy tries to get closer to him as she feels invisible and insignificant at home, only her younger brother having time for her and even then her mum limits that in fear of her hurting him.

As they watch things in their families deteriorate they come back to each other and realise they are lucky to have each other and it's good to have someone else to lean on. A true life lesson there as we all need to share things sometimes with someone with an outsiders perspective to help us. I liked that the book shows families both from a richer and poorer scale without it mattering as it doesn't but often the social divide works that way and in this book shows illness can effect anyone regardless of cash flow etc.
The way the pair came to meet was sweet and by chance and definitely fitting with a Christmas time setting. The way they dealt with each other's situations bankers maturity even if it was shocking to them. A well thought out thrilling book again by Eve!

Crush by Eve Ainsworth

When school hottie, sixteen year old Will, notices her, Anna can't believe it at just fourteen that he'd be interested in her. Yet the relationship isn't as it seems, not noticing the digs and remarks Will makes about her friends, hair, body, food choices etc he continually gets more controlling before physical bruising and hair pulling occurs. Unable to realise what is happening, they continue their relationship.

Her dad is an ex boxer and her ten year old brother Eddie goes to school still despite her dad seeming to be depressed and unable to cope, leaving her to do most chores like cooking and cleaning while they live off a lot of takeaway's due to her mum up and leaving with her dad's best friend.

Her friends get turned against her as they clash with Will and start to leave her out and hangout with new people leaving them to it and her more isolated than ever before when she really needs her friends close to help.

Will has issues too, his mum has a form of depression, anxiety and possibly agoraphobia too I think, which are threaded through out in his perspective which makes him snap at her and even slap her in one scene. Will was beaten as a child and believes loving someone and hurting them is right from his past experience sadly.

I commend her friend Dan in the book coming to the rescue and seeing the hints and signs as Anna too starts to realise what has been going on which she was blind to before.

My fellow Eve has written this book stunningly, true to the abusive relationship types out there this one is alike a mild experience I had around the same age their characters unfortunately. However, I did get out of it before anything bad occurred and telling truly is the way to solve the issue of safety around the individual doing the abuse either verbal, emotional or physical.

Help is always out there! It was a hard hitting read and relatable which will strike a chord among those who have any links to abuse at all and inform others who may be able to help someone.

A completely necessary book for today's society to take note of!

7 days by Eve Ainsworth

As the title suggests, this book is set over seven miserable days for Jessica who lives with her mum and younger sister Hollie on an estate. Their mum works as a cleaner and they can't afford new clothes and food etc is sparse. Not just because Jessica eats a lot of the wrong foods choosing a packet of biscuits over toast etc as a meal.
Her dad isn't around but instead is off living a new life with his girlfriend and new baby.
But poor Jessica is in a living nightmare at school, aware of the bullies, Kez, Marnie, Lois and Hannah.
They belittle her and call her fat, Stig because of the state of her, push her and talk about her online in mean ways. At her school, Philip is her friend, Hannah is an old friend from primary days and Lyn knows her from where she used to live. Yet Hannah and Lyn are friends with her bullies too and can't risk being seen with her.

We also see Kez's point of view on the situation and we see how she thinks digs about Marnie. She also doesn't want to he like her mum whom has a drunk abusive husband and loves Marnie and her mum's relationship wishing her and her mum were like that. She's jealous and angry at her life but bullying gives her power.

An upcoming party at Lyn's means the girls hatch a plan against Jessica after Kez sees Lyn and Jess together which results in dangerous situations for both girls.

This is an essential read about the heartbreaking way school can be for some pupils and how bullying can break someone and how they can overcome it.