Kathryn's Inbox

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Perfect on Paper was so brilliant that Sophie Gonzales just had to follow it up with another hit. Never Ever Getting Back Together is the story of Maya who is determined to get her sweet revenge on her cheating ex--on live television. Two years have passed since Maya's boyfriend, the cool and charismatic Jordy, moved to Canada and started cheating on her with Skye. Maya has done her best to put Jordy and the incident out of her mind, which isn't exactly easy, seeing as Jordy's older sister has married at European Prince and her whole family is now in a very public spotlight ... as are all of Jordy's past relationships. Jordy's solution? Star on a reality television program where he dates all six of his ex girlfriends and then pick the winner. It is just lucky that Maya can see the show--and Jordy--for what it is. And she is going to expose him. There is just one small problem. Once she starts working on the show, Maya finds herself falling in love ... with Skye. Th...

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Sam Cotton's debut graphic novel featuring a group of savvy seagulls is sure to delight readers of all ages. If there is one thing seagulls love, it is chips. It is just a pity that Stanley, Stacey and Steve-O have been deprived of their favourite food, thanks to the driver of a chip van who--while he makes delicious chips--also happens to be a cold hearted seagull swatter, which led to a tragic incident. Can the trio, and their friend worm, defeat Brock and get their share of chips? It is going to take friendship and a lot of innovation to make it work. This was a fun read from start to finish. I had a good giggle at some of the scenes and illustrations, many of which felt very relatable. (I grew up not so far from the ocean. These days it isn't a trip to Port Noarlunga, Christies Beach, Brighton or Glenelg if I'm not surrounded by seagulls on the hunt for chips. Of course, I know that they shouldn't be eating them, but ...) Anyway, this one is pure fun from beginning ...

The first novel in Sir Anthony Trollope's beloved Palliser series is commentary on Victorian society and the lives of the women in it. The main plot tells the story of Alice Vavasor, the young lady the reader is asked to forgive. Previously engaged to her roguish cousin George, Alice has recently made what seems to be a much better match in John Grey, a gentleman in every sense of the word. It is a shame then that John Grey isn't terrible exciting, that George's sister Kate is prone to meddling and that now he is a little older George has lofty political aspirations that Alice approves of. All of which leads Alice to break things off with John and rekindle her engagement to George much to the disgust of all of her relatives except for Kate. From there, things go from bad to worse as George's true colours become increasingly obvious. Running parallel to this story is that of Alice's friend Lady Glencora who has to choose between a penniless rogue and an aspiring poli...

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Odd and the Frost Giants is a delightful story about a boy who goes on an adventure, encountering some Norse Gods and finding himself standing up to a formidable frost giant. Odd is the son of a Viking and the Scottish woman his father fell in love with. When Odd's father dies and his mother remarries, Odd runs away. His stepfather has no time for a stepson who is crippled and there are limited opportunities for Odd in their village. So he goes away to find something more. That something more turns out to be a rollicking adventure with Odin, Thor and Loki who have been turned into animals and banished from their home by the frost giants. And somehow, gentle Odd must find a way to right things as return Asgard to its rightful owners. This was a fun and entertaining read that draws upon Norse mythology. (And syncs in perfectly with Neil Gaiman's book of the same name.) I liked to moral of drawing upon inner strength as opposed to physical strength, and the repercussions of bitte...

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It feels appropriate that the thirteenth Baby-Sitter's Club Graphic novel adaption should be Mary Anne's Bad Luck Mystery a story that focuses on superstition and the importance of standing up for oneself. Mary Anne has grown up a lot since the series began. Readers have seen her stand up to a strict parent, make new friends and overcome crippling shyness. In fact, as the book opens the reader sees her stand up to a pair of bullies in the school cafeteria. But now, it seems another challenge awaits. First a chain letter arrives in the mail warning her of bad luck if she does not continue the chain. And then she receives a series of anonymous notes in her mailbox, warning her of consequences if she does not follow the note's instructions--such as wearing a bad luck charm. Meanwhile, everyone in the club seems to be suffering from a run of bad luck. Can they reverse their bad luck before it is too late? And who is sending the notes? Overall this was a well told story, which d...

If you are looking for a book that will break your heart We Come Apart is most definitely it. Told completely in verse, the reader meets two very different characters. There is Jess, a tough London girl who is growing up in a violent household and who has a group of ratbag friends who trick her into taking the blame when they are caught shoplifting. And then there is Nicu, a gentle boy who is in England while his parents plan for his wedding back in Romania to a girl that he has never met. The pair find themselves working at the same Community Service programme. At the programme they form an alliance. At school, however, things are different. Jess is a part of the toughest crowd of kids. Nicu is the victim of bullying and racial abuse. As time goes on it becomes clear that each is the only person the other can trust.  But what happens when it all goes wrong? This was a heartbreaking read right from the first page. Although their circumstances are both teenagers are misunderstood, ...

What happens when everything you live for is taken from you in a single moment? That is the premise of Anything But Fine the debut novel from Australian author Tobias Madden. Luca has his life sorted out. He has a scholarship to the most prestigious private school in Ballarat, he has a great group of friends who are all comfortable with his sexuality and he has an important audition for the Australian Ballet School, which, if successful, will cement his career path as a dancer.  Then one single moment, one small lapse in judgement, changes everything. Luca's broken foot, fixed with plates and screws, means that he can never be a professional dancer. Then he loses his scholarship, his friends and his relationship with his dad--though deep down they care about each other--isn't going so well. At least there is one moment of hope, when he meets a cute boy at physio. And they will be attending the same school. It's just a shame that Jordan is one of the most popular boys at sc...

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