Anisha Accidental Detective: Christmas Chaos - Serena Patel

 

Anisha is back and Christmas is coming!  This year her dad is organising the Christmas fayre and he is determined to make it a huge success but for that, he needs to rope everybody in to help.  Things start well but when the sleigh goes missing, the fayre's success is in jeopardy, unless Anisha can come to the rescue.

This is a great series and I loved spending time with Anisha, her family and her best friend Milo again.  Anisha's dad's enthusiasm for the fayre is infectious and readers will be drawn into the festive spirit.  Things are chaotic at times, and Anisha has to admit that there are some elements of Christmas that she doesn't enjoy (I feel that there will be readers who will appreciate this).  Being able to investigate the disappearance of the sleigh gives her a different focus.

The book is full of humour and adventure all wrapped up in Anisha's unique style.  Her friendship with Milo is, once again, wonderful to read and there is a level of empathy we see in the book that readers will be able to learn from.  With illustrations from Emma McCann perfectly complimenting the story, Christmas Chaos is a book that will delight readers.  

Avalanche - Simon Fox

 

Tom is spending the holidays at a luxury ski chalet whilst his mum is working security for Eric, the head of a biotech firm.  Spending his days learning to ski isn't as fun as he thought it might be and he longs to be home.  However, things take a dramatic turn when hijackers turn up determined to get their hands on technology Eric has been developing.  When the hijackers trigger an avalanche, the chalet and everybody in it become cut-off from the rest of the world and any chance of getting help.  The only chance they have is the fact that the hijackers are unaware of Tom's presence so it's up to him to save the day.

Simon Fox's previous books (you can read my reviews here: Running Out Of Time; Dead Lock) are both popular in school and when I began reading Avalanche, there was a lot of interest from children, and who can blame them?

Avalanche starts with a very fed up Tom: he is away from home and his friends; he's at ski school but isn't enjoying it and he feels it's going to be a long holiday.  His mum's job means that she doesn't want to leave her post so Tom has no choice but to get to know Eric's daughter Emily who is far from friendly.  The two are just returning to the chalet when the hijackers descend.  Their gunshots are what trigger the avalanche which causes utter chaos and so begins an incredible roller-coaster of an adrenaline rush as Tom and Emily fight first to save themselves and then to save their parents.  As you would imagine, Tom and Emily face dangers at every turn, but they also need to learn to get along with each other, as well as navigating Emily's type 1 diabetes which adds an extra level.  The chalet setting and the fact that the avalanche has cut them off, adds to the tension and creates a real sense of claustrophobia (more so when Tom and Emily are trapped under the snow). 

Showing the lengths people will go to for both good and bad, Avalanche shows us that friendship can form at any time.  With danger at every turn, this is a book that will get your heart racing and you won't want to put down.  

Almost Life - Kiran Millwood Hargrave

It's 1978 and Erica is spending the summer in Paris before she heads to university in England.  A chance meeting with Laure on the steps of the Sacré Cœur changes both of their lives forever.  What unfolds is the story of their lives.

Sometimes you meet someone quite by chance and they change your life forever, and this is what happens with Erica and Laure.  Erica is young and naïve: it's her first summer alone and whilst she is relishing the experience, she is only really experiencing a tourist's view of Paris; that is until she meets Laure.  The spark between the pair is undeniable and the impact they have on each other is life changing.  

Sometimes a book really gets under your skin and you find yourself deeply transported into the life of the characters, and by goodness Almost Life was one of those books for me.  Perhaps it was the Paris setting (a place I adore); perhaps it was the characters (so wonderfully created, both flawed and torn between lives, and each likeable in their own ways); perhaps it was the passing of time and the fact that I felt like I'd known the characters a lifetime)... I suspect it was a combination of all of these and so much more.  Almost Life was a book I was desperate to devour and savour in equal measure: I found myself missing the characters between reads and having lunch in my office so I could sneak in a few more moments with Laure and Erica.  I finished reading it almost a month ago and I still think of them; I still ache for the choices they had to make; their sacrifices and the prejudices they experienced.  

