Wednesday, 2 March 2016

Counting Stars by Keris Stainton (New Adult, 10E/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

September 2015, Hot Key Books, 336 pages, Paperback, Review copy 

Content: some romance, possibly some strong language (can't quite remember...)

 Summary from Hot Key Books
A new life in a new city - what could possibly go wrong . . . ?

When eighteen-year-old Anna leaves school and moves to Liverpool, she feels like her life is finally beginning. She's landed her dream job at a theatre, and she's moving into an exciting (if not slightly run-down) houseshare on a buzzing street lined with shops, bars, and buskers. Best of all, her new flatmates are kind, welcoming and a lot of fun - what more could she ask for?

But her new life is also a little overwhelming. Anna's job quickly falls through, and then she realises that although her new friends are great, they're also a little mixed-up... and it's not long before Anna starts using her blog to talk about her experiences, from the hilarious to the ridiculous to the little-bit-scary. But when Anna spills a bigger secret than she can handle, suddenly the consequences are all too real. She'll have to prove she has the mettle to make it in the big city, or risk losing everything she thinks she wants.

Nayu's thoughts
I think this is a brilliant read because these days there is so much emphasis on going to university after A levels, but it's not for everyone. I liked how Anna takes the alternate career route, deals with moving out of home just like others move into university halls of residence/student housing, and makes a lot of mistakes. 

While she doesn't always make the right choice, I like seeing her mistakes because I can relate to making other mistakes in my life. She shows a lot of determination to stay away from home even when her initial job falls through. I think she is couragous to keep going when she could have given up, she is desparate to forge a life for herself. She lives with a range of characters who teach her some vital life lessons. 

I didn't agree with her writing their exploits on her blog, and while this gives her some confidence and useful tips as to how to get on with them, it does backfire on her eventually. I promise she manages to pick herself up again after the fallout, which is intense. This is definitely on my reread pile, ideal if you don't want to go to uni, and equally if you do but want to understand what path your friends may be taking.

Find out more on Keris's website.

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