This Can Never Not Be Real
Sera Milano
Electric Monkey, April 2021
Paperback, 352 pages, £7.99
ISBN 9780755500338
CW: Suicide, terrorism
This Can Never Not Be Real is as fast-paced as a book can be. If you’re looking for something to completely immerse
yourself into, then this YA thriller is the one for you. Sera Milano’s YA debut follows a group of teenagers from a village where nothing really ever happens — until at their local festival, it’s tormented by a terrorist attack. It’s written in a great style, told through interview style questions for each of the characters as they recount the events of
that horrible day.
I love the way it unfolded because you were always ready to turn to the next page, I am always on the edge of my seat. It’s certainly a novel that grips your attention from the first page, and one with characters that burst from the pages with their personalities and discussions about such important topics.
The pace started off a bit slow, but once the story really began there was no turning back. Milano writes with such purpose and ease, and it was quite admirable how well she crafted these scenes with such tense atmospheres, I really felt like I was within the story myself as a reader. I would definitely recommend this book for fans of the storytelling
technique in Daisy Jones and the Six, as well as the infamous Breakfast Club.
Ross Kelly
striking allegory for the harsh reality behind Communism. However, throughout the book powerful insights are made about the truth behind various forms of political power, including capitalism, and imperialism. One aspect I liked about the book was the accessible language. Orwell is able to break these very complex ideas down into simple English so that a wide audience can understand the points he is trying to make.
This is an emotional page-turning tale about the passions of youth and friendship and the bitter disappointments of betrayal. Roberts is a powerful storyteller with incredible imagination bringing to life a period of history steeped in myth and fable. The reader will get lost in this fascinating tale which the author has created weaving the scraps of surviving poetry with her own powerful vision. Perfect for fans of Celine Kiernan, Finbar Hawkins and V. E. Schwab.
The way Garrett writes about family, race and sexuality is so real and heartfelt. Each character has a unique set of circumstances which are handled delicately. There is so much diversity in this book, be it through race or sexuality. Representation of minorities is really important, especially at a YA level. Having someone to relate to in the content that we consume helps us realise that we are not alone. If anything else, it’s educational too. There is a character in this book who is asexual and has a girlfriend, and though the situation isn’t always pretty, it’s handled so honestly and openly that it teaches people what it’s like to struggle with this. The main character’s illness also does a lot to teach about HIV and what the stereotypes are around it and how that perception can be harmful. But instead, people should be looking to educate themselves. The book has some resources at the end about HIV which I found to be incredibly useful.
This is for fans of (or an introduction to) McCabe’s Butcher Boy and E.M. Reapy’s Red Dirt. Depression, addiction, faith and love are all thrown in the pot and discussed frankly by Shaw, as well as severe mental illness – the book is dedicated to her brother, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia. He died aged twenty. Not for the faint of heart and certainly not for the squeamish, Thrill Seekers is a bloody, harrowing, all-Australian tale which is well worth grappling with.
I truly relished this read. As an Irish person, I also feel very connected to my roots by the story, as many Irish words are used and many other Irish legends referenced, including some that I had never heard of. This book was a learning experience. Deirdre Sullivan really manages to pull the reader into the enchantment and poignancy of the story. It feels like being read an old tale by a familiar voice.
