Tag Archives: Contemporary

Nobody’s Business by Jhumpa Lahiri

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for unaccustomed earth book cover

Title: Nobody’s Business
Author: Jhumpa Lahiri
In: Unaccustomed Earth (Jhumpa Lahiri)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Relationships
Dates read: 15th October 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: The one you took the message from when I was away.

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Synopsis

Paul has had a crush on Sang for years. But she’s always had a boyfriend. Yet, when he finds out the truth about Freddy, things quickly come unravelled and he realises that it miight just be his business.

Thoughts

My partner always says our relationship is nobody’s business. Which I completely agree with. Except. Except for things like this story, when Sang’s relationship very quickly did become Paul’s business. After all, he was in a no win situation where he kind of did need to say something. Or at least, that’s how I felt. His own emotions did kind of get in the way, but he was still placed in a position where he needed to deal with “nobody’s business”.

There is nothing worse than being put in a position where you just don’t quite feel right about your friends’ other half. I’ve had it happen a few times, and the gut wrenching feeling every time you are both together and see how they’re being treated… it’s absolutely freaking horrible. Lahiri was able to describe this perfectly. Although the backstory might have been completely different to what I’ve experienced, that feeling of horror is still there.

I found this short story a little bittersweet and tragic. Which I’m kind of learning to expect from Lahiri. There is something so much more realistic about not having a happily ever after ending. After all, there isn’t a ride off into the sunset, live happily ever after for anyone in real life. Even if we do get that one moment, there are all of those enjoyable, messy, ridiculous moments afterwards…

 <- Only Goodness ReviewOnce in a Lifetime Review ->
Image source: Bloomsbury

Only Goodness by Jhumpa Lahiri

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for unaccustomed earth book cover

Title: Only Goodness
Author: Jhumpa Lahiri
In: Unaccustomed Earth (Jhumpa Lahiri)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Family, Mental health
Dates read: 30th September 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: You are in no position to be getting married.

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Synopsis

Sudha gave her brother, Rahul his first beer. But she had no idea what that could lead to. Where life would take them and how much danger he could eventually find himself in.

Thoughts

Family is difficult, complex and insane. Completely insane at times. Which is captured brilliantly in Only Goodness. Featuring two siblings and following them as they grow, change and navigate the adult world, there are moments of frightening familiarity, interwoven with a life that I have never experienced. It created a world that was surreal and known. One that I really enjoyed visiting.

Alcoholism is a pretty severe mental health issue. The fact that this story explores it from those beginning, niggling warning signs to the eventual demise of a family worked brilliantly well. There was no one moment throughout which you could pinpoint as the start of an addiction, rather a series off events and personality traits which eventually led to an incredibly sad ending.

Unlike the first few stories in the Unaccustomed Earth collection, this didn’t really feel so much like a story about migration and race. Sure, there were aspects of this within the story, but it was the son’s mental health and addiction issues which really took centre stage – something that transcends race and culture.

 <- A Choice of Accommodations ReviewNobody’s Business Review ->
Image source: Bloomsbury

The Incredible Adventures of Cinnamon Girl by Melissa Keil

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for the incredible adventures of cinnamon girl book cover

Title: The Incredible Adventures of Cinnamon Girl
Author: Melissa Keil
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance, Young adult
Dates read: 9th August – 30th September 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Hardie Grant Egmont
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: How symbolic.

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Synopsis

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.

Thoughts

This was my last unread Melissa Keil book on my shelf. And I tried to stretch out reading it as much as possible… I just love her writing way too much. And my plan to stretch things out worked reasonably well… for the first quarter, but then I got sucked in (as always) and ripped through it. After all, these are the sweetest, most heart-warming books I’ve read in a long time. The fact that they’re set in Australia just helps to make it that much better.

I’m from a rural area of Australia, not as small and secluded as the Eden Valley in this story, but many of the idiosyncrasies of small town Australia life are incredibly familiar in this tale. Especially when it’s partnered with the idea of the end of the world, the gullibility of the masses and the power of social media. The setting itself worked as another character, one that was slightly insane and seriously intense.

Melissa Keil’s books are always a great coming of age story. One which, whilst it features a romance, is more about realising who and what we are. So far all three have taken place around the end of high school – a moment in our lives when we’re not sure who and what we want to become. Since being in that position, I’ve had many “standing on the edge of a cliff” moments, but finishing high school was the first of these. The shorter time frame of this story and the way in which it explores making future decisions reminded me of all those moments in which I wasn’t sure about what my future decisions should be… the ending of this tale helps to give you a sense of happiness (in that Alba and her friends have taken their first steps into the adult world), but it also is open enough that you feel like their lives are just beginning.

I found the love story in this incredibly sweet. I didn’t quite guess which boy would end up with Alba until much later in this book. Because it felt more about their friendship and their love and respect for one another. This is the perfect friends to lovers story. It’s a great reminder that some of the best relationships are built on a solid foundation of friendship and respect. This is the book that you should read if you want to feel at peace with the world and finish with a huge smile on your face.

 <- The Secret Science of Magic ReviewLife in Outer Space Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

It’s All in the Genes by Cara Cooper

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for the mammoth book of jack the ripper stories book cover

Title: It’s All in the Genes
Author: Cara Cooper
In: The Mammoth Book of Jack the Ripper Stories (Maxim Jakubowski)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!),
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Crime, Easy reading
Dates read: 26th September 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: She never sits still, is always up and about, and fiddles with everything.

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Synopsis

She thinks that she’s finally found the love of her life. But, when she finds out that he’s been seeing another woman… she might just crack.

Thoughts

This was a nice, creepy little contemporary take on the Jack the Ripper mythos. For starters, it is in present day and deals with his descendants. For another, it is written from the point of view of one of these descendants. You spend most of the time wondering who is about to get themselves murdered… and just what genetics do mean for the serial killer gene… or if there even is one. Actually, this definitely swayed me towards the belief in a serial killer…

Nature versus nurture is a constant debate. One that seriously fascinates me. This tends more to the angle of nature. That genes can give us certain tendencies that aren’t great. Alright, not great is an understatement… this is talking about serial killers with no real purpose other than death. It makes yo concerned for who the real descendants of Jack the Ripper could be… if there are any (I’m kind of hoping not).

The flip in the culprit of the story took me completely by surprise. I like that there were two people who had a genetic tendency to be killers. The genetics aren’t really what I blame their actions on (we’re all masters of our own fate), but it still made things incredibly tense and spine tingling as I read about the different backgrounds of two people who aren’t overly nice. But it does raise a number of questions.

 <- The Keys to the Door ReviewA Child of the Darkness Review ->
Image source: Amazon

Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Image result for looking for alibrandi book cover

Title: Looking for Alibrandi
Author: Melina Marchetta
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Book to Film, Contemporary, Family, Young adult
Dates read: 23rd – 24th September 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Puffin
Year: 1992
5th sentence, 74th page: ‘I can look after myself,’ I argued as I followed her into the house.

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Synopsis

And what’s this about you and your friends driving around Bondi Junction half-dressed last week?’
‘Who told you that?’
‘Signora Formosa saw you. She said you and your friends almost ran her over. She rang Zia Patrizia’s next-door neighbour and it got back to Nonna.’
Telecom would go broke if it weren’t for the Italians.

Josephine Alibrandi is seventeen, illegitimate, and in her final year at a wealthy Catholic school. This is the year her father comes back into her life, the year she falls in love, the year she discovers the secrets of her family’s past and the year she sets herself free.

I’ll run one day. Run for my life. To be free and think for myself. Not as an Australian and not as an Italian and not as an in between. I’ll run to be emancipated.

Thoughts

This book is amazing! Ground shakingly, life-changingly amazing. Which shouldn’t surprise me. Since I felt that way about the movie when I first saw it as a teenager. After all, it’s about a young Australian girl who is just trying to find where she belongs in the world. Trying to fit in amongst racism and parental expectations. Trying to understand the past and find a way towards a new future. All things that we struggle with ourselves, just with different pressures.

There is so much pressure put on students who are studying year 12. Stupid amounts. I remember my year 12 year, we were all told to put all relationships on hold and just study. That is not a sane, safe or reasonable thing to ask anyone. Let alone a teenager. Josie’s story encompasses that year and the pressures that we all feel about our future, our choices and the external requirements people place on us perfectly. Her sarcastic, attitudinal teenage voice carries the message better than any other story would – and make it far more relatable for someone like me, who was a highly attitudinal teenager.

The relationships in this story are intense. And real. And, when bad things happen, heartbreaking. Enough so that I started weeping in the car. In the middle of summer. With my partner looking on in total confusion. Marchetta manages to create characters that you knew in high school. Dynamics that you too had, even if they were people of a slightly different socioeconomic group, or background. From that moment of first falling in love to letting go of the crush you always had, to seeing the “mean girl” as just another real person… she manages to show the growth and change that we all went through at such an important time in our lives.

