Going Up! By Sherry J Lee

This book is fabulous for showing a sense of community in a tower block of flats/appartments. People and dogs of all ages join in the party fun with their friends and family to celebrate their friends birthday all together bringing their own treats to the party to share together.

The illustrations brought the story to life and I loved how the characters had a pencil sketch and coloured in feel about them too.

It was a great read that'll teach children about sharing, caring and helping others especially those in the same community.

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

The Jetsetters by Amanda Eyre Ward

Charlotte loses best friend Minnie to old age and feels life is slipping her by after a rocky childhood and marriage empty of love and ending tragically suddenly.

Charlotte's son Cord is an alcoholic as he deals with being a closeted gay though happily engaged to his love, Giovanni but fearful of his family judging him.

Charlotte's daughter's, Lee a failed actress heading home with a  huge life changing secret and failed relationship and Regan a mother wanting to break free of her marriage by setting it up to fail and allow her to break free to be happy.

All they want is to get away but not necessarily together however in coming together their lives come apart and their jigsaw pieces of their lives might just fix into more positive futures with any luck...

This was a great summer read whilst we await the heat to arrive and we can't travel either right now! Referred plenty of drama though I did find the odd chapter ending left roots planted for scenes ahead which didn't materialise so I may have just thought too deeply into those but it doesn't matter as plenty else happens! I liked the aspect of a broken family falling apart to them come back together eventually and try to get on better for the future after realising a few home truths!

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

The Day I Was Erased by Lisa Thompson

Maxwell adores his dog Monster and annoys his sister Bex and elderly next door neighbor. While his parents always argue and label their food to show how they are separate from each other one thing they can agree on is when Maxwell has been bad.

Reg is an elderly neighbour who Maxwell gets on well with and often goes to his to hideaway and relax while Reg unfortunately suffers with dementia never knowing who Maxwell is but the pair admire Reg's collection of treasures which is where things go awry...

After a bad day at school and realising no one likes him or wants to be round him Maxwell wishes himself not to exist and just like that he ends up in the same world only a version where he hadn't even been born and no one there knows him.

I really loved the concept of the book and how Maxwell realises that he's not been the nicest kid around. There was a good twist with Reg towards the end that made the book have a good ending and it was sadly relatable as I'm sure at some point as a kid we all want to disappear for whatever reason.

My Brother's Name Is Jessica by John Boyne

In this book Sam idolizes his older brother Jason a talented footballer and the two have a close sibling bond as their parents don't have a lot of time for them as they work for the government in parliament.

However, growing up Jason comes out one day to the family with his secret. His parents react badly thinking it's a silly phase while
Sam is curious and doesn't care just wanting Jason to be happy again especially as Jason gets bullied at school for his girly longer hair, scrunchie and scarf he wears despite comments and bullying.

Can the family survive the truth from Jessica?

Showing bravely how coming out can make it break a family and the stress and upset it can initially cause this was a brave and bold read which I hope will open people's eyes to how coming out is a massive huge deal to admit who they really truly are.

Lucky Dogs by Cody Clark

Juliet and Ruby are best dog friends so when Wiley arrives new in Dogwood he hopes to make friends with the residents in Dogwood but will they all accept him?

A great little book to show children how to be compassionate and accepting of others as well as showing some great artwork of the dog characters too which will bring the story to life for the readers.

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

House Arrest by K A Holt

Timothy is ordered to keep a journal, though by the court after being caught doing a lot of stuff he shouldn't have been doing, all to help save his family though mainly his little brother.

As we read through the journal of Timothy's life we discover the events causing the journal and how him and his mum cope and have help for their little brother and youngest son as he has a trachea Timothy was just desperate to help his family as his dad is absent from their lives too however as 5things go awry and his brother's life hangs in the balance he lands himself in a worrying situation...

I thought this book would be good but this was a read in one sitting sucked into his world book with so much drama happening for his family and him I was wanting to find out what life had in store for him and trust me you won't be disappointed!

The Bakery At Seashell Cove by Karen Clarke

Meg and Sam are a young couple engaged and soon to be married. Meg works part time in a cafe and the rest of the time in the old bakery as it awaits sale after the death of its owner.

Nathan whose overseeing the sale catches her eye and she starts to daydream about him much to the amusement of Cassie and Tilly her friends.

When she gets the chance to take part in Britain's hidden gems tv show she talks of never knowing her father and her mum's agoraphobia amongst things and soon the world or at least programme viewers learn their business.

Sam is too interested in Cycling and so she looks on Facebook and discovers George, a woman secretly in their cycling group. Whilst his family always seem to disapprove of Meg and judge her harshly.

Meg's mum suffers with agoraphobia and is also constantly pushing Meg to get pregnant ASAP as she is unawares of her daughter's growing unease and feelings about her situation.

So when Freya a rich local woman and her husband want to buy the bakery to become an ice cream parlour, Meg is unhappy but then an anonymous buyer appears...

Facing up to her relationship and work life woes Meg needs to turn her life around fast and make herself truly happy forever.

This book was a lovely chick lit, women's fiction read and was full of drama. The writing was engaging and there were some hilarious one liners at times in this book. Meg's story will probably be relatable to women out there suffering the same issues. I would've liked some different scenarios with whom the anonymous buyer turns out to be but you shall have to judge that for yourself!

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

Access All Awkward by Beth Garrod

In the final of the trilogy that has brought me many laughs as Bella's antics take many twists and turns, mostly embarrassing ones, we see how her along with best friends Rach and Tegan all look forward to the end of their GCSEs and head to a festival where they take on their once loved now most hated famous boy band, The Session as they treat their fans horrifically and sexist language slurs fly too.

But first Bella must meet her own boyfriend, Adam's parents!

However at the festival nothing goes straight forward from run ins with old boyfriend Luke along with his frankly odd singer girlfriend Ska, the girls they admire who they often see around turn out to be backstabbing bullies and Jo Bella's sister be their chaperone at the festival which surprises the group, this festival is full of drama not to mention starting their own petition against the session band and supporting Adam Bella's boyfriend and his band too! Full of feminism fuelled fighting young girls taking on sexism and showing what true friendship is all about!

Four Of A Kind by Kellie Bean

Reagan is one of four girls who are quadruples at a new school. Reagan may struggle at the new school but her sister's lives aren't as perfect as she first thought, Rhiannon, Reilly and Reece are all going through stuff, not being able to do their favorite activities like seeing old friends, boyfriends and clubs means finding new one's within a new community and as the family is news to moving to the area they're all feelings the pressure to keep up a good image for the whole family, especially their mum.

Reagan however finds herself chancing the brushes of love with Kent and throwing herself into the school's drama club as well as keeping up online with her old friend Nadine.

We really see how change impacts life as a teen and how much it changes us and the people we thought we knew. I enjoyed this book and it had a great Halloween section too. I recommend this if you can relate to the situations mentioned or just like a nice young adult fiction.

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

Unraveling Rose by Brian Wray & Shiloh Penfield

This children's picture book comes with a twist, a necessary and useful message entwined in a cute story of having fun with friends.

Based around the life of a boy and his stuffed toy rabbit, Rose we see them play together until one day Rose's compulsions get too much for her and take over her life as she becomes fixated on a loose thread she has hanging off of her and it becomes all she thinks about.

The illustration's are so beautiful and Rose rabbit had such detail that children can fall in love with her cute raggedy design while engrossed in the tale.

There is a final note at the end of the book advising about OCD and traits to watch out for in children from early on but of course OCD can come on at any age.

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

The Holiday Cruise by Victoria Cooke

After her husband charts on her and she loses her business too, Hannah up's from her life for a new spa job on a cruise ship after helping a client who works onboard one too!

Leaving Daniel and Tom the kind b & b owner behind for a new life onboard, she meets kind Kristy her coworker, Pete an attractive nice guy along with crazy and classy customers onboard for Christmas too.

Then she meets Ben onboard who's escaped his love and marriage woes to honeymoon alone but upon meeting Hannah, the two form a connection really strong that when he declines her offer of going travelling together to return home at the end of the cruise, Hannah is left heartbroken onboard until someone flies in to surprise her and help her realise things do come back together.

This book really fills you with feels for the two and I was rooting for them as their story played out through lovely things they did together and when bad times hit. I really recommend this book if you want to be on holiday or you are on holiday as it'll make you be jealous you're not there with them abroad too!

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

The Skeleton Tree by Kim Ventrella

Stanly Stanwright finds a bone in his garden, needing a photo for a competition he takes a shot of it, only for the bone to change to point at him when he later looks back at the shot and later disappear completely!

He has a sister called Miren who is seven and ill with bad lungs and she relies a lot on the use of an oxygen tank. As well as his friend, Jaxon having OCD which Stanly  handles both situations for each person really well, caring for his sister and also joining in and being patient with Jaxon.

The book overall was very funny in parts but also serious too, with all the health aspects as well as having one parent to rely on whom also doesn't have much money to spend on things for her kids or even big healthcare bills. The skeleton is a really different aspect to any story idea as he grows in their garden and even manages to cheer up sick Miren who grows very attached to him.
Though unfortunately, the skeleton and the grim reaper exist for a reason but in this a book it leads us gently towards the inevitable.

Thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Grrrls On The Side by Carrie Pack

Heather and Tabby used to be best friends, then Heather went off with the popular gang all blonde hair and hoop earring wearing barbie style copies of each other whilst Tabby hangs around with Mike a not to bad guy with some musical taste.

When Tabby and Mike go to a gig together, Tabby gets a copy of a magazine for the girls at the concert encouraging them to join Riot Grrrl a group to hang out with like minded girls who all have a common interest in music at least.

As Tabby gets trouble from kids at school, the girls in her new club she's a member of hang out more, making their friendship stronger and Tabby realises she likes Kate, a lot. Kate refuses to be confined by her sexuality and Tabby finds herself wondering her feelings towards Kate could be mutual. When the girls start to hang out more, Tabby's mum is very accepting of them both as a couple as she too delves into a new relationship, only differnce being that she is straight and dating a man.

