Into My Arms by Kylie Ladd

Goodreads Synopsis:

When Skye meets Ben their attraction is instantaneous and intense. Niether of them has ever felt more in synch – or in love – with anyone in their lives. What happens next will tear them both apart. Into My Arms is a searing love story and a gripping family drama – a shocking, haunting novel in the tradition of Jodi Picoult and Caroline Overington.

The kiss ignited something, blew it into being, and afterwards, all Skye could think about was Ben. One day a woman meets a man and falls instantly and irrevocably in love with him. It hits her like a thunderbolt, and she has to have him, has to be with him, regardless of the cost, of the pain of breaking up her existing relationship. She has never felt more in synch-or in love-with anyone in her whole life. So this is how it feels, she thinks to herself, this is what real love feels like.

It’s like that for him too; he wants her in a way he’s never wanted anything or anyone before: obsessively, passionately, all-consumingly.

She has found her one true love, her soulmate, and he has found his. What happens next will tear them apart and unleash havoc onto their worlds.

This brave, brilliant, electrifying novel from the acclaimed author of After the Fall and Last Summer, will move you deeply and shock you to your core. Love, lust and longing have rarely wielded such power, nor family secrets triggered such devastation.

Review:

Into My Arms was a powerful and completely absorbing book, unfortunately, it’s also really difficult to review it without giving away the discovery Ben and Skye make. Let me tell you though, it is absolutely shocking and something which seems almost impossible. Ladd’s exploration of how this discovery affects Skye, Ben and their families is fantastic and truly compelling.

In many ways, I found Into My Arms to be similar to my favourite novels by Jodi Picoult. My favourite Picoult novels opened my eyes to all the facets of the issue at hand and the emotional consequences for all involved. This is where Ladd excels. All the characters were both likeable, but realistically flawed and this made the story instantly relatable. Similarly the decisions they made were sometimes frustrating, but realistic given the emotionally charged situation.

The actual moral dilemma of the novel was confronting, but quite timely. The issue is one which will polarise many readers, but Ladd did a brilliant job of exploring some of the psychological impacts it had on each of the characters. Ladd’s writing style was fantastic; simple, but utterly compelling. I was so absorbed by both the characters and the plot that I found it really hard to put this down and read it in a day.

Into My Arms presents a shocking moral dilemma and a deep exploration all the emotions involved. It is a brave, compelling and unforgettable novel of love, lust, and loss and one which I highly recommend.

Rating:

4/5 Stars

Thank you to Allen & Unwin for providing a copy of the book for review.

 

Love Notes From Vinegar House by Karen Tayleur

Goodreads Synopsis:

A gothic romance-thriller – think Rebecca meets Gossip Girl.

“There are some things you should know about me if we are going to be friends. Like I don’t believe in ghosts.”

Freya Jackson Kramer has done some stupid things before, but this is the first time they’ve been splashed across Facebook. When she escapes to Vinegar House for the holidays, she thinks she’s leaving her troubles behind. But Freya’s troubles are just beginning.

How will she deal with her manipulative cousin, Rumer? How can she avoid the ex-love of her life, Luke Hart? And what secrets lie in the locked attic? This is a book for readers who believe in ghosts, for readers who disbelieve, and for those who are still sitting on the fence.

Review:

Love Notes From Vinegar House was a strange little book to read. I really had no idea what it was about when I started, although judging by the cover I thought it was going to have something to do with a haunted house. And it did. Sort of. It’s hard to review this without giving things away so my review is going to be pretty vague.

Overall this book was a good read and one which took me by surprise to some extent. Freya was a likeable (although not overly memorable) character and I quite enjoyed the way the book was narrated from her point of view. At first I found the flashbacks and complicated stories distracting, but after about two chapters I really got into the flow of the book.

The plot was probably what surprised me most about this. I expected this to be a really creepy ghost story, but it was something completely different. The actually creepy aspect was more slow and suspenseful than I expected and the ghost story was so much more complex than I imagined it would be. You see, the beauty of this book is that it’s about all the things that haunt us as people and as families and it’s up to the reader how they interpret this. I really liked how the story ended as well, leaving just enough to the reader’s imagination.

Love Notes From Vinegar House was a really interesting and thoughtful take on the classic haunted house ghost story and one which I really enjoyed reading.

Rating:

4/5 Stars

The Archived by Victoria Schwab

Goodreads Synopsis:

Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.

Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.

Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was, a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often—violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.

Being a Keeper isn’t just dangerous—it’s a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da’s death was hard enough, but now her little brother is gone too. Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.

In this haunting, richly imagined novel, Victoria Schwab reveals the thin lines between past and present, love and pain, trust and deceit, unbearable loss and hard-won redemption.

Review:

I’ll be honest here. I have been putting off writing my review of The Archived for weeks. And it’s because I absolutely adored this book. So please forgive me if this review is more like a rambling list of things I loved about The Archived than a ‘serious’ review.

