Birthday by Meredith Russo

Eric and Morgan have known each other since they were born and always spend their brithday toegther.

However when Morgan loses her mum, she shuts off from the word after trying and failing to come out to her friend about really being a girl, trapped in seemingly a boy's body and tha she's actually transgender.

As they grown up, we see how they both question their sexuality over thoughts they have for the other, how they feel attracted to each other and especially how they deal with girls who they encounter.

There's a heavy aspect of homophobia bought up too as in their small town, many of the football players speak horrifically about gay people and especially Eric's dad is a very cruel man pushing his family away and seemingly only caring about how rich he can be, a fickle bitter man indeed.

Morgan was a brave and strong character throughout even if I was screaming when little young Morgan wasn't heard coming out about her true self when she was with Eric for their first birthday mentioned in the book!

I really enjoyed this book, not only for the transgender topic being handled and executed so well but the eighteen year development of a loving relationship, the pair truly were made for each other and this book's ending is movie style for sure this should be adapted and be a Netflix craze for all to see!

Yay You're Gay Now What? by Riyadh Khalaf

In this book by popular LGBTQ+ activist and member, Riyadh, he takes us through everything to do with being gay or otherwise from coming out and how to manage any and every situation possible to find yourself in.

From coming out and all the reactions you could be faced with, bullying, first time sex and masturbation, dealing with anxiety and worries as well as having famous faces and their stories also featured in this handy little book he !makes sure to cover whatever topic could be effecting the person choosing to read his book.

As a supporter of the community and having friends who've come out over time, this book sums up everything a gay, trans, any type of person at all could need to know and handy information for others who are LGBTQ+ too as many issues can be relevant to others as well.

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

Some Girls Bind by Rory James

Jamie is gender queer binding her chest and hiding her secret from her friends Levi, Nora and Eric as well as her family and brother Steve in this novel told in verse.

Over the course of the novel we witness her friends come out to mixed reactions and approval as well as disapproval too.

Jamie is a good, bold and proud character whilst also being anxious over reactions she could face. The book raises issues straight to the point around gender and sexuality and the fluidity people can have freely now. It is a good bold read and will surely open eyes to the subject matters raised.

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

Clean by Juno Dawson

Lexi is a heroin addict, thanks to her caring brother Nikolai, she enters treatment at a residential mansion on a secluded island.

We learn her story in stages as the chapters are set in treatment step orders and reveal more as she opens up in therapy and group therapy. Her boyfriend got her hooked on pills and heroin, she met Kurt amongst all the other high fliers as she's an heiress but was it love or using her for her money?

We also discover her turbulent family life growing up with her father's endless affairs and the drama surrounding each time he was caught and how her mum struggled with her anger towards her husband as their failing relationship failed. We also learn of her friendship troubles especially with old friend Antonella.

There's plenty of drama at the residential mansion and wildcard character Sasha is a dangerous likewise who causes a ton of crazy drama which leads to a thrilling gripping situation towards the end of the book as things retake a dangerous turn...

The book focuses on many mental health issues in the treatment from OCD, sex, drugs, alcohol, anorexia, bulimia, self harm all multitudes of addictions and shows the journey the group goes on together confusing in their issues and making friends of sorts. I particularly liked trans girl Kendall and Lexi making friends as they didn't judge each other but found a friend to help them at a hard time in their life. Lexi and how she comes to terms with who Kurt made her become and how with Brady she slowly crushes on him made clear her clarity was getting better and she was becoming herself again properly getting to see things clear with new eyes on the situation she had been through and how she had been used. The book highlights it's not an easy battle getting clean hence the title as many characters think about it do, relapse or worse. There's killer secrets packed into this gripping novel, Juno's writing never fails to captivate me and never let's me down!

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

If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo

Andrew has tried to commit suicide previously and we soon learn why, better known as Amanda now and returning to live with her father and leave her supportive mother behind where they had set up a new life, Amanda wants her dad to be a part of her life now she can live as her true self.

We soon learn of the torment Amanda was put through before and early on during her transition at her school and now she feels at a new school she will be accepted, even if she came out as transgender.

At the new college, she makes friends with a group of girls, including a bisexual girl, attracts the attention of Grant whom becomes her boyfriend much to the annoyance of Parker who also seemingly likes her.

After confiding in Bea her secret of her past, she betrays her in the biggest way outing not only her secret but others too, publicly she is then left in a dangerous situation with Parker and return's home to her mum feeling unsafe. Though she later proves her strength in herself as she faces up to events.

This book is raw and open about the struggles many transgender people widely across the world unfortunately still have to face. Amanda shows the hope I wish all transgender people to have as people grow more accepting.