Comedy
Written by Morgan Matson
Contemporary, Romance
432 Pages
Publishing July 2018
Thank you to Simon & Schuster
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★★★★★
Charlie Grant’s older sister is getting married this weekend at their family home, and Charlie can’t wait. For the first time in years, all four of her older siblings will be under one roof. Charlie is desperate for one last perfect weekend, before the house is sold and everything changes. The house will be filled with jokes and games and laughs again. Making decisions about things like what college to attend and reuniting with longstanding crush Jesse Foster, all that can wait. She wants to focus on making the weekend perfect.
The only problem? The weekend is shaping up to be an absolute disaster.
There’s the unexpected dog with a penchant for howling, house alarm that won’t stop going off, and a papergirl with a grudge.
There are the relatives who aren’t speaking, the awful girl her favourite brother brought home unannounced, and a missing tuxedo.
Not to mention the neighbor who seems to be bent on sabotage and a storm that is bent on drenching everything. The justice of the peace is missing. The band will only play covers. The guests are all crazy. And the wedding planner’s nephew is unexpectedly, distractedly… Cute.
Over the course of three ridiculously chaotic days, Charlie will learn more than she ever expected about the family she thought she knew by heart. And she’ll realize that sometimes, trying to keep everything like it was in the past means missing out on the future.
Guests are descending on the Connecticut Grant residence for the pending nuptials of daughter Linnea Grant and fiancée Rodney Daniels, an extravagant farewell to the stately home. Youngest sibling Charlotte Grant is delighted that her siblings will be in attendance, the idolised Sheridan now residing in California, bride Linnea, Jameison and estranged brother Michael. The Grant siblings have embellished syndicate pages for over twenty five years within the fictional Grant Central Station, a weekly illustrated comic created by their mother Eleanor Grant, now reaching a conclusion with a series of celebratory events and appearances coinciding with the pending nuptials of sister Linnea and nostalgic farewell to the endearing family residence.
Big, loud, delightfully messy families
The Grant siblings are wonderful. Typically families portrayed within young adult literature are rarely present or created as a character of superiority, the Grant siblings are blemished. The narrative focus is on seventeen year old Charlie. Charlie understands the significance of the upcoming celebrations, the youngest Grant sibling is feeling displaced. Eldest sibling Danny is Charlie's partner in crime, so when Danny surprises the family by bringing home a new girlfriend from California, Charlie begins to see the imperfections within the brother she idolised. Linnie is becoming increasingly overwhelmed by her nuptials, a missing wedding planner and feuding relatives, brother J.J is desperately seeking a date to the event and estranged brother Mike has chosen to stay with friend James, Charlie's crush. Over the course of three days of celebrations, I fell in love with the compassionate, boisterous and completely imperfect Grant family.
A touch of swoon
For a narrative that takes place during wedding celebrations, the romance was virtually non existent. There is however, plenty of moments to swoon. For the past several years, Charlie has held a flame for James, Mike's best friend that until recently, seemed to be an unrequited love affair. James is a nice young man but he's certainly no Bill, the nephew of the new wedding planner. Bill and Charlie together are lovely and I enjoyed their subtle flirtations. With the amount of mayhem and adventure afoot, their friendship and attraction felt genuine. #TeamBill
Pee your pants a little
Snorting, unattractive laughter. The kitchen is often the heart of every home, especially for the Grant family. The reader is welcomed into their boisterous, frantic home where the coffee is freshly brewed and siblings feud over the last doughnut. Their familiarity is lovely. The banter and sarcasm providing plenty of laugh out loud moments.
I absolutely loved it. Morgan Matson is a phenomenal contemporary author, creating genuine characters and a sincere storyline of perfectly imperfect families. Infused with humour, mayhem and adventure, Save The Date is a feel great read and instant classic.
Follow the tour here with thanks to Simon & Schuster and the #AusYABloggers.
Written by Jenny McLachlan
Contemporary, Romance
Publishing June 1st 2017
352 Pages
Thank you to Bloomsbury Australia
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★★★★
Science geek Meg is left to look after her little sister for ten days after her free spirited mum leaves suddenly to follow up yet another of her Big Important Causes. But while Meg may understand how the universe was formed, baby Elsa is a complete mystery to her.
