Gemma's Not Sure by Gil Stewart

Gemma is facing tough decisions, go and play piano professionally as a performer despite her shyness, or persue a different career altogether despite her work playing.

Jamie has tough decisions to make too, after finding uni more of a chore only enjoying rhe social aspects and his refereeing.

However as the two get friendlier, they discover they have more in common than they thought, as they start a bad, Gemma helps a piano student she takes on called Rosie to have a better time at school and of course Jamie is Lily's ex, her best friend.

There's plenty of drama but this book is utterly relatable for the issues it raises throughout from tough life work choices and following your heart and your true passion. I loved that Jamie and Gemma came together in a very quick yet natural way and feel like this book was even better than Lily's story! I truly can't wait for more from Gil about these characters lives!

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

My Secret YouTube Life by Charlotte Seager

Lily is a Youtube vlogger who goes by the name LilyLoves
However her life isnt perfect as she deals with her drunk boyfriend who's a wannabe rock star who treats her badly.

Then there's Issa, a follower of Lily whom wants her so called perfect life for herself, only to be forcing it to happen and it doesn't in the way she dreams as she uses others photo's on her blog to enhance her life to the online world to have startling friendship consequences for her.

When Lily and Issa see each other, a shocking actions sets the two spiralling and we witness their lives break and then to realise what truly matters in life and how they can grow and evolve from their shared experience.

It was a typical Youtube experience, believable and crazy from both girls perspectives. It deals with cyber bullying and online hate as well as tabloid news and how the media can spread lies and truths but blow them out of proportion. For a debut it shone through all the other YouTube fiction books I have read sounding more grown up in  tone of language and relationship issues raised.

The Graces by Laure Eve

River as she calls herself, is obsessed alike most of the new town she lives in now with her mum, with the Grace family. Tales of them all being witches and able to do magic have been around for years since a bad birthday party the Grace's held.

The three, Fenrin, Thalia and Summer all have an essence of a magical quality to them and an air of mystique and intrigue which means River tries to fit in with them as a mystery surrounding her father's disappearance becomes clear over the novel after she discovers a secret about Fenrin and Wolf his friend.

As events escalate, the group fractures in a gripping twist of events and danger becomes imminent...

You go into the book intrigued by the blurb, then you get blown away by the world you get transported into as magical realism becomes their reality as supposed witches exist and we see River try and infiltrate them and become one of them, accepted into their group due to their talents. However, sexual tension builds between River and Fenrin only for it to not be acted on and instead a revelation made. As well, I feel River could be about to admit she's also Gay or Bi as she jokes she isn't but possibly she could still get with outsider Marcus too. Besides all that I am still unsure whether they are all witches or what, all I know is the family seen like the Cullens from Twilight in description.

928 Miles From Home by Kim Slater

Cal lives with his dad whom works away constantly on jobs he's evasive about. One day walking late by the river he meets Amelia whom lives on a barge with her mum and brother. This later teaches him about friendship and family formations as his family begins to drastically change...

When Sergei slips into their school year, Lindon Cal's friend starts to pick on him racially saying things and generally being nasty to him for being in the UK making assumptions about being a benefit scrounger even though he isn't and he's legally allowed to be here.

When Cal finds out his dad is dating and moving in Sergei and his mum, his friends start to cause trouble for him as he's forced into the situation and when the community centre offers an escape into film writing despite getting broken into repeatedly, Cal takes a chance until a twist on events makes him realise Sergei might not be so bad...

All about tolerance and acceptance of others around us from anywhere in the world at all. It was dramatic and eventful and I liked the family dynamic shifting and introducing a usually solitary character to fit into a family and how he can adjust so drastically and judge his past actions and friend associations.

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!

Toxic by Nicci Cloke

Hope is on holiday in Crete with the boys, Dev, Nate and Zack also including Logan her ex boyfriend. When she gets rejected by wrongly trying to kiss him, she sets out to get drunk and forget.

The next day they head off on a booze cruise to an island where she meets Ness, Emily and Hayley with the boys while on board one of then dabbles in drugs but Hope hates the idea of then but not of getting drunk enough to forget anything and everything. The booze boat, sleazy guy and the girls from their hotel they bumped into again.

Then she wakes up the next morning unable to recall the whole night before as she is on the beach, dress round her waist and euro's missing from her bag.

Then Logan and Zack have a secret to keep, a criminal one...

Once back home, Logan starts digging trying to find out what really happened to Hope. As well as struggling with his guilt by sleeping a lot and sinking into depression and worrying he's not good enough for Daisy his girlfriend as they get their A level results.

Dev has a hidden true story from the night whilst JB makes an announcement to the group...

Then Logan discovers Emily went missing that night on holiday and it's on the news online...

There's also the issue of a TV show capturing them on camera partying for the world to watch...

Hope and Logan's latest ex Daisy are pushed together after they both experience similar horrifying situations while there's an attack based purely on gay phobia against one of their friends...

