Laura Jarratt

"By Any Other Name" turned out to be quite an exciting little read about identity. I enjoyed Holly's voice as she struggled with her new life under the witness protection program. The story moved well throughout most of the book, although it certainly picked up paced in the last third. Katie, Holly's little sister, was a great addition to the book and her autism gave a good insight into the condition and how a family has to deal with it. I also liked Joe. While the romance between he and Holly was predictable, it developed slowly making it more believable. Overall, an enjoyable read.… (more)

I never really engaged with this book and I'm not sure why. The synopsis was good, but I didn't like the style of writing. I liked Rafi as the protagonist and I also thought Silas was a very nice, big brother. However, about halfway through the book emails suddenly appeared disrupting the flow of the story. They were written by Silas to his absent father about his new girlfriend, Lara. Now Lara, I did not like at all, nor did I like Silas when he was with her. This is the second book by this author that I've read, but I don't think I will bother with a third.… (more)

"Skin Deep" started strongly but soon turned into another teenage romance. However, that's not to say I didn't enjoy this book, because I did. I liked how the chapters alternated between Jenna and Ryan's first person narrative giving the reader a deeper insight into the characters' thoughts and feelings. I especially liked Ryan, who despite being quite egotistical was charming, caring, sensitive, witty, able to see beyond Jenna's scars and, of course, drop-dead gorgeous. I didn't like that his looks at times turned Jenna into a drooling nincompoop when mostly I empathised with her pain, fear, anger and vulnerability. I was also surprised by Jenna and Ryan's ages - 14 and 16. The way they spoke and acted I expected them to be at least two or three years older.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read dealing with a range of issues including first love, friendship, death, betrayal, mental illness, self-perception and acceptance.
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After the car crash that leaves her best friend dead, Jenna is permanently scarred. She struggles to rebuild her life, but every stare in the street, every time she looks in the mirror, makes her want to retreat further from the world. Until she meets Ryan. Ryan is also an outsider. When he and his mother arrive in town she tells him this time it will be different. He doesn't believe her. Until he meets Jenna. As Jenna and Ryan grow closer, repercussions from the crash continue to reverberate through the community. And then a body is found...… (more)