Worst. Holiday. Ever

I loved this book. Stan’s family are very conservative. Mum is protective, they are not well off, and as a consequence Stan’s life experience is very limited. This changes when he goes on holiday to Italy with his friend’s family.
Stan writes endless lists of things not to do, to be aware of, to stay away from, listing all the food he won’t touch, all the activities he wouldn’t consider, thinking this helps his anxiety. It certainly helps the reader to see the extent of his obsessions. However, much on these lists has to be crossed off when he finds himself in circumstances he never would have chosen, but finds it impossible to escape from. But ‘the fear of it was worse than the actual cold water’ and Stan discovers that without trying new experiences he can’t know if he will enjoy them or not.
He manages to overcome many fears and helps others in the process. He realises what adults know that – ‘Adults aren’t really any more sorted out than us kids’, although children never think this whilst young.
This book is about family life. There is no such thing as a perfect family. Each unit blunders through in their own way and Stan discovers this is normal. It’s a book about being brave and taking charge of your own life, and the humour mixed with the empathy is a perfect mix.

Stan is a list maker- creating lists of reasons not to holiday with Felix, adventures to avoid and fears and worries.

Finding himself actually having to confront some of his fears, this might actually be the summer that Stan grows up.

Having been invited by Felix to spend 2 weeks at his villa in Spain, Stan is worried about the travel, the food, the marine life, and being away from his parents, especially when his Mum tells him that his Dad is in hospital and needs surgery on his heart.
With definite ups and downs to the holiday, it is uncertain whether Stan and Felix’s friendship will survive 2 weeks together. They barely speak, they fight, the ignore each other- not great signs for a good friendship.
Staying in the villa are a multitude of family members and friends of Felix’s parents, Shy Stan must overcome his shyness and mingle.
The ups to the holiday for Stan are meeting Jess, trying and liking new foods and enjoying the freedom of not having his parents there.

A great book, perfect for 12+ I would think.