These days it seems almost every second book is labelled as being completely different to other YA books. Let’s face it: most of the time that claim is crap. However, I truly felt The Archived was something fresh, exciting, and completely unique. In a very crowded YA marketplace this is no mean feat. I can’t tell you how excited I am to see authors like Schwab writing amazing, imaginative books rather than just jumping on the latest genre bandwagon.

I think one of the reasons I loved this book so much was the writing. Schwab is, quite simply, a fabulous writer. Her prose is lush and atmospheric without being overbearing and distracting from the story. Every time I read this I was completely sucked into it; the writing was both beautiful and utterly compelling. I also really liked the way the plot was structured. Although it seemed a little slow to start, I found that I actually enjoyed having more time in the beginning to learn more about Mackenzie because I felt like I was more connected during the action-packed final chapters. In terms of the mystery, it was absolutely superb. I couldn’t stop thinking about this book every time I put it down and I loved the way it was slowly pieced together throughout the novel.

One of my favourite things about this was the ending. Firstly, it’s absolutely thrilling. Secondly, it’s doesn’t end on a cliffhanger! Yes. A series which doesn’t end on a cliffhanger. It makes me want to dance with joy. Although, I am still desperate for more.

The characters in this were all fabulous. I say this a lot, but I really do love a fully fleshed out family in YA. I enjoyed the family relationship aspects of this, as Mackenzie and her family struggle to come to terms with the death of her brother Ben. This was a really interesting component, but wasn’t overpowering. I really liked Mackenzie and, although she made some silly mistakes, she was dedicated to her family and her job and it was interesting to see the way she struggled to find a balance between the two. This is why I also really love the flashbacks to her conversations with Da, which added more depth to the story. On a side note, I loved that the flashbacks were in bold, it made it so much easier to distinguish between the past and present. And of course I loved Wesley! He brought a bit of humour to the story and I’m looking forward to seeing more of him in the next book.

The Archived was a wonderful book to read. Schwab’s writing is absolutely gorgeous and atmospheric, as was the world she created. There was just enough humour amongst the eerie and the mystery was absolutely thrilling. I definitely recommend this to all YA fans and am very excited to read more of Schwab’s work.

Rating:

5/5 Stars

 

A Month with April-May by Edyth Bulbring

Goodreads Synopsis:

‘Life is not a bowl of cherries. Suck it up.’

On April-May’s first day at Trinity College, she has the wrong colour bag, too-bright socks and she gets her favourite novel confiscated for reading it during class. She makes total enemies with the evil Mrs Ho, but she makes total friends with mouth-breather Melly. Then, she meets the gorgeous Seb, loses her entire wardrobe to a hobo and gets branded a sockless trouble-maker. A MONTH WITH APRIL-MAY is a one-eyebrow-raised account of a teenager’s trials and tribulations as she navigates a new school, a new family situation and a whole new way of life.

Review:

A Month with April-May was quite an enjoyable, fast read. The main character April-May February was cheeky, lively and fun. She also got on my nerves for quite a lot of the book. To be honest, she was a bit of a brat. However, I must admit I did enjoy watching her character grow throughout the book and I felt she did learn some important lessons in the end. She’s still got a long way to go though!

While I did enjoy reading this, I also had a few issues with it. The plot was very simple and obviously aimed at younger teens (it reminded me a little of the Georgia Nicolson series). April’s plot to get back at her teacher was childish and a little on the ridiculous and nasty side. To be honest, I didn’t realise when I started it that most of the book would revolve around April trying to get revenge. It was quite funny at times, with some layers of sadness in there too. I would have liked to have heard more from April on how she felt about her family situation, because I felt like maybe this was one of the reasons she was acting up a little.

The writing was simple and, while I really liked it and the structure of the book, I felt it didn’t quite fit with the age range. I don’t mean that in a bad way, but I don’t think I would have understood a lot of the references in my younger teenage years. However, I did get annoyed with the lack of dialogue. A lot of the time April relates to the audience what was said, but I always feel dialogue moves the story along and at times this aspect did slow the book down.

Overall, A Month with April-May was a quick, easy and fun read. I’m interested to see what else we learn about April in the next book and am hopefully we’ll get more of an insight into what she’s feeling. This is the perfect breezy weekend read.

Rating:

3.5/5 Stars

Thank you to The Five Mile Press/Hot Key Books for providing a copy of the book for review 

Paper Aeroplanes by Dawn O’Porter

Goodreads Synopsis:

It’s the mid-1990s, and fifteen year-old Guernsey schoolgirls, Renée and Flo, are not really meant to be friends. Thoughtful, introspective and studious Flo couldn’t be more different to ambitious, extroverted and sexually curious Renée. But Renée and Flo are united by loneliness and their dysfunctional families, and an intense bond is formed. Although there are obstacles to their friendship (namely Flo’s jealous ex-best friend and Renée’s growing infatuation with Flo’s brother), fifteen is an age where anything can happen, where life stretches out before you, and when every betrayal feels like the end of the world. For Renée and Flo it is the time of their lives.

