Changing Ways by Julia Tannenbaum

 Changing Ways – Julia Tannenbaum

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

Read July 20

CW: ED and SH

Changing Ways follows 16 year old Grace who is struggling to cope with the stresses of school and starts to fall into patterns of restricting her food intake and self-harming. A classmate sees her cutting in the locker room and she’s hospitalised. Though initially in denial Grace gradually realises that she does have a problem. Overcoming it though, that is another matter entirely.

I thought that the hospital and recovery sections were very realistic, especially as it showed relapse, recovery isn’t linear. I loved Grace and Lou’s relationship. I wish we could have learnt more about James, especially his gender non-conforming tendencies, he was cute though! My main criticism was that the early chapters and the onset of Grace’s illness was a little bit rushed. At one point Grace mentions pro-ana websites but it never shows her being interested in or accessing those types of websites. Also in another section we see her worrying about the calorie content of her meals and snacks when again this isn’t shown previously.

Overall I feel like the novel needed a bit more show and not tell but I understand that the author is still only a teenager and herself is in recovery so I guess some aspects of an eating disorder are going to be hard to write about. Other than that I also wish we’d had more throughout about Grace’s dad rather than a mini info-dump at the end.

4/5 stars

Stef Out x

All the Promises We Break by Brenda Benny

 All the Promises We Break – Brenda Benny

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

Read July 20

CW: Rape

This is a dual timeline book set in 1994 covering the few months leading up to the end of school party before everyone goes off to university or wherever, and the aftermath of that party and how it has changed Savannah.

I wasn’t entirely convinced by the 90s setting. Very little is mentioned that is relevant. A couple of bands, Kurt Cobain’s suicide and an O.J. Simpson car chase. It wasn’t very immersive. I think the author wanted to rely on gossip and hearsay after the party rather than social media evidence but pulled it off slightly clumsily. I also wasn’t entirely convinced by the flip-flopping time chapters either. The “after” chapters were often so brief that I don’t think it would have made much difference in the narrative if it had played out chronologically. The only thing I can think of was a phone call that in the end when it was revealed seemed to lack impact,

I’d have also liked to have read more about why Savannah wanted to travel rather than go straight to college. It’s also implied by Savannah that she’s in her sister’s shadow but then no-one else mentions her sister which was odd. Also while it’s realistic and I understand it I was still disappointed that Savannah didn’t tell anyone about her rape.

3/5 stars

Stef Out x

All the Lonely People by David Almond

 All the Lonely People – David Almond

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

Read July 20

This was a really interesting book with a really unique concept. We follow Kat who lives her life largely online until cyberbullying forces her to delete everything, including inadvertently herself thanks to something called “The Fade”. Wesley, thanks to family troubles (which are only ever glossed over), is also very lonely and finds himself drawn into a toxic friendship with Kat’s cyberbullies and even helps them. But he starts to have doubts when his new “friends” join forces with an online gamer known for pranks and a stern anti-woman stance.

The Fade concept was interesting and well done but it seemed inconsistent in what can cause it, prevent it, or treat it. There’s a group that Wesley meets that want to Fade for some inexplicable reason. The leader, Safa, is already Fading and has chosen which life to piggyback based on the girl being further on in life, not unexpected as she’s older than Safa. The ending was a little disappointing though, love saves all is a little tired. Although the fact that it was a same sex pairing was nice but I’d have like to have seen more of Kat talking about her sexuality and how she felt about it. Also her final conversation with Wesley was disappointing. I can understand how Kat felt about everything but it would have been nice to see them overcoming everything and becoming friends. Or even acquaintances rather than “I never want to see you again”.

3/5 stars

Stef Out x

Jack of Hearts (and Other Parts) by L.C. Rosen

 Jack of Hearts (and Other Parts) – L.C. Rosen

Ebook provided for review by NetGalley. Thank you.

Read July 20

More books like this please! Well, the being stalked part was not so great, though so twisty and whodunnit, thankfully without the murder. No, the gay teen sex-ed stuff. I will say that this book is very, very graphic in its talk of sex between men/people with penises. However, it is necessary for the very good advice Jack gives as part of his column. He also discusses coming out, expectations, asexuality, and even BDSM. The key threads through every single letter are communication and being safe. The book also covered stereotyping and microaggressions in a really good way.

All of the characters were well-written and developed. Ben who is fat and black and loves fashion and believes in “happy ever after”. Jenna is latinx, worries about her international reporter mother and is one of the novel’s few straight characters. I low-key love and find amusing that the only time her sex life is talked about is when she’s discussing an act that many men refuse to do! I also loved how supportive and non-judgemental Jack’s mum was! This book overall is really well-written and important.

