THE WORLD

For a book that is set in the real world I wouldn’t normally have that much, if anything, to say about the world building. I usually focus more on world building in fantasy or sci-fi books. However, in this book, the world and the setting played such an important role in the story. Anderson uses the weather and open spaces and burnt down houses and snowy abandoned places to set the tone and the feeling for most of the book. It was as if the setting itself was a kind of character that shifted and changed with the characters and their stories.

THE CHARACTERS

There are quite a few characters in this novel, which surprised me, but I’m only going to talk about two: Jack and Ava.

Jack Dahl:

Jack is the main protagonist of this story. Even when we see things from Ava’s point of view, or the point of view of another character, the focus is always on Jack. Jack cares, that’s one of the first things that stood out to me about his character. He cares about his family, and in particular his younger brother Matty. He spends most of the book making decisions to protect his brother and to make sure his brother is safe and cared for. He’s a great protagonist for a story like this because he doesn’t feel cold or detached, he feels like a real person.

Ava:

Ava is the other protagonist of the story. The story is really about the collision between Jack and Ava and their parents, as both of their parents were involved in a crime years before the book starts and Ava’s dad wants the money that Jack’s dad stole. It took me a couple of chapters to realise that each chapter starts with a first person POV moment from Ava, looking back on the events of the book. This was a really cool way to get to know her character as without these she is just a bit of a mystery in the main story.

THE PLOT

On the surface, the plot of this book is simple. Jack’s mother commits suicide at the start of the book and to try and protect and save his younger brother Matty, Jack decides to search for the money he knows his dad stole years before. This gets him in a lot of trouble. But, there is so much more to the story than that.

This is a story that really explores both Jack’s story as he tries to find the money, but also things like trust, love, human connection. The writing was gorgeous once I got used to it, and so immersive. I really enjoyed reading it.

WHY IT WAS A 4-STAR READ FOR ME

Honestly, because I was confused at first. The way the story is told (in third person narrative chapters) meant it took me a little bit of time to figure out whose point of view I was reading from in the beginning. There was a lot of information given without background info. that made me have to re-read chapters to see if I had missed anything. Once I got used to the writing style I actually really enjoyed it because the writing itself is beautiful and the characters are so relatable and human. It just took me a while to get there.

The only other reason is the ending. I won’t spoil it, but… I was kind of confused. I don’t know if that was deliberate or not, but I’m not a fan of ambiguous endings like this one. I kind of hope there is a second book so that the ending can be explained.

What I would say about this book (which is not a reason that it was a 4-star read for me) is that there are a lot of trigger warnings you should be aware of before reading it. There’s suicide, murder, drug dealing, torture (of a kind), violence and stalking. Despite all of these, I think they are really well handled in the book and written very well and I would still highly recommend this book, especially if you love thrillers.

The tale of Jack, Matty, and Ava tugs on the heart with all they go through. I loved the role family plays in this book. Whether it’s obligation, love, distrust, deceit, or evil, the family theme is the backbone of the story.

The story is darker than I expected. I would recommend you check out the content warnings before you begin reading.

What Beauty There Is will leave your heart bruised. The story is compelling from the opening pages.

You would never guess this is the author’s debut novel. She tells the story of Jack & Ava, connected by a great evil.

Jack desperately wants to keep his younger brother from foster care and Ava is trying to find the courage to stand up to her father’s over-bearing ways.

From start to finish, their story will hold your heart captive.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in an intense, character-driven tale of young adults.

4.75 stars

First up this book could do with one heck of a trigger warning. There wasn’t one in the ARC so I don’t know if there is one in the finished copy.

TW for suicide, addiction, violence, murder.

This book gets straight into the dark stuff and it keeps on piling although there are periods of quiet respite. It is a gritty depiction of the ugly sides of life and it feels authentic in its rawness. I can see this one winning prizes!

Each chapter starts off with Ava’s voice, speaking from the end of the story, adding weight to our foreboding, as an example the end of her part in chapter two says ‘We knew each other nine days.’

The rest of the chapters are close third person, mainly from Jack’s POV but also from the antagonist and a cop.

The three children, teenagers Jack and Ava, and Jack’s younger brother Matty are definitely victims of their circumstances - all born into families that mean they do not have a head start at life. Two quotes that struck me were:

“He lay in the dark and the blue, and he wished for a more beautiful world than there was.”

“You can’t just tell people they’re the master of their fate and let them believe it. They’ll think they’ve done something wrong their entire life.”

Those reflect how much this book makes your heart bleed for these characters. But they do find beauty in each other and it’s their relationships - the tender love between the brothers, the youngest looking to the eldest for protection; and the blossoming feelings between Ava and Jack. There is a hint of instant attraction between them but it is the kindness they show each other that has you rooting for this pair of starcrossed lovers. There are definite echoes of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet in their tale, which swaps Verona for Idaho.

The wintery snowy landscape adds to the atmosphere of the story - with the constrast between its barrenness and beauty reflecting the characters’ experiences.

Anderson’s prose is beautiful. This book has a very lyrical feel which plays against the brutality in the story.

Book 1 will shatter you. According to goodreads a book 2 is planned and some healing is definitely needed. I’m certainly not ready to let these characters go.

Thanks you to @TheWriteReads and the publisher for the gifted ARC for the purposes of an honest review.

Set to be a big thriller for YA/teenage readers, What Beauty Is, is dark and full of twists that would capture and engage older teens. It's subject matters of loss and hard times growing up are stark. Jack's mother had committed suicide when he was younger and his father is in prison. This book shows his and Atlas's resilience.Later Jack meets Ava, who is another main character and she too has had a hard life, witnessing her mother having to leave the family home and Barden being central to this.

There's also drugs involved as that's why their father is in prison, and the money has to be found. There is also a real concern as social care services are contacted and Jack is worried about being separated from his brother and put into foster care. There's quite an intensity to the book that is sure to grip and readers may well be rooting for the young characters as they try and find their way through their tough upbringing, with the hope they can and will survive. It shows cause and effect of this type of life and the emotions and how the teens react to it all.

So, as you can see, there's a lot going on, much of which will grip the teenage population and have them talking as the subject matters are huge and also not unknown by them. It is also written in a way that makes it entirely suitable for teens, there isn't anything that is too adult within them, it is written well with them in mind and is sure to engage.

1st thank you to the author and TheWriteReads for the ARC copy.

trigger warning: Violence, suicide and child abuse.

I didn't know what i was heading into when i 1st started reading this book, it was recommended to me by my good friend Dave and i just went into it blind.
Now this story is told from two main views but mainly starts each chapter with "her" view and let me tell you I LOVE her little parts at the beginning of each chapter * practically highlighted all of them*
The writing style was easy to follow and the pace was perfect, once you start you won't realize how far your into the story till someone snaps you out of it *which is always a good sign*
The story is a bit heavy comparing to how easy it was the read it and i swear i did not expect that ending *had a totally different ending in my mind* but never the less my heart broke.

For a debut novel, the author did amazing and am looking forward to the next installment of this series.

What Beauty There Is is such a riveting book! From the first page I knew I was in for a ride. The book is both character and plot based and Cory Anderson develops them so well. I love her writing which is so easy to get through.
What Beauty There Is is a page turner. Fast paced and suspenseful it kept me at the edge of my seat.

One thing to note is that in as much as the book is YA, it is quite dark and intense. Trigger warning for gore and suicide. It can be a tough read. I had to take breaks in between.

Well written, real life like characters and a plot that will keep you guessing, I quite enjoyed What Beauty There Is and would highly recommend it if you're looking for a Thriller to add to your reading list.

I was speechless when I finished this, perhaps because my heart had been in my mouth for so much of the book! This is not a story for the faint-hearted; it is brutal and cruel and terrifying. It is also beautifully written and powerful and brave and totally unforgettable. I am really in two minds about whether I'll be recommending it to the young people at my school - the opening chapter is so shocking and bleak, there is such a lot of tragedy and violence throughout and it takes a while to get going....but I really was blown away by it. An incredible debut.

