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Paradise Girl
A highly infectious and incurable virus spreads worldwide. Seventeen-year-old Kerryl Shaw and her family live on a remote farm and think they will be safe, but the plague advances. Despite deaths around them, the Shaws survive. However, this changes when a stranger arrives, and it soon becomes apparent he has brought the infection to their door. One by one the family succumbs, leaving Kerryl alone.
Kerryl is sure it’s only a matter of time before she, too, dies. She decides to record what she thinks will be her final days in a diary. She realises that it will never be read, so she imagines a reader and calls him Adam. As loneliness and isolation affect the balance of her mind, Adam ceases to be an imaginary character and becomes real to her.
Communications break down and services fail. Unexplained events build fear and Kerryl hears her name called in the night; she’s attacked by stray animals; she’s molested when she visits the town; she sees a stranger outside her house, who vanishes when she tries to make contact; objects appear and disappear. The climax comes when she finds a text message on her phone. Who is texting her? How? She thinks it can only be Adam, because by now there is no one else left. Another text invites her to a rendezvous at the Bride Stones, a beauty spot popular with lovers, and she leaves for what she is sure will be a meeting with Adam...
“This is such an engrossing read I found it impossible to put down...This is writing of a high literary standard, with the kind of psychological depth which lingers in the mind long after reading.”
– Sarah Vincent, critic and author of The Testament of Vida Tremayne.
Kerryl is sure it’s only a matter of time before she, too, dies. She decides to record what she thinks will be her final days in a diary. She realises that it will never be read, so she imagines a reader and calls him Adam. As loneliness and isolation affect the balance of her mind, Adam ceases to be an imaginary character and becomes real to her.
Communications break down and services fail. Unexplained events build fear and Kerryl hears her name called in the night; she’s attacked by stray animals; she’s molested when she visits the town; she sees a stranger outside her house, who vanishes when she tries to make contact; objects appear and disappear. The climax comes when she finds a text message on her phone. Who is texting her? How? She thinks it can only be Adam, because by now there is no one else left. Another text invites her to a rendezvous at the Bride Stones, a beauty spot popular with lovers, and she leaves for what she is sure will be a meeting with Adam...
“This is such an engrossing read I found it impossible to put down...This is writing of a high literary standard, with the kind of psychological depth which lingers in the mind long after reading.”
– Sarah Vincent, critic and author of The Testament of Vida Tremayne.
329 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 28, 2017
7 people are currently reading
220 people want to read
About the author
Phill Featherstone
15 books97 followersPhill alternates between writing, drinking coffee, and playing the saxaphone (badly) - not always in that order. He lives in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England with Sally, his wife and partner of more years than they can count.
Phill is the award winning author of a number of novels and short stories. Most are about young people and therefore get the YA tag, but they're enjoyed by readers of all ages, including retirees.
Paradise Girl, Book 1 of Phill's REBOOT trilogy, is set in the northern hills where, amidst the majestic beauty of the rolling moors, a world pandemic consigns a lone young woman to a bleak future. In Book 2, Aftershocks, the twin brother of the heroine of Book 1 sets out to discover the truth behind the infection. REBOOT concludes with Jericho Rose. By now the pandemic is over and it's time to rebuild. However, there are a selfish few who seek to exploit the situation for their own ends and this risks losing the little that's left.
Phill's fourth novel, The God Jar, is a tale of magic and mystery which straddles 16th century Europe and 20th century England. John Dee, Elizabethan sorcerer and mystic, finds a jar which he discovers has enormous powers. 400 years later it resurfaces when a pair of honeymooners come across it on a diving trip. But have they found the jar or has it found them?
In What Dreams We Had a group of young people on holiday in Italy are forced to confront uncomfortable truths about who they are and what's important to them, and to wonder whether anything they thought was real actually is.
I Know What You're Thinking, is a thriller in which a pair of teenagers share the ability to see into each other's mind. When one of them disappears can the other use this gift to find them, and if they can what price must they pay?
Phill has also written a book of short stories, Undiscovered Countries. It's free to subscribers to his his email newsletter. Go to www.phillfeatherstone.net to sign up for this, writing updates and book recommendations.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
June 24, 2017
A highly infectious disease pops up in Africa and slowly travels through out the world, with outbreaks first in Asia and then in Europe as Kerryl Shaw is appling to university. Before she knows it the schools have been closed and the infection has reached their town. Kerryl and her family live on a remote farm so the chances of the infection reaching them are low. Then Kerryl does something that causes the infection on to their land and soon her grandparents and her mother are all dead and her twin brother Landon has left. She is stuck alone on the farm, anxiously waiting to for her turn to get sick.
I actually really enjoyed this, like way more than I thought I would. I was unsure whether or not I wanted to give it four or five stars because really I think it's a solid 4.5. The writing and voice of the book were excellent. I was totally pulled in to it. I was surprised that a man wrote it because I think he captures the voice of a teenage girl pretty well. The whole deterioration that takes place mentally for Kerryl was so sutble also I didn't even notice it until the end when we find out that she's being watched. The entries from the days shes alone on the farm capture the loneliness and boredom really well also. The ending was really sad but it was worked really well, I feel like it could have fallen flat pretty easily but he managed to make it work. I'm just very impressed by the book it was really good.
I actually really enjoyed this, like way more than I thought I would. I was unsure whether or not I wanted to give it four or five stars because really I think it's a solid 4.5. The writing and voice of the book were excellent. I was totally pulled in to it. I was surprised that a man wrote it because I think he captures the voice of a teenage girl pretty well. The whole deterioration that takes place mentally for Kerryl was so sutble also I didn't even notice it until the end when we find out that she's being watched. The entries from the days shes alone on the farm capture the loneliness and boredom really well also. The ending was really sad but it was worked really well, I feel like it could have fallen flat pretty easily but he managed to make it work. I'm just very impressed by the book it was really good.
June 13, 2017
A gripping and addictive read, superbly crafted.
This book gripped my imagination from page one. A real page turner, that by halfway was very difficult to put down, when I did the story was running through my thoughts until I picked it up again, it's an addictive read. The main character is developed superbly and honestly and is portrayed in a very empathetic way. The two diary concept was an interesting construct that allows the book to be very 'unmessy' as it polarised the past and present. I hope I give nothing away by saying the end was a total shock and entirely unexpected. All in all a superb book for a very wide age range (A bit like the Harry Potter books), I recommend this book to all my Sci-Fi friends.
This book gripped my imagination from page one. A real page turner, that by halfway was very difficult to put down, when I did the story was running through my thoughts until I picked it up again, it's an addictive read. The main character is developed superbly and honestly and is portrayed in a very empathetic way. The two diary concept was an interesting construct that allows the book to be very 'unmessy' as it polarised the past and present. I hope I give nothing away by saying the end was a total shock and entirely unexpected. All in all a superb book for a very wide age range (A bit like the Harry Potter books), I recommend this book to all my Sci-Fi friends.
May 2, 2017
Paradise Girl is a psychological thriller by Phill Featherstone. Phill Featherstone wrote Paradise Girl for young adults. However, any age group will enjoy this book. Paradise Girl is about young girl call Kerryl Shaw who lives on a remote farm.
Kerryl life was changed forever when she made a mistake by allowing a young boy to stay at the family farm so his father can go and find work. Paradise Girl continues to take the readers on a rollercoaster ride from one tension pack situation to another. However, the readers of Paradise Girl will be shocked with the conclusion of this book.
Paradise Girl is a well written and you will enjoy the way Phill Featherstone portrayed his characters. Readers of Paradise Girl will learn about what the implications of isolation on a young person. Reading Paradise Girl got me thinking about the importance of friendship and communication with each other.
I recommend this book.
Kerryl life was changed forever when she made a mistake by allowing a young boy to stay at the family farm so his father can go and find work. Paradise Girl continues to take the readers on a rollercoaster ride from one tension pack situation to another. However, the readers of Paradise Girl will be shocked with the conclusion of this book.
Paradise Girl is a well written and you will enjoy the way Phill Featherstone portrayed his characters. Readers of Paradise Girl will learn about what the implications of isolation on a young person. Reading Paradise Girl got me thinking about the importance of friendship and communication with each other.
I recommend this book.
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July 15, 2018no rating
I had started reading this book in October, so I think it was about time I marked it as "DNF" because I haven't picked it up since.
Not because this is a bad book, but just because I had no urge to continue reading it.
To be honest this may something to do with the novel being in e-book format, because I've DNF'd every book I've ever read digitally - which isn't many, but still.
