One Day In Winter by Shari Low

In this book we meet Caro, who's mum lay dying as she discovers just where her absent father disappeared to and why...

Lila, who is a social media addict with no idea that her boyfriend is going to propose to her, if only he was who she wanted...

Meanwhile Bernadette finally finds the courage to leave her loveless and emotionally abusive husband to enjoy the finer things in life she wants to for a change...

So as Caro discovers who Lila is and Lila discovers Bernadette, their lives link in ways that see the day change their lives forever.

This was a fabulous book, set only over the course of a day all I can say is it was stunning. A captivating, gripping and tumultuous read indeed! I loved courageous Caro, rooted for Bernadette and seethed at Lila and Ken's characters, they deserved each other in my opinion! Cammy Lila's would be fiancée was such a sweet guy, she missed a good one there she didn't deserve him though in my opinion! As you can tell I became attached to the characters reading on I felt like I was invested in their lives as if I were a nosy neighbour or family member! But I truly recommend this book to you, for all the drama the emotional journey and relationships between the characters made it a welcome addition to the chick lit, romance genre, it has been one of my favourite reads for the genre this year.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them and take part in the tour!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1789540577/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tu00_p1_i2

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!

Chinglish by Sue Cheung

Jo and her crazy Chinese and English aka Chinglish, family move to Coventry to live in two rooms above a Chinese takeaway her parents run.

As her younger sister makes friends with an older girl, shoplifts and smokes, her brother Simon was caught stealing and went to live with their grandparents while Jo is left longing for a better future than being married off or owning the takeaway!

We see Jo make friends with goth Tina, get her first boyfriend, deal with bullies, discover a passion for art as a career and also how disappointed she feels about her parents as we get to see how truly horrific home life can secretly be behind doors.

Raising awareness of domestic abuse/violence this book was open and honest showing the raw side of life within some families. I loved hearing about dancing bonkers goats and entering a competition to win a scholarship to fashion school which sounds crazy amazing and in general this book was a fabulous debut and everyone will laugh, cry and love this book, I guarantee.

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

Cinders And Sparks: Magic At Midnight Book 1 by Lindsey Kelk

In this reimagined version of Cinderella we meet Cinders and her loyal dog Sparks as they live with her palace designer dad, step mum and step sisters whom still the latter detest her and give her all the household chores.

However as Cinders makes it to the ball thanks to her fairy godmother Brian showing Cinders she can perform magic, its there she meets Joderick, a young prince looking to marry...

Though, Cinders doesn't know the royals believe fairies to be dangerous and unkind to them and set about trying to keep them away and end them!

As Cinders battles with her mind over what to do to save the fairies and keep the royals happy, she can't hide the fact she can perform magic and soon trouble happens in the castle as she gets sent away she finds herself searching for help, her fairy godmother and a cast of other fairy tale characters may be able to help her, if she finds them...

Cinders in this book has been touched with a modern edge that works, it's fun and fascinating to get lost in such an enchanting tale and is left open for a book two set to have more adventure within for us!

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

The Secrets Of The Superglue Sisters by Susie Day

Georgie and her mum move in with Jem and her dad, brother Noah and sister Tilly.

Georgie and Jem are best friends and through their parents now actual sisters too as they move in, start school and get used to their new family set up.

However their friendship comes to blows when a school secret sharing box project goes missing and the girls find their deepest secrets are set loose for everyone to know...

A book that shows how secrets can be dangerous but also unite people. It was a book with likable characters and the family worked well on a whole. This secret aspect added another more mischievous side to the girls tale showing how a bond can be torn and mended. A great book to educate children on the value of truth and lies.

Beautiful Broken Girls by Kim Savage

Francesca and Mira were sisters with dark secrets.

Ben and Mira had a connection, a teen couple in secret as Mira and Francesca had a controlling dad.

Nick and Francesca, despite him being older and her teacher were infatuated with each other as Francesca believed herself to be special, a sort of saint reincarnated.

The girls suicide is a shock but after their cousin Connie's death they've never told anyone about until now leaving the paper trail of notes to Ben revealing to him why they were so unhappy in their lives.

This book was very strange and focused a lot on religion and Saint's which wasn't for me at all. I was intrigued by the mystery but most of the book left me feeling confused and lost and it didn't live up to my hopes and expectations.

Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowman

Rumi and Lea were sisters who loved to sing and write and perform their songs together, best friends.

Until a tragic car crash...

As Rumi gets sent away to her aunt's by her mother she has to cope with losing her beloved sister and her mum too.

Whilst away her neighbour Kai and his friends hang out with Rumi but its an elderly neighbour who truly gives her friendship and no messing guidance as she grieves and struggles to accept all that has changed and she has lost.

There's also the fact of finishing the final song they began together, Summer Bird Blue.

Ann emotional story of how to adapt and accept a close death and the Many ways people deal with the turmoil it can lead their lives to be affected by. I really liked that Rumi also touches on the fact of not being sure if her sexuality and it made her realistic as a teenager in today's times. A fast flowing hard hitting read.

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

Libby In The Middle by Gwynth Rees

In this book, Libby is the middle child between older Bella and younger Grace.

After Bella has been bullied at school and fallen in love with boyfriend Sam whose only a year older than her, their mum and dad especially decide to move so the girls can go to a private girls school and live near to their aunt Thecla whom believes she's an artist when the reality is she hasn't ever sold a painting.

