Donut Dreams Book 2 So Jelly by Coco Simon

Kelsey in this book is dealing with lots of change from new friends to sharing her family with her cousin who she's jealous of getting attention from her mum.

Kelsey also has to adapt to new hobbies as she takes part in sport and student council too can she cope with everything changing at once?

It was a good book though I didn't enjoy Kelsey's story as much as the previous one it was still a great read and good to see another perspective from the family this series focusses on. I was glad to see how the outcome came to be and liked the way it went.

The Secret Cookie Club Book 1 by Martha Freeman

In this book, four girls meet at summer camp but don't get along at first, however in the style of Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants, Grace, Emma, Olivia and Lucy, decide to keep in touch with each other by sending a letter and cookies to each other in turn.

The girls face issues surrounding death, money, siblings and school in this first book starting a great new series I enjoyed the friendship that developed between the girls despite each girls situation and lifestyle at home they all kept up staying in touch and I really can't wait for more!

A Shape Of My Own by Grace Bowman

In this book we meet Grace the author as she takes us through her past to present story of her life with anorexia and all the stages she went through with it.

From losing boyfriends and friends to losing control over her life as good became the main focus of her life and things like socialising and enjoying university became mixed up with varying emotions over her battle with food. We see what a toll or took on her parents as they watched her lose weight and regained too as well as when she finally managed to get to university and break free into the world on her own with a proper graduation job and finding her new love.

Grace's story is one that is honest and raw with all emotions splayed out page by page in her effectively captivating writing. It was a truly brutal battle and a hard one Grace pushed to try and overcome but I was truly blown away by her account of becoming herself again after losing her way.

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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Lost by Eve Ainsworth

Alfie is struggling with the loss of his mum after she passed away from cancer. Meanwhile his dad is shut off from him unlike he was before and the pair seen to just exist not live anymore especially as their shared love of football is now nonexistent after Alfie refuses to play now his mum's not cheering him on.

Then at school he meets Alice, the pair judged each other at first sight and since then the pair's new friendship gets off to a Rocky start after Alfie realises his new friend doesn't have a happy home life either for an entirely different reason.

Throughout the novel we get flashbacks to the worst time in Alfie's life when he loses his mum and it was so sadly realistic it was emotional and moving. Meanwhile Alice and her family situation is also dangerous and scarily true for many people out there right now in the world living in fear. Utterly breathtaking this novel is one you will zip through and not forget.

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!

Home Girl by Alex Wheatle

Naomi has grown up in foster care since her mum committed suicide and her dad became an alcoholic leaving Naomi to care for him before the council took her into care.

Since being in care she has tried many placements and tried to find permanent care in a new family but instead has had tons of homes until Tony and Colleen come along with their other two foster children.

She also has to attend a school for expelled kids where her friends from care unit still catch up with her the girls there, her friends, are also a lesbian couple, Kim and Natts.

The book highlights all the issues with mental health and safety and awareness of others wellbeing. She tries to put up a hard facade but can break easily with change as we see when Louise her case worker only wanted the best for her and then decides to leave while she felt she had no one but good food, coke and dance all dependable things that can't change on her. It was a super  moving and realistic read about teenage life in care that shows how it effects people in the care system.

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!

Second Best Friend by Non Pratt

In this book we meet Jade and her best friend Becky. When Jade gets dumped and compared to her best friend we start to see just how insecure she feels as the book develops into a image based plot mixed into school politics.

The books main message is that we shouldn't compare ourselves and there are people out there who will see us for all we are and our amazing selves, we're all different and it's to be celebrated not hated!

Skin And Bones by Sherry Shahan

In this book told from a male perspective about his fight with anorexia and in patient treatment we meet, Bones as his inpatient roommate Lard calls him he suffers from compulsive overeating unlike Bones, an anorexic boy and group therapy shows him how others suffer to with food disorders.

I liked the flair of romance in the book as we see Bones fall for anorexic girl Alice, a ballet dancer wanting to perform for a company.

We see how control is taken from them and they try to take it back. We also see how dangerous their battles are with food.
It was believable and realistic as the teens all deal with real issues in relatable ways because of various reasons. We see their struggles and how much they are controlled in their thoughts about food.

All That She Can See by Carrie Hope Fletcher

Cherry sees the worst in people, their Meddlums as she and her friend dubbed them years ago thanks to a childhood friend whom also saw them too, Peter.

Now settling in Plymouth on the latest bakery stop she has to make she finds new friends and customers to fulfil her happiness and whilst she works in comfort, dressed in pyjamas and queen of each little bakery she sets up stocked with her magically ordinary treats, she never expects to find Chase whom sees the best in everyone around him and a failed business man at first is very angry and cynical and embodies the badness she tries to keep away from people.