Australia is known as a multicultural country, but it’s not always so accepting. Marchetta helps to bring this to life, not only in Josie’s experiences, but the tales of her mother and grandmother. Interweaving three generations of strong women into one story and showing the importance of family takes you on a fantastic journey. Not only through Australia’s cultural past, but also in the making of Josie Alibrandi and bringing all three women full circle to who they are today. And oh, my beating heart… now I just want to read this amazing novel all over again…

 <- Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil ReviewOn the Jellicoe Road Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

A Choice of Accommodations by Jhumpa Lahiri

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for unaccustomed earth book cover

Title: A Choice of Accommodations
Author: Jhumpa Lahiri
In: Unaccustomed Earth (Jhumpa Lahiri)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Family, Race
Dates read: 21st September 20199
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: Megan was content with one, telling him she’d paid the price for being from a large family.

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Synopsis

Amit is attending an old friend’s wedding with his wife. The past and the glory of the night make him reflect on the decisions he’s made in life and whether he’s truly happy in the world he’s created for himself.

Thoughts

Relationships aren’t always sunshine and roses. Whoever tells you that they are is either lying, completely delusional or still in the honeymoon stage of theirs. That’s not to say that relationships aren’t completely amazing, but there is a level of comfort and almost boredom that you reach after a point. One that isn’t glorified in stories, because it is this amazingly comfortable, well-loved and satisfied feeling. Which, in a rare case for the stories I read, Lahiri manages to do kind of perfectly.

Multi-cultural relationships are a little bit difficult. And meeting people from your partners’ past can make all of the issues you thought you no longer had rise to the surface. Jealousy. Insecurity. So many questions. Yet, Lahiri manages to highlight this with a sense of respect. Not just for what people who have been happily married for umpteen years’ experience, but how they sometimes deal with their first night of freedom away from their children.

One of the things I am completely falling for with Jhumpa Lahiri’s writing is her way of taking the everyday life and telling a tale. In some cases, it’s the everyday life of migrants and refugees (something I don’t have much in common with). But in others, it’s the everyday ins and outs of being in a relationship. I think that it’s something that needs to be addressed more frequently. After all, the meeting and first contact are fun and intense. But that bit after? The part where you become comfortable and know that you’ve found that person to spend forever after with. Because forever after can all be first moments and stolen kisses… it has to be about something more.

 <- Hell-Heaven ReviewOnly Goodness Review ->
Image source: Bloomsbury

The Scot, the Witch and the Wardrobe by Annette Blair

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for the scot, the witch and the wardrobe book cover

Title: The Scot, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Author: Annette Blair
Series: Accidental Witch Trilogy #3
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Chic lit, Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Dates read: 4th – 6th September 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year: 2006
5th sentence, 74th page: Damn it!

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Synopsis

He sought his birthright

Long ago, Rory MacKenzie’s Scottish ancestor lost the bewitching woman he loved and regretted it forever. Before he died, he sent her his greatest work of art, a beautifully carved unicorn, as a token of his eternal devotion. Now, Rory is determined to reclaim the unicorn and restore his clan to glory.

She fought her birthright

Like all the women in her family, Victoria Cartwright has inherited the key to the mysterious wardrobe in the family attic. Legend says that only the girl who possesses the magic of her ancestor can reveal the treasure within. But Vickie refuses to believe she is any sort of enchantress.

They both got more than they bargained for…

When Vickie unexpectedly opens the wardrobe, the unicorn makes her dreams come true – until the handsome Rory shows up with his own plans for the unicorn, and for Vickie…

Thoughts

This is a beautiful, fantastic, breathtaking end to a beautiful little trilogy. It has the same level of cute, sweet, heart-happy overload of the first two books. But with just that little bit of extra magic thrown in to spice the pot. There’s nothing like fate, destiny and a magical spell or two to help sweep along the romance. To a beautiful Scotsman. With a serious attitude problem.

It’s hard to find someone who will accept you for who and what you are. Even when you don’t have the extra burden of magical powers. And a man who is inherently terrified of that extra something that this woman possesses. Vicky and Rory’s constant tango as they both try to come to terms with her magic is kind of a beautiful symbolism of the battle which many of us go through to find someone who just accepts us for us.

I have a Scottish background, it’s diluted, but it’s enough that I’m constantly fascinated by any character from the country. There is something weird about it that seems to keep drawing me back in. Which, of course, is why I immediately found Rory fascinating. He is a cantankerous Scottish hermit with a HUGE chip on his shoulder. All things that will immediately draw me in. Partnering him with an absolute sweetheart like Vicky and intertwining their lives with foolish ancestors and a prophecy or two was just brilliant. I found myself completely drawn in by the title, let alone when the story started…

Unlike the first two books in this series, The Scot, the Witch and the Wardrobe ties much tighter to family and history. Kira and Mel are both in difficult family situations, but they are a backdrop to the main storyline. Vicky’s family on the other hand act as a major plot twist and moment. Their relationships not only drive Vicky’s attraction to Rory, but also provide her with a moment of power that she would have been otherwise unable to achieve. Sisters are wonderful, and irritating, and quite possibly going to drive us all completely insane. But they are also the people who give us the most strength. And I think that Vicky’s discovery of her family reflects that perfectly.

 <- My Favorite Witch ReviewSex and the Psychic Witch Review ->
Image source: Fantastic Fiction

My Favorite Witch by Annette Blair

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for my favorite witch book cover

Title: My Favorite Witch
Author: Annette Blair
Series: Accidental Witch Trilogy #2
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Chic lit, Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Dates read: 4th September 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year: 2006
5th sentence, 74th page: They made eye contact, sizzling eye contact, if he was any kind of judge.

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Synopsis

HE SWORE OFF WOMEN. SHE SWORE OFF MEN…

Jason Pickering Goddard’s career as a playboy hockey star comes to a dramatic halt when he tragically damages his legs in a car accident. Swearing off women, he decides to stand in as Director of Special Events at the Pickering Foundation in the interim – knowing his celebrity status will greatly help the foundation’s foster home for boys.

BUT NEITHER EXPECTED THIS KIND OF MAGIC.

A sexy witch cursed by a cheating ex-fiance, Kira Fitzgerald has closed the book on men. But a new chapter in her life opens when she’s appointed as Jason’s coordinator. The clash of their strong personalities ignites Jason’s competitive streak and sparks an inner fire that threatens to melt the ice around his heart – a slow warm-up that weakens Kira’s own defenses. And there’s not a spell strong enough to save her…

Thoughts

I’ve been waiting for this book to arrive on my doorstep for ages! I just loved The Kitchen Witch so much, and I couldn’t wait to read about one of her friends… I really wasn’t disappointed. So much so that I stayed up all night finishing this. Unable to put it down… I suppose having a good book by your side is one moment in which insomnia can actually work for you…

Kira only makes a brief appearance in The Kitchen Witch, but it’s enough that you are completely drawn in and want only what’s best for her. She has a great vulnerability and innocence covered in this incredibly tough outer layer. The fact that she’s been quite seriously burnt in the past, actually made me think of my own sister, which just made me want to hug her and find her a good man all the more… which of course happens. Because this is a romance. And it’s cute and why would you have a romance without a great, hunky lead to partner with the vulnerable, independent woman?

Normally I want to punch people in romances because of their incredibly stupid decisions. The vast majority of the time, the reason that they can’t work is because one of them is just epically dumb. Not so much with this story, don’t get me wrong, there were some silly decisions made… but they came from a place that I could completely understand and relate to. So much less frustrating when you can truly understand the characters’ flaws and insecurities… even if they’re still a little dumb.

This is one of those perfect books for when you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, overworked and just plain stressed. It’s not overly intense, but there is enough happening that you are fascinated by what will happen next. You know that eventually the leads will end up together, so you’re not upset by that. But there’s enough concern that you want to make sure this isn’t the one romance in which there is no happily ever after… my only actual complaint about this book is that now it’s over and I have to return to the real world…

 <- The Kitchen Witch ReviewThe Scot, the Witch and the Wardrobe Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Pride by Ibi Zoboi

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for pride ibi zoboi book cover

Title: Pride
Author: Ibi Zoboi
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Retellings, Young adult
Dates read: 25th – 26th July 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Year: 2018
5th sentence, 74th page: She grabs her ball from beneath the bench and starts passing it between her hands.

Synopsis

Zuri Benitez has pride.

Brooklyn pride, family pride, and pride in her Afro-Latino roots. But pride might not be enough to save her rapidly gentrifying neighborhood from becoming unrecognizable.

When the wealthy Darcy family moves in across the street, Zuri wants nothing to do with their two teenage sons, even as her older sister, Janae, starts to fall for the charming Ainsley. She especially can’t stand the judgmental and artogant Darius. Yet as Zuri and Darius are forced to find common ground, their initial dislike shifts into an unexpected understanding.

But with four wild sistsers pulling her in different directions, cute boy Warren vying for her attention, and college applications hovering on the horizon – Zuri fights to find her place in Bushwick’s changing landscape or lose it all.

In this timely update of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, critically acclimaed author Ibi Zoboi skillfully balances cultural identity, class, and gentrification against the heady magic of first love in her vibrant reimagining of this beloved classic.

Thoughts

Pride and Prejudice is one of my absolute favourite classics. It’s the classic that I go to again anda gain when I want to reread something soothing. Actually, it’s the book I probably pick up about once a year when I need my fix. So when I found out that there’s a contemporary retelling of this story which features a Dominican-Haitian girl on the cusp of adulthood, applying for colleges… well, I bought it immediately.

It was completely impossible to put this story down. Even though I knew pretty much what was going to happen, I looked forward to finding out how Zoboi was going to adjust the storyline to suit her needs. Particularly when the greater issues of race, identity and the identity of the neighbourhood are all explored alongside a well-loved classic. It meant that I was sucked in as if this was an entirely new storyline – because, for me, an Australian with very few experiences of these issues, it was an entirely new world and story that I was being whisked away to.

 I was honestly expecting a story that explored some of the issues of racism. And, although this did in a slight way, it was more about pride in identity. Alright, Zuri’s pride almost gets her in a lot of trouble, but there is also an intense pride in who she is and where she comes from. Actually, this pride in identity and awareness of her cultural history inspired a little jealousy. I’ve never really had any awareness of my own family’s cultural history. Yet, this pride also bought up issues of first perceptions and stereotypes. The ways in which some people see a certain cultural way of being and decide that it is “wrong”. And this worked in both ways – not only towards Zuri, but also in her attitudes towards the Darcys.

This is the second book I’ve read in under a week that deals with the very cusp of adulthood. That moment when you are just about to leave high school and step out on your own for the first time. I loved the open ended-ness of this. Yes, Zuri and Darius look like they’ll get a happily ever after, but they are also only teenagers. And there is no moment of everything being set in stone – rather it is about the hope for the future and an acceptance of each other in a way that makes you think they might just make it when not many others do…

 <- Nigeria JonesPunching the Air ->

Image source: HarperCollins Publishers

What I Like About Me by Jenna Guillaume

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for what i like about me book cover

Title: What I Like About Me
Author: Jenna Guillaume
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Contemporary, Young adult
Dates read: 22nd – 25th July 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Pan
Year: 2019
5th sentence, 74th page: We couldn’t wait until we were both old enough.

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Synopsis

HERE LIES MAISIE MARTIN, DEAD FROM EMBARRASSMENT, AGED SIXTEEN.

The last thing Maisie Martin thought she’d be doing this summer is entering a beauty pageant.

Not when she’s spent most of her life hiding her body from everyone.

Not when her dad is AWOL for Christmas and her best friend starts going out with the boy she’s always loved.

But Maisie’s got something to prove. And she’s not going to let anything or anyone – including herself – hold her back.

Thoughts

I got this book in a book box from YA Chronicles. I had no idea what to expect. I’d never read anything from Jenna Guillaume. And I’m only just getting into contemporary young adult stories. But I absolutely loved it! This story is a bit like the movie Dumplin’ (I haven’t read the book yet), but with a more Australian and satirical spin. Which of course is why I loved it so much…. A sassy Australian novel about coming of age and loving yourself for who you are. Or at least finding a way to like yourself…

As a child, I was lucky to be slender, I won some good genetics. So I honestly don’t understand what it’s like to be a bigger girl. But. I do understand what it’s like not to like my own body. Not to feel 100% comfortable in it and not sure that I like what I see. This novel touches on that issue beautifully. I think it’s something that every woman goes through at some point. A desire to be more “something” something that our friends, family, celebrities are and we’re just not. And although everyone purports self-love, it really does start with self-care – learning to like oneself, before you decide to love yourself.

Being a teenager is incredibly awkward. There is nothing about it that is easy and simple. And, as an adult, I look back on some moments with humour and a bit of wistfulness. But, as a teenager? I thought that everything embarrassing or silly was just the end of the world. That I was always going to be an ungainly, awkward girl-child with no sense of identity and self. Which meant that reading this story of someone going through the exact same thing made me laugh quite a bit. Alright, there were some moments that were way more embarrassing than anything I’d been through, but there were others that I could relate to FAR too well.

The only thing that I didn’t love about this book is the fact that I read it in winter. This is a fantastic beach read, summer story. But, I seem to have picked it up in some incredibly horrible weather. Weather that had me curling up inside on the couch, longing for the beach and beauty that Maisie is surrounding herself and her teenage dramas with.

<- More Australian authors reviewsMore Young adult reviews ->
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