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Splinters
Jean Sylvester is a typical, overthinking adolescent whose painful experience with parallel realities teaches her that while life involves her, it's not always all about her.
She thinks life isn't fair and wishes hers was different. When she witnesses a traumatic accident, she can't help but blame herself for the events leading up to it. In order to be free of the nightmare she has a choice: she can spiral into despair or reconcile herself with the fact that terrible things happen, and some can't be changed.
Splinters is a story about so many things. It starts by looking at the change in our priorities as we move into our teenage years - our desperation for independence and happiness; our vulnerability to change; our misery when
things don't turn out as we hoped. There are two things that let you down in life: high expectations and other people.
She thinks life isn't fair and wishes hers was different. When she witnesses a traumatic accident, she can't help but blame herself for the events leading up to it. In order to be free of the nightmare she has a choice: she can spiral into despair or reconcile herself with the fact that terrible things happen, and some can't be changed.
Splinters is a story about so many things. It starts by looking at the change in our priorities as we move into our teenage years - our desperation for independence and happiness; our vulnerability to change; our misery when
things don't turn out as we hoped. There are two things that let you down in life: high expectations and other people.
- GenresYoung AdultMystery
336 pages, Paperback
Published June 13, 2024
About the author
Rachel Delahaye
39 books18 followersRachel Delahaye writes children's fiction. Her teen sci-fi, Electric Life was longlisted for the 2024 Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing, and her upper middle-grade eco thriller Day of the Whale was nominated for the 2023 Yoto Carnegie.
Her catalogue includes a middle-grade series called Mort the Meek - a dark and gruesome comedy, described as 'Pratchetesque' by The Guardian, an animal adventure series published by Little Tiger, and a three-book comedy series, Jim Reaper, published with Piccadilly Press.
There are more middle grade and teen projects on the horizon. Rachel also writes fiction and poetry for accelerated reading schemes and Level Readers to help children gain reading confidence.
Her catalogue includes a middle-grade series called Mort the Meek - a dark and gruesome comedy, described as 'Pratchetesque' by The Guardian, an animal adventure series published by Little Tiger, and a three-book comedy series, Jim Reaper, published with Piccadilly Press.
There are more middle grade and teen projects on the horizon. Rachel also writes fiction and poetry for accelerated reading schemes and Level Readers to help children gain reading confidence.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 28, 2026
4.5⭐️
November 10, 2024
Jean is devastated that her best friend is moving away, but at least she still has her new boyfriend Leon to keep her company. But when Leon comes back from holiday and starts acting strange and distant, Jean feels like everything in her life is falling apart. But how far will she go to change her life?
In retrospect I realise why the blurb of this book is so vague as it is difficult to talk about it without spoilers. The story has a fascinating concept at its heart, which I found quite stressful and kept me turning the pages! A thought-provoking and engaging read.
In retrospect I realise why the blurb of this book is so vague as it is difficult to talk about it without spoilers. The story has a fascinating concept at its heart, which I found quite stressful and kept me turning the pages! A thought-provoking and engaging read.
February 25, 2026
read for book awards ⭐️
excellent concept you could do so much with, not the best execution like pls don’t take 100 pages for anything to actually happen with the mirror when the book could be about trading places from 30 pages in. the grass is definitely not always greener
excellent concept you could do so much with, not the best execution like pls don’t take 100 pages for anything to actually happen with the mirror when the book could be about trading places from 30 pages in. the grass is definitely not always greener
January 1, 2025
Rachel Delahaye’s Splinters is a bold and exhilarating start to my reading journey in 2025. Although it’s aimed at teenagers, the fresh and brilliantly executed concept hooked me right away and is now living rent-free in my head. This book is a blend of magical realism and contemporary drama, creating an unforgettable experience.
Jean Sylvester, our protagonist, is navigating the turbulence of teenage life—friends moving away, family conflicts, and a new romance teetering on the edge of disaster. But then, the eerie presence of a parallel world in the mirror adds a dark and twisty layer to the narrative. The tension is palpable as secrets unravel and choices splinter Jean’s reality in unexpected ways.
Delahaye’s writing is sharp and engaging, capturing teenage angst with authenticity while offering a thought-provoking exploration of identity, choice, and the “what ifs” of life. Without spoiling too much, the story’s twists were incredible, and its clever world-building made it impossible to put down.
Splinters doesn’t just appeal to its YA audience—it has a magnetic crossover charm for adults who crave gripping, speculative fiction. Whether you’re a teenager or simply a lover of compelling, inventive storytelling, this book will leave you questioning reality and your own choices. Highly recommended as a dark, imaginative, and utterly absorbing read!
Jean Sylvester, our protagonist, is navigating the turbulence of teenage life—friends moving away, family conflicts, and a new romance teetering on the edge of disaster. But then, the eerie presence of a parallel world in the mirror adds a dark and twisty layer to the narrative. The tension is palpable as secrets unravel and choices splinter Jean’s reality in unexpected ways.
Delahaye’s writing is sharp and engaging, capturing teenage angst with authenticity while offering a thought-provoking exploration of identity, choice, and the “what ifs” of life. Without spoiling too much, the story’s twists were incredible, and its clever world-building made it impossible to put down.
Splinters doesn’t just appeal to its YA audience—it has a magnetic crossover charm for adults who crave gripping, speculative fiction. Whether you’re a teenager or simply a lover of compelling, inventive storytelling, this book will leave you questioning reality and your own choices. Highly recommended as a dark, imaginative, and utterly absorbing read!