But as the two very locked in a business world, they discover their kind and get shocked as they find out a magical gifted guild has been watching over them and all they have been doing.

I love Carrie and her first two books were great, this one just made her work so far better. I loved the magical element to the bakery and how Cherry could help make people feel better with a cake and safe space to be as it's quite comforting and realistic. It was a well plotted and intriguing book I really loved.

Nowhere Else But Here by Rachel Cotton

Rose and everyone at school knows Theo has been missing for two days, posters are up everywhere now so when Theo lands on her doorstep with secrets to hide and Rose can keep him hidden but safe, he takes her offer.

She lies to her parents, her best friends Grace and Naya and they all notice she's acting strangely and then she meets Theo's parents in school. She also knows the reason, or a reason why Theo ran away, even if her parents later tell her they found out the real reason, along with him being in her room.

No more secret movie nights, sleeping close or shared kisses in her room, he is with his mum though now safe. But Rose is angry with her parents but relies on her friends after finally confiding what had happened.

Eventually they have to talk and realise their feelings are there between them but then more secrets come out about her ex boyfriend and Theo after the way her ex treated her.

The book was a very different concept, the way Theo just turns up and relies on Rose to keep him a secret. I can't say I found it wholly believable but I liked the idea nonetheless. I did approve of the deeper reason Theo runs away and found it understandable why he would lie though he should be able to tell Rose as she helps him so much.  I do think a split perspective and seeing Theo as his life goes back to being with his mum and possibly flashbacks to deeper worse times to back up the reasoning of running away. Aside from that, the second half they fell into a loving but intensely dramatic relationship like a lot of young first loves can be.

An intense way of discovering love suddenly.

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

Misfit by Charli Howard

Aspiring model Charli grew up battling with anxiety, depression, OCD and eating disorders anorexia and bulima.

Her turbulent life she lays all to bear and free to judge by us as she gives us an insight into her crazy life growing up abroad, in a boarding school as well as struggling to fit in at school and in the adult world to get a good boyfriend and a sparkling brilliant career all however, at the cost of her true happiness we soon learn as she struggles to become a signed model.

Despite aspiring to be a model and shrinking in size, Charli had to learn to live herself despite the harsh critics and the way she discusses her treatment from certain modelling agencies is truly horrific and appalling.

Frank in her account and her battle with mental health, Charli had told her account and story with strength and courage to make the most of her now more positive movement thanks to finding a respectful modelling agency that embraces more shapely women after all women are curvier most of the time!
Embracing the body positive movement for sure, Charli and her book will remembered for how modelling has changed and how it can effect young girls too.

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!

A Seven Letter Word by Kim Slater

Finlay is a young teen with a stammer and a talent for playing scrabble. It was him and his mum's thing to do but as his mum disappeared two years ago from him and his dad's lives and hasn't made contact since.

So when online playing scrabble, Alex, a stranger, starts talking to Finlay and coincidentally mentions they have had a new stepmum for the past two years and she walked out on her family, Finlay wants to investigate believing she could be his mum.

Meanwhile, he has to contend with the school bully Oliver whom is a part of the school scrabble team Finlay ends up joining where he befriends Maryam, a refugee girl whom has to put up with bullying from Oliver also.

Then Finlays house gets broken in to, clues on his mum's things become apparent and suddenly, Finlay finds out his mum wasn't as perfect as he first believed...

The book deals with a lot of serious topics from racial bullying to the pressure of making friends and of course the book's main topic, of stammering. It's ironic Finlay is so good with written words as he can't articulate himself clearly verbally. It was great combining a mystery with a medical/life problem and stammers are rarely written about in children's fiction too which makes it even better and hopefully if anyone reads it whom had a stammer will feel at ease with a relatable character written about.

Turtles All The Way Down by John Green

Aza deals everyday with intrusive anxiety thoughts often relating to medical conditions and especially c diff in particular, due to OCD and anxiety. Her best friend Daisy is obsessed with Star Wars and fan fiction writing of which she's very popular online from partaking in.

The main premise of the story is that her old camp friend and billionaire's son, Davis's father goes missing. While he may be rich money wise their father's will leaves everything to his pet Tuatura and nothing for his son's if and when he's found or turns up, dead or alive.

Throughout the novel after Daisy and her come into some of Davis's money, they still pursue Davis's friendship as they all know if their own way how it feels to be struggling and lonely in one way or another with their own issues.

Their other friend Mychel and Daisy soon start dating which doesn't make thing awkward but seems completely natural as Davis and Aza soon start sort of dating too.

