This is an interesting and slightly different feel for a coming of age book. Good enough reading but it didn't bowl me over with the story line but I'm probably not the target audience! Writing was nice and the story flowed and built nicely throughout the book.

'Loner' follows Lona who recently dropped out of university where she was studying art and she is now having to decide what she wants to do next with her life.

I loved how this book was written. Each chapter was short and the writing was so simple to read that it made it very easy to get lost in the story and in Lona's life. I loved Lona as a character and thought she was very relatable. I loved how realistic the friendship between Lona and Tab was, and how they didn't have a perfect friendship and weren't always in each other's lives but were there for each other when it was most important.

I did like that the ending was left open as it felt like Lona's story hadn't ended because she was still trying to work herself and her life out and it felt very realistic and relatable.

I do feel like this book would not appeal to everyone because there isn't a lot that actually happens in the book, and if the reader does not connect with Lona then they might not enjoy this book. 'Loner' is definitely more of a character driven novel so if you like character driven novels, this is one I highly recommend.

Overall, I really liked 'Loner' and felt like it was a quick, easy read that had a very relatable main character and was just overall a very good book. I will definitely check out any future books that Georgina Young writes as I really loved her writing style.

Thank you to Text Publishing for providing me with an advance copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Despite not being written in the first person POV, the short chapters and short sentences in Loner read how one would imagine its protagonist Lona thinks. The book begins with Lona having left uni because she feels like she doesn’t have to be in art school to be an artist. Throughout the book, she’s pretty aimless, but it captures the feelings that many people at her age (early twenties) feel. I liked how the book explored the sense of liking to be alone with the feeling of loneliness. Lona enjoys her own company best, and that of her best friend Tab. But like most introverts (especially the not so sociable kind) she struggles with being herself but also compromising with being who people wish she were for social interactions. Although I’m not as introverted as Lona is in the book, there are moments that were relatable to me, especially when she has to prep herself to be excited about an outing and how exhausting an afternoon out with strangers can feel whilst trying to pretend that you’re having fun cause that is more socially acceptable than showing fits of malaise in public. The novel explores friends, art, and love.

Not a lot happens in the novel but if you’re into literary novels that put existential crisis under a microscope then you may enjoy this one.

Loner is all about Lona and how she goes through her life. She works part-time in a skate centre but also works part-time at a supermarket too. It details her experiences with her personal relationships. These include with George, who becomes her boyfriend; her best friend Tab as well as her family members.
It's set out in an interesting format with headings peppered throughout.
I found it a highly enjoyable read.

I enjoyed this medium-paced debut novel about early adulthood - it felt relatable in terms of Lona's prolonged low-grade existential crisis about what she wants to do with her life and her meandering relationships with her parents, her best friend and a couple of boys she knows. As someone who's not necessarily into slice-of-life, less plot heavy novels I still really liked this story.

There's plenty to like in this book - some sly humour, relatable characters, some nice romance. It's occasionally a little too unsubtle about what it’s trying to say, themes are spelled out for us as readers when they could have been better simply shown to us. If I were drawing comparisons between this novel and others I've read I'd say it's a little Convenience Store Woman meets Alice Oseman's Radio Silence (but heterosexual + new adult).

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book.*

Lona is a 20-something drop out from Art School, who is desperately trying to answer the question what the point in life is. Her grandpa is slowly losing his will to live, she doesn't have the best relationship to her parents or herself, and even falling in love doesn't seem to fix her.

The chapters are very short, with on point descriptions and dialogues, and Lona's private and very cynical persona make this an entertaining read about coming of age, navigating adulthood, life and other catastrophes as well as social isolation. I could relate to loads of feelings in this book, even though the ending is both good and unsatisfying. I also liked the popculatural references.

This book will give you no answers but you will feel seen when you've asked the same questions from life. What is the point?

4 Stars

I really wanted to like this one but I just could not get into it. I did like to fact that the main character was an introvert and I also enjoyed the writing style but did not feel any connection with any of the characters. I just don't think this one was for me, but thank you so much to NetGalley and Publishers for giving it a go.

When I first picked this one up I was looking for a heartfelt easy and quick read, that I could relate to in some way and it proved to be exactly that. This is a New Adult novel that perfectly shows the struggles of growing up, university, and trying to balance work, relationships and a social life.

Lona, a cynical, introverted artist and part-time roller-DJ, supermarket worker and event photographer, experiences life’s sorrows and joys in this heartfelt look at new adulthood and she is Gen Z down to a tee. It’s written how Lona thinks, which is why the sentences and chapters are extremely short making it quick to read. I’d say it’s quite a realistic perspective of a 20-year-old finding her foot in adult life, and Lona makes a unique and interesting character. This aspect definitely made it easier for me to relate to her. Oh and did I mention she is a total bookworm! She always has an opinion and isn’t afraid to let you know what it is – especially if it relates to the patriarchy. She is in love with a nerdy former classmate, and has one very close friend called Tab. Young does a great job of showing a refreshing perspective of modern relationships and how complex they actually are.

