Jack of Hearts (And Other Parts) by L.C. Rosen

Publisher: Penguin

Format: ARC**

Published: 7^th February 2019

Number of Pages: 368

Book: For Review*

Genre:  Contemporary, Romance, Coming-Of-Age, Mystery, YA

Recommended Age: 14+

Contains: Alcohol, Drug, Smoking, Sexual References – Like a Lot

Author's Site: Lev A.C. Rosen

Blurb From Goodreads:

Couldn't get enough of Love, Simon or The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue?

This is the (slightly NSFW) book for you!

---------------

'My first time getting it in the butt was kind of weird. I think it's going to be weird for everyone's first time, though.' 

Meet Jack Rothman. He's seventeen and loves partying, makeup and boys - sometimes all at the same time.

His sex life makes him the hot topic for the high school gossip machine. But who cares? Like Jack always says, 'it could be worse'.

He doesn't actually expect that to come true.

But after Jack starts writing an online sex advice column, the mysterious love letters he's been getting take a turn for the creepy.

Jack's secret admirer knows everything: where he's hanging out, who he's sleeping with, who his mum is dating.

They claim they love Jack, but not his unashamedly queer lifestyle. They need him to curb his sexuality, or they'll force him.

As the pressure mounts, Jack must unmask his stalker before their obsession becomes genuinely dangerous...

                                                                   Review:

Jack Rothman is kind of notorious in his school.  He likes sex, you see.  A lot.  And partying.  The number of guys he’s slept with always a source of gossip – which is a bit awkward, but Jack can deal.  

Until he starts writing a sex advice column for his friend’s website.  And the love notes he’d been receiving turn into threatening emails...

Someone is stalking him and judging him.  They don’t approve of Jack’s promiscuity and want him for themselves.

Jack and his friends have to discover his stalker – before he carries out his threats...

I knew about this book like a year before I got my greedy hands on an ARC copy.  I’ve been desperate to read it since I heard about it.  And yet when I finally got it, I was too busy!  So when I got a break over the Christmas holidays, I happily dove straight into Jack of Hearts.  I devoured two thirds of the book in an evening, reading until 2am when my eyes began to get heavy.  This book... is awesome.  Seriously just brilliant.  It’s bold and brave and glittery – it tackles serious issues like stalking, bullying, homophobia and stereotypes without ever feeling heavy or preachy.  It was hilarious and sassy and scary and I just loved this rollercoaster of a read.  I really didn’t want it to end!

Jack I just adored.  He is utterly unashamed of his love of sex, bold in his fashion choices and his eye make-up slays everything.  He’s so strong and it honestly hurt to see him become so broken by the stalker’s actions!  I really wanted to hug him and protect him from all the bigots in the world – but Jack needed no protection!  He’s totally fierce and someone all kids – gay, bi, straight, asexual, all the letters of the rainbow – need to read about. 

I also loved Jenna – best girl friend and ally ever.  She was so strong and fierce and I adored her.  Ben was the cutest bean ever – my little romantic fashion geek, I just wanted to wrap him up in fabulous blankets and hug him!  Basically, the two of them were the best best friends ever, period.

I also adored Jack’s mum – who was just t he coolest ever.  She was totally open-minded and supportive of Jack and I just loved that.

So, Rosen really didn’t shy away from sex details!  This book is kind of an LGBTQ+ sex-ed lesson – in the best possible way.  It tells you everything you could want to know as a gay teen thinking about sex – and everything they really ought to teach you in school.  It’s fun and informative and not at all preachy – it’s totally like an advice column.  It concentrates on the fun of sex – and the less fun bits that you should be aware of.  And it was brilliant – I haven’t read a sex-ed book this brilliant since Dawson’s This Book Is Gay and I’m pretty sure Jack of Hearts pips This Book Is Gay to the sex-ed trophy of the year prize.  This comparison has become awfully unwieldy so I think it’s time to move on.

