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.

Words In Deep Blue by Cath Crowley

Set mainly in a bookshop, Howling books, which is facing closure due to making less money than Henry's family need to live off, a host of characters lives collide.

Henry used to be best friends with Rachel until she moved away and changed. Coming back to town, Rachel gets a job cataloguing the books in the book shop and hides the fact her brother, Cal drowned while they were away but slowly opens up to people about it after the keep commenting on how much she has changed. He is also dealing with a break up and seeing his ex girlfriend Amy with Greg whom he can't stand as he's his opposite in terms of life and career goals.

Also working at the shop is George and Martin whom at first are goth girl meets popular kid and total opposites apart from the fact that they may just possibly like each other if only Georgie wasn't in love with Cal still unknowing his death.

The couples in the novel all communicate through books in the shops in a section called the letter library are deliberately left slotted into pages of certain books, obviously with meaning between the couple.

It's a great book overall about the subject of accepting and moving on through situations of any kind that we face. I personally really enjoyed the whole concept of it being set in a bookshop bringing so many lives colliding together!

To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Lara Jean is a girly girl with five letters, one written to each boy she ever loved letting her feelings live on paper leaving her free from the past relationship. She lives a homely life with her Obs/Gyn  working father, two sisters with her the middle and unfortunately no mother but they keep her spirit alive.

When Margot her older sister breaks up with Josh before heading away the college, she struggles to imagine her sister not around all the time. She also can't understand why she broke up with Josh but secretly is happy they can still hang out as she used to like him before he dated Margot.

Only that doesn't happen!

When the letters accidentally disappear along with her hat box, Peter approaches her as the first boy to have received the letter to him followed by a camp crush's letter being returned then Lucas who's gay tells Lara Jean he's flattered and likes his letter. Of course, Josh also gets a letter from past Lara Jean too after he told her he had a crush on her when they were younger!

But she doesn't expect that Peter and her will turn fake love into real love to make his ex girlfriend and her ex childhood friend jealous. The two later get into drama over a ski trip and then secrets come out surrounding the letter mystery and Lara Jean, Margot and Josh have some things to tell each other too!

A lot of drama but girly goodness in a book unlike any other I've read. I particularly like Chris who is Lara Jean's complete opposite yet a great friend full of drama from sex, partying and drinking! I can fully appreciate the greatness of Jenny Han and her Lara Jean creations!

The Recovery Letters edited by James Withey & Olivia Sagan

This is a book that many people out there should have, in fact as well as their medication for depression they should be handed a copy of this book too.

The Recovery Letters is all written by people who have recovered from their depression and didn't give up or let it consume them and drag them down, instead they are now able to address their past self in letter form to the memory of who they were previously when they were sucked into their depression and quite possibly felt that was how they were going to feel forever.

The people writing to their past selves share helpful tips to try and improve your mood naturally such as exercise and joining new clubs to try and find a hobby to suit you.

You're not weak, alone and support is out there. Always remember you are enough even if you feel you aren't.

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

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!