With graphic content and some scenes of a sexual nature, Paper Aeroplanes is a gritty, poignant, often laugh-out-loud funny and powerful novel. It is an unforgettable snapshot of small-town adolescence and the heart-stopping power of female friendship

Review:

I’ve been writing a lot of five star reviews lately (with more on the way) and I have genuinely enjoyed all of those books, but it has been many, many years since I have been able to connect so much with a book. Paper Aeroplanes is, without a doubt, now one of my favourite books of all time and one which I will be pushing onto all of my female friends for years to come.

I can’t think of another book I’ve read which so accurately represents the intricacies of the friendships between teenage girls. It was something which deeply resonated with me. My teenage years were happy, don’t get me wrong, and I was lucky to have a wonderfully supportive family. However, I’ve always been insecure and weight issues in my early teenage years didn’t help my self-perception or my ability to make friends. I did have wonderful friends, or at least they seemed to be at the time. I guess it’s like a bad relationship; it’s amazing what people will put up with for the good times. Looking back I realise I walked on eggshells for six years of my life, sharing my deepest darkest secrets with my best friends and having some fantastic fun, but always doing my best to stay on their good side. I put up with snide comments and days when I was completely ignored for no reason, but heaven forbid I ever do the same to them. I know there are so many people who had it much worse than me, but those comments eroded my confidence little by little. Believe me when I say that, despite this, I honestly did have a wonderful time at school and I choose to remember the good times my friends and I had together. But Paper Aeroplanes made me realise that I actually wasn’t alone (I know it’s cheesy, but it’s true). I really mean it. Teenage girls hold a lot of power over one another and sometimes the smallest shifts in these dynamics can cause the biggest fractures.

“Carla and Gem, my ‘best friends’, are over by the windows at the back, sitting next to each other of course, both waving frantically at me but not bothering to get up. As usual I do my best to look like I don’t care, already feeling the neglect that comes with being the third wheel to an indestructible duo.”

“It’s either mum getting at me at home or Sally putting me down at school. Other people seem to live so differently. It makes me feel totally unlikeable. Why would anyone want to try to have fun with me? I follow Sally around like a lost sheep because I don’t have the courage to say what I want. It’s force of habit now, I guess. I don’t bother saying how I feel because one of them will make me feel so stupid for it. I’ve turned into a boring tagalong who watches everyone else have fun while I feel more unsure of myself every day.”

What makes this absolutely perfect is the characters. Renée and Flo were both characters I instantly related to and fell in love with. These girls were so real, in fact all the characters were. A few weeks ago I chatted with Jo in this post about writing believable, real teenage girls. I wrote something along the lines of “why can girls only be proper and delicate…or, well, the opposite? I mean no one is like that all the time” and that is what I totally love about Paper Aeroplanes. Also, this book about teenage girls actually has *cue Miranda-style whispering* periods in it! Yes. Periods. And I am not ashamed to say I am absolutely over the moon about this aspect. Okay, okay, I know I sound insane, but there is no hiding from things real girls actually talk about in this. Oh, and there is also mention of farting.

“Never have I wanted the earth to swallow me up so much. Pop trying to explain what I might use a panty pad for is as bad as the time I farted when I sneezed during prayers in assembly. At least that was funny. There is nothing funny about this.”

Let’s not pretend it doesn’t happen.

In terms of the rest of the characters, they were all equally as real. Even, I hate to admit, Sally.  She was absolutely horrendous, but I’m sure most teenage girls would have come across someone like her during school. I know I certainly have. She is the worst kind of bully; a soul sucking person who pushes her friends down to make herself feel better. Sadly, those people generally don’t stop doing that when they graduate from high school.

Families were also an essential part of Paper Aeroplanes. I absolutely love it when these issues are explored in YA without completely taking over the book and making it an ‘issues’ book. These elements were dealt with beautifully; the subtle complexities simmering under the surface of Flo and Renée’s school lives. The combination of time and home and at school seemed to work perfectly and reflected the fact that both girls were trying to escape to school in a way, a place where, for the most part, they felt happier. I was pleased to see this was somewhat resolved at the end of the book, although I’m sensing there are still things which need to be sorted out and will be addressed in the second book.

Perhaps the only good thing about finishing Paper Aeroplanes is knowing that there is a sequel. I am so, so glad that I don’t have to say goodbye to Flo and Renée yet. But don’t be scared off by that, Paper Aeroplanes can be read as a standalone.

The press release for Paper Aeroplanes describes it as “a Puberty Blues for the 1990s” and I have to agree that it is. While we’re making comparisons, it is also perfect for fans of TV show My Mad, Fat Diary and the work of Jacqueline Wilson. It is humorous, heartfelt and absolutely unforgettable. Teenage girls past and present need to read this. It is a book which I cannot recommend enough and one which I will be re-reading very, very soon. Thank you Dawn O’Porter for telling it like it is.

Rating:

5/5 Stars

Thank you to The Five Mile Press/Hot Key Books for providing a copy of the book for review