Something small to note. It may be because I did get it via NetGalley but some of the notes didn’t display properly on my ebook/Kindle.

5/5 stars

Stef Out x

Forget My Name by J.S. Monroe

 

Forget My Name – J.S. Monroe

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

Read July 20

Oh my gosh this was so delightfully dark and twisty and well thought out. Everything wove together beautifully which was miraculous considering the number of plot threads, the large cast of characters, the geographical locations, and let’s throw in some ancient culture and religion and to top it all off the ending was technically left on a mini cliff-hanger!

The initial plot was “simple”. A woman turns up at a young couple’s house with no recollection of who she is other than she thinks she lived there previously. Tony – the husband – decides to name her Jemma for the time being, a weird choice since it turns out a woman named Jemma did live there… Until she killed her friend… Is their temporary houseguest a killer or is there more to her than meets the eye? Add a paranoid wife and a local journalist with trouble of his own and you get an intricate tale of memory and its impact on oneself.

5/5 stars

Stef Out x

XX by Angela Chadwick

 XX – Angela Chadwick

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

Read July 20

This was a really interesting concept and the book was written extremely well. Everything was well-researched, the science, the way media works, the pro and con voices. I really enjoyed the way it examined upbringing and how that can affect your opinions and how you react to things. I loved the relationship between Jules and Rosie, it was so real and genuine and sweet, I loved that it wasn’t all good all the time. Perfection is over-rated. I do feel that Rosie took a little too long to come around after their argument. She didn’t seem to want to listen at all. It was great that they eventually reunited. I also loved the prologue and the snippet into their life now.

5/5 stars

Stef Out x

The Cactus by Sarah Haywood

 The Cactus – Sarah Haywood

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

Read July 20

I’m not sure what to make of this book. Near the beginning I was debating whether to continue at all. Our main character Susan is initially not very likeable at all. She’s 45 but in some ways feels younger, perhaps because her life hasn’t gone in a typical direction at typical times. The vagueness near the beginning was annoying, as was Susan’s implication that she was better than everyone. She seemed to have nothing but complaints.

However, aided in her scrutiny of the past (the “twist” wasn’t overly shocking), Susan grew a great deal as a person throughout. We discover why she’s like she is with so many barriers and we see her slowly letting those barriers down and letting people in. Come the end I’ve really come to appreciate Susan as a character. I would say that the ending was a bit abrupt and the authors constant use of the American “Mom” in a book set in Birmingham and London was rather jarring.

3/5 stars

Stef Out x

Love Frankie by Jacqueline Wilson

Love Frankie – Jacqueline Wilson

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

Read July 20

This is the book I would have wanted as a kid. I never went through with it but I always imagined writing to Jacqueline Wilson and asking for a girl meets girl story. Eventually – when I’d technically grown out of her books but was still buying them – we got ‘Kiss’ which was about Sylvie and her best friend Carl, who later reveals that he’s gay.

Now we do finally have my longed for lesbian themed book and I’m a little disappointed. I know Jacqueline’s speciality is children’s books and I’d guess this fit into the 11+ category (possibly! Ageing books is not my thing) but it could have done with being pushed a bit further and been longer in order to tie up all the loose ends.

I guess it's the fact that there is so much story. We have Frankie who is working out her sexuality, actually it would have been nice to have had more of her exploring her feelings. She was a bit 0-60. “I have feelings for one girl, I must be gay.” I did love the way she owned it though! Then we have her best friend Sam who has a crush on her. Her mum has MS which after causing a fall kids at school think she has a drink problem and start bullying Frankie about it. Her father left them for another woman - leading to a very awkward Christmas holiday scene. And on top of all that the girl she falls for is Sally, one of the kids who bullied her about her mum.

3/5 stars

Stef Out x

Every Little Piece of My Heart by Non Pratt

Every Little Piece of My Heart – Non Pratt

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

Read June 20

I want a sequel! I loved this and my heart is full! So much representation: race, sexuality, family, personality, disability. I loved how real and flawed the characters were and how they all came together. I loved that Sunny ended up becoming a central character, younger siblings all too often end up being forgotten, left behind, or treated like crap, so it was really refreshing.

Oh I guess you want a little on the plot and not just general gushing! Sophie is left a package by her best friend Freya (who has left suddenly and we never meet her) which once unwrapped contains instructions for the package to be delivered to Win (older sister of the aforementioned Sunny), once she opens there's instructions to deliver to someone else... In between we get flashbacks about how these characters know Freya and how they each have their own view of her.

If I have one criticism it is that Ryan and Lucas’s voices were a little too similar, although I don’t think that was helped by my reading the book in chunks thanks to it only being available in a format that I could only read on my PC or phone. I guess even a tablet would be easier if I had one LOL!

5/5 stars

Stef Out x

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

On the Come Up – Angie Thomas

Read March 20 - Library

Another story of politics and the power of one person’s voice from Angie Thomas. I loved the varied cast of characters. Bri was awesome and Sonny was adorable. I liked the dynamic between Bri and Malik and the way things grew with Curtis. It was more of a personal story than ‘The Hate U Give’, focused on Bri’s dream of becoming a rapper like her late dad. It was an interesting look and how fame can change you and how easily your own words can be twisted against you. Stay true to yourself was a key theme. I did feel like the ending was a little rushed and a little incomplete though.

4/5 stars

Stef Out x

Theatrical by Maggie Harcourt

Theatrical – Maggie Harcourt

Read March 20 - Library

This was so nearly 5 stars but, in the end, I just couldn’t justify it. The detail and the scene-building were phenomenal! That is were the problem lies slightly… The theatre is described so vividly that it becomes a character more than the actual human characters. I liked the slow burn romance but overall, the characters were a little 2D. Their personality is all theatre all the time. Even the love interest doesn’t have much beyond the theatre. He’s juggling it with school and work and his parents are dead. Also, he likes weird popcorn combos, something Hope notices when he’s coincidentally at the cinema at the same time as her but is never mentioned later. No-one talks about interests, music, movies, other shows etc. Also, the ending was rather abrupt. The show ended and then the book did. Despite all this critical stuff I did really enjoy the book. I enjoyed the flow and I loved Hope as a character and how she grew throughout the book.

4/5 stars

Stef Out x

Amy and Matthew by Cammie McGovern

Amy and Matthew – Cammie McGovern (Also known as "Say What You Will")

Read March 20 - Library

There are so few novels with disabled characters at the centre that this was so needed and refreshing. It wasn’t sugar-coated at all. Amy was also intelligent, something disabled people are rarely allowed to be. Matthew – one of the students hired to be her peer helper – is trying to avoid his own problems. OCD. His illness helps him avoid making friends despite wanting them. Seeing their friendship grow and evolve was really enjoyable and I liked that they were flawed: Matthew had serious avoidance issues and Amy could be selfish. Again, like so many books I found the ending lacking.

4/5 stars

Stef Out x

Yes, No, Maybe So by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed

Yes, No, Maybe So – Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed

Read March 20 - Library

So as a Brit a lot of the American politics went over my head so near the beginning my rating hovered around a 3 but I absolutely loved the character development, the inter-faith relationship and the slow burn romance. It’s probably my own fault but I haven’t read many books with Muslim characters and I really appreciated that the book took place over Ramadan, though slight niggle I do wish Maya’s faith was discussed a little more. It felt a little over-shadowed by Jamie’s Jewishness, what with his sister’s bat mitzvah, his family and even the candidate they’re working for being Jewish. I did like Jamie’s growth in particular and his improvement and willingness to learn. Also, I want either a direct sequel with Jamie and Maya or a sequel featuring Jamie’s sister, Sophie. I loved her and I want more of her story!

5/5 stars

Stef Out x

Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli

Leah on the Offbeat – Becky Albertalli

Read March 20 - Library

Bi girl representation! So cute! Slow burn romance, relatable characters, character growth, I loved it all! Leah was not perfect; she was stroppy and snarky and shut out her friends but she’s loyal and calls bullshit out when she sees it – casual racism is still racism and I really appreciated its inclusion. I did feel a little bad for Garrett but at least it looks like he got his own happy ending. Leah’s ending just made me grin like a loon! Also more girl drummers please!

5/5 stars

Stef Out x

Countless by Karen Gregory

Countless – Karen Gregory

Read March 20 - Library

Hedda is in the grip of an eating disorder she refers to as 'Nia' when she discovers that she is pregnant. She decides to call a truce with Nia to try and grow and nurture a healthy baby.

This book was heart-breaking. Hedda was such an interesting character, I enjoyed reading about her inner conflicts and seeing her growing affection for her baby. I’ve never had any problems with anorexia, but I did appreciate the lack of explicit references towards calories and weight. My overall criticism was that I wanted more. A less abrupt conclusion for Robin, more about the unit and how everything began, Hedda’s friends, especially Molly, and especially her family.

3/5 stars

Stef Out x

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

All the Bright Places – Jennifer Niven

Read March 20 - Library

I’ll take one squished heart to go please because this book was full-on and heart-wrenching. Also, if it wasn’t obvious from the blurb massive content warning for suicide mentions. It’s detailed stuff. Well researched but definitely triggering. There’s also brief mentions of bulimia and self-harm. The characters are so well-written, and I love that their relationship was slow burn, not instalove. I loved their growth over the course of the book, especially Violet. I really enjoyed reading about their wanderings and I hope that they were real places. I wish we’d had more of Violet’s new project coming to fruition in the actual book. The last third of the book was traumatic but I loved the continuing theme of growth.

I understand that there is a film adaptation of this book. I couldn't get past the start and Violet and Finch's meeting being changed so much. How they meet is a massive plot point of the book and unless that scene appears later the movie is naturally not going to be the same. But even if it does the fact that they've already met would diminish it.

5/5 stars

Stef Out x

The Last Wish of Sasha Cade by Cheyanne Young

The Last Wish of Sasha Cade – Cheyanne Young

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

Read Nov 19

This is a beautiful novel and it left my heart full and happy – despite the way things start! Raquel’s struggling after her best friend dies of cancer, but then a letter from Sasha arrives. Before her death she set up a scavenger hunt, one that early on leads to a mysterious boy – Elijah – who may be necessary in helping Raquel move on. This was a beautiful novel (so much so I’m writing it twice!) and the characters were brilliantly well-developed, but there was also growth, even in Sasha and she’s dead for most of the book! But, yeah, a really heart-warming story and I loved it!

5/5 stars

Stef Out x

Mother by Hannah Begbie

Mother – Hannah Begbie

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

Read Nov 19

I will start by saying that this book was remarkably well-researched, almost to a fault… After struggling with infertility Cath and Dave finally have a daughter, Mia. Things seem perfect but at 25 days old Mia is diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). Their struggle with the news drives the parents apart. Dave goes to football and the pub; Cath goes to a support group where she meets Richard whose teenage daughter has CF. Naturally, an affair begins because unhappy couples in media never work out their issues together, also let’s add in the risk of CF cross infection!

There was a bit too much medical talk and jargon at times, it read like a scientific journal more than a novel sometimes. The characters are mostly unlikeable. Except Dave, we don’t really see enough of him. He should have co-narration or at least some chapters from his point of view.

2/5 stars

Stef Out x

Things I'd Rather Do Than Die by Christine Hurley Deriso

Things I’d Rather Do Than Die – Christine Hurley Deriso

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

Read Oct 19

Jade and Ethan end up locked in a gym overnight after a gunpoint robbery. The conversations they had were interesting but it’s hard to forget that Ethan made Jade stay open late so he could work out. Had he not done that then neither would have been there for the robbery.

Ethan has a very strong faith and he’s even shown going to bible groups. He seemed to be trying to push his faith onto Jade at times and didn’t want to accept that she wasn’t Christian like himself. Whether Jade had faith or not was overridden by the worry she had for her sick father.

The book was OK but kind of flat in places and the overall plot could have been stronger. Generally forgettable.

3/5 stars

Stef Out x

A Little Bird Told Me by Marianne Holmes

A Little Bird Told Me – Marianne Holmes

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

Read Oct 19

This is a dual timeline novel with chapters set in the summer of 1976 when main character Robyn was 9 and September 1988 when she is 21. In 1976 a stranger shows up and gives Robyn a present, a small thing that sets off a chain of events that leads to her family leaving town. 1988 and Robyn has returned with brother Kit to try and find out the truth.

This was almost a DNF in parts for me. The setting was dull, the pacing was slow, and I barely cared for the characters. I mostly kept reading for the big reveal which I now can’t remember. I don’t know if it was that spectacular as far as reveals go. Overall the book was a bit of a let-down.

2/5 stars

Stef Out x

The Leading Edge of Now by Marci Lyn Curtis

The Leading Edge of Now – Marci Lyn Curtis

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

Read Oct 19

TW: Rape

Grace has just moved in with her uncle after her father’s death and going back to the place she grew up is starting to awaken memories long buried. Moving back is also giving her the chance to reconnect with best friend Janna, and her ex-boyfriend Owen, Janna’s brother. Being back and remembering that awful night, Grace’s priority is to find the truth about the attack she initially blamed Owen for but there are half-truths and blocks everywhere. This is an intense, emotional novel that is not easy to review. Just read it.

4/5 stars

Stef Out x

Floored by Sara Barnard

Floored – Sara Barnard + Others

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

Read Oct 19

I loved the concept for this and the fact that it’s a collaborative novel (I’m assuming one person wrote each character to give them a unique voice and then another to do plot, tie things together etc) is a really unusual thing.

Six teenagers of vastly different backgrounds end up sharing an elevator and then an experience that connects them forevermore… I loved learning more about each character throughout the book and seeing them grow and mature such as Kaitlyn’s acceptance of her gradual loss of sight and Hugo’s struggle to be more than his wealth. The only thing is it could have done with being longer and having a more rounded ending.

4/5 stars

Stef Out x

Tonight the Streets Are Ours by Leila Sales

Tonight the Streets Are Ours – Leila Sales

Read Aug 19 - Library

Arden was a doormat, but I did kind of like her. She was kind and loyal and had hope for the future, Lindsey was annoying, she didn’t have much personality beyond whiny leech. Apparently, she was a runner but no mention was made of any events or competitions. I did sympathise with her being gay in a small town, she did seem lonely, but at the same time she didn’t seem to want to change anything. Chris annoyed me. He had no personality beyond “I’m an act-or”, also pet names like babe and sweetheart piss me off. The sudden across country road trip seemed rather unrealistic and dangerous! Let’s drive across three states to find some blogger bloke! Unsurprisingly Peter was a jerk. A flash git who only cared about his own ego. Also the reveal of him being Asian felt a little forced and a little bit like tokenism: “hey here’s a POC even though there’s literally no hint until my pretty white girl protagonist points it out despite her being obsessed with his blog”. Overall, the storytelling was compelling, the plot was weak and the characters basic.

3/5 stars

Stef Out x

The Surface Breaks by Louise O'Neill

The Surface Breaks – Louise O’Neill

Read Aug 19 - Library

This advertises itself as a feminist retelling of The Little Mermaid and to that I would say yes but at the same time no. The first half was less clear cut. We had few characters, less information about the mer-world than I’d have liked and overall, seemingly vapid thoughts about their appearance and men. Things did not seem happy per say but there was nothing that was a major red flag initially. While I loathe the concept of instalove the story took on a much more interesting turn in the second half once Gaia took on her human guise. It didn’t make a lot of sense, but Gaia only seemed to reveal her full life and understand how bad it was once she was among the humans. The second half of the book definitely took a U-turn with its criticisms of the expectation of women and the trouble with many men. I feel that the ending was a little rushed, despite my small criticism of the pacing I wanted more! Also, my copy had a bonus “chapter” on the Sea Witch and oh goodness I want a whole book on her!

3/5 stars

Stef Out x

Meat Market by Juno Dawson

Meat Market – Juno Dawson

Read Aug 19 - Library

This was a great book. Juno writes great characters; everything was really well-researched, and I almost feel like I was there. Key word being almost, the made-up fashion brands and designers were a little jarring. More descriptive work could have been used on the settings, sometimes there wasn’t much distinction between locations. There were so many different characters that it felt like many didn’t get enough page time. Especially Sabah, I loved her! I also wanted to know more about Jana’s family and their history. I quite enjoyed the way Jana spoke; she was very authentic although I did rather detest her constant use of the word ‘aint’. The story within the story was very timely with current event and I feel like it was written very authentically. I also especially loved the end “where are they now” memos. It was kind of cute.

4/5 stars

Stef Out x

Goodbye, Perfect by Sara Barnard

Goodbye, Perfect – Sara Barnard

Read July 19 - Library

This is the second Sara Barnard book I have read and let me tell you this woman is brilliant at characters and building tension. I loved Eden and I loved the way her relationships were explored, Connor was a sweetheart and I know they are fictional, but I hope they last! I would have loved to have seen more with Valerie, what we had at the end wasn’t enough! I really appreciated Eden’s growth in such a short space of time. I also thought the themes of the novel were so important and under-talked about. Grooming is a serious thing and kids need to know the signs. If there was a negative, I would say that the ending was rather abrupt. I wanted more on the aftermath than a couple of hurried lines.

4/5 stars

Stef Out x

If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo

If I Was Your Girl – Meredith Russo

Read July 19 - Library/Owned

A beautifully written, beautifully told, own voices story about a teenage trans girl names Amanda. I thought that Amanda was beautifully written and well fleshed out though Meredith Russo does admit that Amanda’s transition is highly idealised and not like most people’s experiences. I also loved the flashback scenes; how sincere they were. Grant was such an interesting character, full of dark and light. Bee was interesting and I wanted more about her. Beyond that though I felt like the rest of the side characters were under-developed. Especially the girls. I have already forgotten the names of 1 or 2. One was Chloe, another might have been Taylor? Chloe lived on a farm and her “identity” was her biggest personality trait. Another girl’s trait was religion but the “good” sort of accepting type. I did also find the ending a little flat, it just kind of stopped. A lot of stuff was just left unresolved which was rather frustrating. Also as I’m cis (ish) I don’t know if it’s my place to be bothered but I was a bit bothered by Amanda describing herself as transsexual considering I thought that it was an outdated and incorrect term. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

(Originally borrowed from the library, now own a copy.)

Bonus US cover which apparently features a trans model!

4/5 stars

Stef Out x

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda – Becky Albertalli

Read July 19 - Library/Owned

This book is so cute! I almost squealed out loud at the ending! Simon is lovely and I want to give him a hug. His friends were fab as well though Leah confused me a little, I guess I’ll just have to read her book to find out more about her. I just love the fact that every single character is fleshed out, especially Blue which is remarkable because you don’t even know who he is for a good 80-90% of the book. The writing was beautifully descriptive as well for a debut novel, like all good books I mostly just wanted it to be longer.

(Originally borrowed from the library, have since bought.)

5/5 stars

Stef Out x

The Boy Who Steals Houses by C.G. Drews

The Boy Who Steals Houses – C.G. Drews

Read July 19 - Library

This book is so heart-breaking, and I want to hug everybody! Sam is sweet and soft and scared, and he just wants to protect his autistic older brother, Avery. It is so good reading a book with good autistic representation, Avery was just so real! Actually, everyone is really well-written and fleshed out, they felt like they could walk straight off the page. Also, Cait’s writing style is second to none for its purity, its power, and its descriptiveness. The main downside for me was that it ended too soon. I wanted more!

5/5 stars

Stef Out x

The Rules of Seeing by Joe Heap

The Rules of Seeing – Joe Heap

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

Read May 19

Nova was born blind. For her life is good, she can speak five languages, works as an interpreter for the Metropolitan Police and can apparently tell when someone is lying just by the sound of their voice – a skill sadly under-used. One day her doctor brother tells her about an operation that can give her sight! Nova is torn but eventually agrees. Recovering in hospital she crosses paths with Kate, the wife of one of her police colleagues, who is having struggles of her own. We then see their growing closeness combined with Nova struggling to understand the “rules” of sight such as glass being see-through and reflective. Overall a really unique concept that drew me in and swept me along.

5/5 stars

Stef Out x

You Let Me In by Lucy Clarke

You Let Me In – Lucy Clarke

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

Read May 19

Elle is a young writer whose debut has become a bestseller netting her enough money to renovate her dream cliff-top house in Cornwall. She has a few problems though: 1. Money is running out fast and she’s suffering from horrendous writer’s block for her second book. 2. After letting her house on Air B&B while on holiday to bring in a little extra money it no longer feels “right”. 3. She’s having trouble with her ex. 4. A difficult relationship with stay-at-home mum, sister Fiona. And 5. Her neighbour’s son who may or may not be a stalker.

The story was gripping, claustrophobic and delightfully twisty. It kept me guessing all the way through.

4/5 stars

Stef Out x

Born Scared by Kevin Brooks

Born Scared – Kevin Brooks

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

Read May 19

Elliot is 13 and afraid of everything. He copes through isolation, a controlled environment, and a carefully regimented medication scheme. Due to some unfortunate timing his medication is about to run out and as tomorrow is Christmas his prescription has been pushed through as an emergency, the snag? His mum must go out in a snowstorm in a trip that should only take 10 minutes. She doesn’t return and Elliot makes the agonising decision to try and find her at a friend’s house, her most likely final destination. It’s not far in distance but the journey is epic and arduous!

This book was intense! So much happened in such a short space of time. It makes for quite a narrow perspective and not a lot of other characters or time spent developing them.

4/5 stars

Stef Out x

Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich

Dear Evan Hansen – Val Emmich

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

Read May 19

Just to clarify I had never heard of the musical before reading this and I haven’t listened to any of the music since. A boy – Connor Murphy – takes his own life and is found with a note in his pocket addressed “Dear Evan Hansen”. Evan is a loner who has issues with anxiety. One of his therapy tasks is to write letters to himself. Connor steals his letter and this is found with his body. Along with Connor having signed the cast on Evan’s broken arm this leads Connor’s parents, and later everyone else, to believe that Connor and Evan were best friends when in reality they barely knew each other. I like the way the story unfolded from the dishonest way that Evan creates fake emails between himself and Connor with a friend’s help to the fact that he uses his new popularity to create the ‘Connor Project’, a website to raise money and help those with mental health issues. Evan’s growth throughout was brilliant, but I think – especially due to a stage show’s nature of focusing only on a few people – that character development in the side characters suffered a little bit, I’d have liked more on them.

4/5 stars

Stef Out x

All the Hidden Truths - Claire Askew

All the Hidden Truths – Claire Askew

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

Read May 19

An intense story of a school shooting told from the perspective of three women: Helen Birch, the DI investigating the incident; the mother of a girl who died; and the mother of the shooter. The DI, Helen, is recently promoted and given the task of establishing why Ryan – the shooter – did what he did. A task that never appears to be completed, just shunned in favour of a fight with a journalist. The characters are not especially likeable but that may be the circumstances under which we meet them. I did like the formatting of the book with the inclusion of newspaper articles and Wikipedia pages.

3/5 stars

Stef Out x

The Liar's Room by Simon Lelic

The Liar’s Room – Simon Lelic

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

Read April 19

To me a good thriller is signified by whether you remember it or not – especially as I have a bad memory – but while I can remember bits of the classics (Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train, Behind Her Eyes) I couldn’t remember this without GoodReads at all. The single room set-up was dull, I’m not sure if there was sufficient detail and the characters… Not memorable, lacking in depth. Villain was a caricature. It followed the basic thriller formula but without true feeling and belief.

2/5 stars

Stef Out x

One of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus

One of Us Is Lying – Karen McManus

Read Jan 19 - Library

I liked the characters in this, they were diverse and had interesting personalities although the stereotypes were cliché: nerd, jock, princess and criminal. I really liked the development of Addy, the princess character, she really grew and matured throughout the story. Bronwyn, the nerd, didn’t grow as much as a character regarding general maturity but she did become more open and honest as a person. Nate was the criminal, he was an interesting character, the obvious suspect in the murder of Simon, too obvious in a way. Finally, there was Cooper, the jock, the most disappointingly handled character. He had less of a personality than the others beyond sport and his ‘secret’. His feelings were normal, but it was a plot twist that shouldn’t exist.

The conclusion as well was disappointing. I didn’t guess it but then even with thrillers it’s rare that I try, however the eventual motivations behind the murder were not good. They weren’t handled well and reinforce some poor stereotypes. Overall 3 stars because I enjoyed the book, - 2 because it has strong negative issues.

3/5 stars

Stef Out x

Wing Jones by Katherine Webber

Wing Jones – Katherine Webber

Read Jan 19 - Library

Wing is a unique character in YA fiction. I haven’t read/seen many mixed race main characters and those that exist are usually white and ‘other’. Not Wing, she has a grandmother from China and another from Ghana, both of whom live with her, her mother and her sports star brother, Marcus.

Life is mostly fine until Marcus gets into an accident that leaves him in a coma and then Wing is left questioning her entire life and sense of self. The book covered a lot of aspects well, Wing’s growth, the family dynamics, the impact of poor finances and racism. However the romance was predictable and the writing style lacking overall, possibly due to the fact that it was a white woman writing about race - something she won't have personally experienced.

3/5 stars

Stef Out x

What's A Girl Gotta Do? by Holly Bourne

What’s A Girl Gotta Do? – Holly Bourne

Read Jan 19 - Library

So, I seem to be reading the Spinster Club books out of order. I did read the first one first but now I’m reading the third one second. Not that is actually matters. (Although apparently Goodreads thinks I’ve read the second one but while I've rate if I haven’t reviewed it and I can’t actually remember anything… Although sometimes there’s a glitch where marking a book ‘To Read’ moves it to your ‘Read’ shelf.)

Anyway, this is another important feminist book because it highlights what so many women and women-appearing people go through everyday with sexism. Lottie is determined to fight back and call out all the sexism she sees, but at what cost? I loved Lottie’s grit and can-do attitude and the way she refused to give up, even when hounded by internet trolls and going against her parents and schools wishes. She was also real and human and had had doubts and made mistakes and was just relatable.

5/5 stars

Stef Out x

The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth

The Miseducation of Cameron Post – Emily M. Danforth

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

Read Jan 19

I wanted to like this book much more than I actually did. I can’t deny that it is important in showing how anti-gay attitudes harm teens and that conversion camps are dangerous. Content warning related to this of a child badly self-mutilating himself due to the teachings of the camp.

It was incredibly well-written and detailed, and the characters were all well-rounded but overall, I wanted less and more at the same time. Less laggy pacing and over-describing, less drug stuff – call me a stick in the mud but I’m anti-drug. My main ‘more’ wish is more of an ending. It just stops. I also wanted to see Cameron having a happy, open relationship.

3/5 stars

Stef Out x

Brave Enough by Kati Gardner

Brave Enough – Kati Gardner

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

Read Jan 19

This book was beautiful and real and genuine and heart-breaking! It is so rare for there to be a book about teenage illness that has the main characters survive (I’m looking at you TFIOS)! Cason is a prima ballerina studying at a top conservatory under her strict, distant mother – the director. All she knows is dance until an injury that’s not just an injury puts a stop to everything. She has bone cancer.

On the ward she meets Davis, a cancer survivor who is back on the ward volunteering as a community service type thing whilst struggling to overcome drug addiction. The pair meet and slowly manage to help each other. This was so accurately written and reading the author’s notes at the end you realise why – she too has survived childhood cancer.

5/5 stars

Stef Out x

Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier

Jar of Hearts – Jennifer Hillier

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

Read Dec 18

So, this is the convoluted story about Georgina, her high school best friend Angela who disappeared, her dodgy older boyfriend Calvin and their adjacent friend Kaiser. The story jumps around a lot going back and forth in time, skipping time, random chapters from a different point of view and parts named after the five stages of grief.

When Angela’s body is discovered near her house Georgina is convicted of… Being an accomplice? Withholding evidence? I can’t remember now, but she’s sent to a very unrealistic prison where everyone lives in one room. She does eventually get out so the story can progress, some of the twists were not hard to work out, other points were just a bit strange.

3/5 stars

Stef Out x

Missing Pieces by Laura Pearson

Missing Pieces – Laura Pearson

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

Read Dec 18

For some reason I thought that this was a thriller book. As it is, I’m not sure how to categorise it. Linda is expecting a new baby. It will be her third daughter, that is until the worst happens. Linda is devastated and struggles to cope with new baby Bea.

Twenty-five years later Bea is pregnant herself and determined to find out the truth about her family’s troubled past before having her own child. I enjoyed the book, especially Bea’s growing relationship with her sister, but overall the plot moved a little too slowly. There were sections where not much happened at all.

3/5 stars

Stef Out x

Nobody Real by Steven Camden

Nobody Real – Steven Camden

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

Read Dec 18

So, it’s obvious by now that I can take a while to review books. Usually I can remember major plot points, but I couldn’t remember much about this one. You have Marcie who has just finished university and isn’t sure what to do especially as she’s dealing with her scatter-brained single dad. You also have Thor, the human/bear hybrid that is Marcie’s imaginary friend who is due to be ‘deleted’ soon as a result of being forgotten. At least until he decides to be remembered and starts interfering in Marcie’s life.

Other than that, there was some stuff about a kitten and a weird moment at the beginning where Marcie hugs a female friend and is thinking about their breasts pressing together (not a typical female thought gay or otherwise) but nothing more is ever said about it or Marcie’s sexuality.

Overall just a very odd book and I wasn't sure what to make of it. The premise is very inventive though so I will give Steven credit for that.

3/5 stars

Stef Out x

Friendship Fails of Emma Nash by Chloe Seager

Friendship Fails of Emma Nash – Chloe Seager

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

Read Dec 18

I didn’t realise on requesting this book that it was a sequel to an existing book which I haven’t read. It didn’t matter much as everyone is easy to get to know. My rating increased as I went, at first, I found Emma’s voice annoying, but I soon got used to it and even came to appreciate her frankness about things like masturbation. I also really liked the growing friendship she had with Gracie. Emma seriously needed to lighten up on the making friends thing though, she went way too overboard… Overall a light, breezy, fun book.

4/5 stars

Stef Out x

The Definition of Us by Sarah Harris

The Definition of Us – Sarah Harris

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

Read Dec 18

Perfect character driven road trip story! The characters are so well-written and well-rounded and real and amazing! Everything is developed slowly, we know that Florence has depression and anxiety but not immediately why, the others are revealed as we go: Jasper has an eating disorder, Andrew has Autism Spectrum Disorder (why that automatically needs therapy is unclear to me) and Wilf has ADHD and anger issues, not to mention a serious fear of ending up like his family, he has his own dreams.

The group are united by their therapist, Howard, but when he goes missing, they are compelled to try and find him. I loved their conversations and how they interacted. Also, it was a small thing, but I loved Florence’s thing with words, collecting pretty ones etc.

5/5 stars

Stef Out x