Jamie Deacon's Blog

Genre: Mystery

Themes: Mental Illness, Media, Family

Orientation: Bisexual

Audience: Young Adult

Length: Novel

Publisher: Quercus

Released: May 3, 2018

My Review

I do enjoy a good mystery, and We Are Young by Cat Clarke has plenty of twists and turns. It all begins when Evan’s new stepbrother, Lewis, is involved in a horrific car crash of which he is the sole survivor. Both the police and the media reach the obvious conclusion—that four drugged-up teenagers were on their way to a warehouse party when their vehicle ploughed into a wall. Evan, however, remains unconvinced. The victims belonged to entirely different social circles, and Lewis isn’t exactly the partying type. These doubts lead her on a quest for the truth that kept me guessing until the end.

Interwoven with this mystery is the complexity of Evan’s family life. Her parents divorced when her dad’s alcoholism spiraled out of control, and her mum has just married Tim, a local radio DJ and minor celebrity. On the surface, Tim seems a standup guy—kind, generous and more than willing to take on the care of his stepchildren. Yet, Evan soon discovers that a darkness lurks beneath the charming exterior, and she starts to wonder whether there’s more to her stepbrother’s tendency to shut himself away in his bedroom than a simple lack of social skills.

Evan’s bisexuality is handled particularly well, I think, perhaps because the author doesn’t make a big deal of it. Evan is a musician and has dated both her bandmates, Sid and Daze. Still, while she now views Sid firmly in the best friend category, her lingering attraction to Daze grows more apparent as the story progresses. I confess, Daze’s inability to be serious for more than five minutes did grate on me, and as someone who can never resist a good love story, I wish more page time had been given over to their romance, but the scenes we do see between the two girls are incredibly sweet.

The thing I love most about We Are Young is the novel’s overarching message. There’s a disturbing trend within today’s media towards vilifying young people. Anyone getting there information exclusively from the press would be forgiven for believing all teenagers are lazy, unambitious, and in a constant state of drunken disorder. With this book, Cat Clarke has gone some way to debunking this perception. She explores the increasing occurrence of mental illness in adolescents, and shows how the modern age of instant news and social media is putting teenagers under significant strain.

For a compelling mystery that combines family drama with a powerful message and a splash of romance, We Are Young by Cat Clarke gets 9/10 rainbows.

About the BookBlurb

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…

Purchase Links

Amazon UK | Amazon US | Barnes & Noble | Waterstones

About Cat ClarkeAuthor Bio

Cat Clarke is the bestselling, award-winning author of numerous YA novels, two novellas for reluctant readers and a middle grade book. She was born in Zambia and brought up in Edinburgh and Yorkshire, which has given her an accent that tends to confuse people. Cat lives in Edinburgh with her partner, two ninja cats and two decidedly non-ninja cocker spaniels. She likes cheese A LOT, especially baked camembert.

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Genre: Contemporary

Themes: Courage, Fitting In, Romance

Orientation: Transgender

Audience: Young Adult

Length: Novel

Publisher: Harper Teen

Released: May 26, 2020

My Review

I don’t think we ever pay so much attention to what others think of us than when we’re in high school, something Tobly McSmith explores brilliantly in his debut novel. Stay Gold follows protagonists Pony and Georgia as they attempt to fit in with their peers, albeit in utterly different ways. While Pony desires nothing more than to go unnoticed, Georgia prefers the refuge afforded by her coveted place in the popular crowd. Yet, both find themselves confronting the same dilemma—whether acceptance is worth the price of compromising an integral part of who they are.

I empathised with Pony from the outset. No one wants to be defined by a single trait, but when he came out at his previous school, the fact that he’s transgender was all his classmates cared about. So, as he begins his senior year at Hillcrest, Pony is determined to keep his gender identity a secret, to experience being an average teenage boy. Of course, this means concealing the truth from his new friends, not to mention living in constant fear of discovery, and when Pony falls for beautiful cheerleader Georgia, he has to ask himself what’s really important.

Georgia took a bit longer for me to warm to. During her time at Hillcrest, she has built a name for herself as a member of the cheerleading squad and one of the most sought-after girls in the school. Yet, beneath the polished exterior lies a frustrated journalist with a passion for writing articles that will change the perception of her readers. As a writer myself, I hated to see Georgia suppress her creativity for the sake of her reputation. Then, when she meets Pony, she finally has someone she can be entirely herself with and who appreciates her for who she is.

