What a lovely, heart-warming book! I was obsessed from the first page, and like the Grinch I am my heart grew three times larger in my chest at the end when I was sobbing with queer joy.

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I fell in love with the characters from the very start, and I was desperate for Mahalia to get the happy ending she deserved. The dynamics between her and her friends and family were the real hero of this book; her best friend, the girl she fancies, and her mum, all had complicated relationships that evolved over the course of the story. I particularly enjoyed the way her relationship with her dad and his family was explored in the last few chapters, opening up her world to us in an unexpected way.

The book was filled with wonderful details. My favourite was the inclusion of Mahalia’s bank balance and statement at the start of each chapter, which was a really nice way of reminding us of the ongoing struggles she was facing and keeping them present while balancing them with the other aspects of her story.

This was a joyful read, and a great addition to the growing collection of queer YA books.

I received a free copy for review. All opinions are my own.