Book Review: Camp by L. C. Rosen

I feel bad because Camp is cancelled.

Sixteen-year-old Randy Kapplehoff loves spending the summer at Camp Outland, a camp for queer teens. It's where he met his best friends. It's where he takes to the stage in the big musical. And it's where he fell for Hudson Aaronson-Lim - who's only into straight-acting guys and barely knows not-at-all-straight-acting Randy even exists.

This year, though, it's going to be different. Randy has reinvented himself as 'Del' - buff, masculine and on the market. Even if it means giving up show tunes, nail polish and his unicorn bedsheets, he's determined to get Hudson to fall for him.

But as he and Hudson grow closer, Randy has to ask himself how much is he willing to change for love. And is it really love anyway, if Hudson doesn't know who he truly is?

I didn't read the summary of this book before reading it. I requested it solely on it being Gay and set at summer camp. A Queer Summer camp. So I was immediately turned off by Randy having changed himself completely for a guy. Queer people do have to change ourself around people for safety reasons, but doing it at the ultimate safe place was painful. It's handled well, and everyone around Randy tells him that this is a terrible idea. Its definitely a teenager's plan of rom-com.

The book is told in first person pov of view of Randy, during the current and past summers so we do get a glimpse to what made Randy decide to go to this extreme to impress a boy.

I love all the characters and how Queer they all are. We have gay, demisexual, Asexual, Trans binary and non-binary characters. It's really nice and great. As demisexual person, I would say the rep for demi and ace was good. It was minor because they not the main character but what was said was accurate and also two Ace people living their lives, who do contribute to the story. The supporting characters are well developed outside of their gender and sexuality as well. I can't actually decide who my favourite one is.

I'm also very jealous of a musical that doesn't care about casting for gender. I've read a few YA books lately that heavy feature musicals, this was the one that felt the most genuine. It also really captures the chaos of musical productions

This novel also deals with internal homophobia and toxic masculinity. This something I've never dealt with (I just didn't have the words for my deal was), but I sure did cry a lot through those scenes. There's a lot of love and fun in this book, but there's is also a lot of serious talks because being a Queer person even in 2020s western society is not easy.

This is on the older side of YA because does have sexual scenes, but it does demonstrate safe sex. Ideally, teenagers should wait till they're 25 and their brains have stopped developing but highly unrealistic even to wait till they're 18 so I do appreciate a YA book that has safe and healthy sex scenes.

Overall, I give this book 5/5 stars for Unicorn Nails. This works as a standalone but I do think a Camp Outland series following different campers would be great. It's really left me in a mood for queer camp stories. I'll definitely read more Rosen (I owe one of his other books already). This the sort of book I wish I could give to my teen-self. Yeah, it would taught me the word Demisexual which would have been usefully but mainly because of all different queer characters. You have no rep, here's all the rep. My main point is that I love this book. Its does cover serious issues, so that's something to be aware of that going in. It's not all fun, true to life that way. This is my favourite book of this year so far, so of course, I think you should read it.

Read: 16/5/2020 to 21/5/2020
Reviewed: 21/5/2020 - 26/05/2020
Medium: E-Arc
Published Date: 28/05/2020
Publisher: Penguin
Source: NetGalley
CW: Homophobia (Challenged, Discussed); Queerphobia (challenged, Discussed); Homophobic Slur used; Internal Homophobia; Death of Grandparent; Death Ally family member;

Book Review: The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

There are weirder things to collect than Smurfs I guess.

Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman sit across from each other every day . . . and they hate each other. Not dislike. Not begrudgingly tolerate. HATE. Lucy can't understand Joshua's joyless, uptight approach to his job and refusal to smile. Joshua is clearly baffled by Lucy's overly bright clothes, quirkiness, and desire to be liked.

Now they're up for the same promotion and Lucy, usually a determined people-pleaser, has had enough: it's time to take him down. But as the tension between Lucy and Joshua reaches its boiling point, it's clear that the real battle has only just begun . .

