Review: SweetFreak - Sophie McKenzie

SweetFreak by Sophie McKenzie, published by Simon and Schuster on 24th August 2017

Goodreads synopsis:
Carey and Amelia have been best friends forever. Then Amelia starts being trolled by SweetFreak, a mysterious and hateful online account, and Carey is accused of being behind the vicious comments.

Shut out by her other friends and shunned by Amelia, Carey is determined to find out who's really sending the messages. But as the online threats spill over into real life, events start spiralling out of control...

Can Carey expose the real SweetFreak before it's too late?

Review:
'SweetFreak' was another good read by British author Sophie McKenzie, although I didn't love it as much as I was hoping to.  I found it a fairly quick read and finished it in one sitting.  It had a fair amount of drama, but it wasn't as tense or as gripping as other YA novels that I've read lately.  Please don't take that to assume that I didn't enjoy it, I did, but I've also read better edge-of-your-seat thrillers than this.

Best friends Carey and Amelia are at the centre of the story.  Amelia is sent disturbing messages online and Carey ends up accused of being the culprit, something which she vehemently denies.  Carey has to prove who the mysterious SweetFreak is and clear her name in the process. 

Although this book was described as CyberBully meets Gone Girl, I just didn't find it as exciting as I was expecting it to be.  I guessed the culprit quite quickly and although there were some further twists near the end of the story, I didn't feel any sense of real danger. 

I like the way that McKenzie has explored themes of online and offline bullying and the abuse of social media.  It's all too easy now for people to hide behind their computers and I think the book did a good job of showing the harm that online bullying can cause to a person.  This is something which is really topical and I thought that the author very effectively highlighted the danger of this.

'SweetFreak' is probably better suited to slightly younger teenage readers but I think that anyone who is a big Sophie McKenzie fan will still enjoy it.

Review: All My Secrets - Sophie McKenzie

All My Secrets by Sophie McKenzie, published by Simon and Schuster on 2nd July 2015

Goodreads synopsis:
The shocking reality behind a GBP10 million inheritance turns Evie Brown's world on its head. Unable to find out the truth from her parents, Evie ends up on the mysterious island of Lightsea, where her desire for answers leads her towards a series of revelations that threaten everything she holds dear ...including her life.  

Review:
'All My Secrets' is a new thriller from the pen of British author Sophie McKenzie.  It centres around teenager Evie Brown who at the start of the book is hit with two huge revelations - one is a shocking family secret and the other is the fact that she has just come into a ten million pound inheritance. With her life fast spiralling out of control, Evie is sent to Lightsea Island to take part in a young adult development programme.  However, mysterious things start occurring on the island and soon she fears that her life itself might be in danger. 

I liked the setting of the story, placing the action on a remote island.  It magnified the sense of danger that Evie feels throughout and means that she and the other teens on the island are far away from any kind of help or assistance.  They are very much on their own, as even some of the adults looking after them might not necessarily be trustworthy. 

I wish that I had liked Evie more, but unfortunately I never really warmed to the main protagonist.  I didn't agree with the way that she treated her parents at the beginning of the book and I didn't feel any sense of a connection to her.  A love triangle was whipped up to add some romance to the story but even this felt a bit flat to me. 

I had my suspicions about what was really going on but no idea whether or not I was right.  Sophie McKenzie is excellent at casting suspicion on people and often making you look in the wrong direction.  The ending of the story was super exciting with lots of twists but I wish that the rest of the book had matched it.  It sadly wasn't as good as some of McKenzie's other YA thrillers. 

Review: Defy the Stars - Sophie McKenzie

Defy the Stars by Sophie McKenzie, published by Simon and Schuster on 2nd January 2014

Goodreads synopsis:
After months apart, everyone thinks that River is successfully building a future without Flynn. Indeed, she has almost convinced herself that she is moving on. And then, one day, Flynn is back, bringing with him tales of his glamorous new life. River suspects his lucrative new work involves some form of criminal activity, but will she let herself be drawn back into Flynn's world? Or is this, finally, the end of the line for them both?

Review:
'Defy the Stars' the final instalment in the series about River and Flynn will, I feel, divide opinion among readers who have invested a lot in these two characters and their love story.  Having followed them and rooted for them all the way, Sophie McKenzie finally wraps up their epic romance but not necessarily in the way which will please everyone.  Flynn appears back in River's life after she's finally begun to get her life in order again but the crux of the book is whether or not they can ever get their happily ever after.   

Personally I was disappointed with the outcome of the story, as I had very different feelings about how I wanted things to be left.  However, although it may not have been the ending I would have wished for, I still think it was brilliantly written and extremely intense and moving.  I was totally gripped as events unfolded. 

This is quite a different book in the series, veering on the side of being a thriller which I thought made it even more exciting.  I read it in one sitting as I'm sure a lot of other readers will.  Flynn and River have both grown-up a lot and matured while they've been apart.  Flynn still seems to make some stupid choices at times but I could see that he had River's best intentions at heart which definitely endeared him to me.  Especially after losing faith with him in the previous book.     

'Defy the Stars' concludes a heart-breaking and emotional series of books about first love from one of my favourite British authors.  If you've yet to discover this series then I would recommend getting your hands on book one, 'Falling Fast' which introduces the young lovers for the first time.  

Review: Split Second - Sophie McKenzie

Split Second by Sophie McKenzie, published by Simon and Schuster on 12th September 2013

Goodreads synopsis:
Bound together by the devastating consequences of a terrorist attack on a London market, teenagers Charlotte (Charlie) and Nat appear at first to have much in common. But, as Charlie gets closer to Nat and his family, she begins to wonder if perhaps he knows more about the attack than he has let on.

Review:
Sophie McKenzie is one of my favourite British authors and 'Split Second' is one of the best books I've read by her so far.  It had an extremely engaging narrative which thoroughly immersed me in the story.  I finished this book in one sitting and found it utterly gripping.

McKenzie has cleverly taken themes which are relevant today and woven them into the book.  For example, the age of austerity, budget cuts and unemployment all factor but she has imagined what would happen in the future if these things all spiralled out of control.  How would the government respond to societal unrest?  What extent would people go to in ensuring they could feed their families? These questions and more are all subtly posed to the reader who is left to make their own minds up about the ethics of some of the characters' actions. 

The story is told through a dual narrative, featuring teenagers Nat and Charlie.  Their lives become entwined following a shocking turn of events which occurs at the start of the book.  This ensures that they will be brought together but I had no idea how entangled they were going to become with each other as they both struggle to right a series of terrible wrongs.  They become involved with a secret organisation which they believe wants to help stop a radical group from spreading terror across the UK.  As the fast-paced plot unravels, it turns out that they have no idea what truths have really been kept from them but they are about to find out. 

The book provides a frankly terrifying vision of the future of society and is not for the faint-hearted.  Sophie McKenzie has written a superbly exciting story which I feel will appeal hugely to both a male and female readership.  The sequel will be published in 2014 and will be entitled 'Every Second Counts'.   

Review: Casting Shadows - Sophie McKenzie

Casting Shadows by Sophie McKenzie, published by Simon and Schuster on 4th July 2013

Goodreads synopsis:
Flynn is making every effort to stay in control of his hot temper, while River feels more content than she's ever been. Together the two of them make big plans for the future, but powerful secrets lurk in the shadows, ready to threaten their happiness.

Review:
This was another enjoyable instalment in the series about River and Flynn.  The two teenagers are now living together with River's Dad at the commune.  Things seem to be much better with Flynn's temper until secrets are revealed which may upset all their future plans. 

It seemed inevitable that something was going to happen to get in the way of their happiness.  They've had so many ups and downs and have always managed to sort things out but this time it may be the end of the line for them.  I think teens will love this book because the romance between River and Flynn is intense but not completely romanticised.  There are real problems and obstacles for them to overcome and they are still trying to get River's family to completely accept them being together. 

I still like Flynn but my feelings about him have changed as the series has progressed.  I do think he overreacts quite a lot and even when he has a grip on his temper he can still fly off the handle over non-consequential things.  It always seems to be River who has to suffer and I'm almost at the point now where I think she could be happier without him. 

The next book (and the last one) in the series is called 'Defy the Stars'.  It will be intriguing to see if a happy ending is on the cards or not for the teen lovers. 

Writer's Nook: Sophie McKenzie

Writer's Nook is a new feature at A Dream of Books where authors talk about their personal writing space and the objects or inspirational things they like to keep around them. 

I'm thrilled to welcome Sophie McKenzie to the blog for the very first Writer's Nook.

I love writing stories and, wherever I go, I tend to carry sections of my work in progress with me. I might be writing, editing or planning – and I might be carrying the relevant chapters on my laptop or as printed out pages. The point is, it’s all portable. 

Having said that, my favourite place to work is definitely at home at my desk, sitting down in front of my iMac. I like the big screen on this computer. It means I can see more of my manuscript – the one on the screen in the picture is part of the sequel to Split Second (pub. Sept 2013) - than if I’m working on my laptop. I also like having all the editing functions – from word search to cutting and pasting – at my fingertips.

To be honest, most of the surrounding area isn’t that important to me. Looking at my desk today, I can see it’s really a bit of a mess. There are probably a load of things here I could throw away. However, the following items are really important:

The router. Easy internet access means that if I want to find out something I can usually research it in a matter of minutes. For Casting Shadows, there’s a scene at the start where River and her dad are birthing lambs. Once upon a time I’d have had to wait for the right time of year then visit a farm to see a lamb being born to find out what that would involve. But all I had to do the other day was a quick search on the net.

The sharpies. Kindly provided by my publishers and handy for signing books.

The pen pot. Full of pens for when I’m editing or annotating a print out.

The ‘to do’ list. To help me remember all the writing and promotional work I’m supposed to be doing.
The cup of tea. To sustain me through the writing day.

The little Buddha. To help me keep everything in perspective when the story I’m writing isn’t going well.

The row of previously published books next to my printer. To remind me as I write that if I did it before, I can do it again!

Review: Burning Bright - Sophie McKenzie

Burning Bright by Sophie McKenzie, published by Simon and Schuster on 3rd January 2013

Goodreads synopsis:
Four months have passed and River and Flynn are still going strong. But things are not perfect. Flynn continues to fly into unprovoked rages, and when River tells her mum, she is banned from seeing him. Fighting to stay together, they end up being torn apart. Is it all over for River and Flynn?

Review:
This is the second book in Sophie McKenzie's series about the teenage romance between River and Flynn.  Yet again it has a gorgeous cover which is beautiful and made me itch to pick it up and start reading.

The story follows Flynn and River and their volatile relationship.  River loves him wholly and completely but struggles to deal with Flynn's explosive temper.  Her parents and friends don't approve of him either but she can't imagine living without him.  McKenzie depicts the intensity of their relationship which quite often seems to be stifling and claustrophobic.  They are together as much as they can be but don't often give each other any space without one or the other of them feeling jealous.  River trusts Flynn but he doesn't always seem to give her good reason to and some of his actions in the book thoroughly test her patience and her loyalty. 

I liked the realistic aspect of the story, which shows that true love doesn't always run smoothly.  A lot of obstacles are placed between River and Flynn and it was interesting to see how they handled these.  River has to face her mother's disapproval of her choice of boyfriend and Flynn has home problems of his own with his father appearing back on the scene.  He also has to finally acknowledge that he may have the same unpredictable temperament as the father he hates which threatens to come between him and River.

This was a quick read and I finished it in one evening, in part to the fact that the story was so enjoyable I couldn't put it down.  I'm looking forward to finding out what will happen next in the third book in the series 'Casting Shadows'.

Hotly Anticipated Reads 2013: Simon and Schuster

Simon and Schuster never fail to disappoint with their stunning book releases and 2013 is no exception with lots of amazing titles being published.  Here are just a few of the ones that I'm hotly anticipating (January - June).

All links go to Goodreads where you can add them to your wishlist!

Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff, published 1st January

The city of Ludlow is gripped by the hottest July on record. The asphalt is melting, the birds are dying, petty crime is on the rise, and someone in Hannah Wagnor's peaceful suburban community is killing girls.

For Hannah, the summer is a complicated one. Her best friend Lillian died six months ago, and Hannah just wants her life to go back to normal. But how can things be normal when Lillian's ghost is haunting her bedroom, pushing her to investigate the mysterious string of murders? Hannah's just trying to understand why her friend self-destructed, and where she fits now that Lillian isn't there to save her a place among the social elite. And she must stop thinking about Finny Boone, the big, enigmatic delinquent whose main hobbies seem to include petty larceny and surprising acts of kindness.

With the entire city in a panic, Hannah soon finds herself drawn into a world of ghost girls and horrifying secrets. She realises that only by confronting the Valentine Killer will she be able move on with her life - and it's up to her to put together the pieces before he strikes again.

Burning Bright by Sophie McKenzie, published 5th January

Four months have passed and River and Flynn are still going strong. But things are not perfect. Flynn continues to fly into unprovoked rages, and when River tells her mum, she is banned from seeing him. Fighting to stay together, they end up being torn apart. Is it all over for River and Flynn?

Everbound by Brodi Ashton, published 14th February

Nikki Beckett could only watch as her boyfriend, Jack, sacrificed himself to save her, taking her place in the Tunnels of the Everneath for eternity — a debt that should’ve been hers. She’s living a borrowed life, and she doesn’t know what to do with the guilt. And every night Jack appears in her dreams, lost and confused and wasting away.

Desperate for answers, Nikki turns to Cole, the immortal bad boy who wants to make her his queen — and the one person least likely to help. But his heart has been touched by everything about Nikki, and he agrees to assist her in the only way he can: by taking her to the Everneath himself.

Nikki and Cole descend into the Everneath, only to discover that their journey will be more difficult than they’d anticipated — and more deadly. But Nikki vows to stop at nothing to save Jack — even if it means making an incredible sacrifice of her own.

Everafter by Elizabeth Chandler, published 11th April

It seems the odds are forever against Ivy and her fallen angel. Tristan is still trapped in the body of an accused murderer, and as the two star-crossed lovers try to clear his name, they must battle the dark forces that would keep them apart and destroy them both. The danger is especially great for Tristan since, as a fallen angel, death would mean losing his soul. It’s up to Ivy to save the one she loves and, hopefully, find a way for the two of the them to be together…for all eternity.

The Prey by Andrew Fukuda, published 1st May

For Gene and the remaining humans—or hepers—death is just a heartbeat away. On the run and hunted by society, they must find a way to survive in The Vast... and avoid the hungry predators tracking them in the dark. But they’re not the only things following Gene. He’s haunted by the girl he left behind and his burgeoning feelings for Sissy, the human girl at his side.

When they discover a refuge of exiled humans living high in the mountains, Gene and his friends think they’re finally safe. Led by a group of intensely secretive elders, the civilisation begins to raise more questions than answers. A strict code of behaviour is the rule, harsh punishments are meted out, young men are nowhere to be found—and Gene begins to wonder if the world they’ve entered is just as evil as the one they left behind. As life at the refuge grows more perilous, he and Sissy only grow closer. In an increasingly violent world, all they have is each other... if they can only stay alive.

As well as all of these, there's also the sequel to Kathleen Peacock's 'Deadly Hemlock' and Rebecca Serle's 'When You Were Mine' to look forward to, along with a whole host of New Adult titles.

Comment and let me know which books you're most looking forward to in 2013!

Blog tour: Sophie McKenzie's Top YA Reads

I am taking part in the blog tour for Sophie McKenzie's new book, 'Missing Me' which is published by Simon and Schuster and is a thrilling conclusion to the 'Girl, Missing' trilogy..

Sophie has put together her own personal list highlighting her top YA reads.  There are some great picks here which I'm looking forward to checking out!

Unrest – Michelle Harrison

Mysterious and spooky

The Fault in our Stars – John Green

Moving and romantic

Naked – Kevin Brooks

Poignant and compelling

 

Rebel Heart – Moira Young

Dystopian and dramatic

 

 

Saving Daisy – Phil Earle

Raw and insightful

Finding Violet Park – Jenny Valentine

Quirky and intriguing

The Kingdom by the Sea – Robert Westall

Gripping and powerful

 

 

Dead Time – Anne Cassidy

Suspenseful and exciting

 

 

Review: Missing Me - Sophie McKenzie

Missing Me by Sophie McKenzie, published by Simon and Schuster on 13th September 2012

Goodreads synopsis:
Six years have passed since the end of Sister, Missing and Madison is now a teenager. During a visit to her older sister Lauren, Madison learns that their biological father was an anonymous sperm donor and sets out to track him down. Her search bears fruit sooner than she expects, but is the father she discovers all he seems? As Madison gets drawn into a mysterious investigation involving missing girls and secret hideaways, she finds herself in more and more danger.

Review:
This is the third book in the series and is set six years after the events of 'Girl Missing' and 'Sister Missing'.  As such it was nice to revisit some familiar faces and see what their lives are like now.  The story focuses on Madison who is now fourteen and attempting to track down her biological father.