I love characters with flaws, and the protagonists in Stay Gold certainly have these. I completely understood Pony’s decision to hide his gender identity, but there were occasions when I felt he could have been more patient with Georgia and not put so much pressure on her. Equally, Georgia’s habit of making up elaborate stories did irritate me sometimes, and she was far more concerned with her social status than her own happiness. For all their faults, however, I found myself sympathising with both these two, and their obvious connection was incredibly touching to watch.

For a poignant and often funny debut that explores the need for acceptance, as well as portraying the transgender experience with honesty and sensitivity, Stay Gold by Tobly McSmith gets 9/10 rainbows.

About the BookBlurb

Pony just wants to fly under the radar during senior year. Tired from all the attention he got at his old school after coming out as transgender, he’s looking for a fresh start at Hillcrest High. But it’s hard to live your best life when the threat of exposure lurks down every hallway and in every bathroom.

Georgia is beginning to think there’s more to life than cheerleading. She plans on keeping a low profile until graduation…which is why she promised herself that dating was officially a no-go this year.

Then, on the very first day of school, the new guy and the cheerleader lock eyes. How is Pony supposed to stay stealth when he wants to get close to a girl like Georgia? How is Georgia supposed to keep her promise when sparks start flying with a boy like Pony?

Funny and poignant, clear-eyed and hopeful, Stay Gold is a story about finding love—and finding yourself.

Purchase Links

Amazon UK | Amazon US | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound | Books-a-Million

About Tobly McSmithAuthor Bio

Tobly McSmith is the co-creator/writer of eight somewhat successful musical parodies, including Friends! The Musical Parody and The Office! The Musical Parody. Tobly was born in Texas. He now lives in New York City with his two cats, Bam-Bam and Bananas McSmith. Tobly is proud to be transgender.

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Genre: Contemporary

Themes: Space Exploration, Social Media, Romance

Orientation: Gay

Audience: Young Adult

Length: Novel

Publisher: Bloomsbury YA

Released: February 4, 2020

My Review

I’m not sure why—perhaps the mention of NASA and Mars in the blurb—but I expected this novel to be a lot more sci-fi than it is. Essentially, it’s a contemporary love story that just so happens to take place amidst preparations for a new space mission, which suited me fine. It’s wonderful when the author’s passion for the subject they’re writing about really shines through, and this is certainly the case here. Phil Stamper clearly possesses an in depth knowledge of the history of space travel, the 1969 Moon Landing in particular, and this book made me consider the event in an entirely new light.

I knew, of course, that there was a great deal of excitement surrounding the Moon Landing, and that the three astronauts were inundated with requests for interviews upon their return. I had no idea, however, that this public interest extended to the astronauts’ families. In The Gravity of Us, the author imagines how much more intrusive this interest would be if NASA were to send a team of astronauts into space today, this time to Mars. How much greater would the hype be in this age of instant news and reality TV, and what kind of pressure would this put on the individuals involved?

I found Cal, the novel’s seventeen-year-old protagonist, to be a breath of fresh air. Unlike so many teenagers, who are crippled with insecurity and awkwardness, Cal’s growing online fame as a social media journalist gives him a confidence beyond his years. This isn’t to say he doesn’t have his own issues to work through. Cal’s somewhat of a control freak and likes to have his future planned out. He takes it upon himself to help those he cares about, but during the narrative he comes to learn that sometimes people need to work through their problems by themselves and at their own pace.

As someone who suffers from Depression, I believe it’s so important to explore mental illness in fiction, especially that written for young adults. Leon, Cal’s love interest, appears at first to be laidback and enigmatic and the attraction between the two boys is instant. Yet, the more Cal gets to know him, the more it becomes apparent that the stress of professional gymnastics combined with the constant media attention has left Leon struggling to cope. Cal’s instinct is to try and fix him, but if their relationship is to stand a chance, he’ll have to allow Leon the space to forge his own path.

For a highly original premise that taught me so much about space exploration, a hero I completely fell in love with, and a romance that’s as real as it is tender, The Gravity of Us by Phil Stamper gets 9/10 rainbows!

About the BookBlurb

As a successful social media journalist with half a million followers, seventeen-year-old Cal is used to sharing his life online. But when his pilot father is selected for a highly publicized NASA mission to Mars, Cal and his family relocate from Brooklyn to Houston and are thrust into a media circus.

Amidst the chaos, Cal meets sensitive and mysterious Leon, another “Astrokid,” and finds himself falling head over heels—fast. As the frenzy around the mission grows, so does their connection. But when secrets about the program are uncovered, Cal must find a way to reveal the truth without hurting the people who have become most important to him.

