Songs About a Boy by Chris Russell

Synopsis (from Goodreads) 

Pages: 400

Publisher: Hodder Children's Books

Released: 2nd of August 2018 

Just as Charlie allows herself to succumb to Gabe's charms, the explosive revelation about her mother's death threatens to pull them apart.

Meanwhile, a media circus has exploded around the future of Fire&Lights - when they announce a US tour to show the world that they are stronger than ever, Charlie gets the opportunity to accompany them. New York City, here she comes! But it's not all fun and games. Charlie is still feeling all kinds of awkward around Gabe and knowing that her mother's last days were in America touring with her band, Charlie uses the opportunity to uncover some more truths about her mother's death.

As Fire&Lights try to win over the world again, and as Charlie and Gabriel uncover the true story that links their pasts, will Charlie finally be able to follow her heart?

What I Have to Say 

This series has been such a joy to read. There's something about it that makes me feel warm and cosy, each book something to sink into like a nice cosy blanket. It's dramatic and emotional, but it's still like an old friend that you can feel comfortable reading about. I love books like that. It makes reading them a real pleasure. 

I don't know much about One Direction, but I've seen some people calling this One Direction fanfiction. There's nothing wrong with fanfiction at all, but I do feel that calling is really overlooking Charlie, because yes it's a story about Fire and Lights, but more than that, it's Charlie's story. Everything is centred around her and the mystery of her mum. Charlie is such a beautiful character, driven, talented and a really great person. I love how much the band adores her and make her feel like she's a really integral part of the team. 

The band is beautiful. Yuki is wonderful and Aiden too, I really liked. The dynamic of Ollie and Gabriel was a dramatic conflict, but Yuki and Aiden were a really amazing part of the band. 

I love these characters so much and the story was a wild ride of dramatic twists and turns. Chris Russell's habit of ending each book on a sudden twist was frustrating in the best possible way, but I can forgive him for that. 

I can't wait to see what he does next. 

My thanks go Netgalley and Hodder for providing me with this copy for review. 

The Creeping Shadow by Jonathan Stroud

Synopsis (from Goodreads) 

Pages: 542

Publisher: RHCP Digital 

Released: 15th of September 2017 

Lucy has left Lockwood & Co. A freelance operative, she is hiring herself out to other agencies – agencies that might value her ever-improving skills.

But now Lockwood needs her help.

Penelope Fittes, leader of the well-renowned Fittes Agency wants Lockwood & Co. – and only them – to locate and remove the ‘Source’ for the legendary Brixton Cannibal.

It’s a tough assignment. Made worse by the tensions between Lucy and the other agents – even the skull is treating her like a jilted lover!

What will it take to reunite the team? Black marketeers, an informant ghost, a Spirit Cape that transports the wearer, and mysteries involving their closest rivals may just do the trick.

But not all is at it seems. And it’s not long before a shocking revelation rocks Lockwood & Co. to its very core . . .

What I Have to Say 

I love these books. Even though they stop me sleeping sometimes, it's worth a bit of a scare to read the beautiful writing and adventures that Lockwood & co. partake in. I love the relationships between the teammates the best. The way they fit together as an oddball family with their thinking cloth and addiction to cake. They're quirky and work well together and the addition of Holly hasn't changed that. 

I loved the way that Lucy came back to the team as well. The way that she insists that she's not really back while helping them with cases, even though it's obvious right from the start that she's going to go back to them. Because what is Lockwood & Co. without Lucy? 

I also missed the sarcasm of the skull. As much as Lockwood & Co. isn't Lockwood & Co. without Lucy, it also lacks a lot without the skull's sarcasm. The time without it changed the feel of the book a lot. That was really the only downside to this book though. I enjoyed it just as much as the others. 

My thanks go to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for providing me with this copy for review. 

The Apprentice Witch by James Nicol

Synopsis (from Goodreads) 

Pages: 349

Publisher: Chicken House Books

Released: 7th of July 2016

Arianwyn has fluffed her witch’s evaluation test.

Awarded the dull bronze disc and continuing as an apprentice – to the glee of her arch-rival, mean girl Gimma – she’s sent to protect the remote, dreary town of Lull. 