I sobbed as I finished the book, and sat for ages afterwards contemplating the story and mourning its ending.  I am a big fan of Kiran's novels for children but Almost Life (most definitely a novel for adults) will certainly go down as one of the best books I've read this year and is one that will always have a piece of my heart; it really is a truly a wonderful read.  

Publishing 12/3, Almost Life is a story of love, life and longing, and I can't wait for the rest of the world to meet Erica and Laure.

Drop Dead Famous - Jennifer Pearson

Blair Baker is a global music superstar who has returned to Honeyville, the town where she grew up, for a homecoming tour.  Three nights at the high school's football stadium and everyone who's anyone wants a ticket.  Fans arrive dressed in Blair costumes and even her family have VIP tickets for the show.  Excitement is at fever-pitch when the first song starts to play and Blair, lying on a platform, rises above the stage; but when she fails to start singing people begin to realise that something is wrong .. and something is very wrong, for Blair Baker is dead.

 

The Honeyville police department are quick on the case, especially as Blair's father is a retired police officer and her uncle still serves.  However, Blair's younger sister, Stevie, can't let things go and decides she is going to discover who killed her sister herself.  She quickly discovers that this isn't as easy as it may seem; with numerous suspects and danger lurking, Stevie needs to keep her wits about her if she is to unmask the killer.

Jenny is a well-established middle grade author, and she proved her versatility in June 2025 with Shrapnel Boys, a serious, gritty book set during WWII (you can read my review here) but Drop Dead Famous is her first foray into YA and I've been desperate to read it since she told me about it during her last visit to my school in June. Being able to read an early copy made the perfect start to my Christmas holidays.

The book starts with the very public discovery of Blair's body as she rises on the platform above the stage to begin the concert.  At first nobody realises there's a problem but cheers of excitement quickly turn to screams of terror as realisation kicks in.  Fans dressed in sequined skirts, cowboy boots, friendship bracelets and glitter (which gave me glorious Taylor Swift/Beyonce vibes) are thrown into turmoil as they are ushered out of the arena in tears.  But Blair's family are in the VIP area of the audience and their life changes in an instant.  Unable to grieve in private, the family are faced with press hounding their home and the police struggling to identify the killer, which is why Stevie feels she has no choice but to investigate - it's her way of dealing with things but she seems to throw up more questions than answers. With Blair super-fan, Colby, offering her assistance, at least she's not alone.  Stevie is a strong character who is dealing with her grief in her own unique way; with Colby's feisty character to support her, the pair make quite the duo.

Drop Dead Famous is a fast-paced murder mystery that will certainly keep readers gripped and guessing (there is so much more I could say about the plot but I don't want to give away any details which may spoil things for others).  Prepare for a rollercoaster of a ride that will have you questioning everybody (and I mean everybody!!).  I genuinely couldn't put the book down and didn't guess the ending at all!  Weaving family dynamics with the darker side of the music industry, Jennifer Pearson's first YA novel is a triumph and certainly shown that she can write YA as well as she does middle grade - I can't wait to see what she writes next.  

Publishing 7th June, Drop Dead Famous is a book that you absolutely have to pre-order.  Perfect for aged 14+, I have just one warning: once you've finished reading the book, you will be desperate to talk to somebody about it!

  

Front Desk - Kelly Yanf

 

Mia's family moved to America in search of a better life but the reality is very different and the family are struggling to make ends meet.  When Mia's mum sees a job running the Calivista Motel, she jumps at the opportunity believing that this is the answer to the families prayers, but the owner proves to be difficult and renegades on many of his promises.  Mia, determined to help, begins running the front desk of the motel in the hope of easing the endless hours her parents spend working.  As time goes by Mia's parents begin helping immigrants who are in trouble, hiding them in motel when they can - if Mr Yao finds out, they will lose their job for certain.  Mia also has dreams of being a writer, however, as English isn't her first language her Mum tells her she will never achieve this, encouraging her to stick to maths instead.  Can Mia manage to juggle everything and get through the year whilst keeping her family in their home and their job?

I read this after a glowing recommendation from a fellow book-lover and I have to say that he was spot on!  This is a wonderful book that had me both laughing and crying!  I gobbled it up in a day as I just couldn't put it down and was in awe of Mia and her courage and determination.  She is a strong young lady who will undoubtedly inspire everyone who reads the book (I know she inspired me!).  If you haven't already read this book, I urge you to get hold of a copy immediately!  I'm now heading off to get hold of the other books in this series.

Robin -Sarah Ann Juckes

Eddie's sister Scarlet has a heart condition that means she can't live the life of a normal child, which means that she needs so much more attention, leaving Eddie feeling invisible.  When she needs to go back into hospital for another serious operation, Eddie is sent to stay with his Uncle John. John introduces him to the forest close to his home and Eddie finds that he can tell the trees the things he can't tell anybody else.  However, the more he talks, the more the monster in the forest seems to grow.  When he meets a robin and Mari, they teach him how to become visible to everyone again, but can he find enough of a voice to banish the monster?

Sarah always writes books that are full of emotion (The Hunt For The Nightingale , The Night Animals , Storm Seal) and Robin is no exception.  From the beginning, your heart goes out to Eddie who is struggling to feel seen, both at home as well as at school.  Understandably, he doesn't want to make his feelings known as he believes he's being selfish when he knows what Scarlet is going through.  He feels guilty that his sister is so unwell and feels he can't be himself whilst she is so ill.  Going to stay with Uncle John gives him time to find himself, only he doesn't quite realise this.  With the help of Mari, the robin and Richard (his new friend at school), Eddie begins to discover who he is and what he enjoys doing. 

Robin is a beautifully written book that encapsulates what it must be like to be the sibling of a seriously ill child.  It's a poignant book that will warm your heart and make you feel like you are being wrapped in a hug.  A gentle story that packs a punch, Robin is a story of hope, courage and find yourself; it's a story that should be savoured and is one that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it.  

Gladiator Goddess - Morgan H. Owen

 

The Roman Goddesses grow weary of the rule of Gods and men.  They seek to change the fortune of the world with a brilliant young woman.

   In Pompeii, Gia dreams of becoming a female Gladiator, but there is no such thing ... until destiny intervenes.

    When she wins the favour of Claudia - the beautiful yet dangerous daughter of the Emperor - Gia's star begins to rise in the arena, but so does the risk to her life.

    Bound by prophecy, the girls must work together to prevent a catastrophe, but they are distracted by their growing feelings for one another ... feelings the Gods had not anticipated.  

Gia is a trailblazer: she is determined to follow in the footsteps of her dead brothers and nothing is going to stop her.  At at time when female Gladiators didn't exist in Pompeii, Gia has to work hard to prove herself.  Taking on a 'stage name' allows her a degree of anonymity when she first fights but her fame soon rises, especially once the crowd realise she is a woman - they show no mercy and having to deal with weighty and poor fitting armour as well as battling the opposition is a massive challenge.  But Gia is single-minded and hugely determined in her quest.  When she attracts the attention of Claudia, Gia's life changes forever, in every way: not only does Claudia become her patron but they also spend more time together.  As they do, Gia realises that her feelings are changing and the pair grow closer, despite the difference in status.  But as they do, Gia discovers that Claudia needs more from Gia, something that could change the shape of the Roman Empire, and one that will involve grave danger. 

The plot is full of twists and is an epic read.  Exploring love, loss and power, Gladiator Goddess is a book set in ancient times that has a contemporary feel to it: female empowerment, sapphic romance and more than one fight to the death bind together to build tension.  Myths and history combine with action and suspense in this book that will appeal to older teenagers.  (I like the trigger warning at the beginning of the book which alert reader to the sexual scenes and dark content that appears).  

Out now, Gladiator Goddess is an action-packed romance full of passionate women who are determined to break the mould.