Sunday, 12 February 2017

BOOK REVIEW | The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli

10.

Now, you may notice that I gave this 4 stars, which might seem odd after hearing me gush about it for the last 20 years, but to me, this just wasn't AS GOOD as Simon. There was something utterly special about that book that I can't quite put my finger on, and this one fell just slightly short. There was also a little bit of really annoying drama towards the end that angered me, but overall, this was a wonderful story and if you loved Simon, chances are you'll love Molly and her story as well.

Thanks again to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy for review! :)

Saturday, 4 February 2017

BOOK REVIEW | Noteworthy by Riley Redgate

Title: Noteworthy

Author: Riley Redgate
Series or Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Contemporary YA
Publication Date: 02/05/17
Format: e-ARC
Source: Publisher (Amulet)/NetGalley

Star Rating: 5 stars

GOODREADS

Synopsis ->

It’s the start of Jordan Sun’s junior year at the Kensington-Blaine Boarding School for the Performing Arts. Unfortunately, she’s an Alto 2, which—in the musical theatre world—is sort of like being a vulture in the wild: She has a spot in the ecosystem, but nobody’s falling over themselves to express their appreciation. So it’s no surprise when she gets shut out of the fall musical for the third year straight. Then the school gets a mass email: A spot has opened up in the Sharpshooters, Kensington’s elite a cappella octet. Worshiped ... revered ... all male. Desperate to prove herself, Jordan auditions in her most convincing drag, and it turns out that Jordan Sun, Tenor 1, is exactly what the Sharps are looking for.

This book doesn't come out until May cries, so I'll just give you a list of reasons why you NEED to buy this book when it comes out. (But before I do, I would just like to mention that the cover seems a little juvenile for the content of this book, and I wish it had a better one, so keep that in mind. This book is a lot more mature than it seems!)
1. As my dear friend Kirsti (from melbourneonmymind) put it, this is pretty much the book baby of the movies She's the Man and Pitch Perfect. If that doesn't have you sold....... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
2. The diversity! Our MC is Asian American and coming to terms with the fact that she may be bisexual and what that means for her. Other diverse characters include A Sikh character, a gay character, characters with different body types, plus lots of discussion around transgender people, as our MC encounters a website specifically for trans people on tips and advice and there's a great, respectful discussion around it. There are also different characters living on different socio-economic levels and Jordan's father is also a paraplegic and is in a wheelchair and has chronic pain and one of the Sharpshooters has anxiety!
3. It's HILARIOUS. The banter is incredible and you'll be that person who giggles involuntarily in public.
4. THE BROMANCE. The 7 other guys that make up the Sharpshooters are such wonderfully developed, complex characters that I grew to love and adore. They are honestly friendship goals and I love them so much.
5. There's also a rivalry going on between two A Capella groups and I love that the main 'villain' has a lot of depth and complexity to his character.

6. It's an #ownvoices book. Enough said.

7. There were certain passages that sent chills down my spine for their relevance and honesty.

ARE YOU CONVINCED YET? I could literally go on forever, but alas, my obsession with this book is already at an all time high, so I'll stop for now. JUST GO AND PRE-ORDER THIS WONDERFUL BOOK.

Wednesday, 1 February 2017

BOOK REVIEW | OUR OWN PRIVATE UNIVERSE

Title: Our Own Private Universe
Author: Robin Talley
Series or Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Contemporary YA
Publication Date: 31/01/17
Format: e-ARC
Source: Publisher (Harlequin Australia)/NetGalley
Star Rating: 2 stars
GOODREADS

Synopsis ->
Fifteen-year-old Aki Hunter knows she’s bisexual, but up until now she's only dated guys—and her best friend, Lori, is the only person she’s out to. When she and Lori set off on a four-week youth-group mission trip in a small Mexican town, it never crosses Aki's mind that there might be anyone in the group she’d be interested in dating. But that all goes out the window when Aki meets Christa.

This books definitely has a lot of pros, but unfortunately there were an equal amount of cons for me. The diversity in Our Own Private Universe was ON POINT. The main character is a person of colour and is bisexual, there are other bisexuals in the book (and one that thinks she might be pansexual), an out-and-proud lesbian, and the book takes place in Mexico so there are minor latinx characters as well. I love the fact that it's not only diverse, but the characters in the book explore important topics that are relevant in the world today such as health care in developing countries and gun control. Safe sex is also explored and researched by the main character in this book, making this an excellent 'role model' book for teens exploring their sexuality. I also loved how the entire book took place during a religious mission trip, but religion was never shoved in your face. I LOVED that.