And Mum's disappearance has come at the worst time. Meg is desperate to win a competition to get the chance to visit NASA headquarters, but to do this she has to beat close rival Ed. Can Meg pull off this double life of caring for Elsa and following her own dreams? She'll need a miracle of cosmic proportions.
Just as the forty nine accomplished women have boldly gone, sixteen year old Meg Clark dreams of becoming an astronaut. A quiet achiever, Meg is attempting to revise her lecture for the upcoming competition that will see one student be awarded with an all expenses paid holiday to the NASA Space Center in Houston, an opportunity that Meg's mother couldn't otherwise afford.
Until her mother purchases a plane ticket to Myanmar on a whim and leaves Meg and one year old Elsa behind. Alone.
My Thoughts
Fifteen year old Megara is an aspiring astronaut and in the midst of preparing for her presentation, an opportunity for an all expenses paid vacation to NASA headquarters, when her free spirited mother leaves for Myanmar, a Southeast Asian country where she will aid underprivileged communities. Her mother also leaves behind Elsa, an infant who cannot comprehend where her mother is and expects her elderly father to shoulder the burden of two children.
Rather than place Elsa in the dangerous environment of her grandfathers home, Meg decides to become Elsa's primary caregiver while balancing school and preparation for her presentation. Meg's mother was infuriating and left me feeling irate. Free spirited is for those without obligations, her mother has two young children and an elderly father who excuses his daughter's behaviour. Although her grandfather is reluctantly accommodating, his home resembles an unhygienic menagerie and refuses to inconvenience himself for his young granddaughters. Her grandfather is lovely, but why would any responsible adult allow a fifteen year old girl to accept responsibility for an infant sibling.
Being a preoccupied adolescent consumed by science, Meg and step sister Elsa are relatively strangers, sharing the same irresponsible mother and little else of significance. Through circumstances, the two sisters begin to care for one another. It was wonderful to see Meg being supported by new and unlikely friends in her mentoring program, especially sarcastic and resolute Annie who is a student with Autism. A friendly rivalry and gentle friendship were the foundation of an enchanting romance.
Although it was lovely and incredibly entertaining, the adult characters within Stargazing For Beginners were irresponsible. From their mother and grandfather, to the caregiver at Elsa's daycare center who suspected their mother may have been absent. How did the school facility not realise the change in her behaviour? The responsible and astute student now unpolished and exasperated has gone unnoticed.
Jenny McLachlan is a magnificent author, a wonderful storyteller and an absolute delight. Amusing, entertaining and incredibly charismatic.
Written by Nat Luurtsema
Contemporary, Coming Of Age
Expected Publication August 1st 2016
320 Pages
Thanks to Walker Books Australia
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★★★★★
Lou Brown's life is going down the pan. Best friend Hannah sailed through the Olympic time trials and is off to her fancy pants new swim training school, while Lou's own failure to qualify leaves her without a hobby, or a friend. As Lou tries to navigate her post swim world, a chance encounter with three boys with stars in their eyes takes her life in a surprising new direction. One that leads to a crazy world of underwater somersaults, talent show auditions, bitchy girls and one great big load of awkward boy chat.
Swimming has been all fifteen year old Lou Brown has ever known since the tender age of four years old, but her olympic aspirations have just been dealt a severe blow. While her best friend Hannah is about to depart for the Performance Training Camp, Lou is left behind to contemplate what may have been, coming last in her heat. Lou and Hannah have always had one another, so now Lou is determined to make new friends. But when she's recruited to train a new swim team, she may have gotten more than she bargained for.
Pete, Roman and his younger brother Gabriel devise a plan to enter Britain's Hidden Talent, recruiting Lou to choreograph their underwater routine. While Lou begins to learn to live without competitive swimming, she realises that she's uniquely Lou and it's time to sink or swim.
My Thoughts
Girl Out Of Water was an absolute delight. Following the storyline of Lou, awkward, lumbering and clumsy. As she treads water, Lou is a vision of grace but after coming in last to qualify for the Performance Training Camp, she now faces the prospect of life beyond the water. Lou is by far one of my favourite fictional characters, she's intelligent, hilarious and incredibly entertaining. Her inner monologue often refers to how awkward she feels as a young woman with an athletic body, she's not particularly self conscious, but aware that she's towering and muscular. But Lou also uses humour in awkward situations, which only endeared me to her character further.
It's fine. If I ever get a boyfriend, I can carry him around when he's tired.
She wobbles away on her monstrous shoes. She looks like a baby gazelle. I can't imagine how dumb I look when I clump along behind her. Gazelle and the mammoth, off on their adventures.
With older sister Laverne, the Brown household is an usual family situation. After losing his job, her father has moved back into the family home, while her mother is experimenting with dating often with disastrous results. In what is an unusual role reversal for young adult novels, it's their father who is the homemaker, while her mother's specialty dish is food poisoning. Lou's parents are incredibly supportive, they understand her devastation but encourage the fifteen year old to spread her wings and concentrate on her studies. The only problem Lou faces now is a life without swimming and discovering who she is without best friend Hannah, a girl who Lou has always been content to stand in her shadow.
Pete, Roman and Gabe have been practicing as an amateur dance troupe, but having already filled their quota, are refused entry into the Britain's Hidden Talent competition and need to find a niche to enter with a new routine and employ Lou's assistance.
It was incredibly charming, not to mention laugh out loud funny. It also touched on series issues such as realistic body image and the pressure teens face often from parental influences. While Lou's family is incredibly supportive, her best friend Hannah is the daughter of two parents who push the young teen to her limits. She's spent, suffering from low self esteem and yet her voice isn't heard until another adult speaks for her. Between both Lou and Hannah's characters, teens will find a relatable medium they can champion.
I absolutely loved it. Never a dull moment, Lou's character hooked me from he very first page and reduced me to big, honking, incredibly unattractive laughing. A brilliantly entertaining read and a feel great experience!
Written by Sophie Kinsella
Contemporary, Mental Illness, Comedy
Published June 1st 2015
288 Pages
Thank you to Random House Australia
RATING ★★★★★
Audrey can't leave the house. she can't even take off her dark glasses inside the house.Then her brother's friend Linus stumbles into her life. With his friendly, orange slice smile and his funny notes, he starts to entice Audrey out again, well Starbucks is a start. And with Linus at her side, Audrey feels like she can do the things she'd thought were too scary. Suddenly, finding her way back to the real world seems achievable.Be prepared to laugh, dream and hope with Audrey as she learns that even when you feel like you have lost yourself, love can still find you...
Fourteen year old Audrey lives with a debilitating social disorder, unable to venture outside except to visit that of her therapist. The mere thought of social interaction causes Audrey to spiral into a wild panic, her dark glasses a coping mechanism as to avoid eye contact for those around her, including her immediate family. But life hasn't always been so exhausting, an incident leaving Audrey shaken and watching not only her schooling, but her former friends slip away. No one truly understands Audrey's illness, what it feels like to be imprisoned inside your own thoughts. Not her overbearing, suspicious mother who lives all their lives according to The Daily Mail, older brother Frank who plans on becoming a professional gamer, or her quiet and reserved father, who dare not disagree with his wife. Audrey is being held captive by fear, but desperately longs to escape and to feel normal again. Who knew that hope would come knocking in the form of Linus.
Fifteen year old Linus is a part time actor, part time student and full time gamer, sharing the same grandeur of winning an online gaming championship as Frank. But according to The Daily Mail, hours of playing computer games per week destroys young minds and while Frank is in their mother's line of fire, Audrey and Linus begin a tentative friendship consisting of pocket notes and shoe contact. Any interaction is seen as a positive breakthrough for Audrey after her ordeal.
Linus may not understand her illness, but he inspires something in Audrey that forces her out of her comfort zone and begin to live again. The fear starts to dissipate and Audrey realises that Linus represents a future she so desperately needs. To be free of her illness and learn to live and love again.
Finding Audrey is a fun and lighthearted romantic comedy, that follows the story of Audrey who is suffering from an anxiety disorder. Audrey is aware of the reader, which only heightens her story and allows us into her debilitating world. An incident has left Audrey catatonic with fear at the mention of interacting with those outside of her immediate family, instead the fourteen year old retreats to her darkened den where she watches the Shopping Network to relax. But Audrey shares her story with the entire Turner family, each playing a role in her recovery, even if indirectly. Audrey's mother is hilariously overbearing, with her life revolving around a newspaper. Handy home tips? The Daily Mail. Parenting advice? The Daily Mail. Your son shows signs of a gaming addiction? The Daily Mail. Throughout the storyline, we see her obsession with freeing older brother Frank from the oppression of video games, against his will. Their scenes together were laugh out loud funny, so unexpected from a book addressing mental illness and lifted the mood making it a lighthearted read.
MY THOUGHTS
Finding Audrey is a fun and lighthearted romantic comedy, that follows the story of Audrey who is suffering from an anxiety disorder. Audrey is aware of the reader, which only heightens her story and allows us into her debilitating world. An incident has left Audrey catatonic with fear at the mention of interacting with those outside of her immediate family, instead the fourteen year old retreats to her darkened den where she watches the Shopping Network to relax. But Audrey shares her story with the entire Turner family, each playing a role in her recovery, even if indirectly. Audrey's mother is hilariously overbearing, with her life revolving around a newspaper. Handy home tips? The Daily Mail. Parenting advice? The Daily Mail. Your son shows signs of a gaming addiction? The Daily Mail. Throughout the storyline, we see her obsession with freeing older brother Frank from the oppression of video games, against his will. Their scenes together were laugh out loud funny, so unexpected from a book addressing mental illness and lifted the mood making it a lighthearted read.
The budding romance between Audrey and Linus was absolutely lovely. He challenged her, but was patient and didn't fix her per se, but aided in her recovery and gave Audrey the means to venture out of her comfort zone. Realistically, mental illness takes much more than a weekly therapist and a love interest to recover, but I appreciated Finding Audrey for it's entertainment that never failed to make me laugh, value rather than realism. I loved the Turner family unit, they were far from perfect, but such a strong presence in Audrey's life. Four year old Felix was positively charming. He's the only person that Audrey felt at ease with, and was able to take off her glasses and not face the fear of judgement. Each character had their own district personality that jumped off the pages, reducing me to fits of laughter between heartwarming moments. I absolutely adored it.
THE VERDICT
Wonderfully written, lighthearted and incredibly funny. Sophie Kinsella's first foray into young adult is nothing short of a brilliant success. Laugh out loud funny, you'll fall in love with the Turner family and their quirky brand of joy, hope and acceptance. Pure entertainment with a sense of fun, this is one book you'll want to read again and again.
Love Bomb
The Ladybirds Book Two
Written by Jenny McLachlan
Check out my review of Flirty Dancing
Contemporary, Romance, Comedy
Published March 12th 2015
304 Pages
Thank you to Bloomsbury Australia
Add to Goodreads
Check out my review of Flirty Dancing
Contemporary, Romance, Comedy
Published March 12th 2015
304 Pages
Thank you to Bloomsbury Australia
Add to Goodreads
Betty Plum has never been in love. She's never even kissed a boy. But when H.O.T. Toby starts school it's like Betty has been hit with a thousand of Cupid's arrows. It's like a bomb has exploded, a love bomb!
More than ever Betty wishes her mum hadn't died when Betty was a baby. She really needs her mum here to ask her advice. And that's when she finds hidden letters for just these moments. Letters about what your first kiss should feel like and what real love is all about...
Is Betty ready to fall in love? Will she finally have her first kiss?
Written by Melissa Keil
Contemporary, Coming of Age
Published September 2014
320 Pages
Thank you to Hardie Grant Egmont
Add to Goodreads
★★★★★
★★★★★
Alba loves her life just as it is. She loves living behind the bakery, and waking up in a cloud of sugar and cinnamon. She loves drawing comics and watching bad TV with her friends.The only problem is she’s overlooked a few teeny details: Like, the guy she thought long gone has unexpectedly reappeared. And the boy who has been her best friend since forever has suddenly gone off the rails.And even her latest comic book creation is misbehaving.Also, the world might be ending, which is proving to be awkward.As Doomsday enthusiasts flock to idyllic Eden Valley, Alba’s life is thrown into chaos. Whatever happens next, it’s the end of the world as she knows it. But when it comes to figuring out her heart, Armageddon might turn out to be the least of her problems.
Nothing ever changes in Eden Valley where it's always been childhood friends, Alba and best friend Grady against the world. Then chaos descends. An online clip featuring a self proclaimed doomsday prophet, has given the country coordinates to the sleepy town and it isn't long before the flocks of media and believers arrive en masse, destroying what could be the group of teens final summer together.
Along with her single mother, Alba lives behind the family bakery, immersing herself in cinnamon rolls and her graphic illustrations while the town is plunged into an end of the world party. Alba has always wanted to study art ever since her father introduced her to Wonder Woman comics, but the thought of leaving town t forge her own path, has her hiding out in her bedroom. Her only solace comes in the form of Grady, her best friend who lives next door. In what may be their last summer together, Grady is leaving for the bright lights of the city to study law, while Alba can't find the motivation to bring her latest character to life, Cinnamon Girl, the bakery mascot.
In with the hordes of doomdayers, comes long lost childhood friend Daniel. Daniel was once part of a trio, along with Grady and Alba, leaving town only days before her father passed away. Still children, Daniel never looked back on Eden Valley until now. One of the stars of a cheesy soap opera, Daniel breezes back into town on a publicised visit and assumed that his only childhood friends had also moved on. His reappearance brings a wave of nostalgia and seemingly Grady's sudden sullen mood. As Grady pulls away, Alba can't help but feel his already distancing himself to ease into what will be a painful goodbye. Time is running out, either the world will end or Alba will need to make a decision on her future, stay and she may never make it out of Eden Valley, or take a chance on a life she's too scared to live.
Her sidekick is best friend Grady, the two of them growing up together both being raised by single mothers. He's the typical boy next door with a twist. He's not perfect, but he complements Alba's personality, it's a pity his drive and ambition has yet to encourage her to see the world outside of Eden Valley. Life is seemingly perfect, until Daniel breezes back into town. Daniel isn't the same overweight child that left the valley, and now returns as a low grade soap star. The secondary characters were incredibly vivid and well developed, and although don't play a pivotal role in the storyline, they provide sassy banter and each bring a unique and charming element each in their own way.
Alba is brilliant. She's sassy, strong and has an offbeat and unique sense of style, a rockabilly pinup girl who lives for her characters. She's not flirtatious, she doesn't expect compliments, she knows she's an attractive girl with curves that draw attention. But besides from doubting her own future, I loved that she was confident with a healthy and realistic body image. Something we don't generally see in young adult today. She doesn't need a boyfriend and doesn't seek the approval of others for validation. She's what teen girls should be portrayed as. Young adult authors take note, this is how you create a quirky and off beat young adult contemporary that no doubt readers will fall in love with.
In with the hordes of doomdayers, comes long lost childhood friend Daniel. Daniel was once part of a trio, along with Grady and Alba, leaving town only days before her father passed away. Still children, Daniel never looked back on Eden Valley until now. One of the stars of a cheesy soap opera, Daniel breezes back into town on a publicised visit and assumed that his only childhood friends had also moved on. His reappearance brings a wave of nostalgia and seemingly Grady's sudden sullen mood. As Grady pulls away, Alba can't help but feel his already distancing himself to ease into what will be a painful goodbye. Time is running out, either the world will end or Alba will need to make a decision on her future, stay and she may never make it out of Eden Valley, or take a chance on a life she's too scared to live.
I really enjoyed Melissa Keil's debut novel Life in Outer Space, but I absolutely adored The Incredible Adventures of Cinnamon Girl. Alba, a nickname derived from her surname, isn't your typical small town girl. She dreams of taking her comic book characters to the world, but as her circle of friends and best friend Grady graduate from school, she realises that she may only have a few months before she is forced to say goodbye. She struggles to leave the only life she's known behind and venture out into the world, which is something I too experienced when I finished school all those years ago.Kelly's Thoughts
Her sidekick is best friend Grady, the two of them growing up together both being raised by single mothers. He's the typical boy next door with a twist. He's not perfect, but he complements Alba's personality, it's a pity his drive and ambition has yet to encourage her to see the world outside of Eden Valley. Life is seemingly perfect, until Daniel breezes back into town. Daniel isn't the same overweight child that left the valley, and now returns as a low grade soap star. The secondary characters were incredibly vivid and well developed, and although don't play a pivotal role in the storyline, they provide sassy banter and each bring a unique and charming element each in their own way.
Alba is brilliant. She's sassy, strong and has an offbeat and unique sense of style, a rockabilly pinup girl who lives for her characters. She's not flirtatious, she doesn't expect compliments, she knows she's an attractive girl with curves that draw attention. But besides from doubting her own future, I loved that she was confident with a healthy and realistic body image. Something we don't generally see in young adult today. She doesn't need a boyfriend and doesn't seek the approval of others for validation. She's what teen girls should be portrayed as. Young adult authors take note, this is how you create a quirky and off beat young adult contemporary that no doubt readers will fall in love with.
Written by Dave Hackett
Contemporary, Comedy
Published August 27th 2014
264 Pages
Thanks to UQP: University of Queenslamd Press
Add to Goodreads
★★★★★
★★★★★
Starrphyre is your average sensitive meets dorky 16 year old, with a tragic hippy name thanks to his parents, a live to air radio sex therapist mum and a bass player dad from a one hit wonder 80s metal band.
All Starrphyre wants is one date with his dream girl, Candace McAllister. Or at least a meaningful conversation. But how can he get her to notice him when she’s the leading lady of every other high school guys’ fantasies?
For Starrphyre, starting a band seems like the natural solution, but when your bandmates have the combined musical ability of a gang of armless monkeys, you really need a backup plan.
Life has dealt sixteen year old Starrphyre his fair share of knocks. His parents naming him Starrphyre for one. He isn't popular, and most of his peers would consider him the token nerd, that's if they'd even notice him that is. It still doesn't stop Starrphyre from dreaming about making popular girl Candace his girlfriend, but apart from a brief and awkward conversation when Starrphyre was only eight years old, she doesn't know he exists. He needs a plan to make her notice him, so when your dad is a former eighties one hit wonder and your mother is a radio sexual therapist, it's only natural that starting a band is surely the answer. if only he could play an instrument.
With friends as equally as uncool and unpopular, not to mention the lack of musical talent, Starrphyre had no option but to enlist the help of the very cool Scene, who runs the local record store. But rather than gaining just a guitarist, Starrphyre finds himself now with a part time job thanks to his vast, obscure musical knowledge and a pair of well worn Converse kicks.
But as a new plan takes shape to win over Candace, Starrphyre finds himself torn between the girl he's always wanted and the girl he actually needs, as he gets to know coworker Ellie. Suddenly being named Starrphyre is the least of his problems.
The Summer of Kicks is hilarious, beautifully written and incredible Australian that awkward teens world wide can relate to. It follows the woes of Starrphyre, upbeat dork, musical genius and faithful friend. He's in love with a girl who doesn't know he exists, and now is forced to share his bedroom with his sisters thug boyfriend, simply known as The Tool. Including friends with affectionate nicknames such as Reece Polar Fleece, he decides that with his vast musical knowledge, his only option at being noticed is to start a band. What ensues is a brilliant roller coaster ride of hilarity, viral videos, a musical he'll never forget and an awkward first kiss that was more teeth than tongue. It was phenomenal and by far the most entertaining and comical young adult book I've read. Ever.
Kelly's Thoughts
I'm now lying on the stage. On top of my mother. And we're face to face. The entire auditorium is staring... 'And this', Mum says, attempting to make light of the situation, 'is the missionary position'. Instantly the whole place is in hysterics. Sheila Sweet, celebrity sex therapist, is in session...
And although The Summer of Kicks is a humorous take on teen life, there are moments of seriousness that are emotional, touching and incredibly heartwarming as well. This isn't just another teen romance, this is comedy at it's brilliance. From selecting band names from a bingo barrel, the Grease musical that never should have been and grabbing a Led Zepplin shirt, only to realise you're actually proudly wearing Bert and Ernie. I laughed from cover to cover. This isn't just a book, it's a feel good experience and I absolutely adored it.
Flirty Dancing
Written by Jenny McLachlan
Published July 1st 2014
192 Pages
Thank you to Bloomsbury Australia
Bea Hogg is shy but fiery inside. When national dance competition Starwars comes to her school looking for talent, she wants to sign up. It's just a shame her best friend agreed to enter with school super cow Pearl Harris. Bea will fight back! But when school hottie, Ollie Matthews, who also happens to be Pearl’s boyfriend, decides to enter the competition with Bea, she will have more than a fight on her hands.This warm, nuanced, hilarious story about friendship, fortitude... And dancing is impossible not to fall in love with. Jenny’s voice is fresh and convincing, and she handles both darker and lighter elements of the story with equal panache.
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