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Let’s Never Speak of This Again
Award Winner, Text Prize for Young Adult and Children’s Writing, 2022
Ella and I have been best friends since grade one. We can spend hours talking about everything and nothing. We know each other’s greatest fears, things that irrationally annoy us, and ideal career if money and skill weren’t an issue. If there was only one Hartford Bakery brownie left in the whole world and it was somehow in my possession, Ella is the only person I’d consider sharing it with.
Life is pretty good for sixteen-year-old Abby. Okay, her grandma doesn’t remember things anymore, her relationship with her mum is increasingly strained and she accidently kissed her cousin’s cousin on the weekend, so things aren’t exactly perfect. But everything is manageable with her best friend, Ella, by her side.
And with Ella’s brother, Will, interesting and attentive, on the sidelines.
When new girl Chloe arrives, Abby is pleased to be the one to show her around, to welcome her to the group. But Abby doesn’t imagine Chloe fitting in so well or quite so quickly. And before long Abby is feeling just a little left out, a little unsure of Ella’s friendship. In a moment of anger and confusion she wishes something bad would happen.
When it does—with tragic consequences—everything shifts again. And Abby has to face her own feelings and work out what friendship really means.
Megan Williams’ brilliant debut Let’s Never Speak of This Again is a tender, moving story laced with humour, about friendship, about the things that test it, and about what matters most.
Ella and I have been best friends since grade one. We can spend hours talking about everything and nothing. We know each other’s greatest fears, things that irrationally annoy us, and ideal career if money and skill weren’t an issue. If there was only one Hartford Bakery brownie left in the whole world and it was somehow in my possession, Ella is the only person I’d consider sharing it with.
Life is pretty good for sixteen-year-old Abby. Okay, her grandma doesn’t remember things anymore, her relationship with her mum is increasingly strained and she accidently kissed her cousin’s cousin on the weekend, so things aren’t exactly perfect. But everything is manageable with her best friend, Ella, by her side.
And with Ella’s brother, Will, interesting and attentive, on the sidelines.
When new girl Chloe arrives, Abby is pleased to be the one to show her around, to welcome her to the group. But Abby doesn’t imagine Chloe fitting in so well or quite so quickly. And before long Abby is feeling just a little left out, a little unsure of Ella’s friendship. In a moment of anger and confusion she wishes something bad would happen.
When it does—with tragic consequences—everything shifts again. And Abby has to face her own feelings and work out what friendship really means.
Megan Williams’ brilliant debut Let’s Never Speak of This Again is a tender, moving story laced with humour, about friendship, about the things that test it, and about what matters most.
288 pages, Paperback
First published August 29, 2023
9 people are currently reading
314 people want to read
About the author
Megan Williams
1 book8 followersMegan Williams won the 2022 Text Prize for her debut YA novel Let’s Never Speak of This Again. She lives in Brisbane with her husband and their three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
November 1, 2023
A strong contender for my favourite YA of the year! I really enjoyed the exploration of complicated female friendship, combined with grief, love, growing up, and everything in-between. This will be such a relatable book for so many young people. I'm just so thrilled that books like this exist for teenagers. Great for fans of Nina Kenwood, Miranda Luby and Alice Boyle. The title is perfect and I love the cover art, too.
March 20, 2025
I finished the book in three days and especially liked how the book was true to life because you can see how Abby, her friends and her relationships with others constantly changes. The writing style didn’t really appeal to me because it was quite simple and brief. But on the other hand there was an unexpected turn of events and the book went in a completely different direction than how I though it would go. Overall, it was an easy, relaxing and enjoyable read.
November 2, 2023
This was such a lovely story. Sooo easy to read, authentic teen protagonist with offbeat family, sadly real and believable tragedies to endure….
It takes incredible skill to write a YA book that holds readers” attention (I’m in my 50s so not the target audience but I will recommend this to students for sure) and Megan Williams via Abby is engaging and hard to put down. Looking forward to seeing what she writes next.
It takes incredible skill to write a YA book that holds readers” attention (I’m in my 50s so not the target audience but I will recommend this to students for sure) and Megan Williams via Abby is engaging and hard to put down. Looking forward to seeing what she writes next.
September 11, 2023
Thank you Text Publishing for sending us a copy to read and review.
Life, friendship and love all witnessed through the lenses of a teenage girl, a tumultuous age at the best of times.
Forging and maintaining friendships, surviving high school and defining relationships with parents all part of the journey.
Abby has a close friendship group, an ailing grandmother and is always assessing where she fits in all aspects of her life.
Sometimes feeling on the outer.
A tragedy redefines her position as life forces maturity.