There's drug use alcohol abuse and sex references to throughout so this is definitely a book for older teens. The use of crude language about casual sex from a parent to their son and the son's friends was a bit much. But the story is so important about the dangers of cheap booze holidays abroad especially when friends aren't looking out for each other properly as so much danger could happen as you're so drunk and vulnerable as the teens get in this book. The boys do stick to a typical lads holiday treating Hope fully like one of them unfortunately but they're all deep into their own issues it seems like drink and drugs are the boy's way out of forgetting their life stresses and it can be similar to real life like that. Totally representative of some stereotypical teens and the dangers out there and a true test of how well we all know our friends fully.

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

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

Sydney is a young girl in her brother's broken shadow, never in trouble but massively sheltered from life by her parents because of his actions she begins to rebel and just be herself unapologetically.

Peyton, Sydney's brother is sentenced for a drink driving accident after he originally started doing drugs and breaking and entering it spiralled until he was put into jail long term after disabling a young boy when he hit his bike.

Ames, Peyton's best friend from a narcotics anonymous group is left to look out for Sydney for Peyton only he's a very creepy guy and not just Sydney but Layla her new friend from the pizza parlour she goes to notices it as well.

Layla's brother, Mac, becomes close to Sydney and shares with her his past weight issues and his self belief in Saint's with a necklace he wears. He later passes on another one to Sydney to keep her hopeful of change to come for the better after moving from private school to Layla and Mac's school she feels like she fits in better and finds herself having masses of fun until her parents try to stop her going out to concerts.

Her mum is a very Peyton only focused character and misses all the good Sydney does meanwhile when Ames stays and he and Sydney are alone, things get tense as things come to ahead just what will Ames do...

A very good book, not my favourite Sarah Dessen but nevertheless a great read about teenage life and being in the shadow of a sibling.

Mr 60% by Clete Barrett Smith

Matt barely scrapes by at school, lives in a trailer park with his uncle who has a lot of medical issues and Matt is also often in trouble at school because of his actions.

His behaviour and grades land him in the Helping Hands group helping out with community tasks as he participates delivering books to the hospital with Amanda a girl who is a member of Helping Hands. With her, he finds a friend and confidant about his uncle's condition and the worse he gets as the cancer slowly drains him and Matt needs support as he faces a big life change.

This book was a work which tested me at times as I hate the idea of drug abuse or misuse, but we see the side of that which is never fully discussed in real life as it may be extremely necessary to people unable to get proper healthcare. Thus, we see Matt in a better light of getting by to help a dying relative which anyone would try to help ease their pain. A moving book that proves friendship can help in the worst of times.

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

The One We Fell In Love With by Paige Toon

When Angus moved in next door to identical blonde haired, green eyed triplets, he finds himself involved in varying ways with all of them over the years that follow.

Phoebe is adventurous and loves France, the promise of Remy being there still keeps her going back despite her impending marriage to Angus...

Rose is a nurse who lives away in London whom always had a crush on Angus whilst he went out with Phoebe, now she wants a life change and returning home to live with Angus as friends whilst working at a bakery with Toby, a younger guy whom she catches the eye of...

Eliza is a musician and waitress whom met Angus a year before he moved in next door at a skate park and fancied him, they have an ongoing attraction over the years...

This book was good and I really liked the book involving triplets with one guy liking them all in varying ways even though it did seem a bit odd that he could like or love them all! Their story had highs and lows just like real life even though I had predicted that Phoebe would end up how she did because of her chosen lifestyle.

Losing Hope: A novel by Colleen Hoover

This is the same story as in Hopeless only from Holder's point of view on his sister's suicide and finding Hope.

As he writes letters to his sister in an old notebook of hers he documents life and his feelings day to day pretty much as he tries to understand what happened to his sister to cause her to commit suicide.

He also learns from a letter she left behind to him about the cause of her deep pain and how his family and his friend Hope fell apart for the one simple reason of a broken and selfish man.

This book is more around his sister's story and obviously his feelings as he meets Sky and understands Karen's role in her life over the years since she was taken. It was pain to see how much all the children and both families were broken by the events that took place but Sky and Holder in a way restore some Hope into their lives as a couple together, strong.

Once again it was a great and dramatic read with a fantastic plot full of twists! I loved Losing Hope and Hopeless and suggest you read them!

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

Starting public school brings joy to sheltered homeschooled Sky, as she meets Breckin a gay wannabe Broadway star who's also adopted and she copes without best friend Six being around.

She doesn't bank on meeting Holder, a bad boy know for getting into fights who's lost his sister recently to suicide linked to her past, yet the two find a chance meeting changes both their lives for the worst and better.

Karen adopted Sky but all is not as it seems, as Sky and Holder get closer, Sky can't cope with her flashbacks and realises her life may just have been based on lies...

Yet again outstanding plot twists from Colleen with a dramatically heart breaking and mending detailed read about a tragedy with a partial resolution.

The Statistical Probability Of Love At First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

When Hadley misses her flight to London by four minutes, she is stuck having to wait to fly out to London for her father's wedding till the day it's happening on! Hadley isn't looking forward to the wedding after her dad abandoned her and her mum in America for new step mum to be, Charlotte in Oxford, England.

