As a long-time fan of Jacqueline Wilson, I first read the “girls” series as a teenager myself and it was so lovely to return to their world and see them at this new stage of their life. This is definitely not for children and contains mature themes, but perfect for adults who enjoyed the series as teenagers (I am definitely the target market for this book). As always, Jacqueline Wilson delivers a book that deals with a range of real-life issues in a very relatable way. I would definitely recommend to all grown-up girls who enjoyed the original series.

Ellie Allard from Jacqueline Wilson's GIRLS series was one of the first characters I ever fully saw myself in. So when I saw that Jacqueline Wilson was releasing a sequel to the series - an ADULT sequel nonetheless - I just knew I had to get my hands on it.

Ellie Allard - our protagonist from the girls series - has just turned 40. She has a beautiful daughter, a nice flat that she's put together entirely on her own, a job as an art teacher, a recurring comic strip in the Guardian, and of course, a lovely little cat called Stella. But things aren't quite working out for Ellie the way she imagined it. She still has her friends Nadine and Magda, but they can never quite find the time for each other, her daughter is always away at university, and, just before her 40th birthday gathering, the Guardian cancels her comic strip.

The novel follows Ellie's life as she tries to navigate lots of new life changes - a new romance from a familiar face from her past, a new friend she meets on the morning of her fortieth birthday, a new idea for a graphic novel as she struggles to think of ways to stay relevant artistically, and new life challenges with Nadine and Magda. I loved seeing Ellie work through these new changes and see her development into an even stronger woman who knows her own mind and knows what she wants. I was so rooting for her particularly as she reflects on what it is she wants out of men and relationships.

As well as Ellie's life, it was so lovely to catch glimpses of the lives of some of the other characters from the Girls series. Ellie's family are all here, plus a few other faces from her past, and there are references abound to not only the nostalgia of Ellie's teenage years, but little easter eggs of Wilson's other works - which made me kick my feet like a little kid every time I spotted one! Nostalgia is actually such a fitting word for this book actually, despite its signature darker themes, the book feels nostalgic in all the best ways, a big warm hug of a read. I won't spoil the ending, but omg, the ENDING! I had been rooting for what happened in the ending pretty much from the moment the book started.

Ugh, this book. This BOOK, man. It is every inch the Jacqueline Wilson book - intensely readable and full of joy, so much so, that I read the whole thing in about six hours and stayed up till 2:30 am because I just HAD to finish it.

If I had any criticism at all, it's that the ending felt a bit quick and I would have loved a bit more of a conclusion to some of the plot threads as some of them felt like they finished too quickly and without a full resolution, but I am also deluding myself into thinking that was done on purpose for a possible sequel. But it could also be because I didn't want the story to end and I could happily read another sequel on Ellie (PLEASE) or even a spin off focusing on some of the other characters (PLEASE!)

In conclusion, I had the best time with this book. THANK YOU to NetGalley for the e-ARC and making my absolute day, week, MONTH. I preordered the signed edition so I am so excited to receive that and read it all over again!

Such a delight! For those who loved Jacqueline Wilson, this return to the Girls series in Ellie's voice was so heartwarming and nostalgic. I'd so recommend it to anyone raised by Jacqueline Wilson in the 90s and noughties. I won't say more as I'd rather not ruin it!

Thanks as always to NetGalley and the publisher.