Possible spoilers


I feel Cora put me through the wringer a bit in terms of emotion.
I laughed with her, I cried for her, I was incredibly frustrated with her...
A lovely coming of age story, that tackles so many things.
Despite the grief, poverty and addiction, there's genuine warmth and love here.
Super.

Thoroughly entertaining coming of age novel following four years in the life of Cora growing up in post-industrial Scottish towns where there’s nothing to do but drink, meet boys and dream of getting out. With a disabled mum, no dad, and a highly dubious new boyfriend on the scene for her mum, things look like they may be taking a very disturbing turn, but instead we get a sad and funny story in equal measure - grief, poverty, finding and ditching first love, escaping to the city and finding out just how disappointing family and friends can be… The subject matter can be dark at times, but I really did laugh at loud at times. - Cora and her dysfunctional circle of friends are genuinely funny despite everything. Superb sense of place, real emotion and a vivid depiction of the 90s.

This book is a great voice of family dynamics and90's life in Scotland, it felt real and raw overall.