Young Adult Book Reviews

Name: Rachel Bolton
25 June 2026;

Genre: Suspense & Thrillers

Buckle up and sit back for one of the most fast-paced, crazy YA novels to come out this year! Published in hardback with a neon-pink cover and edged papers, Young Blood not only tells a story - it shows it. An extensive array of striking posters, diagr...

More

Name: Stephen Leitch
18 June 2026;

Genre: Mental Health & Wellbeing

A moving, thoughtful and insightful debut novel from Sean Farrelly. When teenager Jamie spies a kerfuffle happening outside a café while eating the world's worst scone with his doctor mum, they both rush out to see what is going on. What they find stuns Jamie, who discovers a...

More

Name: Stephen Leitch
16 June 2026;

Genre: Historical Fiction

Set in and around the Shetland Isles in 900 AD, this thrilling and bloodthirsty adventure sees one girls desire for adventure turn into something more dangerous and deadly than she ever could have imagined. Hilde, the daughter of Jarl Frida, lives a frustratingly quiet...

More

Name: Clare Wilkins
10 June 2026;

Genre: Suspense & Thrillers

Benton Young isn't particularly interested in world politics and current affairs. Vaguely aware that some not great stuff is happening, he's far too preoccupied with a certain female and his unsuccessful attempts to get her attention. Realising the way to her heart is to present himself as pol...

More

Name: Sue Wilsher
01 June 2026;

Genre: Funny Stories

Fond of terrible jokes, Owais is surrounded by loving family and good friends. His life is good - until his cousin, Abass, comes to live with them. Responding very differently to their harsh upbringing, Owais's father and his brother are estranged, meaning that this new cousin is something of...

More

Name: Clare Wilkins
25 May 2026;

Genre: Mental Health & Wellbeing

Lisa Williamson's books tend to tackle often divisive and challenging contemporary teenage issues with sensitivity and nuance. This new book is no exception as she once again lends perspective and relatability to her book's theme. Awkward teen Ben has been in love with...

More

Name: Jenny Caddick
25 May 2026;

Genre: Family & Home

A Million Tiny Missiles All at Once is an incredibly powerful and moving debut novel by Lucas Maxwell, with hearfelt, emotionally engaging themes of addiction, bullying and of autistic Elias’ s experiences as he copes with changing family dynamics and surviving in school whils...

More

Name: Beverley Somerset
22 May 2026;

Genre: Family & Home

Elias is 14, neurodivergent, and is struggling with his failing relationship with his elder brother, Bo. Once close, the two boys have drifted apart as Bo gets into trouble at school and falls in with the wrong people. He ends up owing money to Relic, a violent and dangerous man, and Elias is...

More

Name: Rachel Bolton
22 May 2026;

Genre: Personal Growth

It's very hard not to feel for 16-year-old ezra, a teenager in care whose overwhelming love and loyalty for his neuro-diverse nine-year-old sister, Evie, guides his often-damaged moral compass. Set in northern Ireland, Runaway Road begins with Ezra committing a crime (no spoil...

More

Name: Clare Wilkins
15 May 2026;

Genre: Mental Health & Wellbeing

A touching YA debut about grief, mental health and acceptance and the role our digital lives have to play in them. Jamie Finnerty is in the wrong place at the wrong time when burgeoning teenage social media star Tom Burke takes his own life. Without thinking, Jamie grab...

More