What she doesn't expect is to get to know a boy, Oliver she meets in the airport and find he's going to be sitting on her row on the same flight and is also heading to England for an event too.

Over their shared flight they talk and get to know each other better but soon after landing go their parted ways only to feel the pull between them and end up meeting the other again at each of their separate functions.

As Hadley experiences her first love it seems she may come around to the idea of her dad moving on and she may be okay with the idea at last.

I loved the concept of falling in love with someone in twenty four hours however far fetched it seems it was a cute story that kept me interested in what would happen to the youngsters!

Generation Next by Oli White & Terry Ronald

When Jack moves school after being badly beaten up by bullies, he finds himself making friends with a group with his same shared interest in media as well as catching the eye of Ella, whom he first sits next to in class. The group he meets soon invites him to Austin, the group's leader's house to hang out in their technology den where they come up with their GenNext idea from watching gigs online as well as using social media.

As the website takes off being talked about all over the internet, the group face a huge live meeting abroad about the future of GenNext as Hunter's uncle dodgy company want to buy GenNext and threatens releasing a sex tape between Hunter and Ella if they refuse.

Throughout the book, friendship is tested and bullies play a huge role in the story. There's also the fact that Jack's mum faces cancer and he still goes ahead with the meeting abroad which personally I don't think I could do. It was a good book but I would've liked there to have been more about GenNext and what they were posting etc.

Bunk 9's Guide To Growing Up by Adah Nuchi

Camp Silver Moon's bunk nine girls are here to teach you all about growing up what's ahead.

The girls discuss and compare experiences throughout the book as no one person's development will be a copy and paste story. Their diary talks us through the stages they went through to grow up in their early teens to now always set around the camp narrative.

Starting back at age twelve, early puberty calls for the essential development growth or lack of we each experience. The girls were sometimes jealous that others had developed faster, which is always okay, stages of change be it growing body hair, using deodorant, spots appearing, breasts appearing as well as your internal changes in hormones causing more emotions and feelings as well as causing your period to begin.

The book has styling tips for your hair type and how to keep it clean and healthy as well as beginning to use and have an interest in make-up and how to handle the varying acne types you may encounter as well as how to choose the perfect first bra for you.

The book talks about gender issues, how you feel vs what body you have been born into and how you should always ask a trusted adult in confidence to advise you if you feel you want to.

The best thing about this book is that every girl could benefit from it, it would also be useful for single parents or embarrassed about having the talk parents as they exist! My parents couldn't deal but I had my school sex education class from age nine to teach me and my parents were happy that way. This would just reassure parents their girls are sure of what's normal and ahead for them in a concise and friendly way!

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

Nick and Charlie by Alice Oseman

Nick and Charlie are a young couple, two guys who have been together two years but now Nick is off to university and Charlie can't comprehend him not being there always.

One night at a party, Charlie gets drunk and finds out another strong couple have broken up before university and in a drunken fit of emotion breaks up with Nick regrettably for both of them.

After a break in communication, Charlie approaches Nick and they reconcile but can they get back together knowing the future?

It was a great little story and I did thoroughly enjoy it. Nick and Charlie seem like a great couple being together from I think, fifteen especially shows their connection was always there and not going to be easily broken!

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.

My Invisible Boyfriend by Susie Day

Heidi lives in a boarding school with her best friends. Her parents own the boarding school and her mum seems more like a sister the way she talks to Heidi for a lot of the book.

The book was very juvenile in its language and so tried my patience a lot sadly and I found it dragging on.

The idea of the story was good with Heidi having to create a fake boyfriend and deal with the history of the two of them etc. As well as her friend group being very varied with a gay friend and his boyfriend as well as a model and a goth as well as her boyfriend showing a true array of real life people cast in the mix.

If you are a young teen this book maybe for you but older teens you may find it a bit of a drag unfortunately.

Get Well Soon by Julie Halpern

Overweight and placed into psychiatric hospital at risk of suicide, Anna writes in her diary and through letters to her best friend, Tracey. She talks about the residents and her growing crush on Justin.

We learn of the issues each of the teens in there have and rules they have to live by upon admission to hospital. For instance, binge eating adds weight for Anna and causes her to feel negatively towards herself and her body.

We follow her through her stay and see how emotionally impacting it is on her for being admitted by her parents.
It was a good book with an array of true too life characters and scenario's.

All Of The Above by James Dawson

Moving to a new school is hard and here we follow along the journey of Toria as she falls in with the outcast crowd and finds a great mix of friends.

She also gets a boyfriend, Nick, from meeting him at their hang out, a seafront golf course, which is being threatened by the council to be shut down.

Toria and Polly set about getting a petition started and try to gain as many signatures as possible to keep their place open.

In the book, a character passes away, a gay relationship ensues and Toria and Polly find themselves growing closer as Nick's band takes off and he moves to London to pursue his dream.

A story for teenagers coming of age, discovering who they are and experiencing new, different, scary and exciting things with a few low blows along the way. Just like real life.