Moving on to the cons. There was a TON of petty YA drama in this book that really annoyed me. I am honestly just over petty drama in YA in general and it sucked that a book with such promise stooped to that level. The three main characters just kept lying about everything and bitching and fighting and it was so frustrating and not at all what I wanted out of this reading experience. I mean, I get that that's what a lot of teenagers are like, but it seemed like such a downer on what I wanted to be an awesomely positive book.

So I'm kind of on the fence about this one. Loved the diversity and the fact that it was #ownvoices, but the petty YA drama let it down for me.

Monday, 30 January 2017

BOOK REVIEW | WE COME APART

Title: We Come Apart
Author: Sarah Crossan & Brian Conaghan
Series or Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Contemporary YA
Publication Date: 09/02/17
Format: e-ARC
Source: Publisher (Bloomsbury)/NetGalley
Star Rating: 3 stars
GOODREADS

Synopsis ->

Authors Brian Conaghan and Sarah Crossan have joined forces to tell the story of Nicu and Jess, two troubled teens whose paths cross in the unlikeliest of places.
Nicu has emigrated from Romania and is struggling to find his place in his new home. Meanwhile, Jess's home life is overshadowed by violence. When Nicu and Jess meet, what starts out as friendship grows into romance as the two bond over their painful pasts and hopeful futures. But will they be able to save each other, let alone themselves?
For fans of Una LaMarche’s Like No Other, this illuminating story told in dual points of view through vibrant verse will stay with readers long after they've turned the last page.

This book is definitely coming out at the right time (with what's happening around the world right now) and its message is immensely powerful.
It follows two unlikely friends as they meet and get to know each other as a part of a juvenile reform course due to both Nicu and Jess being caught shoplifting. Nicu has recently emigrated to the UK from Romania and Jess lives in an unsafe and abusive home.
As this book isn't officially released yet, I'll just list the things that really stuck out for me:

- the look into Nicu's mind as he navigates his way in a new country and how hard it is to be in an unfamiliar environment and having to learn a new language, especially when no one gives you a chance (as is often the case in this book).
- It's also a glance behind those kids who act up in class. I often always thought as a kid, 'Why don't they just stop and do what they're told? Why are they so naughty?' etc., when there is ALWAYS a reason, even if it isn't always apparent to you. Having a look inside Jess's mind on why she did the things that she did was incredibly eye-opening.
- the way that teachers treated Nicu was absolutely despicable. Not even giving him the time of day, not even a smile and always assuming the worst of him was absolutely heartbreaking to read. A teacher can literally make or break a student.
- It's told in dual perspective and in verse, and to be honest it felt like the wrong format. I honestly don't understand why it was told in verse and it certainly didn't bring anything to the table for me.
- Another thing I was unsure about was the writing from Nicu's perspective. It felt almost wrong to be reading the disjointed English and the innermost thoughts of Nicu when he was written by a white man (I'm assuming Brian wrote Nicu). I'm still unsure how I feel about this because while the message of the book is super important, it just felt a little weird to me if that makes sense.
- The ending was absolutely gut-wrenching. Prepare yourself.

Friday, 6 January 2017

BOOK REVIEW | Victoria by Daisy Goodwin

Title: Victoria
Author: Daisy Goodwin
Series or Standalone: Standalone at this point in time
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publication Date: 20/10/16
Format: e-ARC
Source: Publisher (Headline Review)/NetGalley
Star Rating: 3 stars
GOODREADS

Synopsis ->

In 1837, less than a month after her eighteenth birthday, Alexandrina Victoria - sheltered, small in stature, and female - became Queen of Great Britain and Ireland and from the moment William IV died, the young Queen startled everyone: abandoning her hated first name in favour of Victoria; insisting, for the first time in her life, on sleeping in a room apart from her mother; resolute about meeting with her ministers alone.
One of those ministers, Lord Melbourne, became Victoria's private secretary. Perhaps he might have become more than that, except everyone argued she was destined to marry her cousin, Prince Albert . But Victoria had met Albert as a child and found him stiff and critical: surely the last man she would want for a husband?
Drawing on Victoria's diaries as well as her own brilliant gifts for history and drama, Daisy Goodwin brings the inner life of the young queen even more richly to life in this magnificent novel.

Victoria is a novelisation of Queen Victoria's ascension to the British throne in 1837. However, what you may or may not know, is that the author of this book is also the writer and creator of the ITV series (also titled Victoria) that coincides with it. I actually watched season 1 of the show first before reading the novel, so it's extremely difficult for me not to compare the two and to be honest, I much prefer the show to the novel. That's not to say it's a bad book, because it's not. It just lacked a few of the things that I adored from the show and even if I never watched the show, I still feel as though I would have the same issues with the book.

So here is what I will tell you (if you don't want to know anything about the show or the book's plot and don't already know the history of Queen Victoria, then perhaps don't read on) - The novel only reaches the point of Victoria's engagement, whereas the show continues farther than that until the birth of her first child. This, combined with the fact that Prince Albert only enters the novel 80% of the way through, was my main issue. If you're a massive romance fan like I am, then you'll probably be reading this wondering when the HECK Albert is finally going to show up and woo you and this is exactly what happened. I was waiting and waiting and waiting and then it only leads up until their engagement??? ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? THEIR RELATIONSHIP IS LITERALLY WHAT I'M HERE FOR!

Don't get me wrong, the first 80% of the novel is still important, as it follows Victoria's ascension and relationship with Lord Melbourne, but it dragged on for far too long and, in my opinion, should have only taken up 40-50% of the novel MAX, and the rest to be focussed on Victoria and Albert, their relationship, and how they rule together and start a family.

I would be fine with the novel how it is if it were the first in a series, but Daisy Goodwin has stated that her next novel will follow an entirely different main character and it will take place after Prince Albert dies SO THE WHOLE REASON I WANTED TO READ THESE BOOKS IS COMPLETELY OUT OF THE PICTURE. WHAT THE HECK.

I did love seeing Victoria ruling by herself, standing up to all of her enemies and coming into her own, but Albert was such a HUGE part of her life and I really, REALLY wanted to read about them together, so I was super disappointed.

In terms of the content, it's pretty historically accurate for the amount of information available and Daisy Goodwin relied on a hefty biography of Victoria's life so she knew what she was talking about, even if some aspects were embellished for the sake of TV drama.

So yes, I recommend this book if you want to know more about the Queen's early reigning years, but I don't recommend it if you're purely here for her and Prince Albert's relationship. I would definitely recommend the TV show over the novel in any case. The acting is superb, the costumes and settings were incredible and PRINCE ALBERT IS IN MORE THAN HALF OF IT, SO THERE'S THAT. He comes in at the end of episode 3 and there's 8 episodes in total in the first season, so get on that!

Overall I gave it a 3 out of 5 stars!

Here's a picture of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert (from the ITV series) for your viewing pleasure ;)

Monday, 4 July 2016

BLOG TOUR | #Michael4Mina

I'm so happy to be a part of the blog tour for this amazing book! Check out my review below!

Book Review | Underwater by Marisa Reichardt

Title: Underwater
Author: Marisa Reichardt
Series or Standalone: Standalone
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publication Date: 7/4/2016
Format: Paperback
Source: Publisher
Star Rating: 3.5 stars
GOODREADS

Synopsis ->

Morgan didn’t mean to do anything wrong that day. Actually, she meant to do something right. But her kind act inadvertently played a role in a deadly tragedy. In order to move on, Morgan must learn to forgive—first someone who did something that might be unforgivable, and then herself.
But Morgan can’t move on. She can’t even move beyond the front door of the apartment she shares with her mother and little brother. Morgan feels like she’s underwater, unable to surface. Unable to see her friends. Unable to go to school.
When it seems Morgan can’t hold her breath any longer, a new boy moves in next door. Evan reminds her of the salty ocean air and the rush she used to get from swimming. He might be just what she needs to help her reconnect with the world outside.
Underwater is a powerful, hopeful debut novel about redemption, recovery, and finding the strength it takes to face your past and move on.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan Australia for sending me a copy of this book!
I loved this book because I could relate so much to the main character, not the traumatic experience, but the anxiety and agoraphobia that she developed. So many things had me nodding my head in agreement. I loved the cute little romance that happened throughout and how supportive they both were and they were just so good for each other BUT he was only really supportive and good for her towards the end. It took him a while to actually understand what she was going through and how to react to certain things that she did. Sooooo I'm kind of 50/50 on the romance.

It doesn't explicitly say what Morgan went through in the synopsis, but you find out about a quarter of the way through and there was something about that day that Morgan hasn't told anybody.
There was one part of the novel that really resonated with me and it's when Morgan is with her psychologist (who is awesome, by the way) and they managed to leave the house which was a huge feat in itself and Morgan says, 'I can't do it', and Brenda says something like, 'You're already doing it'. Your brain tries to trick you, and I recently had an experience where mine tried to trick me while I was on my prac for uni, and I'd get to school and say to myself that I couldn't do it, but I just needed to remind myself that I was there. I was already doing it. I could do this. I don't know if the author has a background in psychology, but I loved how the psychologist in the book actually knew what she was talking about.
I definitely recommend this one!

Friday, 20 May 2016

ACOMAF PLAYLIST

So I finished reading A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas last night, and I haven't been this obsessed with a book and its characters for a while so I immediately went and created a playlist for all my feels!

BEWARE - SPOILERS AHEAD!

1. Follow You by Bring Me The Horizon
"So you can drag me through hell
If it meant I could hold your hand.
I will follow you, cause I'm under your spell
And you could throw me to the flames.
I will follow you, I will follow you."

I wanted to put this song first because to me, this song is literally the perfect Rhysand&Feyre love song. omg as soon as it gets to the chorus I just want to CRY bc I LOVE THEM SO MUCH.

Okay I like to call this next section the 'OMG TAMLIN WTF R U DOING? STOP!' section. These ones are pretty self explanatory if you've read the beginning of the book. It centres around Feyre's unhappiness while with Tamlin.

2. (The Symphony of) Blasé by Anberlin
"This is our last goodnight
Say what you will
Say all that you can.
Words have no meaning
When I've seen where you've been."

3. Let Go by Safetysuit
"You go a long way getting your way sometimes
And everything's screaming.
It's time we let go, let go let go.
I'm gonna say no, say no, say no.
It's time to let go, let go, let go."

4. Drown (new) by Bring Me The Horizon
"What doesn't kill you makes you wish you were dead.
Got a hole in my soul, growing deeper and deeper.
And I can't take one more moment of this silence.
The loneliness is haunting me.
And the weight of the world's getting harder to hold up."

5. My House by Pvris
"Haven't you heard?
I'm not yours anymore."

"Never thought that I would feel like this
Such a mess when I'm in your presence
I've had enough, I think you've been making me sick
It's my house
And I think it's time to get out
It's my soul
It isn't yours anymore
It's my house
And I think it's time to get out"

6. Too Late by The Paper Kites

"No love, you have come too late
No love, you have come too late

Such darkness
But I know your face cause I learned it as if I was blind
In the moment
I feel like I am and I hate that I know it so well
You're always in my head
Searing your thoughts in to my skin
But this still won't work, no"

Okay, these next songs take place after Feyre has left Tamlin.

7. Fix You by Coldplay

"Tears stream down your face

I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face
And I

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you"

Rhys and Feyre both being broken by what Amarantha had done to them and Rhys always being there for Feyre and letting her be her own person.

8. Waking Up (Acoustic) by Pvris
"Oh I can't see
The whites are missing from my eyes
I can't breathe
I'm doing everything to bring this body back to life."

Feyre trying to feel something again.

9. Dig by Incubus

"We all have something that digs at us
At least we dig each other

So when weakness turns my ego up
I know you'll count on the me from yesterday

If I turn into another
Dig me up from under what is covering
The better part of me

Sing this song
Remind me that we'll always have each other
When everything else is gone"

When Rhys has to become the dreaded 'High Lord of the Night Court' in front of Feyre.

10. The Way by Zack Hemsey
Whenever I hear this mostly instrumental song, I think of Feyre picking herself back up and becoming the biggest badass in history.

11. Dangerous Woman by Ariana Grande

"Nothing to prove and I'm bulletproof and
Know what I'm doing
The way we're movin' like introducing
Us to a new thing
I wanna savor, save it for later
The taste of flavor, 'cause I'm a taker
'Cause I'm a giver, it's only nature
I live for danger

All that you got, skin to skin, oh my God
Don't ya stop, boy

Oh yeah
Somethin' 'bout you makes me feel like a dangerous woman
Somethin' 'bout you
Makes me wanna do things that I shouldn't
Somethin' 'bout, somethin' 'bout, somethin' 'bout you."

How Rhys makes Feyre feel 😍

12. You Belong Here by Anberlin
"You belong here.

You were meant for me.
You belong here.
You belong here with me.
You were meant to be with me.

You are the better part, you see.
Always have and always will.
You'll be the better part of me, oh oh.
For the rest of my life."

How Feyre feels at home in Velaris with Rhys and her new family. I WANT TO CRY WITH HAPPINESS JUST THINKING ABOUT IT.

13. Empty by Pvris
"You took these starving limbs, try to see
Try to see what they could be
I thought I would be something
I thought you'd complete me
That you'd erase all the pain
That I felt in my brain
If you fill my heart with love
Then you'd fill my voids with love
And now you see that didn't change a thing.

What do you want from me?"

Feyre reflecting on her relationship with Tamlin when she sees him again in Hybern.

14. Fire by Pvris
"You're out of line,

Buried yourself alive and expected to be fine
You can't rewind,
When you're choking on your own dirt begging for your life

Your bridges are burning
And all the tables are turning
You started a fire, and you're burning up, up
Burning up.

What you give, is what you get
And in your case that's nothing but guilt and regret
And all the flames you kept in your brain
Came out your lips and sent you straight into your own grave

You were a walking, talking, corpse at best.
And I swear I couldn't wait to get you off my chest,
And when you asked us why
We couldn't look you in your eyes,
It's hard to find life in something that's already died."

Feyre's all consuming rage at Tamlin and what he's done and how she plans to ruin him. I AM RAGING RIGHT WITH U GURL OMG.

15. Medicine by Broods
"Oh and it's the only way, it's the, it's the only way out"

What Feyre is thinking and trying to shout through the bond as she pretends that she's been tricked by Rhysand so that they can all get out alive.

16. Killing You by Broods
"But it's killing me
And it's killing you
Cause I wish you were here."

This is how I imagine Feyre and Rhys feel straight after the events in ACOMAF, when they're forced to separate while Feyre tries to take down the Spring Court from the inside.

CUE THE BIGGEST BOOK HANGOVER IN HISTORY. *faints*

Thursday, 14 April 2016

BOOK REVIEW | The Protected by Claire Zorn

Title: The Protected
Author: Claire Zorn
Series or Standalone: Standalone
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publication Date: 23/7/2014
Format: Paperback
Source: Publisher - UQP
Star Rating: 4 stars
GOODREADS

Synopsis -->
Hannah's world is in pieces and she doesn't need the school counsellor to tell her she has deep-seated psychological issues. With a seriously depressed mum, an injured dad and a dead sister, who wouldn't have problems?
Hannah should feel terrible but for the first time in ages, she feels a glimmer of hope and isn't afraid anymore. Is it because the elusive Josh is taking an interest in her? Or does it run deeper than that?
In a family torn apart by grief and guilt, one girl's struggle to come to terms with years of torment shows just how long old wounds can take to heal.

THIS, my friends, is how you write a YA novel focusing on a serious topic.
Claire Zorn is definitely an author to watch. I read her debut, The Sky So Heavy, in less than 24 hours and immediately after finishing it, I picked up this book because I couldn't get enough of Zorn's realistic and raw characters.

The Protected is about Hannah and how her and her family are torn apart by the loss of Hannah's older sister. It also realistically portrays horrific bullying, family troubles, panic attacks and the reality of being an outcast in high school. I am honestly blown away by Claire Zorn's ability to write so realistically.

What I absolutely adored about this novel is that it doesn't have your typical YA instalovey bullcrap that makes Hannah magically okay again. Yes, she meets a guy, but he's her friend and he helps her just by being there for her. Sure, they'll probably get married in like 12 years, but at this point in time when the novel is set, THAT IS NOT IMPORTANT. What's important is Hannah's mental health and overcoming her guilt and her grief, overcoming years of horrific bullying and a year of having a mother completely disappear into herself and an injured father who can't remember anything that happened on the day they lost Katie.

