What do you think?
Rate this book
Guided #2
Wasted
The sequel to Emma Smith's debut young adult mystery, Guided.
The past is the past. Nothing I say can change what happened, can bring those people back...
It's been five years since Lexie died, and Lucy has moved on. With new friends and a boyfriend on the horizon, she just wants to get through the year and move to university, leaving behind Vibbington and the memories.
But when the friends - Lucy, Orla, Kayleigh and Chloe - embark on their final camping trip, loyalties are tested. Lucy is back in a position she hoped she'd never be in again, interrogated by the police, trusted by nobody.
Two men are dead... and now one of the girls is, too.
A young adult contemporary novel with a mystery at its heart, exploring the pains of first love, friendship and loyalty. Suitable for ages 13 and above.
The past is the past. Nothing I say can change what happened, can bring those people back...
It's been five years since Lexie died, and Lucy has moved on. With new friends and a boyfriend on the horizon, she just wants to get through the year and move to university, leaving behind Vibbington and the memories.
But when the friends - Lucy, Orla, Kayleigh and Chloe - embark on their final camping trip, loyalties are tested. Lucy is back in a position she hoped she'd never be in again, interrogated by the police, trusted by nobody.
Two men are dead... and now one of the girls is, too.
A young adult contemporary novel with a mystery at its heart, exploring the pains of first love, friendship and loyalty. Suitable for ages 13 and above.
- GenresMysteryYoung Adult
362 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 17, 2023
16 people are currently reading
600 people want to read
About the author
Emma Smith
14 books562 followersEmma Smith is a young adult and children's author from Yorkshire. She wrote and illustrated her first “book” when she was seven years old and hasn’t stopped writing since. When she’s not walking on the beach or drinking an iced coffee with a crumpet and some chocolate, you’ll probably find her reading something dark and mysterious… and most certainly YA.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
February 6, 2024
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚4.1.24
🍒4 stars
after reading guided, there was no world in which I wasn’t reading this. whilst i found it slow initially, i ended up loving it as much as i did guided.
🍒4 stars
after reading guided, there was no world in which I wasn’t reading this. whilst i found it slow initially, i ended up loving it as much as i did guided.
April 1, 2025
i read most of wasted tucked up in my bed, blankets wrapped around me, but that wasn't enough to keep the chill of this novel out. midnight bled into the small hours, and emma's words were sharp-edged and dark, where in midnight sherbet they were sickly sweet and relatable. i thought i knew where it was going-- three girls, secrets like bruises under the skin, the slow, honey-thick unraveling of a mystery.
oh, boy, i was wrong.
the pacing was agonisingly deliberate, like standing at the edge of the cliff, knowing the fall is coming but not when. but boy when that fall came, when the cilmax unraveled like thread, it was visceral. gory in a way that made me flinch, the image of blue eyes through wooden slats made me flinch and prickle.
there's something intoxicating about emma's writing, the way it seeps under your skin. i've been working through her books like sweets, unwrapping them slowly and letting the taste of each: first guided, then midnight sherbet, and now this one, linger on my tongue. each one is so different, but always defined as emma's by that same aching coming of age-- girls growing up too fast, growing sharp and lost.
wasted is no exception to emma's mastery. it hums with pretty little liars-esque secrets, friendship twisted and rotten, but it's something much rawer, closer to home.
i couldn't sleep after i finished it, shocked at emma's unapologetic dive into the deep and dark and scary.
wasted doesn't just end, it stays with you, and that is why emma smith is my favourite author.
oh, boy, i was wrong.
the pacing was agonisingly deliberate, like standing at the edge of the cliff, knowing the fall is coming but not when. but boy when that fall came, when the cilmax unraveled like thread, it was visceral. gory in a way that made me flinch, the image of blue eyes through wooden slats made me flinch and prickle.
there's something intoxicating about emma's writing, the way it seeps under your skin. i've been working through her books like sweets, unwrapping them slowly and letting the taste of each: first guided, then midnight sherbet, and now this one, linger on my tongue. each one is so different, but always defined as emma's by that same aching coming of age-- girls growing up too fast, growing sharp and lost.
wasted is no exception to emma's mastery. it hums with pretty little liars-esque secrets, friendship twisted and rotten, but it's something much rawer, closer to home.
i couldn't sleep after i finished it, shocked at emma's unapologetic dive into the deep and dark and scary.
wasted doesn't just end, it stays with you, and that is why emma smith is my favourite author.