Purchase Links

Amazon UK | Amazon US | Barnes & Novle | Bookshop

About Phil StamperAuthor Bio

Phil Stamper grew up in a rural village near Dayton, Ohio. He has a B.A. in Music and an M.A. in Publishing with Creative Writing. And, unsurprisingly, a lot of student debt. He works for a major book publisher in New York City and lives in Brooklyn with his husband and their dog. His bestselling novel The Gravity of Us came out in early 2020, and his sophomore novel As Far As You’ll Take Me comes out in early 2021.

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Genre: Contemporary

Themes: Cultural Differences, Friendship, Romance

Orientation: Lesbian

Audience: Young Adult

Length: Novel

Publisher: Harper Teen

Released: May 9, 2017

My Review

I didn’t love this book the way I expected to from the blurb. It’s Not Like it’s a Secret is a story about Sana, a Japanese American girl who moves to California. Here, for the first time in her life, she has to balance making friends and exploring her sexuality with the strict values of her culture. Normally, I’d be all over this. Novels about first love and the conflict of cultures are some of my favourites, and yet a couple of things prevented me from enjoying it as much as I might have done.

One issue the author handles brilliantly is that of racism. We’re all aware of the discrimination those of colour suffer at the hands of white people, which is what makes the Black Lives Matter movement so important. However, I had no idea such prejudice exists within minorities. For instance, Sana’s Japanese mother has strong views on other ethnic groups—that Mexicans are lazy and the Chinese can’t be trusted. The fact that such intolerance remains, even somewhere like California, frankly shocks me.

I also adored Sana’s love interest, and not simply because she happens to share my name! Jamie might be the same age as Sana, but she seems so much more mature. She’s gentle and warm, but possesses a grit and determination to succeed despite the prejudice she endures due to her Mexican heritage. It’s easy to see why Sana is smitten from the instant she meets Jamie, and it was wonderful to watch the tentative romance develop between the two girls.

Sadly, I didn’t find Sana herself to be an especially sympathetic protagonist. Of course, I get that the whole point of the story is the development of Sana’s character, and how she becomes stronger and more assertive by the end. I also completely understand why she’s the way she is in the beginning. How could she be anything else when she’s been brought up to endure and not rock the boat? Still, the fact that Sana’s such a passive personality for much of the story made for uncomfortable reading.

Another thing that spoilt my enjoyment was Sana’s three female friends, who, quite apart from being one-dimensional, irritated the life out of me. Perhaps I’m being unfair. After all, it’s been a good couple of decades—wow, what a scary thought—since I was a teenager. Quite possibly the author’s portrayal is spot on and many teenage girls truly are as silly and giggly as this trio. Still, accurate or not, I infinitely preferred the scenes with Jamie or those with Caleb and his crowd.

For a sweet story that explores a range of issues—racism and cultural differences, identity and first love, honesty and courage—It’s Not Like it’s a Secret by Misa Sugiura gets 6/10 rainbows.

About the BookBlurb

Sixteen-year-old Sana Kiyohara has too many secrets. Some are small, like how it bothers her when her friends don’t invite her to parties. Some are big, like that fact that her father may be having an affair. And then there’s the one that she can barely even admit to herself—the one about how she might have a crush on her best friend.

When Sana and her family move to California she begins to wonder if it’s finally time for some honesty, especially after she meets Jamie Ramirez. Jamie is beautiful and smart and unlike anyone Sana’s ever known. There are just a few problems: Sana’s new friends don’t trust Jamie’s crowd; Jamie’s friends clearly don’t want her around anyway; and a sweet guy named Caleb seems to have more-than-friendly feelings for her. Meanwhile, her dad’s affair is becoming too obvious to ignore anymore.

Sana always figured that the hardest thing would be to tell people that she wants to date a girl, but as she quickly learns, telling the truth is easy… what comes after it, though, is a whole lot more complicated.

Purchase Links

Amazon UK | Amazon US | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound | Book Depository

About Misa SugiuraAuthor Bio

Misa Sugiura’s ancestors include a poet, a priestess, a samurai, and a stowaway. Her first novel It’s Not Like It’s A Secret, won the Asian Pacific Islander American Librarians’ Association’s Award for Young Adult Literature; her highly acclaimed second novel, This Time Will Be Different, made the Best of 2019 lists of YALSA, Kirkus Reviews, the New York Public Library, and the Chicago Public Library. Her short story, Where I’m From appears in Come On In, a young adult anthology about immigration.

