laural27's reviews
706 reviews

If you’ve ever seen Sliding Doors, the film with Gwyneth Paltrow, where the whole plot revolves around one pivotal moment – missing a train- then you will be sure to adore this book. Much like Sliding Doors, this book relies on a dual narrative, looking at what could happen depending on which path you choose to take.
Addison (Addie) lives in a small compound, hidden in the mountains where every individual has a certain power. Some are mind readers, others are persuaders, some are mood controllers but very few are like Addie. She has the skill of Divergence. In short, this means she can ‘search’ the future. When faced with a choice, Addie can look into two alternate futures depending on the choice she makes. When her parents declare they are separating and Addie finds out her dad is leaving the compound to live with the ‘norms’ (humans without powers) she has to decide which parent she wants to live with. As she delves into the two alternate futures, she struggles to decide what to do, both futures offering her good and bad. But, when something drastic happens, Addie knows for certain what she has to do…even if it means surrendering the one thing she’s come to love.

Wow, wow and wow are the only words I can use to describe this book. It was incredible. From start to finish I was HOOKED to the pages of this book and not once could I predict what was going to happen next.

I adored Addie as a protagonist. She was by far one of the best I’ve ever read about in the YA genre and I’m pretty sure nearly every girl will be able to relate to her; having and trying to maintain friendships, first relationships, first love, problems with parents…it’s all there. She also has a really mature and very reliable narrative voice which meant I could place trust in her immediately.

Laila, Addie’s best friend, played quite a vital role in the plot and I found her a very confusing character. At times I really warmed to her and others I was a bit frustrated by her actions. Also, two of the guys on Addie’s journey; Duke and Trevor were both totally difficult to judge too and I went through phases of loving them both and hating them both! I have to say that Trevor is just THE biggest dish ever and I have a HUGE crush on him! However, even though I had confusing feelings about these characters, these feelings added to the book as a whole and made it an even more involving read.

West has excelled massively in writing this book. The plot is unique and cleverly explores multiple themes whilst following one girl on her journey. I loved the addition of the ‘powers’ most characters had and it left me questioning whether I would want to live in the ‘para’ world with Addie’s mum or the ‘norm’ world with her dad. It also left me wondering which type of power I would want…I decided I would quite like the power of telekinesis! A few characters were able to move things with their minds and I thought that would suit my lazy personality very well!

The chapters were told in alternating form – one set in the ‘para’ world and one set in the ‘norm’ world. It was very clever how each chapter was labelled. At the beginning of each chapter there would be a definition of a word and from that word, you were able to work out which world Addie was in. It was all very well thought out.

I am so excited to hear that there is a sequel to this book called Split Second and I am SO eager to read this book! I’ve requested it at the library so I hope I can read it really soon!

A fantastically written YA novel that will have you gasping, laughing and crying in equal measure!

I have wanted to read this book for ages and ages (like most books these days!) and I finally managed to get my hands on a copy from the local library. It has the most striking spine and a very beautiful cover too and with my penchant for judging books by their covers, I was hoping for a killer read!
At first, I thought this book was going to be a bit of a mystery but it turned into more of an in depth study of juvenile prisons and the sacrifices people make in life; which, whilst it wasn’t what I was expecting, was a really interesting and compelling read.
Sadie is a seventeen year old who seems to be pretty much perfect; good grades, plays on the school’s basketball team, looks set to go to college and has a boyfriend. Her sister Carla, on the other hand, is everything Sadie isn’t; a teenage mum, big drinker, heavy smoker, huge partier and drug user. When Sadie and Carla get caught up in a drug deal, Sadie decides to take the blame so Carla doesn’t have to leave her daughter, but when Sadie ends up in juvie, she begins to question her own morals and whether people should be held accountable for their own actions.
This book was told with alternating chapters in the present and past, with us being able to see what led up to the experiences Sadie was going through. I really liked this aspect as it gave us the chance to see two very different sides to her. In the past she is quite naïve but as she grows over the novel, we see her transform into an altogether more rounded and mature girl.
I felt a huge sense of disappointment and anger towards Carla in the book – she refused to take responsibility for herself and acted incredibly selfishly throughout which really irked me! I wanted to give her a big slap and make her realise what an amazing sister she had in Sadie.
Sadie was the kind of character you just wanted to pull out of the pages and hug tightly and reassure her that everything was going to be alright. I have to say that the ending was really quite refreshing because it didn’t make EVERYTHING alright. I’m so used to book endings tying everything up nicely but this one didn’t – it still left some questions and actually could lend itself quite nicely to a sequel.
Juvie gave a realistic and untainted view of what life is like inside a juvenile prison. It didn’t try and cover up the nastiness and the rivalry and the onerous checks one has to go through before even being allowed into a cell and I really enjoyed this aspect. Ok, maybe ‘enjoyed’ is the wrong word, but it gave me a glimpse into a way of life I know nothing about.
I would recommend this book if you are looking for a compelling and quick read. This isn’t a book full of twists and turns and exciting revelations, it is more a book about one girls journey from everything to nothing and how family is one of the most important things in the world.

Last year I read The Humans by Haig and it left me questioning my own existence and raised so many unanswerable questions that I wondered if I’d ever be the same again. The Humans was an adult novel and upon realising Echo Boy was a teenage/YA book I was rather intrigued.
Echo Boy is set in a dystopian future where humans have become reliant on Echos. Echos are highly skilled robots, made to look like humans, and carry out everyday tasks for their owners. Humans are also reliant on advanced technology but our protagonist Audrey is not like all other teenagers. Her father is a sceptic and doesn’t believe in all the new technology. This would be fine, if her uncle wasn’t the leader of the Castle Empire – the biggest Echo manufacturer in England. When something terrible happens Audrey is left facing an uncertain future but, what she doesn’t count on, is meeting an Echo who might save her life.
Daniel is an echo – built to look like a human but devoid of human emotion. Yet something about him isn’t quite right and he begins to feel ‘things’. He begins to feel emotions for others and soon he is left questioning where he too belongs in the world.
One thing I love about Matt is his ability to construct an in-depth and strikingly accurate social commentary between the lines of his books. Whilst this novel was a compelling and entertaining read about a robot and a human, there were far greater messages and ideas behind his words.
The notion of technology taking over was apparent from the beginning and it stirred up many further questions about our reliance on all things technological and how we are starting to become lazy as a race. It made me question my own dependence on technology and simultaneously ask what would happen if one day all technology failed – what would we do then?
Haig also explores the whole ‘coming of age’ theme and cleverly integrates the idea of peer pressure and conforming to social norms into the plot too. Does being different make you wrong? Is it right to do what everyone else does? He also touches on the subject of love and how it can span genders, races etc…it doesn’t have to be confined to just one man and one woman.
But perhaps the most interesting and enthralling strand of this book was the idea of what it is to be human. Haig attempts to shed light on the human condition – how we need emotions, that life is about experiencing joy and pain, that perfection doesn’t exist and doesn’t need to exist, that what we experience as humans is what makes us human.
Haig’s characters were full of strength, courage and personality which really helped me to form reliable opinions of them and led me to hate a few of them! Audrey and Daniel were just fantastic narrators and as we follow them on their journeys, I couldn’t help but fall in love with them both and everything they stood for and represented. Whilst I am walking away from this book with a feeling of contentedness and am happy to have been part of Audrey and Daniel’s story, I am also walking away with such a renewed view of life and what it is to be alive. And that is Matt Haig’s strength.
Haig consistently explores what it is to be human and leaves readers with questions that no one has the answers to.

I’ve always been a huge fan of male authors who choose to write romantic comedy fiction – mainly because the genre is dominated by female authors and a lot of the time we see things from a female viewpoint. I love seeing a man write in this genre and it’s such an interesting way to see a male take on life situations.
NWTWE follows the story of Rebecca and James as they find out they are expecting a child. This time of life is stressful for any new parent to be but when James loses his job and Rebecca’s family start to fall apart, they both wonder if they are truly ready to be parents. However, life doesn’t wait around for them and soon they are thrust into a brand new world and realise that nothing can ever really be what they expected.
I love Neal’s writing and his incredibly witty sense of humour. I’m not always a lover of humour in books – often it feels too false and scripted and too ‘thought out’. But Neal is not like that at all. The humour feels so organic and natural and as the characters strike up conversation between each other and insert witty remarks, I find myself genuinely smiling as I read. I would definitely consider this to be one of Neal’s strongest assets as a writer but he also has many others.
The plot and pacing are just perfect – the story progresses so seamlessly and there’s not one point where you get bored of the narrative. Neal has really perfected the art of storytelling and keeping an audience hooked on every word and as you come to the end of a chapter, you just HAVE to read the next one. Neal also writes with a very experienced and skilled hand – it feels like he’s been writing for decades and knows all the tricks of the trade and that makes him immediately stand out from others around him.
The characters in this novel are spot on and although they sometimes feel as though they live up to stereotypes, the way they interact with each other was just perfect. Neal’s observations of family life and being in a relationship are so relatable and funny that one can’t help but wonder if it is slightly auto-biographical…!
I really enjoy Neal’s writing and predict that everyone else will too. There is sass, sarcasm and superb wit and I recommend this book highly!

This was certainly an interesting concept and this book aimed at young adults is full to the brim with drama!
This book follows the life of Lucy Hansen who becomes embroiled in a private investigation that starts out with one main goal. But, unsurprisingly, things don’t really go to plan and soon Lucy and her best friend Holden are involved in a more sinister and dangerous plot than they ever thought they would be. Travelling across America in helicopters, going undercover and having a dodgy run in with rohypnol is just the start of Lucy’s problems…
I was pretty much hooked from the prologue and as the book went on, I was eager to find out what would happen next. The pacing was really great and the plot unravels at the perfect rate, not giving too much away all at once. The plot itself was hard to predict but it was relatively easy to follow meaning I was able to keep up with the characters and understand everything that was going on (always a plus point!)
Mahan’s writing was consistent throughout and provided a very simple yet effective narrative voice. Her characters were all very well considered and I certainly enjoyed Lucy as a protagonist. She was exactly what this book needed and I loved how she was very enthusiastic to do whatever she could when it was expected of her. I also enjoyed the relationship between her and her friend Holden – it was a very realistic and relatable friendship that many people will be able to recognise.
This book wasn’t particularly long – it’s manageable in one sitting so I think it probably just scrapes into the novel boundaries and is just that little bit longer than a novella. To be honest, I think it was exactly the right length. If it had been longer then it would all have mainly been plot filling because everything this book needed was in it. I will be interested to know if this book is part of a series because the ending leaves it very much open for a potential sequel and/or multiple sequels. I would be interested in reading the next book if there happens to be one.
A well thought out, easy to read YA novel about deceit, family secrets and lots and lots of money!

What a stunning book this is! The cover is just beautiful and alludes to the beautiful story hidden inside the cover.
Dandelion Clocks tells the story of Olivia who is a normal eleven year old girl with crushes, friendship rivalries and the desperate need to have her ears pierced. Her brother has Asperger’s syndrome and therefore her home life is very structured and predictable and altogether a little bit boring.
However, Olivia begins to realise things aren’t quite right after a while and as her mum becomes more withdrawn and her father spends more of his time looking sad – Olivia senses something bad is on the horizon. She begins to wonder if her parents may be divorcing but what she never imagined was that her mum would be dying.
When faced with the prospect of losing her mother very suddenly, Olivia begins to question the fairness of life and whether anything can ever be the same again.
This book is just the most innocent portrayal of death and loss seen through a tiny pair of honest eyes. Olivia, our protagonist, has no comprehension of the idea of death and what it means to lose someone and as the plot progresses we see her develop and go on such a journey from being a very naïve young girl to becoming a very responsible and well-rounded teenager with a passion for life.
The book is told through time frames (Two Months Before, Three Weeks Before, Six Months After etc) which really helps to ground the reader in the moment and understand what kind of stage Olivia is at. At first, we are not quite sure what the countdown is leading to but, being a more accomplished and older reader, I was able to guess straight away what would happen, but for child readers, I think there would be more of a shock factor involved.
The characters in this book were so very well developed and I felt such a love for all of them – especially Olivia’s brother and her dad. They all go on such a dramatically emotional adventure but stick by each other every step of the way. One of the strengths of this book is the level of emotion Rebecca has managed to stuff into it. I was constantly trying to stop a few tears from escaping!
The ending of this book was so bittersweet and I found myself wanting to run out into the street and tell everyone to be happy and live happy lives – it’s such a good book to show you the importance of enjoying every last minute.
I can’t really form many more coherent sentences about this book because this is one you just HAVE to read. Not maybe, you HAVE to read it! I also think this should be a book taught in schools – it is that brilliant.
I cannot wait to read Rebecca’s next book and I cannot recommend this enough!

I don't think there are any spoilers in this review but I've hidden it just in case!

