August/September reading round up part.1

The Most Dangerous Place on Earth by Lindsey Lee Johnson
' In an idyllic community of wealthy California families, new teacher Molly Nicoll becomes intrigued by the hidden lives of her privileged students. Unknown to Molly, a middle school tragedy in which they were all complicit continues to reverberate for her kids: Nick, the brilliant scam artist; Emma, the gifted dancer and party girl; Dave, the B student who strives to meet his parents' expectations; Calista, the hippie outcast who hides her intelligence for reasons of her own. Theirs is a world in which every action may become public: postable, shareable, indelible. With the rare talent that transforms teenage dramas into compelling and urgent fiction, Lindsey Lee Johnson makes vivid a modern adolescence lived in the gleam of the virtual, but rich with the sorrow, passion, and beauty of life in any time, and at any age.'

See my full review here  4/5

The Child by Fiona Barton (Listened to on audiobook)
'As an old house is demolished in a gentrifying section of London, a workman discovers a tiny skeleton, buried for years. For journalist Kate Waters, it’s a story that deserves attention. She cobbles together a piece for her newspaper, but at a loss for answers, she can only pose a question: Who is the Building Site Baby?
As Kate investigates, she unearths connections to a crime that rocked the city decades earlier: A newborn baby was stolen from the maternity ward in a local hospital and was never found. Her heartbroken parents were left devastated by the loss.
But there is more to the story, and Kate is drawn—house by house—into the pasts of the people who once lived in this neighborhood that has given up its greatest mystery. And she soon finds herself the keeper of unexpected secrets that erupt in the lives of three women—and torn between what she can and cannot tell…'

I listened to Barton's first book The Widow on audiobook and loved it. Unfortunately this was a real disappointment. I guessed where it was going early on and just found it a little boring to be honest. I did however love the narration of two of the narrators in particular: Clare Corbett and Finty Williams who did a great job of bringing their characters to life. 2/5

The Honeymoon by Tina Seskis

'For as long as she can remember, Jemma has been planning the perfect honeymoon. A fortnight's retreat to a five-star resort in the Maldives, complete with luxury villas, personal butlers and absolute privacy. It should be paradise, but it's turned into a nightmare.

Because the man Jemma married a week ago has just disappeared from the island without a trace. And now her perfect new life is vanishing just as quickly before her eyes. After everything they've been through together, how can this be happening? Is there anyone on the island who Jemma can trust? And above all - where has her husband gone?'

I got bored with this about a hundred pages in as it was going nowhere so skim read the rest of it. I wish I hadn't of bothered as the ending was one of the most ridiculous I've read. It was like Seskis made it up on the spot- it was laughably silly. 1/5

This is the Noise That Keeps Me Awake by Garbage
' Garbage are known around the world for songs that mix pop sweetness with the dour thunder of industrial music and the rhythm punch of hip-hop. Now, for the first time, the four band members tell the story of that music in their own words. Packed with rare photos and personal snapshots, this book examines how Garbage make their music, and how they’ve kept it together (or not) for more than twenty years.'

Read my (kind of) review here. I loved it! 5/5

Raven by Marv Wolfman
'Raven needs a break from her Teen Titans team. She decides to move to San Francisco to stay with her estranged aunt and face her most perilous challenge yet: high school!
As Raven discovers more about her human side, one of her classmates goes missing under mysterious circumstances, and she must face an evil like none she's known before!
In a tale set between Teen Titans 24 & Teen Titans: Rebirth, get to know Raven like you've never seen her before: attempting to be a normal teenager.'

Honestly I haven't read any Teen Titans comics but I like the character Raven and this looked interesting so thought I'd give it a go. I'm glad I did, I really enjoyed it. The artwork was beautiful and the story was a touching one of a girl that doesn't fit in trying to find her place in life (and being a badass in the process).

4/5

Mean Girls Club by Ryan Heshka

'This bold and beautiful comic is full of sassy club-singing sisters who you don't wanna mess with . . .

Introducing: Pinky, Sweets, Blackie, McQualude, and Wanda. Together they form the Mean Girls Club, a menacing powerhouse of ruthless rebels.

Ryan Heshka creates a subversive comic that re-interprets images of the stereotypical 50's female and gives new and defiant voice to these ladies of leisure.'

Firstly this book was visually beautiful- the colour palette was pink and black and the artwork was 50's pin up style with a goth edge. This was a short story about a gang of unruly women hell bent on causing destruction and turned the whole '50's housewives' on it's head. The only thing that could have made me love it more is if it was written by a woman. 4/5 

Pretty Deadly Vol.1 by Kelly Sue DeConnick
'KELLY SUE DeCONNICK (Avengers Assemble, Captain Marvel) and EMMA RÍOS (Dr. Strange, Osborn) present the collected opening arc of their surprise-hit series that marries the magical realism of Sandman with the western brutality of Preacher. Death's daughter rides the wind on a horse made of smoke and her face bears the skull marks of her father. Her origin story is a tale of retribution as beautifully lush as it is unflinchingly savage.'

I really wanted to like this as I usually love DeConnick's stuff but I really could not get into this. I found the story too confusing and to be honest had no idea what the hell was going on! 1/5

The All Fall Down by Tammy Cohen
'She knows there’s a killer on the loose.
But no-one believes her.
Will she be next?

Hannah had a normal life – a loving husband, a good job. Until she did something shocking. Now she’s in a psychiatric clinic. It should be a safe place. But patients keep dying.

The doctors say it’s suicide. Hannah knows they’re lying. Can she make anyone believe her before the killer strikes again?'

When I pick up a Tammy Cohen book I always know I am going to get an easy to read, decently written (and slightly over the top) thriller. Her books are always a solid three stars for me and this was an enjoyable thriller. I also have to mention that this was set in a psychiatric clinic and she handled the topic of mental health pretty well which was a relief! 3/5

Emily The Strange Vol.1 by Rob Reger'Emily the Strange is not your ordinary thirteen-year-old girl - she's got a razor-sharp wit as dark as her jet-black hair, a posse of moody black cats and famous friends in very odd places! She's got a broodingly unique way of experiencing the world, and you're invited along for the ride. Legions of fans worldwide have joined forces to make Emily a pop-culture phenomenon.'

When I was a teenage goth I used to love Emily the Strange. Unfortunately reading this was as excruciating as reading my teenage journals. It was trying way too hard to be edgy. The artwork was great though. 1/5