Review: Trouble by Non Pratt

In this dazzling debut novel, a pregnant teen learns the meaning of friendship—from the boy who pretends to be her baby’s father.

When the entire high school finds out that Hannah Shepard is pregnant via her ex-best friend, she has a full-on meltdown in her backyard. The one witness (besides the rest of the world): Aaron Tyler, a transfer student and the only boy who doesn’t seem to want to get into Hannah’s pants. Confused and scared, Hannah needs someone to be on her side. Wishing to make up for his own past mistakes, Aaron does the unthinkable and offers to pretend to be the father of Hannah’s unborn baby. Even more unbelievable, Hannah hears herself saying “yes.”

Told in alternating perspectives between Hannah and Aaron, Trouble is the story of two teenagers helping each other to move forward in the wake of tragedy and devastating choices. As you read about their year of loss, regret, and hope, you’ll remember your first, real best friend—and how they were like a first love.

Review: oh this book was so fast paced and easy to read it was truly a delight. I was recommended this book by so many people, and sometimes when that happens, you can end up disappointed but I really wasn't disappointed by this book. It has a little bit of everything, love, friendship, life lessons, mystery and humour, all wrapped up in just the right number of pages. The storyline isn't necessarily what you would expect from a teen pregnancy novel. The emphasis isn't totally on the pregnancy, or the taboo of being a fifteen year old with a baby bump, there is so much more to this novel and the storyline goes much deeper. Because of the mystery element of the storyline, I will avoid spoilers by saying any more. 

I actually thought Hannah was a really likeable character. To begin with I thought she was a bit of a 'popular girl' and so therefore I won't like her, but she bucks the trend, gains her own identity and I really admired her for that warming to her almost instantly then. Aaron was a firm favourite of mine right from the start. He was honourable and again, happy to be his own person. There is a mystery that surrounds both of these characters and we don't know just how sinister that mystery is, but despite that, I think I would forgive Aaron anything because he is just such a mature and likeable character. Normally the supporting characters in YA novels tend to grate on me a bit by being needy and whiney, but because these two main characters are so independent, they choose the kind of friends that I approve of and like, those who I would've chosen as my friends too! 

The ending of this novel is just fab. Things are wrapped up satisfactorily, yes, but so so much is still left open, leaving you with questions in your head, but enough resolution to be happy too. I think that the way it ended was one of my favourite things about this book. Too many books have predictable endings. Whilst we knew that eventually Hannah was going to give brith, so it is predictable in that way, there are so many things not fully tied up and resolved in a neat little package that this book can be called anything but predictable. Although this is a YA novel, I think it is definitely suited more at the upper age bracket of that genre, just because of the themes it covered. It felt like an adult book when I was reading it, but it was simply stunning for a debut novel, please tell me there's going to be more from this fab author!