Lily's Just Fine by Gill Stewart

 

Pages: 320

Publisher: Sweet Cherry Publishing

Released: 11th of June 2019 

Lily couldn’t have planned life better herself. She lives in the best house in town and she’s dating the most popular boy in school. Everything else she can fix. Mum’s apathy? On it! The stuffy gala committee? Watch this space!

Tom has enough on his plate without trying to drag Newton St Cuthbert into the 21st Century. His sister is sick and there’s nothing anyone can do. Not doctors, not his parents, and certainly not Lily Hildebrand.

Sail away this summer with the unexpected romance of Scotland's most determined teenager.

What I Have to Say 

This book was lovely, such a comfort read even with the issues that the main characters had. Mostly I loved the set of characters. The main character would probably be a bit annoying if you knew her in real life but it was really fun to see her friends rolling their eyes, but going along with her latest scheme. It was clear that they loved her because she was like this not despite it. 

I thought it was a very good example of the coping strategy people have where they throw themselves into something so that they don't have to deal with their problems. It really showed exactly why that's a bad idea. 

It also showed the strain of being a teen carer. Having to care for her mum while she was only a teenager herself. I hope spreads some awareness of real life teens who are in similar situations. 

My thanks go to Netgalley and Sweet Cherry Publishing for providing me with this copy for review. 

This Raging Light by Estelle Laure

Synopsis (from Goodreads) 

Pages: 312

Publisher: Orchard Books 

Released: 14th January 2016

How is it that one day Digby was my best friend's cute twin brother, and then the next he stole air, gave jitters, twisted my insides up?

And with Mom gone, bills to pay and Wren to look after... Why does the best thing happen at the worst time?

What I Have to Say 

This is not a book for people who don't like a good cry, It's a touching story about abandonment and children growing up too fast in order to care for their siblings. 

There's a lot of emotions in this book, from Lucille, Wren and their friends as they try to survive with their parents gone, without letting anyone find out they're on their own. To start off there's a strong bond, both between the sisters and their friends and it's interesting to see how those relationships are strained as the pressure mounts up some growing weaker and others growing stronger. 

I felt this was a really interesting and sensitive look at children becoming carers from their siblings because of neglectful or sick parents (or in this case both). I only know a little of the subject matter, but I felt it was written with compassion and realism. 

Be prepared for the ending though, because it is intense.