I liked the premise and enjoyed the writing, but it just didn't hold my attention and I like books to grab me straight away. There were also some news articles describing diseases woven into the story and I found myself skimming through them.
Give this book a chance, as I've read some great things about it. I might pick it up again sometime, when I'm more in the mood for it.
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I had started reading this book in October, so I think it was about time I marked it as "DNF" because I haven't picked it up since.
Not because this is a bad book, but just because I had no urge to continue reading it.
To be honest this may something to do with the novel being in e-book format, because I've DNF'd every book I've ever read digitally - which isn't many, but still.
I liked the premise and enjoyed the writing, but it just didn't hold my attention and I like books to grab me straight away. There were also some news articles describing diseases woven into the story and I found myself skimming through them.
Give this book a chance, as I've read some great things about it. I might pick it up again sometime, when I'm more in the mood for it.
My WEBSITE
My INSTAGRAM
My WORDPRESS BLOG
August 15, 2017
For me this novel achieved the perfect crossover from Dystopian YA, to Psychological Thriller.
The diary format works effortlessly through the voice of delightfully witty protagonist, Kerryl. I had a vague sense of unease from the moment I began to take tentative steps into a world besieged by a deadly virus. The stunning depictions of the Yorkshire moors gave further life to my trepidation, until I realised what Featherstone had accomplished with this intelligent YA novel. He took me right there, with Kerryl. As all great writers do, I became part of her isolation, and gradual decline of clarity and awareness.
There is a particular part of this novel that truly affected me, to the point I had to rest the book to one side for a moment, before snatching it back up to learn of my fate and how Kerryl's survival through apocalypse might be ending.
This truly is intelligent YA at its best and I look forward to more from this talented author. The only disappointing aspect to the ending, is that I did not feel quite ready to let Kerryl go, and the novel screams out for a sequel/prequel - I won't be spoiling the ending for anyone!
The diary format works effortlessly through the voice of delightfully witty protagonist, Kerryl. I had a vague sense of unease from the moment I began to take tentative steps into a world besieged by a deadly virus. The stunning depictions of the Yorkshire moors gave further life to my trepidation, until I realised what Featherstone had accomplished with this intelligent YA novel. He took me right there, with Kerryl. As all great writers do, I became part of her isolation, and gradual decline of clarity and awareness.
There is a particular part of this novel that truly affected me, to the point I had to rest the book to one side for a moment, before snatching it back up to learn of my fate and how Kerryl's survival through apocalypse might be ending.
This truly is intelligent YA at its best and I look forward to more from this talented author. The only disappointing aspect to the ending, is that I did not feel quite ready to let Kerryl go, and the novel screams out for a sequel/prequel - I won't be spoiling the ending for anyone!
February 5, 2017
Most people who know me know that I have a short attention span. If a book (or movie, or game) doesn't interest me, I never finish it. Woah! Such was NOT the case with Paradise Girl. I simply could not put it down. If I hadn't had to stop reading for that pesky thing called work, I would have read it straight through! Read it! You won't be sorry.
June 1, 2019
We often come across problems that seem endless and in that whirlpool of negativity, we succumb to our accidental fate. It is true that every action has an equal and opposite reaction and thus, choosing our actions wisely is all we can do to prevent the problems from getting an upper hand on us. ‘Paradise Girl’ is a psychological thriller that exposes the protagonist to one such problem. Even though the solution or rather the prevention is simple, certain actions leave the protagonist, Kerryl, at her wit’s end.
Known to be an introvert by nature, Kerryl is relieved to know that the remote farm on which she resides with her family is as safe as houses from an infectious virus that has caused an epidemic in the city. But the nine-day wonder soon gets over when a stranger steps foot on their farmland as he carries the infection to their doorstep. When gradually all her family members fall prey to the infection, Kerryl, too, loses hope and starts counting her days by documenting each moment on paper. With the help of an imaginary reader, her days of solitude seem less painful but in reality, her mind refuses to be in synchronization with her heart.
With an unanticipated climax (more like a cliffhanger), the author successfully caters to the young minds and that of adults too. With fluid narrative, the story grips the attention for long. However, at certain places, I found the idea and the narration repetitive. Consequently, I had to leave out those paragraphs and move on. But the pleasure of developing an entirely different perspective for the climax was immense.
Overall, Paradise Girl is an interesting read but I think the readers might miss out the fun of the importance of colours in Kerryl’s diary if they opt for an ecopy.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Known to be an introvert by nature, Kerryl is relieved to know that the remote farm on which she resides with her family is as safe as houses from an infectious virus that has caused an epidemic in the city. But the nine-day wonder soon gets over when a stranger steps foot on their farmland as he carries the infection to their doorstep. When gradually all her family members fall prey to the infection, Kerryl, too, loses hope and starts counting her days by documenting each moment on paper. With the help of an imaginary reader, her days of solitude seem less painful but in reality, her mind refuses to be in synchronization with her heart.
With an unanticipated climax (more like a cliffhanger), the author successfully caters to the young minds and that of adults too. With fluid narrative, the story grips the attention for long. However, at certain places, I found the idea and the narration repetitive. Consequently, I had to leave out those paragraphs and move on. But the pleasure of developing an entirely different perspective for the climax was immense.
Overall, Paradise Girl is an interesting read but I think the readers might miss out the fun of the importance of colours in Kerryl’s diary if they opt for an ecopy.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 7, 2017
YA dystopia isn't my usual reading, but this was recommended to me, so I gave it a go. It's well written, full of suspense, and it is a page turner. However, I felt the "voice" of the 17/18 year old female narrator slipped at times. Certain words and phrases sounded unlikely, to my ear. Yet the narrator, Kerryl, is engaging and sympathetic, I warmed to her very much, and was rooting for her throughout.
I found the ending a little confusing... I'm not sure what happened? I think it was left open to interpretation, which I quite like, despite the ambiguity. I'm still thinking about the story the morning after finishing, which is always a sign a book has resonance. Recommended!
I found the ending a little confusing... I'm not sure what happened? I think it was left open to interpretation, which I quite like, despite the ambiguity. I'm still thinking about the story the morning after finishing, which is always a sign a book has resonance. Recommended!
September 5, 2017
The first thing I’d say is don’t be put off by the “young adult” tag – although the clear voice is of a young girl on the cusp of adulthood, there’s absolutely no simplification or dumbing down here, this is a book full of fine writing that would appeal to any adult, even those of advanced years like me. The format is clever – two diaries, one telling the background to the spread of the infection, the other chronicling Kerry’s day-to-day existence when she finds herself alone. The fluidity of her prose is credible – “before”, she was an avid reader, an outstanding student awaiting the results of her Cambridge entrance exams – and her voice is authentically that of a teenage girl, with all the usual quirks, fears and obsessions.
If I say there’s humour here, you might find that strange as the world disintegrates around her – but Kerryl is superbly likeable as you share her thoughts, feelings and reflections, her efforts to apply logic to the unknown and horrific, her effort to survive. There’s a wealth of believable detail about both the before and the during/after. In the former I liked the use of newspaper reports, interviews with government ministers, the hidden websites – and in the latter the domestic detail, the way the electricity had to be kept running on the isolated farm, the care of the animals, the food (or not, as Kerryl continues to try to lose her spare tyre…). The visits to town are vividly described: the collection of loved ones’ ashes, the charging for the urns as civilisation disintegrates, the edge of danger and violence, and – permeating everything – the horrendous smell.
The shift to the slightly surreal – the invention of Adam as reader of the diaries, and what comes thereafter – is exceptionally well done, and the working through of the story to its finely wrought ending is gripping and emotional. I enjoyed the strong sense of place in this book too, the Yorkshire countryside around the hill farm and the Bride Stones vividly described.
Do give this one a try. This is a book that deserves to be read, and which leaves an indelible impression, with images I’ll take with me for some time to come. An excellent read, with a depth and emotional engagement I really never expected.
If I say there’s humour here, you might find that strange as the world disintegrates around her – but Kerryl is superbly likeable as you share her thoughts, feelings and reflections, her efforts to apply logic to the unknown and horrific, her effort to survive. There’s a wealth of believable detail about both the before and the during/after. In the former I liked the use of newspaper reports, interviews with government ministers, the hidden websites – and in the latter the domestic detail, the way the electricity had to be kept running on the isolated farm, the care of the animals, the food (or not, as Kerryl continues to try to lose her spare tyre…). The visits to town are vividly described: the collection of loved ones’ ashes, the charging for the urns as civilisation disintegrates, the edge of danger and violence, and – permeating everything – the horrendous smell.