November 20, 2023
really enjoyed the sequel to guided! it was a fun little read and did not expect the ending but think it wrapped it up nicely. loved the return of old characters!!
February 15, 2024
I think this is my favourite Emma Smith book I’ve read so far! I loved returning to the characters and seeing how the situation from the past book has affected them up to now.
I really enjoyed how the guilt is shared between the group and the MC isn’t just keeping it to themselves and you’re able to see how different people deal with what’s happened.
I would of liked to have not known what girl from the group had died until a little later into the book so that you were left guessing who it was for longer as there was a statement a little early on that gave away who it was.
I would LOVE if there was a third book that surrounds their life after book two, a couple of years down the line or everything catches up to them and how they deal with it.
I went into this still hoping that Macey hadn’t actually died but was left shocked to realise that she had!!
I really enjoyed how the guilt is shared between the group and the MC isn’t just keeping it to themselves and you’re able to see how different people deal with what’s happened.
I would of liked to have not known what girl from the group had died until a little later into the book so that you were left guessing who it was for longer as there was a statement a little early on that gave away who it was.
I would LOVE if there was a third book that surrounds their life after book two, a couple of years down the line or everything catches up to them and how they deal with it.
I went into this still hoping that Macey hadn’t actually died but was left shocked to realise that she had!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2024
Ahhh the perfect sequel to Guided!!
I say this with every book by Emma I read but I'll never stop saying it. Her descriptions are just so beautifully written. The atmosphere of this book - late autumn camping - was just so good. It matched so well with the dark twists and turns
I loved how the mystery slowly built up through the book. I was constantly changing my mind about which girl had died and what happened. Was kept on tenterhooks the whole way through! And the end....well I need book 3 now 👀
Loved the romantic subplot too!!
Only thing I wasnt sure about was one mention of a character being autistic that wasn't mentioned again. The character wasn't likeable or a major part of the plot so it felt a tiny bit tokenised.
That being said, it was a really great read and I would recommend it!! After you've read Guided of course :)
I say this with every book by Emma I read but I'll never stop saying it. Her descriptions are just so beautifully written. The atmosphere of this book - late autumn camping - was just so good. It matched so well with the dark twists and turns
I loved how the mystery slowly built up through the book. I was constantly changing my mind about which girl had died and what happened. Was kept on tenterhooks the whole way through! And the end....well I need book 3 now 👀
Loved the romantic subplot too!!
Only thing I wasnt sure about was one mention of a character being autistic that wasn't mentioned again. The character wasn't likeable or a major part of the plot so it felt a tiny bit tokenised.
That being said, it was a really great read and I would recommend it!! After you've read Guided of course :)
November 28, 2023
such a special book, wasted has my heart. it’s heartwarming and autumnal and gory and beautiful and heartbreaking and i can’t recommend it enough.
the drip feeding of the mystery is crafted so well: figuring out which girl died is SO fun and never been done before. slowly piecing together the details and having your heart race as you figure out what really happened at that camp…
if guided is everything (which it is), wasted is everything and more
the drip feeding of the mystery is crafted so well: figuring out which girl died is SO fun and never been done before. slowly piecing together the details and having your heart race as you figure out what really happened at that camp…
if guided is everything (which it is), wasted is everything and more
November 27, 2023
In a small British town, following our main character Lucy, we are taken into a unique story, with mystery at its heart.
This was a multitude of emotions, grief, fear, anxiety and love. I was in awe of the intricate world building and attention to detail. Wasted mentions the reality of adolescence with dark twists and turns. The story was well crafted- I enjoyed the plot and the characters. The setting of a camp brought me straight back to Guided and the resemblance was there. However, this time it was much more gruesome and taunting. The slow, drip feed of information during the entirety is was really sold this book to me, tension was being built in the best way and I was always left wondering. Also, finding out which girl was murdered towards the middle was so interesting, and not something I’ve seen done before in such an effective manner.
And that ending???!!! Tell me more, I’m left questioning everything. What now happens to everyone, anyone. I need anything to fill all the questions I have in my head. It was pulled off so well and I am really impressed with the quality of the ending although I think it could have been expanded on a little, considering the huge surge of action happening in the last 30 or so pages. Other than that, it read beautifully and I finished the ending in one evening.
And a very very big thank you to Emma for mentioning me in the acknowledgments of this book- I’ll be forever greatful! This one was great, bring on whatever secrets you have planned! ❤️
This was a multitude of emotions, grief, fear, anxiety and love. I was in awe of the intricate world building and attention to detail. Wasted mentions the reality of adolescence with dark twists and turns. The story was well crafted- I enjoyed the plot and the characters. The setting of a camp brought me straight back to Guided and the resemblance was there. However, this time it was much more gruesome and taunting. The slow, drip feed of information during the entirety is was really sold this book to me, tension was being built in the best way and I was always left wondering. Also, finding out which girl was murdered towards the middle was so interesting, and not something I’ve seen done before in such an effective manner.
And that ending???!!! Tell me more, I’m left questioning everything. What now happens to everyone, anyone. I need anything to fill all the questions I have in my head. It was pulled off so well and I am really impressed with the quality of the ending although I think it could have been expanded on a little, considering the huge surge of action happening in the last 30 or so pages. Other than that, it read beautifully and I finished the ending in one evening.
And a very very big thank you to Emma for mentioning me in the acknowledgments of this book- I’ll be forever greatful! This one was great, bring on whatever secrets you have planned! ❤️
January 3, 2024
May contain some spoilers !!
This book delves into the aftermath of a tragedy that refuses to stay buried. It can seen that Lucy finds herself entangled once again by the haunting memories resurface during a final camping trip with friends. The book showcases a chilling mystery,deception, and MANY unexpected twists. Emma navigates the complexities of guilt and mistrust, leaves you wondering the fates of the characters.I genuinely didn't expect it.
Looking into Emma's language throughout the book we can see interwoven glimpses that contribute to the building tension and emotional resonance of the story. With Lucy's emotional turmoil it leads the reader to empathise with her internal struggles .
This book delves into the aftermath of a tragedy that refuses to stay buried. It can seen that Lucy finds herself entangled once again by the haunting memories resurface during a final camping trip with friends. The book showcases a chilling mystery,deception, and MANY unexpected twists. Emma navigates the complexities of guilt and mistrust, leaves you wondering the fates of the characters.I genuinely didn't expect it.
Looking into Emma's language throughout the book we can see interwoven glimpses that contribute to the building tension and emotional resonance of the story. With Lucy's emotional turmoil it leads the reader to empathise with her internal struggles .
February 14, 2024
Emma Smith absolutely never fails to write a book I'll love, and Wasted was no exception. It was very similar to Guided, and the perfect sequel - darker, and more dramatic in every way. I loved the characters of Lucy, Orla, and Chloe, and seeing how they'd changed since Guided, and the nods to Emma's other books (references to Loz, Carmel etc.) and Ethan was the best book boyfriend ever written. My only complaint was the fact the plot was wildly less realistic than Guided - which was almost more frightening and gripping because it felt like a case that could actually happen - whereas this was just...too much, especially the ending. But maybe I just found that because I'm not a huge mystery reader normally 🤷🏼♀️ Despite this, I'd definitely recommend, and am still dying to know what happens to the girls next.
January 25, 2024
OMG
Emma is so talented that I have given 5 stars to a book genre I don't even usually like?? I was on the edge of my seat reading this, wanting to know how it was going to end and what was going to happen to Lucy and the other girls!
The timing was absolutely perfect and there was never a dull moment. I also thought that Emma really captured the characters, especially Lucy's mindset regarding everything.
I honestly cannot wait for the third book (that ending was insane!) and I fully recommend this book to everyone! You won't be disappointed!
Emma is so talented that I have given 5 stars to a book genre I don't even usually like?? I was on the edge of my seat reading this, wanting to know how it was going to end and what was going to happen to Lucy and the other girls!
The timing was absolutely perfect and there was never a dull moment. I also thought that Emma really captured the characters, especially Lucy's mindset regarding everything.
I honestly cannot wait for the third book (that ending was insane!) and I fully recommend this book to everyone! You won't be disappointed!
December 7, 2023
Ohmygod?? I did NOT predict this ending the way it did. Smith managed to do something that I thought would have been impossible at the end of “Guided”, she made me care about the main group of girls. I really felt for them and what they had been through, despite their mistakes and bullying in the first book. I really enjoyed this one and the writing was easy to get into and the characters realistic. Like I said, the ending had me shocked!
January 26, 2024
4.5⭐️!
I read Guided at the start of this year and I could not wait to pick up Wasted, and I was not disappointed. This book is the second of many that I will read from this author. I love the writing style so much, it’s so cleverly written switching between the past and present time lines and I adored the references to Guided. I loved getting to know the girls more in this book and I seriously cannot wait for what’s to come in this story line. Also the ending?! What an absolute plot twist that I didn’t see coming! Such a good book!
I read Guided at the start of this year and I could not wait to pick up Wasted, and I was not disappointed. This book is the second of many that I will read from this author. I love the writing style so much, it’s so cleverly written switching between the past and present time lines and I adored the references to Guided. I loved getting to know the girls more in this book and I seriously cannot wait for what’s to come in this story line. Also the ending?! What an absolute plot twist that I didn’t see coming! Such a good book!
November 17, 2024
Is it ok that I think that this book was better than the first, because I loved Wasted!?
The writing was amazing per usual, and I connected to Lucy fully as a character, feeling a mix of emotions towards each character in the book through all of the drama and suspicion.
I was hooked the entire way through and I hope there is another book because the ending left a lot of questions!
Next up to read, Midnight Sherbet!
The writing was amazing per usual, and I connected to Lucy fully as a character, feeling a mix of emotions towards each character in the book through all of the drama and suspicion.
I was hooked the entire way through and I hope there is another book because the ending left a lot of questions!
Next up to read, Midnight Sherbet!
November 22, 2023
ahhhhh first of all loved the return of the guided characters, immediately felt back in the world and the mystery and the friendships! secondly loved ethan. enough said. thirdly will never be going in a treehouse in my life.
this book made me feel so much comfort, tension and everything else. deffo an auto read author 100% recommend anything emma releases 💕
this book made me feel so much comfort, tension and everything else. deffo an auto read author 100% recommend anything emma releases 💕
December 2, 2023
O M G this was so good! I read guided a while ago, and when I saw the sequel was out I literally ran to read it. I literally couldn’t put it down, and I loved how we had no idea what actually happened until she told someone. Amazing read (as usual) Emma, please keep them coming!
February 15, 2024
Jaw DROPPED.
Oh my god?!?!?!? Chapter 48- holy shit. Did NOT think that would happen.
Still absolutely reeling from the ending, once again another 5 star book by Emma!
Loved all the inclusions of past characters, but Macey’s mentions were so bittersweet < / 3
Now where can I find myself an Ethan LMAO
Oh my god?!?!?!? Chapter 48- holy shit. Did NOT think that would happen.
Still absolutely reeling from the ending, once again another 5 star book by Emma!
Loved all the inclusions of past characters, but Macey’s mentions were so bittersweet < / 3
Now where can I find myself an Ethan LMAO
June 23, 2024
I finished this book yesterday at 1am in my village because I couldn’t put it down. Actually this is my favorite book of Emma at the moment (I’m so exited to read the three I have left). I couldn’t figure out any of the plot twists and you can see a clearly improvement from “Guided”. I already recommended to a ton of friends and I felt like something inside broke with that ending 🫶🏻
June 30, 2024
After reading guided I was very excited to read this book, and it did not disappoint! I struggled to get into it at first but when I did it was definitely worth it. Yet again another 5 star read from Emma smith :) can’t wait to read more
July 22, 2024
Gripping from the first sentence! I enjoyed the way the story slowly pieces itself together with small details. Wasted is definitely a must read!
July 27, 2024
oh my goodness!! emma smith does NOT disappoint!!
after devouring guided in one sitting, i knew that i had to read wasted too and i was equally as blown away and shocked throughout this one. her creation of such elaborate storylines is a true talent, and more people should know her name!
after devouring guided in one sitting, i knew that i had to read wasted too and i was equally as blown away and shocked throughout this one. her creation of such elaborate storylines is a true talent, and more people should know her name!
March 5, 2025
Wow. I could not put this down, such a fitting sequel to Guided. A dark story but had some cosy romance in it to. Loved it!! The only thing I would have loved would be an epilogue... or make it a trilogy...
March 1, 2024
4.25/5
um wow!! I am a little bit at a loss for words after sitting for hours to finish Wasted. I feel like I'm in a trance, and am slightly nauseous tbh.
It was creepy and emotional and gut-wrenching... and I couldn't look away.
I still feel like this story is so unresolved, I have so so many questions. Emma Smith has a way of writing that stays on my mind for ages.
ALSO IM IN THE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS OF THIS BOOK, SO GJRFJIFJRIFHEIOFEOI (so honored :))
um wow!! I am a little bit at a loss for words after sitting for hours to finish Wasted. I feel like I'm in a trance, and am slightly nauseous tbh.
It was creepy and emotional and gut-wrenching... and I couldn't look away.
I still feel like this story is so unresolved, I have so so many questions. Emma Smith has a way of writing that stays on my mind for ages.
