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A Flash of Neon
Laurie loves stories. She loves reading them in her mums' bookshop in their small Scottish town. She loves sharing them with new readers. She also loves telling stories about people she's not yet met and places she's not yet been. But when one of these people comes crashing into Laurie's world, it turns her whole life upside down.
Neon is the boy Laurie's been dreaming of for the last six months, and he's exactly as she had created him - down to his ability to play any instrument he picks up. And when he steps off the train and into Laurie's world, he teaches her what it means to be real.
A fantastical story about imagination and friendship from the award-winning author of AWAY WITH WORDS.
Neon is the boy Laurie's been dreaming of for the last six months, and he's exactly as she had created him - down to his ability to play any instrument he picks up. And when he steps off the train and into Laurie's world, he teaches her what it means to be real.
A fantastical story about imagination and friendship from the award-winning author of AWAY WITH WORDS.
- GenresYoung AdultFantasyLGBT
240 pages, Paperback
Published May 1, 2025
1 person is currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Cameron
6 books145 followersSophie Cameron is the author of several novels for teens and young adults. Her books have been shortlisted for the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing, the UKLA Book Awards, the Polari Children's & YA Prize and the Diverse Book Awards, among others, and won a Leeds Book Award in 2023. Originally from the Scottish Highlands, she now lives in Spain with her children.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 8, 2025
*Thank you to the publisher for sending me a review copy of this!*
Ahhhh. It’s so rare that a book fills me with this much warmth and hope for the future, but this one was so ridiculously sweet. I’m not often a reader of younger ya novels anymore, but this is proof that needs immediately rectifying because they can be SO wholesome and comforting to read. It was so joyful.
I loved the concept, and the magical realism elements felt so novel to me. I think it was such a creative idea, and I had so much fun following these characters and seeing what was going to happen next in their story. Neon and Laurie were such lovable characters, and I was obsessed with their dynamic and how they grew together as the story progressed.
It was a very nice coming of age story, but I appreciated that it had low moments as well as highs. We have a lot of discussion and scenes of Laurie struggling with her self esteem and confidence levels, but she has such a supportive group of people around her who met that with an abundance of patience and love. There was also what I think was a great depiction of rocky female friendships in your early teen years, where jealousy and insecurity can manifest in different ways and lead to people growing apart, while others grow together.
I absolutely adored the inclusion of Laurie having two moms, and the conversations that arose around the importance of seeing yourself in stories too. Cameron just writes with such a warm touch, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself being immersed in the crazy world of Laurie for a while. It was whimsical and creative and full of such hope and positivity. Just a gorgeous book.
Ahhhh. It’s so rare that a book fills me with this much warmth and hope for the future, but this one was so ridiculously sweet. I’m not often a reader of younger ya novels anymore, but this is proof that needs immediately rectifying because they can be SO wholesome and comforting to read. It was so joyful.
I loved the concept, and the magical realism elements felt so novel to me. I think it was such a creative idea, and I had so much fun following these characters and seeing what was going to happen next in their story. Neon and Laurie were such lovable characters, and I was obsessed with their dynamic and how they grew together as the story progressed.
It was a very nice coming of age story, but I appreciated that it had low moments as well as highs. We have a lot of discussion and scenes of Laurie struggling with her self esteem and confidence levels, but she has such a supportive group of people around her who met that with an abundance of patience and love. There was also what I think was a great depiction of rocky female friendships in your early teen years, where jealousy and insecurity can manifest in different ways and lead to people growing apart, while others grow together.
I absolutely adored the inclusion of Laurie having two moms, and the conversations that arose around the importance of seeing yourself in stories too. Cameron just writes with such a warm touch, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself being immersed in the crazy world of Laurie for a while. It was whimsical and creative and full of such hope and positivity. Just a gorgeous book.
April 28, 2025
Quite some time ago I discovered Sophie Cameron through the Book Box Club. It was love at first sight. She does an amazing job combining adventurous stories with important themes and diverse characters. So, when I stumbled upon this book on Netgalley I of course didn't hesitate. I requested a digital review copy and luckily Little Tiger Group granted me a copy and quite happily I started reading last week.
If I had been a child, this would have been my new obsession. You can be sure that everyone who does and doesn't wanna hear about it will. This book is amazing! First of all the concept: An imaginary friend that comes to life and lives in the real world for a time. However, I most of all loved how this is a catalyst for a lot of reflection upon choices, friends and circumstances. Because Neon is an amazing friend and he only wants the best for the girl who created him.
The author also adds a lot of amazing representation. Our heroine has two moms and no questions are asked. Neon and our heroine are also discussing their own romantic feelings and conclude that it's okay that they have no idea yet. There's also some subtle bullying, we meet adults who are not how the world thinks adults should be and the most important lesson our heroine learns is probably that sometimes sharing your issues with others is a good idea.
And despite all these themes and life lessons, the book feels fun and lighthearted. This book is, after all, one big adventure. There are a lot of funny situations. The ending is thrilling, a little emotional and also a little funny and although the world building is not too detailed or complicated everything eventually does make sense. You can be sure that I will recommend this book a lot. Not just to younger readers, but also older readers who have never lost their inner child.
If I had been a child, this would have been my new obsession. You can be sure that everyone who does and doesn't wanna hear about it will. This book is amazing! First of all the concept: An imaginary friend that comes to life and lives in the real world for a time. However, I most of all loved how this is a catalyst for a lot of reflection upon choices, friends and circumstances. Because Neon is an amazing friend and he only wants the best for the girl who created him.
The author also adds a lot of amazing representation. Our heroine has two moms and no questions are asked. Neon and our heroine are also discussing their own romantic feelings and conclude that it's okay that they have no idea yet. There's also some subtle bullying, we meet adults who are not how the world thinks adults should be and the most important lesson our heroine learns is probably that sometimes sharing your issues with others is a good idea.
And despite all these themes and life lessons, the book feels fun and lighthearted. This book is, after all, one big adventure. There are a lot of funny situations. The ending is thrilling, a little emotional and also a little funny and although the world building is not too detailed or complicated everything eventually does make sense. You can be sure that I will recommend this book a lot. Not just to younger readers, but also older readers who have never lost their inner child.
December 21, 2024
I received an eARC via NetGalley.
This book was beautifully written and near impossible to put down. I was absolutely engrossed by this story.
I loved how the reveal of Neon as a fictional person didn't come until after he'd arrived from the train - when Laurie, Hannah and Caitlin had all seen him. And I loved how his story progress - the stakes were high as other creatures from the Realm came to town followed by the blanks, but there was still a strong build-up to the ending. I think having him stay and become real could have felt like an incredibly cheap move but it was built up just right with the way he became more than what Laurie imagined, and with his mother/son relationship with Carrie.
I thought friendship was a beautifully handled theme - from Laurie and Neon to Laurie, Caitlin and Hannah to Laurie and Tilly. I liked how Caitlin's treatment of Hannah and Laurie was criticised, and how Laurie and Tilly rebuilt their friendship over the course of the book.
I also enjoyed Laurie's arc to grow in confidence and realise she can do things without Neon - how he's his own person now and how she can be the kind of person she imagined him as with a little support and encouragement.
I also thought the Blanks were incredibly creepy and well-executed antagonists. Though they never spoke, their presence was ominous and the way they were described really conjured a strong imagine in my mind.
Finally, I loved how this book felt like a love letter to storytelling in all forms. It was really beautiful and fun to read.
This book was beautifully written and near impossible to put down. I was absolutely engrossed by this story.
I loved how the reveal of Neon as a fictional person didn't come until after he'd arrived from the train - when Laurie, Hannah and Caitlin had all seen him. And I loved how his story progress - the stakes were high as other creatures from the Realm came to town followed by the blanks, but there was still a strong build-up to the ending. I think having him stay and become real could have felt like an incredibly cheap move but it was built up just right with the way he became more than what Laurie imagined, and with his mother/son relationship with Carrie.
I thought friendship was a beautifully handled theme - from Laurie and Neon to Laurie, Caitlin and Hannah to Laurie and Tilly. I liked how Caitlin's treatment of Hannah and Laurie was criticised, and how Laurie and Tilly rebuilt their friendship over the course of the book.
I also enjoyed Laurie's arc to grow in confidence and realise she can do things without Neon - how he's his own person now and how she can be the kind of person she imagined him as with a little support and encouragement.
I also thought the Blanks were incredibly creepy and well-executed antagonists. Though they never spoke, their presence was ominous and the way they were described really conjured a strong imagine in my mind.
Finally, I loved how this book felt like a love letter to storytelling in all forms. It was really beautiful and fun to read.
June 3, 2025
Laurie, our main character, has felt left out and ignored by her so-called friends, and suffers frequently with low self-esteem. It’s why she thought-up Neon. He’s always there for her, gets her to the core, and reflects only the brightest parts of life for Laurie—so it’s a shame he’s just a figment of her imagination. Only, when her friends demand to meet the boy who was her first kiss, the mysterious Neon from America, Laurie is astonished to see him actually turn up. The boy of her dreams, come to life.
Unsure of how her brain has concocted an actual person, the same personality and looks that she had so carefully curated in her wildest dreams, Laurie demands to know how Neon is real. Yet, as he comes hurdling into her life and spins it on it’s axis, questions about reality become subdued for Laurie, and instead she’s captivated by the way Neon shows her a side of life she hadn’t dipped her toes into. From giving her a boost of security and friendship to showing her how to live life to the fullest and most unapologetically, Laurie is not just happier by Neon’s presence—she’s changed, too.
Overall, A Flash Of Neon was entertaining, heartwarming and witty, and though such a short story, made a large impression on me. Sophie’s writing is the true gem of the story, bringing magical realism to life in a stunning way that felt seamless. I adored Laurie, her Mums and their bookshop, the connection between Neon and Laurie, and the way he gave her (or, her imagination that created him was the driving force did) a new outlook on the kinds of friendship she deserved. I haven’t read a book quite like this before, merging fantasy and contemporary in a fresh and comical way, and can definitely see why so many people love it, too. This was an amazing story, and I recommend it to younger YA readers (even middle grade) and fans of urban fantasy books!
Unsure of how her brain has concocted an actual person, the same personality and looks that she had so carefully curated in her wildest dreams, Laurie demands to know how Neon is real. Yet, as he comes hurdling into her life and spins it on it’s axis, questions about reality become subdued for Laurie, and instead she’s captivated by the way Neon shows her a side of life she hadn’t dipped her toes into. From giving her a boost of security and friendship to showing her how to live life to the fullest and most unapologetically, Laurie is not just happier by Neon’s presence—she’s changed, too.
Overall, A Flash Of Neon was entertaining, heartwarming and witty, and though such a short story, made a large impression on me. Sophie’s writing is the true gem of the story, bringing magical realism to life in a stunning way that felt seamless. I adored Laurie, her Mums and their bookshop, the connection between Neon and Laurie, and the way he gave her (or, her imagination that created him was the driving force did) a new outlook on the kinds of friendship she deserved. I haven’t read a book quite like this before, merging fantasy and contemporary in a fresh and comical way, and can definitely see why so many people love it, too. This was an amazing story, and I recommend it to younger YA readers (even middle grade) and fans of urban fantasy books!
June 16, 2025
REVIEW ONE
Sophie Cameron masterfully explores the complicated terrain of grief and identity in A Flash of Neon. At its heart is a protagonist grappling with personal loss while simultaneously navigating the blurred lines of who they are and who they want to be. The emotional authenticity is palpable, and Cameron’s prose is subtle yet profoundly affecting. This is a novel that doesn’t offer easy answers but instead invites the reader to sit with discomfort and perhaps, growth.
What Cameron achieves visually with her title, she also replicates thematically: the ‘neon’ stands for otherness, for queerness, for the vivid, electric contrast against grey societal norms. The characters each seem to glow in their own uncertain ways, defying labels and living in the intersections. There’s an almost cinematic quality to how Cameron constructs this world. It is an ode to liminality and outsider-dom.
A powerful tale of loss, change, and identity, A Flash of Neon follows a young person learning how to keep going when everything feels broken. How do you find yourself when part of you is missing?
REVIEW TWO
The main character often feels like they don’t fit in, at school, at home, or in the world. Many people will understand that feeling. The story shows how hard it is to be different, but also that it’s okay not to be like everyone else. This isn’t one of those books where everything is perfect at the end. The main character makes mistakes and gets confused. But that’s what real growing up is like. It shows that you don’t need to be perfect to learn and grow. In a world that wants everyone to blend in, one person stands out as being bright, bold, and unapologetically unique.
There’s no neat line between childhood and growing up. In this story, mistakes, confusion, and courage collide. Who said growing up had to be perfect?
Sophie Cameron masterfully explores the complicated terrain of grief and identity in A Flash of Neon. At its heart is a protagonist grappling with personal loss while simultaneously navigating the blurred lines of who they are and who they want to be. The emotional authenticity is palpable, and Cameron’s prose is subtle yet profoundly affecting. This is a novel that doesn’t offer easy answers but instead invites the reader to sit with discomfort and perhaps, growth.
What Cameron achieves visually with her title, she also replicates thematically: the ‘neon’ stands for otherness, for queerness, for the vivid, electric contrast against grey societal norms. The characters each seem to glow in their own uncertain ways, defying labels and living in the intersections. There’s an almost cinematic quality to how Cameron constructs this world. It is an ode to liminality and outsider-dom.
A powerful tale of loss, change, and identity, A Flash of Neon follows a young person learning how to keep going when everything feels broken. How do you find yourself when part of you is missing?
REVIEW TWO
The main character often feels like they don’t fit in, at school, at home, or in the world. Many people will understand that feeling. The story shows how hard it is to be different, but also that it’s okay not to be like everyone else. This isn’t one of those books where everything is perfect at the end. The main character makes mistakes and gets confused. But that’s what real growing up is like. It shows that you don’t need to be perfect to learn and grow. In a world that wants everyone to blend in, one person stands out as being bright, bold, and unapologetically unique.
There’s no neat line between childhood and growing up. In this story, mistakes, confusion, and courage collide. Who said growing up had to be perfect?
March 28, 2025
I didn’t know what to expect when I first picked this up👩🏽🦯, but I ended up really enjoying it! The whole thing felt like a fairytale🧚🏽♀️, and the way it used imaginary friends🧝🏽♀️ gave me that “watching a movie”🎬 kind of feeling. There’s something super nostalgic about it too—at first, I couldn’t put my finger on why, but then it hit me. It’s got the same kind of vibe as Goosebumps🧟♀️—but way more lighthearted, with happier themes💫.
That being said, I do wish we got more references to the realm💯. It would’ve been nice to see more comparisons between their world and ours🔱🌐. The ending also felt a bit rushed, and I still don’t fully understand how what everyone did actually “fought”🗡️ the Blanks🃏. Like… how did that even work?
Speaking of the Blanks🃏, I think their whole “draining creativity”🎨 thing could have been done better. There wasn’t enough physical description🎭 of how people were affected beyond just losing creativity👵🏾. If they were struggling in other ways, I didn’t really pick up on it. And if creativity was so drained, then how did they even manage to “fight” back? That part didn’t quite add up for me.
Also, I get what the Blanks🃏 were meant to do, but some of their actions🎬 didn’t make sense. Like, why were they all walking in the water except for that one👩🏽🦯? What was the reason for that??
Thanks Netgalley and the author for the ARC 👏🏽❤️🩹🔥
That being said, I do wish we got more references to the realm💯. It would’ve been nice to see more comparisons between their world and ours🔱🌐. The ending also felt a bit rushed, and I still don’t fully understand how what everyone did actually “fought”🗡️ the Blanks🃏. Like… how did that even work?
Speaking of the Blanks🃏, I think their whole “draining creativity”🎨 thing could have been done better. There wasn’t enough physical description🎭 of how people were affected beyond just losing creativity👵🏾. If they were struggling in other ways, I didn’t really pick up on it. And if creativity was so drained, then how did they even manage to “fight” back? That part didn’t quite add up for me.
Also, I get what the Blanks🃏 were meant to do, but some of their actions🎬 didn’t make sense. Like, why were they all walking in the water except for that one👩🏽🦯? What was the reason for that??
Thanks Netgalley and the author for the ARC 👏🏽❤️🩹🔥
May 18, 2025
I absolutely loved this gripping and magical novel!! It was just magnificent, and it had some amazing world building!
Neon is Laurie’s best friend, and the person who will always be there for her when she needs to talk to anyone about anything. Which is very understandable, seeing that she made him up.
However, when Neon actually turns up at a train station one day, Laurie’s life will never be the same again. He’s exactly as what she imagined him, from his amazing and bubbly personality to the birthmark that looks like France which is next to his eyebrow. But little does she know, Neon is about to teach her what it means to be real…
I absolutely loved this novel!! It was so gripping and exciting, and it was just amazing. I love Sophie’s Writing, as I loved her other book, Away with Words, so I knew I had to read this one. It was incredible. It felt so real, and it also felt fictional at the same time. It was so magical, and I just couldn’t stop reading it. The characters were just amazing, and the world that Sophie created is like Earth but better. I really recommend this book, and I hope that Sophie will write more books in this world!
Neon is Laurie’s best friend, and the person who will always be there for her when she needs to talk to anyone about anything. Which is very understandable, seeing that she made him up.
However, when Neon actually turns up at a train station one day, Laurie’s life will never be the same again. He’s exactly as what she imagined him, from his amazing and bubbly personality to the birthmark that looks like France which is next to his eyebrow. But little does she know, Neon is about to teach her what it means to be real…
I absolutely loved this novel!! It was so gripping and exciting, and it was just amazing. I love Sophie’s Writing, as I loved her other book, Away with Words, so I knew I had to read this one. It was incredible. It felt so real, and it also felt fictional at the same time. It was so magical, and I just couldn’t stop reading it. The characters were just amazing, and the world that Sophie created is like Earth but better. I really recommend this book, and I hope that Sophie will write more books in this world!
April 30, 2025
A Flash of Neon is Sophie Cameron's newest book and when Little Tiger reached out and asked if I wanted a copy I knew I had to say yes after loving her past two releases.
Sophie Cameron writes books set in Scotland (which I love) that seem to be based in contemporary worlds but have magical elements that explore the best topics, and I always find that the way she does this is through her own fantastic lens that is unlike any other one I have read. This book was no exception through the idea of an imaginary friend who comes to life and causes chaos in Laurie's life Sophie Cameron explores what friendship is, why imagination is so important and what it means to be real.
I read this book in one sitting last night because I just could not put it down. I found the characters to be really engaging and just wanted to get to know them all better. I also found I really wanted to know where everything was going to go and what would happen with the plot engaging me for the full 230 pages. There were also some really fun elements, like spotting all the Scottish place names and all the other fictional creatures that are spotted (like maybe the Loch Ness Monster...)
This one is coming out on 1st May and if what I have said interests you at all I would highly recommend picking it up then. Thank you so much to Little Tiger for sending me a free finished copy.
Sophie Cameron writes books set in Scotland (which I love) that seem to be based in contemporary worlds but have magical elements that explore the best topics, and I always find that the way she does this is through her own fantastic lens that is unlike any other one I have read. This book was no exception through the idea of an imaginary friend who comes to life and causes chaos in Laurie's life Sophie Cameron explores what friendship is, why imagination is so important and what it means to be real.
