Category: romance

Dark and shallow lies by Ginny Myers Sain

When seventeen-year-old Grey makes her annual visit to La Cachette, Louisiana – the tiny bayou town that proclaims to be the “Psychic Capital of the World” – she knows it will be different from past years: her childhood best friend Elora went missing several months earlier and no one is telling the truth about the night she disappears. Grey can’t believe that Elora vanished into thin air any more than she can believe that nobody in a town full of psychics knows what happened. But as she digs into the night that Elora went missing, she begins to realize that everybody in town is hiding something—her grandmother Honey; her childhood crush Hart; and even her late mother, whose secrets continue to call to Grey from beyond the grave. When a mysterious stranger emerges from the bayou – a stormy-eyed boy with links to Elora and the town’s bloody history – Grey realizes that La Cachette’s past is far more present and dangerous than she’d ever understood. She doesn’t know who she can trust. In a town where secrets lurk just below the surface, and where a murderer is on the loose, nobody can be presumed innocent—and La Cachette’s dark and shallow lies may just rip the town apart.

Brilliant book, took you on many twists and turns. Amazingly written but heartbreaking ending. OBM (S3) *****

Normal People by Sally Rooney

Normal peopleConnell and Marianne grow up in the same small town in the west of Ireland, but the similarities end there.

In school, Connell is popular and well-liked, while Marianne is a loner.

But when the two strike up a conversation – awkward but electrifying – something life-changing begins. Normal People is a story of mutual fascination, friendship and love.

It takes us from that first conversation to the years beyond, in the company of two people who try to stay apart but find they can’t.

It’s a gread book. Really interesting. I love Sally Rooney books. HB *****

Heartstopper Volume 1 by Alice Oseman

Heartstopper: Volume 1Charlie and Nick are at the same school, but they’ve never met … until one day when they’re made to sit together. They quickly become friends, and soon Charlie is falling hard for Nick, even though he doesn’t think he has a chance.

But love works in surprising ways, and Nick is more interested in Charlie than either of them realised. Heartstopper is about love, friendship, loyalty and mental illness.

It encompasses all the small stories of Nick and Charlie’s lives that together make up something larger, which speaks to all of us.

It was cute and funny. I really enjoyed. K.G. (S3) *****

Heartstopper Volume 2 by Alice Oseman

Heartstopper: Volume 2Nick and Charlie are best friends. Nick knows Charlie’s gay, and Charlie is sure that Nick isn’t. But love works in surprising ways, and Nick is discovering all kinds of things about his friends, his family … and himself. Heartstopper is about friendship, loyalty and mental illness. It encompasses all the small stories of Nick and Charlie’s lives that together make up something larger, which speaks to all of us.

It was really heartwarming and adorable. K.G. (S3) *****

Forget me not by Jo Cotterill

Since her mother, a famous florist, died three years ago, Kate’s whole life has changed completely. She’s pushed her friends away,forget me not shrunk into herself and is only finding some solace spending time in the garden amongst the flowers her mum loved so much. Desperate to try and become more like the ‘normal’ girl she once was, Kate gets a summer job at a garden centre. Doing something she’s good at means that flashes of the old sparky girl begin to emerge again – helped a lot by her very attractive and mysterious co-worker, Simon…

In the beginning it was sad because it is the anniversary of her mum’s death and it was a really good book because it was breathtaking. RW & ES (S1) *****

Ice Dreams by Jo Cotterill

ice dreamsTania Dunn is a promising ice-skater, but is in for a shock when her coach decides to pair her with Zac, a daredevil novice skater, for the summer ice show. Tania is outraged! She has always been a singles skater and she doesn’t trust Zac on the ice at all. But Zac is very good looking and willing to try anything and slowly but surely he begins to win Tania over…

It is a really good book. It encourages you to follow your dreams. RW & ES (S1) *****

After Obsession by Carrie Jones & Steven E. Wedel

After Obsession is no ordinary paranormal romance, with alternate chapters written by two authors – Carrie Jones and Steven E. 9781408818275Wedel – who present the story from both the boy’s and girl’s point of view. Aimee and Alan are two teens who are in touch with spirits. But after a misguided experience with a ouija board, their friend Courtney invites a ghost into her life… one that doesn’t want to leave. Can the two friends exorcise Courtney’s demons, and their own? A great read for Maggie Stiefvater fans aged 12 and over.

It was very good and interesting. RF (S2) ****

 

Ferryman by Claire McFall

When teenager Dylan pulls herself free from a train wreck and emerges onto an almost deserted Scottish hillside, she believes she is the only survivor. Seeing the figure of a boy on the bank she enlists his help. But Tristan is no ordinary passerby, and Dylan soon learns that instead of being the only survivor of the wreck, she is in fact the only fatality.

 And, Tristan is no normal teenage boy – he is her ferryman tasked with guiding her through the wasteland to her afterlife. As the pair journey further together through the dangerous wraith-infested wasteland, they fall deeply in love. When they reach the other side, Tristan promises to cross over with Dylan, but when she steps across the threshold and turns back, he is not there. Confronted with life without Tristan, Dylan vows to find him, but that means traversing the dangerous wasteland without a guide.

I thought this book was great. I loved the story and the characters. This is a book well worth reading. P (S1) *****

Not my kind of book but I may buy it for somebody else maybe, but not me. J (S2) ****1/2

Tommy Sullivan is a Freak by Meg Cabot

Katie Ellison can’t believe it. Just when she’s having the best summer of her life, Tommy Sullivan arrives back in town. Just about everyone hates Tommy for what he did four years ago, and even being seen with him would make Katie a social pariah. So falling in love with him would be the kiss of death. And that’s just what happens.

The book was OK but I didn’t enjoy it that much because I didn’t get what was going on. D.P. (S2) ***