How to Die Famous by Benjamin Dean

Pages: 383 

Publisher: Simon and Schuster Children's UK 

Released: 20th of July 2023 

From award-winning author Benjamin Dean comes a deliciously dark and addictive YA thriller following the lives of Gen Z’s rich and famous through the lens of an undercover teen journalist. Perfect for fans of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder and One of Us is Lying . 

London-born Abel has landed the role of a lifetime for an upcoming blockbuster. On the face of it he’s Hollywood’s latest teen star, but below the surface he’s an undercover journalist on a mission to expose the ‘squeaky clean’ entertainment industry and the part they played in his brother’s ‘accidental’ death.

As Abel steps into the spotlight alongside fellow actors Lucky, Ryan and Ella, he soon discovers that beneath the glittering surface of fame and riches lies a darker world of secrecy, scandal and murder. Nobody is who they seem when the cameras are off, and everybody has something to hide. But who’s next in line to die famous? 

Drawing on his previous career as a celebrity journalist, Benjamin Dean examines the dark underbelly of showbiz, leaving no stone unturned.

What I Have to Say 

It's always fun to come across a book that reminds me of everything I love about YA. How to Die Famous is definitely one of these books. With four queer protagonists embroiled in a manipulative industry, it doesn't hold back in showing the dark side of Hollywood. 

I loved the four characters so much. I think Ella and Ryan were my favourites because I'm always a sucker for a Sapphic couple. Abel was probably the character I liked the least, but I still liked him a lot. Each character was strong and had their own issues going on, but they were so strong together. 

The ending was clever, as all mystery endings should be. I guessed some stuff, but there was still plenty to surprised me. 

Read for a great mystery and fantastic characters! 

4 stars 

My thanks go to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for providing me with this copy for review. 

The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem

Pages: 523

Publisher: Orbit Books 

Released: 18th of July 2023 

Ten years ago, the kingdom of Jasad burned. Its magic outlawed; its royal family murdered down to the last child. At least, that’s what Sylvia wants people to believe.

The lost Heir of Jasad, Sylvia never wants to be found. She can’t think about how Nizahl’s armies laid waste to her kingdom and continue to hunt its people—not if she wants to stay alive. But when Arin, the Nizahl Heir, tracks a group of Jasadi rebels to her village, staying one step ahead of death gets trickier.

In a moment of anger Sylvia’s magic is exposed, capturing Arin’s attention. Now, to save her life, Sylvia will have to make a deal with her greatest enemy. If she helps him lure the rebels, she’ll escape persecution.

A deadly game begins. Sylvia can’t let Arin discover her identity even as hatred shifts into something more. Soon, Sylvia will have to choose between the life she wants and the one she left behind. The scorched kingdom is rising, and it needs a queen.

In this Egyptian-inspired debut fantasy, a fugitive queen strikes a deadly bargain with her greatest enemy and finds herself embroiled in a complex game that could resurrect her scorched kingdom or leave it in ashes forever.

What I Have to Say 

This book was very much not for me. It was slow, I hated the main character and the romance really creeped me out. I just don't think that there should be romance between an oppressor and the oppressed. I just couldn't get it out of my head that he was trying to wipe out her entire country.  Others may disagree but I don't think genocide has a place in romance. 

I did like the setting though. Though I kept getting a couple of the kingdoms confused because of their very similar names, it was interesting to explore each of the kingdoms through the different challenges of the contest. 

I also liked how challenging it was for her to use magic. The presence of the cuffs really changed things up. 

It ended in an interesting way, but I have no desire to read on with this series. 

2 stars 

My thanks go to Netgalley and Orbit Books for providing me with this copy for review. 

Charming by Jade Linwood

Pages: 336

Publisher: Solaris 

Released: 18th of July 2023 

9 to 5 with fairy tale princesses in a delightful comic fantasy revenge/heist!

Brave, Resourceful, Deceitful, Double-Crossing... Charming.

Prince Jean-Marc Charming Arundel, known to friends and enemies alike as "Prince Charming," is handsome, well-mannered, brave, a peerless swordsman, a cunning tactician – and a liar, a con man and a fraud. For years he has been travelling from one kingdom to the next, rescuing endangered princesses and maidens, securing their troths and his place in their fathers' palaces, then looting their treasuries and having it away before dawn.

Until a chance meeting of three of his victims – raven-haired Marie Blanche de Neige, the sorceress Doctor Emilia Rapunzel and the long-slumbering Bella Lucia dei’ Sogni – suggests a course of revenge...

What I Have to Say 

This was such a great new imagining of fairy tales. I loved the fresh angle and the way they explained how Prince Charming is in every fairy tale. It was interesting to see a modern take on it with three strong women looking to take him down. 

The fairy tales themselves were the main event for me. Sleeping Beauty was briefly skimmed over but Snow White and Rapunzel were told in full. I really liked the Snow White one and the Snow White character was my favourite, but I found the Rapunzel one strayed a little too far from the original tale. It was basically a brand new story. 

The ending was satisfying, playing into the main characters' skills and bringing it to a really satisfying conclusion. 

A must read for fairy tale fans. 

4 stars 

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

My Week With Him by Joya Goffney

Pages: 400 

Publisher: Hot Key Books 

Released: 11th of July 2023 

Nikki's always had a difficult relationship with her mum. So when she finds herself homeless at the start of spring break, she decides to rage-quit Texas and give California a shot, to pursue her dream music career.

Until her best friend and long-time crush, Malachai, discovers her plan, and convinces her to spend spring break with him, so he can show her all the reasons she should stay in Texas.