This is a tense thriller that will have you turning the pages quickly. I think I actually managed to read it in one sitting.
The story switches between Jack and Ava’s points of view and this really allows you to enter into their heads and view their interactions from both sides.

I think I was gripped from the initial chapter of Jack as he comes home to find his mother has taken her own life. We are with him in that moment where those last remnants of childhood are stripped away and the weight of his responsibilities hit him.

Having such a tumultuous awakening we feel empathy for Jack right from the get-go which is only exacerbated when we see how he reacts when his little brother comes home.

While I feel that Jack and Matty’s relationship was very well emphasized and drawn out; I think that Jack and Ava’s relationship left a lot to be desired. They never really seemed to have much chemistry, and their romance felt shoe-horned in rather than progressed naturally. Maybe that was because the book was set over only a few days but I feel there could have been more to it.

The ending confused me a bit too. The last chapter/epilogue had me wondering if I’d read something wrong and had to back up a few pages. It wasn’t until I saw a post from someone else saying that there was a possibility that there would be another book which retold things from a different timeline that I think I got it.

Unfortunately I was unable to complete this book due to triggers, but I do feel as though I read enough to rate and review. I strongly encourage the publishers to include clear trigger warnings in final copies for this book.

Overall I thought this was a good read. I found the characters very engaging, and particularly loved the younger brother who was an absolute sweetheart. I thought the author did an amazing job at creating the emotion and tension in this book, and I truly felt for these characters at times. The reason I have deducted a star is because I did often find myself confused and wished some things could have been explained better earlier on

Though classed as Young Adult, this book easily works as Adult Fiction.
The main protagonists are Jack and Eva, young people on the brink of adulthood, and Matty, Jack’s much younger brother. Their lives become inseparably linked by a series of events which began years earlier.
Beautifully written, the story drew me in from the start. Each chapter begins with a passage in italics - Ava sharing her thoughts - and these are worth paying careful attention to. There are hints of what is to come, glimpses of the past which shapes the story.
Characterisation was excellent, from the most minor characters upwards these were real people.
I found myself drawn into the story and read late into the night as it felt wrong to ‘abandon’ Jack, Eva and Matty as the story raced towards its conclusion.

This novel is a YA thriller, following two brothers and their struggle to survive after their mother dies. This novel is a very bleak read, it’s likened to The Road by Cormac McCarthy, and if you’ve read this book you will understand the tone similarity. There is very little happiness and light during this novel, it is snowing, and even the landscape is grey. With this in mind, there are huge trigger warnings in this book, please check out the list on Storygraph or here. If you are struggling at all, I would not suggest picking this book up. March was a tough month for me emotionally, and this book was a difficult read.

I wasn’t at all sure what to expect from this book, from the blurb it seems to start out as a contemporary novel about two brothers struggling to survive, but as you continue to read it seems to turn more to a thriller, with drug money being involved. I liked this mix but ultimately I don’t think it is quite as much of a thriller as I had hoped for. Despite the promise of a hunt for drug money, the money is a very small part of the novel, and takes very little time to complete.

I found elements of this novel to be quite unrealistic too. Jack gets injured a number of times, and despite bleeding *a lot* he seems to just keep getting up again. With that much bloodloss, lack of food and sleep, he should not be able to do as much as he could. Some of the characters do quite unrealistic things throughout this novel, and we have a very strong case of “insta-love” between Jack and Ava, which I always find irritating! Ava is a strange character. I liked her sense of good, and her need to help Jack and Matty. She was brave to stand up to her father the way she did.

Despite these slight irritants I liked the book. I really enjoyed the relationship between Jack and his brother Matty, it was so strong and I was moved by Jack’s devotion to him. I thought the mystery of the novel was well done too. We are never sure exactly what Jack’s father was involved in and exactly where the drug money went, and I liked the creeping mystery that pervades the entire novel.

However I just think that this novel was too dark and depressing for me to fully enjoy it. The violence that Jack suffered and the sadness that permeates this novel was just a bit too much for me.

A huge thank you to The Write Reads and Penguin for having me be a part of the What Beauty There Is blog tour.