I wasn't pulled in by the plot but enjoyed the story, there were lots more I wanted answering in the end which I won't discuss as it may ruin aspects of the final chapters, but I felt the main mystery never got proper answers. I would also have liked more time with Aza and her history with Davis as we are only told they went to Camp but not many flashback memories for two people who were friends or at least friendly with each other while there. Over all, I did like the book and would recommend it but it was a bit random and unfulfilling to me.

Summer With My Sister by Lucy Diamond

Polly loses her job despite success and is forced to return home from her lavish London life and moves back in with their mum and dad but memories haunt her of her brother suffering in her care...

Clara is Polly's sister with her son and daughter, Alex who's eight and Leila as well as their dog, Fred. She works one day in the reception of the medical center and can't afford much but cares so much for her little family even when bad things happen or the kids dad arrives out of the blue and things get a bit stressy.

Clara is about to see her sister isn't as perfect as she thought and maybe they are more alike when hard times come, family is always there.

Debbie's Claire's best friend who is very rich and also despite her husband being Leila's dad her life isn't all roses...

This was a fun book with so much drama in each woman's life it kept me hooked and reading on. The writing was fun and witty and drew me in to read it all in a day, many of the women are in relatable situations too.

Mad Girl by Bryony Gordon

Bryony recalls her life with her mental health and how it caused so many other issues to coincide and keep her condition a persistent problem to be solved though nothing can completely fix a mental health problem, you can improve your condition.

In the book we learn of how when she was growing up her OCD became a known condition to her by chance as her symptoms and rituals got worser over time until she and her mum first went to the doctors who tried to down play the help she needed immediately not in the future.

Over the years, we see how her parents divorce, finding love and accepting her body all created more problems piling up with bulimia, alcohol, drugs and not just the prescription kind she needed were all a factor in Bryony's health.

This book is useful if you are interested in mental health, if you too suffer with any of the conditions or want a real life read packed with truly humorous or saddening times. This is a gripping read by a brave woman.

How To Make A Wish by Ashley Herring Blake

Grace has come back from a holiday to find that her mum has uprooted their home and moved in with her latest guy.
But the craziest thing is that her ex boyfriend is now her kind of step brother for however long the relationship plays out for.
Plus his dad is totally over the top in physical affection of her mother, including in front of the teens.

Grace's friend Luca, lives with his mum and they both run and work in their diner. Through Luca, Grace is told of a girl called Eva, her mum has passed away and is coming to stay for a bit with him and his mum.

When Grace later finds herself on a secluded beach, she meets a girl sobbing, sat on the sand eating peanut butter alone. The girl is Eva. Thus ensues a fast turn of events consisting of Eva sneaking into Grace's room at night and hanging out together at the top of the lighthouse.

Throughout the book, we learnt of Grace's mum and the actions she takes being extremely wrong and dangerous to others around her. She seems very switched off in parts yet Grace and Eva are there to help her as they have to be. The two girls have their passions and hopes to achieve their goals of Grace being a Pianist professionally and Eva a ballet dancer professionally just like her mother was.

The book also had strong relationship lines around friendship, lesbian/bisexual characters and teenage behaviour in general.

In this book, I really didn't like the main character's mum, she came across as being trying and needy over attention and her male relations. Some of the things she came out with were a little on the edge of what you should discuss with your daughter in real life anyway. However, we do discover the issues surrounding her character like consuming too much alcohol and excessive intake of it and raising a young baby on your own after her husband died in war and she does face up to it.

Overall it was a great book about finding the true you in career hopes and in love. Thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley

Solomon is a unique sixteen year old who suffers with agoraphobia and severe panic attacks. He can't leave his house and fears dying yet water makes him calm. He hasn't left his house in three years until events unfold in the book.

Lisa takes an interest in Solomon after her dentist is actually his mum and she asks after him as well as writing him a letter as feels she could help him get better, she too has suffered with her mental health, she also wants to study to be a therapist in college and so uses real technique's she's looked up to try and help Solomon fear the outside less.

Lisa gets her boyfriend on side to her helping him as he shares Solomon's love of Star Trek Next Generation and he finds out that Solomon is actually an ok guy.

Solomon and Lisa grow a friendship after she visits his house and he even comes out as gay to her before anyone else.
However, I saw what was coming ahead despite never having read any blurb online about the book and I took a guess that Lisa's boyfriend would start hanging round Solomon more and more until suddenly the trio end up threatened from their own closeness.

I did enjoy the book but unfortunately, being predictable to me left it just short of what I would call stellar, that being said, it is still worth a read!