Book Review: Fierce Fragile Hearts; Sara Barnard.

I have been looking forward to reading Sara Barnard's latest release for a long time, and I finally did! Barnard's books really do hold a special place in my heart, and this was a sequel for her debut, 'Beautiful Broken Things' which made it even more special!

SOURCE: NetGalley
TYPE: E-Read

TITLE: Fierce Fragile Hearts
AUTHOR: Sara Barnard
SERIES: Beautiful Broken Things (#2)
PUBLISHER: Macmillan Children's Books
PAGES: 354
GENRE: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

RATING: 3.5/5 Stars

Blurb:
Two years after a downward spiral took her as low as you can possibly go, Suzanne is starting again. 

Again. 

She's back in Brighton, the only place she felt she belonged, back with her best friends Caddy and Rosie. But they're about to leave for university. 

When your friends have been your light in the darkness, what happens when you're the one left behind?

What I Liked:

• It was really nice to get a follow-up to Barnard's debut, and she did a great job of reminding those that have read the previous book a while ago of what happened, though this could also be read as a stand-alone. Barnard's writing, as usual, was a joy to read.
• I really liked some of the relationships in this book, particularly between Suzanne and Dilys. I teared up at that friendship a few times, it was very touching. I also loved the addition of Matt, an adorable, charming character and great book boyfriend material!

What I Disliked:

• I think my main issue with this one was the fact that I really disliked some of the old characters compared to the first book. I'm thinking of Caddy in particular, who was spiteful and whiny! I thought that she was a terrible friend! I also felt very irritated by Suzanne's selfish attitude every now and again and that's a little sad as she was the POV character.

Overall Conclusion:

I liked this. It continued 'Beautiful Broken Things' well, using the same Brighton setting I remember loving in the first book, but also adding in more recently relateable experiences for me - moving out and into a place of my own, adult life and responsibilities, and keeping long-distance friendships going while at University etc. Sadly, I didn't like it as much as the first in the series thanks to some frustrating character choices and that's a little sad.

Book Review: Floored; Various.

I had a list of ten books I was highly anticipating getting early, and this was one of them. And lucky me, my dream came true! Not only that, but I've also been selected to be part of the Blog Tour prior to it's release. So you can imagine I went into this book very excited!

SOURCE: Publisher Sent ARC
TYPE: Paperback

TITLE: Floored
AUTHOR: Sara Barnard, Holly Bourne, Tanya Byrne, Non Pratt, Melinda Salisbury, Lisa Williamson & Eleanor Wood
SERIES: --
PUBLISHER: Macmillan Kids UK
PAGES: 320
GENRE: Young Adult, Contemporary

RATING: 4/5 Stars

Blurb:
When they got in the lift, they were strangers (though didn't that guy used to be on TV?): Sasha, who is desperately trying to deliver a parcel; Hugo, who knows he's the best-looking guy in the lift and is eyeing up Velvet, who knows what that look means when you hear her name and it doesn't match the way she looks, or the way she talks; Dawson, who was on TV, but isn't as good-looking as he was a few years ago and is desperately hoping no one recognises him; Kaitlyn, who's losing her sight but won't admit it, and who used to have a poster of Dawson on her bedroom wall, and Joe, who shouldn't be here at all, but who wants to be here the most.

And one more person, who will bring them together again on the same day every year.

What I Liked:

• These authors are all seriously talented. It's hard to put together a cohesive book with seven POVs, and I imagine it's actually even harder to have everyone agree on things and to do so cohesively. After all, the phrase 'too many cooks spoil the broth' exists for a reason. That being said, they did a wonderful job!
• I really liked the characters and their development, particularly personality-wise. Some characters went through a major epiphany (I'm looking at you Hugo) while others were much more subtle about it. But they definitely all changed and it was fun to read.

What I Disliked:

• Even though I felt that the characters developed well, the context and characters that surrounded their lives were a little bit vague. Each meeting is a year apart and a lot happens in a year, but I still came out of this story feeling that I didn't know them all that well. It was very much a novel of fleeting moments.

Overall Conclusion:

Despite the lack of connection to everyone (aside from Hugo, who was an awful human being but made me laugh and root for him like nothing else) I did enjoy this book a lot. They all had great personalities and watching them interact and 'take sides' in certain situations was a lot of fun. I just wish we could have got to know their lives outside of the meetings a little better and had a little more in the way of story. The narrator did a great job of bringing themes and threads together and played a huge part in making this work.

Book Review: Goodbye, Perfect; Sara Barnard.

This was a fantastic choice for my last February read, and I'm so glad I got round to this one and managed to get through it so quickly! Barnard is one of those authors whose books I automatically turn to, KNOWING it'll be good. I wasn't sure about the synopsis, but it surpassed my cautious expectations by miles!

