Review: Imogen Obviously by Becky Albertalli

Imogen may be hopelessly heterosexual, but she’s got the World’s Greatest Ally title locked down. And when she visits her best friend, Lili, at college who is newly-out, newly-graduated, and newly thriving, with a cool new squad of queer college friends, no one knows that Imogen’s a raging hetero – not even Lili’s best friend, Tessa.

Of course, the more time Imogen spends with chaotic, freckle-faced Tessa, the more she starts to wonder if her truth was ever all that straight to begin with…

With an irresistible cast of characters, hugely funny and empathetic writing, and all of Becky Albertalli's trademark warmth and wit, Imogen, Obviously beautifully explores the nuances of sexuality, identity, and friendship – perfect for fans of Alice Oseman and Adam Silvera.

Review: Once I started this story, I just couldn’t stop. I loved the author's note at the beginning of this book and felt like I could relate to it so hard. I loved what she put into this book and I think the whole novel felt more personal because of the letter at the beginning. 

I’m such a sucker for books that deal with that transition from high school to college/university and so I knew I was going to be a fan of this one right from the word go. Imogen is going to visit her best friend who is already at the college that she is going to be attending in the summer. It's a big move for her, the college, the gap in time that she hasn’t seen her friend for and then all the new friends that her bestie has made since starting college. I always felt trepidation when I would go and visit friends at other universities and see their lives that they had built post-school and so I really related to this. 

Imogen is a proud ally and loves the fact that her pan friend has found her queer clan but this makes her begin to question her own identity, especially when her other best friend is bi and her sister is gay. She has always been the straight ally but is that who she really is? This book opens up a whole can of worms when it comes to queerness and identity and those around you who are supportive on the surface and yet may not have your best interests at heart. It also has a lot to say about growing up and changing and discovering your identity. There is no way that I am the same person now that I was in high school, never mind university or even the person I was 10 years ago. So why should we all have to choose our labels as soon as possible and then stay in our lane?

One of the things that I really enjoyed about this book was how relevant it is to pop culture and it is so in tune with the queer voices on social media right now. I think that it does assume some knowledge of social media though, especially tik tok and terms used within the queer community online so you may want to bear that in mind before picking this up. The romance in this book is just as sweet as the friendship and I was just loving the heart and soul that was so open and raw on the page. I loved getting to know Imogen, I loved Becky Albertalli’s words and I just loved the way Imogen’s story was told. I can’t stop thinking about her and I really hope that this isn’t the last time that we get to see her!

To order your copy now, just click here!

Review: As Far As You'll Take Me by Phil Stamper

From the break-out author of The Gravity of Us comes a heartfelt coming-of-age story about finding your chosen people. 

Marty arrives in London with nothing but his oboe and some savings from his summer job, but he’s excited to start his new life--where he’s no longer the closeted, shy kid who slips under the radar and is free to explore his sexuality without his parents' disapproval.

From the outside, Marty's life looks like a perfect fantasy: in the span of a few weeks, he's made new friends, he's getting closer with his first ever boyfriend, and he's even traveling around Europe. But Marty knows he can't keep up the facade. He hasn’t spoken to his parents since he arrived, he's tearing through his meager savings, his homesickness and anxiety are getting worse and worse, and he hasn’t even come close to landing the job of his dreams. Will Marty be able to find a place that feels like home?

Review: Well in the opening of this book, Phil Stamper did what I never thought possible, he made me yearn for the passport hall at Heathrow Airport. It's not a very nice place and normally I'm very sleep deprived when going through there but Phill Stamper's writing made it seem like a glamorous place fill of possibility and from that moment on I was hooked into this book and Marty's journey. 

I listened to this book on audio and the narration was wonderful. I was concerned because a book about someone from the states being in London and the melting pot of accents that that would mean however this narrator did a great job with all of the accents he encountered and really brought Marty and his travels to life. There is also a great authors note narrated by Phil Stamper which I LOVED and the and interview between author and narrator which was such a great piece of bonus content. 

