Chantelle Atkins has done it again. Thanks to her, I’ve discovered a whole new realm of writing, a place of deep thought, accurate observation and brilliant storytelling.
First of all, this is the second book to tell the story of Lou, Joe, Travis, Leon and Marianne. The first one, The Mess of Me is a story that I haven’t read.
That’s OK, it’s not essential, this is a stand-alone story that works perfectly on its own.
But I can tell you that I will be reading it, because, although there are things in here that allude to that story, I want to experience the depth of the description of them as they happen, rather than learn of them in passing.
I love a story that takes you so deeply into the setting and emotions of the characters, a sort of Ultra-realism that does so much more than just show you.
It immerses you, makes you present and lets you feel every raised eyebrow, the smell of a room and the pain of overwhelm.
Here’s the description,
“Dear World, so, obviously we made a mess of it. Inevitably. Otherwise I wouldn’t be writing to you again, would I?”
What do you do when the man who beat your boyfriend into a coma is about to be released from prison? What do you do when that man is your boyfriend’s older brother who wants to make amends?
Now a couple, Lou and Joe are struggling to get over the traumatic events of two years ago. When Joe’s brother Leon is released from prison, they must decide if either of them are able to forgive and forget what he did.
Meanwhile, an unexpected pregnancy throws their lives into chaos and when tragedy reawakens Lou’s self-destructive tendencies, she faces losing everything they have built. Can she fight her body image demons once again? Can either of them trust Leon? As Joe and Lou try to decide whether bad people can truly change, they are about to have one mess of a summer.
The book is available on Amazon, click here for your copy.
My thoughts. No spoilers.
This story is a rollercoaster. You’re there with Lou, as she tells the tale in diary form. You can feel every step as she tries to come to terms with the way that her life is unfolding.
This is a slice of life on steroids. A fast-paced journey through one summer in the lives of a group of teenagers, with new challenges, old issues and overflowing emotion. All captured in exquisite detail, so well written that you feel like an extra character, immersed and embedded in every scene.
There’s a gritty realism to the tale of Lou and Joe, barely adult but faced with adult problems and decisions. Lou and Joe are an item, but there’s an undercurrent. Life for them is a set of harsh choices, made worse by circumstances, which they try hard to overcome.
Then there’s Joe’s brother, Leon. He’s the source of Joe’s problems, soon to be released from prison. Even though he’s not there for half of the story, his influence has a hold over everyone. The rest of both families and all the side characters are well-drawn and totally realistic.
Set in a place that’s familiar to us all, it comes alive as secrets are revealed and the reasons why people did what they did become clear. There’s sadness, joy and the full range of emotions.
This is one of those stories that will stay with you. I could see it as a T.V. drama. It’s far better than a lot of the formulaic and rehashed stuff that’s so prevalent.
Highly recommended.
About the Author.
Chantelle Atkins was born and raised in Dorset, England and still resides there now with her husband, four children and multiple pets. She is addicted to reading, writing and music and writes for both the young adult and adult genres. Her fiction is described as gritty, edgy and compelling.
Her debut Young Adult novel The Mess Of Me deals with eating disorders, self-harm, fractured families and first love.
Her second novel, The Boy With The Thorn In His Side follows the musical journey of a young boy attempting to escape his brutal home life and has now been developed into a 5 book series.
She is also the author of This Is Nowhere and award-winning dystopian, The Tree Of Rebels, plus a collection of short stories related to her novels called Bird People and Other Stories.
The award-winning Elliot Pie’s Guide To Human Nature was released in October 2018.
YA novel A Song For Bill Robinson was released in December 2019 and is the first in a trilogy, followed by Emily’s Baby and The Search For Summer in 2021.
In 2022 she released another collection: The Old Friend – A Collection of Tales and Poems and the first in the supernatural YA series, Hangman’s Revenge, which was co-written with Sim Alec Sansford.
Chantelle has had multiple articles about writing published by Author’s Publish magazine and runs her own Community Interest Company – Chasing Driftwood Writing Group.
Links:
Website/blog : https://chantelleatkins.com/
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/chantelleatkinswriter
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Chanatkins
Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/chantelleatkins/
https://www.instagram.com/chantelleatkinswriter/
Email Newsletter Sign Up: http://eepurl.com/bVVbGD
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chantelleatkinswriter/
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chantelle-Atkins/e/B00J7ACVCY/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
Books;
The Mess Of Me
The Boy With The Thorn In His Side – series
Bird People and Other Stories
This Is Nowhere
The Tree Of Rebels
Elliot Pie’s Guide To Human Nature
A Song For Bill Robinson
Emily’s Baby
The Search For Summer
The Old Friend – A Collection of Tales and Poems
Hangman’s Revenge
Project Pandora
Days End
The Day The Earth Turned – series
I’d love to get your comments, please leave them below. While you’re here, why not take a look around? There are some freebies and lots more content, about me, my writing and everything else that I do. You can join my newsletter for a free novella and more news by clicking this link.
Leave a Reply