Genre: YA/ Thriller

Publisher: Penguin Random House

Date Published: 8th April 2021

Print length: 368 pages

Trigger warnings: Suicide, violence and injury detail

Blurb

Jack Morton has nothing left. Except his younger brother, Matty, who he’d do anything for. Even die for. Now with their mother gone, and their funds quickly dwindling, Jack needs to make a choice: lose his brother to foster care, or find the drug money that sent his father to prison. He chooses the money.

Ava Bardem lives in isolation, a life of silence. For seventeen years her father has controlled her fate. He has taught her to love no one. Trust no one. Now Victor Bardem is stalking the same money as Jack. When he picks up Jack’s trail, Ava must make her own wrenching choice: remain silent or help the brothers survive.

My Thoughts

As I seem to keep saying in my reviews, this was another judge-the-book-by-the-cover moment for me. Well, more specifically make-an-assumption-about-the-book before reading it 😂. I briefly glanced at the synopsis a while back and – obviously- didn’t fully take it in, as something in my mind thought maybe this is a Beauty and the Beast retelling?! Of course it doesn’t take a genius to realise that wasn’t the case.

Anderson does not mess around and immediately sets up the bleak circumstances that begin a novel filled with twists and turns. Before things have even started properly, Jack finds his mother hanging in her room, which was an awful scene to read but it set the ball rolling for the exhilarating cat-and-mouse style narrative which followed.

I’m so used to narratives about the nuclear family, or at least pretty functional families, that What Beauty There Is provided a curveball as tragedy catapults Jack into the parental role. Though my heart actually broke for Jack and Matty, I loved how Anderson showcased their relationship. Amongst the harrowing, bleak moments there were also quite tender, sometimes funny moments between the brothers which meant I was truly rooting for them to make it through. I think, through the brother’s relationship, Anderson perfectly communicates how far people are willing to go to protect their families.

Initially, I had no idea how Ava would slot into the narrative – as she was just a girl that Jack had seen at school on one occasion – but I think, as I read on, she had an interesting role in the novel. She had foresight, she knew that some of the decisions made throughout the narrative were wrong before the characters – or the reader – did, and she had an insight into both sides: the brutal, more violent criminal network operated by her father and the two brothers just trying to survive on their own. I think the hints of romance were subtle, which I was glad about (as sometimes YA novels that are supposed to be a bit more gritty and hard hitting lose this by forcing romance down the reader’s throats), and it was more about each characters desire to escape something – as the boys were escaping the chance of being separated and Ava was literally escaping the father who has left her isolated and controlled for as long as she can remember.

Now, I’ll just say this isn’t usually my type of book. I read a lot of books last year but the majority of them were light, easy-reads with all the romance and fluff I can’t get enough of so – coupled with some reviews of this book I’d read – I was pretty apprehensive. I was worried I wouldn’t enjoy this one or, God forbid, I’d DNF it but (despite initial apprehension and it taking me a fair bit of time to get into) I actually liked this book more than I expected.

What Beauty There Is isn’t for the faint hearted. If you’re looking for an easy, light read, this book isn’t it. What this book is, though, is a beautiful, almost lyrical set of prose about loss, family and how far people go to protect family. This book ended in a way that might indicate a sequel, or a series perhaps, and I for one would be up for it (once I get over the book hangover 😂 🤕).

'What Beauty There is' by Cory Anderson has a cover that makes you stop and just take it in. "When Everything You Love Is In Danger. How Long Can You Keep Running To Survive?" Two sentences on the front cover that just called out to me... I just had to pick it up and read, which I did in two days.
A story about Jack, a young boy who has the weight of his family's issues heavy on his shoulders. I was invested in him and his little brother Matty immediately. They struggle from day to day managing to survive in the most traumatic and heart-rending living situations you could imagine. My heart went straight out to Jack. A boy who you instantly want to look after along with Matty and even Ava. I read the full book cheering them on and hoping all would be well.
Cory Anderson's writing is perfect. She has created a compelling and immersive story that has a fabulous pace. There is always one book that comes along that is just spot on in everyway, for April 2021 this book is that one. I felt like I was side by side with these characters as the story unfolded and the levels of the circumstances increased to horrific.
A book that targets the Young Adult range but, as a mother and adult this story had me mesmerised throughout. A dark and very unsettling story that shows us the determination of Jack to overcome his hurdles. He is a driven child that wants to improve their lives and break away from their past. As I said I wanted to sweep him up and protect this boy all the way though. This is a debut novel and wow, it is an impressive piece of writing for a first book. I do look forward to what Cory does next.
Many thanks to #TheWriteReads and NetGalley for my digital copy of the book

