Outstanding!
It’s not often I say that about a book – even one I’ve thoroughly enjoyed – but this story felt unlike anything I’ve read before. From the very beginning, it’s filled with rich humour, yet beneath it all lies a constant layer of poignancy and anxiety.
Sarah is almost fourteen and lives with her mum and dad. When her mum announces she’s pregnant which comes as a shock. It doesn’t take long, however, for Sarah to look forward to welcoming her new sibling. They’re going to be the perfect family… except they’re not.
We follow Sarah through school, spending time with friends, chatting about music and fashion, and experiencing her first boyfriend, moments that will resonate with many readers as she moves towards adulthood. But the underlying tension running through everything she does kept me turning the pages, especially as her life begins to spiral.
The deeper you get into the book, the more heart-wrenching it becomes. I found myself blinking back tears several times, caught between the black humour and the sorrow.
And the ending—well, let’s just say it wasn’t what I expected. It left me reeling. This is definitely a story that will haunt me for a long time to come.
Books
Book Blurb and Link
Stephen Bell is compelled to dredge up every secret as his daughter’s world falls apart.
Fourteen-year-old Sarah’s perfect existence is shattered when everything trusted and comfortable is stolen from her.
She loves life . . . until her mother announces that she’s pregnant. But this is no ordinary pregnancy. In this domestic thriller, the family has to define where normal stops and madness begins.
While the family is distracted, someone is watching. But what does this mean for Sarah?
This is no Disneyland. This is Nowhere Boulevard.
World of Stories 