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katykelly's review
5.0
Great three-handed narration, mature teens dealing well with big issues.
I was impressed by the end of this book at the portrayal of each of the main three characters, the author built each into a relatable and realistic person, whose motivations were clear and who interacted really well together.
It was quite an intense story as well. From the 'GCSE results day' opening, a benchmark moment for teens, now just the jumping off point for interwoven strands that open up more than one can of worms for Frankie, Jojo and Ram.
It seems too strange that Jojo, who has worked so hard towards good exam results, should go missing on Results Day. The day a local baby is stolen. And Frankie's phone call to her best friend uncovers the sound of a baby crying in the background. Determined to stop her friend from making a huge life mistake, she recruits her ex, Ram, with his car, to drive her to where Jojo is hiding out.
Which is only, of course, the beginning of a shared, painful story and awakening.
Loved the way this wove along, from one character to the next, filling in blanks. As an adult reader, I had a good idea what was going on, though teens may not be familiar enough with likely plots and get a huge 'whammy' once or twice.
Handled maturely, these young people felt so aware of things other than just themselves and their lives, it was great to see responsible (and of course flawed) young adults represented in fiction here.
The audiobook moved easily from one narrator to the next, and the voices were well chosen to convey the characters realistically.
For ages 13 and above.
I was impressed by the end of this book at the portrayal of each of the main three characters, the author built each into a relatable and realistic person, whose motivations were clear and who interacted really well together.
It was quite an intense story as well. From the 'GCSE results day' opening, a benchmark moment for teens, now just the jumping off point for interwoven strands that open up more than one can of worms for Frankie, Jojo and Ram.
It seems too strange that Jojo, who has worked so hard towards good exam results, should go missing on Results Day. The day a local baby is stolen. And Frankie's phone call to her best friend uncovers the sound of a baby crying in the background. Determined to stop her friend from making a huge life mistake, she recruits her ex, Ram, with his car, to drive her to where Jojo is hiding out.
Which is only, of course, the beginning of a shared, painful story and awakening.
Loved the way this wove along, from one character to the next, filling in blanks. As an adult reader, I had a good idea what was going on, though teens may not be familiar enough with likely plots and get a huge 'whammy' once or twice.
Handled maturely, these young people felt so aware of things other than just themselves and their lives, it was great to see responsible (and of course flawed) young adults represented in fiction here.
The audiobook moved easily from one narrator to the next, and the voices were well chosen to convey the characters realistically.
For ages 13 and above.
shanlouvicxo's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
alexandra1708's review
5.0
A book has not left me thinking about the story and characters long after finishing for a loooooong time. This one is one of those.
jesse_5's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Death of parent
mikaelabooks's review
4.0
omg, I loved this book so much!!!! I wasn't expecting to love it as much as I did. I though that it was a thriller but its not.
adamskiboy528491's review
4.0
First Day of My Life by Lisa Williamson brilliantly tackles the concept of unexpected pregnancy due to how the characters deal with the whole scenario. The story was told from the perspective of three friends whose lives were linked and woven with complexity, which made it a riveting coming-of-age novel.
It's GCSE results day and the end of a chapter for best friends Frankie and Jojo. They've got a results day party on the horizon and bright futures to look forward to. Except Jojo is missing, and Frankie is concerned that she must turn to her ex-boyfriend Ram for help. Jojo is not the only one missing. Local to Frankie, the news that a baby has been stolen has everyone worried and only adds to the mystery. Everything about the opening to this book had me hooked, and I loved every twist and turned throughout this heartfelt story.
Each of the three main characters is fantastic and have been created with immense care and passion. I don't want to give too much of the story away in my review, so I would say you need to pick up this incredible book for yourself. I haven't read any of Ms Williamson's YA novels, but I'm sure going to after reading this.
zoz716's review
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
chelseamh98's review against another edition
3.0
I did like this book but my dislike for one character made it difficult to want to pick it up and read. Which means the author did an amazing job. Still doesn’t stop me from hating Stacey as much as Dolores Umbridge. Just wish I could of finished it sooner.