This is a mixture of laugh out loud funny and quiet desperation for the lives of these two young women-Wendy who is 19 but acts younger and Ginger who is 15 and has experienced too much. I did find this quite stressful to read as Wendy really did make some bad choices and fail to read signals that got her into trouble. But it has a spirit and an innocence and a uniqueness that lift the book to make it memorable.

GINGER AND ME

WOW !!
Thanks #NetGalley #ElissaSoave and #HQstories for my e-arc copy of #GingerAndMe in exchange for my honest review I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I loved its Non linear structure; in how we already know that the main character is in prison and we get the backstory and learn the reason why this is as we continue, and are taken on the journey of Wendy’s life and the meeting of Ginger, along with various other interesting characters.

I still can’t believe that this was a debut novel in my opinion Elissa handled the subject of abuse delicately creating just the right amount of emotion yet balancing it fantastically with just humour throughout novel.

My only criticism was that I found parts of the story predictable hence the four out of five stars but I think Elissa will only get better as to writes more and I’m looking forward to them.

When I think about how I’d describe the characters in this book, the first word that comes to mind is ‘vulnerable’.

As we get to know Ginger we realise she’s been dealt some tough cards in life, but so too has the titular “me”, Wendy, recently bereaved of her mother and best friend who it is clear has always helped her navigate the world.

Wendy is a protagonist who lends herself perfectly to audio, and the narrator is utterly convincing in portraying this naive neurodiverse nineteen year old bus driver and budding writer from Glasgow.
Wendy is just finding her feet again after the loss of her mum, and her solid routine of work, counselling and her writers’ group appears to keep her more or less content. But a chance encounter with 15 year old Ginger changes things. Used to being the one looked after, now it’s Wendy’s turn to take Ginger under her wing, and the pair quickly become a team.

The novel opens to slowly unravel a plot in which it is immediately clear something big has just happened, but what exactly that was is unfolded slowly until the very end when all the loose ends are tied up. This made for satisfying listening, and although much of the story and its content is harrowing, Wendy’s positivity shines through every chapter. She manages to always find the joy in a world which tries to kick her while she’s down.

Much of the plot revolves around Wendy’s growing obsession with local author Diane, which the reader can see for what it is, an obsession, leading to stalking, where Wendy herself just sees a blossoming friendship, a connection between two writers. This naïveté is both endearing and heartbreaking. You want to give her a shake and say, wake up, everyone is against you… but wouldn’t it be nice if we could all be more like Wendy and always see the good in the world?

Overall the novel paints an intimate portrait which allows us to better understand misunderstood young people in present day Glasgow.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my review.

Most people see her as weird, some will say she's naive and quirky but I warmed to her in an instant. This is one of those reads that will stay with me. Wendy doesn't understand social clues her mother refused to have her labelled as autistic/aspergers. After her mother dies she's seen regularly by a social worker who encourages her to make friends.

She joins a writers group and after a book signing at Waterstones she becomes fixated on Diane but reads more into the relationship than is healthy. She also meets Ginger who also has troubles but Wendy never realises how bad things are for her and she's easily influenced by her. I just loved everything about this book as you see life through Wendy's eyes with a rollercoaster of emotions.

Wendy has autism and is struggling to keep everything together after her mother's death. Wendy works as a bus driver, and has a lovely relationship with her passengers, she is so kind to them. Wendy's social worker encourages her to try to make new friends.
Wendy is also an aspiring writer, and at her book group, discovers Diane, an author, and is moved by her writing, and takes it very personally. She follows Diane on Twitter, and meets her at a book signing and mistakes this for a friendship.
Wendy also comes across Ginger, a younger girl, who lives with her gangster uncle, and is at the mercy of all his horrible friends. Wendy doesn't understand nuance, so doesn't realise what is really going on in Ginger's life. Things get progressively more chaotic for Wendy and Ginger as the book progresses culminating in terrible violence. There are moments of loveliness when the friends get time together away from their lives, but ultimately it is very sad.

Wendy was a joy of a character to get to know. She’s 19 years old and drives a bus for a living. She’s not your ordinary 19 year old young adult though. At the beginning of the book we gather that she struggled mentally when she lost her mum to cancer. But it was just Wendy and her mum. Her dad was off the scene, lost to alcoholism, though she still thinks fondly of him. Difficult enough for anyone of that age to be left to nurse their mum through her end of life, but Wendy had no one else in her life and now her mum has gone, Wendy is a little lost. We also gather that it’s possible Wendy may be on the autistic spectrum, finding it difficult to make friends, as well as struggling in social settings.

