It's About Love by Steven Camden

Real life is messier than the movies. A bold, thought-provoking novel from the exceptionally talented, Steven Camden.

He's Luke. She's Leia.

Just like in Star Wars. Just like they’re made for each other. Same film studies course, different backgrounds, different ends of town.

Only this isn't a film. This is real life. This is where monsters from the past come back to take revenge. This is where you are sometimes the monster.

But real life? Sometimes, only sometimes, it turns out just like in the movies…

… maybe.

I really liked his first novel Tape, so I knew to expect good things from his latest. This one tells of Luke and Leia, partners in film class, completely star crossed. It was told with a mix of prose and screen play notes as Luke inwardly captures his life on film; it was a cool way of inter-spacing the impact film had on both of them, as well as seeing their world a little differently. 

Luke was a very interesting character. Unfortunately, it took me too long to understand him and that kind of ruined the reading for me. He loves to escape into movies because of the general crappiness of his life. Leia was really sweet. From the other side of the tracks, it was obvious that she struggled to understand Luke sometimes but it was important that she was willing to try.

It was set in Birmingham, which is an interesting choice to say the least! Although it is a good place to show the diversity of characters, especially the gaps between city kids and the wealthy - basically chavs and snobs. And as Luke and Leia comes from different sides of the gap, there are basic social implications to overcome.

All in all, a sweet and clever story that shows that love can conquer all. 

Published 4th August 2015 by Harper Collins. Thank you to the publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest review.