I absolutely loved this book!! The free verse along with the hard hitting topic just worked so well and I loved hearing the story from two different points of view. This book is heartbreakingly sad but so powerful. Needs to be in every school library up and down the country as something for everyone to learn after reading this.

A stunning book, written with such care. As a reader you’re thrown in right from the start. What a privilege to have been on this heartbreaking emotional rollercoaster of a novel. Highly recommend

'Handle With Care' is a hard-hitting and heart-rending YA novel which begins when 16-year-old Ruby gives birth in her Year 11 history lesson, despite having no idea that she is pregnant. The novel alternates between the perspectives of Ruby as she navigates the aftermath of this traumatic birth alongside her unsupportive mother, and Ruby's best friend Ashley who does her best to be there for Ruby in spite of a secret about the baby's father which will ruin their friendship if Ashley ever discovers it. Ashley's chapters are written in prose while Ruby's are written in verse (similar to Louisa Reid's previous books), a contrast which is effective.

Although Ruby's cryptic pregnancy is the inciting incident of this novel, it is really about friendship, mental health and loneliness, as Ruby becomes increasingly isolated and vulnerable. This is quite a bleak read in many respects, and its ending may be controversial with some readers, but it does convey an important message to young people about seeking help if you are feeling alone and helpless, so might be a valuable read for some students in Year 9 upwards. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me an ARC to review.

Handle With Care by Louisa Reid is a deeply moving and thought-provoking novel that tackles themes of love, resilience, and the struggles of living with chronic illness. Reid's evocative writing captures the emotional complexities of her characters, particularly the protagonist who faces not only physical challenges but also societal judgment. The novel beautifully explores the strength required to navigate both personal relationships and the often harsh realities of the world around us. Handle With Care is an emotional rollercoaster that combines heartfelt moments with a powerful message about acceptance and perseverance, making it a compelling and empathetic read that stays with you long after you’ve finished.

Such a poignant and powerful novel about teen pregnancy and it’s consequences that resonated with me as I was a teen mom myself.

This book made me cry! It's subject matter is too mature for primary but I think it would provide a lot of discussion for older secondary children. This book covers topics like teen pregnancy and the role social media can play in targeting young women. It also looks at adoption and mental health. The relationship between Ruby and her mother is a very uncomfortable read. Her mother is disappointed in with Ruby for getting pregnant and "ruining her life, like she did." She tells Ruby that Ruby stopped her from being successful and she didn't want Ruby to make the same mistake. She pressures Ruby into giving up her baby for adoption while she is still in shock after unexpectedly giving birth. It is hard to see how Ruby's mother doesn't recognise how Ruby is feeling and the fact that she is really struggling with the decision to give up her baby. On the flip side, the other narrator in the book, Ashley (Ruby's best friend), is struggling with the fact that Ruby's baby comes to live with her family. She loves the baby but it has caused so much pain and upheaval within her family and with her relationship with Ruby. Her family don't really want Ruby around and everyone is so focused on the baby that they lose sight of Ruby. The ending is so hard and I would definitely say that anyone who plans to use this book with teens and young adults, must read the book all the way through before they use it in a classroom. It is definitely a book that is thought provoking and one which stays in your mind after you finish reading it.

Her best work yet!
5 fantastic stars for every page of this beauty. A great mix of writing plus her wonderful free verse it really makes a quick but extremely powerful read. I honestly felt every single emotion.
Would highly recommend!

Louisa Reid writes teenagers flawlessly and this, combined with her use of verse and style, makes her books so powerful. She really knows teenagers, understands their world and empathises with the issues they face.
Handle with Care is an absolute stunner. Brutal, unflinching, heartfelt and beautiful, it shows us what can go wrong when a teenager is left unsupported.

This was both a tough and an emotional read.

It is narrated by two teenage girls who are best friends, Ruby and Ash.

When Ruby starts to moan in pain in history class Ash is the first to go to her and to ask for the nurse to be called. However it is very quickly evident that Ruby is actually giving birth which raises many questions.

Ruby signs adoption papers quite quickly but things don't go back to normal as she had hoped. She is the subject of rumours, teasing and the video in the history class being shared. Everyone is also constantly asking her who the father is much to her dismay.

Her "perfect" family try to "help" but her mum just becomes more distant and cold. This isn't helped when Ash is no longer there for her as she is becoming sick of Ruby's attitude.

This is an emotional story which shows that some things in life aren't easily forgotten about and they aren't always nicely summed up.

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc of this book.

THIS BOOK! An eye-opening and utterly heartwrenching story about teenage pregnancy and how easy it is to fail a young person no matter how close you may be to them. Louisa Reid is an incredible writer, uncovering the deepest of human emotions in all their rawness and putting them into words so beautifully. This story is so moving that it took me ages to even begin writing this review. So much to reflect on. This is one that will stay with readers for a long, long time.

Ruby and Ash are best friends. They’ll always have each other’s back, whatever happens, so when Ruby starts moaning and doubling over in pain in the middle of history, Ash is there to hold her hand and shout for the nurse. When it becomes apparent that Ruby is, impossibly, giving birth, Ash keeps her head and empties the room as Ruby’s tiny baby is born.
What follows is shock, accusation, denial, and pain. Before long Ruby is signing adoption papers, but life doesn’t return to normal. Anything but. She is the subject of gossip, memes (yes, they filmed her trauma), derision, and endless, endless questions about who the father is.
Ash’s perfect family steps in to “help”, while Ruby’s mother becomes colder and harder. Soon Ruby is living a nightmare existence and her best friend is getting sick of her attitude. Compassion, it seems, comes with an expiry date.
No spoilers, but Handle with Care is a masterclass in how what we do affects others, and how taking responsibility isn’t always enough. The main characters are living, breathing, people with complex inner lives and motives. There are no neat answers here, where what is best isn’t always the best thing to do.
Heartbreaking, important, compassionate - phenomenal.

A strong YA novel about teenage pregnancy and friendship, this book is powerfully written with well-drawn, complex characters that step off the page. The ending is gut wrenching and shows you how much you’re invested in the characters as a reader. I loved the two different perspectives and how differently they were written.

Definitely one to recommend to YA lovers.

This is such a powerful novel about teen pregnancy, friendship, and family. Louisa Reid explores the consequences of shame and lack of support for teenage mothers with compassion and honesty, making for a truly heartbreaking ending. I loved the writing style and the dual POV alternating between verse and prose. Looking forward to reading what Reid writes next.

I’ve just finished reading this and felt compelled to come on to write a review straight away. I love verse novels and always enjoy Louisa Reid’s books - and this one did not disappoint. I loved the different forms for the two main protagonists and enjoyed reading how their relationship developed throughout the difficulties that they experienced. I found the topic of this absolutely heart breaking, especially the ending. I’ll definitely be recommending to my students

Handle with Care is an incredibly powerful and poignant novel. Ruby's story is one that I don't think has been explored enough in YA literature but one that definitely needs to be spoken more about. Throughout the novel, it was impossible not to feel for both the leads - Ruby and Ashley - and it's safe to say that this book will devastate you in the best of ways.

Handle With Care is about family, friendship and teenage pregnancy. Powerful writing at its very best, it's left me in pieces!!
Handle With Care is filled with raw emotions captured so vividly, so actutely and so sensitively. Wow!
Emma Perry

Such a poignant and powerful novel about teen pregnancy and it’s consequences that will resonate with young readers.