Review: The Summer After The Night Before by Lisa Williamson

 

Publication Date: January 2026

Publisher: David Fickling Books

[ Goodreads ]

Blurb: Ben has been in love with Molly forever. When she finally kisses him at a party, he thinks all his dreams have come true.

Later that night he thinks they've started something really special. Molly loves Ben too – of course she does. But not like that. He's her best friend's brother – which makes him practically her brother too, right? But after a few drinks at a party Molly kisses Ben. And she can't remember what happened next.

The months of freedom after GCSEs should be the best of your life. But with everyone reckoning with doubts, lies and mixed-up memories, it quickly becomes the thorny summer after the potent night before...

I picked this book up on a whim after reading the blurb in the library and it went above and beyond my expectations. This book deals with a tough subject of consent and sexual assualt so bear in mind, this will be discussed in the following review. 

The novel deals with the before during and after of the event that occur at a party that Molly, Rhiannon and Ben attend. Molly gets very drunk and wakes up not fully remembering the events of the night before. How does she navigate these scary feelings that involve her best friend and her best friends twin brother. 

Review: Apocalypse Cow by O.R Sorrell

 

Publication Date: June 2024

Publisher: Guppy Books

Blurb: [ Goodreads ]

Mel loves Sasha and dreams of a day that Sasha might reciprocate her feelings (even though she's straight) - so the fact that it's thirty degrees outside in January and hasn't rained for a year simply passes her by.

Mel is just about coping with being the only 'out' lesbian in school and all the sniping that Janis and Ella aim her way, as well as her dreary Saturday job with the stupidly posh Dorian... But when domestic animals suddenly lethally turn on the human race, and Mel finds herself stuck in a mansion with Dorian and Ella, her love-life suddenly turns on its head in the most extraordinary way.

This might be both one of my most unexpected reads and favourite books of the year! 

An apocalypse caused by human pollution and climate change causes animals to lash out, mutate and take over the city. From the first page I was absolutely hooked. If you know anything about me, I love to watch those films that are so crazy and out there - think along the lines of "Zombeavers" or "Sharknado". This was absolutely my perfect cup of tea. 

Review: Not Going To Plan by Tia Fisher

 

Publisher:  Hot Key Books

Publication Date: August 2025

Source: Borrowed from library

Blurb: 

Marnie's really messed up this time - expelled and forced to change schools, the only empty seat in Marnie's new school is next to Zed, a nerd with zero tolerance for mistakes. Marnie (skilled at art and Spanish, struggles with numbers) can't wait to lose her virginity. Zed (brilliant at maths and physics, loathes languages) is a loner who can't stand being touched. They couldn't be less alike, but they both need good grades in the subjects they hate.

What starts as a trade in tuition turns into an unlikely friendship - and after Marnie has sex with a boy who lies about using a condom, she needs Zed's help to make the hardest decision of her life.

After reading Fisher's debut, Crossing The Line, last year, I knew she would become an author I would read everything she put out. 

Our main characters are going through a transition and a coming-of-age time in their lives. Marnie has just been expelled from her private school and has now been enrolled into public school. Zed has always been a loner, more intent on solving maths equations than making friends. When Marnie and Zed are thrust together, a beautiful, unlikely friendship forms. I really enjoyed reading about their friendship. They are total opposites but perfectly complete each other and build such a supportive friendship. I loved reading about Zed discovering his sexuality and from his point of view, we learn the way he interprets the world around him is very different to Marnie. 

Review: Weightless by Sarah Bannan

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Publication Date: June 2015
Source: Owned 

[ Goodreads ]           [ Book Depository ]

Blurb: 

When 15-year-old Carolyn moves from New Jersey to Alabama with her mother, she rattles the status quo of the junior class at Adams High School. A good student and natural athlete, she’s immediately welcomed by the school’s cliques. She’s even nominated to the homecoming court and begins dating a senior, Shane, whose on again/off again girlfriend Brooke becomes Carolyn’s bitter romantic rival. When a video of Carolyn and Shane making out is sent to everyone, Carolyn goes from golden girl to slut, as Brooke and her best friend Gemma try to restore their popularity. Gossip and bullying hound Carolyn, who becomes increasingly private and isolated. When Shane and Brooke—now back together—confront Carolyn in the student parking lot, injuring her, it’s the last attack she can take.

 This book has been sitting on my shelf for a super long time, I am pretty sure I got it around the time of its release so basically 5 years! I have been trying to knock off some books on my TBR in quarantine so decided it was finally time to read this. 

The book centers on how a small town is rocked by the arrival of a new girl - Carolyn. As the town falls over themselves to first get to know Carolyn because she is the "shiny new toy" then then begin to turn against her just as quickly. 

One thing I found a little jarring about this book was the writing style. The novel is written in the "we". So the reader of the novel is reading from the perspective as the entire town as a collective we. This was very jarring and difficult to get into the writing flow in the beginning but I became more comfortable with it as the story progressed. This was a very interesting take on the novels point of view as it goes to show the reader just how complicit each and every person was in the rise and fall of Carolyn. 

The Baby by Lisa Drakeford

Publisher: Chicken House
Publication Date: July 2015 
Source: Own 

[ Goodreads ]           [ Book Depository ] 

Blurb: 

When Olivia opens the bathroom door, the last thing she expects to see is her best friend Nicola giving birth on the floor – and to say Nicola is surprised is an understatement. She’s not ready to be a mum, and she needs Olivia’s help. But Olivia has her own problems – specifically her bullying boyfriend, Jonty, and keeping an eye on younger sister Alice. And then there’s Nicola’s friend Ben, who’s struggling with secrets of his own …

 This is one of the oldest books on my bookshelf so I decided to read it for the Stay Home Reading Rush for the book-read-in-one-sitting challenge. 

I wanted to read this book as soon as it came out but it turned out to be one of those books that you somehow forget about and they gather dust on your shelf. So I decided that in quarantine I'm going to try to read some of my oldest TBR books. 

The book centers around the mystery of Nicola giving birth at her friends birthday party in the bathroom. No one knew she was pregnant and no one knows who the father is. The rest of the book is based around the fallout of this. 

Review: Queen of Coin and Whispers by Helen Corcoran

Publisher: O'Brien Press
Publication Date: June 2020
Source: Review Copy from Publisher

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Blurb: 
When teenage queen Lia inherits her corrupt uncle’s bankrupt kingdom, she brings a new spymaster into the fold ... Xania, who takes the job to avenge her murdered father.

Faced with dangerous plots and hidden enemies, can Lia and Xania learn to rely on each another, as they discover that all is not fair in love and treason?

In a world where the throne means both power and duty, they must decide what to sacrifice for their country – and for each other …

 Thank you to the lovely people at O'Brien Press for sending me an advanced copy of the novel in exchange for my review. 

I was very much looking forward to this book as it received a huge amount of publicity even in 2019 which is a long time before its release date. 

The novel centers around Lia who has now inherited the throne and will become queen of the kingdom. As Lia ascends to the throne, dangers begin to surface in every aspect of her life. She hires Xania as her Whispers aka her personal protector and spymaster. From here their relationship begins to grow, deepen and become romantic. 

The representation in this novel is just next level. The novel features wlw, mlm, bisexual characters and gay characters throughout. I really loved this aspect as in this world all sexual preferences and relationships are normalised. So I loved reading about these relationships and the interaction between characters. 

Sex in YA Books

So if you follow me on Twitter, you've probably seen my thread looking for books with positive realistic representations of sex in YA books.

Representing any issue in YA books needs to be handled well. You can't breeze over and sugar coat a topic because that is inauthentic and unrealistic. Teenagers and young adults know about sex, they may be having sex. Therefore mis-representing it in books is not "sheltering" them its harming them as they need a realistic view of relationships.

In real life there is no "fade-to-black" movie moment and it really irritates me when a book or movie does that as they don't want to portray the real moment to teenagers or young adults.

Teenagers relationships are just as valid. Therefore I'm glad there are some books which represent sex, love and relationships in a realistic way for teenagers. Representation really matters. 


1) The Classic: Forever by Judy Blume    (REVIEW HERE)

The representation is not only realistic in this book but is probably one of the first books for many people that they read where sex was displayed. 

This novel centres around first relationship between Katherine, the main character, and her boyfriend Michael. As they fall in love for the first time they begin having sex. 
The way the relationship progresses is written so well and the sex scenes are realistic. 

The book shows sex in a realistic light, bleeding when you lose your virginity, it hurting, it sometimes being disappointing and the fact that just because you fall in love doesn't mean it will last forever. 

A must read (although I find the boyfriend Michael to not be great and it is a little dated because its 50+ years old)

5 Reasons To Read How Hard Can Love Be? by Holly Bourne

Publication Date: February 1st 2016
Publisher: Usbourne Publishing 
Source:  Purchased 
[ Goodreads ]          [ Book Depository ]

Blurb: 

Amber, Evie and Lottie: three girls facing down tough issues with the combined powers of friendship, feminism and cheesy snacks. Both hilarious and heart-rending, this is Amber’s story of how painful – and exhilarating – love can be, following on from Evie’s story in Am I Normal Yet?

All Amber wants is a little bit of love. Her mum has never been the caring type, even before she moved to California, got remarried and had a personality transplant. But Amber's hoping that spending the summer with her can change all that.

And then there's prom king Kyle, the guy all the girls want. Can he really be interested in anti-cheerleader Amber? Even with best friends Evie and Lottie's advice, there's no escaping the fact: love is hard.

1)  Perfectly Swoon-worthy Romance

One thing I adore to read about is a slow building romance. I find it so much more satisfying to see two characters grow closer slowly than to read a book with "love at first sight".
Holly Bourne perfectly executes the slow burning, butterfly inducing romance in this novel.
The relationship between Amber and Kyle was so very friendly, caring and cute! I loved how well they complimented each other. If you want to read a realistic and well written romance, pick up this book!






2)    ALL THE FEMINISM  !
One of my favourite things about this series is the feminism and the way the girls are portrayed. Evie, Lottie, Amber are such great friends to each other and also have their own feminist club. They support and encourage each other while also having open discussions about feminist themes and topics. I love how empowered I feel after finishing a Holly Bourne novel and want nothing more than to join my own feminism club!