Sequins, Stars and Spotlights by Sophia Bennet (Children's, 11 years +)

February 2011, Chicken House

336 pages, Paperback

Review copy 

Children's, 11 years + 

Themes: fashion, life choices, Broadway, overworking, stress, A Levels, broken friendships, finding your talent, mental health, bravery, realisation, lots of misunderstanding, being true to yourself, living the dream, some mild romance, lots of laughs and a few tissue moments. 

Summary from Chicken House

Now in their last school year, best friends Nonie, Jenny Edie and Crow are so close to beginning glittering careers. So why do their challenges suddenly seem overwhelming? 

The girls have choices to make. Who will wait for fame and success? Who will emerge an outright star? Who will fall in love? And who will turn her back on her dreams? 

Nayuleska's reasons for loving Nonie...she learns heaps in this book, finally figures who she wants to be, plus like me she wouldn't mind getting married in jeans. (Sparkly jeans! But still jeans). 

How evil/nasty is the enemy? Mental illness creeps up from nowhere and can be devastating to deal with. There is lots of help able from doctors and other organisations. 

Are there plenty of plot twists and surprises? I had guessed vaguely how the story might end. It was a perfect ending, and I loved the journey filled with hardship which brings the girls closer together. 

One of my favourite parts was...when Nonie realised how privileged she was and began using her natural talent to figure out what to do in life. 

This was a fitting end to the trilogy, giving me wet eyes at the end. It gets 10/10 from me. 

Beware of overworking like Edie. It is possible to recover after burn out, but it's a difficult place to be so please make sure you relax and have fun at every stage of life.

Big news! This series is being to made into a TV series! Whoohoo! I for one am looking forward to seeing that. 

Suggested read

Naturally make sure you read book one, Threads and book two, Boys, Beads and Bangles. (links to follow)