Very cute! It was just a chapter sampler but it definitely made me want to pick up the whole book. Definitely preordering my own copy!

I am SO excited to read this book in its entirety. The chapter sample offered gives a wonderful glimpse at a story that I can already sense is going to be really something special. The writing style is gorgeous and compelling, and I became immediately invested in July's character within a few short pages. I simply cannot wait to read more!

I'd never heard of this book or author but reading the sample chapter I am intrigued to keep reading!

July is a feisty 10-year-old living with her abusive father and trying to piece together information about her mother, who died on her second birthday.

The first chapter introduced July as a tough girl, navigating the waters of year five in the 90s. This was really nostalgic for me as I was July's age and definitely remember playing with pogs too! When her teacher suggests she writes her summer project on her mother, July is immediately hesitant but gets a clue from her teacher that maybe the little she thought she knew wasn't true either.

This seems like an intriguing book and I'm looking forward to more!

This was already one of my most anticipated reads of 2023! & reading the chapter sampler only made it more so,
I cannot wait until February 9th I shall be heading to my local bookshop to grab a copy!

Ooo I am EXCITED for this one! Having read just a snippet I can tell this is going to be good. July is ten and knows nothing about her mum how sadly passed away when she was 2 years old. Her dad won't discuss it and everything she has ever learned has been by accident.

A school project is set and each child must spend the summer writing a report on a member of the family they don't know and then her teacher slips her a note...

Oh my god this looks so good!

A nice start to a novel. Wanted me to read on. Nice air of mystery developed. A decent picture painted of playground rivalry and the main character is obviously clever but flawed

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a sample chapter ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
It is hard to rate and describe a book after one chapter but I agree it is enough to decide if it is worth continuing to read the book. I thought the author set the scene well: July only knows 13 facts about her late mother because her family don't discuss her at all, and her father uses physical abuse as a response to her questions. I thought it was strange that July would receive a note about her mother's death in such a way - I can't decide if the book would turn out to be an interesting story revealing the truth or whether it would be a juvenile type of cosy mystery. I would definitely read more if it was offered, but at the moment I'm unsure I would read the book to the end. This has led me to rate it middle-of-the-road.

What a tease this is!

Wow the first chapter had me hooked and so intrigued.

I so need to know what happened to July's mother, and I need to know now!

Cannot wait to read the book In full.

I had no idea what to expect from this first chapter but I loved it and can't wait to read the rest. This is so nostalgic for anyone who grew up in the 80s and there's more involved in the death of July's mum than she knows. This is a quirky and intriguing start, will look forward to reading on!

I had no idea it was a chapter sampler but what I did read was superb, the characters are really engaging, it keeps you intrigued and when the full book arrives I will definitely be reading the whole thing.

This was an excerpt - the first chapter.

It was difficult for me to believe that July was a ten-year-old girl, as the voice and attitude felt far too mature for that age. The repeated interjections from an omniscient narrator distanced me from July even further. The short flashbacks kept breaking up the narrative, and the physical abuse July experiences when she asks her dad about her mother gave this novel a much darker tone than I expected from the "big-hearted" description.

I didn't feel engaged and wouldn't continue reading.

Excellent chapter sampler. Looking forward to reading the full book. I would recommend based on what I have read so far.

For only a chapter sample I found it really engaging and interesting. I can tell it’s going to be a hard hitting book as July try’s to uncover more about her mother. Will be picking up a full copy when released.

Also I only have a chapter sample for this book, I can tell that it really is beautifully written.
The storyline is engaging and I look forward to reading the whole book.

July Hooper is 10-years old and knows very little about her deceased mother, who died in a road accident when July was 2-years old. However, a school project to write about a family member, could lead to July uncovering more about her mother’s death.

This chapter is definitely intriguing and left me wanting to read more. I found July’s voice convincing and I’m eager to learn more about her and her family.

I was so excited and intrigued by this book's description, title and cover I didn't clock it was a chapter sampler. I was tempted not to give it a go because I knew I'd want more immediately but temptation took over and I'm now fully invested with the characters and plot. Can't wait to find out what happens! I suspect I'll love the full book if it is as good as the first chapter. I also really loved the writing style.

Such a good chapter sampler, it really drew me in and left me wanting more. Plus it ended just as it was getting really interesting.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this sampler. I cannot wait to read the book.