Misa was born in Chicago, earned a B.A. in English at Princeton University, and taught English as a second language in Japan before moving back to the States to earn her M.Ed at Stanford University. She taught English at a local public high for several years before “retiring” to be a stay-at-home parent. Currently, she lives and writes under a giant oak tree with her husband, two sons, and two cats.

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Caught Inside and Defensive Play Now Available on Audio

I’m so excited to share the news that both stories in my Boys on the Brink series, Caught Inside and Defensive Play are now available to download as audiobooks narrated by the amazingly talented Joe Jameson.

As an obsessive listener of audiobooks—yes, I really do have over fifty unread titles in my Audible library—the process of having my own books recorded has been particularly special. Joe Jameson is an outstanding voice actor, and he’s brought my stories to life with more passion and sensitivity than I could ever have hoped for. He even let me pester him with questions all about his experiences as an audiobook narrator, and you can check out my interview with him below.

If you’re in the UK, you can download Caught Inside from Audible.co.uk here and you can get Defensive Play here.

For my US readers, Caught Inside is available from Audible.com here while Defensive Play can be purchased here.

I really hope you enjoy the audiobooks. As always, if you’d like to get in touch with any thoughts or comments, it would be wonderful to hear from you!

Q&A with Joe Jameson | Voice Actor and Audiobook Narrator

Hi, Joe, it’s really great to have you here. Thank you so much for agreeing to talk to me and share some of your experiences as an audiobook narrator.

To start us off, was it always your dream to be an actor when you were growing up?

No, not really! I started acting when I was about 16 and then found myself at drama school 2 years later… So it all happened pretty fast to be honest. I then moved to London when I was 21 and started working.

Your career so far has included theatre and TV, as well as audio dramas and commercials. How did you get into narrating audiobooks?

I’m from Bath originally, and BBC audiobooks used to have their studios there. So I wrote to them when I left drama school and said I would love to work for them. I tested for a couple and landed one and it snowballed from there. I loved books growing up and used to read to my younger brother and sister. I read the Harry Potter books to them and created all the voices etc. so I think it really began with that!

Aw, I love that! So, how does narrating compare with, say, performing as part of a cast in an audio drama for a company like Big Finish? Do you enjoy one over the other?

I love both. There is something very special about reading an entire book out loud, from first page to last. You get to play all the parts – including characters you would never normally get cast as! But it can be solitary work, so it’s always really fun to be part of a big cast. Big Finish is one of the best gigs, such lovely people, great scripts, one of those jobs that doesn’t feel like a job.

As you know, I absolutely loved your narration of Sebastian De Castelle’s Greatcoats series. Incidentally, for any fantasy fans out there who haven’t read these books yet, I urge you to check them out! Are there any other books/series you’ve particularly enjoyed narrating?

If you liked the Greatcoats series, I really enjoyed narrating Mark Lawrence’s Prince of Thorns trilogy. Away from fantasy stuff, my favourites have been The Charioteer by Mary Renault and The Danish Girl by David Ebershoff.

Ooh, intriguing! I’ll definitely look those up.

Ok, so let’s pretend for a moment that the sky is the limit! Which book/series would you love to narrate if you were given the chance?

I’ve just read A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara which blew me away, and if Stephen Fry wasn’t so brilliant, I’d love to have another go at the Harry Potters!

You’ve narrated a ton of audiobooks across multiple genres. Do you have any advice for aspiring narrators on how to get started?

Practice reading out loud as much as possible. Before recording, prep the book as much as you can – I always make notes as I’m reading, picking out any details that might help me create the voices for the characters, as well as annotating the scripts with any difficult pronunciations, or highlighting certain words etc. to make the recording go as smoothly as possible. I would recommend recording some samples showing what you can do and sending them off to studios/publishers.

Those are great tips, Joe, thank you so much! Lastly, before you go, if any authors reading this are interested in hiring you to narrate their audiobook, would you be happy for them to get in touch with you?

Of course! My email address is joe.jameson21@gmail.com. I have a professional home studio where I have done most of my recordings this year. I always like collaborating with new authors so feel free to get in touch!