This is a book I got for review ages ago and after months of hearing about how good it was, I have finally read it (it might take me years or months, but I intend to read everything I said I would review eventually).

This is a 'hate to love', filled with witty back and forth, which is something I love. Fun dialogue is my favourite thing. They're always at the same power level as well so it's fully enjoyable. I wish all romance focus books were like this one. If read my other reviews, I do paint a picture of me hating all romance. Not true, just a lot romances focus books give no reason for the characters to like each and they have no chemistry at all, which is the opposite in this book. 


The characters Lusy and Joshua are well round with filled out backgrounds and good motives. Also surrounded by interesting supporting cast. Their relationships is fun and I just really like them.

The ending was a bit disappointing for me. Not the way the story ends, just the execution. I wanted  an epilogue kinda of. I just wished the concussion was stronger. I realise we were near the ending and was like hur? There's not time for a proper resolution. I cared about the plot as well as the characters so I wish it was more satisfying.
 
Overall, I give this 4/5 stars for Strawberry Smurfs. This is a fun romance, with the background of the publishing industry. I've not said much in this review, but I think it better going in not knowing much. I recommended, it one of the best romances I've read and if you want a fun, light read book

I received this book off Netgalley and Piatkus for Review.

Book Review: Fir by Sharon Gosling

Forests are obviously evil.

Moving from Stockholm to an isolated pine plantation in northern Sweden is bad enough, but when the snows come early and all links between the Strombergs and the outside world are cut off, it gets worse. With only a grudging housekeeper and increasingly withdrawn parents for company, there is nothing to do but to explore the old plantation house. Anything to stay out of the endless pine trees pressing in on them. But soon it becomes clear that the danger within the old plantation house is even greater than what lies outside…

A chilling YA horror, perfect for fans of Dawn Kurtagich, Juno Dawson and Stephen King.

I just want to comment on the Stephen King being added on to YA horror writers. Sure, they on the same level as King's horror (Well, I know I rather read Kurtagich or Dawson again. King though...?). So finally with this book I have read all of the released books of the Red Eyes series (I don't have connections to get a book five months, that has a preview in Fir so is probably finished. We can compare in April).

So this is unique setting of Sweden (though I know of another British Horror book out there that is set in Northern Sweden and involves the Forest. Stay out of the Forests in Northern Sweden I guess).

The book is told in the POV of a unnamed protagonist in sort of a diary form, with poem from the forest every second chapter, which is why is probably compared to Kurtagich with her 'Dead House'.

The parents are generic have their own issues going on so lets solve our problems by moving to nowhere without a support unit to run a business that they know nothing about it. We also have a guide and much of kids that part of programme to educate kids about the forests. Then there's the creepy old maid that's worked at the house her whole working life.

The forest is also personified with tales of creatures in it.  The house is spooky as well so the setting is great and the mystery side works.

Overall, I give this book 4/5 stars for secret hidey-holes... I'm now conflicted because this book levels with Frozen Charlotte or is better. It has similarity with isolation and supernatural beings messing with people. Also spooky child/ren. I would recommended if like that book and just if you like YA Horror.

Dis: This is the only Red Eye book that I have currently not gotten this for Review off NetGalley. Just saying so you know I didn't forget the disclaimer.

Buy.

Book Review: The Upstairs Room by Kate Murray-Browne

Ignoring clear signs of a haunting is bound to get you into trouble.

Eleanor, Richard and their two young daughters recently stretched themselves to the limit to buy their dream home, a four-bedroom Victorian townhouse in East London. But the cracks are already starting to show. Eleanor is unnerved by the eerie atmosphere in the house and becomes convinced it is making her ill. Whilst Richard remains preoccupied with Zoe, their mercurial twenty-seven-year-old lodger, Eleanor becomes determined to unravel the mystery of the house’s previous owners – including Emily, whose name is written hundreds of times on the walls of the upstairs room.

This book is about a haunted house, but its not a horror book. It more about the characters and the effect that the house has on people.

The point of view changes amount the adults of the house. Its feel more like the women's story though.We have characters lives mirror each other, but made different choice. It was an interesting exploration.

The writing is third person, with focus point of view changing every chapter (I think). I enjoyed the writing style.

The ending is very anti-climatic. It was the natural conclusion of the book, but if you're ghost fan you might be a tad disappointed. This a character driven so the plot isn't really focus,

Overall, I give 4/5 stars for annoying neighbours. This is a odd match of a haunted house story with character study where choices lead you. I enjoyed it, if you into character stuff and more about the stain a haunting would have on the inhabits, this is the novel for you.

I got this book for Review from Netgalley and its being published by Picador on 27 July 2017.
 

Book Review: Beautiful Broken Things by Sara Barnard

Finally, a contemporary without the main character declaring her love...romantically.

Here’s my theory on Significant Life Events: everyone has them, but some have more than others, and how many you have affects how interesting you are, how many stories you have to tell, that kind of thing.

I was still waiting for my first one.

After yet another typical summer where nothing of any significance happens, Caddy vows that now she’s sixteen this year will be different; she’ll get a boyfriend (a real one), lose her virginity and experience a Significant Life Event. If only Caddy knew what was just around the corner - a whirlwind of wild spirit and fury with a dazzling smile and sad eyes by the name of Suzanne – and a significant life event that no one could have predicted.

Caddy and Rosie have been BFF’s since they were little girls, but when enigmatic and beautiful new girl Suzanne starts at Rosie’s school, Caddy allows her insecurities to threaten her friendship with Rosie. Caddy wishes she were more like Rosie and Suzanne – confident, funny and interesting – but beneath the make-up and bravado lies a secret side to Suzanne that intrigues Caddy. Despite their differences very soon the three girls are inseparable, and things get a whole lot more complicated.

Under Suzanne’s influence, Caddy begins to see how much fun a little trouble can be. But climbing out of bedroom windows for forbidden midnight walks on the beach begins to lose its shimmer as Suzanne’s troubled past is revealed and her present begins to unravel. The course of friendship and recovery is rougher than any of the girls could have imagined, and Caddy is about to learn that downward spirals have a momentum of their own.

The books opens with the character stating she wants to get a (first) boyfriend, lose her virginity, have a significant life event. This last one is confusing as wouldn't the two above it be significant life events? She listed them first. To be honest this is not a good start for me. However, the book gets a lot better.

Caddy is our narrator, she self-proclaimed as being boring and I don't know if this is the reason why she reads that way. There lot of discussion about self worth in this book and the two main characters both struggling with it. Except this not satisfying when both characters are flat and don't feel like real people at all. Caddy has nothing going on besides her best friend, Rosie and she doesn't like going out. She too much of a Mary Jane to be able to attach to her.

Whilst the relationship between the girls being the core of the in book, its not that great. The girls are sometimes terrible to each other for very little reason and never felt they cared that much about each other. I think it comes down to not buying the characters. Certain things are done well in their interactions. I don't know how the characters could feel more real and feel like they have a history. I think it just one of those things: it might just come down to my bad start with the book.

 This book deals with abuse and the mental consequences of suffering from it. This is the best part of the novel. Its about the aftermath after leaving the abuse. This done well and I think it manages to capture the mental state of the sufferer and how complex relationship with their abuser can be. 

The ending of this book is rather disappointing. The actual ending is okay and works, but the way we get to it is badly executed. The dialogue before it especially. It just too much on the nose.

Overall, I give this book 4/5 stars for sunflowers. The idea of this book is really solid and does manage to capture the complex nature of abuse. The girls' friendship could be better,especially as that meant to be the base for the novel. I would like to see a book with a similar focus on friendships and do think this a strong début. 

 I got this book for Review off Netgalley and it is being publish by  Children's Books on 11 February 2016.Macmillan

Book Review: This Raging Light by Estelle Laure

Ar...when everyone acts like a selfish arse to you.

How is it that you suddenly notice a person? How is it that one day Digby was my best friend's admittedly cute twin brother, and then the next he stole air, gave jitters, twisted my insides up?
Lucille has bigger problems than falling for her best friend's unavailable brother. Her mom has gone, leaving her to look after her sister, Wren. With bills mounting up and appearances to keep, Lucille is raging against her life but holding it together - just.

My gut instinct of this book is a bit of a mess. It's a nice mess, but certain things just don't fit. The best friend Eden becomes really unlikable with very weak reasoning behind her actions. This definitely caused issues as there were main plot points that impact were weaken because of this.

The second part of the book was weak. The set up was okay and understood the attempt to create a boiling point, but I found a hard time buying it. Especially, Eden and Digby's mother's behaviour/thoughts about a perpendicular event was just odd and I thought I had missed something at first because of the way she was acting. Very end was just sappy nonsense that didn't make sense.

The book is told in first person by Lucille and organised by days since when Lucille's mother left, which I really liked and think worked well for the book.

The characters were okay, but I got say the nine year old sister was a bit babyish, especially as she was said to be intelligent. The love interest was as bland as a tree truck but Lucille was sort of bland herself. There's attempt to give depth, almost successfully with the flashbacks but this gave more depth to other characters other than her.

Overall, I give 4 out of fives stars for New Mexican earrings. This book only took me three hours to read and was pretty enjoyable, so despite it failings I would still recommend it. The ending is a bit of a mess I am interested to see what Estelle Laure writes in the future. A very promising debut.

I got this book for review off NetGalley and it is being published by Orchard Books on 14th January 2016.

Book Review: The DUFF by Kody Keplinger

My friend group just had a straight friend.

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper may not be the prettiest girl in her high school, but she has a loyal group of friends, biting wit, and a spot-on BS detector. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of a man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush, who calls Bianca the Duff - the designated ugly fat friend - of her crew.

But things aren't so great at home and Bianca, desperate for a distraction, ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a secret enemies-with-benefits relationship with him. 

Until it all goes horribly wrong. It turns out Wesley isn't such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she's falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.

I read this book in one sitting. It was compelling to keep going, though I had already decided on all nighter because of reasons so it was good company. I heard that this book was good but no one ever say why? I'm going to tell you why.

The characters are realistic and I really liked the main characters Bianca, especially her cynical nature and her attitudes are appealing. The relationships were really good as well. The only thing I couldn't buy was someone having a bowl cut in 2010 (going off the year this book was originally published), those things are terrible looking.

This book deals with slut shaming and body image really well. It was definitely one of my favourite parts of the book and I would recommend it on this alone. Especially, since slut shaming is such a rampant problem in YA. It also has other things like divorce and alcoholism.

Overall, I gave this novel four of five stars for smashed pictures. This was a really great contemporary and definitely worth a read. It's real shame that they never actually made a film of this and just stole the idea of a duff from the book. Though, teens swearing, having sex and being complex are the things that terrify Hollywood. Back to the actual book, I would highly recommend this and it one of the few books I wish I had read sooner.

I got this for review off Netgalley and from Hodder Children's Books.

Book Review: One Man Guy by Michael Barakiva

Alek's family are Armenian? I had no clue.

Alek Khederian should have guessed something was wrong when his parents took him to a restaurant. Everyone knows that Armenians never eat out. Why bother, when their home cooking is far superior to anything "these Americans" could come up with? Between bouts of interrogating the waitress and criticizing the menu, Alek’s parents announce that he’ll be attending summer school in order to bring up his grades. Alek is sure this experience will be the perfect hellish end to his hellish freshmen year of high school. He never could’ve predicted that he’d meet someone like Ethan.
Ethan is everything Alek wishes he were: confident, free-spirited, and irreverent. When Ethan gets Alek to cut school and go to a Rufus Wainwright concert in New York City’s Central Park, Alek embarks on his first adventure outside the confines of his suburban New Jersey existence. He can’t believe a guy this cool wants to be his friend. And before long, it seems like Ethan wants to be more than friends. Alek has never thought about having a boyfriend—he’s barely ever had a girlfriend—but maybe it’s time to think again.

I think this book tricks a lot of boxes, set partly in New York City, diversity with the main character being Armenian and this is gay romance.

Told in first person, Alek makes good narrator. The plot is enjoyable platform for these characters.
.
The characters are quite realisic and interesting. I really enjoy Alek's relationships with his family and bad mouthing them because if that isn't realistic then I don't know what is.

Overall, I gave this 3 out of 5 stars for water bottles in the sun.  I enjoyed reading this book but never left much of imprint on me, found it very hard to review for some reason, but it's nice to read good published LGBT fiction.

I got this for review off Netgalley. 

Book Review: Simon Vs. the Homo Sapian Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Timing can really effect your enjoyment of a book

Straight people should have to come out too. And the more awkward it is, the better. 

Simon Spier is sixteen and trying to work out who he is - and what he's looking for. But when one of his emails to the very distracting Blue falls into the wrong hands, things get all kinds of complicated. Because, for Simon, falling for Blue is a big deal . . . It's a holy freaking huge awesome deal.

This book mostly felt like a waste of my time, personally, not necessary yours. Simon trying to figure out who Blue is in real life goes to really dumb places, some that could have passed as notion but not even paragraphs should have been spent on the second guess. I want to give the author into trouble as though she was a toddler, I did even say "No, Bad writer" out loud.

I also just started wanting to nick pick this book so bad, for dumb stuff, like accurate American culture and morals. Also Simon is obsessed with Oreos and Oreos are disgusting and should be confined to the states. The title of this book came up in the book and I don't fucking get it. It's dumb. Congratulations you don't understand biology and the natural  want to fuck boys like a Homo Sapian should. (There is swearing in this which is a plus). It does however equal gays as being another species and with the LGBTQA+ history, thats is a terrible thing to do and coming from a Straight writer insenstive (she married, so straight passing and I can't remember if I got this as fact or not. She never talked about it). We are all Human Beings a.k.a Homo Sapians until we evolve into another one. So don't say something that impiles we not, especially don't call a book after that. Its the straights that say "No Homo" not us.

I also found the Pop-culture reference to be over-baring. The dog was called Bieber. Why would you do that, to a poor innocent creatures. Also the play thing is a bit weird and is isn't a play that's after the Christmas break bit odd or are American school like that, Winter break is always seen as the half cutting point of the year over here. Also why are the Soccer team randomly doing trials in the middle of the year? There seem to be a lot of stuff throw in without thought when it comes to the supporting characters.

Random drama pops up a lot. Especially, within Simon's girl friends (didn't go down the more interesting route). I've seen people praise the supporting characters but I found the things that went on them to have been unsatisfying endings. They just don't feel like real people or that Simon cares about his friends.

Also the bullying aspect was kinda dumb to have repeatedly, as Simon had no emotional reaction to it, out with the events. I think it was more for the development of other characters, and I personally find fault with books/media that uses someone else struggles to teach another character a lesson. Especially, when comes to minorities, even if it's not the main character. This definitely not the worst case, but the thing is that the character who develops is just an arse and did something terrible that's terrible no matter who does it.

I liked the email exchanges in this book and guess Simon and Blue's relationship. I think I would have prefer the whole book to be emails, well mostly, with the same ending.

Overall, I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars for a lack of understanding of Biology and History. I think the main problem is this book clashed with what I'm doing right now and almost grudge reading it right now instead of something with more plot which I guess is what I prefer when I have limited reading time.

