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

Charlotte Brontë: Jane Eyre - review

Author: Charlotte Brontë
Publish Date: 16 October 1847
Genre: Romance, gothic
Audience: Teens and up



(N.B. This review contains plot descriptions which may contain minor spoilers)

'Jane Eyre' has been sitting on my bookshelf for a good while now, and I was reluctant to read it with the presumption it would be a dreary, over-rated classic. However, I am so glad that I finally decided to read it, as it surprised me beyond belief!

The first thing that I absolutely adored about 'Jane Eyre' was the characters. Every single character felt purposeful and well-rounded, with enough engagement for you as a reader to become acquainted with them. The character of Jane Eyre was extremely likeable, which was enhanced through the plot including her younger years at a boarding school. In addition, her and Mr Rochester completely fitted together like two pieces of a jigsaw, and again, his character was very easy to connect to, particularly towards the end; I was forever pining for more interaction between the two as it was so adorable!

Another notable feature of 'Jane Eyre' was the plot development. No scene was unnecessary to the story, and every situation which Jane faced all connected as one, which made it very engaging and easy to read. There were a few moments of rambling setting description which were slightly tedious, but admittedly it did add to the overall atmosphere of the novel. The inclusion of Gothic elements to an otherwise realistic plot was an interesting concept, but no part of it felt out of place, and it gave the novel a whole other dimension.

One thing that surprised me about 'Jane Eyre' was the moral messages which it subtlety portrayed. For example, Jane very much stood her ground throughout the novel, and her outspoken nature shocked a few characters at first, only for them to realise that she was in the right as an "independent woman". Furthermore, Jane did not hesitate to overlook Mr Rochester's physical disabilities at the end of the novel, which only added depth and emotion to the power of their love.

The one thing that really stopped me giving this book five stars was that I found it hard to pick it up again; in other words, it wasn't particularly moreish. Despite the plot being entertaining, the chapters often ended conclusively rather than cliffhangers, meaning I was never in a rush to find out the next part of the story. Thus, it did take me a lot longer to read (23 days) than I would have liked!

Overall, 'Jane Eyre' is a very entertaining read, and one which I would recommend to anybody trying out the classics. The plot is fast-moving and with interesting themes and concepts, and the characters are likeable and easy to form relations with. In addition, the romance between Jane and Mr Rochester is relatable and just SO SO ADORABLE. A definite must-read - but be warned that you may be in it for the long haul!

Next read: 'Everything Everything' by Nicola Yoon

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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

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

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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

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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

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