Book Review: When We Were Young by Anna Benoit

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

Content Note: Rape, domestic violence, drug use.

I think damaging would be a way to describe this book. Shocking considering the author is apparently a therapist.

We follow two troubled teenagers: Livvy and Jack. Jack is on probation following a stint in juvenile detention for assault and is connecting with a father who never knew he existed. Livvy is the girl next door whose parents have all but abandoned her all while she's dealing with abusive boyfriend Luke.

Honestly if I'm seeing domestic violence in teen novels I want it to be more of an instruction manual on how to get out safely unlike in this book where Livvy only escapes in the last couple of chapters thanks to a near-death experience.

The characters on the whole were not that likeable and I found Jay and John hard to distinguish and Livvy's friends were a waste of space. 2 stars only because I finished it. Also small niggle but the title makes no sense since there is not mention of the characters when they are older to be talking about 'When We Were Young'. Overall do not recommend.

Stef Out x

Book Review: Truly, Wildly, Deeply by Jenny McLachlan

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

This book was really cute and I loved the characters!

I loved that Annie was a wheelchair user and that the information was sort of snuck into a scene, not thrown right at us. I really enjoyed Annie's attitude about it all. The bus scene depressed me though. Legally in the UK bus drivers must make people move their pushchairs for a wheelchair user but so many still don't. Disability blogger Shona Louise has done several posts around this Left on the pavement 1, Left on the pavement 2 and Wheelchair spaces on buses that are all worth a read.

I liked Fab as a character and the Polish stuff was obviously well researched but his behaviour and persistence following Annie's "No" are off-putting and knock off a star. I also would have liked to get to know some of the other characters better.

Stef Out x

Book Review: That Secret You Keep by Brenda Benny

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

A really sweet book that flowed nicely and had likeable main characters. It tells the story of shy Max and his long term crush on Serena who is consumed with grief and guilt following the death of her mother in a car accident.

A big hurdle to their relationship is Max's general inexperience around girls thanks to 2 dads and a gay best friend with whom he used to be very close - a point I wish could have been explored further - however their relationship developed steadily and was overall very sweet.

I wish we could have learnt more about Hayden and Vanessa, in general the backing characters could have used some more fleshing out. Also we had Max debating whether he was actually straight - thanks to his dads and his past with Hayden - but I think Brenda missed an opportunity here to make him bisexual. We need more bi characters in fiction and bi men in particular get a bad rap but I can also understand not wanting to be too controversial with a debut novel. All in all I quite liked the book but it was just missing that spark to make it a 5.

Stef Out x

Book Review: The Cows by Dawn O'Porter

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

Strange in places but compelling. I loved Cam, liked Tara and hated Stella. I thought her obsession with having kids was weird, especially the way it started to consume her entire being, it freaked me out a little but her overall story arc was interesting in it's progression.

I was impressed with Tara for doing things her way with her job and raising her kid but I did find the tube thing a bit much but thinking about it that's probably because we hear so little about female sexuality. Also Cam is right when she says that watching these non-consensual videos is contributing to the continued abuse of the victim. I thought that the way she turned things around was brilliant although I did want to know if her boss did ever come out..?

Cam was fab! As a childfree woman myself I completely empathised with her and I'd do the same thing in her situation - one that is thankfully unlikely personally thanks to gayness - I'm just sad that her storyline had to end the way it did but I understand it had to happen for the others to be able to move on.

Stef Out x

Book Review: More Than We Can Tell by Brigid Kemmerer

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank You.

Content Note: Child abuse and child sexual assault.

Apparently this is sort of a sequel to another book but you can't tell and it's perfectly written as a standalone though I do now want to read the original.

Anyway onto the story... Beautifully written, addictive, real and an emotional punch to the gut. I loved that Emma wasn't just a female gamer but a game builder, that is so rare in life, not just fiction. I feel like the troll thing was dealt with a little too neatly, I sort of expected it to go in a different direction so that was interesting.

However among all that I relished Rev's chapters. His backstory drew me in completely and alongside there was the mystery of Matthew and his background - also heartbreaking.

I loved the way Rev and Emma's relationship developed and the way they grew as characters. Overall a brilliant book beautifully written.

Stef Out x

Book Review: August and Everything After by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank You.

A beautiful story about love and loss and grief and music.

I love the characters, 'Auntsie' in particular is fantastic! A cool, free-spirited music fanatic. I loved how the friendships and relationships developed and how things 'ended'.

The music stuff was all brilliantly real and researched, so detailed. I loved that Quinn was a badass female drummer and I especially appreciated that it was a process, she wasn't instantly good, everything was so realistic.

My only minor query was that in the UK at least you need to be legal drinking age i.e. 18 to work in a bar, whereas Quinn - in America - was working in a bar at 18 when the US drinking age is 21.

Stef Out x

Book Review: In Search of Us by Ava Dellaira

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

Beautifully written and poignant. The characters are multi-faceted, intricate and well-rounded, the timelines blend seamlessly and I found both utterly captivating.

The most striking thing about this whole book was how real it was. The relationships, the pressure, the worries about the future, the racism - both upfront in Marilyn's story and in regards to the micro-aggressions Angie faces.

There were parts that made me tear up and I'm a hard crier so that's a strong testament to the brilliant writing. The ending was also perfectly complete.

Stef Out x