London Belongs To Us by Sarra Manning

Twelve hours, two boys, one girl . . . and a whole lot of hairspray.
Seventeen-year-old Sunny's always been a little bit of a pushover. But when she's sent a picture of her boyfriend kissing another girl, she knows she's got to act. What follows is a mad, twelve-hour dash around London - starting at 8pm in Crystal Palace (so far away from civilisation you can't even get the Tube there) then sweeping through Camden, Shoreditch, Soho, Kensington, Notting Hill . . . and ending up at 8am in Alexandra Palace.

Along the way Sunny meets a whole host of characters she never dreamed she'd have anything in common with - least of all the devilishly handsome (and somewhat vain) French 'twins' (they're really cousins) Jean Luc and Vic. But as this love-letter to London shows, a city is only a sum of its parts, and really it's the people living there who make up its life and soul. And, as Sunny discovers, everyone - from friends, apparent-enemies, famous bands and even rickshaw drivers - is willing to help a girl on a mission to get her romantic retribution.

A fast-paced, darkly funny love letter to London, boys with big hair and the joys of staying up all night.


Sarra Manning's new book is the very definition of a wild ride. Set over one day and night, Sunny goes on a quest across London to find her boyfriend and demand an explanation for this photo of him kissing another girl. For various reasons, he is difficult to pin down and Sunny gets more and more irritated. Manning created a brilliant main character in Sunny; she grows ever braver as the night wears on and I loved her voice from the very start. A girl of mixed race and untameable hair, Sunny is used to letting her voice get over-shadowed by friends and her boyfriend, but finally she's had enough.


Joining her on her journey are French boys Jean Luc and Vic, both of whom were absolutely hilarious. A bit stand-offish at first, we get to know them as Sunny does, and even though there is flirting and banter, I loved that there wasn't any major sparks. As Sunny is on the hunt for her soon to be ex-boyfriend's man-parts, I really appreciated that there wasn't any funny business, just moral and vehicular support.


There was also a great exploration of diversity without it being shoved down your throat. Especially in London, literally everyone is different and you will come across or be friends with a random mix of people, as shown by Sunny pleading her case with an Amazonian night-club bouncer, finding kindred spirits with drag queens at a kebab shop, and being her best friend's wing-woman with the roller derby girl she likes.


I loved seeing a different side to London; as I'm usually the tourist in this city, I don't know the areas and their people like Sunny does but her little history background lessons were equal parts helpful and hilarious. And as she and the boys literally zoom through all the neighbourhoods of central London, the city itself became character in her story and I fell in love with the city like Sunny does.


All in all, another major hit for Manning and definitely a new favourite of mine.


Published 2nd June 2016 by Hot Key Books. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

Never Evers by Tom Ellen and Lucy Ivison

Kicked out of ballet academy and straight into a school ski trip, Mouse knows certain classmates can't wait to see her fall flat on her face. Meanwhile, Jack looks forward to danger and girls, but hasn't a clue about either. That's until French teen sensation Roland arrives in the resort - who Jack's a dead ringer for. When Roland persuades Jack to be his stand-in for a day, Jack, in disguise, declares his feelings for Mouse. But what happens when he's no longer a pop star - will it be music and magic on the slopes?

Having read Lobsters and loving it, I was very excited about reading their second book. A little younger than their first one, but still so cute; more first crush than first time. However, they still captured that early teen voice perfectly, it was just as awkward and terrifying being a 14 year old as I remember.


I adored the instant crush between Jack and Mouse - sometimes you just know that there's something about a person you want to get to know and that was them. Of course things don't quite go according to plan, partly because they are both too scared to start a conversation, partly because Jack is mistaken for a French pop star. Because, duh, that's what happens on a school ski trip! This setting allowed some serious flaunting of rules but what else do you expect from a bunch of teenagers going away?


It also quite subtly explored self-worth, with everyone worrying over their appearance but in someone else's head, they look incredible - this was especially evident in Jack and Mouse, as Jack worried about his hair, his lack of facial hair, his height, just about everything but when Mouse sees him, all she sees is someone cute.


What I especially liked was the great displays of friendship, especially the girls. Mouse has been kicked out of ballet school and shamefully goes back to her old school but her slightly insane best friend is more than happy to welcome her back into her little group of two nutters. Then there's the ex-best friend Lauren and her fake nice girl act while slowly bringing down Mouse's confidence. There was always one of those with every school group and Lauren was particularly awful I thought, but Mouse handled her brilliantly.


