Absolutely brilliant.
Plot twists, hilarious references, lovable character- this book has all of these and more. Last year I saw Fenne do a talk about the book and how world building for him was similar to D &D, you establish the rules and roll from there, and I can see how that technique worked tremendously too. I feel like we all know of a Grunsby-by-sea, which is a leech on emotions- an echo of what once was.
Some antagonists you can take them or leave them- but I love the plot with the diary entries. It is the moment when all of the twists click together which you start to see the true villain.
I really felt for Steven from learning about the perils of his first kiss, his attempts at dating to coming to terms with his powers.
What really added to the plot were the pop culture references. They were needed and it often makes me sad that not all books have that witty comic relief.
After reading this I immediately bought four copies for my school library, and then when Overthinking came out I did the same. This is one of my most recommended books of 2024- a bit late in the reading but well worth the wait.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from #netgalley , thank you. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

An unexpected favorite, this book gripped me and pulled me in ina way I wasn’t expecting…so much I ordered the sequel to ship from across the pond!

Overemotional was a fun read, even if it was a little silly. The interactions between Steven and Troy were really cute and endearing. Troy is just a really cute character in general. I did, however, find the logs difficult to follow. The social media references threw me off a bit as well. It is a YA story, though, so I'm sure that will appeal to younger teenagers and is more of a personal peeve of mine. I also found the jumps between all four POV's a little confusing and hard to follow at points. In saying that, I still enjoyed this. It was fast-paced and funny even if it wasn't anything groundbreaking. This would be perfect for younger teenagers looking for superpowers and LGBTQ+ representation. I just wasn't the target audience

For a book called Overemotional, I didn't really have any emotional connection to this. The characters felt quite juvenile compared to the ages they were supposed to be. I didn't like that the MC's best friend tried to force him to come out/label himself before he was ready to either. I know some people are like this, but it's detrimental to the MC and not something that a real friend would do.

This felt like it was both written for a younger audience (just above middle grade) but also too old for them with the topics it explored so it was a strange mix in tones and didn't feel completely authentic. The POV changes were also a bit confusing at times as there wasn't enough distinction between the individual voices/POVs.

I would consider reading another book by this author dependent on plot and subject matter.

OVEREMOTIONAL is a hilarious and magical romp at the British seaside filled with mystery, intrigue and the most wholesome set of protagonists you’ll ever meet. It’s Heartstopper meets Stranger Things with a hint of Misfits.

"Overemotional" by David Fenne offers a neutral exploration of emotions. The narrative delves into personal experiences with a balanced approach, avoiding extremes. While the prose is competent, the overall impact may be muted, making it suitable for those seeking a middle-ground portrayal of human sentiment without significant emotional highs or lows.

Unfortunately I couldn't get along with this one.

I found the writing style too juvenile, and didn't connect to the characters or the storyline. I appreciated the LGBTQ+ representation.

This was such a fun read!! I didnt know much about it going in but I really enjoyed it!! The characters were well fleshed out and I wasnt invested overall in the plot but I really enjoyed the characters

This was such a good concept. I loved the idea of a teenager trying to get the grips on magic controlled by emotions especially when emotions can be so large and overwhelming when you're that age. It was the perfect magic for a teenage boy to have.

The story really lived up to the concept as well. I fell in love with these characters and their wins were my wins, their losses were my losses. It was really done well. I loved the town of Grunsby-on-sea as well. I could really see this dismal little British Seaside town.

The LGBTQ+ representation was what really drew me to this book. And when your gay character is shooting rainbows out of his hands, you can't really make it any gayer. I loved how upfront about Steven's gayness the book was, even when he wasn't ready to be upfront about it himself.

I can't wait to see what adventures await our little gang next.

David Fenne’s debut novel was intriguing, I was not sure what to expect with that title and the cover art. It was a book about feelings, friendship and love, made into a science fiction capturing the target audience of young adult reader. This book touches on LGBTQ+ very early on and continued til the end of the book, I like that it is open. I think the author draws a lot of parallel with exploration of feelings of the main character, feelings for his friends, romantic or otherwise to the science fiction power of his. There’s certainly the mystery of how these power come about, the investigations of missing persons and the history, those kept me interested and going.

I do find the descriptions a little much, however that’s probably because the author needs to illustrate the layout of his story. I tend to not read the synopsis before I read a book, however I found the last chapter just about wrap it up and thought to myself whether David was giving himself room for a sequel. Then I read the blurb and found out this is the 1st of a trilogy.

I’ll have to read the second one when it comes out!

Many thanks to David Fenne and Ink Road for the book in exchange for honest review.

This was definitely a fresh read, I don’t think I have ever read a book quite like this. Certainly the idea was original, and I think any queer kid would love this, no matter how whacky it is.

Thank you to NetGalley and Black & White Publishing for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

This book is a very British and very gay YA story that centres around the main character Steven, as he struggles with his powers that manipulate reality to the opposite of whatever emotions he is experiencing. When an incident occurs that causes Steven to be racked with guilt he runs away to Grunsby-on-Sea to protect everyone.

The book is a well written exploration into emotions, friendship, and discovery. The pace is well constructed, even when the multiple POV’s can feel like a lot to keep on top of. The main event of this story though is the characters and the development they go through through the book. The friendship between Steven and Freya (his incredibly determined best friend) is well-written and relatable, it adds the much needed depth to the narrative, even when Freya attempts to label Steven when he clearly is not ready for that yet.

The magical system is fun and unique. The story has lots of fun twists and turns to keep you on your toes. And the action scenes in the story are very well written which is incredibly fun to read.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, easy read.

Hello everyone, I'm Mr. C Reviewer, and tonight we're discussing David Fenne's book, Overemotional. This was my first experience with David's work, and after reading this story, I'm eager to explore more of his books in the future. I'd like to extend a huge thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of Overemotional in exchange for an honest review. I had the pleasure of reading this captivating novel at the start of July 2023, spending almost an entire day engrossed in its pages. Recommended for readers aged 14 - 18 years, Overemotional is set to be published on July 6th, 2023. The narrative, told from multiple first-person perspective (stevens, Freya, Marcus, Troy and report logs) spans 40 chapters and 336 pages.



Summary: Steven, an unfortunate and secretive sixth former who possesses a unique and dangerous ability. Whenever he experiences intense emotions, whether they be joy or sorrow, inexplicable and potentially perilous events occur. After one such incident took place he is filled with guilt and fear of causing harm to others, seeking refuge in the desolate town of Grunsby-on-Sea, determined to protect those around him from the destructive power of his Emomancy. With a best friend as determined as Freya, it is impossible to stay hidden for long, especially when she realises Steven might be in danger after a mysterious organisation called DEMA start asking questions about him. Where Freya goes, her boyfriend Marcus and American friend Troy soon follow. Together, they are determined to find out more about this organisation. In a serendipitous encounter, Steven crosses paths with an alluring enigma who not only professes to possess the same extraordinary abilities as him but also extends an enticing proposition to guide Steven in mastering his latent powers.



Review:
-In my opinion, this book was written with some good character development. The author has done an excellent job of bringing the characters to life and creating a vivid sense of place throughout the story. I liked the inclusion of a cheat sheet within the book that outlines the various effects experienced by the protagonist, Steven, when he undergoes different emotional states. This cheat sheet not only added an extra layer of depth to the story but also serves as a helpful guide for readers to understand the intricate connection between Steven's emotions and the extraordinary superpowers that manifest as a result.

I believe that starting the story with Steven at the party and exploring his reasons for leaving would have enhanced the overall reading experience. I feel that It would have allowed for a more engaging introduction to the characters and their relationships, as well as built anticipation and suspense leading up to Steven's disappearance.

While reading I found the utilization of multiple points of view's in this book to be somewhat excessive and occasionally confusing. It required me to maintain a high level of focus in order to discern which character was leading each section, as they were often presented in small fragments rather than entire chapters dedicated to each POV. In my opinion, I feel that the book would have been even more captivating if it had utilized Steven's point of view as the primary narrative perspective. As this approach would have offered us a deeper and more intimate understanding of his character, allowing us to witness events unfold through his eyes. By experiencing Steven's joys, fears, and struggles first-hand, we would have formed a stronger connection with the protagonist and become more emotionally invested in his journey.

I did like the action-packed sequences that the book had which injected a palpable energy into the story, heightening the overall reading experience. The author did a good job at setting the pace. I was immediately swept up in the story's momentum, eagerly turning page after page to uncover what lies ahead. This seamless transition continues throughout the middle section of the book, ensuring that us readers remain fully engrossed in the story. To be honest I believe that the book would have been even more enjoyable if the ending had served as a captivating introduction to a second instalment. As a result, I found myself feeling slightly fatigued as I progressed through the book.

-I found myself drawn to most of the characters and their development throughout the story. However, there was one character who belonged to the DEMA organization that I personally found to be lacking in professionalism and appeared rather silly. It would have been more satisfying for me as a reader if there were more alternative and clever ways for Steven, the protagonist when trying to escape being captured by this organization.

On a positive note, I did appreciate the strong bond between Freya and Steven, which was portrayed in a believable and relatable manner. Their friendship added depth to the narrative and made their interactions enjoyable to read. However, I did have an issue with Freya's attempt to impose a label on Steven. It felt forced and unnecessary, and unfortunately, this aspect was not addressed in the book at the time or even later on.

Personally I would like it if this book was turned into a TV Show. If it ever does I would definitely go and watch it. I am anticipating the opportunity to revisit this book upon its release and intend to acquire both a physical copy and an audible version to fully immerse myself in the story.


For each story that I read, I rate it out of 10 so for this am going to give it a 8. Remember this was what I thought about the book personally and I suggest that you give it a go for yourself.

it reminded me of carry on, and so i really enjoyed it. i think it’s a little bit too YA for me but still a very good book!

**Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this title in exchange for a fair and honest review**

One of the better books I've read recently. A good mix of sci-fi and romance with some genuinely tense moments. I enjoyed the characters and it was great to read a YA novel set in a very English seaside town.

The only negative (and I'm well aware this is a personal thing) but I found the multiple POVs excessive and a little confusing. I needed to pay close attention to which character was leading each section as they were often quite small chunks, rather than whole chapters from each POV.

A solid 4/5 stars.

This was an enjoyable read and definitely one I would recommend to younger teenagers. Because I was anticipating something slightly more mature in tone, it didn’t quite meet my expectations, but this is more of a fault on my part for not doing my research. Nevertheless, I think the “wholesome” marketing should definitely come with a few content warnings, especially with regards to the initial relationship (the age gap is concerning when considering the impressionable age of the target audience) and horror content. Though more characteristic of upper YA, I thought the SFF elements were really well executed and perfectly complimented by the light, humorous tone any time they started getting a bit heavy. The characters and setting are so quintessentially British (Grunsby-on-Sea is so reminiscent of how I feel returning to Skegness as an adult) and made even more hilarious by the American POV who is understandably confused by it all. Even when I thought some of the five POVs felt slightly unnecessary, this book was a lot of fun and definitely a “true” YA.

I hate having to give reviews like this, especially when I was looking forward to reading the book and I've seen so much hype surrounding it. Well. Where to start?
The writing is amatuerish, the content problematic at parts and it was just... lacklustre?
Firstly: this bit.
"Well, do you find women attractive?"
"I guess not."
"You guess not? Jesus, I'm asking if you are sexually aroused by women, not asking if you want butter on your toast."
"It's hard to really know."
"Sure, but gun to your head?"
"Gun to my head, I'd say I'm... I'm gay."
What the hell??
Secondly: it was just kind of unentertaining to read? If I was like 13 then maybe I would have enjoyed it, but at 24 all I can see are the flaws (and yes I Know it's a YA book and 13 is probably the correct age to enjoy it, but giving teens the above dialogue from the book to base their ideas of queerness in friendship on makes me want to scream).
Overall, disappointed and wondering if I'm just finally growing out of YA :(

Thanks to Netgalley and Black & White for the ARC

I got this ARC via NetGalley for an honest review.

I wanted to LOVE this book, I really did but there were parts where I could just not connect or got a little mad. I know others have sad similar and haven't finished. I finished but I kinda wish I didn't.

Spoilers.

Okay, so if I read this as my 14 year old self I would have loved this, without a doubt. However, as a 30 year old I just saw the issues and wasn't a fan. The author had the right idea but the wrong way of going about it. Magic, great. Trying to put a label on people when they're still trying to find who they are, not so great. I felt like a lot was forced in this book and it didn't flow like it could have.

I did really like Troy as a character and that swayed me into giving this more stars, all of the characters were written really well and had good development so brownie points there.

Overal, I'd recommend this for a younger audience perhaps although it might give the wrong message across when it comes to "finding yourself".

All opinions are my own. Sorry for any errors in the review, dyslexic and grammly isn't working!

3.5*

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc of this book.

I think if I had found this book as a teenager, I would have lost my mind. Superpowers and queerness? Sign me up!

As an adult, I found it was a really cute read, very sweet and whimsical. I think it leans a little more into a younger audience, given some of the references and its overall silliness, but it was still fun to read. The pacing was good and the message it spreads was wholesome and wonderful.

DNF 41%


- Steven has not come out yet. Freya, his supposed best friend, keeps trying to catch him off-guard so he'll come out to her. Who does that? It's all up to Steven if and when he wants to come out, and it's none of Freya's business. She also assumes he's gay just because he's never shown any interest in girls, blatantly ignoring that Steven might be acespec, arospec, private about his feelings, not interested in any of these girls in specific, not interested in romance/sex in general yet, bi/pan with a preference for men, etcetera. Or maybe Steven isn't a guy. There are so many options other than Steven being gay, and her insistence on calling him gay and trying to make him out himself to her is awful.
- I searched ahead to find out if and how Steven comes out to Freya. Freya catches him kissing a guy and then makes him give her a label, even after Steven says he doesn't really know.
"Gay? Bi? Pan?"
"Errr, I don't know."
"Well, do you find women attractive?"
"I guess not."
"You guess not? Jesus, I'm asking if you are sexually aroused by women, not asking if you want butter on your toast."
"It's hard to really know."
"Sure, but gun to your head?"
"Gun to my head, I'd say I'm... I'm gay."

Seriously, what the fuck is this? Steven doesn't need a label. Steven doesn't need to come out to her. Steven doesn't have to know just exactly which genders he's attracted to and how much, not when he's only 17 and not later in life either. Oh, and note how Freya again ignored the options of acespec, arospec, and Steven being trans.
- There was a love triangle in this book. I hate love triangles. If I had known there'd be one going in, I would not have picked this book in the first place.
- The third guy in the love triangle was a guy who was introduced to the story without a mention of his age. I thought he was a random guy in his 30s, so imagine my surprise when he kissed 17-year-old Steven. Later, Steven conformed he looked like someone in his 20s. There was of course also the severe power imbalance with this guy being Steven's only hope for a normal life. So without warning, I got confronted with a guy whose age was later confirmed to be over 80 years old sexually assaulting the 17-year-old main character. Ugh. Oh, and the best part of the love triangle is that Steven would have picked this old guy over his classmate and friend, and only 'switched sides' when he found out the old guy was not trustworthy. How romantic and genuine.
- This book is advertised as "wholesome", and has no content warnings. Yet this book covers topics such as illegal experimentation on pregnant women, eugenics, creatures and gore fit for horror stories, kidnapping and drugging, sexual assault of a minor, and whatever else is in the part of the book I didn't read.


I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. My review remains honest and unbiased.