Only Love Can Break Your Heart by Katherine Webber

Reiko has suffered a huge loss years ago when her sister Mika died. Since then she has been haunted by what her sister missed out on and strives to achieve the best she can to do so in her honour as she never got to achieve such things as Homecoming queen etc.

So when she gets talking to Seth an outsider from the popular group she hang round in normally, she feels like she must keep him a secret but she treats him harshly to hide him away from her glossy popular life until he has enough and soon enough as they make it official, Seth changes...

Luckily, Reiko has her best friend Dre by her side constantly supporting her in the book and former friend Libby too before she changed and betrayed her in a way.

I didn't enjoy the way the book went, Seth took control after using Reiko for popularity while he came across as so caring for her but did highlight how people can use and dump you. I would've preferred to see Reiko end the book on a happier note where as I feel like the story was unfinished in many ways as there could be more to do with the friendship dynamic to play out as well too.

Soft Thorns by Bridgett Devoue

Bridgett is an amazing girl I followed on instagram many years ago when I found her beautiful poetry on there. With moving poetry about an array of topics from beauty, life, love, pain, eating disorders, abuse, depression and more. They're all serious but moving and beautifully written poetry worthy of a read by anyone whom has been affected recently or in the past by any of the discussed topics. She perfectly captures imagery of a romantic relationship and all the up and down sides of it you can go through.

I never knew that Bridgette suffered with chronic pain, as do I and found myself relating to her voice so much in certain poems for sure.

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

The Escape by C. L. Taylor

Jo is late leaving her student support officer job at university to pick up her daughter, Elise when a strange woman walks up wanting a lift, has Elise's glove and a creepy exchange, chilling for Jo takes place as Paula knows her family and says Jo's husband Max whom works as an investigative journalist, will know more.

Jo already suffers with agoraphobia and seems to have some form of anxiety and panic attacks related to that also after she lost a previous pregnancy of a baby boy. She obviously feels over protective of her daughter, a natural mother's instinct but on a much severer level to others normally.

Paula, knows Max as Martin and confronts him at one point about him taking something which wasn't his and Paula wants it back.

She'll destroy his family to do so.

The book is gripping, gritty, suspenseful and engaging enough for you to devour it in one sitting as I have done!

Towards the end as missing person enquiries ensue, all I can say is to watch out as all the lies and mislaid trust become obvious as links are made. The book shows just how scary it is to realise  around you aren't as you seem to think.

C. L. Taylor hasn't disappointed me yet, I have all her work up to now as well and they just are the best crime, mystery thrillers you could wish for.

Thanks so much to the publishers for allowing me to review her latest book!

Out Of Heart by Irfan Master

This book intrigued me from the start, for Adam's granddad has passed away leaving his heart as an organ donor.
Adam struggles with his feelings over his grandfather's passing but is strong for his mum, sister and extended family.
Then William lands on their doorstep, close to death and accepting of that fact, he feels connected to Adam and his family, which he is in a rather big way.
He has Adam's granddad's heart.
Him arriving causes friction before acceptance as well as Adam finally approaching his long term crush.

I really liked the fact that Adam relies on his drawing and graffiti as well as his sister also leaning on her sign language as she doesn't have anything right to say. William fits into the family and it shows how much we need each other.

The book tackles diversity, health and first love really well. It openly discusses feelings from all of these angles and how actions of the past can alter the future in such a huge way.
Thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Grieving by Ruth Coughlin

Ruth is a widow unfortunately to her husband William who sadly passed away from cancer. At the beginning of the book, we learn about how Ruth is coping with everything which is plain and obviously coated with sadness.  They had a life together in a marriage for over three decades, having that one person there for you everyday to going to having the other partners belongings everywhere but not them, not their physical presence, is a totally relatable and honest situation.

Ruth describes her husbands battle as he went through chemotherapy to help prolong his life and how it did shrink the liver tumor at first. It's unfortunate that liver cancer alike many other cancer forms often comes with a bleak diagnosis, however heartbreaking for the family and friends to accept.

Ruth and Bill went through so much together and in the book there are anniversaries remembered and happy times such as when Bill had his next novel published and celebrated with a party. Always managing to have as good a time as can be possible even when time is limited and unknown how long is left, Bill is an icon in the sense that the diagnosis didn't hold him back in his final months which is very admirable.

Heart wrenching and emotional, if you have been close to someone with terminal cancer as well, I hope you will read this book as well. I have had many family members in the past and currently fighting this horrible disease which takes so many from us each year. Thank you to the publishers for allowing me to review this book, its been emotional but worth it.

My Life As A Bench by Jaq Hazell

The title of the book made me wonder just how this book was going to be. It was amazing in my opinion! A totally different and wild out there title that viewing now I realise combines life and death in one.

When someone passes away often a bench is left dedicated to them in a certain place, people living will still us the bench. That happens in the book certainly, just with our main character Lauren or best referred to as Ren being a soul like presence at her bench dedicated to her from her family after she has died.
Ren moves from Devon to find her dad in London after her boyfriend has moved on from her and Ren sees a video of him together with another girl. Upon finding her dad, she enters his life and is eventually accepted into his family now with a young daughter and step-mum for Ren to get to know.
Ren settles into school well with a group of friends and catches the eye of a boy called Gabe, she and Gabe become close but watch out when you read for her friends reactions to the drama that ensues.
I don't want to spoil the book, but a terrible incident occurs and a wrongly placed blame means Ren must break through to someone living to get the wrongly accused set free again.

This book is a stunner in my opinion and is definitely one that will always remain in my top ten easily! Enjoy!

Hello Me It's You by Anonymous, Hannah Todd

As someone who knows others as well as myself, who have suffered with mental and physical health issues, this intrigued me to read this book. The publisher has very kindly allowed me a copy to review.

This book is a collection of letters written by people, mostly anonymously, years after they were around sixteen years old. Upon their reflection on their own personal struggle with mental health and opens up to us to read, empathise and realise again there should be no stigma around such a huge subject that effects so many of us around the world.

The author herself states in the beginning of the book, she herself was diagnosed with anxiety and depression which are two most aware of common mental health issues that effect so many of us.

In between each of the letters written, there is a quote to inspire and give us a sense of hope in a beautiful paintbrush style water stroke text.

The story's told in each letter are intimate and honest allowing us to feel how they feel/felt and allows us to think of how they tackled their health issues.

For me, letter 9 stood out for pain as I suffer with Fibromyalgia. As well as letter 10 during which is written, distraction is key as I have found that has helped me when I have an anxiety moment or think back on my own issues in my teens with more severe issues.

Overall this books talks on subjects of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self harm, body dysmorphia and more mental health issues so openly it's refreshing and I honestly hope we can stop the stigma.

If you are suffering with your mental health, there is help, this book may help open up otherwise please talk to a family member, friend, GP or if you are in school or college a counsellor or teacher.