A frank, compelling and enlightening journey through adolescence.
I loved the interactions Abby had with her parents, the spiky yet loving relationship with her best friend and the tenderness with her grandmother.
Young adult fiction is not only entertaining but reminiscent of a by gone era.
It’s interesting to see how dynamics have changed, confidence has exploded but reassuring that insecurities are always part of life.
Life, friendship and love all witnessed through the lenses of a teenage girl, a tumultuous age at the best of times.
Forging and maintaining friendships, surviving high school and defining relationships with parents all part of the journey.
Abby has a close friendship group, an ailing grandmother and is always assessing where she fits in all aspects of her life.
Sometimes feeling on the outer.
A tragedy redefines her position as life forces maturity.
A frank, compelling and enlightening journey through adolescence.
I loved the interactions Abby had with her parents, the spiky yet loving relationship with her best friend and the tenderness with her grandmother.
Young adult fiction is not only entertaining but reminiscent of a by gone era.
It’s interesting to see how dynamics have changed, confidence has exploded but reassuring that insecurities are always part of life.
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April 5, 2024The following book reviews have been shared by Text Publishing – publisher of Let's Never Speak of This Again
‘Navigating life is hard. Abby and her friends might look like they have it covered, but really they're still learning the rules. Traversing friendships and changing alliances, and grief and loss with the best of intentions, Abby’s anxieties, stuff-ups and funny saves are completely endearing and relatable, and so very now. Teens will love this. I did!’
Allayne L. Webster
‘Megan Williams has done a wonderful job of showing the subtleties of teenage emotion and juxtaposing the mature with the immature…Let’s Never Speak of This Again is a must-read for teens struggling with self-doubt; it has broad appeal and is perfect for fans of Nina Kenwood and Melina Marchetta.’
Books+Publishing
‘Many of Abby’s experiences in this story will be familiar to us all.’
CBCA VIC
‘An authentic, gorgeously written story…A bittersweet eulogy to growing older, people changing, friendships growing and breaking apart…This is not a book you’ll be able to say goodbye to easily.’
Readings Monthly
‘Enjoyable for adults, young adults and soon-to-be-young-adults, this is a fun, well-written and enjoyable story of someone growing up as best they can, all with a distinct Australian setting and flavour.’
ArtsHub
‘This is like seeing inside the life and mind of a sixteen-year-old…It details the internal struggles and conversations of a girl trying to do life well, but not always getting it right, but nevertheless learning along the way.’
ReadPlus
‘A bittersweet and relatable portrait of adolescence…The book’s great strength is [Abby’s] endearing internal monologue, full of the humour and vitality and confusion of teenage years, with a hint of elegy at their transience.’
Age
‘Beautifully real…The tone and tenor of the text is spot on, capturing the betwixt and between of being 16…A must have book in high school libraries, and readers who like “real life” stories based on friendship will eat this up.’
CBCA Reading Time
‘Beautiful, relatable, nostalgic. The Text Prize never fails to deliver the best in #LoveOzYA.’
Between the Lines with James Bennett
‘This is a delightful book…I hope the idiosyncratic Megan Williams is well into the creation of her next YA novel.’
Magpies
‘Williams nails the “show don’t tell” technique as Abby struggles with crippling self-doubt, navigating female friendships and the shock of grief along with the heady build-up to adulthood.’ Sydney Morning Herald
‘A book that doesn’t hold back from emotion, from rejection and the difficulties of navigating life as a teenager…With its distinct Australian flavour, it stands out as fantastically relatable for Australian readers. This has to be one of my favourite young adult books…This is a book that readers will adore.’
The Book Muse
‘Navigating life is hard. Abby and her friends might look like they have it covered, but really they're still learning the rules. Traversing friendships and changing alliances, and grief and loss with the best of intentions, Abby’s anxieties, stuff-ups and funny saves are completely endearing and relatable, and so very now. Teens will love this. I did!’
Allayne L. Webster
‘Megan Williams has done a wonderful job of showing the subtleties of teenage emotion and juxtaposing the mature with the immature…Let’s Never Speak of This Again is a must-read for teens struggling with self-doubt; it has broad appeal and is perfect for fans of Nina Kenwood and Melina Marchetta.’
Books+Publishing
‘Many of Abby’s experiences in this story will be familiar to us all.’
CBCA VIC
‘An authentic, gorgeously written story…A bittersweet eulogy to growing older, people changing, friendships growing and breaking apart…This is not a book you’ll be able to say goodbye to easily.’
Readings Monthly
‘Enjoyable for adults, young adults and soon-to-be-young-adults, this is a fun, well-written and enjoyable story of someone growing up as best they can, all with a distinct Australian setting and flavour.’