The reason I rated this book down was to do with the ending – the book felt slightly rushed in the last chapter which made it feel like it wasn’t finished? There wasn’t really closure (which I like at the end). This could be because Young’s point is that life goes on, it’s your choice how you live it.

I’ve always enjoyed a good coming of age story and Loner did not disappoint! If you are a fan of this genre I would really recommend picking up a copy.

Written in short, descriptive chapters Loner explores the fragility of growing up and the complexity of making life decisions. I found main character Lona endearing and at times slightly frustrating but the author captured the fragility of young adulthood perfectly. I often reflected on my own experiences when reading some of the relatable chapters.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Lona is a main character we have all been waiting for - an introvert who loves a night in on the sofa? I can 100% relate. Young has written a story that captures the narrative of a young woman who is content to wade through life at a slow pace, this awkwardness is what gives the book charm. It is a relatable coming of age story especially for myself as a young person not quite sure about what my future holds.

I loved this. I feel that there aren't enough introverts in fiction, and I welcome any portrayals of such. I could identify so much with this sometimes uncomfortably. Would recommend.

Young's "Loner" is for sure one of the hardest book to get into; I wasn't feeling the writing style or the characters, Lona is severely under-developed and her behaviour absolutely maddening.

Loner is about a young woman, Lona. She feels lost in the world - she's dropped out of her university course and works two part-time jobs. This book navigates friendships, crushes, love and finding your way.

I loved that this book had very short chapters (if you'd even call them chapters). They're bite-sized, making for quite an enjoyable read. However, there were times where I wish they were a bit longer because some sections seemed a little incomplete.

I also really liked Georgina Young's writing style. It did take a me little while to get used to it, but I learned to appreciate it. I think it complemented the book perfectly.

To best describe this book is to describe it as a book that explores the reality of life. There isn't an overarching plot, but this doesn't diminish the impact of the story as a whole. The ending is not perfect. It is not tied with a bow. But the ending is hopeful. There are lows in life. There are tough moments, especially as a young person trying to figure out what to do with their lives. This book was real and it was relatable. I saw parts of myself in Lona (extremely introverted, would rather watch a good TV show than go out, and not wanting to socialise without having that one friend by your side). I saw parts of my friends in Lona. I have a friend who is like Tab.

I also really connected with this book because of its setting in Melbourne, my home. Unlike Lona, I am from the western suburbs, but similar to her, I rarely travel to the other side unless forced to for friends or family gatherings. I also loved all the Aussie references, like Harold the Giraffe.

A negative about this book was that, at times, I found Lona to be quite irritating, stubborn and moody. Although, this may have been intentional. It also probably incites this reaction from me because it is somewhat relatable. And even so, I love that she doesn't change herself for anyone. She thrives by staying true to who she is.

I would definitely recommend this book to young adults - people are have just finished high school, those who are in their early twenties trying to figure out who they are.

I would like to thank NetGalley for sending me an ARC of Loner in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks NetGalley for the preview!

I really struggled with this book. It was choppy, hard to stay focused on and took me way longer to read. Interesting concept but not my favorite execution.

Loner includes some really vivid characters and paints a moving picture of a young women going through crisis. It was oddly uplifting, but certainly heartfelt.

Georgina Young is very good with turns of phrase and the writing style of Loner is really stellar but the plotting and some of the characterization was just not my cup of tea. At the end of the day I unfortunately never felt like I connected with the main character of Lona and she comes off as a bit whiny throughout. The story is incredibly slow moving, anticlimactic, and repetitive in some of its points. I admire Georgina's attempt to bring feminism to the forefront but some points like having good taste being equivalent to internalized misogyny felt a bit forced.

Again I did enjoy Georgina's style of writing so I really look forward to her future work. I highlighted multiple passages throughout as the book is quite witty.

Mega thanks to Netgalley and Text Publishing for the Advanced Reader's Copy.

Not really my thing, thought I would enjoy this more than I did, it sounded right up my street. It’s interesting , but was hard to get into, I’m sure others will enjoy far more, but not for me sorry

I have never read a story like this before, but the front cover really appealed to me so wanted to give it a go.
Loner is about a girl, who is just starting through adulthood who really has no idea of who she really is, or where she wants to go.
It was an interesting read and I enjoyed It, despite it being completely different to what I would normally read.

I didn't end up liking this as much as I wanted to. It's an interesting concept and story but unfortunately just not for me!

I found this book hard to get into. The blurb really spoke to me as a shy Doctor Who fan but the actual story didn’t really make an impression. Maybe I am not the target audience but I found the story slow paced and not very captivating