Published by University of Queensland Press on March 30, 2021
Source: Publisher
Genres: Young Adult, Apocalyptic & Post-Apocalyptic
Amazon | Book Depository | Publisher | Angus & Robertson | Booktopia
Add to Goodreads
Instinct has kept us alive so far. It’s like a compass and I tune in to the needle often: trust/don’t trust, run/stay … I can’t read the needle right now. The warmth of the room is clouding my judgment.
In the midst of a nuclear winter, Lucy, Fin and Max flee the chaos of Sydney with blood on their clothes, a gun and handwritten directions to safety. When they reach Wattlewood, it seems like their struggle to survive might be over. There is food, warmth and adults in charge. So why can’t Lucy shake the feeling they’re still in danger?
Lucy’s survived the apocalypse, but can she escape a more insidious threat?
When We Are Invisible is the sequel to the post-apocalyptic YA #loveozya book, The Sky So Heavy. It follows Lucy, Fin and Max as they flee Sydney in search of safety and shelter. This is definitely an important book and gives a voice to women everywhere.
Most of the book is set within a camp that seems safe at the start, but are faced with a bigger threat – a dangerous man who needs control and power over his people. The book has an important message about gaslighting, emotional abuse and domestic violence, often not in the most obvious of ways. Even other well meaning males can’t sense the danger that this man exhibits, but it’s something that women can tell straight away. It was fascinating seeing the story unfold as Lucy tries to escape his clutches, while coping with her own grief and emotional trauma.
I did feel that the whole survival camp aspect has been done before in many other works – and it felt like a very condensed setting without any real outside threats like zombies or a virus (which may be intentional). Because of this, I felt found my interest waning towards the end of the book when I saw where it was going.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Trigger warnings: eating disorder, emotional/physical abuse, animal deaths
When We Are Invisible is available from Australian bookstores for RRP$19.99 or from The Book Depository.
Thanks to UQP books for sending me a copy for review.
Can't Say It Went to Plan by Gabrielle Tozer
Published by HarperCollins Australia on May 5, 2021
Source: Publisher
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary
Amazon | Book Depository | Publisher | Angus & Robertson | Booktopia
Add to Goodreads
From the award-winning author of The Intern, Faking It and Remind Me How This Ends.
School's out.
Forget study, exams and mapping out the future.
For the next seven days, the only homework is partying with friends, making new ones and living in the moment.
There are no parents or curfews - and no rules.
Zoe, Samira and Dahlia are strangers, but they have something in common: their plans for a dream holiday after their final year of school are flipped upside-down before they even arrive at the beach.
From hooking up and heartache, to growing apart, testing friendships and falling in love, anything can go down this week.
Can’t Say It Went to Plan is about a group of teenagers who are partying after finishing their final year of school. Zoe, Samira and Dahlia couldn’t be more different, but they’re each experiencing the confusion, excitement and indecisiveness of what to do after school.
The book captures a lot of different emotions of finishing school, having fun with your friends and also rebelling from your parents. There’s also grief and loss mixed in there along with romances (including a f/f one), friendship moments and teenagers just generally having fun.
While the book was a lot of fun, I didn’t really connect with any of the characters and their drunken exploits. There was a lot of silliness that usually happens when teenagers get loose after school, including hooking up, drinking and partying. I definitely think teens who are at this point in their life will enjoy the book though!
Rating: 3 out of 5
Thanks to HarperCollins Australia for sending me a review copy.
Can’t Say It Went To Plan is available on 5 May 2021 from Australian bookstores for RRP$19.99 or from The Book Depository.
Latest posts by Jeann @ Happy Indulgence (see all)
- 5 Things I Liked About The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi - June 20, 2024
- Kaldoras: The Medoran Chronicles Epilogue Review & Event - June 13, 2024
- 5 Thoughts About House of Flame and Shadow - March 28, 2024
Sorry these were a bit of a disappointment. Sometimes that happens to me with YA, too, when I’m sure I’d be more invested and connected if I were actually a teenager.
Meg recently posted…Dial A for Aunties
Bummer that they were both three star books for you.
Hena Tayeb recently posted…Friday Photography