But when Nikki's little sister goes missing their plans are interrupted, and Nikki is forced to face her feelings about both her mum and Mal. Can Nikki find the love she's always been missing? And will it be enough to convince her to stay in Texas?

TW: Abuse 

What I Have to Say 

While I didn't enjoy this as much as Confessions of an Alleged Good Girl, it definitely had the cute romance plot with series issues behind it that I found good about the first book. The masterful way that Goffney weaves the seriousness of the abuse scenes in between the sweet romance just has me in awe. 

I love how wholesome Goffney's male love interests are. Although I thought for a while that the plot would be Nikki choosing between love and her career, I was glad to see that as we got further into the book, Malachai got more supportive of her. It's really nice to see these cute boys who know how to treat the women in their lives. 

I really liked the ending of this book too. It was really uplifting. Can't wait for the next Joya Goffney book! 

4 stars 

My thanks goes to Hot Key Books and Netgalley for providing me with this copy for review. 

Black Heat by Bex Hogan

Pages: 339 

Publisher: Orion Children's Books 

Released:  6th of July 2023 

Exile. Rebel. Healer. Three underestimated women, destined to be brought together by revenge in this dark and thrilling new YA fantasy.

Marzal - an exiled daughter with a plan for her return.

Rayn - a rebel blacksmith with a blade of blood.

Elena - a gentle midwife with a fiercely protected secret.

Each young woman wants peace for their country, but in times of war, not everyone fights by the same rules. As their countries burn around them, and the stakes of victory rise, each woman will have to decide how far she is willing to go for peace.

But the desire for revenge also burns deep...

A dark and thrilling new fantasy from the author of The Isles of Storm and Sorrow trilogy.

What I Have to Say 

This was another great book from the author of Viper. Though I didn't like it as much as Viper, the characters were strong, the plot was good and the banter was on point. It was nice to relax into a fantasy world and into the heads of these three characters for a while. 

Though I found it a touch predictatable in places, the plot of this book was pretty well thought out. There was nothing out of place about it. Even though I guessed the twist at the end, there was a sense of inevitability about it that just felt right. 

I loved how each girl was so different as well. From the manipulative princess who is looking to survive court life, to the rough and ready blacksmith who wants revenge on the empire, to the gentle midwife who wants to heal and help people. They're all drawn together and fit nicely into the rebellion. 

4 stars 

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

Overemotional by David Fenne

Pages: 336 

Publisher: Ink Road 

Released: 6th of July 2023 

Sometimes, emotions can be a little too powerful . . .

Seventeen-year-old Steven has a big problem . . . Whenever he feels intense emotions, weird things happen.

Like when he kissed a boy for the first time, and the boy's head literally exploded.

Fleeing to the miserable town of Grunsby-on-Sea, Steven is determined to not hurt anyone else - but he doesn't count on his best friend Freya, her boyfriend Marcus and American friend Troy following him. And when agents from the mysterious DEMA organisation show up talking about "neutralisation", Steven realises that Grunsby-on-Sea might not be the safe haven he'd hoped for . . .

The first in a wholesome queer YA fantasy trilogy packed with magic, loveable characters and big plot twists from debut author DAVID FENNE. Perfect for fans of TJ Klune, Rainbow Rowell and Adam Silvera.

What I Have to Say 

This was such a good concept. I loved the idea of a teenager trying to get the grips on magic controlled by emotions especially when emotions can be so large and overwhelming when you're that age. It was the perfect magic for a teenage boy to have. 

The story really lived up to the concept as well. I fell in love with these characters and their wins were my wins, their losses were my losses. It was really done well. I loved the town of Grunsby-on-sea as well. I could really see this dismal little British Seaside town. 

The LGBTQ+ representation was what really drew me to this book. And when your gay character is shooting rainbows out of his hands, you can't really make it any gayer. I loved how upfront about Steven's gayness the book was, even when he wasn't ready to be upfront about it himself. 

I can't wait to see what adventures await our little gang next. 

4 stars 

My thanks goes to Ink Road and Netgalley for providing me with this copy for review. 

Sing If You Can't Dance by Alexia Casale

Pages: 320 

Publisher: Faber and Faber 

Released: July 6th 2023 

An entirely original and much-needed own-voices perspective from a teenager coming to terms with her disability as she's coming of age. Ven had her life all planned out. her dance group were going places and so was she. Then she passes out right in the middle of a life-changing performance. And she's forced to admit that she hasn't been feeling right for a while now. Ven is about to discover she has an illness that threatens to ruin everything. No more dancing. even walking is proving a challenge, and standing. But don't you DARE feel sorry for her! Ven is no victim, and she is in charge here. Sure, her future is going to be different. but that doesn't mean it's over. Because if you can't dance, you can always sing!

What I Have to Say 

Loving the amount of disability rep I'm seeing in fiction at the moment. This was went a bit down the negative side at the start, authentically portraying the doubt and issues shown by someone still coming to turns when they have a disability, but it ended really upbeat. I was really happy that it showed how once you get the right support you can still live your life. 

Support in general was a big message of this book. I loved how every one of the Singers had something going on in their life and how they grew to support one another, even when it had nothing to do with the singing group. It really showed how important friendships can be. 

The author chose not to disclose what disability this is based on and I respect her choice so I won't make any guesses into what it might be, but I have to say I feel this choice was made assuming the potential readers would be abled. If someone was disabled in the same way that Ven is and was looking for a book to help them deal with it, I'm not sure whether they'd find this book. It's a pity really. 

4 stars 

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