About Joe Jameson | Voiceover Artist

Joe trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Since graduating he has worked extensively in theatre, television, film & in voiceovers. He has narrated over 150 audiobooks for Audible and is an extremely experienced voice actor. During his stage and screen career he performed at Shakespeare’s Globe, the Royal Exchange in Manchester, and the Soho Theatre. He is represented by Jamie Grant @ Loud and Clear Voices

You can discover more about Joe and his work at www.joejameson.co.uk

Genre: Contemporary

Themes: Movies, Romance, Second Chances

Orientation: Bisexual

Audience: Young Adult

Length: Novel

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Released: October 30, 2018

My Review

What a perfect title for a novel that has all the elements of a classic romance—the hot glances and passionate kisses, the missteps and false starts. Yet, the story has none of the sappiness or grand gestures that feature in the movies the protagonist is such a fan of. If there’s one message I took away from This is Kind of an Epic Love Story, it’s that relationships are never straightforward. There will inevitably be obstacles and challenges, disappointments and frustration, but so long as you’re willing to work together, you might just build something truly special.

Emotionally conflicted characters are my favourite to read about, and Nate certainly fits into this category. He might be an aspiring screenwriter, but he doesn’t believe happy endings exist in real life. His dad died seven years ago, leaving his mum grieving and alone, while Florence, Nate’s best friend turned girlfriend, broke up with him after kissing another girl. As he and Flo struggle to redefine their friendship, Nate decides it’s far safer to remain single than risk getting hurt again. Then the childhood friend he hasn’t seen or spoken to in five years moves back to town, sorely testing his resolve.

It’s easy to understand what draws Nate to Ollie; I fell for his gentleness and sweet honesty pretty hard myself. I also totally get why Nate is so afraid of losing him. When they were twelve, just before Ollie left for his new home across the country, Nate plucked up the courage to kiss him, after which Ollie didn’t so much as reply to his texts. Now that they’re rediscovering their friendship, Nate’s wary of confessing his feelings in case he scares Ollie off again, and even if Ollie does feel the same, surely a high school romance will only end in tears, so why put his heart on the line?

As a visually impaired person, I’m always thrilled to see disability represented in YA fiction, especially when it’s done with as much sensitivity and consistency as it is here. Ollie has been profoundly deaf since he caught Meningitis as a child. He communicates with those around him through a combination of lip-reading, sign language, and typed messages, and there isn’t a single instance when he hears something he shouldn’t. That said, I loved the fact that the author never makes a big deal of it. Ollie’s hearing impairment doesn’t define him; it’s simply one part of who he is.

For a feel-good romance that left me grinning from ear to ear, a wonderfully conflicted protagonist, and a brilliant portrayal of disability, This is Kind of an Epic Love Story gets 9/10 rainbows!

About the BookBlurb

Nathan Bird doesn’t believe in happy endings.

Although he’s the ultimate film buff and an aspiring screenwriter, Nate’s seen the demise of too many relationships to believe that happy endings exist in real life.

Playing it safe to avoid a broken heart has been his MO ever since his father died and left his mom to unravel—but this strategy is not without fault. His best-friend-turned-girlfriend-turned-best-friend-again, Florence, is set on making sure Nate finds someone else. And in a twist that is rom-com-worthy, someone does come along: Oliver James Hernández, his childhood best friend.

After a painful mix-up when they were little, Nate finally has the chance to tell Ollie the truth about his feelings. But can Nate find the courage to pursue his own happily ever after?

Purchase Links

Amazon UK | Amazon US | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound

About Kacen CallenderAuthor Bio

Born and raised in St. Thomas of the US Virgin Islands, Kacen Callender is a bestselling and award-winning author of the middle-grade novels Hurricane Child and King and the Dragonflies, the young-adult novels This Is Kind of an Epic Love Story and Felix Ever After, and the adult novel Queen of the Conquered and its forthcoming sequel King of the Rising.

They enjoy playing RPG video games in their free time.

Kacen currently resides in Philadelphia, PA.

Connect with Kacen

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Genre: Mystery/Suspense

Themes: Sexual Abuse, Mental Illness, Romance

Orientation: Lesbian

Audience: Young Adult

Length: Novel

Publisher: Harper Teen

Released: October 29, 2019

My Review

This was by no means an easy book to read, although there’s a lot to admire within its pages. First and foremost, I take my figurative hat off to Saundra Mitchell for having the courage to write this novel, an undertaking which must have been incredibly painful. Sexual abuse is a sensitive subject to tackle in any circumstances. In All the Things We Do in the Dark, however, the author shares her own experience of being raped as a young child, and this bravery and generosity blew me away.