Update: My rating is now 2/5 stars because my issues still stand at 13.9.16 and that title still annoys me and I can't get over how problematic it is. As 09.11.17, I still feel need rant about how bad this book is.

I got this book off NetGalley for Review and it's being published by Penguin yesterday (7th APRIL 2015) or it's been out since the start of April, books never seem to come out their expected published dates anymore.

Book Review: Roomies by Sara Zarr & Tara Altebrando

My college roommate is hopefully going to be a skeleton.

It's time to meet your new roomie.

When East Coast native Elizabeth receives her freshman-year roommate assignment, she shoots off an e-mail to coordinate the basics: television, microwave, mini-fridge. That first note to San Franciscan Lauren sparks a series of e-mails that alters the landscape of each girl's summer -- and raises questions about how two girls who are so different will ever share a dorm room.

As the countdown to college begins, life at home becomes increasingly complex. With family relationships and childhood friendships strained by change, it suddenly seems that the only people Elizabeth and Lauren can rely on are the complicated new boys in their lives . . . and each other. Even though they've never met.

This is the second book by Sara Zarr book I have read and reviewed (here's the video review How to Save a Life). The first by Tara Altebrando and I have no idea who wrote what. This book is in the point of view of the two roommates to be. They going to college (or uni as I would call it) and have been assigned the same room so they start emailing each other. 

The both characters were likable, realistic and their issues were nice contrast against each other.

In a lot of ways, this is a typical YA contemporary : Romance, personal struggles and family issues. All that growing up stuff and preparing to live without your family in the same building. But it was good and it was interesting to read about two characters that were in the same situation as me, going to uni after the summer. 

The plot was good, was little over top at the end but was understandable and realistic situation. 
The novel is told in first person, changing between each girl every chapter, which really works. The only thing is I don't like that its starts and ends with the same girl. I can get why they would do that but I like to be equal. We also have their emails to each other and placement in the chapter could be interesting.

Overall, I gave this 4/5 stars for someone else's snoring. It was nice little book and would recommend anyone who embarking on the journey to Uni/college.

I sent this book for review by way of BookBrigdr. It's published by Hodder & Stoughton.

Book Review: The Worst Girlfriend in the World by Sarra Manning

In the friendship type more than anything.  

My best friend was now my deadliest enemy, the one person I'd hate beyond all measure for the rest of my life . . .

Franny Barker's best friend, Alice, is the worst girlfriend in the world according to the many boys of Merrycliffe-on-Sea. She toys with them, then dumps them. But she'll never dump fashion-obsessed Franny. Nothing and no one can come between them.

Not even tousle-haired rock god, Louis Allen, who Franny's been crushing on hard. Until Alice, bored with immature boys and jealous of Franny's new college friends, sets her sights on Louis. Suddenly, best friends are bitter rivals.

Is winning Louis's heart worth more than their friendship? There's only one way for Franny to find out.

This is a book is more about friendship than romance, but of course there’s a romance. There is always a romance.  It nice romance, a slow develop romance.

Fanny is just a terrible name to give anyone; fictional or not. I didn’t care that much for the characters. I don’t why but with Manning books that fact that I don’t like the characters doesn’t really effect my enjoyment of them. It’s rather weird for a contemporary. There nothing about these characters that I particular dislike but there nothing I love either. There are dull cookie bunch. I did identify with Alice being jealous, so I guess there were relatable.

This books deals with a lot of themes, such as slut shaming, jealous and Mental illness. Fanny is generally resentful, of her mother and the rest of her immediate family because there don’t have to deal with her mother’s depression. She left alone to deal with her mother alone. I think it dealt with quite well.

Overall, I gave 4 out of 5 stars for messed up dummies. I enjoyed reading this book and that’s all that matters. I don’t know what I’m saying. It’s a fun, light read that has friendship as the main focus which is something I like.

Book Review: Torn Away by Jennifer Brown

Ain’t literal titles the best?