But really, Jack of Hearts manages to make you question so much about heteronormativity and homophobia without you even realising.  You’re reading about this boy who is gay and enjoying life, having sex and then is being bullied.  More than anything, it’s the reaction of the principal that made my blood just boil over.  So many people claim to be ‘supportive’ of LGBTQ+ people and just aren’t when it comes down to it and that’s just not ok.  It’s not ok to judge someone because of their sexuality or their skin colour or their sexual habits – Jack is terrified of going to the police because he’s sure they’ll just see him as a “slut” and won’t do anything.  And that’s just not ok.  There is so much wrong with the world and it’s only with books like this that things can change for the better.

I’m making this sound so heavy, but honestly it isn’t.  Yes, the bullying storyline is a big part of the story.  But it somehow doesn’t overshadow Jack’s brilliant personality, his friends’ antics, the humour in the story.  Everything is just done so cleverly that this book manages to tackle some big issues without crushing you under their weight.

I really need to stop with the metaphors.

Seriously, though.  Read Jack of Hearts.  It’s honestly one of the best LGBTQ+ things I’ve read and I seriously think it may just be a favourite of mine in 2019.  It’s so unapologetic in its queerness and the sexual details it includes are so honest and real.  It’s like a breath of fresh air, honestly.  It’s an ‘eff you’ to everyone who thinks stereotyping is ok, that doing nothing is better than encouraging shaming of any kind, that it’s ok in this day and age to be a homophobic dickhead.  As someone who is bi and has a bunch of LGBTQ+ friends, I honestly just can’t recommend this book enough.  We need more books like this!  Please give me more books like this.  It’s the kind of book you finish reading grinning, just thinking ‘Can I get an amen?’ to yourself, because preach.  

Also.  If you get my reference there, I love you.

And please read Jack of Hearts.

Ok, bye.  I need to go shove this book at some people because the word must be spread!

Star Rating:
5 Out of 5 

Read this book if you liked:

Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

Happy Reading

Megan

* This book was received from Penguin in exchange for an honest review

** Quotes used are from a proof copy and may have been changed in the finished book

Blog Avalance: Paper Avalance by Lisa Williamson Review

Publisher: David Fickling Books

Format: ARC**

Published: 3^rd January 2019

Number of Pages: 368

Book: For Review*

Genre:  Contemporary, Romance, Coming-Of-Age, YA

Recommended Age: 12+

Contains: Swearing

Author's Site: Lisa Williamson

Blurb From Goodreads:

‘Bonnie. Never Mum or Mummy or Mother. Just Bonnie.'

When it comes to flying under the radar, Ro Snow is an expert.

No friends. 

No boys.

No parties.

And strictly NO VISITORS.

It may be lonely, but at least this way the truth remains where it should – hidden.

Then Tanvi Shah, the girl who almost died, comes tumbling back into her life, and Ro finds herself losing control of her carefully constructed lies.

But if Ro’s walls come crumbling down, who’s going to take care of Bonnie…

                                                                   Review:

 ‘It takes me for ever to drop off and when I do I dream the dream I’ve dreamed at least one hundred times before.

Being buried alive under piles and piles of paper.’

Ro Snow has a secret.  One she doesn’t want anyone to ever find out.

Her mother, Bonnie, is a hoarder.  Their house is overrun with stuff, but Bonnie can’t seem to help buying more.  Ro feels like she’s drowning, but no one can ever find out.  Because if they do, they might take her away from her mother.  And she’s worried what would happen to Bonnie if that happened.

Which is why she keeps to herself.  Why she never invites anyone round.  Why she never lets anyone get close.

Until Tanvi Shaw shows up in class.  Tanvi is bubbly and smiley and so friendly – all the things Ro avoids like the plague.  But Tanvi has already decided she and Ro will be friends, and now Ro can’t seem to shake the girl.

And maybe that’s a good thing.  Because maybe Ro needs a friend, someone to hold on to, when her whole world is one paper away from collapsing.