ALSO IM IN THE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS OF THIS BOOK, SO GJRFJIFJRIFHEIOFEOI (so honored :))
February 15, 2025
Soo good.
February 12, 2025
WHAT WHAT WHAT. PLEASE TELL ME THAT ISN'T THE END. I NEED MORE. I CANNOT GO ON WITHOUT MORE. PLEASE.
March 9, 2024
Another great book by Emma. I felt so invested in Lucy’s story and it was really well written. I really love the character crossovers in Emma’s books.
My only criticism is that it felt quite open ended. With that being said, I’m really hopeful that there’ll be a follow on story for these three girls!
I’ve read three of Emma’s books now and can’t wait to order & read more. 😊
My only criticism is that it felt quite open ended. With that being said, I’m really hopeful that there’ll be a follow on story for these three girls!
I’ve read three of Emma’s books now and can’t wait to order & read more. 😊
June 12, 2024
I might be biased, but never have I loved a book as much as I love 'Wasted'. The perfect sequel to my debut, which will forever do me proud. This is a book about friendship and loyalty, love and lies, heartbreak and regret, but it's also a book about autumn, and Christmas cheer. If you're reading for the first time, I hope it gives you all of the fuzzy, warm feelings it still gives me... and I hope you love Ethan Morgan as much as I do, too.
June 13, 2025
loved this series especially as an ex girl guide
January 29, 2025
After reading Guided I knew I had to go straight into Wasted to both see what the repercussions of those events were and understand some of these Guides more. I didn’t know what to expect from the story and there were definitely bits I did not expect but I could not stop reading.
Wasted is set five years after the events of Guided and Lucy has moved on, and is ready to move away from Vibbington, and the memories connected to it. However when Lucy and the other Guides go on a final camp before leaving Vibbington, unexpected events occur and the girls end up back in front of the police for interviews in a way Lucy hoped would never again happen.
One of the things since reading this book I have almost struggled to wrap my head around is how big of a range of books Emma Smith has the ability to write. Over the past month and a half I have read quite a few of her books and they have been so vastly different but all books I’ve enjoyed. The two that stuck out with the most variety between them are Wasted and Christmas Eve with stories that are so different, but both ones that I have really enjoyed and feature some of the things that I have come to expect from Emma. These things include relatable characters, a story that has me hooked and a setting that feels super real.
After reading Guided I wasn’t sure I would ever have positive feelings towards these characters however while these were not my favourite characters I really did feel for the girls and the situation they find themselves in. You could see how they had changed over the past five years and also this time around the guilt was not only left to one girl in an unbearable way instead the guilt was shared between all three girls.
It was also really cool to spot the references to the characters in Emma’s other books which I have yet to read but am extremely excited to get to.
This story did feel slightly less realistic than Guided did and the mystery felt very different which I wasn’t expecting but couldn’t put down. There were some parts that definitely frightened me more than I would normally pick to read and also made me glad that I no longer do Scout camps. There were parts of this that I couldn’t actually see happening but overall the mystery had me hooked and I wanted to see what the results of everything would be.
Something else I liked was the fact that we don’t learn which of the girls has died until part way through the book and while I did successfully identify which girl had died it was a really good addition to the story. There were a couple of other things that I successfully predicted but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment.
Overall while I did prefer Guided I am so glad that I have finally read this and spent more time with the characters. I am pretty sure we will be getting a third book in the series and while I have no clue who it will actually follow I am looking forward to seeing what will happen next. I don’t think I would recommend going into this book blind however it is a UKYA mystery series that I would recommend.
Wasted is set five years after the events of Guided and Lucy has moved on, and is ready to move away from Vibbington, and the memories connected to it. However when Lucy and the other Guides go on a final camp before leaving Vibbington, unexpected events occur and the girls end up back in front of the police for interviews in a way Lucy hoped would never again happen.
One of the things since reading this book I have almost struggled to wrap my head around is how big of a range of books Emma Smith has the ability to write. Over the past month and a half I have read quite a few of her books and they have been so vastly different but all books I’ve enjoyed. The two that stuck out with the most variety between them are Wasted and Christmas Eve with stories that are so different, but both ones that I have really enjoyed and feature some of the things that I have come to expect from Emma. These things include relatable characters, a story that has me hooked and a setting that feels super real.
After reading Guided I wasn’t sure I would ever have positive feelings towards these characters however while these were not my favourite characters I really did feel for the girls and the situation they find themselves in. You could see how they had changed over the past five years and also this time around the guilt was not only left to one girl in an unbearable way instead the guilt was shared between all three girls.
It was also really cool to spot the references to the characters in Emma’s other books which I have yet to read but am extremely excited to get to.
This story did feel slightly less realistic than Guided did and the mystery felt very different which I wasn’t expecting but couldn’t put down. There were some parts that definitely frightened me more than I would normally pick to read and also made me glad that I no longer do Scout camps. There were parts of this that I couldn’t actually see happening but overall the mystery had me hooked and I wanted to see what the results of everything would be.
Something else I liked was the fact that we don’t learn which of the girls has died until part way through the book and while I did successfully identify which girl had died it was a really good addition to the story. There were a couple of other things that I successfully predicted but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment.
Overall while I did prefer Guided I am so glad that I have finally read this and spent more time with the characters. I am pretty sure we will be getting a third book in the series and while I have no clue who it will actually follow I am looking forward to seeing what will happen next. I don’t think I would recommend going into this book blind however it is a UKYA mystery series that I would recommend.
April 23, 2024
Rating - 3 stars
Bookstagram - starcrxssedreader
Read - 29th January 2024
Unfortunately, this is one of the books that I read while I was going through a pretty rough breakup. I really wanted to finish this novel because I really love Emma Smith as an author, but part of me wishes that I would've waited until I felt better to finish it? At some point in the future I may reread it, but for now my rating is a three stars.
As with Guided, I really enjoyed the British feeling of this novel. Wasted is set years after the events of Guided, following one of the young teenagers from the first book who is now seventeen (I think?) and in sixth form. This is something that Smith does extremely well, weaving in British culture which just makes it so much more fun to read! Seeing a bit of myself in these books helps me to connect in a different way to these books than I do to other ones that I love. I really hope that Emma continues to explore this in her books, and I'd love to see more slice-of-life work by her in this setting, like Midnight Sherbet (my favourite novel of hers). I think exploring this type of writing could really expand her writing style a lot more!
However, I think aside from the breakup, this book in general didn't have the same spark as Guided did for me? That's in no way to say that this is a bad book, and for what it is and what it follows, I think that it is a good sequel. I just didn't feel the same connection to this book as I did to the first book in this duology. I did like the characters, even the ones that you aren't supposed to like, but it didn't capture me the way the first book did. In Emma's back list, I've noticed that I enjoy the books that follow slice-of-life plots the most, and her novels that follow someone going through a spiral in their mindset. I think Emma has an expert way of showing the deterioration of a character's sanity almost? I'm not sure how else to word it, but she has a very good way of showing how situations in a person's life can contribute to their actions, and how it affects the people around them too.
Overall, while this book absolutely isn't bad and I 100% recommend you read the Guided duology, it wasn't one of my favourites by this author. I will still be reading every book she releases though!
Bookstagram - starcrxssedreader
Read - 29th January 2024
Unfortunately, this is one of the books that I read while I was going through a pretty rough breakup. I really wanted to finish this novel because I really love Emma Smith as an author, but part of me wishes that I would've waited until I felt better to finish it? At some point in the future I may reread it, but for now my rating is a three stars.
As with Guided, I really enjoyed the British feeling of this novel. Wasted is set years after the events of Guided, following one of the young teenagers from the first book who is now seventeen (I think?) and in sixth form. This is something that Smith does extremely well, weaving in British culture which just makes it so much more fun to read! Seeing a bit of myself in these books helps me to connect in a different way to these books than I do to other ones that I love. I really hope that Emma continues to explore this in her books, and I'd love to see more slice-of-life work by her in this setting, like Midnight Sherbet (my favourite novel of hers). I think exploring this type of writing could really expand her writing style a lot more!
However, I think aside from the breakup, this book in general didn't have the same spark as Guided did for me? That's in no way to say that this is a bad book, and for what it is and what it follows, I think that it is a good sequel. I just didn't feel the same connection to this book as I did to the first book in this duology. I did like the characters, even the ones that you aren't supposed to like, but it didn't capture me the way the first book did. In Emma's back list, I've noticed that I enjoy the books that follow slice-of-life plots the most, and her novels that follow someone going through a spiral in their mindset. I think Emma has an expert way of showing the deterioration of a character's sanity almost? I'm not sure how else to word it, but she has a very good way of showing how situations in a person's life can contribute to their actions, and how it affects the people around them too.
Overall, while this book absolutely isn't bad and I 100% recommend you read the Guided duology, it wasn't one of my favourites by this author. I will still be reading every book she releases though!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews