BOOK REVIEW: My Favourite Manson Girl by Alison Umminger

I'm not normally a big reader of YA fiction, but now and again I'll delve into it. Over the past few months however, I've come across some titles that have been hard to pass up. one of them being My Favourite Manson Girl by Alison Umminger, in which a teenager experiencing family issues heads to Hollywood and finds herself researching the girls of the notorious Manson family.

Ever since my younger years, hearing about Charles Manson and the killing spree of his 'family' in the 1960s, I've been intrigued by the girls that followed him, and often found myself interested in how the girls that followed Manson so adoringly allowed themselves to become killers. This is what attracted me to My Favourite Manson Girl - it made for a a VERY interesting plot.

Fifteen-year-old Anna, after some trouble at home in Atlanta, steals the credit card of her mom's new wife and heads to LA to visit her older sister Delia. Delia is a young actress, a star in the making (or so she would like people to believe), living a charmed life in glamorous Hollywood.

Anna's plan is to stay with Delia until her mom ceases being mad, and also until she can pay back the stolen cash for her plane ticket. When Delia's ex Roger, an eccentric film producer, offers to pay her to research the Manson girls for an upcoming movie, Anna can hardly turn it down.

As the weeks pass, Anna spends her summer reading and hanging out on set with the actors of Chips Ahoy! - a cheesy kids' sitcom of which Dex, Delia's new boyfriend, is one of the writers. There she meets Jeremy, star of the show alongside his brother Joshua, and they start to hit it off. However, as her life is going relatively well for a change, Delia's may be at risk - from a stalker who keeps appearing at the house, leaving notes. Delia is secretive about most things in her life, leading Anna to believe that the Hollywood dream she seems to live in may be far from reality.

Admittedly I have mixed feelings about this book. I'll start with the cons: first of all, pretty much all of the characters were awful (besides Dex and Lynette. Jeremy too, maybe). Don't get me wrong, this isn't necessarily a bad thing - this is Hollywood. The book explores the reality behind the glitz. I hardly expected every character to be lovely and sweet. However, Anna herself was incredibly selfish, often mean, generally unlikable. It was just hard to relate to her at all.

Secondly, the plot didn't really go anywhere. I guess I felt that, due to the Manson research Anna was carrying out (I really enjoyed these parts), that the Manson plot would inevitably lead somewhere. But it didn't. Nothing really happened in this book, even though the blurb seemed (to me, anyway) to hint at a bit of a mystery, and I felt a bit let down at the end. It wasn't too compelling either - I found it easy to put down and didn't feel excited about picking it back up again. I'm glad I finished it though.

As for the pros? Well, this book doesn't focus heavily on romance, which is something I really liked about it. It's refreshing in that way. There is no big love story here.

And it's unique. Like I mentioned before, I'm not a big YA reader. But this did stand out as a very different, very real novel. It's not a glam tale of Hollywood life; it focuses on the reality. I did like the idea that Hollywood isn't perfect, that you have to be careful who to trust. Just like the Manson girls; girls who were once normal, who had parents, who went to Homecoming and wanted to be pretty, to be loved. And eventually, they killed for it.

This seemed like a promising read, and there were elements I enjoyed, but in the end it was just 'okay'. However, that's just my verdict. This is one of those books that I'd strongly urge you to check out for yourself.

Rating: 3/5

COVER NEWS: Daphne du Maurier novels re-issued with YA covers

Novels by Daphne du Maurier are to be given a new look by publishers Little Brown, who are re-issuing the books with beautiful new covers.

Jamaica Inn, Frenchman's Creek and Rebecca will be released on July 16th with stunning new jackets that will appeal to both an older audience and young adult readers. Daphne du Maurier is considered to be one of the most accomplished novelists of the twentieth century. Having spent most of her life in Cornwall, it has become the setting of many of her books.

What do you think? Personally, I'm in love with my copy of Rebecca, and as a fan of Daphne du Maurier's work, I'm going to have to collect the others, too!

BOOK REVIEW: Weightless by Sarah Bannan

Weightless is the new novel from Sarah Bannan, which is due for release this Thursday. Granted, I don't usually cover a lot of young adult fiction on the blog, as this is not a genre I tend to read very much. However, when I was sent the news about Weightless, I felt compelled to read it and once I had, I was extremely glad. Weightless focuses on the harsh realities of cyber­bullying in an American high school environment, which is a concerning problem in today's society that's ruled by the internet and social media.

In Adams High, life is going by at its usual pace; the Varsity cheerleaders, ever perfect and popular, are on the field, witnessed by the other students who could only dream of being one of them. Brooke and Gemma effortlessly reign over the entire school, no matter what others might sneakily be saying behind their backs. It doesn't matter when you're perfect. This is normality for Adams High, but it all changes when new student Carolyn Lessing arrives at the school from New Jersey, bringing with her talent, beauty and a friendly charm that instantly attracts attention.

Carolyn is perfect in her own right - she's pretty, kind and highly intelligent; who all the girls want to be, and who the boys want to date. And that's exactly the problem with Carolyn Lessing. As the weeks go by, Carolyn finds herself the target of jealousy and harassment, with vicious rumours circulating around the school and on the anonymous Adams High gossip blog. As the Hot List is updated on the site, Carolyn is ranked one of the top - and it's only a matter of time before the school's queen bees vow to bring her down.

I'm going to stop here with the story. One, because continuing would reveal big spoilers, and secondly, because Weightless is a must-read. It's powerful, it's shocking, and when the ending comes, it hits you hard.

Weightless reveals the affects that cyber-bullying can have on an individual, and just how damaging they can be, particularly among teenagers. As an adult, reading this novel was particularly frightening. I was bullied at school, and consider myself lucky that this was before the arrival of smartphones and social media, when the teasing stopped, albeit temporarily, when the last bell rang. Today, it's a different world, in which victims of bullying, just like Carolyn, can be made to feel hopelessly trapped.

Throughout the book, the narrator is never named - even though I assumed that the narrator is female, she describes herself always as part of a group, as 'we'. This is interesting, though becomes a little more sinister with every chapter. What starts out as normal gossip and general curiosity about a new student descends into something that there's no going back from, which is why this novel is such a real and powerful read.

I would fully recommend this book to everyone; adults and teenagers alike.

Rating: 5/5

IN THE MAIL: Weightless / The Dish / The Trouble With Dying

This week was made by some great novels arriving in the mail, including an intriguing new book by Sarah Bannan, the new release from Stella Newman (author of Pear Shaped and Leftovers) which I've been rather excited about - and a paranormal tale from Maggie Le Page...

Weightless by Sarah Bannan
Adamsville wasn't a place that people came to. It was a place you were from, where you were born, where you were raised, where you stayed… 

Before Carolyn Lessing arrived, nothing much had ever happened in Adamsville, Alabama. Each week, at dinner tables and in the high school assembly, everyone would pray for the football team to win. Each year, the Adams High hotlist would be updated, and girls would rise and fall within its ranks. Each day, everyone lived by the unwritten rules that cheerleaders did not hang out with the swim team, seniors did not date freshmen and the blistering heat was something that should never be remarked upon. But then the new girl came. 

All Carolyn's social media could reveal was that she had moved from New Jersey, she had 1075 friends – and she didn't have a relationship status. In beach photos with boys who looked like Abercrombie models she seemed beautiful, but in real life she was so much more. She was perfect.
This was all before the camera crews arrived, before it became impossible to see where rumour ended and truth began, and before the Annual Adamsville Balloon Festival, when someone swore they saw the captain of the football team with his arm around Carolyn, and cracks began to appear in the dry earth.

The Dish by Stella Newman
The Dish by Stella Newman is the new novel from the much-loved author of Pear Shaped and Leftovers. This is a warm, passionate novel that will delight fans of Jill Mansell and Mhairi McFarlane and leave you happy and hungry in equal measure.

Love is on the menu. With a side order of lies.

When Laura Parker first crosses forks with Adam Bayley, she's only after one thing: his custard doughnut. But when she takes a closer look she sees a talented, handsome man who outshines the string of jokers she's been dating.

There's just one problem. Adam's job means Laura has to keep her job as restaurant critic for The Dish, a secret. Tricky for someone who prides herself on honesty.

Can the truth be put on ice long enough for love to flourish?

And how can you expect your boyfriend to be honest if you're not quite telling the truth yourself?

The Trouble With Dying by Maggie Le Page
When Faith Carson wakes up on a hospital ceiling looking down on her body in a coma, it’s a bad start to the week. A very bad start. She has no idea who she is or how she got there or why, and the biggest mystery of all is why she married the schmuck who wants her ventilator switched off. 
As if that’s not enough Faith has a dead gran haunting her, a young daughter missing her, and one devilishly delicious man making her wish she could have a second chance at life. And maybe she can, if she finds a way back into her body and wakes up by Friday. But if she doesn’t, this will be her last bad week—ever. 

Nate Sutherland decided long ago he’d settle for friendship if he couldn’t have Faith’s heart. But now, as she nears death, he’s going to have to listen to his feelings in a whole new way—and act. Because if he doesn’t, this week will be the worst damn week of his life. He’ll lose everything he’s ever loved. 

COVER NEWS: Cover for Sophie Kinsella's 'Finding Audrey' revealed

Sophie Kinsella, bestselling author of the Shopaholic series, has today released the cover image of her upcoming YA novel, Finding Audrey, which is to be published in June. The book has been described as 'a mix of family comedy, romance and personal discovery.'

You can read an exclusive excerpt from Finding Audrey over at USA Today.

COVER REVEAL: Dare to Dream by Carys Jones

Carys Jones is the author of First to Fall and Prime Deception, and her newest novel, Dare to Dream - a YA dystopian sci-fi story that's due for release very soon! Carys has today revealed the beautiful cover - check it out below!

The world was going to end. Of that, Maggie Trafford was certain.

Fourteen-year-old Maggie Trafford leads a normal life. Well, as normal as being crammed in a three-bedroom house with four siblings and a single parent can be, anyway. But despite being somewhat ignored at home, Maggie excels, earning top grades, a best friend who would do anything for her, and stolen looks from a boy in Maths.

It’s not until the dreams start that Maggie realizes “normal” is the least of her problems. Every night, she lives the same nightmare—red lightning, shattered glass, destruction. But nightmares are just that, right? No one believes her when she says it’s an omen. At least, not until the already mysterious pillars of Stonehenge start falling.

No longer alone in her fear, Maggie and the world watch with bated breath as one after another, the historic stones tumble, like a clock counting down. But only Maggie knows what it means: when the last stone falls, destruction will reign. And when the world ends, there’s only one option left—survive.

Horrifying and raw, Dare to Dream is equal parts tragedy and hope, detailing the aftermath of apocalyptic catastrophe, the quest for survival, and the importance of belief.

About Carys Jones
Carys Jones loves nothing more than to write and create stories which ignite the reader's imagination. Based in Shropshire, England, Carys lives with her husband, two guinea pigs and her adored canine companion Rollo.

When she's not writing, Carys likes to indulge her inner geek by watching science-fiction films or playing video games.

She lists John Green, Jodi Picoult and Virginia Andrews as her favorite authors and draws inspiration for her own work from anything and everything.

To Carys, there is no greater feeling then when you lose yourself in a great story and it is that feeling of ultimate escapism which she tries to bring to her books.

INDUSTRY NEWS: Sophie Kinsella to publish YA novel

Bestselling chick-lit author Sophie Kinsella is to publish a young adult novel, The Bookseller revealed today.

The novel, titled Finding Audrey, will be published by Random House and has been described as 'a mix of family comedy, romance and personal discovery'.

Finding Audrey will be released next year. Sophie's next novel in her well-loved Shopaholic series, Shopaholic to the Stars, will hit the shelves tomorrow.

BOOK NEWS (PLUS GIVEAWAY!): Bloomsbury's new teen series, 'If Only...'

Bloomsbury YA authors Mandy Hubbard and Kristin Rae are the first to be published in a new series of teen romances, titled 'If Only'. New titles Fool Me Twice and Wish You Were Italian will be followed by Not In The Script, which is due for release later this year.

The If Only line will add three new titles each year, and will also include one-off novels as well as series. US publishing director Cindy Loh told Publishers Weekly: “When we first started talking about repositioning our young adult contemporary romances several years ago, I immediately harkened back to those really great series of the 1980s, like Sweet Dreams, First Kiss, and Wildfire. I remember devouring those novels, and I think that today’s teens who love romances do the same – and they want to read more and more of them. But in a market where YA is driven by massive megabrands along the lines of Twilight, The Hunger Games, and Divergent, it’s hard for a stand-alone contemporary romance to make noise and get attention.”

The books will be aspirational and suitable for readers as young as 12.

Fool Me Twice by Mandy Hubbard
Last summer, Mackenzie and Landon were the perfect couple. And then he dumped her and broke her heart. Fast-forward a year and they’re back at their summer jobs at Serenity Ranch and Spa with Mack and her best friend Bailey, spending their time fantasising about making voodoo dolls and playing childish pranks on Landon.

Luckily for Mack, the perfect opportunity presents itself. Landon takes a nasty fall and suddenly he’s stuck in the past – literally. His most recent memory is of last summer, when they were together, so now he’s calling Mack pet names and hanging all over her. 

The plan is simple: keep Landon at arm’s length, manipulate him so he’s the one falling in love, and then, BAM, dump him in the most epic revenge plot in the history of everdom. There’s only one teensy problem: Mack can’t fall for Landon a second time.

Wish You Were Italian by Kristin Rae
The summer before senior year of high school. It’s supposed to be one of the biggest summers of her life, but Pippa is headed to an art program she has no interest in. The one saving grace is it’s in Italy. And when the opportunity strikes, she decides to ditch the program and travel Italy accomplishing her own list of goals. Things like swimming in the Mediterranean Sea, eating a whole pizza in one sitting…and falling in love with an Italian boy!

As she explores the famous cities of Rome and Pompeii, Pippa finds herself falling for two boys: a local guy she knows is nothing but trouble and a cute American archaeology student who keeps disappearing and reappearing at the strangest moments. Will Pippa find her true love before her parents find out the truth about her summer program?

GIVEAWAY: Win one of two If Only novels!

We have a copy of Fool Me Twice and Wish You Were Italian to give away. To be in with a chance of winning, simply send us an email with 'If Only' as the subject header. The winner will be chosen at random and notified. (Giveaway is open to UK residents only).
Good luck!