An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

3/5 stars

This was a strange book. April May is a graphic designer working in New York, living with by not "living with" her girlfriend Maya when she suddenly comes across something late at night. A giant robot that she dubs Carl. April calls her best mate Andy out to film a YouTube video about the discovery.

The video goes viral and now April is the unofficial spokesperson for the Carls - one in every major city - and fame and notoriety come flooding in. Then there are the clues, and later the dreams. What does it mean and what is the origin of the Carls?

I loved that at it's heart this is a study on humanity and the power of working together. The story didn't necessarily go where I was expecting but I did enjoy that.

It was let down by a lack of characterisation, due to April's selfish nature we didn't learn a lot about the other characters. I also thought that the middle section was a little slow and repetitive and the ending was a little abrupt and unclear but apparently there is a sequel so I don't know if that would bring more clarity?

Stef Out x 

Fat Witch Summer by Lizzy Ives

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you!

4/5 stars 

Thrash lives in a world where witches are given one of three main Gifts when they show their Knack/magical potential. Glamour, Sight or Growth. Her mom is a top ranked Glamour witch, her late mum had Sight. Osmarra wants Thrash to have Glamour like her even if it's just so she can "fix" her imperfections aka her fatness. Thrash however is drawn to Sight.

An opportunity arises when Cresca, one of the cool girls at school, witnesses the manifestation on Thrash's Knack and invites her on a road trip with her and her friends Saki and Em to get Gifts of their own.

Thrash is understandably worried, she doesn't know these girls, how are they going to get along? There are a few false starts but eventually everything comes together.

I loved the story but I would have liked a little more world-building in story although there is a handy brief history at the end of the book. I also would have liked a bit more character development, it felt like we didn't really get to know Em and Saki as much.

Also petty thing but I loved that Thrash was a fat character and she was OK with that up until the same old anti-swimwear vibe that just feels old.

Stef Out x 

An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

Paperback read but ebook previously provided for review from NetGalley. Thank you.

3/5 stars 

An intriguing premise.

Make-up artist Jessica manages to sneak her way on to a paid social experiment about morality after overhearing a client's phonecall. The money is appealing to her, her dad has been made redundant and she has a disabled sister who requires expensive therapies.

However it soon transpires that the experiment is a cover for therapist Dr Lydia Shields' personal experiment about infidelity.

This started out so well but then as the book went on it felt more ridiculous but I was still expecting some kind of big climax but it just fizzled out.

Stef Out x 

Hiding Him by Adam Hattan

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

4/5 stars

This was super cute!

Cam is the only out gay guy at his school and he spends his time hanging out with best mates Geri and Robyn, ogling his teacher and avoiding school bully West. That is until new student Finn arrives...

I found the story super cute and super relatable (even though I am well past school age 😂) but there was a slight case of instalove. Also the plotline about the school show just disappeared.

The characters could probably have used a little more development, I didn't really know them and Geri and Robyn blended together a little at times. I also wanted a proper resolution for West.

Overall though fantastic vibes and I loved the writing style!

Stef Out x 

Taking Chances by Erin McKenzie

 

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

3/5 stars

This was a super cute story. Val is an ex-foster kid who, after seeing a sign one day, decides to undergo a training course to become a foster parent. Co-running the course are her old caseworker Connie and Paige. Paige is cute but appears stuck-up in Val's mind.

Paige's stuck-up appearance is just nerves and the fact that even on first sight she is crushing hard on Val but then she becomes the caseworker in Val's first foster kid case and now there's a conflict of interest...

I loved the build up of the romance in this, it was slow-burn with lots of bond building. I also loved Val's interactions with the foster kids.

I did feel like overall the book could have been a little bit longer. There was a time jump that didn't feel very necessary and then the ending was very abrupt and rushed and I wanted more detail of them building their life together.

CW: drug use, suicide, child abuse, death of parent.

Stef Out x