Lizzie Beck, a quarter of a popular talent show-winning girl group, and the firebrand one people loved to drop scorn on for her lifestyle, for her individuality, and for what they perceive as a lack of talent, kills herself while high on drink and drugs. At the exact same time, our narrator's sister, Beth, older by five years, shrugs off this mortal coil. Both were exactly the same age, just 21, partly because they were one and the same character. Emmy, the younger sister, is left with her parents to enter a world of grief, anger and frustration – anger partly at the fact her sister is not there any more to watch her follow with a performing school education in her footsteps, and frustration at how it might not have happened if Lizzie's time in the band was not just about to come to an end…

I don't always catch YA titles, the middle grades being more my thing, I guess. But this was outstanding. I would argue it doesn't have to have been set five years ago – I know this means the band had a clear run at becoming world famous without any lockdowns in the way, but this is just as current, if not more so if the feeling that trolling is only getting worse is true. So it's about the music biz, slightly inspired by kind of #MeToo stuff, it's about those who deliver online hate, but principally it's about a painfully intimate look at a young woman whose adulation of her older sister raises so many questions, problems and issues. It feature so many tears it would have served as the water supply for filming "Titanic", but if the end – even as it does utilise a song I really don't care for – doesn't make you bawl I just don't want to know you.

One element of this is the multiple strands of delivery – the interview transcript, the threaded texts (which I normally hate to read, especially in graphic novels). I have no idea why the worst vitriol here comes from someone seeming to identify as a Leicester City FC fan – this one can't really say anything negative about this.

In hindsight, I shouldn't have read this book nearly exclusively on public transport because this book is emotional. I think when it's dealing with such a sensitive subject, its undoubtedly going to make you cry, and cry this book made me. There were so many points in the book that my heart was hurting for Emmy and I just wanted to give her a massive hug.

She was obviously distraught about losing her sister and the way that her parents were treating her wasn't helping. It's so difficult though because at 16, Emmy is still a child but definitely more mature than her parents gave her credit for. And that's what she wanted and needed - she needed to be told the truth, nothing held back, because there was so much going on in Beth's life that she didn't understand.

Beth had a lot of troubles and sometimes she wasn't supported how she needed. Emmy thought she knew everything going on in her life and thought she knew who to be angry at for Beth's death but once she finally spoke to Jodie, Beth's best friend and band mate, she realised that Beth had kept some things hidden from her. Being able to talk to different people, like Jodie and Leo, provided Emmy with the full picture of what Beth was really like.

I loved the friendships in this book - specifically that of Grey. Even though she was a bit of a bitch, she wasn't doing it to hurt Emmy, it was what Emmy needed. It's okay to coddle people to a certain degree, but it's important to hear the truth. And when Emmy finally realised how she had been acting wasn't great and realised that being around friends was the best thing, I was so happy for her. Friendships are so important, especially when you're 16.

One thing I really loved about this book was how it was written. It was littered with loads of different styles including newspaper articles and tweets which really helped to further the narrative. I also really enjoyed some of the lists Emmy wrote and how some of her inner monologues were written. Everything that Sara did was so effective and only helped the story. It kept you wanting more and to find out what was going to happen next or how Emmy was going to react. Especially the tweets - everyone falls into a rabbit hole of doom scrolling whether they mean to or not.

Obviously this book dealt with some really serious issues, including suicide and drug and alcohol abuse, but these were dealt with so sensitively and in such an empathetic way. But you also could barely put it down, it was so addictive to read because I just wanted to find out that Emmy was going to be okay and find her own way in a world without her sister.

I could talk about this book for hours I think, there's so much to say and to unpack, but I think it's important that people read this and experience it for themselves. I'll definitely be recommending this book to everyone who will listen, it was truly beautiful.

This was one of Sara’s best books to date. I loved the premise and the impact of grief on your day to day life and how to navigate your day to day feelings
Will definitely be buying for the school library

Even when you are in your darkest place, there will be a light to pull you through. Isn't that a message that we all need to hear more often? A beautiful and emotional read that does just that.

This book is stunning and beautiful. Really well written. And you can really relate to it. I loved the point that when you are at your lowest point there is always a light shining through ready to show you back into the light. Beautiful

This book takes you on a journey through trauma and heartbreak, when feeling most alone there is always light at the end of the tunnel, Emmy is a powerful and beautiful character who is on a journey of self discovery after the lost of her sister!

This book tackles some really hard hitting themes. It's essentially a book about grief. It's a YA book, but never undermines or patronises its audience. It's incredibly real and gave me all the feels. It shows a young girl struggling with the death of her sister. It shows her anger and her mistakes in dealing with her feelings. I haven't read a YA book like this for a long time.
The book uses multi-media to tell the story - something that makes it feel even more real.

Sara Barnard has done it again!!

Absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking. Sara Barnard writes about difficult subjects with such nuance, care, and sensitivity.

suicide, a word that triggers so many emotions. anger, guilt, sadness, frustration, despair and loneliness.
to lose a sister, your best friend your icon is devastating.
this story follows one families devastation and the media circus that ensues

The formatting of this book made it very enjoyable for me. Considering it was a book on grief this was a ‘fun’ engaging read.