Thank you so much to TheWriteReads for including me in this tour, and the publisher Penguin for my review copy. This in no way affects my opinion.

What Beauty There Is is the first YA Thriller that I have read in a long time, but it has inspired me to dive back into the genre. I loved the novel’s fast-paced nature and am left wanting more; I can’t wait to see what Cory Anderson writes next.

My favourite part of What Beauty There Is was the relationship between Jack and Matty. The lengths that Jack went to protect his brother warmed my heart. Cory Anderson captured their bond perfectly, and I can’t wait to see how it will develop as the series continues. I wasn’t initially as on board with Jack and Ava’s relationship as it all felt quite sudden to me, but as I carried on reading, I found myself enjoying their moments more. I found a couple of the other characters quite interesting, but as the book was mainly focused on Ava, Jack and Matty, I don’t think that I knew them as well by the end.

What Beauty There Is is predominantly told from Jack’s POV, but there are a couple of cameos from other characters. I would have prefered it if it was only told from Jack’s POV as I sometimes found it difficult to determine who I was reading from and where they fit into the story at that moment. This did pull me out of the story as I had to spend time working out who they were, and they were meant to interact with the other characters. That being said, I did love the book’s format as while the majority is in the third person, at the start of each chapter, there is a section in first person, which I found really intriguing.

The descriptions in What Beauty There Is really helped with building the atmosphere and the sense of danger. I loved Cory Anderson’s way of describing the cold and snow, and I could genuinely imagine myself feeling how the characters did. I think this helped with my enjoyment and kept me intrigued by the story.

I can’t wait to see what Cory Anderson will write; hopefully, it will be the sequel to What Beauty There Is, as I can’t wait to see what is going to happen next.

You can tell from the first chapter of this book that it is the kind of story that is going to pack an emotional punch, from the outset it is bleak and its cold wintery setting reinforces the atmosphere of the book, this is a story about survival in the harshest of conditions.

There is something fascinating about Jack though that really draws you into the story even though it was easy to see that by the end of the book I was probably going to be an emotional wreck, I couldn’t help but want to read more. The odds are pretty stacked against Jack from the start but he is such a resilient and resourceful character even when faced with life-changing decisions, I love his relationship with his brother Matty, that even though he has cause to be worried for both of them his focus is not on himself it’s on making sure that Matty is safe and protected.

Ava is also an interesting character, there are narrative introductions to each chapter that are written from her perspective and I really liked them because they set the tone for each chapter whilst also building a slow suspense, almost like counting down knowing that there is a limited amount of time before something bad happens. She is the kind of character who makes you question her motivations at first, even though we get some snippets from her she still has an air of mystery.

There is one character who encapsulates evil in this book and to be honest for most of the book he seems insurmountable, it is hard to see how Jack and Ava will overcome this character as he is clever and calculated and doesn’t play by anyone’s rules but his own. Sometimes with this kind of character when it comes to the end of the book I feel like they are let off too easily which can leave the end a bit of a disappointment, however, I didn’t feel like this was the case with this book, it is left kind of open but in a satisfying way.

I have to say this is not an easy book to read, it is at times extremely harsh and at points can be gruesome, but for me the relationships between Jack, Ava and Matty balance it out and show that even when the world seems at its worst there are still beautiful moments to be found. This is definitely reflected in the exquisite writing it really captures the setting and the relationships perfectly but reads in such an easy and captivating way.

