Publisher:
Chicken House
Release
Date: 1st
June 2014
Edition:
UK proof,
review copy
Sam
and Hannah only have the holidays to find ‘The One’. Their lobster. But instead
of being epic, their summer is looking awkward.
They
must navigate social misunderstandings, the plotting of well-meaning friends,
and their own fears of being virgins forever.
In
the end, it all boils down to love...
I’ve been hearing wonderful,
wonderful things about this for months now, and man, they were all true. Lobsters is one of my favourites books
of the year.
Ellen and Ivison have such
strong, realistic voices. Hannah and Sam are vivid, funny and flawed characters
who could so easily be one of the girls I go to school with, one of the boys in
my year at school. They are spot on. The dialogue between all of the characters
is perfect and fresh and perfectly current. There’s swearing, the constant
references to sex and discussions about it and it’s right that it’s that way –
that’s how 17/18 year-olds talk!
In terms of actual plot or
action, Lobsters is pretty thin on
the ground, but it didn’t matter at all. Set during the summer between the ending
of A-level exams and going to uni/gap years/whatever, Sam and Hannah expected
an epic summer. What they got was pretty different, but still subtly epic. There
were adventures, kisses, awkward moments, lots of awkward moments,
misunderstandings, drinking and bitching. It’s glorious.
The pressure on all of the
remaining virgins to lose it is one of the main focus’ of Lobsters. Even though it was only the girls who outright admitted
that they were looking to find their lobster (‘The One’) to lose it to, they
all were. I really enjoyed how Ellen and Ivison portrayed the differences in
the pressure between girls and boys; it was really interesting, and nice to see
that it really wasn’t all that different. But more than anything, I loved that
Sam and Hannah’s journey was far from perfect. And so was their happily ever
after.
Lobsters
is fresh,
funny and easily one of my favourite books of the year. I’ll read anything else
these two write.
Thanks to Chicken House for the
review copy.
Sophie
I really need this in my life! Dammit Chicken House, where's my copy?
ReplyDeleteWell, you've convinced me - I need this, like - now! :)
ReplyDeleteI've been hearing all good things about this -mostly that it's very realistic and VERY funny! Must treat myself to a copy soon! :)
ReplyDelete