Feel like this is just quite a tired story at this point - lovers from different sides of the 'tracks', and I didn't feel like anything particularly new was done here.

Everybody Hurts by Joanna Nadin and Anthony McGowan (Atom Books)

I got my copy as an EARC on Netgalley. I was intrigued by this as it played on the love at first sight trope ad I have to say , it did it really well! It was cute, believable and the characters were loveable.

Rating: ★★★★

I liked this book more than I thought I would at first. The characters were the sort that you can grow to like very quickly. But while I enjoyed Joanna Nadin's bits very much, I think Anthony McGowan is a little too gritty an author for me. I don't enjoy the sorts of books that have fights with rubbish in and dead cats. They just aren't for me.

Aside from that though, I did really enjoy the book. Both characters were well written and I loved the way they interacted. The side characters were good as well, setting a good scene for the novel, filling Sophia's posh life and Matt's slightly rougher life really well. I especially like the way their parents were so different, Sophia's quite strict uptight mother compared with the more relaxed parents of Matt.

The story was very dramatic and really surprised me with it's twists and turns. I really enjoyed how it turned out.

Excellent characterisation - not only are the leads well drawn but supporting characters are also vivid & compelling & dual narration device is really effective. Unflinching in tackling big themes, it is both moving & very funny. Superb!