All in all, a very funny and utterly adorable story about your first crush, first kiss and being true to yourself without letting fear rule your actions.


Published 7th January 2016 by Chicken House.

The Loneliness of Distant Beings by Kate Ling

'It is that quick, it is that strong, it is that beautiful. And it is also totally impossible.'

Even though she knows it's impossible, Seren longs to have the sunshine on her skin. It's something she feels she needs to stay sane. But when you're floating through space at thousands of kilometres an hour, sometimes you have to accept there are things you cannot change.

Except that the arrival of Dom in her life changes everything in ways she can barely comprehend. For a while he becomes the Sun for her; and she can't help but stay in his orbit. Being with him flaunts every rule designed to keep their home in order, but to lose him would be like losing herself.

In the end they must decide what is most important: loyalty to the only home they've ever known, or to each other?

As soon as I heard about this, I was drawn to a story in space, the literal lack of space on the ship, the bleakness of existence and the existential troubles that would bring. Set 84 years into a 200-odd year mission into space, Seren is fed up with her life and all the rules that it would follow, from where she works to who she marries. As a character, Seren was fascinating; sarcastic, blunt, depressed, a very good teenage voice as she struggles with the expectations of life on the ship and the overwhelming desire for something more. And then she meets Dom.


Seren and Dom had that kind of dangerous, all-consuming relationship but as much as you root for them, you know it's going to end badly. There was a bit of insta-love but for once, it didn't annoy me. Thinking back on it, it was all very melodramatic but at the time, I was so swept up in the restrictions of real life on the ship, I could very much understand Seren falling head over heels with something forbidden. However, there really wasn't much to their relationship other than physical attraction; yeah, they talked but there were a few secrets that almost ruined things for them and I couldn't help but think that their relationship should be stronger than that.


What I did really enjoy was the dynamic of the ship, how it had evolved into this military dictatorship and everything was about preserving the mission. It reminded me of this mini-series I watched on TV a while back but it was very clever and really highlighted the inevitable nature of life, as depressive as that sounds. All in all, a good addition to sci-fi but maybe the build-up of romance was lacking.


Published 19th May 2016 by Little Brown Books.

The Girl of Ink and Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Forbidden to leave her island, Isabella Riosse dreams of the faraway lands her father once mapped.

When her closest friend disappears into the island’s Forgotten Territories, she volunteers to guide the search. As a cartographer’s daughter, she’s equipped with elaborate ink maps and knowledge of the stars, and is eager to navigate the island’s forgotten heart.

But the world beyond the walls is a monster-filled wasteland – and beneath the dry rivers and smoking mountains, a legendary fire demon is stirring from its sleep. Soon, following her map, her heart and an ancient myth, Isabella discovers the true end of her journey: to save the island itself.

Isabella goes on a quest to rescue her friend - tags along, in disguise, with the group being led by Lupe's father, the Governor. As worried as she is for her best friend, Isabella is very excited to see what lies beyond the borders of her village, to explore the uncharted parts of the island.


Joya, the island, was just incredible. Its origin and history was pure myth and magic, it was all about the stories and the detailed, beautifully drawn maps to tell of how it was cut from the ocean floor and floats, how the birds escaped by flying back into the sea and the wolves ran into the woods in fear of the demon that also calls this island home. Of course, now no-one really believes these stories, until people start disappearing and animals are found dead.


The whole story was very fantastical, it flowed beautifully between old legends and new maps, and throughout was the strength of friendship. It was actually also a little young, I didn't realise that Isabella and Lupe were just 13 years old, still girls in the way they play and trust in their friendship. It was so cute and so powerfully innocent that Isabella would do anything for Lupe and vice versa.


All in all, a very moving and lyrical story about myths based in truths and the power of friendship.


Published 5th May 2016 by Chicken House. Thank you to the publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

Soilder by Julie Kagawa

When forced to choose between safety with the dragon organization Talon and being hunted forever as an outcast, Ember Hill chose to stand with Riley and his band of rogue dragons rather than become an assassin for Talon. She's lost any contact with her twin brother, Dante, a Talon devotee, as well as Garret, the former-enemy soldier who challenged her beliefs about her human side. As Ember and Riley hide and regroup to fight another day, Garret journeys alone to the United Kingdom, birthplace of the ancient and secret Order of St. George, to spy on his former brothers and uncover deadly and shocking secrets that will shake the foundations of dragons and dragon-slayers alike and place them all in imminent danger as Talon's new order rises.

Here we are for book three in the series, and although lots have changed, I still loved it. This time, we're still on the run with Ember, Riley and Wes as Talon and St George hunt for rogue dragons that threaten humanity. We see new Eastern dragon in the form of Jade and with her, the differences between west and east in their control of dragon-kind were staggering; Jade and her culture revered dragons and they were pretty much left to their own devices but when Talon came a-knocking, their way of life was destroyed all because they wouldn't come under Talon's thumb. As if we needed any more reason to hate Talon!


Meanwhile, Garret has just uncovered some damning truth about St George's leader's allegiance but lacks the evidence. By rescuing and then teaming up with Ember and Riley, they share a common goal of bringing down the corrupt dragon hunters, but must suffer some very awkward encounters. I felt so sorry for Ember, she obviously had feelings for both Riley and Garret but for very different reasons. I was just as torn as Ember between Riley and Garret - I am rooting for Garret though, let's be clear!


We had lots more perspectives, from Ember, Riley and Garret, to Dante in Talon, and Garret's past. It was all really interesting, if a little confusing sometimes, to flit between them and see the same event through different eyes. There was still danger and running/flying for their lives but Wes provided some much needed comic relief, plus there was much speculation about Ember's love life!


All in all, a great addition to the series that answered some questions but still left me wanting more.


Published 26th April 2016 by Harlequin Teen. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

Passenger by Alexandra Bracken

In one devastating night, Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has travelled not just miles but years from home.
Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods - a powerful family in the Colonies - and the servitude he's known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can't escape and the family that won't let him go. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, his passenger, can find.

Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveller who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods' grasp. But as they get closer to their target, treacherous forces threaten to separate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home forever.


When I picked this up, all I knew about it was that nearly everyone loved it, and it had time travelling pirates! Well, luckily the hype lived up to expectations for me! Etta didn't have any idea about her time travelling gene - in this and quite a few other respects it reminded me of Kirsten Gier's Ruby Red trilogy, but it had this whole other feel to it. The time travelling was, of course, super complicated but so much fun, seeing history happen right in front of you


Etta and Nicholas were pretty incredible, both as characters and as a couple. Etta was this musical prodigy and was worried about getting home so she could play her debut; she was also worried about her mum and the secrets that she was apparently keeping from her, and Rose, the adopted grandmother and violin teacher that Etta might not be able to save. She was a fantastic heroine, smart and quick and considering she was literally dropped in a pirate ship in 1776, she handled it all rather well!


Nicholas was born in the 1760's and is of African descent, so he has very different concerns to Etta. Being literally owned by the Ironwoods hangs over him and he will do whatever it takes to leave this family, even spy on Etta. But of course they grow closer and Nicholas can't see what is so dangerous about this girl that the head of the Ironwood family cannot trust her.


There was also a great and complex relationship between Etta and Sophia, an Ironwood and the guardian sent to bring Etta to back in time. They don't like each other and Sophia will, and in fact does, throw Etta over to get what she wants but it was all about girl power, and sticking together in a tough situation. That is until they are both out of it and Sophia can stab Etta in the back again!


This book had everything from heart-wrenching romance to heart-in-your-throat action and it was all kinds of amazing! Definitely lived up to expectations and I cannot wait for the next book; that cliff-hanger needs sorting pronto!


Published 7th April 2016 by Quercus. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

Weekly Highlights: the 'Belated May TBR' edition

Weekly Highlights is a feature borrowed from Faye of A Daydreamer's Thoughts, where I get to highlight my posts of the week, show you my new books and talk about bookish things!

Time is definitely running away from me; is it seriously May already? And it's finally warm! Anyway, once again my update mostly consists of: I've been working loads and I'm really tired and I'm sorry for not being online as much anymore. But hey, it's nearly summer!

On The Blog

Not as many reviews or posts this month, I had to take a couple of weeks off because my brain was melting under pressure. I did have a few favourites, like The Sleeping Prince and Think Twice, and of course my April classic: Pride and Prejudice.

Currently Reading

At time of writing, I've nearly finished Never Evers by Tom Ellen and Lucy Ivison, which is hilarious and awesome. Next up is probably Burn For Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian. 

On My Bookshelf

Notes On Being Teenage by Rosalind Jana

How would you describe yourself? Do you like to stand out, or fit in? Are you an Instagram junkie, or is Snapchat more your thing? Are you watching Zoella on YouTube, or reading Rookie on your phone? We're all different, and no-one's teenage years are the same. But we do all have one thing in common - being a teenager is about discovering who we are, and who we want to be.

The Loneliness of Distant Beings by Kate Ling

'It is that quick, it is that strong, it is that beautiful. And it is also totally impossible.'

Even though she knows it's impossible, Seren longs to have the sunshine on her skin. It's something she feels she needs to stay sane. But when you're floating through space at thousands of kilometres an hour, sometimes you have to accept there are things you cannot change.

Except that the arrival of Dom in her life changes everything in ways she can barely comprehend. For a while he becomes the Sun for her; and she can't help but stay in his orbit. Being with him flaunts every rule designed to keep their home in order, but to lose him would be like losing herself.

In the end they must decide what is most important: loyalty to the only home they've ever known, or to each other?

The Hawkweed Prophecy by Irena Brignull

The babies were born as the clock struck twelve. A bat fell from the air mid-flight. A silver salmon floated dead to the surface of the river. Snails withered in their shells, moths turned to dust on the night breeze and an owl ate its young. The spell had been cast.

Poppy Hooper has managed to deceive her father into believing that there is nothing mysterious or unnatural about her. He ignores the cats that find her wherever she goes, the spiders that weave beautiful lacy patterns for her, even her eyes - one blue, one green with an extra black dot orbiting the pupil.

Ember Hawkweed is a pitiful excuse for a witch. When the other girls in her coven brew vile potions, Ember makes soap and perfume. Fair and pretty, Ember is more like a chaff than a witch. One of the Hawkweeds will be queen of the witches - but everyone knows it won't be Ember.
When the two girls meet, Poppy discovers her powers, and finds out the truth. Bound by their unlikely friendship and the boy they both love, the girls try and find their place in the world. But the time of the prophecy draws nearer - and the witches won't give up the throne without a fight.

Songs About A Girl by Chris Russell

When sixteen-year-old aspiring photographer Charlie Bloom receives the invitation of her dreams - to take backstage photos for chart-topping boyband Fire&Lights - it's an offer she can't refuse. Overnight she is launched into a world of bloggers, paparazzi and backstage bickering and soon becomes caught between the dark charms of the band's lead singer and songwriter, Gabriel West, and his boy-next-door bandmate Olly Samson.

Charlie's growing notoriety makes her a daily target for bitchy bully Aimee Watts and her clique, and though she seeks comfort in her best friend, Melissa, her life spirals ever further out of control.
As her connection with Gabriel deepens, Charlie stumbles upon a spine-tingling truth: all the songs he has written for Fire&Lights' debut album are, impossibly, linked to her and her past. How can this be? What dark secrets has he uncovered? Why is Melissa acting so strangely all the time? And will this rivalry between Gabriel and Olly eventually tear the band apart?

All of these I picked up at the Books With Bite bloggers event they held last week. It was so much fun and I met up with friends I haven't seen in ages and the presentation was brilliant. Plus, advanced books!

Stars Above by Marissa Meyer

The enchantment continues....

The universe of the Lunar Chronicles holds stories—and secrets—that are wondrous, vicious, and romantic. How did Cinder first arrive in New Beijing? How did the brooding soldier Wolf transform from young man to killer? When did Princess Winter and the palace guard Jacin realize their destinies?

With nine stories—five of which have never before been published—and an exclusive never-before-seen excerpt from Marissa Meyer’s upcoming novel, Heartless, about the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, Stars Above is essential for fans of the bestselling and beloved Lunar Chronicles.

I could not resist this when I saw it in my local Waterstones - I've been waiting for this for ages and I am seriously resisting not just skipping to the last story!

Soldier by Julie Kagawa
When forced to choose between safety with the dragon organization Talon and being hunted forever as an outcast, Ember Hill chose to stand with Riley and his band of rogue dragons rather than become an assassin for Talon. She's lost any contact with her twin brother, Dante, a Talon devotee, as well as Garret, the former-enemy soldier who challenged her beliefs about her human side. As Ember and Riley hide and regroup to fight another day, Garret journeys alone to the United Kingdom, birthplace of the ancient and secret Order of St. George, to spy on his former brothers and uncover deadly and shocking secrets that will shake the foundations of dragons and dragon-slayers alike and place them all in imminent danger as Talon's new order rises.

London Belongs To Us by Sarra Manning

Twelve hours, two boys, one girl . . . and a whole lot of hairspray.
Seventeen-year-old Sunny's always been a little bit of a pushover. But when she's sent a picture of her boyfriend kissing another girl, she knows she's got to act. What follows is a mad, twelve-hour dash around London - starting at 8pm in Crystal Palace (so far away from civilisation you can't even get the Tube there) then sweeping through Camden, Shoreditch, Soho, Kensington, Notting Hill . . . and ending up at 8am in Alexandra Palace.

Along the way Sunny meets a whole host of characters she never dreamed she'd have anything in common with - least of all the devilishly handsome (and somewhat vain) French 'twins' (they're really cousins) Jean Luc and Vic. But as this love-letter to London shows, a city is only a sum of its parts, and really it's the people living there who make up its life and soul. And, as Sunny discovers, everyone - from friends, apparent-enemies, famous bands and even rickshaw drivers - is willing to help a girl on a mission to get her romantic retribution.

And these two are from Netgalley - I've already read Soldier, which was pretty good and I really like this series; and of course you all should know about my massive girl-crush on Sarra Manning.

May TBR

This month's classic will be Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. I also want to read at least a few of the books above, starting with Stars Above and London Belongs to Us. Is there anything on my list I should push to the top?

The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien

Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely travelling further than the pantry of his hobbit-hole in Bag End. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard, Gandalf, and a company of thirteen dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an unexpected journey ‘there and back again’. They have a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon.

The prelude to The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit has sold many millions of copies since its publication in 1937, establishing itself as one of the most beloved and influential books of the twentieth century.

I have never read LoTR but vaguely remember reading The Hobbit in year 5, so when I was about 10. I did have the movie version running through my head rather than any memories of reading it the first time, so things did get a little puzzling.


Bilbo is somewhat manipulated into an adventure, to join the dwarves on their quest to their old home of the Lonely Mountain and win back their treasure from the dragon, Smaug. Everyone should know this already but I think I was expecting too much from the movie; the book is much simpler. It is very much a children's story - nothing's too graphic or brutal, things move along at a steady pace and nothing is left too open.


Having said that, I did still enjoy it. Maybe a bit different to what I expected, but it's still a good story, easily recognisable, and very nice to read. Definitely a modern classic.


Published 2nd November 1998 by Harper Collins. First published 1937.

Think Twice by Sarah Mlynowski

What's worse than having telepathy in high school? Having telepathy in high school, and then losing it. When class 10B got their flu shots and developed the unexpected side effect of telepathy, it seemed like the worse thing ever. But two years later, they've got used to their powers. They've even come to like them. And as they prepare to leave school, they're all making exciting plans - plans that involve them being Espies. So when one by one they suddenly begin to lose their powers, they know they can't let it happen. Can they save their telepathy before it's too late? Or will they have to learn how to survive without them once again?

This is the sequel to Don't Even Think About It, which I have read and loved, although it's been a while. I could remember odd details but not everything - luckily, there was a very clever summary done as a report for checking the suitability of the Espies to join a military think tank. Of course all but one was even a likely candidate, because they are teenagers and obviously care more about their friends than the government.


So it's been a couple of years since book one and the Espies have had their powers a while now but that doesn't mean there aren't still problems. The main one now being that some of their powers seem to be going. And with reputations, job and college offers at stake, the Espies can't let that happen. Thus a series of supplement-taking experiments.


I really liked this, it was just as funny and clever as I remember the first book being, plus with the added bonus that it doesn't take much concentration, which is what I wanted about now. Although it deals with some complicated issues, namely superpowers but also relationships, gambling, going off to college and all sorts of other little niggling teenage problems, it's really easy to read and has a great flow to the story, which can't be easy with all the different voices in their heads!

Published 7th April 2016 by Orchard Books.