I’m sharing another instalment of my Mini Review Mondays, the most recent of which was back in January. In case you haven’t seen any of my previous posts, I do ‘mini’ reviews of books that I’ve previously read and am now ready to share my full thoughts about.
First up, I’d like to talk about All Better Now by Neal Shusterman. Thank you to Walker Books for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
A deadly and unprecedented virus is spreading. But those who survive it experience long-term effects no one has ever seen before: utter contentment. Soon after infection, people find the stress, depression, greed, and other negative feelings that used to weigh them down are gone.
More and more people begin to revel in the mass unburdening. But not everyone. People in power – who depend on malcontents and prey on the insecure to sell their products – know this new state of being is bad for business. Surely, without anger or jealousy as motivators, productivity will grind to a halt and the world will be thrown into chaos. Campaigns start up to convince people that being eternally happy is dangerous. The race to find a vaccine begins. Meanwhile, a growing movement of Recoverees plan ways to spread the virus as fast as they can, in the name of saving the world.
It’s nearly impossible to determine the truth when everyone with a platform is pushing their agenda. Three teens from very different backgrounds who’ve had their lives upended in very different ways find themselves at the center of a power play that could change humanity forever.
Publication Date: 6th February
CW: death, grief, pandemic, self-harm, suicidal ideation, gun violence
My Thoughts:
All Better Now was a thought-provoking speculative YA thriller dwelling on the meaning of happiness and how powerful forces may react when confronted with a movement of meaningful social change.
I really enjoyed the concept of this book and Shusterman makes the best use of it here, adding layers of moral quandaries to the plot. Every page offers something surprising and slightly new. It is a book that thrives in the ambiguities of this extreme situation. You jump between different perspectives, giving you snippets of the world and various ways of the impact of this pandemic on people from all over the globe. Total happiness sounds like a utopia, but it threatens the existing power structures. There is also a deadly element to it, adding a knife-edge to proceedings. Shusterman unpacks these complex questions as the situation evolves further. I really liked how these disparate parts were drawn together. It is a deeply human story, caught up in an imaginative and speculative world. Ultimately, it is about connection and love.
Shusterman sits with powerful and nuanced themes. In particular, there is an intriguing thread about change and how it impacts the social and political climate of the world. To cling on to the existing power structures, what lengths would the elite go to? There are some genuinely chilling scenes, paralleling real-life events. In the current political climate, it feels that much more precedent and impactful. The book ultimately stays with that message of love enduring against all odds, with a sensitive depiction of grief and loss.
All Better Now was ethically knotty and interesting, with another mind-twisting speculative thriller from a powerhouse.
Next up, I’d like to talk about A Game of Scandal by Laura Wood. Thank you to Scholastic for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Felicity Vane may be a mathematical genius, but getting her family to understand her academic ambition is proving difficult. As her first social season is fast approaching, it might be time to take matters into her own hands. Infiltrating the glamorous world of The Lucky Penny and winning her university fees over a game of cards could be the perfect plan. if only it weren’t for the interference of Ash, the piratical and frustratingly handsome owner who accuses her of cheating.
Now, Felicity finds herself thrown into the latest investigation of the Aviary – a fearless, covert group of female investigators – and caught up in a dangerous game of cat and mouse with the worst villain they have faced yet. When the stakes are this high Felicity can’t afford to lose, but as she and Ash get drawn deeper into a world of criminal conspiracies is she also gambling with her heart?
Publication Date: 13th February
CW: death, murder, sexism, misogyny, gaslighting
My Thoughts:
A Game of Scandal returns to the fantastic, flirtatious and feminist world of The Aviary. This raises the stakes all over again with a dastardly villain and a swoon-worthy romance.
I absolutely adore getting to spend time at The Aviary – it is such accessible historical romance with an empowering edge. When I’m reading these books, the pages just seem to fly by. Wood’s writing is so compelling and charismatic, with these lavish social scenes in the upper echelons of society, but also these action-packed scenes of deceit and deception. In particular, the gambling scenes are fantastic – real duels of wit unfolding. The Aviary comes up against the greatest foe yet here, with a really chilling character. Without giving anything away, it rings true to reality.
Wood just writes such fantastic characters. Within just a few pages, you have such a great sense of them and fall head over heels. Felicity was a brilliant protagonist and I loved the theme of academia and wanting to pursue your dreams. She is caught up in the socialite aspirations of her mother, who wants her to find her perfect match, but she really wants to use her intelligence and study mathematics at the highest level. Wood offers a different perspective on romance here, which is still totally all-consuming and wonderful. Ash and Felicity are an unlikely pairing, starting off sparring in more ways than one. Their chemistry is palpable and watching their dynamic evolve and change is delightful. Also, it was lovely seeing some familiar faces return and getting an insight into their lives now. I still need several spin-offs following the main ‘charm’.
A Game of Scandal is an amazing return to The Aviary where you can still expect shocks and swoons in equal measure.
Finally, I’d like to delve into The Girl You Know by Elle Gonzalez Rose. Thank you to Hachette Children’s Group for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The week before Luna’s twin sister Solina was supposed to head back for her final term at the prestigious Kingswood Academy, she told Luna she was dropping out.
Twelve hours later, she was dead.
Luna knows Solina’s death wasn’t an accident. There’s a reason Solina didn’t want to go back to Kingswood – Luna knows the truth is there and she has nothing left to lose. All she has to do is become Solina.
There’s no limit to how far Luna will go to avenge her sister – even if she has to burn all of Kingswood to the ground.
Publication Date: 20th February
CW: death, parental abandonment, drugging, sexual assault, suicide, blood, violence
My Thoughts:
The Girl You Know was a fascinating YA Dark Academia mystery with an effective use of atmosphere, great twists and an explosive conclusion.
This book is all about grief and revenge. It is losing yourself in pursuit of the truth, no matter the cost. There is a kernel of darkness there that is expanded upon as Luna becomes more and more entangled in this web. From the off, she is living a lie as she assumes Solina’s identity. I really enjoy books that sit in a morally gray space and allow their protagonists to make difficult decisions, with consequences coming for their actions. Here, that idea of consequences is paramount, as they are doled out unfairly depending on your background. A little balancing of the scales may be merited.
Luna is a deeply hurt protagonist, struggling with her grief and being a fish-out-of-water in this place of extreme wealth and status. Blackwood is not somewhere someone like her would ever fit in, but somehow Solina managed it. The mystery itself is well-constructed, with great pacing and exciting twists and turns. Without giving anything away, I particularly enjoyed the final third of the book as it builds towards a spectacular conclusion.
I love a good Dark Academia tale and this makes the most of the genre, with a focus on privilege and what extent people would go to to maintain the status quo and preserve their power. It explores themes of classism, sexual assault and death, so do check content warnings before reading. I thought these themes were handled with sensitivity and nuance, rather than cheap plot twists. It is ultimately all about the abuse of power. The monstrosity on display is so impactfully human that it makes your stomach lurch.
The Girl You Know builds on a fantastic premise to deliver a superb slice of YA Dark Academia.
A Short Book Lover 
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