I am a big fan of Barnard's work and this was no exception! A very cute love story, and nice to see a more diverse take on it.

This was a very sweet story which I will remember for a while. A few months ago I read The Problem With Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout, which was about a girl who had trouble speaking caused by trauma during an abusive childhood. That was when I realised the explosive power that rested in a story covering the topic of speech and the deep hold it had for me as a reader. As a naturally quiet person, as I am sure many readers are, I engaged with some of the mania and the injustice that shakes a character who is unable to express themselves through speech. Sara Barnard's heroine, Steffi, is diagnosed as a selective mute with social anxiety. She begins the novel in silent but courageous agony against the mean girls, which was when I knew I was going immerse myself in her world.

The author's writing flows very easily, her characters blossoming effortlessly that I had trouble switching off the kindle. You know you have a winner when you're reaching for the book with just 5 empty minutes to fill. In fact, this book stole my attention from another, one that I was anticipating for a few months.

The MCs clicked well. Steffi is introduced to Rhys, a new student who is also deaf. She has been asked to look after him as she had some basic knowledge of sign language. They are immediately drawn to each other. Their romance isn't as powerful as many of the current YAs out there, and especially if I am comparing it to The Problem with Forever. It was sweet and sensitive.

He thinks you're sunshine.

Rhys is certainly an appealing, mature and witty love interest. The story focuses on happens after they share their first kiss and how they navigate themselves through a world that is clearly against their condition. When things get tough Steffi finds herself being pulled back into a internal wormhole that she suffers during the darker days of her uncontrollable silence. This book is about her being able to find light to pull herself out and the power of love certainly contributed.

Steffi and Rhys' relationship wasn't about finding a cure for Steffi, but more about two young hearts against the world as it would be for any pair strong willed teenagers whether they are deaf, mute or not.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to read and review this book.

After losing and replacing my broken Kindle and getting a new phone I was unable to download the title again for review as it was no longer available on Netgalley.

I’m really sorry about this and hope that it won’t affect you allowing me to read and review your titles in the future.

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.
Natalie.

This book just wasn’t for me, the writing style and me just didn’t mix but I can see how this would be enjoyable for many others

I enjoyed this a lot, I found learning about sign language and selective mutism and Deafness interesting. I enjoyed it less than her previous book but it is still excellent

This is a brilliant read and has moved onto the list of books I recommended to adults who dismiss YA as "not for them". Words aren't always the loudest way to talk.

Book Review:

Sara Barnard is an author who is highly praised by many in the UKYA community so when everyone was raving about her books, I was really excited to read one of her books but I was a little bit disappointed with this one but I would love to read more of her books in the future.

I can't really put my finger on why I disliked this book but I guess that maybe it was partly to do with the hype around her as an author that I was a little disappointed by this but it could also be the drama that happens in the book. It did just feel like Steffi and Rhys had so much drama in the story that I just kind of wanted them to be happy and it did just seem really petty at times.

I did, however, love Steffi and Rhys as character and especially do love that the way that book is really diverse so featuring Steffi's anxiety and muteness and Rhys's deafness as this is not something that I tend to read so this was really good for me and make up for the other aspects that I didn't really like.

The Verdict:

A Quiet Kind of Thunder is an enjoyable YA that has diverse characters that I am sure more people will love it was just not for me.

A lovely romance with a sweet and realistic teen couple who forge a heartfelt connection linked by their own unique circumstances. Lovely and emotional, it casts disability in a positive and affirming light that is much needed in the YA scene.

First, let's appreciate and look at this cover. I mean it doesn't do any justice on a computer screen when you look and feel it in your hands, that it's embossed and everything and not just on the outside either, the beauty continues to the inside and every page after that until the end. THIS BOOK people, THIS book, this is what it's all about right now, especially when you meet Rhys and Steffi! You will just melt and be completely mesmerised by their relationship.

Steffi is a selective mute, or as shes says it "I'm a natural introvert with severe social anxiety and a shyness that is basically pathalogical." But when she was little, her shyness manifested into her mutism, you can only really know it though only if she's at school with people she's not familiar with, or strangers on the street, that's where the selectiveness comes in. As she enters 6th Form without her best friend Tem, she is approached by the head and introduced to a boy named Rhys. He's deaf and the only communication they know and use is BSL, British Sign Language and this is where their story begins...

Steffi and Rhys just clicked, maybe it started with their shared BSL communication, maybe that was the way to open a lock between both of their hearts, but I think as they got to know each other more, they found themselves becoming stronger individually, they did depend on each other for that strength but it also gave them the inspiration to try new things and to go outside of their comfort zone. What I loved about them was that they aren't so different from everyone else. We treat them that way, we label them that way, there BSL separates them from people, they distant themselves instantly from the real world. But what's really inspiring is in BSL itself, it's a language, just like french and Spanish, you learn it, you say it, you develop into something beautiful. Steffi and Rhys might stand out from others because they might have something less, but what they do still have is a voice to be heard and seen. All they need is a little guidance and encouragement so they can do just about anything and that's their relationship, finding a life's path and finding each other.