SOURCE: ARC Sent By Publisher
TYPE: Paperback

TITLE: Goodbye, Perfect
AUTHOR: Sara Barnard
SERIES: --
PUBLISHER: Macmillan Children's Books
PAGES: 320
GENRE: Young Adult, Contemporary

RATING: 5/5 Stars

Blurb:
Eden McKinley knows she can’t count on much in this world, but she can depend on Bonnie, her solid, steady, straight-A best friend. So it’s a bit of a surprise when Bonnie runs away with the boyfriend Eden knows nothing about five days before the start of their GCSEs. Especially when the police arrive on her doorstep and Eden finds out that the boyfriend is actually their music teacher, Mr Cohn.

Sworn to secrecy and bound by loyalty, only Eden knows Bonnie’s location, and that’s the way it has to stay. There’s no way she’s betraying her best friend. Not even when she’s faced with police questioning, suspicious parents and her own growing doubts.

As the days pass and things begin to unravel, Eden is forced to question everything she thought she knew about the world, her best friend and herself.

What I Liked:

• The. Characters. Were. Amazing. Honestly, I loved Eden as an MC. She was a great representation of a teenager, a great mixture of naivety and 'growing up'. Her relationship with Connor was everything. It reminded me of my relationship with my fiancé, as we got together when we were teenagers. Also, a big shout out to the McKinleys. Best family ever! I loved that Barnard decided to make Eden and her sister adopted into the family, as I like to see diverse, interesting family situations in contemporary YA!
• Barnard covered a lot of topics in this book, not just the touchy subject of a teacher-student relationship. Pressure on teenagers, exams and curriculum, responsibility, the power of journalism, underage sex, adoption & fostering, family relationships, young carers, WOW. So much stuff and it's truly what I love about Barnard's work. She is, and will forever be, on my MUST READ list.

What I Disliked:

• I really can't think of anything. The plot does become a little stuck in one place after the initial revelation, until the final climax chapters. But I think that while it slowed the pace down, it meant that the issue was handled with care and looked at from all perspectives.

Overall Conclusion:

I mentioned that my expectations were a little cautious. I don't usually like the idea of reading about student-teacher relationships, it's a topic that makes me feel uncomfortable but I really felt that Barnard handled it perfectly. I was really hooked by the whole thing, especially the action-packed finale, and became so invested in the lives and relationships of every character. Seriously, I was so impressed and I'm so happy I got to read this book!

Book Review: A Quiet Kind Of Thunder; Sara Barnard.

This book has been pretty high on my TBR list ever since it was first announced! After all, I really enjoyed Barnard's debut 'Beautiful Broken Things' and I was overjoyed when Pan Macmillan sent me an ARC of my own to read. I finally got round to this gorgeous book and it blew my expectations out of the water! It also contributes to my Monthly Key Word Challenge!

SOURCE: ARC Sent By Publisher
TYPE: Paperback

TITLE: A Quiet Kind Of Thunder
AUTHOR: Sara Barnard
SERIES: --
PUBLISHER: Macmillan Children's Books
PAGES: 320
GENRE: Contemporary, Young Adult, Romance

RATING: 5/5 Stars

Blurb:
Steffi has been a selective mute for most of her life - she's been silent for so long that she feels completely invisible. But Rhys, the new boy at school, sees her. He's deaf, and her knowledge of basic sign language means that she's assigned to look after him. To Rhys, it doesn't matter that Steffi doesn't talk, and as they find ways to communicate, Steffi finds that she does have a voice, and that she's falling in love with the one person who makes her feel brave enough to use it. 



What I Liked:

• The diversity was by far the best aspect of this book because Sara Barnard became one of those few, rare authors who remembered that not everyone is white, straight and physically/mentally able. Steffi, the MC, suffers from crippling Anxiety and Selective Mutism. Rhys, the love interest is mixed race and deaf which has to be the first time I've read that in a story ever. Even side characters such as Tem (who is black) are diverse and it really gave the story much more depth.
• Barnard's ability to write good characters and gorgeous relationships is incredible. I knew this from 'Beautiful Broken Things' but didn't know that she could pull off romance just as well as friendship! She didn't let friendship go completely, and watching Steffi and Tem interact was just as heart-warming to read as following Steffi and Rhys' relationship. I liked that they started as friends, I like that their feelings grew over a longer time than is usually found in YA, and everything from the initial 'crush' to the development into love felt so realistic. 
• Boy, did this author do some fantastic research. I already know from my own experiences about anxiety and I can safely say that Barnard was either pulling from her own experiences or went to town in nailing exactly what it feels like from other people because she got it so right. As for the inclusion of the deaf community, BSL and the hardships that come with being deaf, Barnard taught me so much and I'm glad she bravely decided to tackle the topic. Rhys, as I said before, was a great character with boyish charm and a adorable, fun nature. But even better, he came with his own insecurities and vulnerable moments which is important to be seen in a guy too.

What I Disliked:

• Honestly, I didn't dislike anything about this book. If I had to pick something I wanted to be improved I'd say that the ending seemed to cut off a little strangely, as if Barnard wasn't 100% sure how to finish her masterpiece. The pacing towards the climax of the book felt a little quick too, but I still really liked how the book ended and have 100% fallen for every one of those characters.

Overall Conclusion:

Gah! Everything about this book makes me want to squeal and I think I'll be having a book hangover for a few days after this one. I don't usually like romance but this perfectly and realistically portrayed how teenage romance feels, and I loved the inclusion of so many realistic scenarios such as first time sex (and hand job) in a way that doesn't normally get seen in YA or in fact most books. It was messy, awkward and yet still kind of hot, which is exactly what it is like. Especially the first time. I liked this book even better than 'Beautiful Broken Things' and I'm really looking forward to the next Barnard book!

Book Review (ARC): Beautiful Broken Things; Sara Barnard.

After hearing so much about this book, I got so excited when I was granted access to a Netgalley copy. I have very mixed experiences with Contemporary YA but often I fall in love with those that focus more on Friendship, Sexuality or Mental Illness: things other than love that I strongly believe that young people need to learn about. This one had two out f three and I'm looking forward to letting you guys know just how well Barnard wrote this book. I'm also entering this into the 'Monthly Motif' challenge.

SOURCE: Netgalley
TYPE: E-Read

TITLE: Beautiful Broken Things
AUTHOR: Sara Barnard
SERIES: --
PUBLISHER: Macmillan's Children's Books
PAGES: 322
GENRE: Contemporary, Young Adult, Fiction

RATING: 5/5 Stars

Blurb:
Best friends Caddy and Rosie are inseparable. Their differences have brought them closer, but as she turns sixteen Caddy begins to wish she could be a bit more like Rosie – confident, funny and interesting. Then Suzanne comes into their lives: beautiful, damaged, exciting and mysterious, and things get a whole lot more complicated. 

As Suzanne’s past is revealed and her present begins to unravel, Caddy begins to see how much fun a little trouble can be. But the course of both friendship and recovery is rougher than either girl realises, and Caddy is about to learn that downward spirals have a momentum of their own.

What I Liked:

• One of the things that really impressed me about this book is the integration of Social Media into the story-line. I see it so little in Contemporary YA, which is bizarre considering that it's such a huge thing in the lives of young people nowadays. Not all arguments and huge dramas happen face to face, some are online or via text. I just think that Barnard really made a great use of this and I was impressed by how authentic the social media conversations felt.
• The topics covered in this beautifully written book are sensitive and probably difficult to write. Barnard handled them sensitively and authentically. I've read books where conversations don't quite feel real or authors don't handle the subject matter carefully. This was not one of those books. In a way, she was teaching her target audience about both mental illness, and the value of friendship. I loved that there was no real romantic story-line and that adults played a big part in the story too. The idea of teens running around trying to be the heroes of their personal dramas without any kind of adult influence is a ridiculous one, and luckily Barnard was well aware of the importance of grown-ups in a story about young people.
• The characters were very complex and that was so important. I just loved watching them develop! I didn't like Caddy so much to begin with (more on that later) but as the book progressed I began to realise that she represents a huge portion of society that has the best of intentions, but are so ignorant and wrapped in their own perceived problems that they can't possibly handle those looking after those that are in real trouble. Through Caddy we learn that we can't make everything better and that it's okay to step back and say 'I'm not equipped to help you. You need professional help.' I think it's important that even though we have good intentions, trying to help for selfish reasons may damage a person more than make things better.

What I Disliked:

• I had heard from trusted Book Bloggers that this was a novel about friendship and handling mental illness, which of course it turned out to be. I have to say, the beginning didn't grab me in the way I wanted it to. The mention of boys made me sick with worry that this would be 'just another love story' and Caddy's personality was pretty unbearable to begin with. Her petty jealousy and desperation to make her life 'less boring' made me raise my eyebrows so much that I lost them in my hair for quite a while. This of course did make the character development so much clearer later on, when she learns that having a messed up life is not glamorous in any way, shape or form. It was necessary in order for her character to learn from the book's events, but boy was it irritating.

Overall Conclusion:

I loved this book. It just completely got teenagers and how they think. While I didn't love Caddy in the beginning, I could relate to her Girls School issues (it wasn't private, but I attended a Girls Only school) and social anxiety when it came to parties, being drunk and disobeying parents. Barnard handled her subject matter well, being careful with it but not afraid of it. All three girls played a really important part in the story (no one ended up being left out) and I loved watching them all develop as time went on. Barnard gave people of Caddy, Rosie and Suzanne's age group a voice that was convincing as it incorporated all of the insecurities found in teenagers alongside their new-found confidence as they approach maturity. The incorporation of social media was clever and I liked that Adult's weren't the definitive bad guy or mysteriously absent as they so often are in books aimed for teens. I can't wait to read more of this lady's work!