Nicola Yoon: Everything Everything - review

Author: Nicola Yoon
Publish Date: 1 September 2015
Genre: Realism, romance
Audience: Young adult

'Madeline Whittier is allergic to the outside world. So allergic, in fact, that she has never left the house in all of her seventeen years. But when Olly moves in next door, and wants to talk to Maddy, tiny holes start to appear in the protective bubble her mother has built around her. Olly writes his IM address on a piece of paper, shows it at her window, and suddenly, a door opens. Maddy is certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It's almost certainly going to be a disaster.'

I had heard numerous good reviews about 'Everything Everything', and since it was mentioned on the first Zoella Book Club list I've been extremely eager to read it. My friend Bex kindly gave me her copy which she was going to donate, and once I'd got my hands on it I was itching to delve in. 

Unfortunately for me, this book was a huge disappointment. Firstly, I read it in two days, but not because it was gripping or moreish; to put it simply, I just wanted to get it over with! I wasn't interested by the vast majority of the actual text in the book, with a lot of sentences seeming unnecessary to the plot and easy to skip over. I am normally a fan of short and disjunct writing, but in this instance it just made the novel much more tedious. 

In addition, I didn't feel emotional attachment to a single character. Some characters, such as Madeline's nurse Carla, had potential, but there was simply not enough interaction or background information to feel connected to them - and this is a book where you really have to feel connected. The protagonist Madeline became increasingly irritable as the plot progressed, as her and Olly's dialogue remained the same, pretentious reflections that are so overused in young adult fiction.

I liked the premises of the plot, but not a single element was padded out sufficiently. The illness Madeline suffers from was barely explained despite being the focal point of the story, and the action was too fast-paced to be believed. Think your typical 'boy meets girl - they run away'.  The 'dramatic' plot twist and the cliché ending were entirely predictable, and one which simply made me roll my eyes in annoyance.

Believe it or not, there were some aspects which I liked about 'Everything Everything'. The pages of diagrams added a fresh break from the mundane writing, even if they did quicken the already fast-moving story. The drama between Olly and his father was well-described, and it was possibly the one thing in the novel which had me wanting to know more. As a sucker for chaos theory, I loved the brief addition of that at the end, but I do wish it would have played a bigger part from the beginning.

In conclusion, 'Everything Everything' was a very disappointing read from start to finish. The characters were lack-lustre, and the plot was incredibly predictable and cliché; everything felt like it held potential, but nothing was ever fully explored. If I've learnt one thing from this book it would be - don't always believe the hype!

Continue reading Nicola Yoon: Everything Everything - review

Holly Bourne: How Hard Can Love Be? (The Spinster Club, #2) - review

Author: Holly Bourne
Publish Date: 1 February 2016
Genre: Realism, romance
Audience: Young adult

Ever since reading the stunning 'Am I Normal Yet?', I have been extremely excited to delve back into the world of The Spinster Club. 'How Hard Can Love Be?' centres around Amber's story, and I was looking forward to discovering her story and past in greater detail. Unfortunately, I was somewhat disappointed, which is unusual for me from a Holly Bourne book.

Amber's family past was explored further in 'How Hard Can Love Be?' after being hinted at in the previous book, and it was refreshing to see her interact with her mother. The feelings she felt towards her mother were realistic, and portrayed a more sensitive side to Amber after seeing her tough and careless nature in 'Am I Normal Yet?'. Whilst there were particular personal matters that were handled with sensitivity, I did feel that her mother's alcoholism was displayed with a slightly cliché sense of drama.

Another aspect of this novel which I enjoyed is that despite Amber being placed in an entirely unfamiliar environment - the USA -, her relationships with the new characters were realistic and well-established; this also makes you as the reader comfortable with the unknown setting because the characters are likeable and easy to accustom to. Having said that, of course I yearned for the moments where Amber would Skype Lottie and Evie, because those 3 have such a naturalistic and authentic chemistry that I can relate to my own friendship group. However, I did feel like Amber's relations with the love interest Kyle did appear slightly underdeveloped; this was most probably intentional to highlight the 'whirlwind' aspect of their romance, but I felt like I could not connect with him as much as I would like to.

My main issue with 'How Hard Can Love Be?' is how clichéd the plot appeared - an unlikely romance between the typical jock and the conventionally unattractive girl, featuring hindering parents and a spontaneous road trip. Whilst it was still a very moreish read thanks to Bourne's superb writing, it was a stark contrast to the heavy realism featured in 'Am I Normal Yet?'. In addition, Amber's excessive pining to be with Kyle did get very repetitive, and despite the issue being fully understandable, the mundane whining only made me annoyed at her character, and not sympathetic!

In conclusion, I did enjoy 'How Hard Can Love Be?', but there were too many niggling annoyances which stopped me liking it as much as Bourne's other works. The idea of the plot had potential, and the new characters were well-rounded and likeable, but for me, it conveyed far too many young adult clichés, something which I usually commend Bourne for straying away from. It wasn't that I disliked the book as such, but not being able to connect with the main characters was something which highly damaged my experience. However, I am still very excited to read the final instalment 'What's A Girl Gotta Do?' to discover the third of the Spinster Club girls Lottie, and I hope that I can connect with her character and her story more than I could with Amber, to obtain the Holly Bourne reading experience that I know and love.

Next read: 'Jane Eyre' by Charlotte Brontë

Continue reading Holly Bourne: How Hard Can Love Be? (The Spinster Club, #2) - review

Stephen Chbosky: The Perks of Being a Wallflower - review

Author: Stephen Chbosky
Publish Date: 1 February 1999
Genre: Realism
Audience: Young adult (and above)



(N.B. This book deals with heavy and potentially upsetting issues such as suicide and sexual harassment)

'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' was recommended to me by my friend Bex as it is one of her favourite novels of all time (you can check out Bex's wonderful blog here). I thoroughly enjoyed the film a few months back, and so after finding this at a car boot sale I thought it was due time!

I have read very, very few books which are written in epistolary form, but this style immediately felt perfect for 'Perks'. As neither you or Charlie know who the letters are addressed to, it somewhat makes the experience much more personal, and I felt connected to Charlie from the get go. The letters themselves are so raw and honest that it's hard to believe this is fiction; it accurately depicts school, home, AND personal life, with no unnecessary sugar coating, yet packed with emotion.

Another thing I adored about this novel was the authenticity of the secondary characters. Sam and Patrick are two very genuine friends to Charlie; they support him despite his flaws, yet they have their own issues too, which provides engaging and emotional action alongside Charlie's everyday life. It is hard not to instantly fall in love with Sam and Patrick as you can feel the fondness Charlie holds for them from the very beginning, and their differences highly compliment one another. Upon research, I discovered that both characters were influenced by many people Chboksy knew in his adolescence which certainly shines through in their realistic nature.

The writing style of 'Perks' is one that is lacking from YA novels of the same content - it's not pretentious, but it's not dismissive. Despite the odd inspirational (and incredibly beautiful) quote, it is simply real and incredibly easy to identify with. Charlie brushes over the parts he thinks are unnecessary, and he TELLS you that; likewise, he goes into a lot of detail into the things he considers important, and then apologises for the rambling. It gives you a definitive idea of his morals and priorities, and allows the sensitive topics featured to be handled with the utmost care, adding just that extra layer of feeling which 'Perks' revolves so heavily around.

In addition, I felt 'Perks' wrapped itself up perfectly. Not everything was resolved, but that only highlighted its authenticity towards life. There was sufficient character development all round, and Charlie's road to self-discovery ended at a deeply emotional, yet necessary point. Despite knowing the ending from watching the film, it was still as heartbreaking as I'd hoped it would be, leaving me full of angst but with an added burst of love and compassion for the characters.

In conclusion, 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' is an emotional roller-coaster from beginning to end. Everything about this novel is genuine: the loving friends, the broken home life, the heartbreak and angst. This is quite simply an intensely beautiful read from the onset, and I have no doubt I will be re-reading it in the future.

Next read: 'The Wasp Factory' by Iain Banks

Continue reading Stephen Chbosky: The Perks of Being a Wallflower - review

Carrie Hope Fletcher: On The Other Side - review

Author: Carrie Hope Fletcher
Publish Date: 14 July 2016
Genre: Magical realism, romance
Audience: Young adult (and above)



I have been excited for this novel ever since Carrie announced it on her channel in July last year. Just the design of the book is stunning, and once I had my hands on it I couldn't wait to start this magical adventure.

At first, I found Carrie's simplistic writing style hard to acclimatise to, but it soon became familar and easy to read. This was helped by some very powerful quotes throughout, some of which I simply had to re-read in pure awe! In addition, the dialogue is extremely realistic, ranging from irresistably romantic encounters to angst-ridden heartbreaking scenes, and adding a unique contrast to the magical setting.