Steffi and Rhys is a set of characters that is unlike anything I've ever read in a long time. Their relationship begins the moment they sign hello to each other. It's a communication that isn't explored enough or the fact that it's only really used to a selective group of people. I know a bit of sign language, my mum works with special needs and has loads of books on it. I used to read them and practice myself. Using your hands to convey and interpret your life, your meaning is such a touching and almost awe-like expression to have between two people or a group. But putting such a unique communication style into a romance, contemporary novel like this, is just simply beautiful especially with two persona's as Steffi and Rhys.

Meeting Miss Barnard 2 times this year in different events, I really got the sense for her book event after reading it. I saw the research, her inspiration for this novel come through like a lightening strike. I read Beautiful Broken Things when it first came out and I really enjoyed it, but for me, this is Sara's best book to date. Read it please. It's as beautiful on the outside as it is in...

Rating - 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Book featured here - https://youtu.be/vujuv5EPkiU

This is a quiet kind of book. No pacy plot, no exciting cliffhangers, just a gentle story of two young people and their developing relationship. And I absolutely loved it. In some ways it reminded me of Jojo Moyes' Me Before You, although the story is completely different, there is a similar feel to the writing style. Steffi is a great central character, her problems with anxiety are really well described and it is easy to understand how she feels and why she acts as she does. Her relationships with Rhys, her best friend Tem, and her family, are what drive the novel. It is the kind of book where, when the story ends, you don't want to say goodbye to the characters. Always the sign of a good book!

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

This was the first book I read this year, but still it's taken me until the middle of April to write a review, whoops. However, that has nothing to do with the book, rather with how crap I've been at the moment with reviews. I hadn't read Sara's debut book, but had heard fantastic things about it, and her second book seemed right up my street, and it honestly blew me away as I was reading it.

In A Quiet Kind of Thunder, our main character, Steffi, has been unable to talk to people she isn't intimately comfortable with, for as long as she can remember. One day, she just stopped speaking to others, and no one has been able to work out why. She's starting sixth form, with the issue of new people, and having more pressure to talk than ever before. However, it is at her old school, and there's still people who are aware of her difficulties. When one of the new students is revealed to be deaf, she is asked to be his guide, as the only other person in the school who knows sign language, no mater how basic her knowledge is. As Rhys begins to help Steffi learn more with her sign language, and she helps him with navigate his way around sixth form, they grow closer, and soon depend on each other more than anything.

This book was so good! As soon as I picked it up, I knew that I would enjoy it. From the start, I loved Steffi, and how strong she is, even when she doesn't want to be. Barnard must have research the book well, as nothing felt off, or wrong, though I can't know for certain, having never dealt with anything like this. The relationship between Steffi and Rhys, though a large part of the book, wasn't all of it, and we saw more of Steffi's own recovery, and journey, rather than her being 'fixed', or whatever, because she's now in a relationship with someone.

I enjoyed reading about both the main characters, and learning more about selective mutism, social anxiety, and deafness. Everything about the book seemed to be needed, and there weren't really any parts of the story that were unnecessary. Yes, there are both cutesy and angsty bits in the book, that could rip you apart as you're reading, but, to be honest, it made the book more enjoyable. I definitely think I'll be picking up Barnard's debut shortly.

2.5 stars

Steffi struggles with selective mutism and panic attacks but this year is going to be different - this year Steffi must try to speak more to prove to her parents that she will be able to cope with university.
Then Steffi meets Rhys who is a new student and deaf. Assigned to look after Rhys, Steffi uses her limited sign language to talk to him.
Steffi and Rhys soon grow close, but can they have a future together?

So far it seems to be a theme with Sara Barnard's books that I'm slightly, well, underwhelmed after reading them.
Obviously, I found it interesting that A Quiet Kind of Thunder was about a selective mute and someone that was deaf, but that was really the best part of the book for me.
For the most part I liked Steffi. I felt sorry for her - having selective mutism for most of her life must have been really hard.
Rhys was okay but he annoyed me at times.
I liked Tem and Steffi's relationship with her.
The plot was alright but I predicted certain things that happened and lost interest a few times.
I wasn't a huge fan of the romance but I thought Steffi and Rhys were cute together.

Overall this was okay read.

Just what I needed, something nice and easy to read.

Two main characters, one deaf, one with severe anxiety and selective muteism. I would like to learn BSL, have been thinking about it for a while but courses are really expensive but there are free beginner things online. A little bit predictable but enjoyable nonetheless.

I read this from cover to cover (well, kindle cover to cover) in one sitting. I had to find out what happened and I now desperately need a sequel!

Sorry for the late upload!!!!!! I posted this 2 months ago!!

Sara Barnard has created a beautiful and compelling story about a young girls struggle with anxiety and mutism.

Steffi battled everyday with herself to try and speak but words would mostly only flow when she was with family or her best friend. Even in school the words seemed to get lost.

I'm a very shy person and have been called a "homebody" because I prefer my books to most human interaction (I'm sure I'm not the only one out there lol), so I could relate to Steffi's stress and anxiety about people and doing things out of the comfort zone. I really felt for her.

I really loved watching Steffi come out of her shell. After she met Rhys she just seems to grow and blossom.

I look forward to reading more of Sara Barnard's work

Oh my golly gosh my head is EVERYWHERE right now! I knew I would like Sara Barnard's second book, because I loved 'Beautiful Broken Things' so much. But I wasn't necessarily expecting it to blow me away, WHICH IT DID. I actually liked this book a lot more than Barnard's debut, and I never expected to say I'd prefer a book about romance over friendship in my entire life! BUT I TOTALLY SHIP IT! It turns out that Barnard is more than adept at both types of story, as well as having a complete and utter mastery of putting things into words that most people (myself included) find difficult to describe or explain to other people.

Wow, so where to begin on the plus points? Well firstly, this book is just so DIVERSE. I squealed with delight every time Barnard got it right, with a mixed race love interest (Who is also deaf! Everyone give Barnard a round of applause for being one of the few authors to remember that not everyone is white, able and straight) and black best friend, AND an MC who is suffering from a debilitating mental illness that I myself completely get. Because it's me, daily. I don't have it quite as badly as Steffi does: I very rarely find myself able to actually get words out (though sometimes those words are stupid, make no sense and are accompanied by an extreme amount of nervous laughter). But I do worry a lot. I hold back from saying things because I assume/worry that what I have to say won't matter. Social situations REALLY drain me. To find a character that I understand, relate to AND represents me in so many ways made me actually cry and I am indebted to Barnard for being one of the few who tries to do so.

Everything that happened in this book made me squeal. Because not only did Barnard make it diverse, she focused really well on actual teenage issues: university, the first time EVERYTHING (not just sex, and by the way Barnard does a REALLY great job at making that stuff as confusing and messy and awkward as it most certainly can be in real life. You won't find any flowery mush here, and certainly no fireworks), the uncertainty of the future, parental relationships, girl and boy FRIENDSHIPS, and lots more besides. She gives lists that I totally adored and made the message of the book more poignant and I loved Rhys' vulnerability too because most book boyfriends are strong and sure. Rhys was adorable, fun and just as new to everything. If I had to find fault with this book, I would say that Barnard may not have exactly known the best way to end it and it felt a little cut off. But it was still a sweet ending and these are characters I have 100% fallen for. Every teen needs to read this book ASAP, and I honestly think a lot of adults do too.

Thank you to netgalley and Pan Macmillan for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. As a disclaimer, I'm not differently abled and if something in this post isn't worded in a good way please let me know and I will endeavour to put my point across in a much better way.

This book follows the growing relationship between a girl who is selectively mute and a boy who is deaf. They communicate using basic sign language and their relationship gives them the outlet for the words they couldn't previously say.

This book is so wonderful, it was so nice to read a story that was basically your classic summer beach romance but with people who had disabilities and mental health problems. It reminds kids that just because you have a disability doesn't mean you can't have a teen romance.

I just really enjoyed the way this book was written through not only the sign language but also texts and IMs. You really got to fall in love with the characters as the story went on. There were some adorable moments, some laugh out loud moments, it was just so nice. The dialogue throughout was so believable, despite misunderstandings whether it be through the sign language or misread lips, it all just read so well.

Not only did I adore Rhys and Steffi, but Bernard created a wonderful ensemble of characters. Steffi's best friend, Tem, was so loyal and is there for Steffi on days when she doesn't feel like even talking to her. She jut speaks and fills the silence and doesn't expect anything of Steffi. On top of all that she's POC and we all love diversity in books!

The relationships with all sets of parents are so well written and interesting to read, and Rhys' relationships with kids he knew from the school he went to specifically for children who are deaf was so good to read because it is so important to have people who understand things you go through.

One thing that was an issue for me reading this was that I was reading a kindle ARC and I found the sign language confusing because the formatting was hard to understand who was talking to who and I just hope in the full copy it's a bit easier to read.

I loved A Quiet Kind of Thunder! Steffi is a selective mute and has major social anxiety. Rhys is the new boy in sixth form. He’s deaf and is assigned to Steffi who has a limited knowledge of BSL. So begins a delightful friendship that blossoms into more. Steffi and Rhys are well developed characters; I felt like I knew Steffi inside and out. The descriptions of social anxiety were honest and raw; having experienced similar myself I can attest to the heart pounding fear and doubt that Steffi deals with. It’s not the only subject the author tackles- first love, loss, the highs and lows of friendship, sex and independence are all dealt with in a realistic way. Yes, there are some soppy parts, but who doesn’t love a happy ending?!