I really do love Lisa Williamson.  She’s not only a wonderful writer, but she also writes about things other people don’t think to write about.  Paper Avalanche, the book about the daughter of a hoarder, was pure genius and utterly compelling.  I possibly stayed up until 3am to finish it.  I really just couldn’t put it down.  I’m awful when it comes to contemps, so finding one that just hooked me like this was a rare and amazing surprise. I’m not even sure what it was exactly that gripped me so much, but I truly was just entranced by Paper Avalanche.  To the point that I neglected Christmas present making, sleep and my family to read it.  I would say sorry, but I’m not sorry because it was worth it!

Ro I really just wanted to hug.  From the very first page, her personality and voice just leapt off of the page – especially how much she just suffered because of her mother’s hoarding.  She was forced to be the parent to her mother, to take on things no child should have to worry about, and you could just feel how badly it was breaking her.  I really did just want to hug her because God that girl needed so many hugs.

Tanvi was just so bloody adorable.  I want a Tanvi.  She was bubbly and friendly and so freaking cute.  I want to wrap her up in a unicorn onesie and adopt her because gosh she’s awesome.  She may be tiny, but she’s stubborn and strong and I love her.  And the relationship that formed between her and Ro was just so cute – it was very one sided to begin with, but no one could resist Tanvi for long!

Ok, I just want a little rant about Ro’s parents.  Because while Bonnie wasn’t a good mother, she had a legitimate mental health reason for it.  But Ro’s dad?  He was just a dick.  He abandoned his daughter to the stress and fear she lived in every day, just for his shiny new family.  And that’s just cruel.  It made me so so angry for Ro, because she deserved so much better.

Rant over.  I really just had to get that off my chest.

I loved the writing and plotline as well – Ro’s voice really did just leap off of the page and the story totally sucked me in.  There was a dash of romance, which is always welcome!  The friendship was what truly made the book though – I have so much love for Ro and Tanvi that it’s a little insane!

Seriously, though.  Paper Avalanche was one of the best coming of age type stories I’ve read.  It was about the daughter of a hoarder, yes.  But it was about so much more.  It was about friendship, first love, finding your voice and fighting for what you deserve.  And I just loved it.  It left me just smiling dopily with a tear in my eye.

So preorder Paper Avalanche because it really is not one to be missed next year.  Lisa Williamson has done it once again and I adore her for it.

Star Rating:
5 Out of 5 

Read this book if you liked:

The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson

Am I Normal Yet by Holly Bourne

Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella

Happy Reading

Megan

* This book was received from Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review

** Quotes used are from a proof copy and may have been changed in the finished book

The Exact Opposite Of Okay by Laura Steven

Publisher: Electric Monkey

Format: Paperback

Published: 8^th March 2018

Number of Pages: 352

Book: For Review* 

Genre:  Contemporary, Coming-Of-Age, Comedy, YA

Recommended Age: 13+

Contains: Swearing, Bullying, Drug, Alcohol, Sexual, Suicide References

Author's Site: Laura Steven

Izzy O’Neill

Impoverished Orphan

Aspiring comedian

Slut extraordinaire – apparently...

Izzy never expected to be eighteen and internationally reviled.  But when photos involving her, a politician’s son and a garden bench emerge, the trolls set out to take her apart.

Armed with best friend Ajita and a metric ton of nachos, she must figure out who’s behind the vicious website – while keeping her sanity intact.

Izzy is about to find out that the way the world treats girls is not okay.

It’s the Exact Opposite of Okay.

A novel for anyone who’s ever called themselves a feminist... and anyone who hasn’t.

                                                                   Review:

Anyone who knows me is aware that I am a total fantasy addict.  It is insanely rare to find me reading anything set in the real world that doesn’t include magic, demons or dragons.

But when Egmont sent me The Exact Opposite Of Okay, I was just instantly intrigued.  The cover is adorable and the synopsis just appealed to the feminist in me.  So, of course, I decided to read the first chapter to check out the story.  And then, suddenly, I was eighty pages in, had forgotten to have a shower and was absolutely hooked!

Because Izzy O’Neill is just a legend.

She might be an orphan and poor as dirt, but she’s an aspiring comedic legend and prolific blog writer.

Life is pretty okay for Izzy – well, sure, BFF No 1 has developed a weird crush on her and BFF No 2 seems to be interested in the new Victorian Secret model, plus Izzy is too broke to go to college.  But other than that!

Until The Night.  The one where Izzy sleeps with two guys at a party – one being the son of a super racist politician...  And pictures are possibly leaked...   And, yeah, things kind of escalate rapidly from there.

But with the help of BFF No 2, Ajita, her grandmother Betty and a lot of nachos, Izzy is determined to find whoever is besmirching her good (ish) name and let the world know that what they’re doing right now?  IT IS NOT OKAY.

Seriously, guys.  This book.  It is a feminist manifesto told in the most fun, hilarious, addictive way.  It is empowering and angering and touching and did I mention hilarious?  It’s a book every teenager should read, girl or boy.  Because the things that happen to Izzy in this book?  They aren’t okay – at all – and they happen to so many people, especially young and vulnerable girls.  And it just – it made me so angry and upset for Izzy, but somehow this wasn’t an angry book.  It was a book about dealing with revenge porn and bullying and violation with humour and nachos and pride and panache.  And I just – I love it.  I love this book so much.

Largely because of Izzy.  Izzy is amazing.  She is such a brilliant character – absolutely comfortable with herself and her sexuality, charismatic and hilarious and brilliantly odd.  And then she is absolutely betrayed and violated by someone, bullied and shamed and teased and judged.  And she’s broken and hurting, but she deals with it so amazingly.  She does everything to remain upbeat, even when she’s dying inside and hiding her pain with humour.  Everything she went through, all the pain and humiliation she felt, it honestly made me cry more than once.  And yet Izzy never failed to make me smile – she’s the kind of person I would just love to be around.  And, yes, she makes mistakes and sometimes seems flippant or uncaring, but I just loved that about her.  I also loved that she’s honestly one of the strongest characters ever, to deal with all of this and survive.  I don’t know what I’d do in her place, I really don’t.

Also Ajita is the best friend everyone should have – that girl’s sass and snark is legendary and I bow before the Queen.  And Betty, Izzy’s grandma?  Literally amazing.  The coolest grandmother in the history of ever.  I love her.  Oh, as for Meg – Izzy’s classmate who happens to be a wheelchair user... for some reason, I really loved her.  I wonder why...?  Hmm...  And if you’re thinking it’s because I’m also called Meg and a wheelchair user, you are only partly right.  Mostly it’s because she’s an absolute sweetheart.

But seriously now.  This book might be so very funny, but it deals with so many sensitive topics with a truly effortless grace.  Revenge porn, slut-shaming, misogyny, classism, racism, sexism... so many topics that can so easily be too heavy, but they were all handled with humour that lightened them but also didn’t take away from their impact.  We live in a world where patriarchal dicks are constantly trying to put restraints on women’s behaviour.  As Izzy says, it’s a lose-lose situation.  If women enjoy sex, they’re a slut (a man, however, would just be a player, a legend).  If women don’t want to have sex or refuse to send nude images, they’re frigid, a tease.  Society is still so messed up, even in this day and age, and the double standards and stupid judgmental idiotic opinions are just so infuriating.  

The Exact Opposite Of Okay deals with this anger and hopelessness and frustration beautiful.  It was totally empowering and such a brilliant feminist manifesto that everyone should read.  It was also moving and addictive and fun. 

I honestly just loved this book.  If you haven’t gathered.  My only complaints are that although the book is set in America, sometimes Laura’s Britishness definitely showed.  And that maybe Izzy referred to herself as a ‘poor orphan’ a little too often.  Other than that, I just adored this book and everything about it.  We need more books like this in the world because only when people stop accepting and perpetuating the same idiotic prejudices and sexism will society be equal and able to move forwards.  