The book shows the feel and pride of girls sticking together and taking nothing without a fight, being bisexual, lesbian, straight, from a different culture or hate and just dealing with fighting for important issues such as animal testing. These girls are there for each other to lean on and support despite what gets thrown at them in their lives, they have support.

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

Starworld by Audrey Coulthurst and Paula Garner

When Zoe approaches Sam to get her to help the school play, they have no idea of what's to come.

Sam's best friend Will is also shocked as he used to fancy Zoe and she never noticed them before now.

Zoe however has a lot to deal with, her mum has breast cancer and has to contend with the realities of that.

Yet both girls have a lot to learn about friendship and love as well as their family dynamics being solved at last if they can.

A pain filled emotional novel as well as being very touching and good for showing how sexuality can be a guessing game when you're young trying to find where exactly you got and what exactly your feelings are.

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

Super Cat VS The Chip Thief by Jeanne Willis

Tiger is an ordinary cat and boring to James's dismay. However when James returns from school one day he discovers that Tiger can suddenly talk in multiple languages, move swiftly despite his previous slow and pudgy nature and wants to make adventures happen inspired by Jake's comic book collection superhero as has fashioned his own costume to fight crime in all thanks to the lick of a niffy old sock!

As the local chip price soars and everywhere potatoes are being destroyed by bugs, its up to this new duo to fight back against their comic book enemy Count Backwards as they face the issue together!

Fast action, fun and hilarious throughout this duo was a delight to read about, kids will love them and probably wish their pets would come to life too!

Purge by Sarah Darer Littman

Janie is a secret bulimic, until now as she finds herself hospitalized and facing weeks of therapy alone and in a group. As she stays with anorexics and bulimics in the hospital, ruled by nurses and therapists she slowly unravels and finally confides the events culminating in her admission.

Janie is a typical teen in the issues she deals with by binging and purging as she feels lost and insecure as well as rejected from her family and the boy she liked. Dealing with her sister getting married and ruining the wedding haunt her and she opens up more as she builds trust with the members in the hospital such as Tom an anorexic. We delve into the complexities of eating disorders and self esteem again in this novel.

The Vintage Summer Wedding by Jenny Oliver

Anna and Seb have returned to a cottage in Nettleton their home town as they prepare to get married but they return after Anna caused a scene strong enough to leave gossipers still going on about it even now!

Anna dreamt of London being her home with Seb but after their money ran dry, home was true only place to go to. Forced to work alongside Mrs Beedle in her antique shop for a measly wage and doing what she feels is disgusting work as her snobbish attitude is.

She also starts to help out at the village hall dance group where a group of kids have fun learning when they have nowhere else to learn to dance. After their teacher leaves it's down to Anna to keep them practising despite her tempting job offer in New York...

There also the fact her ex Luke Lloyd see's her again whilst Seb makes a shock announcement and commandeers their garden shed as his live in man cave!

Now Anna also has to deal with the fact her best friend is seeing her dad!

It's a book full of fun and laughter even with a lot of serious life stuff thrown in. Anna soon warms to you as the book goes on and we see her become more open to returning home and the life she has there. Anna won me over as she grew humbler as the story went on as at first I have to admit, she did seem a little full of herself with her big ways and expensive dress but soon she returned to find a love of dance with teaching it not performing on a huge stage with millions of fans and adoration.

Carols And Crushes by Natalie Blitt

In this book we follow, Charlie who's passionate about singing and making the school concert the best it can be especially as she dreams of getting the solo and performing amazingly.

Only when her teacher leaves to have her baby the concert is thrown into jeopardy and as her group consists of her best friend, her crush, Eric and the popular guy, Matthew she doubts whether they'll be good enough or even get along well together to perform to a great standard not to mention how will she cope with her feelings towards the boys!

I really enjoyed the way the characters were thrust together and made to make do which obviously made great twists happen along the way. However Charlie was a great character whose judgement gets shattered and altered for the better by the end of the book she's definitely a better person. A sweet holiday read, curl up with a hot chocolate, blanket and prepare to fall in to a great musical adventure!

Christmas At The Cornish Café by Phillipa Ashley

As Demelza the café is approaching it's opening, now it's October after the summer since starting the series off, everyone pulls together to make it work.

When Kit reveals a shocking surprise to Cal after he sees him with Mawgan their lives all change at this revelation.

Physical and emotional battles get revealed for Cal he finally confides in Demi a huge secret while Demi has a shock turn around with her dad and their relationship.

There is a sentence at the end of the book about Christmas not being perfect and how we shouldn't expect it to be. I have to say not only is it true anyway but definitely in my family as we always lose members at Christmas and sadly my beloved auntie passed on the 21st the same day my grandma passed a year before I was born unfortunately. In this book Phillipa makes it a very emotional ride with family at the heart throughout. With all the issues arising for the extra cast of characters we can't help but get hooked on the storyline it draws us in and makes us appreciate the family and friends we have and can share the joys of Christmas with.

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!