I really enjoyed this book and loved getting lost in this haunting and thrilling story; even though the subject matter wasn’t always easy to read, I appreciated getting to experience it through characters that provided hope and a look at what loves means in hard times. What Beauty There Is kept me guessing, played on all of my emotions and left me wanting more, this is the kind of book that definitely gives you a book hangover, the characters and the story have been on my mind for quite a while since reading.

This book had me gripped from the beginning, such an amazing debut. This is not my usual genre, but I literally could not put this down and have already recommended to adults and teens alike.

Cory has such a way of describing everything from the physical feeling of each character to the environment that they find themselves in.

The relationship between Jack and his brother Matty is heart wrenching a few tears where shed. And then to see a magical relationship with Ava develop had me hoping and dreaming so hard for them.

You could almost imagine this as a movie, really is that detailed and gripping. Every scene I could picture in my head even down to clothes they are wearing.

My Thoughts: this book was utterly heartbreaking but so, so good.

Jack come home one day to find his mum hanging from the ceiling fan in her bedroom, instead of calling the police he gets her down and buries her in the garden.

Now he has his little brother to look after, they’re on their own. Their dad is in prison…they have no money and only enough food in the house to last a couple of days, if that! – he tries to find a job but given who his dad is no one trusts him.

When the police come knocking Jack decides it’s time to leave, it’s only a matter of time before child services get involved and he can’t lose his brother, he’s the only person he has left.

What follows is a real eye opening journey where with the help of his new friend Ava, Jack does everything in his power to keep his brother safe, even putting his own life at risk several times.

This book is definitely not for the faint hearted, but it’a a powerful one that will stay with me for a long time.

The tale of Jack and Ava is bleak, but you can’t help but fall under their spell.
Each of them knows what it’s like to have a secret. They’ve spent years learning to hide the reality of who they are. They each know how others judge them because of their family.
Jack’s father is in prison for his involvement in crime. His mother has given up, and when Jack finds her hanged in her room, he vows not to let his younger brother down. He buries his mother, then sets about trying to do whatever he can to find the money his father is rumoured to have hidden and look after his brother.
Unfortunately, his father’s ex partner (who also happens to be Ava’s dad) and others are determined to get their hands on the money. Jack is at risk and he has to trust someone who has the capacity to hurt him greatly.
We follow the boys as they search for a way to escape what looks inevitable. We see the growing closeness between Jack and Ava, and we see our two main characters forced to make difficult choices as they determine how they want to live life for themselves.
I can’t begin to understand the background of either of these two, but their grit and determination was admirable. I’m curious to know more about the sheriff who ultimately helps them out, and the ending certainly implies we’re not done with this story yet.
Thanks to NetGalley for granting me access to this prior to publication in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Thank you to Dave @ The Write Reads, the publisher, Penguin, and Netgalley for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I’m finding it hard to review this book. On one hand, this is a beautifully written and heartbreaking story that will have you captivated from page one. On the other hand, this was so bleak that there were moments I had to put it down and walk away for a moment! This book is a strange, wonderful mix of thriller and contemporary and it blew me away!

What Beauty There Is is the story of two young and damaged teenagers: Jack and Ava. Jack is in a tough spot after his mother dies and he’s left to fend for his younger brother, Matty. They have no money and, soon, they’ll have no home if Jack can’t find some funds fast. Ava is a quiet girl who keeps her head down and swears to herself that she’ll never care for anyone. Unbeknownst to both of them, they have a connection beyond a chance meeting at school: both of their fathers were involved in a heist years ago. Jack’s father ended up in prison after hiding their ill-gotten gains from Ava’s dangerous dad. Now both Jack and Ava’s father are on the hunt for the money and Ava is caught in the middle.

You all know that I love a book with well-written and complex characters. This novel has that in spades! Both Jack and Ava are fascinating to watch as they maneuver their complicated worlds. They have a lot of layers and you can’t help but become attached to them almost as soon as you meet them. Jack is such a wonderful big brother, even if doesn’t always make the best of choices. Ava makes me want to hug her, though I wouldn’t, because she doesn’t like being touched. They’ve both gone through far too much and had to grow up far too quickly. Their struggles, their decision… it’s all heartbreaking to watch yet it’s impossible to look away. I just want to pluck Jack, Matty, and Ava out of this book and protect them 😭

I think my favorite part of this book, though, was the writing. Cory Anderson has an incredible way with words! The way the novel is written makes it feel so visceral, so real, that you feel as though you are inside her story! There are so many beautiful phrases that make you take a pause to sit and think. I love when books can do that 💕 And it’s all so vivid and evocative that it paints a picture in your mind. Now, mind you, it is a very dark picture! As I mentioned before, this is a very bleak story, with a lot of trigger warnings that I highly suggest you check out before diving into this book. I don’t have very many triggers, but I still found myself needing to take breaks because it was just making me so sad 😅 This is a book that may not work for everyone because of that, but it will definitely make you feel something. I will say I wasn’t aware that this was the first in a series and I didn’t really like where it ended… but not to the point where I won’t be checking out the next one!

Final thoughts: This is an incredibly written story that blends a heart pounding thriller with a heart breaking contemporary. It’s evocative, beautifully crafted, and a thrill to read. The characters are so real they practically leap off the page and you can’t help but want to save them from their pursuers and themselves. This is a very bleak story, though, so I would suggest checking trigger warnings before you give this one a go. If you enjoy your young adult thrillers on the darker side and with plenty of nuance and layers, I think you would enjoy What Beauty There Is!

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

CW: suicide, child abuse, murder, drug use

One day Jack comes home from school to find his mother dead in her bedroom. Now, with his mum gone and his dad in prison, he is the only one left to look after his younger brother Matty. Determined to ensure Matty won’t end up in foster care, Jack sets off to find the drug money that caused his dad to end up in prison. However, Jack isn’t the only one looking for it… Ava Bardem’s father controls everything she does and has been for the last seventeen years. He taught her not to love or trust anyone. But when she meets Jack and Matty will she remember these lessons, or will she defy her father for the first time to help Jack find the money her father believes is his…?

I loved Jack and Matty, their brotherly relationship was so touching and it was lovely to see how protective Jack was of Matty and how he would do whatever he could to keep his little brother safe. Although at times it didn’t seem like Jack was making the best decisions for them, that was understandable as he is only a teenager and definitely did not have role models in his parents. Matty simultaneously felt his age and a little older at times. He would ask questions with a childlike innocence and curiosity, but sometimes these questions came from a very perceptive place almost too perceptive for a child of his age.

I thought Ava was an interesting character to add to the mix. I liked the way that her voice framed the narrative, it was such a unique way to tell this story and also added another layer of mystery. I did like Ava as a character and I enjoyed how she brought two different sides of this story together, however I didn’t bond with her as much as we didn’t see as much of her as we did the boys. Which also made the strong bond between Ava and Jack a little confusing, however, despite this due to the upbringing they both have it wasn’t totally out of place. Additionally, it was nice to have someone trying to help look after Jack as he was trying to be strong for Matty.

In addition to these protagonists, there are a few side characters who also made a lasting impression. Although he isn’t in the book often, the way Anderson presented Bardem was very effective: he was very menacing and unsettling, especially as he was always ready to resort to murder if he felt it was necessary. I really liked the contrast between Bardem and Doyle, a classic villain and classic hero. The fact that Anderson can brilliantly build up characters in just a matter of paragraphs highlights how talented she is as a writer.

I thought the plot was interesting and fast-paced. I think the novel could have benefitted from being slightly longer, in part so aspects of the plot could be further developed and in part because I really enjoyed Anderson’s writing and wanted more of it! Whilst the plot centred around the mysterious missing briefcase with money; I found I was invested in seeing whether things would work out for the brothers, regardless of whether they found the money or not. I was equally invested in finding out more about Ava and what happened to her to be narrating the beginning of the chapters the way that she did.

Overall, this was a great and addictive read; I was desperate to get to the end and find out what happened to the characters. I loved the way Anderson crafted and developed Jack, Matty and Ava and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future!