The shift to the slightly surreal – the invention of Adam as reader of the diaries, and what comes thereafter – is exceptionally well done, and the working through of the story to its finely wrought ending is gripping and emotional. I enjoyed the strong sense of place in this book too, the Yorkshire countryside around the hill farm and the Bride Stones vividly described.
Do give this one a try. This is a book that deserves to be read, and which leaves an indelible impression, with images I’ll take with me for some time to come. An excellent read, with a depth and emotional engagement I really never expected.
August 1, 2022
3.75 stars.
I'd love to thank BookSirens and the author for this free book in exchange for an honest review.
Paradise Girl by Phill Featherstone is a dystopia book about an Infection that spreads throughout the entire world, killing almost everyone in its way. Cherryl "Kerryl" Shaw is the only person who doesn't have the simptomes of the Infection, so after her family dies and her twin brother leaves them, she is caught alone in the house. She, her dog Buster, the cows, hens and horse.
The book is made of her diary entries. The purple one is written by her to explain how the virus spread and how she remained alone, and the green one is from the present, where she writes daily about what happens to her.
She invents this imaginary boy called Adam and she adresses to him in her diary as if she talks to him. But after a few weeks, she starts to see things and to feel a weird pressesnce around her. She thinks she sees Adam, but that couldn't be true, right?
Soon, the things get worse and the book becomes even more creepy. The end is still a little confusing, because there are things left unresolved. But I'm guessing that we can find out more in Aftershocks, the companion book about Lander, Cherry'l twin brother.
This book was a little too long, in my opinion, with details that didn't helped the story evolve further. But the pacing, although slow, I think it was meant to be like that so it can make the reader spooked out.
I couldn't help but thinking that this Infection can also be real in our world one day, which can be scary. The author did a great job overall and I'm really looking forward to read the other book as well.
I'd love to thank BookSirens and the author for this free book in exchange for an honest review.
Paradise Girl by Phill Featherstone is a dystopia book about an Infection that spreads throughout the entire world, killing almost everyone in its way. Cherryl "Kerryl" Shaw is the only person who doesn't have the simptomes of the Infection, so after her family dies and her twin brother leaves them, she is caught alone in the house. She, her dog Buster, the cows, hens and horse.
The book is made of her diary entries. The purple one is written by her to explain how the virus spread and how she remained alone, and the green one is from the present, where she writes daily about what happens to her.
She invents this imaginary boy called Adam and she adresses to him in her diary as if she talks to him. But after a few weeks, she starts to see things and to feel a weird pressesnce around her. She thinks she sees Adam, but that couldn't be true, right?
Soon, the things get worse and the book becomes even more creepy. The end is still a little confusing, because there are things left unresolved. But I'm guessing that we can find out more in Aftershocks, the companion book about Lander, Cherry'l twin brother.
This book was a little too long, in my opinion, with details that didn't helped the story evolve further. But the pacing, although slow, I think it was meant to be like that so it can make the reader spooked out.
I couldn't help but thinking that this Infection can also be real in our world one day, which can be scary. The author did a great job overall and I'm really looking forward to read the other book as well.
May 6, 2017
Received a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review
This book gave me chills. I was so tense reading it the entire time, and in one go, that my shoulders hurt by the time that I was done. I was that tense.
Kerryl is stuck in a truly horrific situation, with no parallel in any book that I've recently read, or can recall though I do suffer from some memory issues. (No. Seriously) She is a character who is filled with hope, and it was heartbreaking to see that hope start to shift to despair and pain shift into delusion.
The loss of her mother nagged at me, but when her grandparents passed, trying to keep her safe I found myself fighting back tears.
With the reveal at the end of the novel I felt nothing but anger, that someone would use humans for experimentation and in such a cruel way, driving Kerryl to insanity versus trying to find a cure. Perhaps it upset me so much because it felt realistic.
Either way this was a thriller that kept me guessing on what was going to happen next. And you know the writing is masterful when even the times someone is completely alone talking about chores can still manage to capture your attention.
This book gave me chills. I was so tense reading it the entire time, and in one go, that my shoulders hurt by the time that I was done. I was that tense.
Kerryl is stuck in a truly horrific situation, with no parallel in any book that I've recently read, or can recall though I do suffer from some memory issues. (No. Seriously) She is a character who is filled with hope, and it was heartbreaking to see that hope start to shift to despair and pain shift into delusion.
The loss of her mother nagged at me, but when her grandparents passed, trying to keep her safe I found myself fighting back tears.
With the reveal at the end of the novel I felt nothing but anger, that someone would use humans for experimentation and in such a cruel way, driving Kerryl to insanity versus trying to find a cure. Perhaps it upset me so much because it felt realistic.
Either way this was a thriller that kept me guessing on what was going to happen next. And you know the writing is masterful when even the times someone is completely alone talking about chores can still manage to capture your attention.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2020
First line: "Introductions are boring, but unless I take time to explain things it will be confusing for you."
I would like to start off by saying that I got to read this novel courtesy of Netgalley in exchange for a review.
Wow! This was an interesting read which started off slow and steady....and became really complex and interesting quite rapidly! I have to say that the Infection originally made me think about Ebola...not entirely the same thing, but quite scary just the same!
The plot was believable and kept my attention throughout. I did not expect the ending until it started to unravel. It was really surprising, yet not so surprising at the same time, if you get my feel?
I thought Kerryl was a main character that, despite the crazy circumstances, was doing quite well at keeping the pretext of a normal life...until things started to get a bit crazy and she began seeing things that weren't really there.
I think the ending was the most interesting part of the book, simply because it really explains everything so clearly and concisely...
I will definitely consider reading more of Phil Featherstone's work!
I would like to start off by saying that I got to read this novel courtesy of Netgalley in exchange for a review.
Wow! This was an interesting read which started off slow and steady....and became really complex and interesting quite rapidly! I have to say that the Infection originally made me think about Ebola...not entirely the same thing, but quite scary just the same!
The plot was believable and kept my attention throughout. I did not expect the ending until it started to unravel. It was really surprising, yet not so surprising at the same time, if you get my feel?
I thought Kerryl was a main character that, despite the crazy circumstances, was doing quite well at keeping the pretext of a normal life...until things started to get a bit crazy and she began seeing things that weren't really there.
I think the ending was the most interesting part of the book, simply because it really explains everything so clearly and concisely...
I will definitely consider reading more of Phil Featherstone's work!
February 21, 2017
I stumbled onto this book by accident, but I'm really glad I did. It is gripping and a real page turner. I love the immediacy of the protagonist, and the ending caught me totally by surprise. I think the book is a real insight into issues of mental health, but using the notion of a plague as a clever foil. I think the author provides a thoughtful insight into a challenge a lot of people face - loneliness, and how technology can be a crutch...and how tenuous mankind place on the planet is, and how quickly everything can change.
I highly recommend this book, which I hope stays with you as it has stayed with me in the days since reading.
I highly recommend this book, which I hope stays with you as it has stayed with me in the days since reading.
February 5, 2017
A moving, touching and achingly sad story that could have been ripped from the headlines, that is chillingly believable. I agree with Louise, the ending is left to the readers interpretation which is something I really enjoy, and I too was still thinking about the ending several days after finishing the book!
If you enjoy a well crafted 'it could happen tomorrow' love story and thriller, Paradise Girl is for you! The fact it is set in the rolling Yorkshire hills I so love is just a bonus. I look forward to reading more from this author!
If you enjoy a well crafted 'it could happen tomorrow' love story and thriller, Paradise Girl is for you! The fact it is set in the rolling Yorkshire hills I so love is just a bonus. I look forward to reading more from this author!
March 15, 2020
3.5 stars
#ParadiseGirlPhilFeatherstone
I received a copy of "Paradise Girl" from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review. This book tells the story of Kerryl (Cheryl) who is living through a worldwide virus. She lives in England with her twin brother, mother, and grandparents on their family farm. This book especially hit home for me as we are currently living through the Coronavirus worldwide pandemic. I really enjoy reading books that focus around dystopian societies and viruses and it was definitely an experience to read one in the present state of what is happening within the world.
Early in the story we are introduced to Kerryl and one day when she arrives at school, she is advised that she is being sent home, and quarantined until the virus passes. The virus started in Africa, has been spreading throughout the other continents and has now arrived in the United Kingdom. When Kerryl says goodbye to her teachers and friends, she has no idea that goodbye is final. Kerryl is now under quarantine on her family farm with her brother, mother, and grandparents; and now, they must do whatever it takes to survive and remain healthy as the virus spreads and takes the lives of many.
As readers embark on this quarantined journey with Kerryl and her family, we discover this virus is so much more than just a simple virus. "Paradise Girl" offers us a dystopian thriller with a physiological twist. It keeps you guessing and intrigued until the very end of the story. The conclusion of the story takes a physchological twist and it will definitely captivate readers who enjoy this type of plotline. We see the story through the eyes of Kerryl, and it leads us the through the beginning of the virus, the quarantined aspect, as well as the aftermath of the virus.
The character of Kerryl is an eighteen year old and her maturity level throughout the story reflects her age. With that being said, readers should be prepared to see the story through the eyes of a teenager. This is not a bad thing, it just means that the writing style, and the thought process of the character is taken from a younger persona. "Paradise Girl" was well written and it was an enjoyable quick read that I finished in one sitting. It's one of those books that once you start reading, you will not be able to put it down. I was totally enthralled with the book from start to finish.
The author Phil Featherstone lives in West Yorkshire, England. His first novel was "Paradise Girl", and his second novel is titled "The God Jar". He has also written a follow-up to "Paradise Girl" titled "Aftershocks", which I cannot wait to read next.
#ParadiseGirlPhilFeatherstone
I received a copy of "Paradise Girl" from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review. This book tells the story of Kerryl (Cheryl) who is living through a worldwide virus. She lives in England with her twin brother, mother, and grandparents on their family farm. This book especially hit home for me as we are currently living through the Coronavirus worldwide pandemic. I really enjoy reading books that focus around dystopian societies and viruses and it was definitely an experience to read one in the present state of what is happening within the world.
Early in the story we are introduced to Kerryl and one day when she arrives at school, she is advised that she is being sent home, and quarantined until the virus passes. The virus started in Africa, has been spreading throughout the other continents and has now arrived in the United Kingdom. When Kerryl says goodbye to her teachers and friends, she has no idea that goodbye is final. Kerryl is now under quarantine on her family farm with her brother, mother, and grandparents; and now, they must do whatever it takes to survive and remain healthy as the virus spreads and takes the lives of many.
As readers embark on this quarantined journey with Kerryl and her family, we discover this virus is so much more than just a simple virus. "Paradise Girl" offers us a dystopian thriller with a physiological twist. It keeps you guessing and intrigued until the very end of the story. The conclusion of the story takes a physchological twist and it will definitely captivate readers who enjoy this type of plotline. We see the story through the eyes of Kerryl, and it leads us the through the beginning of the virus, the quarantined aspect, as well as the aftermath of the virus.
The character of Kerryl is an eighteen year old and her maturity level throughout the story reflects her age. With that being said, readers should be prepared to see the story through the eyes of a teenager. This is not a bad thing, it just means that the writing style, and the thought process of the character is taken from a younger persona. "Paradise Girl" was well written and it was an enjoyable quick read that I finished in one sitting. It's one of those books that once you start reading, you will not be able to put it down. I was totally enthralled with the book from start to finish.
The author Phil Featherstone lives in West Yorkshire, England. His first novel was "Paradise Girl", and his second novel is titled "The God Jar". He has also written a follow-up to "Paradise Girl" titled "Aftershocks", which I cannot wait to read next.
November 2, 2017
Goodreads Synopsis:
Kerryl Shaw has always kept a diary, but this one is different because she knows she's going to die.
A highly infectious and incurable virus spreads worldwide. Seventeen-year-old Kerryl lives with her family on a remote farm. They think they will be safe, but the danger advances. Despite deaths around them, the Shaws survive. However, this changes when a stranger arrives, and it soon becomes apparent he has brought the plague to their door. One by one they succumb, leaving Kerryl alone.
Kerryl is sure it’s only a matter of time before she, too, catches the infection and dies. She decides to record what she thinks will be her final days. She realizes that her diary will never be read, so she imagines a reader and calls him Adam. Loneliness and isolation affect the balance of her mind, until she thinks that only Adam can save her.
My Review:
I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for a review.
The book is actually a series of diaries written by a seventeen year old girl named Cheryl (Keryl), aka Paradise Girl. In the first journal, she's living in a quiet world, one being wiped out by infection. She lives with her brother, Lander, their mom, and their grandparents.
I had a hard time reading the purple journal. The story itself was good, aside from over explaining the plot a couple times, but it had newspaper clippings and print offs spliced into the book and although it would be cool in a paperback, in an ebook it came across kind of messy and hard to read, as the font and size of the writing kept changing. After those I assumed I would have a bad time reading the rest of the book, but I was wrong. I'm glad it wasn’t a major part of the book.
The green journal is her present day life, starting two days after the purple journal ends. Her story is depressing and I really liked how she developed throughout the book. The third part is simply named "After", from another viewpoint entirely.
Although I had a rocky start with the beginning, the story really grew on me. By the last third of the book I didn't want to put it down and was excited to see what would happen next. This began as an apocalyptic infection and morphed into something else entirely. I'm glad I pushed through and finished this book because it was a refreshing read. Definitely check it out if you get the chance.
Here's a link to the authors twitter, in case you have any questions.
https://twitter.com/PhillFeathers
Thanks for reading! Check out this review and more at my blog.
(Radioactivebookreviews.wordpress.com)
Kerryl Shaw has always kept a diary, but this one is different because she knows she's going to die.
A highly infectious and incurable virus spreads worldwide. Seventeen-year-old Kerryl lives with her family on a remote farm. They think they will be safe, but the danger advances. Despite deaths around them, the Shaws survive. However, this changes when a stranger arrives, and it soon becomes apparent he has brought the plague to their door. One by one they succumb, leaving Kerryl alone.
Kerryl is sure it’s only a matter of time before she, too, catches the infection and dies. She decides to record what she thinks will be her final days. She realizes that her diary will never be read, so she imagines a reader and calls him Adam. Loneliness and isolation affect the balance of her mind, until she thinks that only Adam can save her.
My Review:
I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for a review.
The book is actually a series of diaries written by a seventeen year old girl named Cheryl (Keryl), aka Paradise Girl. In the first journal, she's living in a quiet world, one being wiped out by infection. She lives with her brother, Lander, their mom, and their grandparents.
I had a hard time reading the purple journal. The story itself was good, aside from over explaining the plot a couple times, but it had newspaper clippings and print offs spliced into the book and although it would be cool in a paperback, in an ebook it came across kind of messy and hard to read, as the font and size of the writing kept changing. After those I assumed I would have a bad time reading the rest of the book, but I was wrong. I'm glad it wasn’t a major part of the book.
The green journal is her present day life, starting two days after the purple journal ends. Her story is depressing and I really liked how she developed throughout the book. The third part is simply named "After", from another viewpoint entirely.
Although I had a rocky start with the beginning, the story really grew on me. By the last third of the book I didn't want to put it down and was excited to see what would happen next. This began as an apocalyptic infection and morphed into something else entirely. I'm glad I pushed through and finished this book because it was a refreshing read. Definitely check it out if you get the chance.
Here's a link to the authors twitter, in case you have any questions.
https://twitter.com/PhillFeathers
Thanks for reading! Check out this review and more at my blog.
(Radioactivebookreviews.wordpress.com)
November 23, 2017
17 year old Kerryl doesn't imagine for one moment that the deadly virus which seems to be killing everyone will affect her and her family in their farm, high above the town. Surely they will be protected from the outside world by their remote location. However, when Kerryl finds herself alone, the only member of her family left on the farm, she realises that she faces a daily challenge. The challenge of survival. Kerryl decides to tell her story through two diaries. One diary charts the run up to the virus and the other tells Kerryl's story as she struggles to live on her own, terrified by every shadow she imagines she sees.
I found this book to be so addictive. Phill Featherstone has created a wonderfully complex character in Kerryl. I imagine writing anything written from the perspective of a teenage girl is difficult enough but the author has managed to pull it off extremely well. Kerryl's voice adds a touch of almost childhood innocence to a situation that is so horrific and terrifying that its difficult to imagine. And despite all that is happening Kerryl's most pressing issue is her weight. And so, despite being in the fortunate position of having more food than she knows what to do with, she decides to go on a diet. However, I felt this was about more than an image issue for Kerryl but more of a coping mechanism for her. Did she really want to live? Alone. Forever.
Through Kerryl's eyes Phill Featherstone has painted a picture of abject loneliness. While, like most teenagers, Kerryl had been seeking her own kind of paradise............the paradise of not having anyone to tell her what to do and when to do it, it turns out that paradise isn't all its cracked up to be. Kerryl creates an imaginary character called Adam and this is the person she directs her writing to in the diaries. The writing was extremely atmospheric and as it progresses, the tension builds to the point where the reader themselves becomes unsure whether what Kerryl is experiencing is real or imagined. Is she slowly losing her mind or there are darker forces at work?
A brilliant piece of writing that I thoroughly enjoyed. Frightening, suspenseful and profoundly sad in places. Though don't read it just before you go to bed or you'll end up dreaming about Kerryl like I did! This book is described as a Young Adult book. However, I think the subject matter and Kerryl's plight will appeal to those of the more mature reader too. A definite recommended read from me.
I found this book to be so addictive. Phill Featherstone has created a wonderfully complex character in Kerryl. I imagine writing anything written from the perspective of a teenage girl is difficult enough but the author has managed to pull it off extremely well. Kerryl's voice adds a touch of almost childhood innocence to a situation that is so horrific and terrifying that its difficult to imagine. And despite all that is happening Kerryl's most pressing issue is her weight. And so, despite being in the fortunate position of having more food than she knows what to do with, she decides to go on a diet. However, I felt this was about more than an image issue for Kerryl but more of a coping mechanism for her. Did she really want to live? Alone. Forever.
Through Kerryl's eyes Phill Featherstone has painted a picture of abject loneliness. While, like most teenagers, Kerryl had been seeking her own kind of paradise............the paradise of not having anyone to tell her what to do and when to do it, it turns out that paradise isn't all its cracked up to be. Kerryl creates an imaginary character called Adam and this is the person she directs her writing to in the diaries. The writing was extremely atmospheric and as it progresses, the tension builds to the point where the reader themselves becomes unsure whether what Kerryl is experiencing is real or imagined. Is she slowly losing her mind or there are darker forces at work?
A brilliant piece of writing that I thoroughly enjoyed. Frightening, suspenseful and profoundly sad in places. Though don't read it just before you go to bed or you'll end up dreaming about Kerryl like I did! This book is described as a Young Adult book. However, I think the subject matter and Kerryl's plight will appeal to those of the more mature reader too. A definite recommended read from me.
April 2, 2017
Wow, this book is a psychological spine-tingler and a half! I won this in a giveaway, and I've always quite liked post-apocalyptic fiction, so I was quite looking forward to seeing how this one would go. Most ones I've read might keep to a loner character, but never one quite so alone as Kerryl here. Every single person she's ever known is dead, as far as Kerryl can tell, except for perhaps her brother but since he's been missing for weeks she's basically alone now. The authorities might not have succeeded in stopping the spread of the Infection, but they managed to hold a lot of infrastructure up longer than you might have expected. Kerryl unsurprisingly suffers from the isolation, and combined with starving herself it's hardly surprising that she starts hearing noises in the night and seeing things out of the corner of her eye that aren't there when she looks again.
The story is narrated in a wonderfully lively way by the Paradise Girl herself, who is a pretty unreliable narrator, however honest she may seem. For one thing, she's writing to someone who isn't there, someone she's made up, which is fine to begin with... The world the book's set in seems to be a parallel world, where instead of DVDs we have 'moviesticks' while most things, such as 'Twilight', remain the same. The book has a rather epic conclusion that throws the entire book in a new light and kept me up thinking long past the 1am I stayed up finishing this book. (It was just to intense to dare put down - it's seriously spooky once you pass midway there.) My only criticism could be that the narrator seems to quite abruptly change psyche at the end, rather than the gradual decline the rest of the book allowed, but to be fair, that's part of the point. What would be a nice formatting change would be if it went Illuminae-style and had her handwriting and so on... but that's just a wishlist, because this book was penetrating enough without it.
The story is narrated in a wonderfully lively way by the Paradise Girl herself, who is a pretty unreliable narrator, however honest she may seem. For one thing, she's writing to someone who isn't there, someone she's made up, which is fine to begin with... The world the book's set in seems to be a parallel world, where instead of DVDs we have 'moviesticks' while most things, such as 'Twilight', remain the same. The book has a rather epic conclusion that throws the entire book in a new light and kept me up thinking long past the 1am I stayed up finishing this book. (It was just to intense to dare put down - it's seriously spooky once you pass midway there.) My only criticism could be that the narrator seems to quite abruptly change psyche at the end, rather than the gradual decline the rest of the book allowed, but to be fair, that's part of the point. What would be a nice formatting change would be if it went Illuminae-style and had her handwriting and so on... but that's just a wishlist, because this book was penetrating enough without it.
July 27, 2017
Paradise Girl by Phil Featherstone.
A highly infectious and incurable virus spreads worldwide. Seventeen-year-old Kerryl Shaw and her family live on a remote farm and think they will be safe, but the plague advances. Despite deaths around them, the Shaws survive. However, this changes when a stranger arrives, and it soon becomes apparent he has brought the infection to their door. One by one the family succumbs, leaving Kerryl alone. Kerryl is sure it’s only a matter of time before she, too, dies. She decides to record what she thinks will be her final days in a diary. She realises that it will never be read, so she imagines a reader and calls him Adam. As loneliness and isolation affect the balance of her mind, Adam ceases to be an imaginary character and becomes real to her. Communications break down and services fail. Unexplained events build fear and menace: Kerryl hears her name called in the night; she’s attacked by stray animals; she’s molested when she visits the town; she sees a stranger outside her house, who vanishes when she tries to make contact; objects appear and disappear. The climax comes when she finds a text message on her phone. Who is texting her? How? She thinks it can only be Adam, because by now there is no one else left. Another text invites her to a rendezvous at the Bride Stones, a beauty spot popular with lovers, and she leaves for what she is sure will be a meeting with Adam...
OMG. An absolutely fantastic read with brilliant characters. Although a little slow in places it picked up. I didn't expect that. 5*. Netgalley and matador.
A highly infectious and incurable virus spreads worldwide. Seventeen-year-old Kerryl Shaw and her family live on a remote farm and think they will be safe, but the plague advances. Despite deaths around them, the Shaws survive. However, this changes when a stranger arrives, and it soon becomes apparent he has brought the infection to their door. One by one the family succumbs, leaving Kerryl alone. Kerryl is sure it’s only a matter of time before she, too, dies. She decides to record what she thinks will be her final days in a diary. She realises that it will never be read, so she imagines a reader and calls him Adam. As loneliness and isolation affect the balance of her mind, Adam ceases to be an imaginary character and becomes real to her. Communications break down and services fail. Unexplained events build fear and menace: Kerryl hears her name called in the night; she’s attacked by stray animals; she’s molested when she visits the town; she sees a stranger outside her house, who vanishes when she tries to make contact; objects appear and disappear. The climax comes when she finds a text message on her phone. Who is texting her? How? She thinks it can only be Adam, because by now there is no one else left. Another text invites her to a rendezvous at the Bride Stones, a beauty spot popular with lovers, and she leaves for what she is sure will be a meeting with Adam...
OMG. An absolutely fantastic read with brilliant characters. Although a little slow in places it picked up. I didn't expect that. 5*. Netgalley and matador.
June 8, 2017
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks, Phill Featherstone and Troubadour Publishing!
"With everyone else dead, I must be the most beautiful girl in the world!"
Well, okay then, Kerryl. I'm not sure we're gonna get along.
Kerryl is, as far as she knows, the only survivor of a deadly plague. We learn a little bit about her life before the plague, and then jump right in to her being the only survivor. Her priorities become:
-Milking the cows, collecting the eggs, and generally keeping the farm running
-Watching the same movies over and over because the Internet is dead (thanks, apocalypse)
-Inventing a reader for her diaries and calling him Adam (she has a history of inventing attractive males)
-Losing weight (well okay then, we REALLY aren't gonna get along.)
-Wondering if she is going crazy from being alone
While the plague/apocalypse itself is interesting and the day-to-day details of running a farm as potentially the only human left are entertaining, I was most enthralled by the ending of the book. The combination of the very end and her overall fixation on her weight (honestly girl, you could have rolled into town and grabbed a whole wardrobe in any size you want, it does NOT have to be a size smaller than you were pre-apocalypse) made me dock a star and a half, otherwise it would have been 3.5 stars and recommended for fans of apocalyptic fiction who aren't bothered by eating disorders.
"With everyone else dead, I must be the most beautiful girl in the world!"
Well, okay then, Kerryl. I'm not sure we're gonna get along.
Kerryl is, as far as she knows, the only survivor of a deadly plague. We learn a little bit about her life before the plague, and then jump right in to her being the only survivor. Her priorities become:
-Milking the cows, collecting the eggs, and generally keeping the farm running
-Watching the same movies over and over because the Internet is dead (thanks, apocalypse)
-Inventing a reader for her diaries and calling him Adam (she has a history of inventing attractive males)
-Losing weight (well okay then, we REALLY aren't gonna get along.)
-Wondering if she is going crazy from being alone
While the plague/apocalypse itself is interesting and the day-to-day details of running a farm as potentially the only human left are entertaining, I was most enthralled by the ending of the book. The combination of the very end and her overall fixation on her weight (honestly girl, you could have rolled into town and grabbed a whole wardrobe in any size you want, it does NOT have to be a size smaller than you were pre-apocalypse) made me dock a star and a half, otherwise it would have been 3.5 stars and recommended for fans of apocalyptic fiction who aren't bothered by eating disorders.
June 30, 2019
4/5
This is a psychological thriller with a dystopian setting. It definitely surpassed my expectations.
The diary format is pretty smart as I was able to empathise with Kerryl better. It also makes the book less messy as the book is divided into 2 sections- the green and purple diary. But it also causes the pacing to be quite slow, especially at the beginning.
The plot has the perfect amount of action. It kept me hooked to the story and most of the time I was wondering what was going to happen next. In my head I was theorising who could have caused the mysterious happenings and despite that I never guessed the ending. The writing is realistic. I love the subtlety of her loneliness and her declining mental health. There are some details you would probably miss if you were not reading it carefully.
Kerryl is the main character and she has her strengths and weaknesses. As a reader, she can be quite annoying at times but it is understandable. Otherwise, she is a strong female character that stays resilient despite the horrible circumstances.
The ending was perfect. It is kind of a cliff hanger and there was quite a lot of unanswered questions. If there was a sequel, I would probably pick it up. I do know there is a companion book and I would definitely read it if given the chance.
Gripping, realistic and interesting, this book is well-written and I would definitely recommend this to fans of: psychological thriller, dystopian, mystery.
(note: I received a free copy of this book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
This is a psychological thriller with a dystopian setting. It definitely surpassed my expectations.
The diary format is pretty smart as I was able to empathise with Kerryl better. It also makes the book less messy as the book is divided into 2 sections- the green and purple diary. But it also causes the pacing to be quite slow, especially at the beginning.
The plot has the perfect amount of action. It kept me hooked to the story and most of the time I was wondering what was going to happen next. In my head I was theorising who could have caused the mysterious happenings and despite that I never guessed the ending. The writing is realistic. I love the subtlety of her loneliness and her declining mental health. There are some details you would probably miss if you were not reading it carefully.
Kerryl is the main character and she has her strengths and weaknesses. As a reader, she can be quite annoying at times but it is understandable. Otherwise, she is a strong female character that stays resilient despite the horrible circumstances.
The ending was perfect. It is kind of a cliff hanger and there was quite a lot of unanswered questions. If there was a sequel, I would probably pick it up. I do know there is a companion book and I would definitely read it if given the chance.
Gripping, realistic and interesting, this book is well-written and I would definitely recommend this to fans of: psychological thriller, dystopian, mystery.
(note: I received a free copy of this book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
May 15, 2019
Paradise Girl was an unexpected roller coaster of feelings for me. Dystopian books are usually right up my alley, and I often become invested in the characters rather quickly, but I wasn't expecting all of the emotions that played out while reading the journals of Kerryl.
An infection takes over the world and kills people horribly and rapidly. It's easily spread and no one seems immune. Eventually, Kerryl is the only one left in the farm house where her family lived. Loneliness is a very big factor in the emotional upheaval of this book. Imagine being on your own with no human contact for days, weeks, months at a time! In Kerryl's case there is also a fair amount of guilt and even more things going on that we learn through her journals.
The journals are written very well, as if a young woman and inspiring writer had actually written them. I found it very easy to get into and become emotionally invested. At the end of the book, there is a HUGE plot twist, so be prepared for that! And come to find out there will be even more to this story. To say I'm eager to read it is an understatement!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
An infection takes over the world and kills people horribly and rapidly. It's easily spread and no one seems immune. Eventually, Kerryl is the only one left in the farm house where her family lived. Loneliness is a very big factor in the emotional upheaval of this book. Imagine being on your own with no human contact for days, weeks, months at a time! In Kerryl's case there is also a fair amount of guilt and even more things going on that we learn through her journals.
The journals are written very well, as if a young woman and inspiring writer had actually written them. I found it very easy to get into and become emotionally invested. At the end of the book, there is a HUGE plot twist, so be prepared for that! And come to find out there will be even more to this story. To say I'm eager to read it is an understatement!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 20, 2019
I will admit to feeling a bit of trepidation when I read the synopsis of this book because I wasn't sure if a book told in diary form, from the viewpoint of a completely isolated teenage girl (who may or may not be the only survivor from her neck of the woods (Yorkshire, England) following the outbreak of a devastating and deadly virus), would be able to hold my interest, but boy was I wrong to worry!! I enjoyed the story so much it took me by surprise. "A gripping psychological drama" is the perfect description of this book. The writing was amazing, the world building enticing enough to make me want to jump on a plane immediately and visit the moors of Yorkshire, and the pacing perfect. Not to be sexist, but I was very, very surprised that an adult man could get into the mind of a teenage girl with such accuracy, but he certainly nailed it.
This story grabbed me from the beginning and didn't let go until the very last page, and actually stayed with me long after that. The word that comes to mind when I think about it now is "haunting."
In summary, I highly recommend this book to YA fans of dystopian fiction and truly gripping psychological drama. I'm giving it a very enthusiastic 5/5 stars.
I received a copy of this book free of charge from BookSirens in exchange for my honest review.
This story grabbed me from the beginning and didn't let go until the very last page, and actually stayed with me long after that. The word that comes to mind when I think about it now is "haunting."
In summary, I highly recommend this book to YA fans of dystopian fiction and truly gripping psychological drama. I'm giving it a very enthusiastic 5/5 stars.
I received a copy of this book free of charge from BookSirens in exchange for my honest review.
May 13, 2019
"Paradise Girl" is a really great read, it stole my attention from page one until the very last page. I liked the writing style, the development of the main character and events throughout the whole book.
Phill Featherstone has succeeded at gripping my soul with his perfect style, the end was sad but it was entertaining nevertheless.
Highly recommended!!
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
Phill Featherstone has succeeded at gripping my soul with his perfect style, the end was sad but it was entertaining nevertheless.
Highly recommended!!
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
August 31, 2018
We are proud to announce that PARADISE GIRL by Phill Featherstone is a B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree. This tells readers that this book is well worth their time and money!
March 16, 2017
I was approached by Phill Featherstone via Twitter (after posting one of my book review blog posts). He contacted me asking if I would take it upon myself to read his book in exchange for an honest review. When looking into Phill and his book more I realised one, he is originally from Yorkshire (I too am from Yorkshire) and two it was a YA Dystopian book (one of my favourite categories). Both facts swung me and I agreed to read the book.
Kerryl is a 17 year old girl living on a farm in the Yorkshire hills. She leads a pretty normal life, although she is a very bright girl.
A deadly virus has been striking people all around the world but finally it has come to England! One by one Kerryls family members die of this virus, eventually leaving her running the farm and continuing to look after the farm animals.
She decides to write two diaries one green, one purple. One relates to before the virus the other relates to the time of the virus.
The book is well written and easy to read as it’s in diary form and this makes for short and snappy reading. I read the book in 2 days and was hooked from page one. It’s by far a happy book and the ending is a little confusing, but I think it’s left to your own interpretation so again not a bad thing.
At times the narrative slipped slightly and at first I thought that some phrases wouldn’t come from a 17 year old but then I reminded myself that Kerryl is much older in thought than her young years.
I loved the references to other famous books earlier in the story and the build up of the story was amazing too. Kerryl was a character that you could easily warm to and you found yourself rooting for her as well.
All in all it’s a moving yet achingly sad story, one however that could so easily come true and so very believable.
This book will certainly be a book that I won’t forget and it cleverly touches on mental health issues, plus the way technology can certainly be a crutch in society today.
If Phill is writing another book then I’d love to read it and I thank him for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book too.
Even though this is aimed at the YA category I’d certainly recommend it to adults too.
I gave this 5/5 on goodreads and was well deserved!
Kerryl is a 17 year old girl living on a farm in the Yorkshire hills. She leads a pretty normal life, although she is a very bright girl.
A deadly virus has been striking people all around the world but finally it has come to England! One by one Kerryls family members die of this virus, eventually leaving her running the farm and continuing to look after the farm animals.
She decides to write two diaries one green, one purple. One relates to before the virus the other relates to the time of the virus.
The book is well written and easy to read as it’s in diary form and this makes for short and snappy reading. I read the book in 2 days and was hooked from page one. It’s by far a happy book and the ending is a little confusing, but I think it’s left to your own interpretation so again not a bad thing.
At times the narrative slipped slightly and at first I thought that some phrases wouldn’t come from a 17 year old but then I reminded myself that Kerryl is much older in thought than her young years.
I loved the references to other famous books earlier in the story and the build up of the story was amazing too. Kerryl was a character that you could easily warm to and you found yourself rooting for her as well.
All in all it’s a moving yet achingly sad story, one however that could so easily come true and so very believable.
This book will certainly be a book that I won’t forget and it cleverly touches on mental health issues, plus the way technology can certainly be a crutch in society today.
If Phill is writing another book then I’d love to read it and I thank him for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book too.
Even though this is aimed at the YA category I’d certainly recommend it to adults too.
I gave this 5/5 on goodreads and was well deserved!
September 29, 2019
If you think this book is just for YA readers you would be wrong. I finished this book last week & have been mulling it over ever since. A deadly virus has spread and authorities are trying to keep the virus from spreading further.
The book is made up of diaries written by Kerryl, who wants to leave a journal to tell the story of what has happened to her. I am amazed that the author was able to capture Kerryl’s voice so well. At first she seemed 17, but she soon took on a lot more depth. In the end you will be guessing, is she really totally alone? I was very surprised by the ending.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The book is made up of diaries written by Kerryl, who wants to leave a journal to tell the story of what has happened to her. I am amazed that the author was able to capture Kerryl’s voice so well. At first she seemed 17, but she soon took on a lot more depth. In the end you will be guessing, is she really totally alone? I was very surprised by the ending.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 1, 2019
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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Kerryl is, as far as she knows, the only person on Earth to survive a devastating pandemic that swept the globe, killing people quickly, ruthlessly, and often painfully. To make sure that her story doesn’t die with her, she decides to keep a diary - or rather, two. A purple diary tells the reader what happened when the virus was first discovered, up until she becomes the last of her family left alive. A green diary begins after the Infection, as it was named, has taken hold of the rest of the world.
---
To begin with, the summary of the book is misleading; at least for the first half of the book, there is no Adam. Kerryl is just talking to her diary with the intention of leaving behind proof that she existed.
Instead, we learn about the origin of the virus; where it came from, what may have caused it, how it works. And then, we learn how it spreads. From Kerryl’s point of view, we see it rapidly work its way to where she lives, killing so many people that soon, they’re no more than statistics; nameless, faceless numbers.
We get to feel her isolation as the world slowly starts shutting down around her, cutting her off from her school, her friends, and even her hometown.
I thoroughly enjoyed this part of the story, although there are a couple of decisions that Kerryl makes at one point that made me want to shake her. We get to see what her life was like before the virus, and we learn about her early childhood and her family.
The world around her felt real, and the way things were handled with the virus were very believable. Tension is high as society collapses, and neighbors become enemies, as the virus is very contagious, and its long incubation period means that someone can be infected and spreading the virus to anyone the victim comes into contact with. No one trusts each other, and the security measures the government attempts to put into place are barely effective.
Eventually, the virus takes her friends, her neighbors, and finally, her family.
This is where the green diary comes into play. Kerryl has to make a decision about what to do now that she’s alone. Should she stay on the farm and wait for the Infection to kill her, too? Should she end it all herself, quick and painless?
The overwhelming theme of the book is loneliness. The idea of a post-apocalyptic world is intriguing to a lot of people, and I admit that I like reading about them, myself. But this book just made me feel sad and lonely. Everything is so desolate and hopeless.
As with many other post-apocalyptic settings, the book also addresses the darker side of humanity. When the world goes to hell, the creeps come out of the woodwork, and Kerryl has the misfortune to run into some of them.
Finally, Adam makes his appearance. He is the person Kerryl decides that she’s writing to. She envisions him as the perfect boyfriend, someone who will love her unconditionally. She begins talking to him like he’s a real person that she’s going to meet up with someday soon.
There’s a bit of mystery involved; as Kerryl’s isolation continues, she thinks she begins seeing things out of the corner of her eye, and hearing things. A bit of paranoia begins to set in; is what she’s seeing and hearing real, or is she imagining it? If it’s real, is she in danger?
Unexpectedly, we also get an explanation for the title of the book, and I have to say, it’s very clever. More than once, I did actually wonder why something like paradise was associated with a post-apocalyptic world, and now I understand.
Closer to the end of the book, I started losing my sympathy for Kerryl. She completely loses track of what’s real and what’s not, even though she has evidence that proves which is which. It seems to me like she’s willfully ignoring the truth, and refuses to see anything but what she wants to see.
At one point, there’s an incident that happens to her, and I can’t even feel pity, because it was something she caused. Maybe that sounds too harsh, but at this point in the story, I’m kind of done with her. One minute she’s crying and upset, and the next she’s a giddy teenager putting on makeup and getting ready for a date.
The ending… I didn’t like how it ended at all. I absolutely loved the first half of the book, detailing the appearance of the infection and the first few weeks of its spread. But once the green diary took over, I grew less and less interested, both in the story and in Kerryl. The ending just felt like a slap in the face. Disappointing…
First half of the book: 4.8/5
Second half of the book: 2.5/5
Overall, I would give it about a 3/5
---
Kerryl is, as far as she knows, the only person on Earth to survive a devastating pandemic that swept the globe, killing people quickly, ruthlessly, and often painfully. To make sure that her story doesn’t die with her, she decides to keep a diary - or rather, two. A purple diary tells the reader what happened when the virus was first discovered, up until she becomes the last of her family left alive. A green diary begins after the Infection, as it was named, has taken hold of the rest of the world.
---
To begin with, the summary of the book is misleading; at least for the first half of the book, there is no Adam. Kerryl is just talking to her diary with the intention of leaving behind proof that she existed.
Instead, we learn about the origin of the virus; where it came from, what may have caused it, how it works. And then, we learn how it spreads. From Kerryl’s point of view, we see it rapidly work its way to where she lives, killing so many people that soon, they’re no more than statistics; nameless, faceless numbers.
We get to feel her isolation as the world slowly starts shutting down around her, cutting her off from her school, her friends, and even her hometown.
I thoroughly enjoyed this part of the story, although there are a couple of decisions that Kerryl makes at one point that made me want to shake her. We get to see what her life was like before the virus, and we learn about her early childhood and her family.
The world around her felt real, and the way things were handled with the virus were very believable. Tension is high as society collapses, and neighbors become enemies, as the virus is very contagious, and its long incubation period means that someone can be infected and spreading the virus to anyone the victim comes into contact with. No one trusts each other, and the security measures the government attempts to put into place are barely effective.
Eventually, the virus takes her friends, her neighbors, and finally, her family.
This is where the green diary comes into play. Kerryl has to make a decision about what to do now that she’s alone. Should she stay on the farm and wait for the Infection to kill her, too? Should she end it all herself, quick and painless?
The overwhelming theme of the book is loneliness. The idea of a post-apocalyptic world is intriguing to a lot of people, and I admit that I like reading about them, myself. But this book just made me feel sad and lonely. Everything is so desolate and hopeless.
As with many other post-apocalyptic settings, the book also addresses the darker side of humanity. When the world goes to hell, the creeps come out of the woodwork, and Kerryl has the misfortune to run into some of them.
Finally, Adam makes his appearance. He is the person Kerryl decides that she’s writing to. She envisions him as the perfect boyfriend, someone who will love her unconditionally. She begins talking to him like he’s a real person that she’s going to meet up with someday soon.
There’s a bit of mystery involved; as Kerryl’s isolation continues, she thinks she begins seeing things out of the corner of her eye, and hearing things. A bit of paranoia begins to set in; is what she’s seeing and hearing real, or is she imagining it? If it’s real, is she in danger?
Unexpectedly, we also get an explanation for the title of the book, and I have to say, it’s very clever. More than once, I did actually wonder why something like paradise was associated with a post-apocalyptic world, and now I understand.
Closer to the end of the book, I started losing my sympathy for Kerryl. She completely loses track of what’s real and what’s not, even though she has evidence that proves which is which. It seems to me like she’s willfully ignoring the truth, and refuses to see anything but what she wants to see.
At one point, there’s an incident that happens to her, and I can’t even feel pity, because it was something she caused. Maybe that sounds too harsh, but at this point in the story, I’m kind of done with her. One minute she’s crying and upset, and the next she’s a giddy teenager putting on makeup and getting ready for a date.
The ending… I didn’t like how it ended at all. I absolutely loved the first half of the book, detailing the appearance of the infection and the first few weeks of its spread. But once the green diary took over, I grew less and less interested, both in the story and in Kerryl. The ending just felt like a slap in the face. Disappointing…
First half of the book: 4.8/5
Second half of the book: 2.5/5
Overall, I would give it about a 3/5
January 3, 2019
*I received a free copy of this ebook, with thanks to the author. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
RECIPIENT OF THE B.R.A.G. MEDALLION
Paradise Girl is an apocalyptic survival tale about a lone teenaged girl in the aftermath of a devastatingly fatal infection.
We get the majority of the tale in Kerryl’s own words, via two journals; one telling the tale of life before and during the onset of the infection, and the other charting – diary-style – her daily life since the world ended.
Kerryl’s voice is distinct and we really get to know her very quickly through her narrative of events, although it is clear that she is an unreliable narrator, bound by her lack of clear information as to what is going on. She is more of a survivor than an investigator, and the focus of the plot is on her hunkering down and just getting on with what is in front of her.
Unfortunately for her, that is a wide expanse of aching loneliness. Phill Featherstone captures a creeping horror here as we helplessly witness the toll of complete isolation on the human mind. Never has it been more evident what a social animal man is, as when witnessing the swift decline that occurs when all other needs bar that one are met.
Kerryl’s tale also bears out an interconnectedness between story and reader, watcher and watched, as she begins to address her imagined audience directly which starts to bear some unexpected and unsettling results.
The ending twists and turns with some final surprises and leaves enough unanswered threads to whet the reader’s appetite thoroughly for more of the story. Luckily the contemporaneously set sequel is out in a few short weeks so there isn’t long to wait!
This is a thoughtful, non-ghoulish exploration of post-viral apocalyptic survival from a very human perspective, that I can recommend for teens upwards.
The diaries I used to write didn’t just record things that happened to me. I used them to help me work stuff out, and to say things I couldn’t share with anybody, not even Josie, and certainly not with Lander. This diary is different though. It’s different from anything I’ve ever written before.
Why?
Because I know I’m going to die.
Why?
Because the people I lived with – Gran, Granddad and our Mam – are already dead. So are all my friends and so is everybody else. And if Lander’s not dead he might as well be.
Am I scared? The crazy (but true) answer is, ‘I don’t know’. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night feeling that something is eating me from the inside. I have to get up then, because going back to sleep is out of the question. But most of the time in the daylight, it doesn’t seem real, even now, and I just get on with things. I can’t believe that it won’t all come right again, that life won’t get back to normal. I mean, they’ll sort it out. Won’t they?
– Phill Featherstone, Paradise Girl
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
RECIPIENT OF THE B.R.A.G. MEDALLION
Paradise Girl is an apocalyptic survival tale about a lone teenaged girl in the aftermath of a devastatingly fatal infection.
We get the majority of the tale in Kerryl’s own words, via two journals; one telling the tale of life before and during the onset of the infection, and the other charting – diary-style – her daily life since the world ended.
Kerryl’s voice is distinct and we really get to know her very quickly through her narrative of events, although it is clear that she is an unreliable narrator, bound by her lack of clear information as to what is going on. She is more of a survivor than an investigator, and the focus of the plot is on her hunkering down and just getting on with what is in front of her.
Unfortunately for her, that is a wide expanse of aching loneliness. Phill Featherstone captures a creeping horror here as we helplessly witness the toll of complete isolation on the human mind. Never has it been more evident what a social animal man is, as when witnessing the swift decline that occurs when all other needs bar that one are met.
Kerryl’s tale also bears out an interconnectedness between story and reader, watcher and watched, as she begins to address her imagined audience directly which starts to bear some unexpected and unsettling results.
The ending twists and turns with some final surprises and leaves enough unanswered threads to whet the reader’s appetite thoroughly for more of the story. Luckily the contemporaneously set sequel is out in a few short weeks so there isn’t long to wait!
This is a thoughtful, non-ghoulish exploration of post-viral apocalyptic survival from a very human perspective, that I can recommend for teens upwards.
The diaries I used to write didn’t just record things that happened to me. I used them to help me work stuff out, and to say things I couldn’t share with anybody, not even Josie, and certainly not with Lander. This diary is different though. It’s different from anything I’ve ever written before.
Why?
Because I know I’m going to die.
Why?
Because the people I lived with – Gran, Granddad and our Mam – are already dead. So are all my friends and so is everybody else. And if Lander’s not dead he might as well be.
Am I scared? The crazy (but true) answer is, ‘I don’t know’. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night feeling that something is eating me from the inside. I have to get up then, because going back to sleep is out of the question. But most of the time in the daylight, it doesn’t seem real, even now, and I just get on with things. I can’t believe that it won’t all come right again, that life won’t get back to normal. I mean, they’ll sort it out. Won’t they?
– Phill Featherstone, Paradise Girl
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
November 7, 2019
When I was the age of Kerryl, the narrator of Phill Featherstone's 'Paradise Girl', we worried about nuclear annihilation. We marched against the bomb and wondered whether it would be better to be hit directly and evaporated or to die slowly and painfully from the after-effects of radiation poisoning. Maybe we considered the civil breakdown that would ensure and how society might survive and rebuild. One thing I didn't worry about was getting wiped out by an Ebola-style virus rampaging around the world but I'm sure the same thoughts would come to the fore; is it worse to get wiped out early or to survive in a world where everybody you knew (and everybody you never knew) had all gone. Heavy stuff.
Kerryl and her family live in a remote hillside farm and are pretty well set up for survival with lots of food stored away, farm animals to provide fresh produce, and both a turbine and solar panels. Don't let that food you into thinking it's going to be easy though. We meet Kerryl and she's on her own. Through two notebooks, she tells us what happened before she came to be alone and then how her days are passing once she's quite possibly the only person left in the world. She's resourceful, feisty, careful, caring and she adapts to prioritising both her own safety and the wellbeing of the animals for whom she has to care. She creates an imaginary reader to give her writing a sense of purpose, and sucks us into her day-to-day battle with loneliness and various forms of peril.
I found the book fascinating - perhaps because I have thought of how it might be. I've loved post-apocalyptic novels and films for a long time and I thought this one-woman approach was really well delivered for the most part. Everything seemed to tie together quite well. Was she imagining everything or was she really being watched? If she was, then by whom? Where was her twin brother and who - if anybody- was sending her messages on her phone long after all the networks had stopped working. It's all very clever and just about every question gets an answer; mostly quite believable answers at that.
I got this as a free download from Booksirens in return for a review and it was much better than I expected it to be. I'm now really keen to get back to the site and request the follow-up novel in the series.
Kerryl and her family live in a remote hillside farm and are pretty well set up for survival with lots of food stored away, farm animals to provide fresh produce, and both a turbine and solar panels. Don't let that food you into thinking it's going to be easy though. We meet Kerryl and she's on her own. Through two notebooks, she tells us what happened before she came to be alone and then how her days are passing once she's quite possibly the only person left in the world. She's resourceful, feisty, careful, caring and she adapts to prioritising both her own safety and the wellbeing of the animals for whom she has to care. She creates an imaginary reader to give her writing a sense of purpose, and sucks us into her day-to-day battle with loneliness and various forms of peril.
I found the book fascinating - perhaps because I have thought of how it might be. I've loved post-apocalyptic novels and films for a long time and I thought this one-woman approach was really well delivered for the most part. Everything seemed to tie together quite well. Was she imagining everything or was she really being watched? If she was, then by whom? Where was her twin brother and who - if anybody- was sending her messages on her phone long after all the networks had stopped working. It's all very clever and just about every question gets an answer; mostly quite believable answers at that.
I got this as a free download from Booksirens in return for a review and it was much better than I expected it to be. I'm now really keen to get back to the site and request the follow-up novel in the series.
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