Category: Book Review

Book Review | This Song is About Us by Sara Barnard

Posted April 16, 2025 by Emma in 2025 Books, Blog Tour, Book Review, Bookish Post / 0 Comments

Book Review | This Song is About Us by Sara Barnard

Hello my lovely readers, it’s been a while since on the blog but I’m currently on holiday and I have just finished my first book and I loved it so much it’s inspired me to pick up the keyboard and start my blog once again.

I’m really excited to be on the blog tour for This Song is About Us by Sara Barnard. I originally posted a shorted version of this review on my instagram but I wanted to write a little bit more here. So without further ado here is my review *stretches fingers, poised on the keyboard*…

Book Review | This Song is About Us by Sara BarnardThis Song is About Us by Sara Barnard
Published by Walker Books on April 3, 2025
Amazon | Waterstones
Goodreads

Told over three summer festivals, this stunning novel from a bestselling author charts the emotional turmoil of young love and early fame.
The Kerbs are a four-piece pop rock band on the verge of breaking big the moment that frontman, Drew, turns 18. But Drew and his long-term girlfriend Ruby have a decision to make: go public right from the start or keep their relationship private, away from the intrusive lens of the tabloids and the scrutiny of the Kerbs’ fanbase. The choice seems easy. Ruby wants her life to remain her own – she's seen how fame can devour the lives of those who stand in the periphery.
But staying secret comes with a price. As Drew's star rises and rumours begin to stir, Ruby starts to wonder if love is strong enough to keep them together when Drew's fame seems destined to drive them apart.

I read this book is my version of one sitting which basically means, I unfortunately had to go to sleep to then resume it when I woke up. I couldn’t put this book down, it was a book that I needed, something lighthearted, romantic but also some many realistic layers to the book as well which I really enjoyed. I have been a reader of Sara’s books since I received my very first ARC as a blogger of Beautiful Broken Things all those years ago and every time a new novel comes out I devour it. She is an auto-buy/favourite author when it comes to UKYA and YA romance/contemporary novels.

This Song is About Us follows star-studded, hot band lead of The Kerbs from Stevenage, Drew Schafer is first love, his first girlfriend Ruby. They have been together forever and when the band goes mega, Ruby and Drew have to make the decision whether to go public or be a secret. In order to protect what they have and love, they both decide to keep it a secret, signing NDAs and Drew becoming publicly single. It’s a strain on their relationship and Drew is falling under the drink, drug and rock n’ roll lifestyle being ‘The Drew Schafer’ not the ‘real Drew’, ‘her Drew’ that she loves.

This book encapsulates a true romance that really makes your heart lift. It builds on the long distance relationship and the longing that each of them had but what I love about Sara’s book as I said there is very realistic layers to our relationship in and out of the limelight with the toxicity of celebrity world and the sacrifice it bears on the relationship, the pain of saying no and most of is making sure that both are the best of themselves. I adored Drew and Ruby without a doubt, but my favourite relationship and I personally think that Sara is the queen of friendships in her books as I adored Stel. Ruby found unlikely friendship in the people close to her with the loveable, she is quirky, a chatterbox and is 100 mph but her heart is golden, her flare and just pure love for her best friend is priceless. I wish there was more of her or maybe she could have her own book.

Sara’s writing is emotive, seamless and beautiful. In her authors bio she said she wants to write sad books that are good for the soul and happy books to lift the heart and she does that every time. I wasn’t expecting it but after being completely absorbed in the relationship of Ruby and Drew, I couldn’t help but have tears in my eyes at the end of the book. For me this book reminded me of Band version Prince and Me the film, it had those vibes and more. It’s the perfect spring/summer romance read. If you were also a fan of Chris Russell’s Songs About a Girl series then this is the perfect read.

If you haven’t picked a YA book by Sara Barnard then what are you waiting for. I would highly recommend all of her books and I similarly if you love Holly Bourne like me, then you will definitely love her books.

Thank you Walker Books for sending me copy in exchange for a review.

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Book Review | Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr – A must read for fans of The Cruel Prince

Posted December 12, 2024 by Emma in Book Review, Bookish Post, YA / 2 Comments
Book Review | Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr – A must read for fans of The Cruel Prince

Hello my lovely readers, today I have the perfect recommendation not only for The Cruel Prince lovers but also it’s perfect reading to snuggle up this season. This book gave me so many feels and I haven’t felt this way for a series since The Cruel Prince by Holly Black. That’s a big statement I know but it’s so very true. So here is my review of the first in the Wicked Lovely series. Wicked Lovely first published around the time I was reading Twilight. It was a book that completely passed me by then as I was very much […]

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Book Review | Let’s Split Up by Bill Wood – Meet your next nostalgic Scream x Scoody Doo YA horror you all need to read

Posted November 25, 2024 by Emma in Book Review, UKYA, YA / 0 Comments
Book Review | Let’s Split Up by Bill Wood – Meet your next nostalgic Scream x Scoody Doo YA horror you all need to read

Hello my lovely readers. Have you read any spooky books this season, I read some amazing books and this particular book is one of my favourites of the horror, thriller genre. Meet your next nostalgic Scream x Scoody Doo YA horror you all need to read. I’ve been looking forward to reading this book for a while, especially during this cosy spooky season. Whilst I did read it after Halloween I had just finished my Screamathon and I was was the perfect mood for this book. Let’s Split Up follows Cam, Jonesy, Amber in a small town of Sanera. Nothing […]

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Book Review | A Sea of Wolves by Sarah Street

Posted October 15, 2024 by Emma in 2024 Books, Book Review, Bookish Post, YA / 3 Comments
Book Review | A Sea of Wolves by Sarah Street

Hello my lovely readers. It’s been a while and I’m catching up on some overdue reviews from the Summer. Ooops. Today I’m really excited to be reviewing my most anticipated read this year. This was my holiday read and it was the perfect story to read by the sea. So lets get straight onto the review… A Sea of Wolves is one of my anticipated reads this year and it didn’t disappoint. After devouring A Curse of Salt last year and naming it one of my favourite reads of 2023. I met Sarah last year as well at YALC completely […]

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Book Review | Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson

Posted August 26, 2024 by Emma in 5 Stars, Book Review, Thriller / 0 Comments
Book Review | Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson

Hello my lovely readers. It’s been a summer of thrillers for me this holiday and I’ve loved it. I feel it’s the genre I read the quickest. Today I’m bringing you a review of a book/author I wish I read sooner. I love a YA Thriller and I was missing out. I am also meeting Maureen on Tuesday and I can’t wait. So here is my review of her latest book, Death at Morning House. It’s been the Summer of Thrillers for me. This book. This is actually my first of Maureen Johnson books and I loved that I started […]

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Mini Book Reviews: The YA Romance Edition | The Love Interest by Helen Comerford & Slowcoach by Bethany Rutter

Posted July 29, 2024 by Emma in 2024 Books, Book Review, Romance, YA / 0 Comments
Mini Book Reviews: The YA Romance Edition | The Love Interest by Helen Comerford & Slowcoach by Bethany Rutter

Good morning my lovely bookworms. It’s even a while. End of term was brutal for me and I just needed some time for myself and reset I guess. But it’s the start of my summer holidays and I intend to return my blog and bookstagram and I have a lot of books to catch up on so over the next week or two you have will have see some mini-reviews starting off with 2 week YA Romance reads. Me and romance reads, I know I very rarely read or review some but here we are. They are so different and […]

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ARC Book Review | Find Me After by A.Connors – The best book of the year so far.

Posted June 7, 2024 by Emma in 2024 Books, 5 Stars, Book Review, Bookish Post, UKYA, YA / 1 Comment
ARC Book Review | Find Me After by A.Connors – The best book of the year so far.

Dearest Readers, today I am so excited to bring you my book review of one of my most anticipated reads of 2024. Last year I read an incredible debut that was my favoruite book of last year, The Girl Who Broke the Sea. It’s a book that I haven’t stopped recommending. So today I’m bringing you my glowing review of Adam’s second book, Find Me After – which is out in July. *First off I want to start by saying HUGE thank you to Scholastic who has gifted me a pre-proof ARC copy that I read as soon as I […]

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Book Review | The Prisoner’s Throne by Holly Black (Spoiler Free)

Book Review | The Prisoner’s Throne by Holly Black (Spoiler Free)

Hello my fellow fae, today I bring you a review for one of my most anticapted reads of 2024 the conclusion to The Stolen Heir. I was exceptionally late to the party to reading Holly Black and the Folk of the Air series. But I honestly feel this is one of the best. I talk about this series a lot on my Instagram but I don’t think I’ve put my thoughts and feelings of anything relating to Holly Black on my blog before. So here I am reviewing The Prisoner’s Throne the finale to Stolen Heir duology. It will be […]

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Mini Book Reviews | One Last Breath by Ginny Myers Sain & Where the Heart Should Be by Sarah Crossan

Posted May 8, 2024 by Emma in 2024 Books, Book Review, Bookish Post / 0 Comments
Mini Book Reviews | One Last Breath by Ginny Myers Sain & Where the Heart Should Be by Sarah Crossan

Hello my fellow readers. Today I am catching up on some book reviews of the last month. As you saw from my April wrap-up that I had a brilliant reading month in terms of range of genres and the quality of the story. So I’m excited to share my short reviews of a unique and twisty YA supernatural thriller and a beautiful and poignant YA Historical Romance written in verse. One Last Breath is a really unique YA thriller. It reminds me of the books by Michelle Hodkins, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, does anyone remember those? This particular book […]

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