But the move can't split Bella and Sam as they take the risk of Sam squatting in an empty house in the village after their family move to another house upon seeing the state of their former New home. However after stealing money to keep him in food, Bella keeps getting Libby to lie and be her alibi for sneaking off to meet Sam. Soon enough their parents and aunt pressure them to confess to whom stole the money and the sisters realise they envy each other's position and value in their family.

It was a very realist story with the trio of sisters relationship and the young couple wanting to stay together. The move reactions are to be expected and I really liked the story for all the contributing dramas that collided.

Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver

Dara and Nick are sisters who've been torn apart by a tragic traffic accident and a broken friendship.

As Nick struggles to accept what happened and what she truly lost, all is not as it seems as a nine year old girl goes missing mysteriously and the action grips us in a psychological twister of a book!

As Nick tries to cope with moving back in with her mum, you won't expect the end twist and I didn't at all but so much did and didn't make sense due to it looking back on what I read. However, it was an amazing twist and worked okay but the missing girl part could be been so much more than we got! It kept me reading but overall I can only keep thinking of more to change and add.

One by Sarah Crossan

Told in verse this book is the story of conjoined twins Grace and Tippi. Aged sixteen they head off to normal high school after being home schooled but as their parents face losing their jobs and their dad relies on alcohol obviously spending money they don't have, the girls worry especially when they start collapsing...

The twins are regular in every way as they try drinking alcohol and smoking despite what is happening to their combined body.
They face a tough life decision for them which can literally lead to life or death and we see each girls dedication to the other as they prepare to face an uncertain future.

I liked they made a documentary and their sister was still driven to chase her dreams despite the twins being Grace for her.

The book was super unique being told solely on verse for the whole story, the unique concept of conjoined twin girls experiencing school for the first time and finding love and friendship many thing we take for granted with no challenges but for them we can see how everything effects them and the other one of them too. The issues are financial for the family, anorexia for their younger sister and we see the effects of them too.
It's a raw emotional read, prepare your tissues!

The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli

Whilst her twin, Cassie gets a girlfriend, Molly is left sidelined only to be told by her sister she will find her a boyfriend so she isn't left out.

Molly ends up epically annoyed with her twin and her easy life right now as she herself battles with her feelings towards Reid, whom she works with and Will, a friend.

Add in how our seventeen year old Molly feels being a bigger girl in today's society. Reid is also talking to newly single Olivia, making Molly jealous and also opening her eyes at how she is really deep down feeling.

This book was really good and an honest look at dealing with a crush and emotional feelings. The book also focuses on modern day app Pinterest as reference to a lot of Molly's crafting.

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!

Ask My Mood Ring How I Feel by Diana Lopez

For Erica, life is being turbulent. Not only does she have to deal with her younger sister who likes to think she knows everything and is older than her actual age, her younger baby brother but now, her mum has revealed she has breast cancer and is having a breast removed and replaced with a prosthetic instead.

After surgery, Erica wants to help her mum any way she can as she tries to get well. However, her mum is tired from all the radiation treatments whilst her dad sets a strict set of rules to make the household more quieter so they don't wake their resting and recovering mum. Meanwhile, her sister starts to power dress for school and persistently show OCD traits by counting to a certain number before moving/eating/leaving etc.

Throughout the book though, Erica sets herself a goal of running or walking a 5k race for cancer and campaigns to raise money from at least five hundred people for her mum and other sufferers.

It was a heartwarming book and I like how the mood ring and her ambitions help to sort of guide Erica through the tough time that her family face and the choices she makes in her school and love life.

Girlhood by Cat Clarke

I couldn't believe my eyes when I stopped this book available for review, the latest young adult fiction novel from Cat Clarke!

Having previously read and enjoyed all of Cat's books, I'm so excited to share a review and overview of this book with you all!

Set in Duncraggan Academy, an expensive boarding school, Harper is trying to get on with her life after the death of her twin sister, Jenna who died because of heart failure as a result of a post Christmas diet of Harper's suggestion.

Harper has a key group of friends at the Scottish boarding school, Ama, Lily and Rowan. Kirsty becomes a talked about 'legend' after surviving initiation which the four friends make her undertake as it's essential for new students.

Kirsty and Harper both bond over their shared loss of each one's sister, Kirsty's sister died as the result of a car crash in which Kirsty is now scarred on her body from.

The girls games, truth or dare and the like result in an awkward situation and Rowan and Harper become distanced over Kirsty. Harper really likes Kirsty whilst Rowan seems very off towards her and wary.

The title being Girlhood shows it's true of the novel as we see Harper becoming distanced from her core group of friends as she becomes closer to Kirsty.

However, the truth surrounding Kirsty and her past comes to light and the girls have to help Harper realise before anything can happen to her, after all Kirsty likes shooting at the Clay pigeon's, would she shoot Harper?

You'll have to read it to find out what happens!

In the book, Harper is bisexual and rowan is lesbian, the sexual themes are unique as in older boarding school books I can't recall a same situation where it has been pointed out. Also, the girls are accepted and not outcast for being their true selves. It also shows that death can be a bonding opportunity over recent losses at the same time even though it's a bittersweet deal.

Cat Clarke has written another stellar book and is sure to be an essential teen read this year, pick it up when it's released!