As I've come to expect from a Sophie McKenzie book, the story was hugely appealing and the storytelling was both exciting and addictive.  Events take a dramatic turn particularly in the second half when my heart was beating so wildly that I couldn't put the book down.

I loved seeing a teenage Madison who is now much more grown-up and making decisions of her own.  Her relationship with her half-sister Lauren was also great and I liked the close sisterly bond that they share.  My only gripe really was that it seems Madison's life has been constantly in danger throughout most of the series and literally everything seems to happen to her.  Saying that however, that's part of what makes the story so thrilling and gripping so I can't really complain.           

Sophie McKenzie is one of the best British authors around at the moment and with 'Missing Me' she cements her reputation even further as one to watch! 

Review: Falling Fast - Sophie McKenzie

Falling Fast by Sophie McKenzie, published by Simon and Schuster on 1st March 2012

Goodreads synopsis:
When River auditions for a part in an interschool performance of Romeo and Juliet, she finds herself smitten by Flynn, the boy playing Romeo. But Flynn comes from a damaged family—is he even capable of giving River what she wants? The path of true love never did run smooth . . .

Review:
Sophie McKenzie is one of my favourite British authors and I always look forward to her new books.  'Falling Fast' was a sweet contemporary romance and is the first in a new series.  It features River who auditions for a part in a school production of Romeo and Juliet and the very cute Flynn who she meets and falls head over heels for.

What I love about Sophie McKenzie's books is that she can really write realistically about teenagers and their lives.  It's like she totally gets inside their heads.  River's emotions, her feelings towards Flynn, her desire to find love and not just to have a shallow crush like all her friends is laid bare on the page.  McKenzie describes things as a teenager would experience them - the uncertainty of not knowing how the boy you like feels about you, the first pangs of a new love and the torment of wondering whether or not he'll call. 

There are also quite a few references to the characters in the book having sexual relationships which surprised me at the first because many of them seem quite young in their behaviour and outlook but I guess this constitutes an honest depiction of some teens. 

Flynn has some really interesting character traits and comes across as having a tough exterior but being very caring and kind underneath his bravado.  I thought that he had a lovely relationship with his mother and sisters and had obviously got used to being the man of the house even though it meant he continually had to worry about affording things that other teenagers normally took for granted.  I think River brought out the best in him and made dealing with a difficult home life slightly easier.  I am worried that there's trouble in store for him in the future but I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next to his relationship with River.  They make a very cute and sweet couple.  Ahhh, young love! 

Review: Blood Ransom - Sophie McKenzie

Blood Ransom by Sophie McKenzie, published by Simon & Schuster in 2010

Goodreads synopsis:
The long-awaited sequel to the award-winning Blood Ties by the bestselling Sophie McKenzie. Clones Rachel and Theo now live thousands of miles apart. They keep in touch, but things just aren't the same. When Rachel discovers that evil scientist Elijah is still working in secret for a section of the government and about to murder Daniel, she sets out to rescue the little boy, but her plans backfire with disastrous consequences. Theo sets off to find her.

Review:
I absolutely loved 'Blood Ties' when I read it earlier this year and had no idea that there was going to be a sequel.  Imagine my excitement when I saw this in my local bookshop!  I bought it immediately! 

This book is a perfect read for when you get home after a long day at work and you want to pick up something that will make you forget everything but the story you're reading.  The action picks up within the first few pages, with very little prelude and maintains a constant pace until the end of the book.  There's excitement, suspense and tension which absorbed me totally and I found that I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.  There are plenty of thrills and spills and revelations around every corner.

As well as being a brilliant thriller, the book also raises a number of serious scientific, ethical and moral questions which are laid open for consideration.  What are the barriers that shouldn't be breached, even if it may help humanity in the long-term?  Sophie McKenzie doesn't shy away from anything.  She tackles everything head on, which is one of the aspects that makes this such an amazing book.

I loved revisiting the characters of Rachel and Theo.  The chapters alternate the narration between them which works well to present their two points of view and also keeps the story exciting because we get to follow both of them on their mission to stop evil scientist Elijah.  Although it may be a little far-fetched in places, particularly when you remember that Rachel and Theo are both teenagers, I recommend suspending your belief for a short time, getting comfortable and sitting back to enjoy a fanastic, thrilling read.

This is the second book I've read as part of the British Books Challenge 2011.