I really enjoyed this book. It probably helps that I was in exactly the right frame of mind for reading it when I did. It’s the summer holidays and I was in the mood for a not-too-taxing, enjoyable, flim-flam, laugh-filled book, and this one ticked all the boxes.
I liked April and Vi. April was enjoyably scatty and contrasted nicely with Vi’s responsibility. I loved that they did dumb things and the way they tried to hide their parent-free lifestyle was like a screwball comedy at times.
I also liked the very frank way this book talks about sex. I know this might put some people off, but it was actually done in a mature way, with info thrown in on contraception, STDs and the emphasis was on being in a loving relationship. Okay, so the loving relationship bit didn’t quite go to plan, but still.
The biggest problem I had with this book, and the problem I suspect others may also have, is that it takes a fantastic leap of faith to think that two teenagers, both of whom come from loving, involved homes, would get left on their own in a house for months on end without anyone finding out. Seriously, April has a fairly protective dad and stepmother, but they seem to be happy with a couple of emails from Vi’s ‘mum’ before letting their daughter go and live with her.
I read the chapter where this happens, and then I re-read it. And then I just decided to go with it. I mean, I guess it’s not impossible. Just pretty implausible. And I believe crazier things in YA lit - angels, vampires, demons, superheroes, magic spells - so why not this?
Once I just decided to make that huge leap of faith, I really enjoyed the book. April’s dad is well off, and he gives her $1000 a month to spend on groceries, pay towards bills, buy petrol and as an allowance. So what’s the first thing she buys? A hot tub! Yes! This really made me laugh, because it’s so exactly what I would have done with $1000 when I was sixteen, and then I’d have just lived on cereal for the rest of the month.
There are plenty of other crazy shenanigans, too. They get a cat. Obviously. They skip school so they can go to the Planned Parenthood clinic. They lie almost constantly to their parents. It all makes for a really engaging, fun book with a plot that goes all over the place. All in all, I’d say this is a great summer read.
4 stars