Belly Up by Eva Darrows

In this book we meet Serendipity or Sara as she gets called mostly, after her ex Aaron broke her heart by getting another girl, she goes to a party and meets Jack, who she has drunk sex with this creating her a baby she later calls, Cass.

Thee book focuses on how Sara handles moving in with her grandma, making new friends at a new school, finding her baby daddy, her chosen new future and of course actually giving birth!

It was a realistic look at teen pregnancy and also the danger of reckless sex and the impact on your life one choice can make I enjoyed the language style of Sara being quite unique voiced as she came across humorous, sarcastic and just like a teenager does. The girl power of the family in this book is brilliant and some families I don't doubt are just like them and it made the book more joyous to read especially with Jack an his father's impact in the novel.

I can't recommend this enough, totally worth the hype it's been getting lately!

My Mum's Growing Down by Laura Dockrill

Poems all about the kid being more grown up than the adult, these poems are brilliantly funny and tickle even the most serious adults! We hear about a mum who's reducing in age and a child playing the adult to their often embarrassing mum and all about the up's and down's they face too.

The poems are truly unique works of art and the rhymes are hilarious Laura has made a memorable book here anyone can enjoy and it's guaranteed to make you laugh!

Pages And Co Tilly And The Bookwanderers by Anna James

In this book Tilly lives with her grandparents in their bookshop home after her mother left her and In this book Tilly discovers not only why she left but also where she disappeared to and who her absent father is!

This book was magical, full of drama and such clever plot points too! I loved the idea of being able to go in and out of stories and how they can go to a very special library just for them! There idea and cast of characters were brilliant to get into and the villainous Mr Chalk made a perfect creepy enemy!

Chessboxer by Stephen Davies

In this book we meet Leah, a tough teen with a passion and set for stardom for her chess skills being ranked one of the best players there is and ranking higher and higher until she quits one day as the grief she has for her father gets too much and stifles her from her clear set path to being the highest ranking player there is.

Instead, she gets a pet python, gets a job at a donut shop and quits her blogging for others making it private documenting her life as she meets a blog reader, Kit who changes her life.

The air together play money in the park for money but she soon learns about chessboxing, a high intensity complex, thrilling game she desires to turn her talents too now and despite her mother's fears, leah is ruthless is getting what she wants to happen and refuses to back down...

All about loss, grief and pain as well as taking a stand for your future and discovering your passion in life, this is a fantastic high energy read about seeing your goal and achieving it no matter the odds or fears and proving you can and will succeed or at least try your hardest to get there and prove yourself.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review the book and take part in their bookstagram tour today too!

Not My Fault by Cath Howe

After an accident on a playground roundabout, sisters Rose and Maya barely talk and never nicely.

Maya went off the tracks behaving badly after her leg was injured severely caused by Rose.

Rose loves gymnastics to escape home where Maya is a black cloud.

On a school trip away, Maya's moods and actions towards her sister become even more extreme and an act of rebellion see's her facing up to her reality that her leg is causing her pain again for a reason as well as Rose coming to realise what matters, speaking up about how her sister makes her feel and what she really wants to do in life, not just be biased around by her so called  best friend...

There's friendship drama, missing hamsters and tense times at sea as the group gets into danger...

This was a great book detailing how a sibling fight can be very extreme and we see from both girls how they each feel from the split POV which was great and both girls were well developed characters and we could see how the event and their points of view fitted in and how they felt to everything said about them.

The Girl With Space In Her Heart by Lara Williams

In this book Mabel faces even more space being made in her heart as after her dad left, her mum met Gavin or as her sister Terrible Topaz as she calls her calls Gavin, Galactic Gavin as he's a huge fan of astronomy like Mabel is.

As Topaz gets Mabel involved in figuring out a way to tell their mum that Gavin is cheating on her, Mabel feels even more lonely as Gavin was helping her and they got on especially as she discovers a letter from her dad to her, while she discovers Topaz has a while other reason to not be happy about after a run in with some girls after school one day, Mabel starts to realise her family may have more secrets than she thought...

This is a story that many will relate to about missing a parents and being left with a space to be filled. Topaz was a typical teenager and a troublemaker who was a great contrast to Mabel and her good girl persona. I loved the unique hobby of astrology and think it gets greatly overlooked in fiction but it works so well in this book!

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

Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson

This book is a collection of raw poetry that looks through Laurie's life at some of the tough situations she has had to face and deal with. From being a pastor's daughter, dealing with her parents issues including miscarriage, war and depression to her own issues that arised, rape and how that affects a person as they learn to cope and adapt to their changed selves especially when you can't report it and make them pay for their crime.

The book also explores the relationship between men and women and why we objectify women and see men or used to see men as higher up than us instead of equals. Hugely emotional and thought-provoking if you can relate to the issues raised, you simply need to read this book.

The Secret Cooking Club 2: Confetti And Cake By Laurel Remington

In the second secret cooking club novel we catch back up with Scarlett and the cooking gang as they prepare for Scarlett's mum's wedding to Emory we met in the last book.