Oh my goodness.
What can I even begin by saying?!
Ok, It’s a well-known fact that everyone gets a little bit over excited when a new Paige Toon book is due for release and when I saw this sitting on NetGalley I was pretty much falling over with excitement! I did do a little bit of screaming too when it arrived on my Kindle! It was just a PLEASURE to be back in Paige’s world with her characters, her writing and her sublime plots and, I know I say this every year, BUT, I think Thirteen Wedding’s is Paige’s best book by far.
I am going to try and write a review that doesn’t give anything away and also keeps my fan-girling to a minimum but it might not be possible!
Thirteen Weddings follows the story of Bronte who has a little bit of an unfulfilled life working at a magazine as a picture editor and spending her spare time with her flatmate Bridget. With a keen eye for photography, Bronte is roped in by Rachel, a wedding photographer, when Rachel’s assistant is ill. Bronte is rapidly thrown into the world of bouquets, brides and churches – her biggest fear. Trying to overcome the fear of churches and take impressive photos of peoples wedding day’s turns into a more permanent hobby for Bronte and when she meets Lachie (pronounced Lockie) a wedding singer, she begins to enjoy life a little more…
But, when an old one night stand, Alex, turns up on the scene (who Bronte, hasn’t really ever got over) and begins to become a more lasting feature in her life – Bronte has to rethink everything she has ever thought about love, marriage and commitment.
Ok, here goes…
PAIGE HAS DONE IT AGAIN.
She has written a book that fills you with such powerful emotions and has you flicking the pages with such a desire to find out what is going to happen next. From the very beginning of this book, I was totally hooked and I knew that Paige would not let us down. The characters go on such a journey and interact so perfectly together that you can’t help but become emotionally attached to every single one.
This book has an almost love triangle feel to it and, much like Johnny and Christian in Johnny Be Good, you just CANNOT choose between either man – you want them to both win the heart of the heroine. I would NOT have liked to be in Bronte’s position!! Alex and Lachie are both such polar opposites but both have such a sense of needing to look after Bronte that they find it hard to accommodate each other - it becomes a little bit of a testosterone fuelled battle to see who can win the girl. And, obviously, you cannot decide which one you like more!
Paige is also the queen of sneaky references to old characters and let me tell you – I CRIED. I actually cried when we are told about some of the old characters – I was so bloody happy with how some of them were living that I full on cried. That can’t be normal?!
Bronte was a really great protagonist and I really loved her indecision and inability to make up her mind because it meant that as a reader, I also found myself unable to decide what I wanted to happen in the end. We slowly find out a bit more about Bronte’s early life and her backstory as the plot progresses and Paige has cleverly given her traits that are easily understandable from her past which made for great character development.
As for the plot – well, let’s just say, you will NOT be able to predict where it will end up! I was ‘umming’ and ‘ahhing’ for ages trying to predict what would happen but I just couldn’t! The book was perfectly paced, there was the perfect level of surprise and tension and of course the much needed humour and wit that Paige is so known for. It was just flawless!
Like I said before, I do think this is Paige’s best book to date and I think many fans will agree. Thirteen Weddings is quite possibly the most emotional and addictive Toon book to date and I can guarantee you will not be able to put it down for a second!
Now I will sit impatiently and wait until next spring when Paige’s next adult novel will be out! Hurry up Paige! I can’t wait!!
This is a must read! Full of laughs, tears and suspense – this book will be the perfect summer holiday companion.

Firstly, please can we just appreciate the pure beauty of this cover!
The cover was the first thing that caught my attention and as I read the blurb I realised that this was the kind of book I’ve always had a soft spot for and a book that I couldn’t wait to read. The lovely Jessica from Pan sent a copy my way and I started reading as soon as I had it in my hands!
Smart tells the story of a boy, Kieran, who is an outcast – someone who isn’t with the ‘in’ crowd and prefers to spend his time drawing and hanging out by the canal with his two homeless friends Jean and Colin. When Colin is found dead in the canal, the police are quick to close the case – convinced it was a drunken accident and Colin accidently fell into the water. But Kieran isn’t sure – he thinks it was murder. Can a young boy whose skills lie in observation and drawing really help to solve a police investigation?
It is never clearly stated whether Kieran has autism or is on the autistic spectrum but from his behaviour and the way he narrates this novel, we can deduce that he probably has some kind of autistic nature.
Kieran is the narrator of this book and because of his age, we are able to see events through such simplistic and innocent eyes and so when Kieran discusses behaviour of family or those around him, we can, with our own knowledge, infer that they are drug dealers or domestic abuse is happening without it needed to be explicitly detailed. Kieran was a brilliant protagonist and whilst the narration was simple, it was also very endearing and I felt a need to step into the pages and protect him from everything going on around him. It was a strange sense of responsibility that overcame me as I read.
As you may have gathered, this book touches on a multitude of different subjects including drugs and domestic violence which I found interesting in a children’s book. I did wonder if a younger reader would be able to pick up on the insinuations. Slater has tried to squeeze such a lot into such a small book but I think she’s managed this well. There weren’t many points where I wished there could have been more in terms of plot but there were a few times when I would have loved a little more character development – especially from Kieran’s mum and teacher. They both seemed to be huge figures in Kieran’s life but weren’t explored much. However, I do have to remind myself that this book was told through Kieran’s eyes so he is unlikely to know much about his teacher apart from what she tells him in school.
The pacing of this book was fabulous and the plot wasn’t immediately predictable which is brilliant for a children’s book! Normally I can predict them before I have started reading. I did start to draw parallels between this book and others along similar lines such as The Curious Incident of The Dog In The Night-time and Wonder – books where the protagonist doesn’t fit in and becomes a star in their own right. I like the message that these types of books send out.
Smart isn’t overly long. It’s only about 250 pages so it’s not taxing in the slightest and can be read in one sitting.
Overall I would definitely recommend this book but I would be wary of giving it to children – perhaps it is more suitable for 14+? I guess it is all dependent on the maturity of the child though! I was on the edge of giving this book four stars but I decided to go with five, mainly because of the beautiful cover and for Kieran as a character – he alone is worth five stars!
An interesting novel that is a must read for fans of The Curious Incident of The Dog In The Night-time.