Dare To Fall by Estelle Maskame

Mackenzie doesn't deal well with death after the twins Dani and Jaden, her friends lost their parents a year ago and Kenzie cut them out of her life unsure of how to act and what to say, just as she was becoming close to Jaden.

In this time between she has made friends with sport fanatic Holden and Will, a gay guy.

A year on however, after approaching Dani, Jaden starts to talk to her again after a chance meeting again just maybe what they were could be rekindled?

Through the novel we see how Kenzie has had to deal with a lot from her mum's binge drinking to forget her grief, dealing with her ex, Darren an older guy who's clingy and wants her back and holding down her job too.

Especially when a huge secret from her best friend could shatter what she could've nearly had once again...

The serious issues and the friendships were dealt with really well Estelle always writes great books with plenty of detail, twists and best of all killer couples with crazy attraction. The book shows how grief can cause people to change and not know how to act for fear of acting or saying something wrong most often and how it can be hard to come back from and save a friendship takes a lot of hard work.

Waiting For Fitz by Spencer Hyde

Addie suffers with OCD while Fitz suffers with schizophrenia.

Meeting as they now live on the psych ward, the pair become close after both become involved in group therapy where they have to open up, obviously about their separate issues they deal with.

After Fitz tells Addie his plan to escape she become wrapped up in it too and the pair hatch their plan along with fellow ward stayers and as the pair plan ahead neither of them is prepared for just what happens and how much they rely on each other and can't always control their conditions especially without their medication...

This book started slowly but as soon as the action came it was full force we see the characters at their worst and best as they try to help and rely on each other to be free in the world again however when things didn't go to plan i didn't expect the drama that ensues at all. It was a great young adult mental health read and one that raises awareness of a lesser written about condition too.

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

That's Not What Happened by Kody Kepplinger

Leanne lost her friend Sarah at school during a massacre when a male sixteen year old opened fire killing nine students. Only now Leanne is setting the record straight and has discovered the truth about what happened by getting the survivors and her now friends to write their account of the day's events in letter form.

Eden a gay girl, Miles a troublemaker and Denny, a blind student with a guide dog Labrador called Glitter also witnessed the attack as well as Kellie a goth girl, from in the bathroom where Sarah the so called religious girl was killed too with Leanne her best friend witnessing it all happen.

I liked the book featuring a mix of disabled and asexual characters as it's against the normal seen in young adult never too often. The aspect of a shooter as a sixteen year old in a place of legal gun use too was interesting and showed a further element of mystery about the shooter into the mix though I was disappointed in how little we see his story and whether he was known to all the group. It felt truly authentic and horrific alike when a real American shooting has taken place sadly and I'm glad it was fiction and not fact for once. It was a greatly emotional and moving story especially in a time where acts like this can be committed at any time it seems.

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

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!

None Of The Above by I W Gregorio

Krissy and Sam are a couple attending homecoming with their friends, Faith and Vee whom is currently injured.

Yet on homecoming night, after having sex, Krissy is in a lot of pain. She makes a doctors appointment and knows the importance of getting checked out after her mum died from cervical cancer.

What she doesn't expect is to be told she has no cervix/uterus and that she really has small testicles instead as she has two small lumps. Devastated at the news she is not a girl but half girl and boy and awaiting further tests to confirm that she is possibly, intersex.

Her father struggles to take in the news as well because in some cases the undeveloped testes can be cancerous. However, takes comfort that Krissy won't die from cervical cancer alike her mum.

Krissy comes to realise that being neither man nor woman on her forms at the doctors makes her none of the above, so again she finds it a struggle to deal with. She finds a contact for an AIS support group and messages them with her number so she can be contacted.

Yet after bullying occurs, surgery options, losing people she was close to before she told her secretnand having her dream of college hanging in the balance just what future does she face?

This book, oh my, it was perfect. Truly original as I never even knew about intersex and what goes into the medical side of what the person he or she has to face. It was an emotional and shocking read not to be missed.

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

Rape by Joyce Carol Oates

One night walking through the park at midnight after a fourth of July party, an horrific attack took place on a thirty five year old mum, Teena. She may have acted like a certain teen in her matter and dress, but she didn't expect to be brutally taped by a gang when her daughter was present no less.

This book is brutal and honest, her twelve year old daughter grows up telling the tale to us through recovery, trial and the after effects on her still now. The trauma is raw and inescapable in this sad, horrifying book which is amazing but not for sensitive people or young people.