My only complaint about this novel is that I wanted more, but I think this has more to do with me, not the book. The book ended beautifully, but personally, a lot of the time I crave more of the characters that I've grown to love.

Definitely go and check out The Sky So Heavy AND this book, because Claire Zorn is definitely an author to watch! She has a new book coming out soon and yOU BET YOUR BOTTOM DOLLAR I'LL BE DEVOURING IT ASAP.

Wednesday, 13 April 2016

Mini Review | This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

Title: This is Where it Ends
Author: Marieke Nijkamp
Series or Standalone: Standalone
Genre: YA Thriller/Contemporary
Publication Date: 5/1/2016
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library
Star Rating: 3.5 stars
GOODREADS

Synopsis -->
10:00 a.m. The principal of Opportunity High School finishes her speech, welcoming the entire student body to a new semester and encouraging them to excel and achieve.
10:02 a.m. The students get up to leave the auditorium for their next class.
10:03 a.m. The auditorium doors won't open.
10:05 a.m. Someone starts shooting.
Told from four different perspectives over the span of fifty-four harrowing minutes, terror reigns as one student’s calculated revenge turns into the ultimate game of survival.

I keep changing my rating because I have very mixed feelings about this. Firstly, I stayed up into the early hours of the morning reading this because I couldn't put it down. It was completely gripping and horrific and I just had to know what happened. However, I felt as though some of the characters (especially the shooter) were very underdeveloped. I have personally never experienced a school shooting, but some of the things that characters did/said seemed completely ridiculous and unrealistic to me - for example one of the characters confronts the shooter and says 'You know, sweaty chic does't suit you'. Like, what????????? If there was the possibility that you were about to be shot, that's really what you would say? You wouldn't be shaking in your boots? That just didn't make sense to me. But like I said, I was hooked from page one, and I didn't think I would be because the entire novel spans only 1 hour, but through the different perspectives there were expertly placed mini-cliffhangers and you had to wait until you got their perspective again to find out what happened.
The novel also has a very 'black and white'/'good vs evil' stance which I don't necessarily agree with either. I think I'll keep it at 3.5 stars for now because of how it kept my eyes glued to the book until the very last page.

Book Review | The Sky So Heavy by Claire Zorn

Title: The Sky So Heavy
Author: Claire Zorn
Series or Standalone: Standalone
Genre: YA Apocalypse/Dystopia
Publication Date: 24/7/2013
Format: Paperback
Source: Publisher - UQP
Star Rating: 4 stars
GOODREADS

Synopsis -->
For Fin, it's just like any other day - racing for the school bus, bluffing his way through class, and trying to remain cool in front of the most sophisticated girl in his universe, Lucy. Only it's not like any other day because, on the other side of the world, nuclear missiles are being detonated.

I just finished this book, hugged it to my chest and let out a small wail. Wow. What an engrossing and gripping debut. The Sky So Heavy follows the aftermath of Nuclear testing gone wrong, resulting in a nuclear winter. Our main characters live just outside of Sydney, Australia and it is their harrowing story of loss and survival, of love and friendship and ultimately, it's a powerful allegory in which the reality of Australia's asylum seeker crisis is brought to light.

This book was also scarily realistic, in that this isn't a dystopian revolving around a disaster that could never happen in real life (e.g. zombies), but a nuclear war? That could happen and the results would be absolutely devastating, like worldwide famine and entire nations completely demolished. The book was brutal, honest and raw. The last 50 pages had my heart caving in in agony.

The characters were really what made this book for me. We have Fin, who is just trying to keep his 12 year old brother alive. We Lucy, the girl that Fin has had a crush on from the minute she first walked into the classroom. And then we have Noll, my precious cinnamon roll. He was severely bullied in school and nobody did anything to stop it, not even Fin, who was best friends with one of the biggest bullies in the school. But disaster brings people together and things like this get put into perspective. There were also some amazing side characters that honestly stole my heart. Mr Effrez OMG i love him so much <3 and Alan! What a precious old man.

An absolute stunner of a debut and a book I wish I'd read sooner! I highly, highly recommend this one if you want a realistic look into a devastating disaster and a book that will leave you sobbing with the pain of it all.

APRIL'S BOOKWORLD

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