The Book Adaptation Tag 🎥 🎞️

A controversial topic, book adaptations! Thank you ever so much to The Bookish Mutant for nominating me and letting me talk about book adaptations! Her posts are always brilliant and you can find the her take on this tag here.

What is the last book adaptation movie you saw?

Aside from the new Matilda the Musical, I recently watched Brad Pitt’s Fight Club. And while nothing can compare to the pure rage and power of the book… it was a pretty near substitute. And I love the Pixies.

What book movie are you most excited about?

I am so excited for the Red, White and Royal Blue adaptation on Prime. My hopes are very high but I’m worried it’s not going to live up to my expectations. The thin line the book walks between fun and cringe may be destroyed by a tv adaptation. What do you think? Let me know in the comments!

Check out my review of Casey McQuiston’s sapphic novel One Last Stop here and why her first YA novel, I Kissed Shara Wheeler, deserves more love in my review here.

Which upcoming book movie will you definitely not see?

I’ve left my Hunger Games phase firmly in 2012, so I don’t think I’ll be watching the new adaptation of A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. I also didn’t read the book, because I wasn’t sure how strong the plot would be… was it just made for a movie adaptation?

Which book movie would you never watch again?

I wouldn’t say that I would never watch the 1990s Sense and Sensibility ever again, but it was a pretty slow watch. Lots of hills. Sheep. And no Colin Firth.

Is there a movie you saw that made you want to read the book if you had not yet?

After watching Dune in the cinema, I had to try the book. I loved the cinematography of the film, and you can tell it was inspired by the gorgeous descriptions in the book. Even though there’s less Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya than the film…

Check out my review of Dune (the book) here!

Conversely, is there a movie that made you never want to read the book?

I watched Sophia Coppola’s The Virgin Suicides. You wouldn’t expect a film with that name to be so beautifully shot. But I don’t think I could read such a depressing book!

Do you prefer to watch the movie first, or read the book first?

If I watch the movie first, I find that all I can picture when reading is the actors from the movie. I like to read the book first, make my own assumptions on the characters… then see if the director and I agreed!

Is there a movie you liked better than its book?

You can’t beat Greta Gerwig’s Little Women. The actors, the lighting, the costumes. Honestly, I found the original book pretty dry, and loved Saoirse Ronan‘s feisty, modern take on Jo.

Name a book you would love to see as a movie.

There is only one answer for me: I would LOVE an adaptation of the Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater. It would make my life complete. Plus, I think the Virginia mountains and magic would translate so well into a movie. What do you think?

Find out the differences between my experiences with the Raven Boys audiobook vs the physical copy here!

I TAG:

WWW Wednesday: What Am I Reading?

What have I been reading this week?

WWW Wednesday is hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words. All you have to do is answer these three questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading

At the moment, I’m reading Virginia Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway… and how is this book nearly 100 years old? The writing style is fresh, engaging and considers topics very much mainstream… 98 years later. Virginia Woolf is truly incredible.

The stream of consciousness style took a while for me to get into (I’ve tried James Joyce before and – three and a half pages spent describing cows? I don’t think so). However, it makes for an incredibly ageless book.

As with a Room Of One’s Own, Woolf’s female heroines shine and we have a vibrant snapshot into life in England near the start of the 20th century. Mrs Dalloway reminds me of Esther in The Bell Jar – check out a teen girl’s take on that classic in my review here.

Recently Finished Reading

Did you know that AQA are making their GCSE text offers more diverse? I’ve been reading the two new plays and book so you don’t have to!

I found all three to be beautifully crafted celebrations of Black British heritage and culture; My Name Is Leon focuses on Black British history (I’d never heard of the Bristol bus boycotts, and found the book very educational). Leave Taking displays poignant mother, daughter bonds whilst The Princess and The Hustler is a heartwarming story about a young girl and her family – with a serious undercurrent.

My Next Read

I loved Adiba Jaigirdar’s Hani and Ishu’s Guide To Fake Dating (check out my review here!), so couldn’t resist A Million To One. An all-female historical heist set on the Titanic paired with romance and tragedy? Count me in.

Have you read any of these books? What are you reading at the moment? What are you about to start? Let me know in the comments!

🥳 Celebrating Black British History: ‘My Name Is Leon’ Book Review 🥳

Heartbreaking and tender, My Name Is Leon is my favourite of the new AQA texts. Here’s why.

