Review: Hold Back The Stars, Katie Khan

As soon as I started hearing about this book on #BookTwitter I was incredibly excited. It seemed like such a fresh, new kind of love story that I couldn't wait to get my hands on it but I confess that it took too long. I took the opportunity over the Christmas holidays to finally get stuck into it.

We meet the main characters, Carys and Max, while falling through space. With no way of getting back to their broken ship, and only ninety minutes of oxygen left, things are looking impossible for them.

The novel alternates between their present emergency and their past in Europia, a Utopia made from the countries that made up the European Union and then some. The idea of Europia is that each citizen is on rotation every three years to a different sector, or Voivode.. They act in their own name, rather than the name of a country or religion, with the idea that acting in their own name alone will prevent conflict. The constant moving around adds to this as well - breaking down the unfamiliar, building communities all over the world. As with any Utopia, however, all once seemingly good ideas show cracks over time.

Like the Couples rule. The 'guidelines' are that one cannot get into a stable relationship or begin a family until one's thirties, the benefits being that divorce rates will be lower and a person can be at their most productive, free from the responsibilities of family life. Carys and Max, however, don't take too long before finding out that this rule is not for them.

The story is a clever mix of rom-com and sci-fi, with clearly enough research to make it convincing. The author, Katie Khan, works for a film company, and that certainly shows with the lush visuals of her writing. I really root for Carys and Max as a couple, although my favourite character has to be Liu, Max's best friend.

There are some interesting political undertones, as well. The USA, as far as we know, is as much of a crisis zone as Syria is presently. Europia is the union that everyone wants to be a part of, and outside of Europia is basically a death wish.

The story has lots of twists and turns to keep you reading, particularly towards the end. Several times I was scratching my head, and kept flipping back pages because I genuinely thought I'd missed something, but it was all brought together well in the end. I do look forward to how they'll be translating that particular part onto the big screen. John Boyega and Letitia Wright are going to be taking the leads in this film, so it will definitely be one to look out for next year.

Review: Pretty Honest, Sali Hughes

Let me start by saying this - where, oh where, has Sali Hughes been all my life?!

To sum up quickly, Pretty Honest is essentially a comprehensive Beauty Bible, but so much more than that at the same time. Sali Hughes has loved and worked in the beauty industry since she was a teenager first working as a make up assistant for a music video. and has been honing her craft and expertise ever since.

The book isn't just a who's who of the best brands on offer (although there are definitely helpful and healthy dollops of knowledge all the way through), but why said brands are good and the science behind it. Because Sali knows her stuff. Hyaluronic acid (read it to find out) is a game changer. A simple skincare routine becomes a pleasurable habit rather than a chore. And red lipstick is for anyone provided you know how.

Pretty Honest isn't just a helpful beauty guide, it's also like a conversation with your (extremely knowledgeable) best friend. Sali makes you want to invest that time in yourself and makes it incredibly easy to discover how to do that. And the beginning of the New Year was, for me, the best time to read it. It's honestly made me think more about what I'm putting onto (and into) my body and how I can make the best of what I have without making any dramatically pricey changes. It was such a fun, affirming, and informative read, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. 

Review: We Come Apart, Sarah Crossan and Brian Conaghan

We Come Apart tells the story of two young people, Jess and Nicu. They meet unexpectedly, after both being put on a youth rehabilitation programme having been caught in separate incidents of shoplifting.

Nicu, as the son of Romanian immigrants, suffers a lot of prejudice and bullying at school. Jess, meanwhile, slowly gravitates away from her friends as it becomes clear their attitudes start differing too much. Jess and Nicu become close, and confide in each other. Jess is living with her mum and mum's boyfriend, who abuses her regularly, and Nicu's parents are arranging a marriage for him.

Tragedy piles upon tragedy and Jess and Nicu make a plan to escape.

The book is written in free verse, alternating between Jess and Nicu's POV. It makes sense for Nicu's perspective, as it is an effective portrayal of his broken English, but it makes less sense for Jess' POV. It would have been interesting to read the story in straightforward prose, but the fragmented sense of writing could be seen as a good metaphor for their fragmented lives.

Overall, I enjoyed it as something fresh and different. It was a sad story in many ways, and raised lots of necessary questions about immigration and treatment of non-nationals (Brexit was referenced a few times). I think it particularly works well as a read for teenagers as it is a captivating story with some interesting challenge in it, too.

Review: Sleigh Rides and Silver Bells at the Christmas Fair, Heidi Swain

"When Anna takes on the role of companion to the owner of Wynthorpe Hall, on the outskirts of Wynbridge, she has no idea that her life is set to change beyond all recognition.

A confirmed ‘bah humbug’ when it comes to Christmas, Anna is amazed to find herself quickly immersed in the eccentric household, and when youngest son Jamie unexpectedly arrives home it soon becomes obvious that her personal feelings are going all out to compromise her professional persona."

This was probably my favourite read over the Christmas break. In summary, it was a heartwarming story with mild drama and gentle twists, but the family and characters of Wynthorpe Hall were the main pull of the book for me. 

Anna, the protagonist, hates Christmas in all forms, for reasons that are revealed slowly, like puzzle pieces, throughout the book. She quickly finds out that the job for which she was hired is not the job the owners had in mind. When she finds out the true nature of the job, her instinct is to run but the love and warmth of the family and staff keep her there. 

Soon, the youngest son Jamie returns to take over the hall, albeit reluctantly. He and Anna make a pact to help each other - Anna will help him fall in love with the hall and he will help her fall in love with Christmas again. As expected, they fall in love along the way. 

This was a very enjoyable read, the winter equivalent of a good beach book during the summer. Very highly recommended, particularly if you're in need of a switch off and a lovely, happy ending.