Review – The Loneliest Girl in the Universe

Title: The Loneliest Girl in the Universe
Author: Lauren James
Published by: Walker Books
Publication date: 7th September 2017
Pages: 290, paperback
Genre: YA, sci-fi, romance

‘Can you fall in love with someone you’ve never met, never even spoken to – someone who is light years away?’

Romy Silvers is the only surviving crew-member of a spaceship travelling to a new planet, on a mission to establish a second home for humanity amongst the stars. Alone in space, she is the loneliest girl in the universe until she hears about a new ship which has launched from Earth – with a single passenger on board. A boy called J.

Their only communication with each other is via email – and due to the distance between them, their messages take months to transmit across space. And yet Romy finds herself falling in love.

But what does Romy really know about J? And what do the mysterious messages which have started arriving from Earth really mean?

Sometimes, there’s something worse than being alone . . .

***

The Loneliest Girl in the Universe has been one of the most-anticipated 2017 releases for so many people in the YA community. I too, was dying to read this – I loved Lauren James’ The Next Together, and her newest book sounded just as amazing (as well as having quite possibly one of the most beautiful covers ever). I will say now that I really did enjoy this book, but unfortunately not as much as I was expecting.

Review – Wing Jones

Title: Wing Jones
Author: Katherine Webber
Published by: Walker Books
Publication date: 5th January 2017
Pages: 378, paperback
Genre: YA, contemporary, romance

Jandy Nelson meets Friday Night Lights: a sweeping story about love and family from an exceptional new voice in YA. With a grandmother from China and another from Ghana, fifteen-year-old Wing Jones is often caught between worlds. But when tragedy strikes, Wing discovers a talent for running she never knew she had. Wing’s speed could bring her family everything it needs. It could also stop Wing getting the one thing she wants.

***

Wing Jones has been sitting patiently on my TBR since the start of the year, and in preparation for YALC, I finally found time to read it. And I am so glad that I did, because I adored it (and got to tell Katie this at YALC myself!).

In July I Read | 2017

July was one of those very bookish months (not that I’m complaining in the slightest). With both YALC, and a glorious lack of exams, July is pretty much the peak time in the YA community. In total I read ten books this month, and I was lucky enough to enjoy all ten of them (some more than others, of course. That’s just how it goes).

At the beginning of the month I read Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt, which I absolutely adored. Part of me wishing that the book was longer, but I also felt that the story was incredibly poignant and benefited from being shorter.

Next I read 1984 by George Orwell whilst on holiday in Spain – I know, it’s hardly a typical poolside read, but I loved loved loved this book. I thought it was so amazingly written, and I found Winston’s world equal parts fancinating and terrifying. This is definitely a book that will stay with me for a long time, and I feel as if I need to read it again and again to get as much as possible out of it.

Books We’re Taking On Holiday (feat. Bookends And Endings)

August has arrived, and myself and my sister Jess (blogger at Bookends And Endings) are off on a family holiday for a few weeks – which hopefully means lots and lots of reading. This post was inspired by booksandquills on YouTube, so be sure to check out Sanne’s video here!

Jess and I will each be sharing the YA books we are taking on holiday. As I have mentioned in previous posts, I have also taken a whole lot of classics to read for school, but I already sort of covered that in my classics TBR. So I may not have time to read all the YA I am bringing, but I will certainly try!

YALC Wrap Up | 2017

YALC 2017 is now officially over, and it truly was an amazing three days. I spent the weekend with my sister Jess, and our lovely friend Liv who joined us for Saturday – I am absolutely exhausted from all the walking, standing and chatting, but I wish it could be YALC all year round. After one smashed honey pot, one missed train, and one forgotten ticket, we arrived at YALC on Friday morning laden down with books and snacks, and bouncing with excitement (quite literally).

Review – After the Fire

Title: After the Fire
Author: Will Hill
Published by: Usborne
Publication date: 1st June 2017
Pages: 496, paperback
Genre: YA, contemporary, cult fiction, thriller

‘The things I’ve seen are burned into me, like scars that refuse to fade.’

Father John controls everything inside The Fence. And Father John likes rules. Especially about never talking to Outsiders. Because Father John knows the truth. He knows what is right, and what is wrong. He knows what is coming.

Moonbeam is starting to doubt, though. She’s starting to see the lies behind Father John’s words. She wants him to be found out.

What if the only way out of the darkness is to light a fire?

***

This is another book that has been on my shelf for ages, just waiting for me to pick it up. I find books about cults immensely fascinating, so I was very excited to read After the Fire. I started this book at around three o’clock on a Saturday afternoon, and proceeded to spend the rest of the day reading it. I was utterly gripped from start to finish.

Review – Orbiting Jupiter

Title: Orbiting Jupiter
Author: Gary D. Schmidt
Published by: Andersen Press
Publication date: 2nd March 2017
Pages: 192, paperback
Genre: YA, contemporary

A heartbreaking story, narrated by twelve-year-old Jack, whose family is caring for fourteen-year-old Joseph. Joseph is misunderstood. He was incarcerated for trying to kill a teacher. Or so the rumours say. But Jack and his family see something others in town don’t want to.
What’s more, Joseph has a daughter he’s never seen. The two boys go on a journey through the bitter Maine winter to help Joseph find his baby – no matter the cost. 

***

I was intrigued by this book as soon as I read the blurb for the first time, and I knew it would be quite different from the other books I read. Once I started, I was so absorbed in this book that I finished it in virtually one sitting; I could hardly turn the pages fast enough!

I adored the writing style in this book – I thought is was very engaging, and it really put across the voice of Jack, who is only twelve years old. It was also so interesting to follow the story, which was told from Jack’s perspective but really about Joseph; we get to see Joseph develop and grow with his new foster family, and Jack offers a very detailed view as to how he treated by the teachers and pupils once he started school.