Another feature I loved about this book was its omniscient nature; it allows the reader to obtain a well-rounded idea of each character, regardless of their status. I did think that a few characters seemed fairly ALL good or ALL bad seeing as it is a magical realism novel, however the characters that I did love completely made up for this, and there are plenty of minor characters to fall in love with. Futhermore, I adored seeing the perspective of Evie's children and Vincent when reacting to her secrets; the situations felt intensely personal and real, despite their magical and unimaginable nature.

The elements of magic themselves were breathtakingly beautiful, with situations that were so extraordinary yet felt so right to the story. My only critism with this was that I felt the magic needed a little bit more explaining; I still haven't really been able to figure out how a couple of the situations happened, but I think that this may just be me needing more experience with the world of magical fiction! Regardless, I absolutely adored the plot as a whole, and thought it an outstanding idea for a debut fiction novel.

In conclusion, I really loved 'On The Other Side', as it offered a unique and emotional adventure from the start. Magic is not a genre that I would usually pick up, but thanks to this magnificent read it is one that I will seriously consider again! Whilst it did have its flaws, it was a novel which had me grinning from ear to ear throughout.

Next read: 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' by Stephen Chbosky

Continue reading Carrie Hope Fletcher: On The Other Side - review

E. Lockhart: We Were Liars - review

Author: E. Lockhart
Publish Date: 13 May 2014
Genre: Realism, romance, mystery, thriller
Audience: Young adult


This is my second read off the Zoella Book Club reading list, and MY GOD was it incredible. Both the reviews and blurb made me extremely excited to discover the mystery that lies within this book, and it did not disappoint.

The first thing that must be praised is the superb writing. Lockhart weaves unique metaphors into heart-breaking moments, leaving you wondering what is real and what is not. This distinctive way of personifying events is unlike any other I have seen in YA novels, and adds a mysterious yet emotive depth. In addition, the increasingly frequent line breaks add pauses and repetition, creating an intense amount of emotion to strung situations. I am aware that the writing style is one that many have found infuriating, but I absolutely adorted it as I felt it added an extra layer or meaning and oddness to the unsual atmosphere.

Secondly, it was very easy to form huge attachments to the side characters without knowing a great deal about their background or personalities. They felt incredibly important, despite not having massive amounts of dialogue, and it was easy to gage a sense of their priorites and motives. These side characters weren't exactly relatable as such due to the setting of the novel, but they were delicately and sensitively handled.

The sheer immense mystery and tension that features in 'We Were Liars' is something that I think is severely absent from current YA novels. Throughout the whole book I was theorising the ending, and the characters' refusal to let the main character know what had happened was so infurtiating that I was desperate to reach the end. Speaking of the ending: IT WAS INCREDIBLE. As always, I will give no spoilers, but I simply cannot believe I did not suspect that. Looking back on events, it is so blindly obvious, and I think a re-read will be needed to spot everything that I missed! Having expressed my frustration at myself, I must say it was especially pleasing when everything clicked into place, and a satisfaction that I haven't experienced with a novel in a while.

The use of fairy tales to reflect the current situation was also something that I found unique and enchanting. It added an extra layer of surrealism, and fitted with the plot's intertwining themes of beauty and tragedy. In regards to the overall theme, I loved how the idyllic set-up slowly becomes corrupted as it corresponds with the main character's perceptions of reality.

I am aware that this review is slightly vague in its details , but I am making a conscious effort not to give away a single thing that might spoil the plot as this is a novel that requires you to go in completely blind - hence why I did not even mention that characters' names! In summary, 'We Were Liars' is an insanely addictive novel; unlike anything I've ever read before, it entwines an intense mystery with typical YA themes, creating a unique and unforgettable reading experience. In other words, "there's not even a Scrabble word for how I'm feeling right now"...

Next read: 'On The Other Side' by Carrie Hope Fletcher

Continue reading E. Lockhart: We Were Liars - review

Jennifer Niven: All The Bright Places - review

Author: Jennifer Niven
Publish Date: 6 January 2015
Genre: Realism
Audience: Young adult

(N.B. This book deals with heavy and potentially upsetting issues such as suicide and mental health issues)

'All The Bright Places' is the first book I have chosen to read from the Zoella Book Club list, and I was thoroughly excited to read it having heard incredibly good reviews. Unfortunately, I am left feeling rather confused about whether I really enjoyed this novel or not.

