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The Quiet at the end of the World

Lauren James has a knack of writing in a way that immediately endears her characters to you, while creating a storyline that just flows.

She is often known for writing apocalyptic stories, and this is no different. We look at life on Earth 85 years after what started as severe nose-bleeding, which was only later discovered to be total global infertility.

Firstly, embryos were artificially fertilised. However, with these rapidly running out, what does a world do to continue existing?

I won’t tell you here, but I will tell you that you will love the last two human teenagers, Lowrie and Shen. Particularly the way these two react to the many discoveries and hard truths that they encounter, and how beautifully they deal with these challenges.

This is a fantastic sci-fi romance, full of humanity (even though it features a human race that is nearly extinct!). You will be left with a heartfelt warmth that will resonate with you long after you finish reading.

It is a fantastic novel that is suited to all teenagers.

What I like about me

Our lead character Maisie Martin is a wonderful voice of empowerment that screams out to be heard.

It’s summer and this years holiday, although it’s in in the same place as always, will be so different. Firstly, her Dad doesn't come with them and we discover a ‘why’ that I didn’t see coming.

Secondly, Maisie brings her best friend Anna, who promptly gets together with Maisie’s forever dream boyfriend Seb (the son of her mum’s best friend). Even worse, Seb’s annoying mate Beamer starts making moves on Maisie - but could she possibly have feelings for him?

On top of all that, her sister Eve, who Maisie hasn’t spoken to for years, ever since Eve body-shamed her, is there with her girlfriend Bess.

Lastly - and this is big - Maisie enters the beauty pageant - the very same one that Eve won and is now the poster girl for. Maisie is set for quite the summer holiday….

Maisie has so many self-doubt moments in this story - and with everyone telling her she is so brave to enter, and reminding her that it is a ‘beauty’ pageant, who wouldn’t?!

But as they say… you go girl, just be you and own and love your body.

What I Think About Me is a rollercoaster of highs and lows, that you will want to keep reading to the end.

We are okay

This is a perfect YA contemporary exploration of love, loss and grief.

Marin is alone on her New York university campus during their Christmas winter break, having left California behind with just her phone, wallet and a picture of her mother.

When her best friend Mabel arrives, we slowly uncover her reasons for fleeing and not talking to anyone from her old life.

Briefly, and so not to spoil too much, she was orphaned at the age of three when her surfer mother died in the sea. Her grandfather raised her, but didn’t always tell her the truth.

This is a beautifully crafted story that traces Marin’s emotions and psyche with subtlety. It is full of heartache and loss, both of trust and love. But ultimately there is hope as Marin starts to uncover the hidden truths that have made her who she is.

This will be loved by teens, particularly girls, 15 years and older.