As the club deal with Violet and her sudden nightmares about her passed parents, Nick and Scarlett discover more than friendship between them and the fight to be the face of the club takes a toll on friendships, this book isn't short of drama. Especially as the return of a surprise character shocks Scarlett and throws her mum's wedding into jeopardy.

This group is full of fun and drama which I never bore of reading about as the girls delve back into their cupcake making and begin hectic preparations we see the stress, fun and friendship tested to the max true to real life, realistic but fun reading anyone can enjoy!

Noah Can't Even by Simon James Green

Noah and Harry are best friends whilst Noah has a crush on fellow classmate, Sophie whom he gets to work with on a school project.

His dad vanished when he was ten and hasn't been seen since whilst his mum has a cabaret act that is a ramshackle of a performance and makes Noah the but of jokes at school.

As Sophie invites him and Harry to a party it's their first teenage party and the night fuelled with alcohol and fun leads the boys to making a discovery of their own, that they're more than friends, possibly?

Then Noah discovers his mum has a shocking boyfriend which he can't believe...

There's also drunk girls to contend with, being blackmailed and a secret brother to discover! But as Harry stops talking to him when evidence of their relationship gets out and Noah's gran ends up in hospital, will the boys finally start talking again and make up and be an official couple at last?

The book has many sex references and awkward moments but lots of funny moments too reminding me of an older Mark Lowery's Roman Garstang. Noah reminds me of a young gay guy version of TV's Miranda as he had the same happy go lucky jokey manner about him and it's so fun. Noah is the type of guy whom would be a hilarious fun best friend and the book made me so happy from laughing this is the funniest book by far I've read! It was serious at times too don't get me wrong with the friends nearly falling out instead of accepting their feelings at first but overall, you will be grinning at the love, randomness and happiness in this book.

Me Mam Me Dad Me by Malcolm Duffy

In this book, Danny and his mum move from a small flat into the huge house of Callum, his mum's boyfriend.

Things started out well but soon enough Danny spots the signs that his mum is being domestically abused by Callum even if she can't see it or face up to it herself.

So, on a mission to save his mum, convinced she'll die at Callum's hands, he sets off to find his dad to get him to kill Callum, if he can.

Danny knows his dad's been in jail and so feels he'll help despite him never wanting to know him before. Danny is a motivated and dedicated kid you can see from the way he wants to protect home mum and that makes this book more raw and moving as the dangers of domestic abuse and effects it has on a family come to light. This is read you won't forget for good reason.

Summer Of No Regrets by Kate Mallinder

In this book we meet four friends who decide to have a summer where they regret nothing and take control of the situations in their lives.

Hetal heads off to science camp and there she gets into a competition with a guy who she gets a crush on...

Cam sets to track down her dad after worrying that she'll have no family as she believes her foster parents will grow sick of her...

Nell suffers under her mother's protective gaze after being in an accident resulting in her having a prosthetic hand fitted. Only she wants time and space and gets a job to prove she is capable and can cope until she takes a turn...

Sasha set off for Geneva to meet up with her dad after not seeing him for ages only to find out he's got a girlfriend who's not much older than her and that soon their lives are going to change...

As they all rush home after an incident they rush and meet at the hospital and from there things get better as they open up about their deep and true feelings about their summer's.

Four girls with very different lives colliding this book is a typical summer teen beach read with modern day girls with serious issues each has to deal with. It was a serious quick read book everyone will zip through engrossed.

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.

The Weight Of A Thousand Feathers by Brian Conaghan

Bobby is a boy with a lot on his mind, getting his mum her pills and aiding her around their home as well as looking after his brother, Danny a few years younger than his seventeen, too.
He has a good friend in Bel whom fancies him but nonetheless stays his best friend and helps watch over his mum while he goes to young carer meetings.

It's at the young carer meetings he has the chance of a break, a short holiday whilst also making friends with other young careers including Lou a boy he has strong feelings towards as he doesn't romantically like Bel but Lou.

At home he watches his mum deteriorate more into her illness day by day and it saddens him, upsets and frustrates his mum that she can't care for her children but that they have to role reverse and care for her. As her MS starts to cause more and more bodily failures, she asks her Bobby to end her life as is worsening quicker and wishes for no more suffering.

Meanwhile his friend Lou becomes a rock for him as well as his poetry to release his emotions and he finds out secrets can make or break a bond as truths get shared.

This is a heartbreakingly beautiful story. I picked this book as I know an MS sufferer and seen her struggles develop year after year since her diagnosis. I personally have the pain condition fibromyalgia and osteoporosis and spend days in a different but not dissimilar completely status of pain. Sharing tales of suffering and hardship on family members like in this book is key to letting others know they can reach out no matter how hard it may seem, someone will get it, guaranteed. The struggles the family face are alike so many real life experiences and the moral right or wrong of what their mum asks for is often talked about and debated.

Overall, this book has many fun moments that are sweet between mum and son but mostly is a heartbreaker.

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

The Wedding Planner by Eve Devon

In this book we meet Gloria who is trying to move on after her husband, Bob left for a male model!

With a ten year old daughter Persephone to look after and a best friends wedding to plan Gloria is running around after others not seeing for a start what's right under her nose love wise...

Seth is a divorced twenty year old who's the brother of the groom that Gloria's planning the wedding of to his future wife Emma.

Only as Gloria is stung by her love previously she is a bitter character to begin the novel and it did take some time for me to warm to her however as there were some funny moments from being a lake, a cow called Gertrude whom pops up now and again causing hilarious consequences and a life drawing class all involving Seth that results in things getting heated over the course of the novel. Overall I did enjoy the last half of the book but you need to persevere the first half to reap the reward of the funny parts.

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

My Messed-Up Life by Susin Nielsen

In this book we meet Violet who's struggling to adapt along with her younger sister Rosie to life without their dad at home after he was caught cheating on their mum and left them for her, as well as his new twins.

To make it worse her mum then tries dating ending up with a guy called Dudley Wiener, of all names. Convinced he's not right for her mum she sets her mind on splitting them up and finding George Clooney her mum's celebrity crush whom she met once.

Along with a fun ridiculous escapade hardly believable this was a short but still entertaining read about single parents and dating again. We also see Violet rebuilding her relationship with her father after a rather harsh incident takes place.

Happy Mum Happy Baby by Giovanna Fletcher

In this book Giovanna fletcher talks openly about her experience before being pregnant, during and the aftermath too. She tackles taboo topics such as breast feeding, getting sleep, potty training, struggles working and travelling etc...

As a huge music and book fan I grew up on McFlys music and then Giovanna's books so when I bought this book I was intrigued into life with a baby especially if you're an author or musician especially being so busy.

This book was an honest and eye opening look into motherhood that dispels taboo topics and asks questions and answers them too that I hadn't ever thought about to do with pregnancy and beyond.

Full of family moments, sweet developments in her children's lives and her loving approach to life this book is the book every to be mother should read to prepare for what's to come!

Playgroups And Prosecco by Jo Middleton

In this fun debut all about handling motherhood day by day through insightful diary entries from single mum, Frankie we see how she handles her teenage daughter Flo, lively three year old Jess and the tasks of playgroup, mother group meetings with her friends Louise and Sierra as well as the trials and tribulations of giving online dating a go, disasters and demands a plenty on the men's part!

She has to contend with useless ex Can getting in touch out of the blue, finding a job which fits around childcare but suits her too and fixing her friendship with Jess's dad her best friend after they ended their marriage mutually.

This book had some hilarious moments which were unbelievable but also down to earth moments which were truthful as I too as a kid did some of the play activities Jess does from soft play, learning to swim and the joys of Barbie and Lego playing too. The mum's were a cool group do I their best and Frankie was a realistic mum, they all have a biscuit habit and love wine, to me they do anyway!

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

Cursed by Karol Ruth Silverstein

I wanted to review this book after seeing the main character surfers from a chronic illness, totally relatable to myself in some ways.

Only I suffer from fibromyalgia and other rheumatoid illnesses where as Erica or Ricky suffers with severe arthritis at just fourteen causing her to skip school and struggle with daily life from waking to sleeping, all day is a struggle to walk and be in endless pain.

As she deals with her parents divorce and her health she loses her way with school work, has to stand up to bullies, find new friends and become less colourful with her anger language of cursing!

As she gets tutored after school and makes friends with Ollie and Julio her crush grows but will she realise on who in time as well as finally getting her separated parents to listen to get about how she feels?

It was a good book, however I can't help but feel that Erica didn't actually curse that much, I felt and expected her to be more frustrated than she was given the title and would be liked to have had her mum more features in the whole book as she didn't a lot but then again Erica does try to be fully independent. But for the chronic pain and illness side of things it was fully realistic and accurate and it's great to see chronic pain featuring in a young adult book for once at last too!

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

Family Game Night And Other Catastrophes by Mary E Lambert

Annabel, Leslie and Chad live with their parents in a house full of stuff hoarded by their mum.

Drew and Rae, her best friend and crush, Annabel tries to hide her house situation from them, her dad leaves early for a trip and then their grandma shows up causing them to have a family game night suddenly to fake everything is ok despite their dad leaving despairing about his wife's obsession.

However as the kids especially the sisters try to clear out their house of their mum's hoarded mess, Annabel discovers that her mum might just have a good reason why she began hoarding and why she seems sad a lot of the time and can she being her dad back home to stay?

It was a serious middle grade read dealing with all aspects of family life that suffers from hoarding and how it can effect health and the happiness of all effected by it. The children seemed more like the adults as their mum was misbehaving typically not wanting to let her 'treasure' go. I really enjoyed this book and it's a quick easy read for younger readers too.

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!