I found Ava to be a fascinating heroine, not least because she’s the very epitome of an unreliable narrator. It’s been eight years since the man lured her back to his car with false promises and evil intentions. Now, at seventeen, Ava has put the trauma behind her, or so she believes until she discovers the body of a murdered girl in the woods. As the story progresses, Ava’s reactions and behaviour become increasingly irrational, so that it’s impossible for the reader to tell what’s real and what exists merely in Ava’s head.

My favourite part of this book, probably because it adds some sweeter moments to an otherwise dark story, was the romance. Due, I’m sure, to her traumatic past, Ava has never considered anyone in a romantic sense. Then, when Hailey returns her dropped glove, the two girls talk properly for the first time and a whole new world opens up for Ava. Hailey’s trusting nature and sweet friendliness provide a contrast to Ava’s introverted awkwardness, and I found Ava’s gradual blossoming extremely moving.

The prose, too, are utterly captivating. Saundra Mitchell’s stunning imagery and vivid descriptions left me in awe of her skill with words. The construction of the novel is also interesting. There are no chapters, only breaks between scenes, so that the entire narrative reads like a single—and sometimes surreal—stream of consciousness. Since I was taken so deep inside Ava’s thoughts, it didn’t matter when her actions grew steadily more erratic. I had no trouble following her logic, however flawed.

One thing did jar with me. Throughout the story, Ava believes she’s visited by the ghost of the dead girl and even holds conversations with her. Whether the ghost is really there or is merely a figment of Ava’s confused mind, is open to interpretation…until the end. Here we have a scene from the ghost’s perspective, where she looks down on her funeral, thus banishing any ambiguity. Personally, I would have left this out and allowed readers to reach their own conclusions.

For a dark story that combines mystery and romance, and an honest, often harrowing account of the internal scars which can result from childhood trauma, All the Things We Do in the Dark by Saundra Mitchell gets 8/10 rainbows.

About the BookBlurb

Sadie meets Girl in Pieces in this dark, emotional thriller by acclaimed author Saundra Mitchell.

Something happened to Ava. The curving scar on her face is proof. Ava would rather keep that something hidden—buried deep in her heart and her soul.

But in the woods on the outskirts of town, the traces of someone else’s secrets lie frozen, awaiting Ava’s discovery—and what Ava finds threatens to topple the carefully constructed wall of normalcy that she’s spent years building around her.

Secrets leave scars. But when the secret in question is not your own—do you ignore the truth and walk away? Or do you uncover it from its shallow grave and let it reopen old wounds—wounds that have finally begun to heal?

Purchase Links

Amazon UK | Amazon US | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Bookshop

About Saundra MitchellAuthor Bio

Saundra Mitchell has been a phone psychic, a car salesperson, a denture-deliverer and a layout waxer. She’s dodged trains, endured basic training, and hitchhiked from Montana to California. The author of nearly twenty books for tweens and teens, Mitchell’s work includes Edgar Nominee Shadowed Summer, The Vespertine series, Lambda Finalist and IAA winner All the Things We Do in the Dark, and the Camp Murderface series with Josh Berk. She’s also the editor of three anthologies for teens, Defy the Dark, All Out and Out Now. She always picks truth; dares are too easy.

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There can be no doubt that 2020 has been a strange and challenging year, and for many, life will never be quite the same. As always during difficult times, I’ve found escape and comfort in stories. I’ve discovered some fantastic novels this year, spanning multiple genres and featuring characters across the LGBT+ spectrum. As 2020 draws to a close, I’ve rounded up my top seven queer YA titles of the past twelve months in the order I reviewed them. I’m always on the lookout for something new to read, so if you’d like to share your own favourites in the comments, I’d love to hear them!

Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde – I loved everything about this book, and am only sorry I left it sitting on my TBR pile for as long as I did. I loved the pure, unashamed geekiness of the SupaCon setting and the whole atmosphere of fandom and cosplay. I loved both romantic storylines, which were so sweet and genuine they transported me back to those precious moments of new love. Most of all, I fell completely in love with the characters and their own personal journeys.
The Infinite Noise by Lauren Shippen – It’s hard for me to put into words just how in love with this book I am! I have such a soft spot for nerd/jock romances and this certainly ranks among my favourites, albeit a nerd/jock romance with a twist, one of the heroes being an empath able to sense the emotions of everyone around him. There are a lot of elements to this story—friendship, coming out, Caleb’s battle to cope with his ability—all of which I loved, but my favourite part was the romance between the two boys.
Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand – This book was a surprise in the best possible way. I don’t tend to read horror, being a bit of a wuss. Yet, the blurb for this book compelled me to pick it up, and there are so many things I found to love about it, I’m immensely glad I did. Though the story is undeniably grizzly in places, the author combines stunning prose and a spine-chilling atmosphere with poignant romance and three unforgettable heroines in a way that is utterly magical.
We Contain Multitudes by Sarah Henstra – Ever since I read Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, I’ve been searching for a novel that would have that same profound effect on me, and now, at last, I have. We Contain Multitudes is a perfect title for a story which holds so much within its pages—so much richness, so much gorgeous prose, so much heartrending, all-consuming emotion. It’s also one of the most beautiful romances I’ve read for a long time.
Camp by L.C. Rosen – If I was forced to choose just one book to champion this year, it would have to be this one. It’s a long time since a novel either made me laugh so hard or reduced me to a blubbering mess, but despite the humour, this novel tackles some incredibly deep issues. Camp is a glorious celebration of queerness in all its varied forms. It’s a story about being true to yourself, and I only wish every LGBTQ+ teenager could have a refuge like Outland where they can be themselves.
Loveless by Alice Oseman – I’m a huge fan of all this author’s books, but perhaps because of its experiential nature, there’s something special about this one. Loveless follows an introverted English Literature student on a quest to find love and herself during her first year at Durham University. The story is equal parts funny and touching, and narrated in a voice that’s as believable as it is engaging. It also portrays what it means to be asexual with poignancy and authenticity.
Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell – In this sequel to the brilliant Carry On, Rainbow Rowell weaves together humour and tenderness, adventure and romance with a skill that blew me away. This novel has all the feels and complex dynamics I’ve come to love in this author’s work, plus the magic and monsters you’d expect from a Simon Snow novel. Add in the fast pace of the plot and a race against time, and it’s no surprise I found this book impossible to put down.

Genre: Horror, Historical

Themes: Class Divide, Infatuation, Murder

Orientation: Lesbian

Audience: Young Adult

Length: Novel

Publisher: Harry N. Abrams

Released: January 28,2020

My Review

I have to confess, I found this a hard book to get through and consequently a difficult one to review. If it’s one thing reading Blood Countess has taught me, it’s that I’m rather a wuss when it comes to horror—not so much the paranormal kind of cold draughts and unexplained creaks in the night, but the sort steeped in blood and gore. Well, what did I expect, you might ask, given the title of this novel? Perhaps I should have been more prepared for what awaited me within its pages, and yet still I allowed its YA classification to lure me into believing it couldn’t be all that bad.

The thing that really intrigued me about the blurb was the villain, Lady Elizabeth Bathory, being based on the real-life woman who came to be known as Countess Dracula. I hadn’t heard of her before discovering this story, but I’d be fascinated to learn more. If she was anything like Lana Popovic’s incarnation, however, she must have been a truly evil individual. I for one found her ruthless charm, her sheer pleasure in causing others pain utterly terrifying, and it was this propensity for cruelty towards the unfortunate women in her employ that made this such an arduous read.

Even the heroine isn’t altogether likeable. I warmed to Anna at the start, identifying with her love for her family and the compassion that makes her such a good healer. When she catches the eye of the beautiful Lady Bathory and is summoned to the great house to serve as her chambermaid, I dreaded what lay in store for her. Yet, the more Anna falls under the countess’s spell, the more her goodness is swallowed up. Anna does some unforgivable things during the course of the narrative, and while I understand the fear that drives her to these lengths, her actions also render her infinitely less sympathetic.

For all that Blood Countess proved to be an uncomfortable reading experience for me, not once did I consider abandoning it. Grizzly though I found the scenes of torture and murder, I simply had to keep turning the pages to see what happened next. The author does a fantastic job of creating the Gothic atmosphere which epitomises so much historical horror, that backdrop of shadowy corridors and ever-present danger. It’s this more than anything else that ensured I read to the end, and which has me curious about the next installment in the Lady Slayers series.

For a dark and disturbing read that held me enthralled from start to finish, a wonderfully evocative atmosphere, and a villain who will feature in my nightmares for some time to come, Blood Countess by Lana Popovic gets 6/10 rainbows.

About the Book
Blurb

In 16th century Hungary, Anna Darvulia has just begun working as a scullery maid for the young and glamorous Countess Elizabeth Báthory. When Elizabeth takes a liking to Anna, she’s vaulted to the dream role of chambermaid, a far cry from the filthy servants’ quarters below. She receives wages generous enough to provide for her family, and the Countess begins to groom Anna as her friend and confidante.

