Publication Date: 26th January 2017
Synopsis: "Jane stumbles on the rental opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to live in a beautiful ultra-minimalist house designed by an enigmatic architect, on condition she abides by a long list of exacting rules.
After moving in, she discovers that a previous tenant, Emma, met a mysterious death there - and starts to wonder if her own story will be a re-run of the girl before. As twist after twist catches the reader off guard, Emma's past and Jane's present become inexorably entwined in this tense, page-turning portrayal of psychological obsession."
Why It's Unmissable - I'm a huge fan of psychological thrillers and this is the freshest, slickest thriller I've read for some time. The story is told in alternate chapters between Jane the current tenant of One Folgate Street, and Emma the girl who lived there before. One Folgate Street seems to have a presence of its own with its cold, minimalist style and odd set of house rules enforced by the architect who designed the house. As Jane and Emma's chapters become more and more entwined you can't help but wonder what happened to Emma? And is Jane destined to follow in her footsteps?
Publication Date: 5th January 2017
Synopsis: "With a grandmother from China and another from Ghana, fifteen-year-old Wing Jones is often caught between worlds. But when tragedy strikes, Wing discovers a talent for running she never knew she had. Wing's speed could bring her family everything it needs. It could also stop Wing getting the one thing she wants."
Why It's Unmissable - I have been anticipating Wing Jones for the longest time and it surpassed my already very high expectations. Wing Jones has sprinted on to the YA scene with a heroine whose heart leaps off the page touching the readers own. It's a book about losing your way, finding your feet and having the courage to chase your dreams. This is the kind of book that makes my heart feel all warm and fuzzy whenever I think about it and I am already craving a re-read, it's that good.
by Laurie Frankel
Publication Date: 9th February 2017
Synopsis: "Rosie and Penn always wanted a daughter. Four sons later, they decide to try one last time - and their beautiful little boy Claude is born. Life continues happily for this big, loving family until the day when Claude says that, when he grows up, he wants to be a girl.
As far as Rosie and Penn are concerned, bright, funny and wonderful Claude can be whoever he or she wants. But as problems begin at school and in the community, the family faces a seemingly impossible dilemma: should Claude change, or should they and Claude try to change the world?"
Why It's Unmissable - This Is How It Always Is is such a special and important book following Claude, a little boy who wants to be a little girl. It's a book about family, acceptance and having the courage to show the world who you truly are. I loved Claude/Poppy, I loved his/her rambunctious, supportive family and I loved the messages about living in the middle, not conforming and being kind. A timely book for 2017 and a must read for all.
by Gillian McAllister
Publication Date: 9th March 2017
Synopsis: "It all started with the email.
It came through to her boyfriend's iPad in the middle of the night. Rachel didn't even mean to look. She loves Jack, and she's pregnant with their child. She trusts him. But now she's seen it, she can't undo that moment, or the chain of events it has set in motion.
Why has Jack been lying about his past? Just what exactly is he hiding? And doesn't Rachel have a right to know the truth at any cost?"
Why It's Unmissable - We've all Googled a new boyfriend, but what if you found something sinister? Something that didn't add up. Something they can't explain away. Something that makes them a monster. What if you were pregnant with his child? This is the situation our heroine Rachel finds herself in. This book kept me guessing throughout, I constantly felt on uneven footing and was never sure what or who to believe. Everything but the Truth is a brilliant psychological thriller that makes you question everything you think you know about these characters and asks the impossible question: how well do we ever really know those we love?
by Becky Albertalli
Publication Date: 11th April 2017
Synopsis: "Seventeen-year-old Molly Peskin-Suso knows all about unrequited love-she's lived through it twenty-six times. She crushes hard and crushes often, but always in secret. Because no matter how many times her twin sister, Cassie, tells her to woman up, Molly can't stomach the idea of rejection. So she's careful. Fat girls always have to be careful.
Then a cute new girl enters Cassie's orbit, and for the first time ever, Molly's cynical twin is a lovesick mess. Meanwhile, Molly's totally not dying of loneliness-except for the part where she is. Luckily, Cassie's new girlfriend comes with a cute hipster-boy sidekick. Will is funny, flirtatious, and just might be perfect crush material. Maybe more than crush material. And if Molly can win him over, she'll get her first kiss and she'll get her twin back.
There's only one problem: Molly's coworker, Reid. He's an awkward Tolkien superfan, and there's absolutely no way Molly could fall for him. Right?"
Why It's Unmissable - I absolutely loved Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda so when I received Becky's new novel The Upside of Unrequited I had to read it straight away and dare I say I loved this even more than Simon!? Once again Becky writes with her trademark warmth and humor this time following Molly Peskin-Suso an overweight teenager who has fallen in unrequited love one too many times. When her twin sister Cassie finds the girl of her dreams, Molly is left behind, that is until Cassie sets her up with her new girlfriend's super cute best friend Will. But this time Molly isn't content to tag along in her twin sister's shadow. Maybe, just maybe, it's time to carve her own path in life, even if it means letting Cassie go. I loved every single thing about this book and know that fans of Simon vs will not be disappointed in this new offering from Becky Albertalli!