ArtsHub
‘This is like seeing inside the life and mind of a sixteen-year-old…It details the internal struggles and conversations of a girl trying to do life well, but not always getting it right, but nevertheless learning along the way.’
ReadPlus
‘A bittersweet and relatable portrait of adolescence…The book’s great strength is [Abby’s] endearing internal monologue, full of the humour and vitality and confusion of teenage years, with a hint of elegy at their transience.’
Age
‘Beautifully real…The tone and tenor of the text is spot on, capturing the betwixt and between of being 16…A must have book in high school libraries, and readers who like “real life” stories based on friendship will eat this up.’
CBCA Reading Time
‘Beautiful, relatable, nostalgic. The Text Prize never fails to deliver the best in #LoveOzYA.’
Between the Lines with James Bennett
‘This is a delightful book…I hope the idiosyncratic Megan Williams is well into the creation of her next YA novel.’
Magpies
‘Williams nails the “show don’t tell” technique as Abby struggles with crippling self-doubt, navigating female friendships and the shock of grief along with the heady build-up to adulthood.’ Sydney Morning Herald
‘A book that doesn’t hold back from emotion, from rejection and the difficulties of navigating life as a teenager…With its distinct Australian flavour, it stands out as fantastically relatable for Australian readers. This has to be one of my favourite young adult books…This is a book that readers will adore.’
The Book Muse
July 9, 2023
Let’s Never Speak of This Again by Megan Williams is a sad but genuine and honest coming-of-age story centering on teenage emotions with a sharp turn into dealing with grief.
Williams packs Let’s Never Speak of This Again full of wit and such authentic teenage angst I wasn’t sure whether to cringe because I know exactly how she has felt or cry for Abby. Either way, that makes it all that much better when the reader starts to see Abby come into her own and navigate the world with her friends with more confidence than when she started.
For the first half of the novel, I have to admit I was honestly confused at the pacing. I am glad we got to live in Abby’s head for a while, but it just seemed like the story advertised is a bit different than what the first half is. I also think there could have been more with her grandma, especially in a story so heavily packed with grief. There was really no nice ending with her grandma except that she now reads her Sally Rooney (also— a LOT of mentions to Sally Rooney in the last 30% of the book? Not particularly bad, just odd.) Not that there needs to be a Good ending, just really any ending was missing.
That being said, I do think Williams’ has a beautiful way of authentically capturing emotions. She captured the ups and downs of grief— especially grief you’re on the outskirts of— amazingly. Grief is not linear and it’s never clear cut, so this novel makes sure to honor that. Besides just grief, Abby’s teenage angst is so real it hurt my heart for her.
Let’s Never Speak of This Again is a great look through a teenager’s mind about friendship, grief, and what it means to grow up.
Thank you to NetGalley and Text Publishing for this title.
Williams packs Let’s Never Speak of This Again full of wit and such authentic teenage angst I wasn’t sure whether to cringe because I know exactly how she has felt or cry for Abby. Either way, that makes it all that much better when the reader starts to see Abby come into her own and navigate the world with her friends with more confidence than when she started.
For the first half of the novel, I have to admit I was honestly confused at the pacing. I am glad we got to live in Abby’s head for a while, but it just seemed like the story advertised is a bit different than what the first half is. I also think there could have been more with her grandma, especially in a story so heavily packed with grief. There was really no nice ending with her grandma except that she now reads her Sally Rooney (also— a LOT of mentions to Sally Rooney in the last 30% of the book? Not particularly bad, just odd.) Not that there needs to be a Good ending, just really any ending was missing.
That being said, I do think Williams’ has a beautiful way of authentically capturing emotions. She captured the ups and downs of grief— especially grief you’re on the outskirts of— amazingly. Grief is not linear and it’s never clear cut, so this novel makes sure to honor that. Besides just grief, Abby’s teenage angst is so real it hurt my heart for her.
Let’s Never Speak of This Again is a great look through a teenager’s mind about friendship, grief, and what it means to grow up.
Thank you to NetGalley and Text Publishing for this title.
October 8, 2023
This was so beautifully written. I picked it up after I saw incredible reviews for it and they were so right. I remember when there was a new person in the friend group as a teenager. It really does mess with a dynamic of you let it and make you feel left behind if you can’t see your own value as a person and as a friend. Feeling like you are missing out…feeling like you are no longer as important…like some of your friends are growing up quicker than you are, having to make those tough decisions. And then tragedy hits and you are left questioning even more about things. I loved this so much and I remember these years all too well.
Exploring friendship, jealousy, grief and love “We will
Never speak of this again” is absolutely beautifully written.
Exploring friendship, jealousy, grief and love “We will
Never speak of this again” is absolutely beautifully written.
August 9, 2023
This book was a 4 star read for me.
If you like a coming of age story- this is a nice light read. It took me til about 30% of the book to get used to the writing format but once I was over that hump, I couldn’t put the book (kindle) down.
This book took me back to when I was in high school, taking everything for granted… not really understanding that you shouldn’t sweat the little things because things could be a lot worse.
I was extremely pleased with the ending. This book was like a self-reminder that you should really check in on your friends and family. You never know what they are holding in.
If you like a coming of age story- this is a nice light read. It took me til about 30% of the book to get used to the writing format but once I was over that hump, I couldn’t put the book (kindle) down.
This book took me back to when I was in high school, taking everything for granted… not really understanding that you shouldn’t sweat the little things because things could be a lot worse.
I was extremely pleased with the ending. This book was like a self-reminder that you should really check in on your friends and family. You never know what they are holding in.
June 25, 2023
Very sad, but also quite witty. So that was hard.
Also authentic coming-of-age story.
Did I mention sad?
Also authentic coming-of-age story.
Did I mention sad?
September 27, 2023
binged this (according to my measure of time)
January 31, 2025
this was actually really good. 😊
I think one of the main reasons I enjoyed it sm was the setting, and the character's dilemmas felt pretty relatable. there's like a lot of friendship drama and just random stuff they do. idk it didn't feel like a book, it was written so casually it kinda felt like she was just telling me directly yk?
look, one thing I was not expecting from the blurb was the "bad thing" that they mention vaguely.
look there were some things I didn't entirely like, a few plot holes and inconsistencies but on the whole pretty solid! i also totally binged it. it does have a lot of pop culture references tho and some country- specific.
but if you're looking for a short, fast-paced read with emotional depth i would for sure recommend!!
🌸
I think one of the main reasons I enjoyed it sm was the setting, and the character's dilemmas felt pretty relatable. there's like a lot of friendship drama and just random stuff they do. idk it didn't feel like a book, it was written so casually it kinda felt like she was just telling me directly yk?
look, one thing I was not expecting from the blurb was the "bad thing" that they mention vaguely.
look there were some things I didn't entirely like, a few plot holes and inconsistencies but on the whole pretty solid! i also totally binged it. it does have a lot of pop culture references tho and some country- specific.
but if you're looking for a short, fast-paced read with emotional depth i would for sure recommend!!
🌸
August 20, 2024
So many YAs depict teenagers as having all the answers and speaking philosophically. This was the most authentic perspective of a teen brain I’ve read in a long time. Knowing how to be there for our friends as their lives change, they experience grief, navigate fresh relationships - it’s challenging, and this was written in such an honest and relatable perspective.
June 3, 2024
This book captured the vicissitudes of adolescence with heart and humour.
November 2, 2023
Another cracking YA which is beautifully written. I loved the layout of the chapters and the strong family dynamic.
October 10, 2023
I love a debut novel when it is authentic, gentle, awkward and bittersweet. And in young adult fiction, this is hard to do. This is a brilliant book that captures the angst of being a teenager so well, without dimishing that true to life element. Megan Williams has done justice with this book.
Abby is not popular but has a great circle of friends. Clumsy first kisses, the joys of high school, embarrassing teenage blunders, and overprotective parenting and a new girl at school all come into the mix. Feelings of jealousy and inclusion are tested in this book, and from such an honest perspective. We hear Abbey’s thoughts and watch her actions unfold, and can feel the ache of her struggles. We watch as she is tormented by her nest friend Ella’s distance from her, and when something tragic occurs for Ella, everything changes.
I liked the interplay of relationships here – friendships in a close knit group, being linked to someone romantically, sexual feelings, and the confusion around what to feel. The book captured so well how fickle out teenage years are – who is friends with whom and or how long, who loves who, the pressure to fit in and to be included, and how hard it is when you’re not. Striving to find an identity and work out the identity of others is hard, and learning how to feel when tragedy strikes for a you g person is equally difficult. The genuineness of this was superb.
Thanks to @textpublishing for the gifted copy. One of the standout books I’ve read this year.
Abby is not popular but has a great circle of friends. Clumsy first kisses, the joys of high school, embarrassing teenage blunders, and overprotective parenting and a new girl at school all come into the mix. Feelings of jealousy and inclusion are tested in this book, and from such an honest perspective. We hear Abbey’s thoughts and watch her actions unfold, and can feel the ache of her struggles. We watch as she is tormented by her nest friend Ella’s distance from her, and when something tragic occurs for Ella, everything changes.
I liked the interplay of relationships here – friendships in a close knit group, being linked to someone romantically, sexual feelings, and the confusion around what to feel. The book captured so well how fickle out teenage years are – who is friends with whom and or how long, who loves who, the pressure to fit in and to be included, and how hard it is when you’re not. Striving to find an identity and work out the identity of others is hard, and learning how to feel when tragedy strikes for a you g person is equally difficult. The genuineness of this was superb.
Thanks to @textpublishing for the gifted copy. One of the standout books I’ve read this year.
March 30, 2024
Oh my overthinking introvert heart related to this so much - especially the perpetual concern of being left out and navigating high school friendships. The novel doesn’t have chapters, but each event has a short subheading, taken from within the text itself. This makes it easy to pause and also easy to devour.
Her inspirations clearly influenced the writing style and themes, with some explicitly mentioned including Melina Marchetta(“Looking for Ali Brandi”), “Normal People” by Sally Rooney and “Sorrow and Bliss” by Meg Mason. Having read all of these their influences were evident but Williams doesn’t quite deliver in substance.
The climatic event was very cliche and the subsequent follow through was relatable, but shallow. I read it quickly and easily, was satisfied with the ending, but also wanted more. It’s synopsis suggests a weighty read and although touches on these topics, it doesn’t sit in it; which I both liked and hated.
Her inspirations clearly influenced the writing style and themes, with some explicitly mentioned including Melina Marchetta(“Looking for Ali Brandi”), “Normal People” by Sally Rooney and “Sorrow and Bliss” by Meg Mason. Having read all of these their influences were evident but Williams doesn’t quite deliver in substance.
The climatic event was very cliche and the subsequent follow through was relatable, but shallow. I read it quickly and easily, was satisfied with the ending, but also wanted more. It’s synopsis suggests a weighty read and although touches on these topics, it doesn’t sit in it; which I both liked and hated.
May 30, 2024
Completely encompasses highschool life for an Aussie gal, touches on some important themes in a lighthearted way. Easy read but good
May 1, 2024
This book follows sixteen-year-old Abby as she navigates high school, friendships, and loss. It was tender and funny. I laughed and cried with these characters. I really appreciated the realness of the characters, in particular Abby’s relationship with her mum. It was refreshing to read about a realistic mother-daughter dynamic!
I enjoyed this book for the most part, but I was also wanting more! The chapters are really short, which I loved, but I wish there was more to the story. There’s a lot of telling and little showing.
I just know Sixteen-year-old me would’ve LOVED this book!
(Thank you Text Publishing for sending me a copy)
I enjoyed this book for the most part, but I was also wanting more! The chapters are really short, which I loved, but I wish there was more to the story. There’s a lot of telling and little showing.
I just know Sixteen-year-old me would’ve LOVED this book!
(Thank you Text Publishing for sending me a copy)
July 5, 2023
Nice, feel good book. Definitely a teen read. Reading Abby and Ella navigate friendship while growing up is something so reliable to anyone. Pretty predictable but a good book and the writing is easy to read. Seeing how Abby navigates her relationship with her grandmother is adds some sweet moments to the book. There were some wordy sections that maybe didn’t add much to the book but certainly didn’t take away from the story.
December 29, 2024
(4.5 stars)
Thank you so much to Text Publishing for my copy of this book!!
‘Let’s Never Speak of This Again’ follows Abby, a sixteen-year-old who has a pretty good life. Sure, her grandma’s slowly forgetting important things, and her relationship with her mum is always tense, and maybe she accidentally kissed her cousin’s cousin on the weekend. But life is good when she has her best friend, Ella, to rely on…and some potential flirting with Ella’s brother, Will!
Then, new girl, Chloe, arrives and Abby is the one who gets to show her around. This is perfect! A new friend who she can introduce to her other friends. But Abby wasn’t prepared for the strong and fast friendship that Chloe and Ella have, which leaves Abby feeling left behind. In a moment of anger and loneliness, Abby wishes that something bad will happen to Ella. And when it does, guilt hits Abby like a punch to the gut and she’s left to figure out what she’s feeling and what matters most to her.
I loved this! Abby is such a relatable character! She questions her own kindness, she’s in her head a lot, she worries that her friends will eventually get sick of her and replace her, and she thinks and says things that she doesn’t mean in the moment. These are all incredibly real and common experiences for teenagers and young adults, which made Abby an amazingly well-rounded and important character.