August 2, 2025
Splinters of time, of self, of relationships . . . Rachel Delahaye's SPLINTERS is that gorgeous thing: a book that sends your imagination spiralling, in this case into the 'what-ifs of parallel worlds.
Jean Sylvester is a a very real-feeling adolescent with well-painted resentments about family, friends and love-life. But it's her discovery that infinite parallel universes exist which had me completely gripped. We get to explore not only who Jean would have become, had she made different decisions, but the changes in the people around her and her relationship with them. I enjoyed the is-it, isn't-it love interest which is central to the story, but I think a particular strength of SPLINTERS is the exploration of family and the power-dynamics within it: sibling rivalry, the growing awareness that parents are just people with faults and failings. If you like a book which sets you thinking, read SPLINTERS. (Then read Electric Life, because it's brilliant, too!)
Jean Sylvester is a a very real-feeling adolescent with well-painted resentments about family, friends and love-life. But it's her discovery that infinite parallel universes exist which had me completely gripped. We get to explore not only who Jean would have become, had she made different decisions, but the changes in the people around her and her relationship with them. I enjoyed the is-it, isn't-it love interest which is central to the story, but I think a particular strength of SPLINTERS is the exploration of family and the power-dynamics within it: sibling rivalry, the growing awareness that parents are just people with faults and failings. If you like a book which sets you thinking, read SPLINTERS. (Then read Electric Life, because it's brilliant, too!)
September 30, 2024
Jean Sylvester is having quite a time of it. Her best friend has moved away to Scotland, her mum favours her spoilt little sister (when she’s not prying into Jean’s business), her dad is distant, they’ve moved to a new house seemingly on a whim, and her first romance has been interrupted by his family trip to America for most of the summer holiday. Jean’s finding it hard to hold things together even before her disastrous reunion with boyfriend Leon. And when he returns, changed, and seemingly more interested in her new place than her, things splinter even more. When Jean discovers his secret, will she also be tempted by the possibility of another life?
Splinters is a dark and twisty exploration of identity and where our choices lead us, never shying away from the dark side of teenage angst. Highly recommended.
Splinters is a dark and twisty exploration of identity and where our choices lead us, never shying away from the dark side of teenage angst. Highly recommended.
April 1, 2025
Delahaye presents an interesting premise in Splinters; a mirror that allows people to connect with "splinters" of themselves. The splinters happen when a traumatic event (or something similar) causes different versions of a person to become reality (in a parallel reality). I hope I've explained that right!
Jean comes in contact with the mirror when her family move into a new house. Things start getting strange for Jean when her new boyfriend seems to have a personality change and becomes obsessed by the mirror (at this stage, she thinks it is an ordinary mirror). She slowly works out what the mirror can do and gets herself into trouble.
There was something about it that didn't fully engage me. I think it may have been that the characters didn't ring true to me. I understand that the mirror was the root of the problem but I felt inconsistencies bugged me rather than intrigued me.
Jean comes in contact with the mirror when her family move into a new house. Things start getting strange for Jean when her new boyfriend seems to have a personality change and becomes obsessed by the mirror (at this stage, she thinks it is an ordinary mirror). She slowly works out what the mirror can do and gets herself into trouble.
There was something about it that didn't fully engage me. I think it may have been that the characters didn't ring true to me. I understand that the mirror was the root of the problem but I felt inconsistencies bugged me rather than intrigued me.
March 2, 2025
This book is set in modern day with a fantasy element with the main plot centred around a mirror which allows you to see and interact with your “Splinters” which are versions of yourself in different universes. This book follows the journey of the protagonist Jean and her interactions with the mirror. I enjoyed this book and like the idea of being able to see what you are like in different universes. 3 1/2 stars
July 13, 2025
This book was such a journey. I absolutely LOVED it! It explores all of the feelings and emotions that one goes through when a teenager while also maintaining a suspenseful and unpredictable storyline. The end had me in hiccuping tears. Overall, it was perfection and is now my NEW FAVOURITE BOOK!
May 29, 2025
4.99999999
July 31, 2025
Average! Too long.
October 4, 2025
I love the plot of this spectacular story: I expected nothing which happened here. I would recommend this to anyone who likes deep, introspective books with a bit of fun
October 10, 2025
A YA book I read for book group. Clever idea and a page turner.
June 15, 2024
I really enjoyed this. Nothing like anything I've read before and really cleverly done. It gave me lots to think about
June 14, 2024
The highest praise an author can give when they read another author’s book is, ‘Wow, I wish I’d written that!’ I can honestly say that’s what I thought when I read Splinters. The narrative is utterly compelling; the characters are completely believable as relatable teenagers navigating the complexities of everyday school and family life, which makes the parallel world in the mirror plot all the more riveting as readers are drawn so skilfully into the story they can imagine it actually happening. I couldn’t put this book down – at the end of every chapter I had to find out if the next would reveal the mystery of why Leon was acting so differently from the loveable, creative nerd he'd been at the start, and whether Jean would get lost in the maze of parallel worlds opening up for her when she discovers the eerie mirror in her new home. This book left me with so many fascinating questions and alternative plots I could imagine based on its parallel worlds premise – exactly what great fiction should do. This is a novel that should be on every YA reading list, but it’s one that also has huge crossover appeal for adults with a taste for intriguing ‘what if..? narratives.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews