Hello! I've given the blog a spruce with a new design and header, I hope you like it. Let me know what you think! Today's review is of a gritty contemporary that I definitely recommend. Read on to find out why!  Title:  We Are Young Author:  Cat Clarke Series:   n/a Pages:   384 Publisher:  Quercus Books Date of Publication:  3rd May, 2018 Source:  Bought Synopsis from Goodreads: On the same night Evan's mother marries local radio DJ 'Breakfast Tim', Evan's brand-new step-brother Lewis is found unconscious and terribly injured, the only survivor of a horrific car crash. A media furore erupts, with the finger of blame pointed firmly at stoner, loner Lewis. Everyone else seems to think the crash was drugs-related, but Evan isn't buying it. With the help of her journalist father, Harry, she decides to find out what really happened that night. As Evan delves deeper into the lives of the three teenagers who died in the cra...

Title:  The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow Author:  Katherine Woodfine Series:   The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow, #2 Pages:   320 Publisher:  Egmont Date of Publication:  4th June, 2015 Source:  Library Synopsis from Goodreads: You are cordially invited to attend the Grand Opening of Sinclair’s department store! Enter a world of bonbons, hats, perfumes and MYSTERIES around every corner. WONDER at the daring theft of the priceless CLOCKWORK SPARROW! TREMBLE as the most DASTARDLY criminals in London enact their wicked plans! GASP as our bold heroines, Miss Sophie Taylor and Miss Lilian Rose, CRACK CODES, DEVOUR ICED BUNS and vow to bring the villians to justice… My Thoughts: I borrowed The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow  from the library on a whim when I was pretty sure I didn't have time to read it but because it has the most gorgeous cover I couldn't resist.  I don't read that much middle grade, but som...

Title:  Say Her Name Author:  James Dawson Series:  Pages:  240 Publisher: Hot Key Books Date of Publication: 5th June, 2014 Source: Publisher* for review Synopsis from Goodreads: Roberta 'Bobbie' Rowe is not the kind of person who believes in ghosts. A Halloween dare at her ridiculously spooky boarding school is no big deal, especially when her best friend Naya and cute local boy Caine agree to join in too. They are ordered to summon the legendary ghost of 'Bloody Mary': say her name five times in front of a candlelit mirror, and she shall appear... But, surprise surprise, nothing happens. Or does it? Next morning, Bobbie finds a message on her bathroom mirror... five days... but what does it mean? And who left it there? Things get increasingly weird and more terrifying for Bobbie and Naya, until it becomes all too clear that Bloody Mary was indeed called from the afterlife that night, and she is definitely not a friendly ghost. Bobbie, Naya and Cai...

Title:  Out of Control Author:  Sarah Alderson Series:   Standalone Pages: 320 Publisher:  Simon and Schuster Children's Books Date of Publication: 22nd May, 2014 Source:  Publisher* for review Synopsis from Goodreads: When 17 year old Liva witnesses a brutal murder she’s taken into police custody for her own protection. But when the police station is attacked and bullets start flying it becomes clear that Liva is not just a witness, she’s a target. Together with a car thief called Jay, Liva manages to escape the massacre but now the two of them are alone in New York, trying to outrun and outwit two killers who will stop at nothing to find them. When you live on the edge, there’s a long way to fall. My Thoughts: Sarah Alderson is fast becoming one of my absolute favourite authors. I've read five of her young adult titles now and have thoroughly enjoyed every single one of those. Out of Control is Sarah's newest offering and it was gre...

Title:  The Last Echo Author:  Kimberly Derting Series:  The Body Finder series, #3 Pages:  358 Publisher:  Headline Date of Publication:  29th March 2012 Source:  Publisher* Synopsis from Goodreads: In the end, all that’s left is an echo. Violet kept her morbid ability to sense dead bodies a secret from everyone except her family and her childhood-best-friend-turned-boyfriend, Jay Heaton. That is until forensic psychologist Sara Priest discovered Violet’s talent and invited her to use her gift to track down murderers. Now, as she works with an eclectic group of individuals—including mysterious and dangerously attractive Rafe—it’s Violet’s job to help those who have been murdered by bringing their killers to justice. When Violet discovers the body of a college girl killed by “the girlfriend collector” she is determined to solve the case. But now the serial killer is on the lookout for a new “relationship” and Violet may have caught his ...