I worry that I’m a jealous and petty person who only pretends to be kind. I worry that it’s only a matter of time before I slip up and say what I really think before I can stop myself. I worry that when my friends find out who I really am, they won’t like me.
Seeing her relationship with her mum progress into a nice and loving space, and watching as Abby realises that friendship and family are the most important things, not whether you’re someone’s “best friend” all of the time or not, was a joy to read about.
’You don’t boss people around or say things have to be this way or that way. You always want everyone to be having a good time and you don’t like to cause a fuss. So I can see how people would say you’re easy going. But you think about things a lot, even little things, so I don’t think it’d very easy going to be you.’
The structure of this novel was a tad jarring. It is not written in chapters, but rather sectioned into small parts, each with their own subtitle. I did get used to it as the novel went on, and actually enjoyed not having chapters. However, I did find that some of the subtitles were taken verbatim from the section, which felt too repetitive.
Overall, I really enjoyed this!
Thank you so much to Text Publishing for my copy of this book!!
‘Let’s Never Speak of This Again’ follows Abby, a sixteen-year-old who has a pretty good life. Sure, her grandma’s slowly forgetting important things, and her relationship with her mum is always tense, and maybe she accidentally kissed her cousin’s cousin on the weekend. But life is good when she has her best friend, Ella, to rely on…and some potential flirting with Ella’s brother, Will!
Then, new girl, Chloe, arrives and Abby is the one who gets to show her around. This is perfect! A new friend who she can introduce to her other friends. But Abby wasn’t prepared for the strong and fast friendship that Chloe and Ella have, which leaves Abby feeling left behind. In a moment of anger and loneliness, Abby wishes that something bad will happen to Ella. And when it does, guilt hits Abby like a punch to the gut and she’s left to figure out what she’s feeling and what matters most to her.
I loved this! Abby is such a relatable character! She questions her own kindness, she’s in her head a lot, she worries that her friends will eventually get sick of her and replace her, and she thinks and says things that she doesn’t mean in the moment. These are all incredibly real and common experiences for teenagers and young adults, which made Abby an amazingly well-rounded and important character.
I worry that I’m a jealous and petty person who only pretends to be kind. I worry that it’s only a matter of time before I slip up and say what I really think before I can stop myself. I worry that when my friends find out who I really am, they won’t like me.
Seeing her relationship with her mum progress into a nice and loving space, and watching as Abby realises that friendship and family are the most important things, not whether you’re someone’s “best friend” all of the time or not, was a joy to read about.
’You don’t boss people around or say things have to be this way or that way. You always want everyone to be having a good time and you don’t like to cause a fuss. So I can see how people would say you’re easy going. But you think about things a lot, even little things, so I don’t think it’d very easy going to be you.’
The structure of this novel was a tad jarring. It is not written in chapters, but rather sectioned into small parts, each with their own subtitle. I did get used to it as the novel went on, and actually enjoyed not having chapters. However, I did find that some of the subtitles were taken verbatim from the section, which felt too repetitive.
Overall, I really enjoyed this!
April 21, 2024
Abigail is the story teller in the emotional roller coaster that explores friendship, first sexual encounters, death of a friend, teen parties, family dynamics, old age, and school - academic and sport - and its associated pressures.
Abigail is full of self-doubt and analyses her decisions and feelings as her close friendship with Ella seems to crumble with Chloe, a new girl, becomes part of the friendship group making a total of five girls. Year 10 in a prestigious Brisbane girls school, Abi's netball and high grades are a feature but juggling these with friendship demands is hard. When Ella's big brother Will dies in a car accident the book changes direction to focus more on how grief can manifest itself and change behaviours.
Rather than chapters the book has numerous sections, many very short with two or thee across a double page, some covering 3 or 4pages, and each with a bold line to introduce the focus: Ode to Netball, Crusty Rusty has it in for me; It's complicated I know; for example. This made it easy to read, pick up and put down, but this also made it disjointed - so many short snippets were like time snapshots and some ideas were never fulfilled - such as Abigail's essay which no resolution. Although this did not appeal to me, the style did seem to provide insights into female teenage concerns and interests.
Shortlisted for the 2024 CBCA Older Readers category, a book for older teens with quite a bit of discussion on sex, and sexual encounters (though not with explicit details) and party games involving drinking and making out.
Abigail is full of self-doubt and analyses her decisions and feelings as her close friendship with Ella seems to crumble with Chloe, a new girl, becomes part of the friendship group making a total of five girls. Year 10 in a prestigious Brisbane girls school, Abi's netball and high grades are a feature but juggling these with friendship demands is hard. When Ella's big brother Will dies in a car accident the book changes direction to focus more on how grief can manifest itself and change behaviours.
Rather than chapters the book has numerous sections, many very short with two or thee across a double page, some covering 3 or 4pages, and each with a bold line to introduce the focus: Ode to Netball, Crusty Rusty has it in for me; It's complicated I know; for example. This made it easy to read, pick up and put down, but this also made it disjointed - so many short snippets were like time snapshots and some ideas were never fulfilled - such as Abigail's essay which no resolution. Although this did not appeal to me, the style did seem to provide insights into female teenage concerns and interests.
Shortlisted for the 2024 CBCA Older Readers category, a book for older teens with quite a bit of discussion on sex, and sexual encounters (though not with explicit details) and party games involving drinking and making out.
July 17, 2023
For a number of reasons, I am not the target audience for this book and yet I very quickly found myself taken in. I admit, the first few pages were slightly confusing and I had to adjust to the narrative style (which had the feel of a Instagram
Stories reel) but the relationships and experiences felt familiar. So many moments reminded me of conversations between my own teenage daughter and her friends, and when Abby's starts to feel a disconnect from her best friend, her hurt and insecurity called back my own high school days.
Abby fears that she's losing Ella and when an even bigger tragedy occurs, she's faced with hard questions what it means to lose someone you love, and who has "the right" to grieve after a loss, and how grief looks different on everyone.
In short, it's a story about growing up and the hard lessons that are a part of the process. It's about love and friendship and holding space for others when they need it most.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for access to a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Stories reel) but the relationships and experiences felt familiar. So many moments reminded me of conversations between my own teenage daughter and her friends, and when Abby's starts to feel a disconnect from her best friend, her hurt and insecurity called back my own high school days.
Abby fears that she's losing Ella and when an even bigger tragedy occurs, she's faced with hard questions what it means to lose someone you love, and who has "the right" to grieve after a loss, and how grief looks different on everyone.
In short, it's a story about growing up and the hard lessons that are a part of the process. It's about love and friendship and holding space for others when they need it most.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for access to a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 4, 2024
I picked this up without realising it was young adult fiction but I went ahead and read it anyway. What attracted me to this book was the title and the fact that it has won or been shortlisted for awards. Having read the book, I am now confused as to why it received so many accolades.
It is a short and easy read that attempts to take a deep dive into very big complex topics (sexual assault, grief, trauma, dementia, to name a few) but overall the book felt very shallow. The author could have developed plot points more, or covered less topics to allow more time to fully explore chosen themes. For example, at the beginning of the novel when we are introduced to supporting character Jade, the main character Abbie points out that Jade is Aboriginal and wants to know her opinion on current affairs, yet this is the only time Jades ethnicity is mentioned, and she never develops beyond a background character.
Dont't get me wrong, it is not a bad book, it just doesn't have much substance. So much happens but it feels like we never really get to explore it.
It is a short and easy read that attempts to take a deep dive into very big complex topics (sexual assault, grief, trauma, dementia, to name a few) but overall the book felt very shallow. The author could have developed plot points more, or covered less topics to allow more time to fully explore chosen themes. For example, at the beginning of the novel when we are introduced to supporting character Jade, the main character Abbie points out that Jade is Aboriginal and wants to know her opinion on current affairs, yet this is the only time Jades ethnicity is mentioned, and she never develops beyond a background character.
Dont't get me wrong, it is not a bad book, it just doesn't have much substance. So much happens but it feels like we never really get to explore it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2023
I cannot rate this book more highly! It’s an insightful story about teenagers and growing up. This book never condescends its audience. I am in my thirties and loved it.
The protagonist, Abby has an authentic voice and captures what it feels like to be a teenager trying to navigate changing relationships and grief for the first time.
I found it really refreshing to read a book about teenage girls where their friendships are the most important thing to them but the friendships are also healthy relationships even though they are also complicated. I also loved the depiction of her relationship with her mum.
The story is subtle and sophisticated. The author resists any melodrama but the plot is pacy and at times very funny. I read it in two days.
This is an impressive debut. I can’t wait to see what the author does next.
The protagonist, Abby has an authentic voice and captures what it feels like to be a teenager trying to navigate changing relationships and grief for the first time.
I found it really refreshing to read a book about teenage girls where their friendships are the most important thing to them but the friendships are also healthy relationships even though they are also complicated. I also loved the depiction of her relationship with her mum.
The story is subtle and sophisticated. The author resists any melodrama but the plot is pacy and at times very funny. I read it in two days.
This is an impressive debut. I can’t wait to see what the author does next.
July 12, 2023
Such a sweet, honest read about friendship, grief, and the sacrifices we make for those we love.