Name: My Name Is Leon

Author: Chinoyerem Odimba

Published: 2016

Did you know that AQA are updating their modern drama set texts for the GCSEs in 2025? The Princess and the Hustler is one of the proposed texts to add more diversity to a predominantly dead-white-men canon. And while we shouldn’t denounce all texts by dead-white-men, it’s so important that students see themselves represented in the texts that they study.

As a literature student who recently did her GCSEs, I’m reading the new proposed texts so you don’t have to. To see if, as with this play, these texts are well chosen and an insight into Black British identity.

Check out my reviews of the other texts, Leave Taking and The Princess and the Hustler, here. While there is still changes that could be made regarding diversity in the English Curriculum, My Name Is Leon is an excellent book and one students (such as myself!) will love. Here’s why.

While I enjoyed the two plays, My Name Is Leon was the standout text for me. Written sweetly and tenderly, I felt incredibly invested in Leon from the opening pages. It follows Leon as he moves through the care system and his relationship with his biological mother, brother and found family. Kit De Wall is an incredibly skilled author that navigates hope, humour and grief seamlessly.

Like many other students, I likely would not have read this book if it were not a set text. I’m so glad I did: it answered questions about the foster system that I hadn’t even considered before. That is why it is so important that My Name Is Leon is part of the set texts.

The book highlights the tireless work of Social Workers and the joy of found family, as well as institutionalised racism within the foster system.

As in Leave Taking, we see a parental/guardian’s perspective in Maureen who is such a caring, maternal figure. Carol and Maureen are both maternal figures for Leon and for a lot of the book is Leon conflicted between the two women. Carol and Maureen seem to be almost foils to each other. What do you think?

Baby Jake and Leon’s relationship is so beautifully written that I could vividly imagine each scene. I LOVED the writing. – the style clearly reflects Leon’s anger and confusion. We could feel the solace Leon got from gardening which was beautiful. It also reflects his young mindset which will make the text accessible for many students.

Also, My Name Is Leon is firmly rooted in the 1980s and I think students will enjoy the snatches of cultural context – from the Dukes of Hassard and the Royal Wedding, to Margaret Thatcher and Curley Wurleys.

‘He feels a dark star of pain in his throat and the last warmth of her touch on his fingers.’

– MY NAME IS LEON

Moreover, Leon is a fully rounded character; his race and gender are only part of his overall identity. There is a focus on the theme of race: we see the impact of the Black Power movement on England, and the Brixton Riots which are relevant to modern BLM protests. However, family, grief and healing are as equally important themes.

The only thing that was unclear for me when the book finished was the character of Mr Devlin. Mr Devlin is accepted by Leon’s family at the end of the book and hinted to be romantically involved with Sylvia – this is obviously problematic if Mr Devlin ‘likes little boys’ as Tufty suggests. Was Mr Devlin attempting to take advantage of Leon when teaching him how to lift weights? What was the final explanation of the wooden heads? This felt unclear and is obviously something that I wanted to be cleared up.

However, overall, My Name Is Leon is an incredible book with gorgeous characters that highlight key social issues. Students (such as myself!) are sure to love the history and storyline whilst being educated on Black British history.

What do you think about AQA adding plays with more diverse authors and characters to their set texts? Let me know in the comments.

While the diversity in my book recommendations isn’t perfect, I’m always trying to read books about challenging subjects. The Princess and the Hustler can be read by anyone, however I mostly read YA and feel more confident recommending it. Young adult books I’d recommend that tackle racism include:

🥳 Celebrating Black British Identity: ‘Leave Taking’ Play Review 🥳

I’m reading the new AQA texts to see if as with Leave Taking, these plays are well chosen and an insight into Black British identity…

Name: Leave Taking

Author: Winsome Pinnock

Published: 1987

Did you know that AQA are updating their modern drama set texts for the GCSEs in 2025? The Princess and the Hustler is one of the proposed texts to add more diversity to a predominantly dead-white-men canon. And while we shouldn’t denounce all texts by dead-white-men, it’s so important that students see themselves represented in the texts that they study.

As a literature student who recently did her GCSEs, I’m reading the new proposed texts so you don’t have to. To see if, as with this play, these texts are well chosen and an insight into Black British identity.

Check out my reviews of the other texts, The Princess and the Hustler and My Name Is Leon, by clicking on their titles. While there is still changes that could be made regarding diversity in the English Curriculum, Leave Taking is an excellent play and one students (such as myself!) will love. Here’s why.

I really enjoyed Leave Taking. It follows Enid, a first generation immigrant, and her two daughters Viv and Del. The play’s highlight for me was Enid’s powerful monologue at the end of the play. Her relationship with life long friend Brod was incredibly human and highlighted the exploration of nationality, immigration, and identity evident throughout Leave Taking. The scenes felt natural and flowed into each other.

I also learned a lot about ‘obeah’ practices which were totally new to me. This highlights how important it is that this play is taught at GCSE to educate students on Caribbean healing traditions. There is something incredibly beautiful about the obeah practises and ‘soul sickness’ that threads throughout the play.

The obeah adds to the cyclical nature of the play – Leave Taking both began and ended with the obeah, yet with Del symbolically taking over from Mai.

In Leave Taking, I think that students will really resonate with the intergenerational conflicts… 😂 The mother-daughter relationships between Enid, Del and Viv are poignant and will be relatable for many students. I really liked that Viv was doing her GCSEs – it is rare and refreshing to see other GCSE students in texts we study!

I found some interesting videos on the play on the Bush Theatre website, but there isn’t loads of resources online. This would be a problem for teens trying to revise, but hopefully once the texts are properly in circulation, there will be more resources available.

What do you think about AQA adding plays with more diverse authors and characters to their set texts? Let me know in the comments.

While the diversity in my book recommendations isn’t perfect, I’m always trying to read books about challenging subjects. The Princess and the Hustler can be read by anyone, however I mostly read YA and feel more confident recommending it. Young adult books I’d recommend that tackle racism include:

🥳 Celebrating Black British Families: ‘The Princess and the Hustler’ Play Review🥳

I’m reading the new AQA texts so that you don’t have to! To see if, as with The Princess and the Hustler, these plays are well chosen and an insight into Black British identity…

Name: The Princess and the Hustler

Author: Chinoyerem Odimba

Published: 2019

Did you know that AQA are updating their modern drama set texts for the GCSEs in 2025? The Princess and the Hustler is one of the proposed texts to add more diversity to a predominantly dead-white-men canon. And while we shouldn’t denounce all texts by dead-white-men, it’s so important that students see themselves represented in the texts that they study. As a literature student who recently did her GCSEs, I’m reading the new proposed texts so you don’t have to. To see if, as with this play, these texts are well chosen and an insight into Black British identity.

Check out my reviews of the other texts, Leave Taking and My Name Is Leon, here. The Princess and the Hustler is an excellent play and one students (such as myself!) will love. Here’s why.

The Princess and the Hustler appears, at least on a surface level, to be light and engaging. It is incredibly fun – it follows a cheeky girl called Princess who wants to be in the Weston-super-Mare beauty pageant. It also follows her family living in Bristol at the time of the Bristol Bus Boycotts. Princess made me laugh aloud multiple times, and I can see her dancing and the music translating super well to the stage.

However, underneath the lightness, there are also strong underlying messages in The Princess and the Hustler. The bonds between family members are poignant and well written, such as the father-son relationship between Wendell and Wendell Junior. Chinoyerem Odimba expertly gives each character’s point of view while keeping the focus on Princess; I was rooting for Wendell Junior throughout the play.

The play uncovered Black British history for me – have you heard of the Bristol Bus Boycotts? I had never even heard that Bristol Bus Services refused to hire Black drivers in the 1960s. This highlights the importance of these new plays for educating students on Black British identity.

Margot was a really interesting character: a white friend of Princess’ parents with opposing views to the bus boycotts. However she wasn’t a strictly unlikeable character, she was nuanced and complex.

‘My name is Phyllis Princess James.
I will wear this crown every day.
I will never take it off even when I am asleep.’

– THE PRINCESS AND THE HUSTLER

Lorna was also a very interesting character and placed in contrast to Princess in many scenes, as her mixed-race half-sister. She is a product of her surroundings but still says damaging things to Princess. Should Mavis and Wendell have reacted differently to the school children bullying Princess and not Lorna?

As for my favorite part? I loved the celebration of Black beauty through the symbol of the Weston-super-Mare Beauty Contest. I believe students will resonate with Princess’ empowerment at the end of the play. However, it’s interesting that the Weston-super-Mare Beauty Contest is the focus of Princess’ character development. Where is the line between the outdated idea that beauty is the source of a woman’s value against challenging racial prejudice on beauty standards?

However, overall, The Princess and the Hustler is an incredibly fun play with serious themes running throughout. Students (such as myself!) are sure to love the humor and characters whilst being educated on Black British History.

What do you think about AQA adding plays with more diverse authors and characters to their set texts? Let me know in the comments.

While the diversity in my book recommendations isn’t perfect, I’m always trying to read books about challenging subjects. The Princess and the Hustler can be read by anyone, however I mostly read YA and feel more confident recommending it. Young adult books I’d recommend that tackle racism include:

Worth The Hype? ‘The First To Die At The End’ Book Review

How would you live if you knew you were going to die?
A thought provoking and timely ethical dilemma spun with human storytelling and even more beautiful characters.

Name: The First To Die At The End

Author: Adam Silvera

Published: 2022

In a prequel to They Both Die At The End, The First To Die At The End is existential science fiction at its finest. If an app could supposedly predict your death, would you believe it? After receiving the first ever call from Death Cast predicting his untimely death, Valentino meets Orion on his ‘End Day’. Spanning a single day, the boys travel NYC with old and found family, struggling to decide if Death Cast is real. It’s a thought provoking and timely ethical dilemma spun with human storytelling and even more beautiful characters.

Their world is like an apocalypse with everyday objects. Our characters are scared of everything – this train could kill you. Your car could kill you. The oven, the TV, the fridge. Orion is terrified that Death Cast has forgotten to call him and he will die today – but that’s how we all live.

While this prequel could be read before They Both Die At The End, it’s clear that it is made with original fans at heart. I absolutely loved that there are many mentions of characters from the original book, as well as new ways their lives were touched by Valentino and Orion. However, this book stands alone in its own right – Silvera has taken a new angle by setting it on the first day of Death Cast and it isn’t simply a recasting of the original by any means.

Find my review of They Both Die At The End here, a cross-stitch that I created here and discover why it’s my comfort read here.

One common critique of the original book is a lack of world building. Therefore, it’s fascinating to see Death Cast from its creation to flesh out this alternate reality. However, Silvera cleverly evades answering a lot of our questions because the book is set on the first day of Death Cast. All these fascinating dilemmas are posed – such as, should doctors treat confirmed Deckers? – without providing any answers. The characters don’t know so neither do we.

“I write short stories because I am one.
I wish I was a novel.”

THE FIRST TO DIE AT THE END

While Silvera’s colloquial New York style can take some getting used to, it’s what makes his books his. Like a lot of Silvera’s books, The First To Die At The End is heavily rooted in NYC but this one – set in 2010 – focuses on 9/11. While the time setting gives rise to jokes about skinny jeans, selfies and a nascent social media, we also see the effects of 9/11 on a young man not 10 years after his parents died in the disaster. The boys visit a Ground Zero under construction and ‘you’re the first guy I’ve brought to meet my parents’ destroyed me.

So why didn’t I award five stars? Well, while the plot and characters were beautifully crafted, a lot of the figurative language used felt clumsy. It made the story tiresome. There were too many metaphors and puns about life and death and hearts. Low hanging fruit. It felt too easy: ‘I will guard my life with my life’; ‘all hope flatlined’; ‘it’s heartbreaking’; ‘like my heart is being choked out’; ‘in this life’. I could go on and on. I appreciate the motifs but for me, it became almost a bingo of when those words would be used.

However ultimately, this book is a vibrant celebration of life. From such short chapters, so much energy and character oozes. The polyphonic and human cast made the book for me and I’d whole heartedly (hah) recommend it to anyone who feels unfulfilled in their life. How would you live if you knew you were going to die?

Have you read The First To Die At The End? Or any of Adam Silvera’s other books? What did you think? Let me know in the comments!

The Book Club Book Tag

Are you part of a book club? If so, do you actually discuss books? At least for me, ‘book clubs’ tend to deteriorate into chatting and eating and the book is never mentioned. But if you love a good book club, then this is the tag for you! Read on to find what personalities I assign to different books…

I was nominated by the lovely Lost In Neverland – their posts never fail to entertain and you can check out their tag here!

Rules

  • Answer the tag (prompts below) on the platform of your choice (blog, booktube, twitter, anything goes!): If you’re part of a book club, yourself, you can answer with the books you’ve read with them — or you can freestyle it with whatever book fits the question! Or with a specific character from a book who matches the prompt. Really, however you want to do it!
  • Link to the original post and give me a pingback or comment below, so I can see your answers.
  • Tag friends! They can be fellow book club members or simply bookish friends who make your day a little brighter.
  • The most important rule: Have fun!

The Tag!

The Fearless Reader — reads everything, constantly, and probably started the book club, not realizing how much work it would be to keep everyone on-track talk about it

I think Red from Five Survive would definitely be this organized! I loved her, and loved Holly Jackson’s new unconventional thriller even more. Find out why in my review here.

The Academic — tries to elevate the conversation and suggest Serious Books but is always stymied by the rest of the group (generally doesn’t mind)

I totally agree with Lost In Neverland’s pick for this one. There’s only one answer: The Secret History. Although I think Henry might mind if he didn’t get his own way… Find out my thoughts on this weighty tome and why Booktok lied to my in my review here.

The Joyrider — never knows what book the club is reading but happily shouts encouragement and brings refreshments

Happy go lucky Issy from The Appeal would just be happy to be invited to book club. There’s a similar situation in this unconventional murder mystery when she’s just excited to be part of the drama group… until it all goes fatally wrong. Find out why Issy was my least favourite character in my review here.

The Lovable Ghoul — Mostly harmless but likes to stand in the corner muttering — we pretend it’s normal

If you’ve also read Tamsyn Muir’s epic space Odyssey ‘Nona The Ninth’, you’ll know why I’ve had to pick it. Crammed with enough ghosts and ghouls to fill the Locked Tomb twice over, this book was an immediate favourite for me… even if it didn’t feel as good as the first two in the series. Find out why in my review here.

I Nominate…

Firstly, you! If you’re reading this and you’d love to have a go at such an easy, fun tag, let me know in the comments and I’ll add your site to the list (… free promo for you too).

A Chilling Classic: ‘I’m The King Of The Castle’ Book Review

Set back from the turmoil of the 1970s, the author of The Woman In Black triumphs with another chilling classic – this time on the devastating consequences of parental blindness.

Name: I’m The King Of The Castle

Author: Susan Hill

Published: 1970

One of my New Years Resolutions (which you can find here!) is to read more classics, which is part of why I picked up Susan Hill’s I’m The King Of The Castle. The other reason? I loved The Woman In Black and similarly in this book, her writing style doesn’t disappoint.

Reflecting the political coldness of the decade and the parental coldness of Mrs Kingshaw and Mr Hooper, Hill’s writing is what made the book for me. It’s quite stark. Abrupt. But there are also passages of beautiful pastoral description where we really feel the calm that Kingshaw gets from being amongst nature. When he travels into the woods, I could vividly imagine the little birds and the rushing water and the tall, tall trees. It’s a powerful skill.

Of course, this is also turned on its head when Hill transmits fluently Kingshaw’s claustrophobia. I read this book incredibly quickly because I felt so immersed in their world. The stifling atmosphere of the house and the parental blindness – it made you want to scream.

I found I’m The King Of The Castle a very frustrating book… but because of how well written it is. It focuses on the pressing, seesawing relationship between two young boys; for whom power dynamics are like quicksand. However, more often than not, Kingshaw is the one sinking down and Hooper rises above… to become the King Of The Castle. (It’s okay, you can laugh). But I wasn’t expecting the raw emotion and terror that Hill squeezes out of such mundane situations. Kingshaw is angry. I’m angry. The hate is palpable.

“He acknowledged that he feared Hooper more than he feared anything in the world.”

I’M THE KING OF THE CASTLE

As for the universalism of the book, I’m not sure. It definitely depicts a unique situation. But, I think that everyone can identify with some parts of the story: the childhood isolation or bullying or being misunderstood by a parent. I loved how the inner thoughts of all the characters were shown near the start of the book because it highlighted how situation can be so easily misunderstood. But after Kingshaw entered the woods, there are fewer other characters’ perspective and it became closer and claustrophobic. Stifling. All leading up to the final scene.

What did you think about the ending? To some extent, it was almost inevitable. However, it was still a shock for me. I don’t think I’ve ever hated, truly hated, characters more than I have with this book. Susan Hill’s penchant for using powerful description to create chilling stories triumphs again.

Have you read I’m The King Of The Castle? Or any of Susan Hill’s other books? What did you think? Let me know in the comments!

WWW Wednesday: What Am I Reading?

What have I been reading this week?

WWW Wednesday is hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words. All you have to do is answer these three questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading

One of my New Years Resolutions (which you can find here!) is to read more classics, so I’m currently reading Susan Hill’s I’m The King Of The Castle. I loved The Woman In Black and similarly in this book, her writing style doesn’t disappoint.

I’m finding it a very frustrating book… but that shows how well written it is. It focuses on the stifling, seesawing relationship between two young boys: Kingshaw is angry. I’m angry. The hate is palpable.

I’ve nearly finished reading it, so a review is incoming! Keep an eye out for it.

Recently Finished Reading

My last read was Five Survive by the incredible Holly Jackson. If you’ve read her other YA murder mysteries, A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder, you’ll know her penchant for telling gripping mysteries with characters that leap from the pages. While a few of the characters fell flat for me in Five Survive, it’s about six (gasp) friends locked in a caravan with an active shooter outside. The only way out? To reveal their secrets… or die trying to escape.

I was hooked from the start and the setting combined with how it’s set across just 8 hours made Five Survive one of the most unique books I’ve ever read. Check out my full review here.

My Next Read

After sitting on my shelf for an embarrassingly long time, my next read is Us by David Nicholls. His bestseller One Day is one of my all time favourite books and I found Starter For Ten both heartbreaking and hilarious (find why in my review here). So, I’m both excited and slightly nervous to see Nicholls apply his incredible storytelling to a couple on a final family holiday, truing to decide if a divorce is the right route to end their story.

I’m slightly scared – I think this book is going to end in tears. But have you read Us? Or any of Nicholl’s other books? If so what did you think, and did you enjoy Us! Let me know in the comments.

Must Read New Mystery: ‘Five Survive’ Book Review

Nerve-wracking and claustrophobic. Five Survive has of the most unique premises I’ve ever read – six friends, trapped in an RV with a sniper outside. The only way out to reveal their secrets.

Name: Five Survive

Author: Holly Jackson

Published: 2022

There’s an excellent Alfred Hitchcock analogy for mystery writing: suspense comes not from having a bomb thrown randomly at a character, but from two characters calmly having a conversation while a bomb ticks away under the table. The audience know the room could blow up at any second but the characters do not.

Holly Jackson’s previous best selling series, A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder, is based on the characters knowing more than the reader. She proved herself to excel at misdirection and complex plotting – find my gushing review of the controversial finale here – and keeping the reader in the dark until the very end. She’s honestly my favorite Young Adult author at the moment and I was so excited for Five Survive.

But as she continues to do with her writing, Jackson turns every thing on its head; this book is underpinned by the fact that we know more than the characters. Out of six friends, only five survive. It’s in the title like the equally popular They Both Die At The End by Adam Silvera. Which gives way to one of the most unique premises I’ve ever read – six friends, trapped in an RV with a sniper outside. The only way out to reveal their secrets.

Of course Holly Jackson would be able to write 400 pages set over 8 hours with a minimal cast in the same setting… and still make the book a thrill to read.

Because it’s creepy! The sniper communicates by walkie-talkie; his first ‘hello’ was so polite and out of place, it genuinely sent shivers down my spine. One of the strongest characters is Oliver, who falls apart as his plans do. There’s a perverseness in his camaraderie and planning and leadership… This is not the situation to get a sticker for teamwork.

You can really pinpoint the characters’ emotions – in the beginning, I thought the group was far too calm seeing as they were fighting for their lives. But over time, the RV becomes claustrophobic. The plot is nerve-wracking and at one point near the middle, I genuinely had tears rolling down my face. A sense of real hopelessness begins to seep in, alongside anger and desperation; I really felt Holly Jackson took the reader on a journey with the characters.

However, aside from Oliver and Red, the other characters felt a bit dry. We don’t see evidence of Red and Maddy’s supposed immortal friendship and I barely remember anything about Simon. Their secrets were a little predictable but the unconventional setting made up for it. Finally a YA mystery that isn’t set in a high school!

So, even if a few members felt a little flat, I felt very attached to the group. This is mainly because I knew from the beginning that one of these characters will die. The whole way through I kept asking myself; how will it end? Because there’s that bomb ticking away under the table that only I can see. Because I know the end from the start and I know it will end in tragedy.