Born and raised in the Midwest, Jersey Cameron knows all about tornadoes. Or so she thinks. When her town is devastated by a twister, Jersey survives -- but loses her mother, her young sister, and her home. As she struggles to overcome her grief, she's sent to live with her only surviving relatives: first her biological father, then her estranged grandparents.

In an unfamiliar place, Jersey faces a reality she's never considered before -- one in which her mother wasn't perfect, and neither were her grandparents, but they all loved her just the same. Together, they create a new definition of family. And that's something no tornado can touch.

me. Together, they create a new definition of family. And that's something no tornado can touch.

This book deals well with lost and shows how destructive a hurricane can be emotionally. The hurricane and the damage were well written.

Doing most the book, people are just terrible to Jersey and all of them experience mood swings. There were points where I really wish that Jersey would stand up for herself. Her stand of action is bit late and redundant. You would find it very hard not to feel sympathy for Jersey at some point in this book considering he repeatedly abandoned throughout the novel in different forms.

I feel that certain characters were very flat and only there to serve their purpose. We get hints at depth but it was elaborate at much as I would have liked.

This book also sends mixed messages about the importance of biology in family. I feel like wanted to say that it doesn’t matter, but in action that’s not what happens at all. The only family tie that isn’t biology dumps her at the first chance.

Overall, I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars for numbered cats. It was a nice read but has a few issues. I do plan to read her other books soon.

I got this off Netgalley for a review. It’s being published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers on 6^th May 2014.

P.S. I read a proof but there is a really weird thing in that bugged me that it even made into a proof. This more note of something I want to point out. Half-siblings in the book are referred to as step which was confusing as hell. I really do hope that has been changed before the finial proof.

Book Review: The Geography Of You And Me by Jennifer E. Smith

In Space, I scream.

Owen lives in the basement. Lucy lives on the 24th floor. But when the power goes out in the midst of a New York heatwave, they find themselves together for the first time: stuck in a lift between the 10th and 11th floors. As they await help, they start talking...

The brief time they spend together leaves a mark. And as their lives take them to Edinburgh and San Francisco, to Prague and to Portland they can't shake the memory of the time they shared. Postcards cross the globe when they themselves can't, as Owen and Lucy experience the joy - and pain - of first love.

And as they make their separate journeys in search of home, they discover that sometimes it is a person rather than a place that anchors you most in the world.

This is your typical chance meeting romance, except the two main characters have wanderlust and use international mail.

The characters are well developed, even the parents. Everyone is a real person even characters that only appear for one paragraph. The romance has a nice growth to it, in the sense that Lucy and Owen don’t declare their undying love for each other by the time they escape the elevator and takes place over a year.

A lot of traveling in this book, one character roaming the states whiles the other mostly roams British capital cities as while as other interesting places in Europe.

Something that bugged me about this book that it’s stated that Edinburgh smells of Stew, when it doesn’t. Are these the lies the English are spreading about us? Lucy’s mum is English by the way and she says this first. Lucy also calls her mother mom, which frankly as a British person I would not let my kid away with that. Then again maybe most people don’t share my fondness of the vowel ‘u’. I know Americans don’t.

This book is separated into five (or 6) parts. Part III, Everywhere, has an interesting format of the opening sentences of the chapters: In someplace, character did something e.g. In London, Lucy cried.

The last few chapters are annoyingly short for no reason. Especially, considering I read it on Epub that’s meant to printed out really. It has the nice page image instead a blank page at odd number chapter; there are these wiggly vertical lines. I like this but my e-reader didn’t or really did because it took forever to get past these pages. My point being that might contribute to my dislike of those chapters being that short.

Overall, I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars for literature named turtles. It was a nice little romance, with travelling to exciting locations. I'm sure that ticks the boxes for a lot of people.

I got this off Netgalley for a review. It’s being published by Headline on 10^th April 2014.