Tag: kaila patterson

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Yours from the Tower by Sally Nicholls: Review

Yours from the Tower
Sally Nicholls
Andersen Press, September 2023
Hardback, £14.99
ISBN 9781839133190

Set in 1896, Yours from the Tower follows three 18-year-old girls who have left boarding school and returned to very different lives. In a series of letters full of dreams and drama, the girls search for happiness and love in Victorian society. Calling all fans of Bridgerton! This story will leave you feeling like you have read a dozen love letters with swoon-worthy moments and gossip to leave you giggling. Nicholls perfectly captures the reality of teenage girl drama through this epistolary format, especially when two girls write to one another and leave the third out.

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Review: The First Thing About You by Chaz Hayden

The First Thing About You
Chaz Hayden
Walker, September 2022
Paperback £8.99
ISBN 9781529510942

 

When new-boy Harris meets the cute girl in his class, Nory, he is determined to prove he is more than the kid in the powered wheelchair. Luckily, he has a secret weapon, his new nurse Miranda. Beautiful and confident, Miranda sees Harris for who he really is – funny, smart, and totally worthy of Nory’s affections. But Miranda has her own demons, and Harris starts to wonder if she has his best interests at heart.

Harris’s story is bursting with colour – his own, and the psychology of what a favourite colour means. Bright and witty, this is a sweet novel with a very readable style. Through Harris, we learn the struggles of everyday life with a wheelchair. Informative, while effortlessly enjoyable. It opens a new perspective on how we view others, and the assumptions that we can make. Harris’s relationship with Nory unfolded beautifully, and Zander’s loyalty to their friendship left me smiling for ages.

Hayden creates a sense of getting to know these characters, through giving each a moment to shine. They’re flawed and have troubles that are gradually explored, particularly Miranda, a young nurse with a rebellious spirit. Through her character, we begin to see how we must face our personal troubles before we can truly grow. Complex, but thought-provoking, Miranda’s early relationship with Harris made me cautious at times, but Hayden handles this well. A perfect read for book clubs. Overall, a heartwarming story that explores a fresh perspective through, well, a rainbow of colours. 

Kaila Patterson, 15