Monday 23 January 2017

REVIEW: Paper Butterflies by Lisa Heathfield

Paper Butterflies tells June’s story of abuse at the hands of her stepmother, a father who won’t acknowledge the truth, and Blister, the boy from the woods.


Despite the beautiful way in which the story is told, I found Paper Butterflies is a tough read. The scenes of abuse were painful, and more than once I had to take a break. Thankfully there are also moments of reprieve in the time June spends with Blister. The book culminates in a plot twist you won’t see coming, and will keep you reading for hours (just make sure you have some tissues!).

Stars: ★★★★★

Thursday 12 January 2017

REVIEW: A Quiet Kind of Thunder by Sara Barnard

A Quiet Kind of Thunder is a beautiful teen love story in the face of Steffi's selective mutism and Rhys' deafness.


Sara has really excelled herself with AQKOT. It had a lot to live up to following Beautiful Broken Things, as well as the pressure to write about topics such as selective mutism and hearing impairment and get it right. However, the characters are believable and their stories well researched. You learn about the world they inhabit and become a part of their story. By the time I finished reading, I felt like I was saying goodbye to friends.

Stars: ★★★★★

I was sent a copy of A Quiet Kind of Thunder by Pan Macmillan in exchange for an honest review.

Wednesday 4 January 2017

REVIEW: The One Memory of Flora Banks by Emily Barr

Flora Banks has amnesia, which means she can’t form new memories. However, that all changes when she kisses her best friend’s boyfriend at a party one night.


I was blown away by Flora Banks. Emily has built a world that is truly realistic and gives the reader an insight into the lives of those with amnesia. The story seems repetitive at times but it makes sense in context, and gives a sense of the confusion Flora would face. This is a truly stunning YA debut and I can’t wait to see what Emily writes in the future.

Stars: ★★★★★

I was sent a copy of The One Memory of Flora Banks by Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.