Whilst driving her bus she meets Ginger. Ginger is 15, vulnerable but tough on the surface. They both agree to meet up and from there a friendship begins to blossom. In a way it’s a coming of age story. With Wendy coming to enjoy the companionship of Ginger, finally having a friend, something she’s never had before, and Ginger clinging on with hope, that their friendship can offer some fun, some light relief from the turbulence and neglect she suffers at home.

There are many lighter moments to the book, especially within the writers group that Wendy attends once a week, but there is also a darker undercurrent running through the story for both Wendy and Ginger, covering obsession, abuse and neglect. Both humorous and poignant this is a really interesting story that keeps you turning the pages and wondering what’s going to happen next.

A wonderful debut novel with excellent characterisation, I could imagine these characters as real people, making you want to reach out to them and try to stop them making the mistakes you just know are going to lead to trouble.

Ginger and Me is a wonderful tale that is about a bus driver who lives in Uddington and her new friend Ginger. Their unusual friendship develops with a dark undercurrent as well as some strange hilarious moments. This damaged friendship culminates with an awful outcome but it is a compelling read with a big heart. The fragility of life is beautifully captured and it does not disappoint. A stunning debut.

Magnificent.
A stunning novel exploring the lives of two young vulnerable females in a Glaswegian working-class setting. I loved the authenticity and the gorgeous writing that brought everything to life.

Suffused with dark humour and mystery, its powerful narrative is highly emotive and heart-breaking. You can’t help but want to reach into the pages, save them both and wrap them up in your love to protect them.

The theme of obsession was skilfully portrayed and fascinating.

A brilliant and poignant take on friendship and obsession. Perfect for fans of Eleanor Oliphant or Elizabeth is Missing. Highly Recommended

What a thin line it is between admiration and obsession! For Wendy Wallace, a nineteen-year-old Glaswegian with a troubled childhood, the admiration for a local author fuels her belief to become a writer. After her mother’s death, she is fragile, not coping with everyday life and social interactions, but still successfully holding down a job as a bus driver. Enter Ginger, her equally damaged, madcap new friend. Will they thrive on this friendship or crash together?
I soared through this book and still wanted more - Wendy’s voice rings out crystal-clear and her emotions are portrayed picture-perfect. Even those more sinister developments are entirely believable when you are in Wendy’s shoes.
Move over, Shuggy Bain, there’s a new girl in town!

Ginger and Me by Elissa Soave

Wendy is 19 and living alone after her mum died. Her history of mental health problems mean she now has a weekly visit from a social worker who encourages her to live life to the full. So when Wendy meets Ginger she does just that, with an array of consequences.

Wow what an amazing book! An array of entertaining characters keeps you turning the pages but more than anything the voice of the narrator (Wendy) is compelling, at times naive, touching, sinister, heartbreaking, funny.... wow! I raced through it in one day and absolutely loved it. I predict great things for this book - very VERY highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

Well I absolutely loved every moment of this book. It starts with 19 year old Wendy in jail but we don’t know why and she then tells the story of meeting 15 year old ginger and all the events that lead up to her to being in there. Equally heartwarming and heartbreaking at points, I didn’t want to put this one down. And a debut novel aswell, looking forward to see what Elissa Soave writes next.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When this book was recommended to me I had no idea of the characters and locations it contained. It was therefore a surprise to discover it was centre around the Viewpark area of North Lanarkshire – an area which I know well, as I worked there a number of years ago.

It was easy to imagine the two main characters, Wendy and Ginger in the libraries and parks and other places to which they referred, and it was interesting to hear of the people with whom they came into contact, many of whom were themselves real characters.

The girls were both very naive. Wendy was determined to be a writer. Despite having had more than her fair share of misfortune during her 19 years of life she saw everything from what she thought was a writer’s point of view. Unfortunately this led to her stalking a well know author whom she was convinced was her friend and patron.

Ginger, who was only 14/15 years old, likewise looked on Wendy as her saviour from her even more messed up life.

Having muddled through their relationship, things came to a sad and unpredictable end for both girls.

This was a book well worth reading, in my opinion. It highlighted the up and downs – mostly downs – of people who grow up without the care and help of family, friends and authorities.

Oh goodness this book is both insightful and heartbreaking at the same time! The story is told through the eyes of 19 year old Wendy from jail but, initially, she doesnt elaborate on what has happened, other than to say it is not her fault. She then goes on to describes the series of events that lead up to this point.

Wendy is a  neurodivergent young woman, who is struggling with her mental health after the tragic death of her mother. She lives alone and has little social interaction, apart from with the regulars on the bus that she drives. On the advice of her social worker she tries to make friends by joining a writing group, but this is unsuccessful as she clashes with some of the members, due to her misunderstanding of social cues.

Then she befriends a 15 year old teenager called Ginger, a passenger on her bus. Ginger has a difficult background: her addict mother has abandoned her to the care of her "Uncle Tam" who has a salubrious career, involving the turnover of large tvs and various household items and regularly has house parties with friends who give unwanted attention to the teenager.

The friendship between Wendy and Ginger is strange  as they have little in common, apart from being lonely. Wendy seems to mother Ginger and take her under her wing, buying her food and even a warm coat on a day out to the beach. It is unclear whether Ginger genuinely likes Wendy or is just using her to have somewhere to stay. Equally it is hard to tell whether Wendy likes the teenager or is just friends with her so that she can keep her social worker happy.

Things start to unravel for Wendy when she becomes  obsessed with a local author, Diane Weston. Wendy is drawn to Diane's  novels as they describe the poverty and hardship of working class Scotland which strikes a chord with her own childhood and she feels that they share a background in common  (not realising that fiction is not always based on personal experience!) When Diane likes a comment Wendy has made on Twitter, Wendy misinterprets this as a friendship and starts to follow the author around, desperate to find out more about her and be part of her life.

This is a great devut novel from Elissa Soave and I really enjoyed reading it.

I cannot believe Ginger and Me is a debut. It is beautifully written and observed, and the characters cannot fail to capture your heart. I inhaled this special book in a single sitting, staying up far too late to reach it’s conclusion. I will be purchasing any future titles by Elissa Soave as her writing is so unique and accomplished. Five stars.

The story of Ginger and Wendy (the narrator and 'Me' of the title) is beautifully and realistically told. It is set in contemporary Uddingston, a Scottish town in Lanarkshire where I worked in the 1980s and where I rode some of the bus routes on which Wendy is the driver. I knew the settings so well and felt I also knew many of the characters. I was gripped by the story being told by Wendy as she tried to emerge from the grief caused by her Mum's death. Wendy has always had difficulties making and sustaining friendships but this is what her grief counsellor recommends she needs to do. She unfortunately mistakes social media 'likes' for friendship and the author certainly cautions against the dangers of social media dependency. Wendy doesn't realise where her true friends are: in a lovely scene after she has been suspended from her bus driving job a group of pensioners stage a protest calling for her reinstatement. Ginger, an abused 15 year old girl, travels on Wendy's bus one day and the two girls form an intense friendship which helps Wendy move forward.
There is a lot of humour in the story but also sadness and tragedy. I highly recommend 'Ginger and Me' and look forward to more from Elissa Soave.
Thanks to the publisher, HQ, via Net Galley for a complimentary ARC of this title in return for an honest review.

I loved this way more than I expected to! Wendy is such an incredibly endearing protagonist that reading this book feels like a warm hug, despite the mystery element and how much you empathise with and worry about Wendy. It’s about the evolution of a friendship between two young women. The book grabs the reader from the very first page with the protagonist’s narrative from a prison cell and the plot is all about how she got there. I can thoroughly recommend this book.

Heartbreaking, funny, sad and strangely uplifting, a stream of consciousness tale of disfunction,delusion and innocence. working between the lines, and letting the reader in on the sad and funny truth behind a rose coloured view of the world. The kindness and cruelty of life for two girls, lacking a proper family and how their worlds collide; the characters who feature in those worlds are worth the read on their own terms. Wendy tells her story with a naive charm, filling the reader with a dreadful expectation of what might happen next. It is a totally charming and unusual story, inevitable in the downward spiral of one character, and the indomitable force of the other.

Thankyou for giving me the chance to read this in advance. Really enjoyed it. Characters well written snd kept me engaged right until the end

A coming of age story very well written and poignant. It's the storyof underdogs and very young and complex women.
I loved it and It made me cry at times. Well plotted and well told, a cast of interesting characters, a moving story.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This is a debut novel and I have been lucky enough to read it via NetGalley.

Wendy is living alone after her mom died and now she has no one to remind her of the day to day things she needs to do. Wendy enjoys driving her bus around with her regulars on board and would like to remember to buy milk.

Wendy meets with her social worker weekly who suggests she joins a group to interact with others so Wendy joins a writer’s group. The others don’t get her stories but they aren’t proper writers not like the local celebrity Diane Weston who sometimes likes and comments on Wendy’s tweets.

Then Wendy meets Ginger, who got on her bus and rode it all day, and their friendship blossoms. Wendy now has a best friend but what Wendy doesn’t realise is the trouble that Ginger will get them into.

I felt sorry for Wendy as a character. She lost her mom, ended up in hospital and I just felt that all she wants is to be liked by others. The people in her book group are dismissive of her and she mentions the same about the girls at school so I felt myself rooting for her and Ginger to have a great friendship.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It’s a great debut and I look forward to reading more by this author.