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REVIEW: A Sky Painted Gold by Laura Wood

Hello all! Hope you're all enjoying the summer! I'm currently on holiday in a huge castle in the South of France and enjoying relaxing, playing games, and of course reading a lot!  Today's post is a review of a dreamy summer romance that's perfect for your holiday TBRs! Title:  A Sky Painted Gold Author:  Laura Wood Series:   n/a Pages:   356 Publisher:  Scholastic Date of Publication:  5th July, 2018 Source:  Publisher for review* Synopsis from Goodreads: Growing up in her sleepy Cornish village dreaming of being a writer, sixteen-year-old Lou has always wondered about the grand Cardew house which has stood empty for years. And when the owners arrive for the summer - a handsome, dashing brother and sister - Lou is quite swept off her feet and into a world of moonlit cocktail parties and glamour beyond her wildest dreams. But, as she grows closer to the Cardews, is she abandoning her own ambitions... And is there something darker lurkin...
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REVIEW: We Are Young by Cat Clarke

Hello! I've given the blog a spruce with a new design and header, I hope you like it. Let me know what you think!

Today's review is of a gritty contemporary that I definitely recommend. Read on to find out why! 

We Are YoungTitle: We Are Young
Author: Cat Clarke
Series:  n/a
Pages:  384
Publisher: Quercus Books
Date of Publication: 3rd May, 2018
Source: Bought
Synopsis from Goodreads: On the same night Evan's mother marries local radio DJ 'Breakfast Tim', Evan's brand-new step-brother Lewis is found unconscious and terribly injured, the only survivor of a horrific car crash.

A media furore erupts, with the finger of blame pointed firmly at stoner, loner Lewis. Everyone else seems to think the crash was drugs-related, but Evan isn't buying it. With the help of her journalist father, Harry, she decides to find out what really happened that night.

As Evan delves deeper into the lives of the three teenagers who died in the crash, she uncovers some disturbing truths and a secret that threatens to tear her family - and the community - apart for ever...


My Thoughts:
I haven't read any Cat Clarke books for a long time, so I was excited to get back to this great author. The mystery of what really happened at the car crash attracted my attention immediately and so I had high hopes when I went in. The mystery is slow, it builds up one clue at a time and before I knew it I'd read 100 pages and I was absolutely hooked.

I love how real Cat Clarke's books are. She doesn't shy away from any topic, and I was struck while I was reading with how realistic it was; I could imagine the same thing happening at my school, and people having the same conversations and the same news stories and the same rumours flying about and getting passed around. Cat is so perceptive and she really understands teenagers, and it's extremely refreshing to read, if a little hard-hitting at times.

I really liked the characters, particularly Evan. She was flawed and she made mistakes, but she was put in difficult situations and she reacted in a way that I'm sure most people would. What she goes through is difficult to read at times*, yet she keeps going and she's determined to find out the truth and to honour the victims of the car crash. I loved how this determination helped to rebuild her broken relationship with her dad, and how she learned a lot and developed as the book went on. The plot is obviously important, but the book is also very character driven, which is great.

We Are Young handles difficult topics with sensitivity and professionalism, while still remaining realistic and genuine. I was drawn in by the mystery of what really happened at the car crash, but kept captivated by the characters and the honesty of Cat's voice. If you're looking for a story with a good plot and great characters, then there isn't a better choice than We Are Young. 


*trigger warning: domestic abuse, suicide, mental health, self-harm, drugs



Have you read We Are Young? Which Cat Clarke title should I try next? 

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