I read this book in one sitting last night because I just could not put it down. I found the characters to be really engaging and just wanted to get to know them all better. I also found I really wanted to know where everything was going to go and what would happen with the plot engaging me for the full 230 pages. There were also some really fun elements, like spotting all the Scottish place names and all the other fictional creatures that are spotted (like maybe the Loch Ness Monster...)
This one is coming out on 1st May and if what I have said interests you at all I would highly recommend picking it up then. Thank you so much to Little Tiger for sending me a free finished copy.
April 21, 2025
A lovely fantasy book about what happens when a teens imaginary friend comes to life.
Laurie has been telling her friends about her first kiss for ages now, but what she doesn't tell them is that she made it all up. What happens next is like a teen version of Pages and Co and it was a fun and quick read.
I liked how the book dealt with friendships, with growing up and with believing jn yourself. Parts of it were quick poignant.
I think the would be great for early YA readers, and I would definitely recommend it, I just wasn't the target audience and that's OK.
Laurie has been telling her friends about her first kiss for ages now, but what she doesn't tell them is that she made it all up. What happens next is like a teen version of Pages and Co and it was a fun and quick read.
I liked how the book dealt with friendships, with growing up and with believing jn yourself. Parts of it were quick poignant.
I think the would be great for early YA readers, and I would definitely recommend it, I just wasn't the target audience and that's OK.
May 23, 2025
Laurie is the main character and she lives with her Mums who have a bookshop.
She feels a bit left out with her friends and makes up a boyfriend. She says he is coming to visit and goes to meet him at the train station only to find he is real.
I think that this book is aimed at a younger audience and it wasn't really for me.
Having said that it is well written and handles the subject of friendships and feeling left out well.
Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher.
She feels a bit left out with her friends and makes up a boyfriend. She says he is coming to visit and goes to meet him at the train station only to find he is real.
I think that this book is aimed at a younger audience and it wasn't really for me.
Having said that it is well written and handles the subject of friendships and feeling left out well.
Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher.
January 12, 2026
The concept of the book is nice and creative, different to any concept i’ve read before. However i did find some plot holes - or what i believe to be - and felt confused at times. I also felt that the storyline moved quite fast, which is inevitable with the book being less than 300 pages. Overall, it’s a great read that can be easily finished in one day or perfect for younger teens transitioning into more mature book genres.
May 18, 2025
Contemporary fantasy for readers of 10 years and above about the power of imagination, my full review is here; http://vsviewfromthebookshelves.home....
June 7, 2025
This was a fun read. I loved the idea that a boy Laurie made up would just come swanning into her life like that. Though I guessed before he came off the train, what the punchline would be, that moment was still fantastic.
I love the idea that there’s a world where all the fictional characters hang out and have lives. As a avid reader, I’m enchanted by the idea of all the characters from the books I love being friends. It was also really fun as they came into Laurie’s world one by one.
This book also covered a lot of real issues, such as the bullying that often happens with teenage girls. Having been in one of these friendships myself as a girl, it hit pretty hard. But it was good to read about, especially as it would be nice to think of teenagers reading this book and having the courage to leaving toxic friendships.
This book was utterly charming and would be great for younger readers.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Cross-posted to thewhisperingofthepages.co.uk
I love the idea that there’s a world where all the fictional characters hang out and have lives. As a avid reader, I’m enchanted by the idea of all the characters from the books I love being friends. It was also really fun as they came into Laurie’s world one by one.
This book also covered a lot of real issues, such as the bullying that often happens with teenage girls. Having been in one of these friendships myself as a girl, it hit pretty hard. But it was good to read about, especially as it would be nice to think of teenagers reading this book and having the courage to leaving toxic friendships.
This book was utterly charming and would be great for younger readers.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Cross-posted to thewhisperingofthepages.co.uk
August 30, 2025
If you’ve ever hoped your imaginary friend could be real.. this is for you :)
December 29, 2025
pretty good at helping me out my reading slump :D
January 1, 2026
Good but confusing kina
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews