This was my first novel by Kathleen Glasgow and I was very much impressed, but also ouch, this was a hard hitting one.

The sensitive approach for her writing is what captured me. Our main character Bella certainly hasn't had the easiest childhood so far, what with her parents divorcing and having to split the responsibility of looking after her younger sister who has particular routines she likes to stick to.

"The Glass Girl" follows Bella who every now and then likes to sneak a drink here and there, just like everyone else around her seems to do. Except as a fifteen year old girl, she doesn't understand what the issue is. Following a hefty incident following drinking, Bella is sent to rehab to heal and learn better coping mechanisms.
We follow Bella through her friendships in rehab, her life during, and her life afterwards too. She has such a certain approach to life as a fifteen year old, and adjusting to "normal life" after proves to be a challenge.

Like others have said, I struggled to really "like" the characters we meet, and even struggled to like Bella through her stoops and triumphs. This girl can't win and her so called friends were frustrating as anything to read about.

I want to thank NetGalley and OneWorld Publications for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel.

Whilst the book was much better than her others, I feel Glasgow doesn't write emotion any deeper than surface-level.

Bella is at breaking point. Everyone in her life needs something from her, and there’s only one thing that dulls the pain. Alcohol smooths the sharp edges and makes it all so much easier. When Bella drinks, she doesn’t feel heartbroken over her ex. Or caught in the middle of her parents’ divorce. Or overcome with grief for her grandmother. But one night changes everything. When she awakes in hospital with no memory of what happened, it’s time to face reality. And for Bella, that means rehab and the bumpy road to recovery.

I absolutely devoured this book, I love the way that Kathleen Glasgow writes and I love the unfiltered honesty of the struggles that Bella is going through. It is harrowing and hard to read at times but it is such an important read to understand that some times you never know what’s going on.

What I enjoy about Kathleen’s books is that although they are dark and harrowing there is a sliver of hope that by the end of the book is beaming. Bella’s recovery also wasn’t linear and I really liked this as most people recovery isn’t linear and it makes Bella feel more real. I have loved every book I’ve read by this author and I can’t wait to read more of her masterpieces!

Kathleen Glasgow is a hugely popular author with my students, many of whom say to me they love that she's so real and honest in her writing. I have no doubt that this new release will just as much as a hit for them.

My second Kathleen Glasgow book did not disappoint. Raw and gritty but immersive and bingeworthy. Really makes you think about life and how easy it is to lose your path. Thoroughly enjoyable read.

Where to start with this review. Bella is a 15 year old girl who often has a drink. She is convinced it isn’t a problem and that nobody knows how much or how often she is drinking. Her boyfriend dumps her and her life seems to spiral. Her parents are divorced and she splits her time between their houses with her little sister Ricci, neither of them can seem to see her downward spiral. After a particularly humiliating party, Bella hiya rock bottom. Her “friends” that she was partying with didn’t want to take her to the ER in case they got into trouble so left her on her mother’s doorstep where she passed out and smacked her face on the concrete step, fracturing her cheekbone. Bella wakes up in hospital and her mother organises for her to go to rehab.

The story is mainly Bella’s experience in rehab, how she feels, how she comes to terms with and accepts she has an alcohol addiction. This book isn’t for the faint hearted but I think it would be a good one for all parents and teenagers to read. Certain parts of it made me question my own parenting of teenagers and how I enabled them, buying alcohol for parties, letting them have a drink at home and how I may have been a catalyst for one of my child’s relationship with alcohol

A beautifully deep portrayal of a young girl reclaiming her life.

I really liked the formatting. Its intriguing & really gives you an insight into Bellas head.
She has a whole lot to deal with but I think she'll manage better now.

*trigger warnings for alcoholism, self harm & death*

Bella's story is definitely hard hitting right away, the darkness was very raw and relatable at times.

I’m sorry, I’ve loved Glasgow’s books previously. Reading her introduction to this on the anniversary of a family member’s suicide reminded me how powerful and upsetting her writing is and I just couldn’t put myself through that.

Her dealing with dark and unimportant issues is handled beautifully in her work, and for me at the moment this would be too much to delve into. I do hope the publication is a success.

Thank you NetGalley and Oneworld Publications for this eCopy to review

I just finished reading The Glass Girl by Kathleen Glasgow, and I have to say, it was quite an emotional journey. From the very first page, I was drawn into Bella’s world—a world filled with pain, struggle, and ultimately, hope.

Bella, is a fifteen-year-old girl grappling with the pressures of her life. Her mum needs her to help around the house, her dad wants her to stay out of trouble, and her ex-boyfriend thinks she’s “too much.” The only person who never demanded anything from her was her grandmother, and now she’s gone. Bella turns to alcohol to numb the pain, thinking she can stop whenever she wants. But after a particularly disastrous night, she ends up in the hospital, and it’s clear she needs help.

The story takes us through Bella’s time in rehab, where she learns to confront her demons and build a new life. The portrayal of her struggles with addiction is raw and unflinching, yet deeply compassionate. Glasgow doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of addiction, but she also shows the strength and resilience it takes to overcome it.

What I appreciated most about this book was its honesty. Bella’s journey is not a straight path to recovery; there are relapses and setbacks, but there are also moments of triumph and growth. The characters are well-developed, and the relationships feel authentic, especially the ones Bella forms with her fellow rehab residents.

Overall, The Glass Girl is a powerful, heart-wrenching read that offers a realistic and hopeful look at the challenges of addiction and recovery.

Bella doesn't really think about why she began drinking. Now at 15, it feels like she has known nothing else. Her drink of choice is Sprodka - a
mix of Sprite and vodka that looks perfectly harmless but takes her where she needs to be at the end of a day.

Bella feels overwhelmed much of the time with her schoolwork, which she used to ace no problem, but now not so much. There is also the loss of her beloved grandmother who she called Laurel. Laurel has been her rock for much of her childhood, and somewhere to go when her parents were fighting... again. Laurel showed her things that her mother should have, and answered any questions she had about life. Much of this was during hours of playing Scrabble together.

Little does Bella know that her own mother had problems connecting with her mother when she was young. Being a world famous photographer, Laurel was more focused on her subjects than her daughter.

But now Laurel has gone and her empty home is now a sanctuary for different reasons - giving Bella somewhere to drink alone and without judgement.

Bella is the one in her group of friends that shoulder taps older guys and woman outside liquor stores for drinks for parties, or just for hanging out. She has developed lots of ways to ensure she always has enough Sprodka to get her through her days.

But her drinking is beginning to cause problems in school, and amongst her friends, as her behaviour becomes more erratic. She's already lost her boyfriend, and his words..."too much" are practically tattooed on her brain.

She is famous among her peers for her 'freak out' at a party one night, and with her grief over Laurel, her loss of her boyfriend and her schoolwork spiraling downwards faster than she can fix it, she tries to forget it all with even more alcohol at another party.

The fallout terrifies her friends, family and even her ex, and Bella is forcibly put on a path of recovery. She meets others who have been where she is, and she begins to find her way back to her past self. But it's incredibly difficult, painful and a path that must include putting herself first, before her parents, her teachers and even a possible new love.

The path is full of traps, holes and is a rocky one, but every failure makes her stronger.


At first it was hard to read (watch) Bella's self destruction. She is so smashed up inside with the loss of loved ones, her good school grades and even self respect. Pile on her parent's divorce and the endless push pull between them and Bella's suffering is so real on the page.

It never dawns on her that it's possible to be an alcoholic at only 15, but the more that goes wrong, the more she has to drown with alcohol to keep sane. The more I read, the closer I felt to Bella. It was as if I wasn't looking through a window or screen to Bella's life any longer  (like when I first began reading) but standing with her, in her pain.

Kathleen Glasgow does this to me every time - showing me young lives that shouldn't be hurting so badly. That shouldn't be going through things even tough for adults. But of course there are, and I feel for them every time I read a new Glasgow novel.

There is a very personal note from the author in the front of the novel, and this time I wanted not only to hug the characters, but the author too.

A little dark, but really quite good. Thank you to the writer, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to review this book.

This is a good YA book that describes the dangers of any addiction but, more particularly in the case of Bella - drinking.

Bella and her little sister Raffi live between homes since their parents acrimonious divorce. Bella is struggling to stay afloat emotionally as her parents argue, criticise and scream at each other while using Bella as a GP between and ersatz carer for Raffi. As Bella tries juggle caring for her sister, schoolwork, adjudicating her parents fights, she is also suffering grief from the loss of her beloved grandmother, Laurel, and the disintegration of her relationship with boyfriend Dylan.

She uses alcohol to "disappear" and numb the pain but it soon becomes apparent to everyone but Bella that it is taking over her life. One night everything comes to a head when Bella ends up in hospital then rehab.

This is a well written and thoughtful book about the destructive effect addiction can have plus the power that it has over the lives of those unable to say no. Bella has a steep learning curve which is masked during rehab. The part of the book I liked best was when she returns to her life and learns who her real friends are and how easy it is to slip back into self-abusive ways.

I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone. Despite the YA tag it could apply to any age. A salutory tale with a clear message without preaching.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Oneworld Publications for the advance review copy.

This was darker than previous books - at times I found it difficult to read however it was really good . You evoked emotions that I haven’t had before from a book . The rawness of being out of control turning to alcohol , that moment where you have endangered yourself and it’s that moment where you realise something has to give … superb !!

This is the best book I've read in quite some time. I've had really bad luck when it's come to what I've read lately, but I think that this may have pulled me out of a painfully long slump. I've never read a Kathleen Glasgow book before so I had no idea what to expect, but after finishing this one, I think I may have to back track and look into her previous ones. She has clearly taken so much care when it came to telling this story for such a young main character, and it never felt like an ignorant portrayal when I was reading.

Make sure to look up trigger warnings as I never!

4.5

"The Glass Girl" by Kathleen Glasgow is a beautifully written and emotionally gripping novel that tackles the complexities of addiction with empathy and authenticity. Glasgow's storytelling is raw and powerful, capturing the harrowing reality of addiction while also shedding light on the resilience and strength it takes to fight one's demons. The protagonist is intricately drawn, a character whose struggles and vulnerabilities are portrayed with such honesty that you can't help but root for her every step of the way. Glasgow does an exceptional job of balancing the darkness of addiction with moments of hope and redemption, making this novel not only a compelling read but also an important one. The prose is lyrical and haunting, drawing readers into a world that is both painful and profoundly human. "The Glass Girl" is a must-read for anyone who appreciates a story that is both heart-wrenching and ultimately uplifting, offering a moving exploration of the human spirit's capacity to heal and recover.

Stunning. Heartbreaking. Honest.
Right from the introduction, I got the feeling that this may be less fictional than first thought. By no means is this an easy read, but it's absolutely worth every moment.

Alcohol is one of those things that can sneak up on you, much more so than drug use or a few extra painkillers than you strictly need. It starts small and casual but before you know it, it's all you can think of and complete second nature to reach for a drink at any and all hours. Even identifying that you have a problem is an uphill battle but recovery is a seemingly insurmountable beast.

The Glass Girl tells a perfect and authentic feeling tale about one of the most pervasive addictions someone can go through, made even worse by having it happen at such a young age. I really felt deeply for Bella, it's been a long time since I've connected so intensely with a fictional character. From the reasons she lost herself in drinking, to almost dying after overdoing it and embarrassing herself at a party... I can't blame her for a single second, it all felt so real.

A rare 5/5 stars, no notes. I'd even love a small follow up novella to check in on Bella a few years later and see how things turned out.

Thank you, NetGalley & Rock the Boat for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Kathleen, you've done it again. My face was red from tears as I approached the ending - all from one bloody letter. And honestly, it might've been the best-structured ending of her solo work so far.

My only criticism of the book focuses mostly on the dry start of the story - which is something that seems to happen in every single one of her books (excluding The Agathas since I haven't read them yet). Up until the 30% mark I didn't like Bella, nor did I care about her story. I'm not someone who has ever had to deal with addiction and her pre-rehab days left me feeling close to nothing. But once she started her recovery journey, and I began to understand her as a character more, my attachment grew seemingly overnight. She was such a loving and caring kid, who had to deal with so much pain, and stress, and loss - it's no wonder she tried to detach from her problems in a way that, at first, seemed like a normal outlet.

The rehab arc made it so clear how different she was compared to some of the rest. How good of a kid she was... I'm not even surprised that when two others tried to destroy all of her progress I wanted to throw my book across the room. I wanted her to be well, to be able to control her life, to grow. But those kinds of destructive characters were needed to showcase the journey of an addict, that relapses could happen for reasons out of your control, even when you are trying your best to fight every living second for a better life.

Her relationships with other characters - her mother, grandmother, sister, and Vanessa - were beautifully developed, but the one that will stay with me the most will definitely be the complexity of her relationship with her dad.

I am so proud of Bella for who she became at the end of the story. For the boundaries she set, unapologetically. Which feels a bit weird to say, I know, but, as Kathleen always does in her emotional works, she's way too real to see her as anything other than a real living person.

The first part of this book dragged and wasn't particularly engaging. I almost didn't finish it. However it did pick up and turned into something rather sad and thought provoking.

A raw and heart-wrenching novel about teenage addiction. Bella, a 15-year-old dealing with school pressures, family issues, and the loss of her grandmother, turns to alcohol to cope. After a life-changing night, she ends up in rehab.

Bella's journey through rehab and her struggle to return to normal life are compelling and relatable. The characters are well-developed, especially Bella, who is vulnerable yet resilient.

A thought-provoking read that encourages important conversations about mental health and substance abuse.