Abby and Ella are best friends and nothing is every going to change that, or that's what Abby thinks at 16. We all know how friendships ebb and flow, but learning that lesson isn't always painless, as Abby will learn throughout this story. Tragedy often spins lives out of control, and when it strikes in Ella's life (and reaching to Abby's by extension) things begin to change. Abby's anxieties about her friendships are totally relatable. Learning how to be in a healthy relationship with anyone is a challenge, and I enjoyed reading about someone who struggles to see what's truly happening in front of her due to the anxieties and lies her brain tells her about her interactions. Abby is forced to truly reckon with herself and her friends and family and it's all real while still being hopeful.
This book takes place in Australia and I'm a US reader, so I had to spend a lot of time Googling to understand the book as deeply as I desired. I had no idea with netball was, and some slang was new to me.
Overall, this is a wonderful YA read.
Abby and Ella are best friends and nothing is every going to change that, or that's what Abby thinks at 16. We all know how friendships ebb and flow, but learning that lesson isn't always painless, as Abby will learn throughout this story. Tragedy often spins lives out of control, and when it strikes in Ella's life (and reaching to Abby's by extension) things begin to change. Abby's anxieties about her friendships are totally relatable. Learning how to be in a healthy relationship with anyone is a challenge, and I enjoyed reading about someone who struggles to see what's truly happening in front of her due to the anxieties and lies her brain tells her about her interactions. Abby is forced to truly reckon with herself and her friends and family and it's all real while still being hopeful.
This book takes place in Australia and I'm a US reader, so I had to spend a lot of time Googling to understand the book as deeply as I desired. I had no idea with netball was, and some slang was new to me.
Overall, this is a wonderful YA read.
August 19, 2023
First of all, thank you to Netgalley for letting me read and review an early copy of this book.
The story of this book was fine. I think it lacked emotion. There was a lot of telling, not necessarily showing. Because of that, I found it hard to actually care about what was going on in the story. There was also a lot of skipping around. There would be a single paragraph about what happened at school that day and then suddenly, we were at the weekend. This story could've benefitted from some polishing and taking out unnecessary scenes. The formatting was also annoying and took me out of the story. There weren't really chapters, per se, the story was broken up into like sub-headings? I'd never seen anything like this before. Probably for good reason.
The story of this book was fine. I think it lacked emotion. There was a lot of telling, not necessarily showing. Because of that, I found it hard to actually care about what was going on in the story. There was also a lot of skipping around. There would be a single paragraph about what happened at school that day and then suddenly, we were at the weekend. This story could've benefitted from some polishing and taking out unnecessary scenes. The formatting was also annoying and took me out of the story. There weren't really chapters, per se, the story was broken up into like sub-headings? I'd never seen anything like this before. Probably for good reason.
August 5, 2023
This was a really great YA book, sensitively picking up on the real issues faced by teenagers all over. Admittedly, one of the story lines was possibly more dramatic than the universal tale of growing up but it underpinned the rest of the troubles which will be recognised by young girls (I assume in particular, but don’t like to stereotype) all over. What I really liked about it was it focused on friendships and the importance of these relationships above romantic relationships, whilst also recognising the importance put on romance and sexual relationships. The more I think about it, the better it was.
November 17, 2024
This text takes a while to warm up to. It truely is an unfiltered exploration of those pestering thoughts that make us anxious and self conscious about the connections we hold near and dear. It is a nice story to explore the ups and downs of friendship and family, as well as how factors like new friends and loss can affect the safe bubble we once knew. I will applaud the writer for depicting realistic teenage angst to the point where I got irritated, but then inserting moments of reflection that reminded me that this is the messiness of adolescence. Overall, it was a decent read but not a memorable read.
April 13, 2024
As a CBCA short listed book, it was on my read list. Definitely my style of writing and nice and light short chapters to allow you to fly through the book quickly. 4 teenage girls + a new girl addition and how they navigate friendships, boys, death, insecurities, school, sport etc. Covers all the typical teenage issues. The first half had me hooked, but felt like the 2nd half fell away a bit and some of the relationships could have went a bit deeper - like Abi and Tim and their friendship. A nice read. Is plenty of reference to sex - but not explicit.
September 19, 2023
A really fun and relatable look back into the world of a teenager. Though at times confronting, Abby's narrative is so authentic the story envelopes you to help you empathise with her through the ups and downs. The writing is laced with Megan's innate wit.. I actually laughed out loud more than once!
This is a great YA debut from Megan and I can't wait to see what's next for this talented author.
This is a great YA debut from Megan and I can't wait to see what's next for this talented author.
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