But her new life is far from boring. Turns out Gimma is the pompous mayor’s favourite niece – and worse, she opens a magical rift in the nearby Great Wood. As Arianwyn struggles with her spells, a mysterious darkness begins to haunt her – and it’s soon clear there’s much more than her pride at stake …

What I Have to Say 

This book took me back to my childhood in the most wonderful way. Growing up, I adored the Worst Witch books and the Apprentice Witch has got a very similar quality to it. It's written for slightly older readers and has a beautiful world built up where witches live and work to keep each village safe. 

I'm not sure exactly what time period this story was supposed to be set in. It had an almost timeless quality while having motorcars giving it a sense of the 1920s about it. In a lot of ways it didn't matter, because it's a different world with spirits and demons commonly acknowledged. But this slightly old fashioned setting gave it the most wonderful feel to it. I definitely want to explore this world more. 

I think there's something about Arianwyn as a character that appeals to me a lot. Drawing back to the comparison with the Worst Witch, she and Mildred are the sort of people who always set out to do good. They just want to help and get things right, but everything just goes wrong for them along the way. I think it was that which made the Worst Witch books so relatable to me as a child. You feel more for a character who wants to get things right and so their failures make you feel so much more sorry for them. 

I think that everyone should read this book. It's one that I quickly came to adore and I hope that everyone else loves it as much as I do. 

Love and Other Man-Made Disasters by Nicola Doherty

Synopsis (from Goodreads) 

Pages: 240

Publisher: Orion Children's Books 

Released: 2nd of June 2016

Juno is scared of a lot of things. Climate change, urban foxes, zombies - the usual. So when she goes on a skiing holiday with her mum's adrenaline-mad new husband and his tearaway twins, she doesn't hold much hope of surviving. Then she meets Boy. Gruff, hairy and thrill-seeking, he's everything Juno doesn't like. Or is he? Juno's about to discover there's nothing more scary than falling in love.

What I Have to Say 

From first glance this could be a book about a girl with anxiety who meets a boy and falls in love and ends up being cured, but it isn't. Yes, Juno meets a boy and yes while being with him she learns how to quiet down some of the worries in her mind. But what I took from it was more than that. This isn't a story of girl meets boy, this is the story of a girl learning to take risks and do things despite the way that they could turn out. It's more than anything the story of a girl learning to be brave. 

I feel that there was too much emphasis put on the love though. It was an important part of the book, but I feel that the events later were more important. I don't know how they could have shortened the romance, but I feel if they'd condensed it down and made it less of the whole story it would have put more importance on Juno's coming-of-age story line. 

Despite this, it was a good book. Funny and lighthearted as well as covering some very important points. This would be a good read for the summer. 

My thanks go to Netgalley and Orion Children's Books for providing me with this copy for review. 

Love Song by Sophia Bennett

Synopsis (from Goodreads) 

Pages: 384 

Publisher: Chicken House Books

Released: 7th of April 2016 

A million girls would kill for the chance to meet The Point, but Nina’s not one of them.

She’s the new assistant to the lead singer’s diva fiancée, and she knows it’s going to suck. She quickly learns that being with the hottest band on the planet isn’t as easy as it looks: behind the scenes, the boys are on the verge of splitting up. Tasked with keeping an eye on four gorgeous but spoiled rock stars, Nina’s determined to stick it out – and not fall for any of them …

What I Have to Say 

I want to say before I start that I liked the whole of this book. I say this because I'm only really going to be talking about the second half. The first half was good, easy to read and fun, but it just didn't stick with me the way the second half did. The first half, I liked. The second half, I loved. 

The second half of this book made me think of the golden age of rock music. The fact that I wasn't born then is completely inconsequential. It's the bohemian life style of the bands jamming together, making music and just having a great time. The image of the bands muse in the other room, painting, really stuck with me. 

I just enjoyed the atmosphere of the book more than anything else. It made me want to listen to more old music. It created something bigger than than the book and the story itself. Something that I think will stay with me long after I've forgotten the plot and details of the story. 

My thanks go to Chicken House for providing me with this copy.