Marty is such and easy character to get to know and love because he is searching for his home. He is having the kind of identity crisis that we all have towards the end of the school when we have to go out into the world only Marty has the added fact that he is gay in a town where that is not something that is easily accepted and he also has anxiety making the thoughts of the big bad world even more daunting. I think that fact that I could really sympathise with Marty made me like him as a character even more but then the fact that he is suddenly dumped in another country which speaks the same language as him whilst speaking a very different language to him made me empathize with him. I have experience that but crossing the Atlantic the other way. 

I really loved getting to see London and all of its wonderful eccentricities through Marty's eyes. It really made me miss it but I enjoyed getting to discover it with him. This book is also one of a very small handful of books that mentions the immigration process, visas and work permits. It paints them to be the difficult things that they truly are and so thank you to Phil Stamper for that. Something else that this book does really well is explore the issue of forced friendship groups. Yes you're in the same class, apartment, band as someone else and so you're thrust together but that doesn't necessarily mean that you've got anything in common or even that you have to allow those people into your personal space. This is something that is hard to grasp when you start a new job, school or even move to a new location like Marty. 

This is definitely a challenging book and you should be aware it comes with care warnings for body dysmorphia and disordered eating, self harm in the form of self-starvation but it was so great to see this issues, alongside other mental health issues written about from the male point of view. So often these issues are only written about from the female point of view and can often become more of a stereotype but I admire the way in which these issues were woven into Marty's story. Without giving any spoilers I also really thought the ending of this book was perfect, I wouldn't have had it written any other way and I am just so grateful for the time I got to spend with this book!

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US (UK publication date March 4th)

Review: Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender

From Stonewall and Lambda Award-winning author Kacen Callender comes a revelatory YA novel about a transgender teen grappling with identity and self-discovery while falling in love for the first time.

Felix Love has never been in love--and, yes, he's painfully aware of the irony. He desperately wants to know what it's like and why it seems so easy for everyone but him to find someone. What's worse is that, even though he is proud of his identity, Felix also secretly fears that he's one marginalization too many--Black, queer, and transgender--to ever get his own happily-ever-after.

When an anonymous student begins sending him transphobic messages--after publicly posting Felix's deadname alongside images of him before he transitioned--Felix comes up with a plan for revenge. What he didn't count on: his catfish scenario landing him in a quasi-love triangle....

But as he navigates his complicated feelings, Felix begins a journey of questioning and self-discovery that helps redefine his most important relationship: how he feels about himself.

Felix Ever After is an honest and layered story about identity, falling in love, and recognizing the love you deserve.

Review: Well I loved this book right from the word go. Felix makes for a great narrator and it was just so wonderful being a part of their world and hearing the thoughts in their head. I really think that if you loved reading the development in Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda, you will love reading this one. This books takes it that step further, that step deeper and I am so here for it. 

All of the themes explored in this book are of course wonderfully timely and definitely something that you people today need to be reading about. The issues surrounding online harassment and bullying just can't be written about enough in my opinion. There is so much stigma around speaking up against that kind of harassment and how schools handle that when it occurs outside of their walls. I just loved how it was handled and dealt with in this book. 

Friendship is a major theme of this book as well as family and that is something that often comes up in young adult fiction but it is dealt with in new and interesting ways in this novel. I like that friends might be those you find outside of school and family might just disappoint you, that can happen. There is a fab support group in this novel that reminds me a lot of the support group I read about in Rick by Alex Gino. It is encouraging to know that that kind fo support is out there. 

Identity is also of course the over arching theme in this novel and it is dealt with so well. We might think we know something about our identity but at any point in our lives that can change drastically or even minutely and that can be terribly discombobulating. I think living this issue through Felix is great and it is written about so well here. I also love that Felix is encouraged to be creative at school, that it is celebrated. As a teacher it makes my heart happy to see that it could actually happen.