It’s not long before Anna falls completely under the Countess’s spell—and the Countess takes full advantage. Isolated from her former friends, family, and fiancé, Anna realizes she’s not a friend but a prisoner of the increasingly cruel Elizabeth. Then come the murders, and Anna knows it’s only a matter of time before the Blood Countess turns on her, too.

Purchase Links

Amazon UK | Amazon US | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound | Abrams

About Lana Popovic
Author Bio

Lana Popovic’s debut YA contemporary fantasy, Wicked Like a Wildfire, was published by Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins in August 2017.

Lana studied psychology and literature at Yale University, and law at Boston University. She is a graduate of the Emerson College Publishing and Writing program and works as a literary agent with Chalberg & Sussman, specializing in YA.

She lives in Boston, subsisting largely on cake, gimlets, and eyeliner.

Connect with Lana

Website | Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads

Genre: Fantasy

Themes: Magic, Friendship, Road Trip

Orientation: Gay

Audience: New Adult

Length: Novel

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Released: September 24, 2019

My Review

Firstly…that ending! I can’t believe she left it like that. I really wasn’t prepared for a cliffhanger—not when Carry On ties things up so neatly. In fact, I was surprised when I heard Rainbow Rowell had released a sequel. I’m so glad she did, mind you. Wayward Son has all the feels and complex dynamics I’ve come to love in this author’s work, plus the magic and monsters you’d expect from a Simon Snow novel. I also adore these characters and so couldn’t wait to see where she would take them next.

Road trips always make for fun reading, although if the average person encountered the number of mishaps that befall the characters in these stories, I doubt anyone would dare attempt one! Naturally, given that the protagonists in this novel include a magician, a magic-wielding vampire, and a boy with dragon wings, they attract more trouble than most. Between half-human skunks with guns, a city ruled by vampires, and a cult intent on stealing magic, their journey across America is eventful to say the least.

Considering everything Simon and Baz went through to be together, all the years of loving and hating one another in equal measure, I kind of hoped they’d found their happily-ever-after at the end of the last book. Sadly, it wasn’t to be. The problem? Though Simon’s clearly mad about Baz, now that he’s lost his magic, he no longer knows who he is. It’s like he doesn’t believe he belongs in Baz’s world anymore. This causes him to blow hot and cold, pushing Baz away whilst clinging on to him for dear life.

Meanwhile, Penny and Agatha have their own issues. Penny thought she had her love life figured out. She and Micah have been in a long-distance relationship since they were fourteen, and Penny takes it for granted they’ll get married some day. She’s therefore devastated when it turns out he isn’t as content with the arrangement as she is. Agatha, on the other hand, fled to America to escape from the magical world and herself, only to discover it isn’t as easy to hide from her true nature as she imagined.

Only an incredibly gifted writer can weave together humour and emotion in a way that feels wholly natural, but Rainbow Rowell manages it with deft skill. I laughed through entire chapters, and much of the dialogue had me in stitches. Equally, however, there were several scenes—those between Simon and Baz, in particular—that were so tender and sad they made my heart ache. Add in the fast pace of the plot and a race against time, and it’s no surprise I found this book impossible to put down.

For a super fun read that revisits some of my all-time favourite characters, and a story that’s as hilarious as it is poignant, Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell gets 10/10 rainbows!

About the Book
Blurb

The story is supposed to be over.

Simon Snow did everything he was supposed to do. He beat the villain. He won the war. He even fell in love. Now comes the good part, right? Now comes the happily ever after…

So why can’t Simon Snow get off the couch?

What he needs, according to his best friend, is a change of scenery. He just needs to see himself in a new light…

That’s how Simon and Penny and Baz end up in a vintage convertible, tearing across the American West.

They find trouble, of course. (Dragons, vampires, skunk-headed things with shotguns.) And they get lost. They get so lost, they start to wonder whether they ever knew where they were headed in the first place…

Purchase Links

Amazon UK | Amazon US | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Powell’s

About Rainbow Rowell
Author Bio

Rainbow Rowell writes all kinds of stuff.

Sometimes she writes about adults (Attachments and Landline). Sometimes she writes about teenagers (Eleanor & Park, Fangirl). Sometimes — actually, a lot of the time — she writes about lovesick vampires and boys with dragon wings. (The Simon Snow series).

Rainbow wrote her first graphic novel, Pumpkinheads, last fall. And she’s thrilled to be writing Marvel’s monthly Runaways comic, now in its third year.

She lives in Omaha, Nebraska

Connect with Rainbow

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