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For Holly
Lola Durand hates her stepmother. It's a cliché but it's true.
Lola Durand can't get through to her father. He never wants to talk about the things that matter: why they had to move to Paris, why he had to marry evil Agatha, and how they can get through the heartache of her mother's death together.
If he won't listen, she'll show him. She'll show him the truth about his new wife and then her life can go back to normal, just the way she likes it.
Lola Durand knows a secret about her stepmother. She's going to share it.
Lola Durand can't get through to her father. He never wants to talk about the things that matter: why they had to move to Paris, why he had to marry evil Agatha, and how they can get through the heartache of her mother's death together.
If he won't listen, she'll show him. She'll show him the truth about his new wife and then her life can go back to normal, just the way she likes it.
Lola Durand knows a secret about her stepmother. She's going to share it.
336 pages, Paperback
First published June 4, 2015
2 people are currently reading
542 people want to read
About the author
Tanya Byrne
11 books582 followersTanya Byrne is an award-winning young adult author.
She was born in London where she spent forty years before moving to Brighton in 2017 with her dog, Frida. After eight years at BBC Radio, she left to write her debut novel, HEART-SHAPED BRUISE, which was published by Headline in May 2012 and earned her a nomination for New Writer of the Year at the National Book Awards.
Since then, she has written three young adult novels, including FLOORED, a unique collaborative novel with six other bestselling and award-winning authors: Sara Barnard, Holly Bourne, Non Pratt, Melinda Salisbury, Lisa Williamson and Eleanor Wood.
She has also contributed to several short story anthologies including A CHANGE IS GONNA COME, which was named Sunday Times Children's Book of the Week and was honoured with a Special Achievement Award by the YA Book Prize.
As a brown, queer, working class author, she is determined not to pull the ladder up after her so she is passionate about encouraging authors from marginalised backgrounds to tell their own stories and making publishing more open to everyone.
Her next novel, AFTERLOVE, is published by Hachette Children's Group in August.
She was born in London where she spent forty years before moving to Brighton in 2017 with her dog, Frida. After eight years at BBC Radio, she left to write her debut novel, HEART-SHAPED BRUISE, which was published by Headline in May 2012 and earned her a nomination for New Writer of the Year at the National Book Awards.
Since then, she has written three young adult novels, including FLOORED, a unique collaborative novel with six other bestselling and award-winning authors: Sara Barnard, Holly Bourne, Non Pratt, Melinda Salisbury, Lisa Williamson and Eleanor Wood.
She has also contributed to several short story anthologies including A CHANGE IS GONNA COME, which was named Sunday Times Children's Book of the Week and was honoured with a Special Achievement Award by the YA Book Prize.
As a brown, queer, working class author, she is determined not to pull the ladder up after her so she is passionate about encouraging authors from marginalised backgrounds to tell their own stories and making publishing more open to everyone.
Her next novel, AFTERLOVE, is published by Hachette Children's Group in August.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
June 6, 2015
"For Holly" is a highly compelling family drama with a mystery element that starts off slowly but inexorably draws you in. Written in the form of a diary/letter, it pretty much follows Lola on a path through grief after the death of her Mother. The whole thing is fascinatingly emotional as we see her self destruct, even though she cannot see it herself...
I really thought this was a genuinely beautiful yet very sad at times story - Lola is a remarkably drawn character with a strong voice and an engaging and intriguing story to tell.
It is a haunting and intelligent take on the grieving process, wrapped up in a well constructed tale - you know that Lola has done something, that there are secrets waiting to be revealed, this keeps you right in the moment. On the way to the resolution though, we can see the raw pain and horror of losing someone we love, how that can change us, change everything. It is authentic, moving and absolutely gripping.
Just a mention as well to the scene setting which is pitched perfectly - set in France the location comes to life as Lola describes her life there, comparing and contrasting to her other life in London - the heart of the story is given a real boost by the fact that you can see and feel the locations where the events are taking place.
Overall then, really excellent. I've loved all of Tanya Byrne's novels so far, she manages to give us something different every time. "For Holly" is a strong addition to her stable, a touching and exquisitely written novel with real heart.
Happy Reading folks!
I really thought this was a genuinely beautiful yet very sad at times story - Lola is a remarkably drawn character with a strong voice and an engaging and intriguing story to tell.
It is a haunting and intelligent take on the grieving process, wrapped up in a well constructed tale - you know that Lola has done something, that there are secrets waiting to be revealed, this keeps you right in the moment. On the way to the resolution though, we can see the raw pain and horror of losing someone we love, how that can change us, change everything. It is authentic, moving and absolutely gripping.
Just a mention as well to the scene setting which is pitched perfectly - set in France the location comes to life as Lola describes her life there, comparing and contrasting to her other life in London - the heart of the story is given a real boost by the fact that you can see and feel the locations where the events are taking place.
Overall then, really excellent. I've loved all of Tanya Byrne's novels so far, she manages to give us something different every time. "For Holly" is a strong addition to her stable, a touching and exquisitely written novel with real heart.
Happy Reading folks!
November 3, 2018
After reading ( and loving ) Tanya Byrne's debut novel "Heart-Shaped Bruise" several years ago and placing my hands on her 2nd novel "Follow Me Down" pretty much as soon as it was released, I was instantly a fan of hers, and was keen to read her 3rd novel, which admittedly took much longer than it should have.
"For Holly" paled in comparison, and while it held my attention enough to fill a Sunday afternoon, it lacked for me in its flow given the mystery component used in the telling of this family drama with a sassy narrator.
"For Holly" paled in comparison, and while it held my attention enough to fill a Sunday afternoon, it lacked for me in its flow given the mystery component used in the telling of this family drama with a sassy narrator.
April 11, 2015
I received this book for free via Goodreads First Reads.
5 Stars.
I don't always give a book that for many reasons. This was a book that I also was considering a 2 or 3 star rating after the first hundred pages too. The story starts like a mystery and little pieces are revealed as it goes along. I was lost as a reader and this is an important point... I do not speak a word of French. The French dialogue in the book did not help me early on despite the fact it is partially explained afterwards.
Then I got into the main part of the book. The main character's life and how she met the person in the title. Her feelings and how it happened. I was then engrossed and needed to read more. The author paced the book perfectly in that regard.
The ending was what the book needed and I don't give spoilers but it needs the reader to get there. I recommend this book to any teenager, 20 something, parent or reader. It is well worth finishing and adding to your collection.
5 Stars.
I don't always give a book that for many reasons. This was a book that I also was considering a 2 or 3 star rating after the first hundred pages too. The story starts like a mystery and little pieces are revealed as it goes along. I was lost as a reader and this is an important point... I do not speak a word of French. The French dialogue in the book did not help me early on despite the fact it is partially explained afterwards.
Then I got into the main part of the book. The main character's life and how she met the person in the title. Her feelings and how it happened. I was then engrossed and needed to read more. The author paced the book perfectly in that regard.
The ending was what the book needed and I don't give spoilers but it needs the reader to get there. I recommend this book to any teenager, 20 something, parent or reader. It is well worth finishing and adding to your collection.
July 19, 2015
I found this to be a bit of a slow burner but really enjoyed it by the end. For Holly is another book by Tanya Byrne which kept me guessing and really surprised me. There were niggly things I didn't enjoy which are geniune pet hates of mine in YA of late especially the relationship between Lola and her step mother but other than that I enjoyed it and would recommend to others.
January 8, 2022
The first half of this book was quite dull. It picked up just over half way but didn't keep me enthralled. However, the last chapter was a surprise. I had to reread it just to make sure i'd got it right.
June 7, 2015
Okay so, I enjoyed this book, the setting was very well done, I've never actually been to Paris unfortunately but I got a real feel for the place and an idea of what it looks like and so on, as well as some ideas for where to visit if I ever get to go! The book was very authentic, and really helps you to dive in to the world of the book. There were lots of lines in French, and I found myself picking up the odd word or phrase, and after doing the standard school French, I found myself actually enjoying the French rather than being confused and not understanding like I was slightly worried would happen.
The only gripe I have is that it took me a while to get in to the story, it was a bit slow in the beginning and I found my attention wandering, but the book reaches a certain point when it suddenly grips you and you're frantically reading trying to work out what's going to happen next. Although I had pegged who Holly was from the beginning, I still enjoyed it.
I enjoyed the format of the book, written like a diary/letter type thing, and Lola acknowledges that she is writing this to Holly and so on, and she remembers such small details. It really kept the intrigue up as well as Lola obviously knows what happened and you know she knows something you don't know and you're trying to pick up her clues. It just kept the story fresh, doing it that way, rather than as a regular narrative. It was very easy to read and understand, there was no confusion or anything like that, which I was slightly worried about in the beginning as it jumped about a bit.
The characters really do come to life, they're given an introduction which fits with the way of writing, and you can get a real feel for the characters. Lola, she was so easy to connect to, and as I was reading, I was really starting to feel for her more and more, I felt angry on her behalf more than once, I felt exactly as she would have felt I think. She was so easy to empathise with.
Agatha was an interesting one. We're left to draw our own conclusions and Lola says she won't say much about her because she's biased, but she does seem quite horrendous, and that's being polite, I really disliked her at one point particularly after the whole Pan thing, Anyway, there was more to her than met the eye, and she had quite a heartbreaking back story, and by the end, I actually quite appreciated how strong she was and how she may not show affection like the rest of us, but she does it in her own way.
The book had funny bits, sad bits, bits that made you angry and then it had heartwarming bits, like Lola and her Dad finally talking and working it all out and really it was kind of a whole miscommunication thing, because if they'd just talked in the beginning and so on, the it would have ended quite differently I think.
The only gripe I have is that it took me a while to get in to the story, it was a bit slow in the beginning and I found my attention wandering, but the book reaches a certain point when it suddenly grips you and you're frantically reading trying to work out what's going to happen next. Although I had pegged who Holly was from the beginning, I still enjoyed it.
I enjoyed the format of the book, written like a diary/letter type thing, and Lola acknowledges that she is writing this to Holly and so on, and she remembers such small details. It really kept the intrigue up as well as Lola obviously knows what happened and you know she knows something you don't know and you're trying to pick up her clues. It just kept the story fresh, doing it that way, rather than as a regular narrative. It was very easy to read and understand, there was no confusion or anything like that, which I was slightly worried about in the beginning as it jumped about a bit.
The characters really do come to life, they're given an introduction which fits with the way of writing, and you can get a real feel for the characters. Lola, she was so easy to connect to, and as I was reading, I was really starting to feel for her more and more, I felt angry on her behalf more than once, I felt exactly as she would have felt I think. She was so easy to empathise with.
Agatha was an interesting one. We're left to draw our own conclusions and Lola says she won't say much about her because she's biased, but she does seem quite horrendous, and that's being polite, I really disliked her at one point particularly after the whole Pan thing, Anyway, there was more to her than met the eye, and she had quite a heartbreaking back story, and by the end, I actually quite appreciated how strong she was and how she may not show affection like the rest of us, but she does it in her own way.
The book had funny bits, sad bits, bits that made you angry and then it had heartwarming bits, like Lola and her Dad finally talking and working it all out and really it was kind of a whole miscommunication thing, because if they'd just talked in the beginning and so on, the it would have ended quite differently I think.
September 8, 2015
*Received from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review*
Going into For Holly I did not really know what to expect, all I knew was the novel was surrounded by the fact that Lola knew a big secret about her step-mother. I was so intrigued by this plot, I was pleased to start reading it, however I was very disappointed. I really like the cover, it is very simple and yet I feel it makes a statement, especially with the yellow.
As for a summary of the plot, I feel you should go into this without knowing anything.
I believe the main problem I had with this novel was the protagonist, Lola. Clearly Lola was upset after the death of her mother, alongside the fact that only three months after her death Lola's father marries Agatha in France. She was an individual who clearly needed someone there to help her, and so this lack of help created the personality she adopted which was being selfish and destructive; she had so much hate in her that it made her come across as immature which I felt really pushed aside the fact that she had just lost her mother.
The plot of this novel was slow and uninteresting. Yes, this novel does tackle some heavy subjects like death and terrorism which were horrific and unimaginable. However apart from this, the plot would just talk about how much she hated Agatha, how much no-one understood her, and what she had to eat. Then it skipped a key scene of a week, but after I felt the introduction of Holly gave the novel the uplift it needed. Though the secret Lola had was nothing shocking, and I was rather disappointed. Then the ending, I think by that time I just wanted to finish the novel as I had had enough.
Sadly this novel did not live up to my expectations, and the big secret was not anything shocking and unexpected.
Going into For Holly I did not really know what to expect, all I knew was the novel was surrounded by the fact that Lola knew a big secret about her step-mother. I was so intrigued by this plot, I was pleased to start reading it, however I was very disappointed. I really like the cover, it is very simple and yet I feel it makes a statement, especially with the yellow.
As for a summary of the plot, I feel you should go into this without knowing anything.
I believe the main problem I had with this novel was the protagonist, Lola. Clearly Lola was upset after the death of her mother, alongside the fact that only three months after her death Lola's father marries Agatha in France. She was an individual who clearly needed someone there to help her, and so this lack of help created the personality she adopted which was being selfish and destructive; she had so much hate in her that it made her come across as immature which I felt really pushed aside the fact that she had just lost her mother.
The plot of this novel was slow and uninteresting. Yes, this novel does tackle some heavy subjects like death and terrorism which were horrific and unimaginable. However apart from this, the plot would just talk about how much she hated Agatha, how much no-one understood her, and what she had to eat. Then it skipped a key scene of a week, but after I felt the introduction of Holly gave the novel the uplift it needed. Though the secret Lola had was nothing shocking, and I was rather disappointed. Then the ending, I think by that time I just wanted to finish the novel as I had had enough.
Sadly this novel did not live up to my expectations, and the big secret was not anything shocking and unexpected.
February 19, 2017
Always a twist that I never see coming. Fantastic. The style was easy-flowing and never made me get bored at any point. The story was fast-paced and kept me on my toes. I can't really say anything else until you've read the book. I would recommend it to anyone. Amazing - everything I expected it to be.
July 3, 2015
Tanya Byrne has been a favourite author of mine ever since I read Heart-Shaped Bruise, her books are always so ... unpredictable and For Holly was no different.
Lola Durand is self-destructing after the death of her mother and her father's sudden remarriage so when she decides to take revenge on her stepmother, Agatha, for convincing her boyfriend to go back to London without her she doesn't realise that her actions could have unintended consequences.
I could really sympathise with Lola. Her mother is dead and her father has remarried and is trying to force her to stay in Paris.. All she really wants is her family back but that's never going to happen and so she's self-destructing without even realising it.
I wanted to dislike Lola's dad, Simon, but I couldn't. He was completely insensitive (I mean what dad up and marries another woman without even consulting his daughter a mere 3 months after his wife dies) but he did seem like a good dad.
I really did not like Agatha but I was curious about her. She was a bitch but there was more than that to her but I couldn't quite figure her out. I didn't get why she was always so a cold and nasty especially towards Lola. What Lola did to her seems...not justified but understandable, poetic almost.
For Holly is done in Byrne's usual style, the protagonist looking back/ writing about the recent event which I have no problem but sometimes the different time frames she was referring to was a bit confusing (or maybe that was just because I read it the hottest July day ever recorded in the UK) but overall the novel was a captivating read full of wonderfully descriptive prose, perfect for fans of Cat Clarke and Helen Eve.
Many thanks to Headline and Netgalley for the ARC.
Lola Durand is self-destructing after the death of her mother and her father's sudden remarriage so when she decides to take revenge on her stepmother, Agatha, for convincing her boyfriend to go back to London without her she doesn't realise that her actions could have unintended consequences.
I could really sympathise with Lola. Her mother is dead and her father has remarried and is trying to force her to stay in Paris.. All she really wants is her family back but that's never going to happen and so she's self-destructing without even realising it.
I wanted to dislike Lola's dad, Simon, but I couldn't. He was completely insensitive (I mean what dad up and marries another woman without even consulting his daughter a mere 3 months after his wife dies) but he did seem like a good dad.
I really did not like Agatha but I was curious about her. She was a bitch but there was more than that to her but I couldn't quite figure her out. I didn't get why she was always so a cold and nasty especially towards Lola. What Lola did to her seems...not justified but understandable, poetic almost.
For Holly is done in Byrne's usual style, the protagonist looking back/ writing about the recent event which I have no problem but sometimes the different time frames she was referring to was a bit confusing (or maybe that was just because I read it the hottest July day ever recorded in the UK) but overall the novel was a captivating read full of wonderfully descriptive prose, perfect for fans of Cat Clarke and Helen Eve.
Many thanks to Headline and Netgalley for the ARC.
April 1, 2016
I requested this book because I was so intrigued by the fact that it's set in Paris and I LOVED reading about it! That was probably my favourite part of the book, getting to read all about the shops and just life there. I was also really proud of myself for understanding most of what they were saying when they spoke in French! Normally I don't really like Mystery/Thriller books but I didn't mind it in For Holly. I loved all the family drama; it made me feel like I was reading Gossip Girl or something. Really enjoyed!
July 12, 2015
The last 100 pages really were the most interesting part of the book. Lola annoyed me and I just didn't get into it until about half way through because of that.
May 2, 2018
I wrote a on my blog.
January 27, 2019
Having a 38.8°C fever was a great way to lay in bed and read this book in just a day or so. It’s a very interesting mystery, narrated in the form of letters written by a teenage girl, Lola. It’s quite clear that Lola has done something horrible to someone, but what exactly and mostly what has driven her to do it, is sketched in several letters or a diary written. There’s a lot of interesting plot twists and the author manages to really catch your attention while everything is unraveled. Besides the mystery aspect, there is also a lot of raw pain and grief from Lola, who lost her mother a few months before. Her father quickly remarried and it would be quite an understatement to say that she is not a big fan of her new stepmother and new life in Paris.
January 8, 2022
Written in first person but addressing the reader from time to time (imagine a letter, because essentially that's what it is) meant that this book took a couple of chapters to properly get into. But I was hooked from the first line, and I have to say I wasn't disappointed.
There was a part about half, maybe three quarters a way through and it was only a page but honestly it made me cry actual tears. The emotive writing >>>>
You can really feel Lola's feelings, all the grief and anger she's felt since her mother's death 8 months, 5 weeks and 2 days ago (not that she's counting).
Plus, it made me really want to go to Paris despite all the events of the story so bonus points on that front!
There was a part about half, maybe three quarters a way through and it was only a page but honestly it made me cry actual tears. The emotive writing >>>>
You can really feel Lola's feelings, all the grief and anger she's felt since her mother's death 8 months, 5 weeks and 2 days ago (not that she's counting).
Plus, it made me really want to go to Paris despite all the events of the story so bonus points on that front!
March 29, 2025
the first tanya byrne book that fell flat for me
it was a really slow burn. while at the start I could relate to Lola's grief, it just felt like I was reading the same thing over and over again. skim read the last 80 pages or so because I couldnt bring myself to care
for the amount of suspense the first 2/3 of the book kept the reader in, the reveal of Lola's stepmother's secret was so dull and made me feel like I read the book for absolutely nothing
I also found the 'twists' really disappointing and lame :/
it was a really slow burn. while at the start I could relate to Lola's grief, it just felt like I was reading the same thing over and over again. skim read the last 80 pages or so because I couldnt bring myself to care
for the amount of suspense the first 2/3 of the book kept the reader in, the reveal of Lola's stepmother's secret was so dull and made me feel like I read the book for absolutely nothing
I also found the 'twists' really disappointing and lame :/
July 28, 2025
she’s sooo seventeen love it
March 15, 2017
it only got better towards the end, but the ending was worth it
October 26, 2015
For Holly ähnelt den vorangegangenen Büchern insofern, dass etwas passiert ist, wir aber nicht wissen, was es ist, und darin dass die Erzählung zwischen Vergangenheit und Gegenwart (hier in Form von Briefen) abwechselt. Anders als in ihren Vorgängerinnen geht es hier aber mal nicht um ein Verbrechen. Damit verknüpft ist das Buch weniger um dieses eine Geheimnis zentriert, sondern konzentriert sich vielmehr auf die Beziehungen der Charaktere – was ihr vor dem Lesen vielleicht wissen solltet; zumindest bin ich mit falschen Erwartungen herangegangen, was mein Leseerlebnis durchaus beeinflusst hat. Kurze Zusammenfassung: Lolas Mutter ist überraschend verstorben und kurze Zeit später hat ihr Vater eine neue Frau und zieht nach Frankreich. Lola soll den Sommer mit den beiden in Paris verbringen, was ihr so gar nicht passt – sie will bei ihrer Großmutter bleiben, bei ihrem Freund Pan und ganz bestimmt nicht in Paris mit Agatha, die sie absolut verabscheut. Agatha ist reserviert, streng, in sich gezogen – das komplette Gegenteil von Lola und auch sie scheint nicht viel für die Tochter ihres Mannes übrig zu haben, und das nicht nur, weil sie mehr oder minder regelmäßig Kleinigkeiten aus Läden stiehlt. Und während die Dinge immer mehr eskalieren und Agatha sich immer furchtbarer Lola gegenüber benimmt, macht sich Lola daran, Agathas Schwachstelle zu finden – und hier kommt Holly ins Spiel. Die Sache ist, ich bin noch immer nicht sicher, ob Agatha wirklich so schrecklich ist, wie sie wirkt, da wir alles aus Lolas Sicht sehen. Andererseits gibt es da Sachen, die sich auch nicht wirklich schönreden lassen … viel wichtiger aber ist Lolas Beziehung zu ihrem Vater, die verständlicherweise belastet ist. Die meiste Zeit über hab ich mir einfach nur gewünscht, dass sich die beiden einfach mal ausreden, sich alles an den Kopf werfen, was sie so denken – einfach damit es endlich mal im Offenen ist und sie darüber reden können. Aber sie sind Menschen und so einfach ist es nicht. Und wie auch in “Follow Me Down” spricht Tanya Byrne noch andere, gesellschaftliche Probleme an – hier Rassismus, mit dem Lola als Tochter einer Frau, die Schwarz ist, und einem Mann, der weiß ist, selbst als junges Mädchen konfrontiert wird. In einer besonders ekelhaften Szene nimmt eine fremde Person einfach an, dass Lola die Freundin von ihrem Vater ist und nicht seine Tochter, und spricht damit unter anderem die Sexualisierung Schwarzer Frauen an, die oftmals nicht einfach Mädchen sein dürfen. Letztlich geschieht das aber nur in den Details, der Rest der Geschichte … zog sich ein wenig hin und konnte mich nie wirklich fesseln. Vielleicht war es die falsche Erwartungshaltung, vielleicht ist es auch wieder Byrnes erstes und unglaublich fantastisches Buch, in dessen Schatten “For Holly” lebt. Schlecht ist “For Holly” deswegen auch nicht, ich hatte nur mehr erwartet.
July 27, 2015
Originally published at: http://solittletimeforbooks.blogspot....
As always with Tanya Byrne’s novels, For Holly delivered an intense, beautiful written and tautly paced novel that I never wanted to put down.
For Holly is an incredibly emotional read. It’s only been around six or seven months since Lola’s mum died suddenly and already her dad has moved on. He’s now living in Paris with his cold, hard fashion designer wife whom Lola hates. The story is drowning in thick, choking grief and it only get more and more powerful with every chapter. I felt everything Lola felt so acutely that I was choked up for most of the second half of the novel and a few tears even escaped on a couple of occasions. I had to purposefully not take it out with me! It was gut-wrenchingly real.
I was expecting Lola butting heads with her stepmum to be the main focus of the novel, but I really loved that For Holly centred on her relationship with her dad. Like the grief, the resentment and anger and hurt and betrayal all built up steadily over the novel until I thought Lola might actually combust from the boil of feelings inside her. I really enjoy relationship dynamic where there’s some major miscommunication and Lola and her dad may as well have been on opposite ends of the planet for how well they communicated! Feelings of neglect and loneliness are very much a teenage state of being, but Lola has so many reasons for them to be enhanced and her dad just doesn’t know how to connect with this young woman anymore.
For Holly is another stand-out novel from Tanya Byrne. She’s a seriously talented writer and I’m already looking forward to what she gifts us with next.
As always with Tanya Byrne’s novels, For Holly delivered an intense, beautiful written and tautly paced novel that I never wanted to put down.
For Holly is an incredibly emotional read. It’s only been around six or seven months since Lola’s mum died suddenly and already her dad has moved on. He’s now living in Paris with his cold, hard fashion designer wife whom Lola hates. The story is drowning in thick, choking grief and it only get more and more powerful with every chapter. I felt everything Lola felt so acutely that I was choked up for most of the second half of the novel and a few tears even escaped on a couple of occasions. I had to purposefully not take it out with me! It was gut-wrenchingly real.
I was expecting Lola butting heads with her stepmum to be the main focus of the novel, but I really loved that For Holly centred on her relationship with her dad. Like the grief, the resentment and anger and hurt and betrayal all built up steadily over the novel until I thought Lola might actually combust from the boil of feelings inside her. I really enjoy relationship dynamic where there’s some major miscommunication and Lola and her dad may as well have been on opposite ends of the planet for how well they communicated! Feelings of neglect and loneliness are very much a teenage state of being, but Lola has so many reasons for them to be enhanced and her dad just doesn’t know how to connect with this young woman anymore.
For Holly is another stand-out novel from Tanya Byrne. She’s a seriously talented writer and I’m already looking forward to what she gifts us with next.
August 16, 2015
This review was originally posted on OhBookish
For Holly is a quick and entertaining read.
The story follows Lola Dunard as she is forced to stay with her father and stepmother in Paris, during her summer break. As Lola learns of her father’s plans to keep her in Paris permanently and that her stepmother, Agatha, had convinced Lola’s boyfriend to return to London without her, Lola is hellbent on revenge.
I couldn’t help but sympathize with Lola. She had set herself on a self-destructing path after her mothers death, yet the adults in the book didn’t seem capable to help her. Yes Lola did make some horrible decisions throughout this book, but you ultimately knew it was because she wasn’t getting the help she needed and so you couldn’t fault her for it.
Lola’s dad irked me at times, but I could never hate him. There were things he said and his actions – most notably him remarrying only 3 months after his wife had died, without even talking to his daughter first – that seemed so insensitive.
My feelings on Agatha are complicated. To start with I absolutely did not like her at all, however, towards the end of the book we learnt more about her backstory and I did feel sympathy for her. Unfortunately, I still couldn’t completely like her.
Byrne’s writing style is unique; the story is written as a notebook/letter, which made the reading experience more intimate. For Holly started off slow and I often found my attention wondering, however during the second half the story picked up and I found myself eagerly turning each page.
For Holly is a quick and entertaining read.
The story follows Lola Dunard as she is forced to stay with her father and stepmother in Paris, during her summer break. As Lola learns of her father’s plans to keep her in Paris permanently and that her stepmother, Agatha, had convinced Lola’s boyfriend to return to London without her, Lola is hellbent on revenge.
I couldn’t help but sympathize with Lola. She had set herself on a self-destructing path after her mothers death, yet the adults in the book didn’t seem capable to help her. Yes Lola did make some horrible decisions throughout this book, but you ultimately knew it was because she wasn’t getting the help she needed and so you couldn’t fault her for it.
Lola’s dad irked me at times, but I could never hate him. There were things he said and his actions – most notably him remarrying only 3 months after his wife had died, without even talking to his daughter first – that seemed so insensitive.
My feelings on Agatha are complicated. To start with I absolutely did not like her at all, however, towards the end of the book we learnt more about her backstory and I did feel sympathy for her. Unfortunately, I still couldn’t completely like her.
Byrne’s writing style is unique; the story is written as a notebook/letter, which made the reading experience more intimate. For Holly started off slow and I often found my attention wondering, however during the second half the story picked up and I found myself eagerly turning each page.
July 24, 2015
Lola’s narrative is written for Holly, addressing the reader as if we were her. Lola clearly feels guilty for something and is writing to this girl who appears absent from the story. Lola takes her time, setting out the sequence of events that led to her wrong-doing.
And as the story progresses, you see that Lola isn’t always truthful with herself. She is acting out on her grief, getting into trouble and getting behind on schoolwork. As an outsider looking in, you can see that her father cares and is doing the best he can for her, but she is angry and sad and lonely, and her stepmother’s presence makes her feel she can’t communicate honestly with him anymore.
I imagine this was a very personal book for Tanya, who lost her mother last year. Lola’s grief is woven throughout every page, her every action. She may not be the most likable of characters but you cannot fail to have sympathy for her. She doesn’t react in the manner we would want but it’s completely believable considering her circumstances.
I found it quite a slow book, which may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it certainly is emotional in a quiet way. Following Tanya’s other books, I thought it would be more dramatic, but it’s more of a domestic drama unfolding against the backdrop of Paris.
I did like the fact that sometimes people spoke in French and it wasn’t translated. If you don’t speak a word of French, it doesn’t really matter, you can get the gist through context. It’s so much more preferable than the awkward repetition a lot of writers do when they want to indicate someone’s speaking in a different language. Of course, if it bothers you, you can always Google translate it.
And as the story progresses, you see that Lola isn’t always truthful with herself. She is acting out on her grief, getting into trouble and getting behind on schoolwork. As an outsider looking in, you can see that her father cares and is doing the best he can for her, but she is angry and sad and lonely, and her stepmother’s presence makes her feel she can’t communicate honestly with him anymore.
I imagine this was a very personal book for Tanya, who lost her mother last year. Lola’s grief is woven throughout every page, her every action. She may not be the most likable of characters but you cannot fail to have sympathy for her. She doesn’t react in the manner we would want but it’s completely believable considering her circumstances.
I found it quite a slow book, which may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it certainly is emotional in a quiet way. Following Tanya’s other books, I thought it would be more dramatic, but it’s more of a domestic drama unfolding against the backdrop of Paris.
I did like the fact that sometimes people spoke in French and it wasn’t translated. If you don’t speak a word of French, it doesn’t really matter, you can get the gist through context. It’s so much more preferable than the awkward repetition a lot of writers do when they want to indicate someone’s speaking in a different language. Of course, if it bothers you, you can always Google translate it.
May 17, 2015
4.5 Stars
For Holly, is quite different from other books that I have read. It is written from Lola's perspective, and she is writing a notebook full of her confession, leading up to and around a certain point of time. We hear that very few people know the true story of what occurred, and that the person this is being written for will only be the 6th person to know the truth of the situation. Although a different storytelling style it draws the reader in, and feels quite intimate.
Lola is an angry teenager, she is grieving for her mother, and her dad remarried very soon after, and moved to Paris. Lola obviously hates the new wife, Agatha and is going to try and do anything to reveal the truth about her.
As the book is all from Lola's perspective, you go through all of her emotions with her. I understand why she did, what she did, but not sure I agree. There are many sides to Lola's personality but the overwhelming impression I have of her is that she is vulnerable.
I found For Holly, got off to a bit of a slow start, to the extent I wasn't sure I was enjoying the book, but then as it progressed, I was suddenly becoming more and more involved in the story. There are quite a few revelations, which shocked me, and I overall found For Holly to be an enjoyable and interesting story.
For Holly, is quite different from other books that I have read. It is written from Lola's perspective, and she is writing a notebook full of her confession, leading up to and around a certain point of time. We hear that very few people know the true story of what occurred, and that the person this is being written for will only be the 6th person to know the truth of the situation. Although a different storytelling style it draws the reader in, and feels quite intimate.
Lola is an angry teenager, she is grieving for her mother, and her dad remarried very soon after, and moved to Paris. Lola obviously hates the new wife, Agatha and is going to try and do anything to reveal the truth about her.
As the book is all from Lola's perspective, you go through all of her emotions with her. I understand why she did, what she did, but not sure I agree. There are many sides to Lola's personality but the overwhelming impression I have of her is that she is vulnerable.
I found For Holly, got off to a bit of a slow start, to the extent I wasn't sure I was enjoying the book, but then as it progressed, I was suddenly becoming more and more involved in the story. There are quite a few revelations, which shocked me, and I overall found For Holly to be an enjoyable and interesting story.
February 14, 2016
I went into reading For Holly with very high expectations. I expected to really love this book. As I got to the end of the book, I realised I had thoroughly enjoyed reading it but it didn’t captivate me as much as I hoped it would.
As with every Tanya Byrne book I have read, I didn’t read too much about the book. I’ve found it’s easier to go into her books without knowing too much. I had read the plot, and knew that there was a big secret to be revealed. I was excited to see what the secret would be. Thinking of Tanya Byrne’s previous books, I knew the secret could potentially be very messed up. I’m not going to mention what it is, it’s better to know nothing.
I didn’t think Lola was the most likeable character. She clearly had her problems and I felt for her. She was becoming incredibly destructive and full of hatred. Not always the easiest character to like, but given that she was grieving for her mother whilst her father was moving on with another wife, it was easy to understand why she was acting the way she was.
I think where this book fell down for me was the pace of the story. It wasn’t as fast paced as I’ve come to enjoy in a Tanya Byrne novel. I also was a little disappointed with the secret. I expected it to be much more deeper than it was. That said, I did enjoy reading this book and I do think many other readers will lap it up!
As with every Tanya Byrne book I have read, I didn’t read too much about the book. I’ve found it’s easier to go into her books without knowing too much. I had read the plot, and knew that there was a big secret to be revealed. I was excited to see what the secret would be. Thinking of Tanya Byrne’s previous books, I knew the secret could potentially be very messed up. I’m not going to mention what it is, it’s better to know nothing.
I didn’t think Lola was the most likeable character. She clearly had her problems and I felt for her. She was becoming incredibly destructive and full of hatred. Not always the easiest character to like, but given that she was grieving for her mother whilst her father was moving on with another wife, it was easy to understand why she was acting the way she was.
I think where this book fell down for me was the pace of the story. It wasn’t as fast paced as I’ve come to enjoy in a Tanya Byrne novel. I also was a little disappointed with the secret. I expected it to be much more deeper than it was. That said, I did enjoy reading this book and I do think many other readers will lap it up!
May 6, 2015
This book is brilliant.
The story starts, unfortunately, slow and took me a while to get into this amazing story and this is (one of the reasons) why it only got four stars. However, with that said, the pace picks up very quickly and I love everything about it.
The diary/letter format of this book is one of the best I've seen and I love the fact Byrne has decided to have Lola acknowledge the fact that she's writing a book and not a series of letters. It's such a clever idea and one that's been well done. At times I would wonder how Lola remembered such small details, although with everything that was happening in the background of this character, I can understand. The format, although new, is very easily read and understood. It makes the reader feel involved.
All of the characters are well written and I like the fact Byrne has explained each person as it's an introduction as this fits in with the format. I appreciate how hard it must be to remember the format you are writing in. It is something I commend Byrne for greatly.
Overall e book is very gripping, full of twists and turns and the ending was completely unexpected! I love it.
The story starts, unfortunately, slow and took me a while to get into this amazing story and this is (one of the reasons) why it only got four stars. However, with that said, the pace picks up very quickly and I love everything about it.
The diary/letter format of this book is one of the best I've seen and I love the fact Byrne has decided to have Lola acknowledge the fact that she's writing a book and not a series of letters. It's such a clever idea and one that's been well done. At times I would wonder how Lola remembered such small details, although with everything that was happening in the background of this character, I can understand. The format, although new, is very easily read and understood. It makes the reader feel involved.
All of the characters are well written and I like the fact Byrne has explained each person as it's an introduction as this fits in with the format. I appreciate how hard it must be to remember the format you are writing in. It is something I commend Byrne for greatly.
Overall e book is very gripping, full of twists and turns and the ending was completely unexpected! I love it.
August 20, 2015
Lola in Paris
Seventeen-year-old Lola Durand is grieving for her mother who died six-to-seven months prior. She recently moved to Paris apparently against her will, where she lives with her father and new stepmother, famous designer, Agatha Abbott. The remarriage of her doctor father within 3 months of her mother dying has caused Lola’s attitude to reach a low point. She is aggressive, withdrawn and antisocial. For example, Lola refers to her stepmother in her presence as ‘Cruella de Ville.’
Lola spends her days aimlessly roaming the Paris streets, frequenting her favourite café and finding new ways to defy her parents. The visit of her boyfriend, Pan, doesn’t necessarily go the way she had planned when he gives her a dose of reality.
Then she hits upon her stepmother’s secret, which Lola thinks will expose her cold façade as cruelty.
I found the first person voice grating, the descriptions of activities and descriptions over-explaining, the plot moved at a snail’s pace, and the resolution not too surprising.
Seventeen-year-old Lola Durand is grieving for her mother who died six-to-seven months prior. She recently moved to Paris apparently against her will, where she lives with her father and new stepmother, famous designer, Agatha Abbott. The remarriage of her doctor father within 3 months of her mother dying has caused Lola’s attitude to reach a low point. She is aggressive, withdrawn and antisocial. For example, Lola refers to her stepmother in her presence as ‘Cruella de Ville.’
Lola spends her days aimlessly roaming the Paris streets, frequenting her favourite café and finding new ways to defy her parents. The visit of her boyfriend, Pan, doesn’t necessarily go the way she had planned when he gives her a dose of reality.
Then she hits upon her stepmother’s secret, which Lola thinks will expose her cold façade as cruelty.
I found the first person voice grating, the descriptions of activities and descriptions over-explaining, the plot moved at a snail’s pace, and the resolution not too surprising.
August 4, 2015
What a twisted and fucked up story. Seriously though. Right from the start it's confusing, harsh and not at all what I thought I was getting from the blurb. That really irks me by the way. I really hate blurbs that are so inviting but with books that hold no significance to it. This one however, I can let go because it really is a great book.
Told by seventeen year old Lola Durand as she pens out a letter to Holly. The letter a deep and emotional tale which include her most inner thoughts, and the whole build up to who Holly actually is. Lola is a fantastic character, lost and utterly bereft, she deliberately starts trouble with Agatha Abbot, the modern day Coco Chanel. Her feisty and endearing quirks at first have you really not liking her, but she quickly pulls you round to her way of thinking and it's totally heartbreaking.
A surprise read that I really enjoyed.
4/5
Told by seventeen year old Lola Durand as she pens out a letter to Holly. The letter a deep and emotional tale which include her most inner thoughts, and the whole build up to who Holly actually is. Lola is a fantastic character, lost and utterly bereft, she deliberately starts trouble with Agatha Abbot, the modern day Coco Chanel. Her feisty and endearing quirks at first have you really not liking her, but she quickly pulls you round to her way of thinking and it's totally heartbreaking.
A surprise read that I really enjoyed.
4/5
July 26, 2015
I love Tanya's writing and since I've read all of her book I just thought that this one doesn't have the ending that it deserves. Well sure it was unexpected but not surprising as I thought the plot twist would be. even as the book is a few pages near to an end, I still wish that it was more than this. that Tanya could've make Holly's character come to life and how she really is in person instead of some stranger. Maybe I have too much expectation because I've been waiting for this book since last year. Despite all of that I still love Tanya's writing.
June 22, 2015
I love Tanya Byrne and all her books but this one was definitely my favourite! I didn't expect the ending and it was intriguing enough to make you want to read it all in one day. There was speech in French which was abit annoying because it wasn't always explained and was hard to grasp what they were saying without looking it up which delayed reading but still loved it and would definitely recommend!
August 12, 2015
I have to admit I was slightly disappointed in this book. I was so excited to read it as the reviews were brilliant, describing it as a 'psychological jigsaw' and 'gorgeously dark and twisted' but for me personally it didn't live up to those expectations. I just think the ending was a bit of an anti climax. That being said, I did enjoy 'For Holly' I just feel that the reviews of it being a 'thriller' were a bit misleading.
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