If you are wary of picking up this book because it covers so many issues, please don't let that put you off. This book is romantic and funny and the plot is perfectly pace. Yes issues are dealt with but they are part of the story of Felix and I really enjoyed every moment of this. Highly recommend. 

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Review: Rick by Alex Gino

From the award-winning author of George, the story of a boy named Rick who needs to explore his own identity apart from his jerk of a best friend. 

Rick's never questioned much. He's gone along with his best friend Jeff even when Jeff's acted like a bully and a jerk. He's let his father joke with him about which hot girls he might want to date even though that kind of talk always makes him uncomfortable. And he hasn't given his own identity much thought, because everyone else around him seemed to have figured it out. 

But now Rick's gotten to middle school, and new doors are opening. One of them leads to the school's Rainbow Spectrum club, where kids of many genders and identities congregate, including Melissa, the girl who sits in front of Rick in class and seems to have her life together. Rick wants his own life to be that...understood. Even if it means breaking some old friendships and making some new ones. 

As they did in their groundbreaking novel George, in Rick, award-winning author Alex Gino explores what it means to search for your own place in the world...and all the steps you and the people around you need to take in order to get where you need to be.

Review: This was such a sweet story of what happens when you start middle school and meet new people and see new things and those friendships you begin to reevaluate. 

This book is incredibly real in that sense because we have all had our friendships grow and change as we move onto the next stage in our lives whatever that stage might be. It was so organic the way Rick moved to middle school and found that that opened his eyes to new experiences and new ideas. 

I love the idea of the Rainbow spectrum club as well. I wish there had been something like this in the schools that I attended, it really sounds like a wonderful place where all ideas can be explored and no topic is taboo. We also get to catch up with characters from George in that club and so that was wonderful too. 

I was really impressed when I read George for the first time when it came up but Rick just takes it to a whole other level when it comes to being open about identity in all its forms. If you’re looking for some diverse middle grade fiction you have found it here. I listened to this on audiobook and I was so impressed with the narration so I recommend this book to you in whatever form you prefer. 

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Review: The Knockout Queen by Rufi Thorpe

A dazzling and darkly comic novel of love, violence, and friendship in the California suburbs

Bunny Lampert is the princess of North Shore⁠--beautiful, tall, blond, with a rich real-estate-developer father and a swimming pool in her backyard. Michael⁠⁠--with a ponytail down his back and a septum piercing⁠--lives with his aunt in the cramped stucco cottage next door. When Bunny catches Michael smoking in her yard, he discovers that her life is not as perfect as it seems. At six foot three, Bunny towers over their classmates. Even as she dreams of standing out and competing in the Olympics, she is desperate to fit in, to seem normal, and to get a boyfriend, all while hiding her father's escalating alcoholism. Michael has secrets of his own. At home and at school Michael pretends to be straight, but at night he tries to understand himself by meeting men online for anonymous encounters that both thrill and scare him. When Michael falls in love for the first time, a vicious strain of gossip circulates and a terrible, brutal act becomes the defining feature of both his and Bunny's futures⁠⁠--and of their friendship. With storytelling as intoxicating as it is intelligent, Rufi Thorpe has created a tragic and unflinching portrait of identity, a fascinating examination of our struggles to exist in our bodies, and an excruciatingly beautiful story of two humans aching for connection.

Review: Wow! Talk about realness, this book has it in spades. I went into this novel not knowing a whole lot about it and if I hadn’t already known that it was fiction I would have taken this book to be a memoir or biography of sorts. I let myself get lulled into that kind of nonfiction tone because this book does read as someone telling you their life story. I did this on audio and so I let the narrator tell me about his life, his feelings and his troubles and I enjoyed every moment of it. 

This is definitely a dark read but coming from a very real place. There are moments of beauty but also moments of pure horror but that is real life and that is obviously where this book is coming from. This book shows what it is like for those of us in society who are not deemed to be ‘norma’ and who don’t ‘fit in’ and how important having a support network is, especially when that is the case. 

Bunny and Michael are really interesting and intriguing characters and I love how overtly different they are from one another and also from everyone else they go to school with. They have that inner turmoil of wanting to fit in with their peers but also knowing that there is something special about them and something which was meant to stand out and it was truly wonderful watching them come to terms with that and watching them bond over that. 

There are definitely some really really dark moments in this book and I loved how honest and real it was but there were also moments of just pure beauty and also moments that made me laugh out loud. I love how this author gave us an ending and allowed us to revisit Michael and Bunny at points in the future. I really enjoyed this book. It comes with some care warnings for sure but if you’re good with the synopsis then I highly recommend this novel to you. 

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Review: A New Life For Christmas by Liam Livings

A house exchange between two single men leads to a romantic new life for both of them.

Oliver and Kyle live thousands of miles apart, but each needs a break from his current life and love. Enter the Cloud B&B website, a wonderful new way to exchange homes for the holiday. They both muster their courage, and decide to visit another continent for Christmas.

In the UK, Oliver has been pining after his neighbour for far too long, living his comfortable but quiet life in a town in the New Forest. When his crush moves on in the worst possible way, Oliver is seduced by the chance to stay in fun-loving, sunny Miami.

In Miami, Kyle is a club owning workaholic, who suddenly discovers the man he lives with has been unfaithful. Yet again. As consolation, Kyle is tempted to see first hand the picturebook charm of the New Forest in winter.

Both of them find not just a new setting but a new romance. Oliver makes a big effort to shed his inhibitions and meets a musician, Mark, who plays in the Florida bars, and who may be just as cautious and polite as Oliver in making the first move.

And while Kyle’s trying to come to terms with England’s very different culture—and food!—he’s charmed by Oliver’s best friend Edward, who’s bold and sexy, but secretive.

Will Oliver take the leap of faith and encourage a lover who can and will give the commitment he deserves? And will Kyle find a man who can be loyal and also offer Kyle the family life he needs?

Review: A retelling of The Holiday with fabulously queer twist? Yes please! Oh I was hooked into this story from the word go and the short nature of this book meant that I could devour this whole thing in a couple of sittings. It was truly wonderful to be transported to christmas time and into one of my favourite festive films sitting in the May sunshine I can tell you. 

I loved the start of this novel, the situations that Oliver and Kyle find themselves in. They were so easy to relate to and I think any reader will be able to identify with both of these men in one way or another. I love how we get to see the vulnerable side of both these guys, see them put up their guard and also see what it takes to bring that guard down. I loved the way being out of their comfort zone affected the way they did things and loved watching them explore their new settings as well. 

The description of Christmas in a sunny setting and a snowy English setting were truly beautiful. I loved the description of the days of exploring that these men did. I liked the way I could smell and hear the meals and the shopping trips, I felt like I was discovering it all with them. 

The romance in this book is truly top notch as well. If you’re looking for your next sweet festive read you have found it. This book gets hot and steamy too without giving too much away and I am so here for more of that. I loved this read, I will definitely be seeking out more from this author soon!

To order your copy now just click the link: UK or US

Review: Wonderland by Juno Dawson

What happens when you fall down the rabbit hole? The compulsive must-have follow-up to CLEAN and MEAT MARKET from bestselling author Juno Dawson

Alice lives in a world of stifling privilege and luxury - but none of it means anything when your own head plays tricks on your reality. When her troubled friend Bunny goes missing, Alice becomes obsessed with finding her. On the trail of her last movements, Alice discovers a mysterious invitation to 'Wonderland': the party to end all parties - three days of hedonistic excess to which only the elite are welcome.

Will she find Bunny there? Or is this really a case of finding herself? Because Alice has secrets of her own, and ruthless socialite queen Paisley Hart is determined to uncover them, whatever it takes.

Alice is all alone, miles from home, and now she has a new enemy who wants her head...

A searing exploration of mental health, gender and privilege, from the most addictive YA novelist in the UK today.

Review: Well this really was a wild ride into Wonderland. This Alice in Wonderland retelling is not for the faint-hearted and this definitely contains care warnings for Self harm, suicide, mental health, sexual assault and drug use. But this book fearlessly tackles issues facing young people today head on and its cast of characters is like no other. If you love books with diverse characters and not your cookie cutter YA contemporary characters then this one is definitely for you. 

I really found Alice intriguing as a main character and I think there is nothing better for an author to make me intrigued by their main character. She is a unique individual and fits the bill of unreliable narrator. She seems like she is snarky and wants to be unlikable but really she is going through a hell of a lot of things as well as just those issues facing every single teenage girl in the world and so it is impossible not to fall in love with her. As a teacher I felt very protective over her but as a reader I loved the adventures that she went on. I feel like I still don't fully know her as a person and I quite like that to be honest. 

I mentioned that this book contains drug use and it is that drug use that over exaggerates this particular Wonderland. I feel like this author sat down and thought, well what if Alice had a crush on the white rabbit and that's why she followed them, what if there was group sex in wonderland, where do Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee land on the spectrum of sexuality? I am just amazed by this world that Juno Dawson has built. 

Not every escapade and every drug fueled party was for me but boy could I appreciate the intricacies of the storytelling and the weaving of the plot and if you want to read something really different and completely daring then this book is for you. 

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Review: The Gravity of Us by Phil Stamper

As a successful social media journalist with half a million followers, seventeen-year-old Cal is used to sharing his life online. But when his pilot father is selected for a highly publicized NASA mission to Mars, Cal and his family relocate from Brooklyn to Houston and are thrust into a media circus.

Amidst the chaos, Cal meets sensitive and mysterious Leon, another "Astrokid," and finds himself falling head over heels--fast. As the frenzy around the mission grows, so does their connection. But when secrets about the program are uncovered, Cal must find a way to reveal the truth without hurting the people who have become most important to him.

Expertly capturing the thrill of first love and the self-doubt all teens feel, debut author Phil Stamper is a new talent to watch.

Review: I did this book on audio and i heartily recommend reading this book in that format if you can because you get real broadcasts from the reality TV show following the astronauts and their families which just brings the whole thing to life. 

I warmed to Cal and his story right from the beginning of the book. I loved the fact that he is a social media star but one with a difference. He not only uses his platform to show off neighborhoods in New York but also he uses his voice, one that so many people will be able to identify with for political good. Every aspect of social media is explored incredibly well in this novel through the reality TV show and through Cal and his online presence. 

I also love the relationship that Cal develops with Leon. This a friendship as well as a romance. This is own voices for queer representation and I love that Cal and Leon live their queerness in different ways. I like the fact that Cal has to handle making new friends in a new place when he has been so comfortable with his relationships in NYC. 

This book also deals with issues surrounding mental health and the power of science, two topics not normally found together in a novel, especially not a novel that has been marketed as a gay, young adult romance. I love that the writer has fitted so much into such a small space without ever compromising an engaging story line. All of these issues are dealt with so well through events and characters in the book, I am in awe of how these issues were included in such a natural and never forced way. 

This book is something that will stay with me for a while, I am still thinking about the characters and I can't wait to see what this author comes up with next!

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Review: Odd One Out by Nic Stone

From the author of Dear Martin comes this exploration of old friendships, new crushes, and the path to self-discovery.

Courtney "Coop" Cooper

Dumped. Again. And normally I wouldn't mind. But right now, my best friend and source of solace, Jupiter Sanchez, is ignoring me to text some girl. 

Rae Evelyn Chin

I assumed "new girl" would be synonymous with "pariah," but Jupiter and Courtney make me feel like I'm right where I belong. I also want to kiss him. And her. Which is . . . perplexing.

Jupiter Charity-Sanchez

The only thing worse than losing the girl you love to a boy is losing her to your boy. That means losing him, too. I have to make a move. . . .

One story.

Three sides.

No easy answers.

Review: This book was definitely a bit of a slow burn. I loved how we got to know the characters straight away in terms of their personalities and the way that they interact with one another but their feelings and their deeper thoughts and secrets don't get revealed until the book progresses. I absolutely loved this writer's last book and so this one had a lot to live up to. It definitely met those expectations but I'm a very different way which I was grateful for! 

I like the fact that Jupiter and Cooper's relationship is one of friends but that he still admits to her being an attractive girl right from the off. I hate when relationships are unrealistic in novels in this one was certainly realistic. Both characters are somewhat self-obsessed, which is to be expected, they're teenagers, but if that is something that puts you off in novels, then be warned! I think I preferred Cooper and his storyline to Jupiter's.

Rae is a character who comes in to really shake things up but I don't think that she realises this and so I immediately had sympathy with her. I liked her and I liked the way she developed a friendship with both of our main characters here but sometimes her choices were not the best ones to make. 

I think that this book is realistic. I love the fact that it deals with that fact that people aren't always just straight or just gay and the stigma that comes with not being just one of these things. This book shows how people within in the LGBTQ+ community aren't always accepting of bisexuality or indeed anything other than Gay or lesbian. I could definitely picture this story playing out in real life and I enjoyed spending time with these characters-I definitely recommend it. 

To  order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Review: What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

Arthur is only in New York for the summer, but if Broadway has taught him anything, it’s that the universe can deliver a showstopping romance when you least expect it.

Ben thinks the universe needs to mind its business. If the universe had his back, he wouldn’t be on his way to the post office carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend’s things.

But when Arthur and Ben meet-cute at the post office, what exactly does the universe have in store for them?

Maybe nothing. After all, they get separated.

Maybe everything. After all, they get reunited.

But what if they can’t quite nail a first date . . . or a second first date . . . or a third?

What if Arthur tries too hard to make it work . . . and Ben doesn’t try hard enough?

What if life really isn’t like a Broadway play?

But what if it is?

Review: Of course I absolutely loved this story, I am obsessed with Becky Albertalli's words and have recently discovered Adam Silvera too so the two of them working together was going to be an amazing story. 

This book has some super sweet moments but also some heartbreaking moments. These two authors are known for that and I wasn't sure how the two elements were going to work together but they really do. I love the concept of a missed connection and the search of trying to find one another was probably one of my favourite parts of the storyline. There are also threads of terrible dates, getting over your ex and of course more serious issues like racism, homophobia and anxiety also feature. I thought the more serious issues explored in the book were handled very sensitively and also as part of the the storyline, this didn't feel like an 'issues' book. 

I loved Ben and Arthur as characters, I had a strong sense of obligation to look after them because they're just both so sweet. I also love the fact that this is entirely a gay romance novel featuring Jewish and non-Jewish characters as well as someone with ADHD. There are also some wonderful friendships with side-characters, some of whom I would like to see more of *hint* and all of the characters seem to really know what it means to be there for someone! The romantic moments of this book are really super romantic and make me melt just a little bit inside every time. But the real world definitely does factor in here as well, there is no such thing as a romance bubble for these two. 

One of my favourite features was the fact that Arthur is brand new to New York whereas Ben has grown up there and so we also get to discover the city, both the negative and the positive side, along with Arthur. I think this made the setting feel fresh and meant that it was also an influence on the storyline and more specifically Ben and Arthur's dating life. I don't think that any other setting apart from maybe another metropolis of similar ilk would have worked for this story and the description f the various meeting places and journeys that these two guys have were really wonderful. 

I really loved this novel and I think that if you are a fan of either of these writers then you will definitely enjoy this book. If you have never read anything by these authors then you don;t need to have, you will still love it. If you're looking for a fabulously gay romance to snuggle up with this fall then definitely do yourself a favour and pick this one up now!

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US 

Review: Leah on The Offbeat by Becky Albertalli

When it comes to drumming, Leah Burke is usually on beat- but real life isn't always so rhythmic.

The only child of a single mum, and her life is less privileged than her friends.

Her mum knows she's bisexual, but Leah hasn't mustered the courage to tell her friends. 

Not even her openly gay BFF, Simon.

Prom and college are on the horizon, and tensions are running high.

Can Leah still strike the right note, when the people she loves are fighting?

And how can she cope knowing that she might love one of her friends more than she ever intended?

Review: Oh my goodness I loved this book so much. Firstly, I love the fact that this book carries on from where Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda left off so we know the characters, we know the setting and we want to find out how the Creekwood High gang are getting on. And secondly I love the fact that this book focuses on my favourite character from that book, Leah! Can I just say as an aside, she was also my favourite character when I saw the film so that really didn't disappoint either!

You definitely have to have read Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda before reading this one unless you want to be spoiled for Simon story lines...

We know going into this book that Leah identifies as bisexual but hasn't come out to anyone yet. I think that this was a great move by this author, you don't read about many lead female characters who are afraid to come out as bisexual or who are sure they are bisexual. It was great to read about the crushes that Leah has and has had because they really do include a broad spectrum of people and I like the fact that a follow on from a love story involving two guys should be followed up with a sometimes wildly romantic story about a girl who likes both guys and girls!

There are other aspects to Leah's character that make her just so easy to fall in love with though. She is incredibly neurotic whilst consistently putting a laid back front out there. She worries about the kinds of things that I worried about when I was a teenager so she is definitely easy to identify with as well. The other thing I really loved about her was that she doesn't have it all figured out either, and she doesn't pretend to have it all figured out. Far too many books feature teens who are certain about their future when being a teenager isn't the time to be fully committed on these decisions and I really liked that!

This book also features some awesome Harry Potter references and discussions, an epic road trip, an unfortunate party and some amazing prom outfits-what's not to love? Seriously I hugged this book when I finished because it really did give me all the feels and I love the messages that Becky Albertalli puts out into the universe. I'd really like to see this follow up on the big screen as well, let's hope it happens!

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Review: Emma Ever After by Brigid Coady

Emma Woodhouse knows the world loves nothing more than a celebrity romance. And, as a rising star at Mega! Management, she match-makes some of the biggest names in the business. Who cares if it’s all for show? For Emma, fauxmance beats the real thing any day!

But Emma has a huge task ahead. She needs to find fake girlfriends for every member of Breach of the Peace, the world’s hottest new boy band. Rich, talented heart-throbs, they should have their pick of the ladies – but, with band mates Will and Ed determined to undermine her every move, and her best mate Gee voicing disapproval about her chosen profession, Emma’s carefully ordered world begins to fall apart.

Is it possible that Emma doesn’t know best after all?

Review: Another great re-imagining of an Austen classic from Brigid Coady. This is such a great social commentary as well and features many timely issues that we are facing today. 

Emma is me and my friends all rolled into one, trying to have it all and living life constantly under threat from her calendar alerts. I can recognise the characteristic in myself, the need to have success and try and do everything you can to be the best at your job. She has put her personal life on the back burner in favour of the personal lives as others, part of her job. We've all been there and it made for some great reading. 

I also loved her friend Gee and his ability to ground her. I am amazed that he is a grounded person and not the ego maniac we might expect from a former pop star super star! He makes for some real comedy moments in the book, as do the boys from the band that Emma is trying to catapult into even higher stardom. 

This book really does explore the fandom and the role that social media can play in people's professional and personal lives, quite a brave thing to write about. This also covers some great LGBTQ+ issues and the stigma surrounding bisexuality and the connotations that that has. Whilst theses things are covered and fully explored, they are woven well into the storyline and so this book isn't an 'issues' book in any way. 

This was an entertaining read with characters and events that I could definitely identify with, it made me laugh and it made me think. 

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Review: The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli

Seventeen-year-old Molly Peskin-Suso knows all about unrequited love-she's lived through it twenty-six times. She crushes hard and crushes often, but always in secret. Because no matter how many times her twin sister, Cassie, tells her to woman up, Molly can't stomach the idea of rejection. So she's careful. Fat girls always have to be careful.

Then a cute new girl enters Cassie's orbit, and for the first time ever, Molly's cynical twin is a lovesick mess. Meanwhile, Molly's totally not dying of loneliness-except for the part where she is.
Luckily, Cassie's new girlfriend comes with a cute hipster-boy sidekick. Will is funny, flirtatious, and just might be perfect crush material. Maybe more than crush material. And if Molly can win him over, she'll get her first kiss and she'll get her twin back.

There's only one problem: Molly's coworker, Reid. He's an awkward Tolkien superfan, and there's absolutely no way Molly could fall for him. Right?

Review: This is such a cute and easy read and I enjoyed it so much. I loved the fact that the storyline deals with real issues that teenagers have to deal with. I remember feeling left out when my friends were in relationships. I remember counting the crushes I had had and I remember feeling like the only person in the world who looked different from other people. I can only imagine all of that must be 10 times worse when it is your twin who is counting your crushes and getting with somebody else and looks perfect. 

Then there is the fact that these twins have two Moms. Again this is something that is coming up more and more in YA fiction, and adult fiction for that matter, and I love the fact that people are getting more real about this sort of thing. I also really liked the fact that neither of the parents is evil or dead and the girls get along with their family so well. We don't always have to have conflict in that kind of way to have a good time in a book. There are also issues like getting your first job as a teenager, having your first drink and dealing with the difficulties of growing up! These are all dealt with incredibly well by Becky Albertalli in this book and were a pleasure to read. 

In terms of the characters. I really loved getting to know these sisters and their lives. I found them easy to like and easy to empathise with and I really cheered Molly on the whole way through this read. I loved getting to know their friends a family too, especially Reid. I had a real soft spot for Reid and I would dearly like to keep him for myself because he was just lovely. This book was definitely a feel-good read, it had interesting characters, a strong storyline and an interesting setting. I would definitely recommend giving this one a go, especially if you are after something optimistic to add to your TBR!

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Review: Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Simon Spier is sixteen and trying to work out who he is - and what he's looking for. 

But when one of his emails to the very distracting Blue falls into the wrong hands, things get all kinds of complicated.

Because, for Simon, falling for Blue is a big deal . . .
It's a holy freaking huge awesome deal.

Review: This was such a fabulously romantic read. It is one of those magical finds that isn't what it appears to be at first and then just sweeps you up with the relationships and characters in the book and you are immersed in a teenage love story different from any other!

It quite hard to talk about the storyline of this novel without any spoilers. I listened to this book on audiobok and whilst is was definitely a good listen, I think because some of the story is told via email, it would have been good to read a physical copy to be able to keep track of the email conversations. I do love a book that includes emails and texts as part of the story though because I think we live part of our lives through these commutations with our friends and families and so it was entirely realistic!

Obviously this book deals with the issues of being different in high school, namely the issues of being gay and coming out and not just Simon's difficulty with this but Blue and a few other characters too. I thought the way the characters interacted with each other was very real and so found that part really enjoyable to read. I liked the struggle that the two characters had with this and whilst this is a big focus of the book, it is not the main plot in my eyes. 

The main focus of this book in my eyes was the romance, I loved the romance of it all. Of course we know that Simon doesn't really know who Blue is and so there is that little mystery aspect of the story. There is also the fact that neither of these boys has come out of the closet and so it is a forbidden romance of sorts. It is also the first love for both of these characters and so it is wildly new and romantic in that sense. This book just had all the feelings of a really sweet contemporary romance for me and I am sure that it will come over that way when it appears on screen too!

I really enjoyed this read. I think it dealt with all aspects of the storyline in a really great way that was easy to relate to. I loved the romance of it all and had a real book hangover when it was over! A great book!

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