So read The Exact Opposite Of Okay.  Read it now.  And then let’s all go for some nachos, because I’ve been craving them ever since I started this book, and teach the world that Bitches do indeed Bite Back.

Star Rating:
4½ Out of 5 

Read this book if you liked:

Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Am I Normal Yet? by Holly Bourne

Asking For It by Louise O’Neil

Happy Reading

Megan

* This book was received from Egmont in exchange for an honest review

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

Series: Truly Devious, Book One

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Format: ARC**

Published: 16^th January 2018

Number of Pages: 432

Book: For Review*

Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Thriller-Suspense, Crime Fiction, YA

Recommended Age: 12+

Contains: Violence, Death, Swearing, Alcohol, Smoking References

Author's Site: Maureen Johnson

Blurb From Goodreads:

New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson weaves a delicate tale of murder and mystery in the first book of a striking new series, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and E. Lockhart.

Ellingham Academy is a famous private school in Vermont for the brightest thinkers, inventors, and artists. It was founded by Albert Ellingham, an early twentieth century tycoon, who wanted to make a wonderful place full of riddles, twisting pathways, and gardens. “A place,” he said, “where learning is a game.”

Shortly after the school opened, his wife and daughter were kidnapped. The only real clue was a mocking riddle listing methods of murder, signed with the frightening pseudonym “Truly, Devious.” It became one of the great unsolved crimes of American history.

True-crime aficionado Stevie Bell is set to begin her first year at Ellingham Academy, and she has an ambitious plan: She will solve this cold case. That is, she will solve the case when she gets a grip on her demanding new school life and her housemates: the inventor, the novelist, the actor, the artist, and the jokester. But something strange is happening. Truly Devious makes a surprise return, and death revisits Ellingham Academy. The past has crawled out of its grave. Someone has gotten away with murder. 

The two interwoven mysteries of this first book in the Truly Devious series dovetail brilliantly, and Stevie Bell will continue her relentless quest for the murderers in books two and three.

                                                                   Review:

“Riddle, riddle, on the wall

Murder comes to pay a call

The detective’s here. It’s time to play!

Truly Devious lives another day.”

In 1936, Albert Ellingham, one of the richest men in America, opened up a school for geniuses of all kinds.  It was meant to be an idyllic place where anyone could come to learn - where learning could be a game.

But the game took a dangerous turn when one day Albert Ellingham’s wife and daughter vanished while on a drive, along with a young student.  A kidnapper who called themselves Truly Devious demanded a ransom, but Iris and Alice Ellingham were never seen alive again.

Now, eighty years later, crime obsessed Stevie Bell arrives at Ellingham Academy as a new student.  Her goal?  To solve this impossible mystery and discovered what really happened all those decades ago.

But her cold case is not so cold anymore as Truly Devious makes a shocking return and one of Stevie’s classmates ends up dead.

Once again, someone is playing a game with life and death and once again they seem to be getting away with it.

But the detective is on the scene now and Stevie will solve this case – before it’s too late...

Oh.  My.  God.  OhmiGod!  This book.  I’m such a massive geek when it comes to mysteries.  I watch way too many police procedural shows and I’ve been reading crime thrillers from much too young an age (I’m still scared of James Patterson’s books after being scarred for life by Kiss The Girls at the age of twelve or so).  So when I got sent Truly Devious, I was beyond excited – I have a real weakness for YA mysteries and I adore Maureen Johnson.  And Truly Devious totally did not disappoint – it was a twisty, exciting, utterly absorbing murder mystery and I loved every single second.  Because Truly Devious doesn’t just have one murder for us to solve – it has three!  I raced through the book, guessing all the time and getting pretty much every theory I had instantly thrown out of the window.  And that ending!  Bloody hell, Maureen – that was just cruel!  And I have to wait until 2019 for the second book!  2018 has only just started!  So please excuse me while I go have a minor breakdown and throw a pillow at the wall in a fit of detective-deprived fury.

Alrighty, I’m back!  Let’s talk suspects – I mean characters!  Maureen has created a lovely diverse cast, rich with possible suspects and bizarre personalities.  It’ll be hard to say too much without giving anything away – no spoilers, which means no giving away anything that might ruin the suspense!

Stevie – oh how I loved her!  She was such a great protagonist – brave, loyal, smart, a detective through and through.  She really was very Sherlock-esque at times, which is always fun!  Plus she was very dog-with-a-bone and I loved how intuitive she is.  And while I know I’m certainly no expert whatsoever on social anxiety, depression and panic attacks, I feel they were all accurately portrayed – or definitely in a way that felt utterly believable to me.

Janelle was an awesome best friend – totally weird and adorable and always wearing the most gorgeous clothes (I want her fashion sense).  Plus her and her paramour are just the cutest ever.  And then there’s Nate – a boy after my own heart, with his fantasy book and writing obsession!  Plus he totally gets the frustration of writing! 

The rest of the cast is... interesting.  Special props to Larry the security guard, Pix with the teeth and Ellie with her hidden alcohol stashes.  And as for David... well.  Let’s just say I have many reasons for wanting book two...  

Ah, the way Truly Devious was written!  I’ve read a few books that have a then/now kind of narration and I’ve always enjoyed it.  But Truly Devious just had more –because while we did get snippets into the past via the perspective of the past characters, we also got police interviews and articles and more!  I just loved it! 

But I’m docking a star for that ending – it was cruel!  Oh my God, Maureen Johnson!  That was so unfair!  I’m on the verge of another rant here – so I’m going to cut myself off before I can start.  Anyways, I’m often pretty good at guessing twists and t urns, but I was never able to untangle the mystery of Truly Devious.  I loved all the threads, all the clues, all the riddles and mysteries and murders.  It was all just so fun – in a bad, murder-y way.  And yes, I would honestly sell my soul or my kidney for book two right now.  Please, Maureen.  Please!

So clearly I adored Truly Devious.  It was just so brilliant and engaging and I honestly just couldn’t get enough.  Sort of like my beloved Murder Most Unladylike series, just for teenagers, Truly Devious was amazing – even if that cliffhanger almost killed me!  I was scared she would rush the ending – instead, she leaves me hanging, clinging to the edge of the cliff, hoping I don’t fall into the insanity that is waiting for a new book.

I feel this metaphor got away with me.  The point is Truly Devious is awesome and you all need to go read it.  Like, right now.

Star Rating:
4 Out of 5 

Read this book if you liked:

The Shades of London by Maureen Johnson

One of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus

Wells & Wong by Robin Stevens

Happy Reading

Megan

* This book was received from HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review

** Quotes used are from a proof copy and may have been changed in the finished book

Almost Midnight by Rainbow Rowell

Illustrated By: Simini Blocker

Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books

Format: Hardcover

Published: 2^nd November 2017

Number of Pages: 144

Book: For Review*

Genre:  Contemporary, Romance, Short Stories, Coming-Of-Age, YA

Recommended Age: 13+

Contains: Swearing, Alcohol References

Author's Site: Rainbow Rowell

Blurb From Goodreads:

Midnights is the story of Noel and Mags, who meet at the same New Year's Eve party every year and fall a little more in love each time . . . 

Kindred Spirits is about Elena, who decides to queue to see the new Star Wars movie and meets Gabe, a fellow fan.

Midnights was previously published as part of the My True Love Gave to Me anthology, edited by Stephanie Perkins and Kindred Spirits was previously published as a World Book Day title.

                                                                   Review:

Mags and Noel met at a New Year’s Eve party – Noel later claims she saved his life that night.  All Mags did was tell him the pesto had nuts in.  As the New Year’s Eve parties come and go with the passing years, their friendship changes yet stay the same... 

Elena thought the queue for The Force Awakens’ opening night would be longer.  Instead it’s just her, a kid her age with his nose stuck in a book and a blonde bearded guy who’s been to like every Star Wars queue ever.  So it’s safe to say it isn’t quite the party Elena was hoping for – but she’s here for Star Wars, her one true love, and she will stick with this queue!  Besides, a lot can happen when you camp outside a movie theatre for a week...

When I got sent Almost Midnight (and a totally adorable and delicious box of goodies) from MyKindaBooks in preparation for the Almost Midnight readalong, it was almost impossibly not to dive straight into this gorgeous little book!  I adored both of the short stories in this little anthology and the illustrations just made me fall even more in love!  Rainbow is one of the few contemporary authors I always read – I’m such a fantasy girl that I almost never read contemps – but I always make an exception for Rainbow!  And she so didn’t disappoint with these adorable, fun and hilarious stories! 

I loved Midnights so much!  Mags and Noel were just too precious and adorable for life!  Mags was so very much like me – I really related to her!  And Noel was just hilarious and so very sweet – a big, beautiful, brilliant weirdo who wore a three-piece white suit to a New Year’s Eve party.  Only Noel.  Only Noel.

Kindred Spirits is a story that so appeals to the crazy fangirl in me!  I love Star Wars (though definitely not as much as Elena – she’s a true, hardcore fan of Star Wars!) so I really enjoyed all the references and the marvellous geekiness of this story!  Plus Elena was literally the cutest thing ever, Gabe was really sweet and Troy was so funny.  Also the ending was just hilarious – I laughed so much!  It seems like just the kind of thing I’d do.

Rainbow’s writing was, as ever, beautiful and compelling and brilliant.  It sucked me straight in and made me care so much about these characters in a really short space of time – something that’s often really hard in novellas that aren’t linked to a favourite series of mine (which is generally the type of short story I read).  And as for those illustrations?  They just added an extra level of beauty and brilliance to this story and make me wish every book could be illustrated by Simini Blocker!  

If you’re a hardcore Rainbow Fangirl or just a lover of quick and utterly cute stories, you have to check Almost Midnight out!  You won’t regret it – promise!  You especially must pick it out if you love cute dorks in white suits, Star Wars, coffee or want to get into the festive spirit!  I know I’m going to be rereading Midnights at least before New Years – I love it so much!  Rainbow, you’ve done it again!  You’ve made this fantasy-obsessed girl oh so very very happy to read about reality – and that it not an easy thing to do!

Star Rating:
4 Out of 5 

Read this book if you liked:

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

The It Girl by Katy Birchall

Let It Snow Anthology

Happy Reading

Megan

* This book was received from Macmillan in exchange for an honest review

The Special Ones by Em Bailey

Publisher: Electric Monkey

Format: Paperback

Published: 28^th July 2016

Number of Pages: 336

Book: For Review*

Genre:  Contemporary, Mystery, Thriller-Suspense, Psychological Suspense, YA

Recommended Age: 13+

Contains: Violence, Spine-Tingling Suspense

Esther is one of the four Special Ones, chosen to live under his protection in a remote farmhouse.  They are not allowed to leave, and they must always be ready to broadcast their lives to eager followers on the outside.

But on renewal day when he decides that a new Esther, Harry, Lucille or Felicity must take their place, the old ones disappear – forever.  The new ones don’t always want to come, but soon they... realise.  Until one day Esther has a realisation of her own, and it changes everything.

A heart-racing thriller set in a cult.

                                                                   Review:

I received The Special Ones on a normal Wednesday morning.  I'd been planning on spending the day making my shoes for YALC.  Instead I opened up a parcel, saw these two books by Em Bailey and decided to see what The Special Ones was about.  By lunch, I was already over 100 pages in and I just did not want to stop.  Ever.  I was utterly hooked – this book is amazing in a horrible, creepy-as-hell way!  I simply couldn't put it down, was just sucked into this terrifying world, into the life of 'Esther' as she played the role of her life...  It was just...  I'm struggling to find the words!

You see, Esther is one of a group of people called the Special Ones.  One of four enlightened, immortal people chosen by him and living to inspire their followers, who watch them as they live their perfect lives, as he watches over them.

The rules are numerous and Esther always follows hers.  She remains in the farm house, she cooks and cleans, she remains calm and dignified and she never touches the others – that simply isn't allowed.  Because he watches at all times, watches for mistakes.  The moment they make one, they're gone, never to be seen again – until they 'return' in a new body, unwilling and angry until they just... give in.  

Harry, Esther, Lucille and Felicity live in his world, play their roles, play for their lives.  They live in fear of him and yet they're told he protects them...  

God, I just loved how Em Bailey wrote everything in this book!  How she wrote that slow-burning beginning, Esther's fear and strength and guilt, the terrifying indications of his presence though we didn't see him – not yet...  It was just... wow.  Atmospheric, suspenseful, terrifying, creepy as goddamn anything!  I really don't want to give too much away, but the way we saw that brainwashing... utterly and completely scary as hell.  It was all just so so clever and in such an effortless way – it flowed and it grabbed and it sucked you in.  And then, half way through, bam!  Action hit off and the terror just grew even stronger.  

Up until then, we'd been in Esther's mind – and she was such a brilliantly complex, fascinating character.  And then, suddenly, we were in his head.  And that was... scary as frack.  His mind... God it was so terrifying!  I do wish there was a little more warning or explanation – one minute I was listening to Esther, the next I was watching her through his eyes and it just was like a huge jolt of surprise – which actually might have made the fear I felt reading his chapters even stronger.  Because he was... terrifying.  And the more I read about him, twisted as it was, I kind of understood a little more about why he made them live like that – the sick workings of a psychopath who wanted people to suffer like him, who wanted to be important, who wanted to belong...  Who found people as alone and vulnerable as could be and stole their lives from them, made them become people from a hundred years ago, with some words in a book being their only guidance, fear being their motivator...  It was scary, how horribly real he felt.

I also really liked Felicity – she was sweet and innocent and joyful amongst all the horrors of the farm, a burst of sunshine.  Harry was calm and reassuring – the relationship between him and Esther was utterly unique, unlike anything I'd ever read in YA before, and was totally perfect for the story.  

I've never read anything about a cult before, although I know there are a fair few out there in the YA market right now.  I've studied them in sociology and watched them on crime shows, but reading about a forced cult member's life was so much more hard hitting.  The way he was totally separate too was different, and although we got to look into his head, we never really knew why.  I have theories, but some concrete evidence would've been nice – was he just a psychopath?  Did he have some kind of mental health disorder, like schizophrenia?  The questions are endless and many are left open, and yet I rather liked the ending anyway.  It... it fit.  The finale felt a little rushed, perhaps, but maybe that was just because I was reading as fast as Dr Reid at the time (not really; I'm not that good – and bonus points to anyone who gets that reference).  

The Special Ones was unique and brilliant and horrible and creepy and so goddamn addictive it's untrue.  I dare anyone to read it and not finish it in a day or two.  I found myself reading well into the wee hours to finish – and then regretting that choice instantly when I found I couldn't go to sleep and was jumping at every little noise.  Never will I read another Em Bailey book in the dark – although I will be reading Shift soon.  Just... after I've calmed down from The Special Ones.  My heart is still pounding ad my head is still reeling and oh my God. If you haven't read it just go and read it right now!  It is just... mind-blowing and breath-taking and goosebumps-raising.  It is a phenomenal book that has left me shocked and scared and amazed because it felt so damn real.  I just... I have no other words.  Just read it and read it now. 

And when the sun is shining.  Because it's Thursday and I only slept last night after I'd finished the book and watched Friends for an hour.  

I regret nothing.  The Special Ones was worth every bit of sleeplessness.  Every single (yawn) bit.

Star Rating:

4½ Out of 5

Read this book if you liked:

The Bunker Diaries by Kevin Brooks

The Leaving by Tara Altebrando

Seed by Lisa Heathfield

13 Minutes by Sarah Pinsborough

Happy Reading

Megan

* This book was received from Egmont in exchange for an honest review