First of all, something that vexed me throughout this read was the portrayal of the two main characters Violet and Finch. Their personal stories and background were engaging and relatable, but they were implemented into your stereotypical, 'quirky' teenagers. For example, they went on spontaneous road trips at 3am, and their lives revolved around quoting dead poets such as Virginia Woolf. Thus, it made it very hard to develop a deep connection with the protagonists.

Unfortunately, this issue managed to dictate my whole opinion on the book, seeing as the plot is nearly dominated by these two characters as they travel around Indiana for a school project (e.g. the impulsive road trips). In addition, the mental health issues are not romanticised as such, but they didn't feel realistic or relatable - in fact, I would go as far as to say it was rather clichéd at times. This was extremely disappointing to see in a YA novel, particularly after having read the raw truth that is 'Am I Normal Yet?' by Holly Bourne.

Having said that, the last 100 pages or so did make me feel incredibly emotional, despite having a loose connection with the characters. This is most probably down to the superb writing style which features throughout the novel; it was engaging, and did make me want to read more. The ending was somewhat predictable, but it felt conclusive. Casting aside the 'quirkiness' of the situation, the clues and subsequent road trip felt fitting to the rest of the novel, and it was the first time I felt a serious connection towards both Violet and Finch.

Furthermore, I really liked that it was split into two narratives - seeing as Violet and Finch were the only two dominant characters in the novel, it was appropriate to be able to have a first-person perspective from both. The subheadings on each chapter were also a really pleasant touch as it reflected their priorities in the given moment; for example, Violet goes from counting down the days to her graduation, to simply documenting the date once she is fully involved with Finch. And there is another praise in itself - the character development for Violet was outstanding as she is broken and mended time and time again, with what felt like a satisfying and realistic outcome for her character.

In conclusion, I did enjoy 'All The Bright Places' to an extent - it was beautifully written with a conclusive ending and fulfilling character development. I was prepared to get over the lack of originality due to these factors, but unfortunately the 'quirky' characters and unrealistic teenage situations niggled me too much, preventing me from fully enjoying what is a very beautiful and promising novel.

Next read: 'We Were Liars' by E. Lockhart

Continue reading Jennifer Niven: All The Bright Places - review

Holly Bourne: Am I Normal Yet? (The Spinster Club, #1) - review

Author: Holly Bourne
Publish Date: 1 August 2015
Genre: Realism
Audience: Young adult

(N.B. This book deals with heavy and potentially upsetting issues such as OCD and anxiety)

In the words of Evie Crane: CRIKEY. After absolutely loving 'The Manifesto on How To Be Interesting' I knew that I had to read some more Holly Bourne as soon as possible, and thus 'Am I Normal Yet' became my next YA read. AND HOLY SMOKES THIS BOOK IS INCREDIBLE.

From the outside, Evie Crane appears your 'average' teenager. But as well as dealing with the everyday issues of sixth form and pining for a boyfriend, Evie suffers from severe OCD and anxiety. The thing that striked me as most remarkable about this book is the sheer sensitivity in which these issues are dealt with; it is not clichéd or romanticised (in fact, it makes a point to fight against these stigmas), but it is the raw truth of how a mental illness can damage your whole being. The disjunct narrative plays a huge role in this as Evie's story is bombarded with 'BAD THOUGHT', really helping the reader to experience and engage in the immediacy of the situation. Holly Bourne's experience as a journalist for The Mix, along with the dedicated research she has undertaken clearly pays off here, as the whole novel feels like a genuine, real-life experience.

As well as the authenticity of the mental health side, 'Am I Normal Yet?' feels a fully relatable experience simply from the day to day lives of these girls. Whilst this is almost definitely down to the novel being released only last year, the relevance and pertinence of the conversation topics still astounded me. Aside from the odd cheesy - and potentially cliché - moment, I felt like this group of girls could very easily be my friends, which really helped improve the reader experience.

In particular, the mentions of feminism were extremely refreshing for a YA novel, and were areas that I have discussed with friends (such as the Bechdel test) which again boosted this novel's relevance. Not only that, but the feminist theories included were fresh and engaging, and I really believe that this series will be a great way to introduce unaware teenagers into the world of feminism - particularly as the concepts are discussed shortly and sweetly, making them easy to understand. The Spinster Club featured is also such a fun idea and it is exhilarating to hear that this series has inspired the formation of these across the country!

In conclusion, 'Am I Normal Yet?' is truly stunning; it is one of the most refreshing and genuine YA novels I have read in a long, long time. It contains the perfect mixture of romance, friendship, and personal issues, whilst being educationally stimulating in the feminist department, and made me feel every emotion possible (yes...I cried). I mean THAT EPILOGUE! I simply cannot wait to dive into the next two books which centre around the other girls Amber and Lottie, and I'm sure they will be just as invigorating and moving as this superb novel was.

