Sunday, 8 July 2018

Ten Things We Shouldn't Have Done by Sarah Mylnowski

When April learns her father has a new job and plans to move April and her step mum with him, she puts her foot down to stay as she's loved up with her boyfriend, Noah and her best friend Vi is older and wants to stay with her.

However, Vi and April plot to live together as Vi's mum is not at home and is working away leaving the girls free to live however they wish. They gain a hot tub and cat as well as new friends whilst they learn some hash real life truths along the way about money, love and friendship.

It was unrealistic in many actions such as being given a cat and just spending money suddenly on a hot tub but relatable in the fact that STD's are real and can happen to anyone as well managing finances as an older teen, not younger and that cheating partners exist too. It was fun and it did keep me entertained with their crazy antics and many wild times.


It's About Love by Steve Camden

Luke meets Leia in his media class where teacher Noah, was once in a film he wrote himself. As Luke and Leia work together, their world's collide as Luke's brother Marc gets released from prison after he caused ABH, Like finds himself questioning whom he truly is after a few brushes with fights himself and discovering why Leia suddenly goes quiet on him after they'd been getting along so well.

It was quite slow in places but the drama about violence and aggressive behaviour from siblings was intriguing to see how it influenced their families and how it impacted them. It could be realistic for people to read about I'm certain but despite that the two main characters seemed inevitable to come together due to their names and Star Wars link. Unexpectedly great and refreshing young adult fiction.


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.




The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

Trying this fairytale inspired book has been a new thing for me as I struggle with reading fantasy fiction a lot. However, I was impressed with this book as we follow Alice and her mum Ella after her grandma has died whom was a fantasy author who lived in the Hazel Wood.

Only as she makes friends with fan Ellery she discovers that all is not as it seems as they try to track down a copy of her grandma's book, she finds herself discovering the world is not as she though at all as she finds herself in the fairy tale world for real...

A suspenseful book with many twists I didn't see coming so the mystery intrigued me whilst the fantasy side of things lost me. It was enjoyable and very much a good read it just didn't thrill me as much as I hoped it would do.


Monday, 2 July 2018

Zoe Letting Go by Nora Price

When sixteen year old Zoe's mum leaves her at Twin Birch, an inpatient recovery for eating/mental disorders, with six girls staying for six weeks. She finds herself with Caroline as a roommate.

As Alexandra her therapist encourages her to write letters and
Journal, she feels like Elise will be there for her but as she grows erratic at getting no replies from her best friend, Zoe finds herself being outcast by a fellow inpatient after she reads her folder and finds out what truly happened to Zoe and Elise.

A mystery interwoven which was half expected to be truthful as unfortunately cases as in this book are tragically true whether in person or online friends. The issues raised where approached sensitively but I would've liked more input into Zoe's mum's life and her views as she wasn't really in the book much.


Friday, 29 June 2018

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.


The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

Stella is an autistic econometrist, whilst her mum believes she works too hard and should find a partner, Stella craves closeness to someone and so chooses an escort from a company to help her and teach her how to be good at relationships and sex.

As Michael helps Stella, he refuses to take her pay despite his family being plagued by money worries at lot due to his mother's ill health as she has cancer.

The pair have a sizzling chemistry and it's a very sex heavy book, obviously due to the subject nature of the book! The couple were amazing, so different but that's what worked as Michael was so understanding where Stella felt insecure and unsure. I liked that Michael was a clothing designer too as it showed he took care of his craft and was passionate about something just like Stella and her numbers and figures. A great contrasting pair with a relationship that is almost dreamlike sounding how it comes about.


Thursday, 28 June 2018

A Semi Definitive List Of Worst Nightmares by Krystal Sutherland

Ester's family is unusual, her best friend is deaf and her new friend, Jonah became her friend after pickpocketing her!
Jonah also has family troubles as at home he is beaten by his father whilst his mother died years ago. Meanwhile, Ester's family are in money trouble which makes her mum very tearful while her grandad still feels guilty over a murder he never solved...

The two have death plaguing their families but the two come together to complete a series of Ester's fears that solidifies their friendship and possibly even more could become of them.

I found the book a bit weird to be truthful over it's death curse on her grandfather but then again oddness embodies this family! It was very different and I commend Krystal for that greatly.

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



Wednesday, 27 June 2018

Editing Emma by Chloe Seager

Comprised of internet posts day to day over September and October, as a form of online diary blog after her boyfriend Leon ghosts her, we follow Emma as she tries to move on. She starts to date Greg as Leon dates Anna or 'Apple ' and follow her life as shecopes with friendship drama and her private blog being made public knowledge!

We also see her friend Faith struggle to come out to her parents, Gracie and Emma falling out, Steph being on hand to try and help Emma move on with someone new and witness the antics of her wild mother trying to date and even including attending dance classes with her!

Grace, Steph and Faith are a typical friendship group as they help each other with coming out, dealing with break ups and generally cheering each other on as they negotiate school. Reminiscent of Georgia Nicholson, these teens are the modern version as they rely on the internet and social media to be in the loop and connected at all times. The book has a great plot showing the dangers and benefits of online and is a great slice of teen fiction.


Friendship Fails Of Emma Nash by Chloe Seager

Picking up from where book one of Emma's life and blog stopped, we catch up with Emma, Steph, Gracie and Faith as Emma keeps up her new blog and comes without Leon or Greg and comes to terms with Steph dating Andy, Gracie's brother!

As she tries to befriend other girls in her year whilst also cope with Matrix boy and Charlie, a friend whom she knows through him also being a keen designer and being a friend of Leon's too.
We see how Emma and Steph have to reform their friendship dynamic as Emma struggles when Steph has less time to hang out a lot with her.

Emma Nash is a more modern version of Georgia Nicholson with more social media influence and of course still the boy drama! A relatable teen, Emma is a great example of a modern typical teen girl. Chloe captures the teen voice expertly as Emma deals with relationship troubles and friendships too as new boundaries are forged as her friend gets a boyfriend and we see how Emma deals with it.

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


The Slowest Goodbye by Stacey Nicole Douglas

This collection opens on a very clever poem about the Disney princeses and their princes and the way we can feel deeply desiring to be their...