Next read: 'All The Bright Places' by Jennifer Niven

Continue reading Holly Bourne: Am I Normal Yet? (The Spinster Club, #1) - review

Holly Bourne: The Manifesto on How To Be Interesting - review

Author: Holly Bourne
Publish Date: 1 August 2014
Genre: Romance, realism
Audience: Young adult

(N.B. This book deals with heavy and potentially upsetting issues such as self-harm and mental illness)

I had heard lots about 'The Manifesto on How To Be Interesting' from various reviews online, and after the slight disappointment of 'Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls', I was absolutely craving for some quality YA.

And this novel did not disappoint. 'The Manifesto on How To Be Interesting' has everything I needed from a YA novel. The plot's intertwining sub-plots are complex and carry depth, and all loose ends are satisfying tied up in a powerful, impacting conclusion. There also features a few very real, hard-hitting themes that young adults may find extremely easy to relate to such as mental health and self-harm; the author (Holly Bourne)'s occupation as an online advice journalist for The Mix allows this aspect to appear as realistic as possible.

The writing is similarly superb. Interesting, it is 3rd person narrative, and yet it has the same impact as if it was in 1st. Thus, the protagonist Bree is still deeply understood through her inner feelings, yet as a reader you have the chance to learn things Bree hasn't, making it easier to sympathise with the situations.

What stops this book reaching near perfection is the ending. I will not spoil anything, but it did feel heavily clichéd and predictable, which was a disappointment after the unexpected twists that had occurred throughout the sub-plots. Whilst it did tie up loose ends, it created large uncertainties for Bree's future which also added o my dissatisfaction. Having said that, it did not take too much away from the experience as a whole, especially as the last few lines pack quite a moral punch.

In conclusion, 'The Manifesto on How To Be Interesting' is an essential YA read; it has forbidden love, it has identity crisis', and most importantly, it has relatable teenage drama. I can safely say that I have fallen in love with Holly Bourne, and will definitely be reading more of her novels in the near future!
Next read: 'Notes on a Scandal' by Zoë Heller

Continue reading Holly Bourne: The Manifesto on How To Be Interesting - review

Lynn Weingarten: Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls - review

Author: Lynn Weingarten
Publish Date: 7 July 2015
Genre: Thriller
Audience: Young adult

(N.B. This book deals with heavy and potentially upsetting issues such as suicide and sexual harassment)

I discovered 'Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls' when it was first released last year, promoted as a best-seller in Waterstones, and the blurb immediately captured my attention. Ever since I have been excited to delve into this novel and after finishing yet another classic, a young adult story was greatly needed.

Unfortunately, I was not as impressed with 'Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls' as I was anticipating. The first fault that stood out to me was the writing style; it is occasionally convoluted, in the ironic sense that it aspires to be a little too simplistic. Maybe this is because I have become accustomed to the works of Austen and Brontë, but regardless it definitely took something away from my experience.

The first half of the novel features countless mini cliff-hangers which undoubtedly left me wanting more, but were extremely anticlimactic; solutions to these problems were either disappointingly trivial or very cliché. Contrastingly, the second half bombards the reader with reveal after reveal, which were undeniably surprising, but often over-dramatic and occasionally confusing. To tell the truth, I am still perplexed by the events of the last two chapters, and unfortunately not in the pleasantly ambiguous sense - it didn't keep me guessing, it simply bemused me.

That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed the plot as a whole. It is complex, and the grandest plot twists are unusual and unique for a young adult novel. Surprisingly for myself, I read the whole book in a mere 3 days, proving that it is a true page turner.

Despite the short(-ish) length, it is easy to develop a strong connection with the main characters. Their captivating back stories and prominent personalities are the most interesting feature of the novel, reinforced by the flashbacks and alternate points of view which help to really get inside the characters' heads. Delia is a delight of a protagonist, and the constant metaphor connecting her with fire is truly wonderful.

In summary, 'Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls' was a bit of a disappointment. I desperately wanted to like it more than I did as it is evidently packed with potential, but the latter half was far too complex to understand. Having said that, I still managed to develop an emotional attachment to both the compelling characters and the idea of the plot, which is truly what got me through this otherwise disenchanting novel.

Next read: 'It's Not Me, It's You' by Jon Richardson

Continue reading Lynn Weingarten: Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls - review