The Deviants

I would have given this book 10 stars if that was an option. I totally loved this book, it even made me cry at the end. This is a book about friendship, love, hate, fear, dysfunctional families and, most of all, revenge. The plot is well structured to reveal the hidden secrets in the lives of five teenagers at a teasing pace. The characters are so real that I could picture them, even the more minor characters. Ella's mother for instance is described as 'wearing a suit twenty years too young for her and two sizes too small'. The ending was a total shock and a stunning twist to the story. Remarkable

I had seen The Deviants on social media, so naturally I hoped on to Netgalley to see if it was there and lo and behold it was! Requested and approved, I settled down to read what turned out to be a very unexpected book.

At about 20% in, I knew I had a special book in my hands. I genuinely could not stop reading it. The story, the characters, everything about it just made me keep turning the pages.

The Deviants is a brilliantly written book, full of depth and with so many hidden layers that it became almost a compulsion to try and figure out what was going on. I don't usually read YA novels, but r=this book is enough to make me want to read all of CJ Skuse's back catalogue.

Max and Ella appear to be love's young dream, even in the wake of Max's sister Jess's death. All is not what it seems though. Without going into any detail, their friend Corey is bullied and what happens in the aftermath sets the ball rolling towards one of the most unexpected and emotional stories I have ever read.

The Deviants made me well up, and I can honestly say had I been on my own reading the final few chapters I would have been crying like a baby. I wasn't prepared for just how much this book would get to me. The tension throughout the book just keeps on building, and you know you're heading towards something huge, and when you get there it sucker punches you!!!!

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. CJ Skuse has written a stellar book, worthy of the early praise it is garnering. Buy it, read it, and weep.

I had previously read CJ Skuse's Monster and loved it. This book is very different, although written in the same wonderful manner.

The story is pretty intense which meant I could not put it down! The characters are brilliantly written, and as they have all gone through major events (and traumas) in their lives, their emotions are raw and this leads to a series of devistating events.

CJ Skuse's writing and storytelling gets better and better, I cannot wait to read the next one!

Had to wait until the tears had stopped before writing this review and I've been left with a very intense book hangover. A very dark, intense reading experience that left me wrung out and disbelieving, without having guessed earlier the devastating twist in the tale. You will feel angry, happy, sad and desolate during the story and you will almost definitely need tissues (& maybe therapy!). Fantastic writing , C J Skuse just keeps getting better and better.

t around 20%, I knew I had a special book in my hands. Well actually, it was on my phone, but boy, do I want a physical copy to add to my bookshelves now. Overflowing with sharp, observational writing, complex relationships, perfectly judged Harry Potter references (always a plus point) and a healthy dose of wry black humour; I was about as in love with a book as anyone can hope to be.

At its core, this book is a classic thriller. Why is Ella so angry that she punches walls? What really happened to Max’s sister, Jessica? Why are the fearless five no longer the friends they once were? The plot revolves around these questions, and Skuse keeps you turning the pages by revealing the secrets layer by painstaking layer.

Speaking of the Fearless Five, one of the things I enjoyed the most about The Deviants was the characterisation. Each of the central characters is a complete individual, both within the confines of the book and in comparison to the types of protagonists you encounter across UKYA. The real-world references and pop culture jokes added a well-judged layer of reality to the story, which only served to strengthen my connection to the characters and the emotional impact that their triumphs and ultimately, tragedies had on me.

There’s no flashy structure or split perspective, instead each chapter ends with a question, the asker of which remains a mystery until the very end. This clever, yet utterly simple, device keeps the dark secrets and lies beating at the very centre of the novel without it becoming overstylised. Free from jarring jumps between different timelines and chapters written from different perspectives, it was a refreshing reading experience.

I’ve not read any of C.J. Skuse’s other books, but I definitely will be reaching for her back catalogue now. If they’re even half as good as The Deviants, then I’ll be happy. An intense and absorbing drama about family, friendship and relationships, it gripped me from the first page and didn’t let go until it broke my heart with a huge final twist. It’s one of the very best books I’ve read this year and trust me; I’ve read some brilliant books in 2016.

This book came highly recommended by Chelle from Tales of Yesterday and she was absolutely right about how good it is! It's one of my favourite YAs of the year, even though it's so tense that I was an emotional wreck throughout!

Before I launch into the review, please be aware that this book deals with subjects that may be triggering for some people.

For me, the main strength was the tightly structured, unpredictable plot. It took me less than a day to read because I was unable to stop myself! I couldn't tell where this was going and the revelations were one emotional gut punch after another!

The premise of the Famous Five gone bad was fantastic and a large part of this was the characters. They felt very flawed and real to me. Ella was a fantastic narrator! I loved how she wasn't always perfect and likeable. She made understandable mistakes when dealing with some very tough situations. I loved how her story was revealed in pieces and I rooted for her so much!

CJ Skuse has the perfect writing style for YA. The teen voice was consistent and believable, never once pulling me out of the story.

There's not a lot more that I can discuss about what I liked without giving some serious spoilers. I'll end by saying that no other book this year has given me such intense feelings.

Okay, so a month or so ago I was completely raving about Shappi Khorsandi’s Nina is Not Ok, and how I’d already found my book of the year, BUT (big but), I think I might have found a very, very strong contender. Funnily enough both of these books are not the genres that tend to become my favourites, I tend to go for fantasy, dystopian, magical, or just generally weird books, whereas both The Deviants and Nina is Not Ok are very much real life, centered around very real issues.

After seeing lots of fuss about The Deviants on social media, I had a quick browse on Netgalley to see if it was there, and to my delight it was! The fuss about it online is all so very much deserved. It made me smile, cry, get angry, feel uplifted, and then enter a miserable post book slump for several days once I’d finished. I could probably read it another 50 times and still get on the same rollercoaster. Even though I know all the twists and turns and surprises along the way (of which there are plenty), I don’t think it would remotely lessen the impact of this beautiful book. It’s hard to fully put into words my absolute adoration of this book, I fell head over heels, I led in bed bawling my eyes out at 3am with my boyfriend snoring beside me whilst I refused to put the book down.

The characters were great, the scene setting was great, everything just felt so real, the detail was so spot on that everything played out in my head. The characters weren’t perfect, but no one wants a perfect character, that’s what made them so real. Their growth and development was wonderful to see throughout the book and I formed a real attachment to them.

The book is so intricate, with so many layers and constant reveals throughout the book. Things are very much not what they seem in this book, I was constantly left guessing where the book was headed next, and I’ll tell you now that I did not see the ending coming! It took the entire story to see how the opening of the book fit into the story in any way, and the questions that ended each chapter certainly added an extra level of intrigue to the book, it was a very interesting and unique format.

C.J. Skuse is both a saint and a devil. She created such a wonderful book, but tore my heart into a million pieces with it, so I’m still deciding if I love her or hate her! Guess I’ll have to read some more of her books to find out, what a shame…

Just a quick heads up as a sidenote, some of the topics covered in this book may be potentially triggering, I won’t mention them in my review as they are rather large spoilers, but a quick search of the book will no doubt tell you whether it’s a book you need to avoid or not!
** Thank you to Netgalley, C.J. Skuse, and the publisher, Mira Ink for a free copy of this book to review**

Before I read The Deviants, I hadn't read a YA book in a very long time. To be honest, I wasn't so sure about diving into another one, especially since I didn't like my last at all. However, The Deviants looked awesome and the cover was so stunning that I requested it on a whim, it hoping it wouldn't disappoint. Fortunately, it didn't: it was pretty amazing.

This is the story of the famous five: Ella, Max, Fallon, Corey and Zane. They used to be inseparable, but something happened and they pretty much lost all contact with each other. Except for Ella and Max, who have been dating for many years, although their relationship isn't as good as it seems at first sight. But why is that? And then Corey's cat suddenly disappears and Ella and Max decide to help him, reuniting with Fallon again. And the summer of revenge begins...

This is one of those novels where the less you know about it, the better, and that's why I won't give more details about the plot. I wasn't sure at first (okay, so what this is even about?) but The Deviants simply got better and better with every page. I especially love when that happens, because the final feeling is always better than when a book starts off really well but quickly goes downhill.

After a slow and fairly weird start, the middle of the book was incredibly thrilling and engaging and the final part simply had me on the verge of tears. I loved how even though the theme was dark and dramatic, the novel still managed to present a beautiful ending.

Chapters were short but poignant and I particularly liked how the author finished them with a question. I was confused at first, but it all got answered in the end. In short, I found this an extremely satisfying read, a book where all genres were perfectly mixed: mystery, revenge coming of age, romance, friendship...

The Deviants reminded me somehow of We Were Liars, but in my humble opinion, this one is far better. I saw the twist coming in that one and found the writing a bit too flowery for my taste. On the other hand, The Deviants was the perfect YA book, deep and meaningful, entertaining and emotional at the same time. I still prefer reading adult fiction and this book hasn't changed that, but I certainly hope my next YA is as good as this one.

First let me say that I haven't read a YA novel in some time, and although this is aimed at older teens, it actually puts to shame some adult psychological thrillers I have read recently. Following "The Deviants", I will definitely be looking for other books by this author.

CJ Skuse has the perfect voice for storytelling and in this case her vehicle is Ella, the teen protagonist of this particular novel.

To avoid some fairly major spoilers, I'm not going to go into great detail about the plot. Suffice to say that the subject matter of this book is pretty dark. It deals with situations and circumstances that may trigger some bad memories in people who have experienced similar, but it is dealt with sensitively, and most importantly, realistically.

Back to Ella – she’s a real teenager - intelligent, talented, immature, flawed and confused, but in other situations, mature and brave and kind – a conflicting bundle of emotions and behaviours - but not the grumpy, selfish Bella Swan (Twilight) stereotype that we have been inundated with over the last few years. I found myself wondering if I, as a woman in her early 40s would be able to deal as well as Ella did with some of the situations she found herself in, and came to the conclusion - probably not!

The Deviants has so many themes that it shouldn’t work. It should overload you but it doesn’t – CJ Skuse has really managed to pull off a richly detailed book with rounded and flawed characters covering relationships, bullying, guilt, illness, perception, protection, deceit, shame, acceptance – phew! It's the first book in some time that really tugged at my emotions, and despite being a YA book, I couldn't get enough of it. I also loved the ongoing elements of loss and reunion, anger and forgiveness that weaved their way through before coming to the surprising conclusion.

Finally, the structure was excellent - set out in parts almost like an interview, it finished each chapter with a question which is a real hook and led me to a very late night when I thought "Just this one more chapter" then got to the question and pretty much had to carry on... sneaky!

My top tip for this book would be - don't expect a light, fluffy read, and don't start it when you've got a lot to do, or you'll end up doing none of it! Pull up a comfy chair, grab a cuppa and join Ella for the ride - you won't be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and C J Skuse for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.



I was not expecting this book to be as good as it was. I started it reading it and I thought; this is going to be quite an immature read about some kids getting revenge on bullies. I couldn't have anticipated the depth and imagination that this author would bring to this book. This was a brilliant book full of realism and vivid characters. It tackles a lot of issues without ostracising the audience, no matter their age.



This book is told from the perspective of Ella. She is a complex character, and we know right from the start that she is keeping something from everyone. Through Ella, we discover that she used to hang around with a group of friends until her boyfriend Max's sister Jessica dies. The group disbands, and it is only when Ella and Max discover that Corey is being bullied by their old friend Zane that they reconnect. This part of the book is full of recollections on what life used to be like and I enjoyed the reminiscent tone and the innocence of playing outside and the adventures that brought.



In this book, the idea of revenge and dealing with anger, especially in adolescents is explored. It shows the danger of trying to hide from your problems. I also think, for me, it comments on the pressure and difficulties that teenagers have to deal with. Coming of age can be a stressful time even when you don't have the secrets and pressures that Ella has. Each of the friends in the group is like a case study of different problems, teenage pregnancy, abuse, parental pressures, parental illnesses, sexuality and much more. Each of the characters in this book is at that stage where they still feel like a child, but then they feel like they should be thinking like adults. So many issues are touched upon and explored in this book, and it makes it fascinating. I was gripped from the beginning.
I can't give the ending or anything more away, but I must say the end of this book is dramatic and unbelievable. I couldn't have predicted the final scenes in this book the writing was very smart. I really can't wait to read more from CJ Skuse.

There are a lot of YA contemporary thrillers around at the moment but this is definitely a stand out read. It’s a story about a group of friends and the tragedy and secrets that have driven them apart.

It’s a very twisty tale with a lot of surprises and one huge surprise that caught me completely off guard. The writing is fantastic and the characters so well crafted that you come to really care about them and I was completely invested. There are some slightly creepy moments, a couple of laughs and one part which totally broke my heart.

Definitely one of my favourite books of the year.

I read C.J. Skuse’s previous book Monster in August last year and was seriously impressed that she managed to create such a great creepy YA horror story. When I spotted the Deviants on social media I couldn’t wait to get it, headed straight to NetGalley to request and started reading pretty much as soon as I received it.

I have to admit it starts a little bit slow and it did have me a little worried but in a similar way to Monster, it’s a bit of a slow burner. It subtly draws you in to the story and the lives of the characters without you particularly noticing until you realise you’ve been reading for hours and you don’t want to stop.

It’s difficult to say a huge amount about the story as it’s a bit of a mystery/thriller and I’d probably give something away. Let’s just say it’s about a group of five people who used to be best friends and do everything together until something happened and, with the exception of Max and Ella, they went their separate ways. Over the course of the book as they start to come together the secrets that drove them apart begin to be revealed.

One of the things I loved the most about this book was the characterization and the emotion in it. It’s fairly unusual for me to give five stars to a book but when I do it’s usually because it got to me and this book definitely got to me. Not at the start but gradually as I got to know the characters and they became real to me. I felt their anger, I laughed along with them and at certain points I cried my eyes out.

It’s told from the point of view of Ella, who while initially not the most likeable of characters is extremely fascinating. Like the book she did grow on me as I began to understand her and her secrets are revealed in a series of flashbacks. Max her boyfriend was also not that easy to like in the beginning but again a lot of his actions become understandable. Corey and Fallon were much more sympathetic characters. They have difficult backgrounds but are more open and honest than the others which makes them more appealing. They are all at their best though when they are together and they complement each other fantastically well.

The writing throughout is excellent and the pacing is pretty much spot on. The story does deal with some pretty serious issues (which again I can’t really go into due to spoilers) so may not be suitable for younger readers but generally it handles them pretty well. There was the odd bit I wasn’t completely convinced by or which seemed to push things a little too far but these are very minor quibbles and easily overlooked in such an emotional rollercoaster of a read.

As a final incentive to those thinking about reading, it’s absolutely riddled with pop culture references and my absolute favourite character was a total Potterhead so there were quite a few Harry Potter references

‘I thought you were over Harry Potter?’

He glared at me. ‘You don’t ever ‘get over’ Harry Potter, Ella. At best you just learn to live with the fact that f*cking envelope’s never going to arrive’
Overall a fantastic read and definitely one I’d recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. It’s will be available on Amazon UK on the 22nd September.

Ella, Max, Fallon, Corey and Zane were incredibly close as children, but following the death of Max’s big sister, they grew apart – only Max and Ella remain together. For each, the post-Jessica era has its own devastating troubles to come to terms with. The development of teenagers is expertly done, and eventually each finds a place in your heart. Corey develops from a lonely, bullied disabled boy into an admirably capable and confident young man. Fallon changes the least – remaining a reliable and responsible friend. It just takes the others some time to remember this. Meanwhile Zane, Ella and Max seem to increasingly spiral out of control.
The story is narrated from Ella’s point of view, in the form of an interview – but the neither interviewer, nor the reason for the interview, is ever identified.
The cover and the publisher’s blurb indicate that this is a book about revenge, but for me revenge was a minor part. This is a book of secrets – a character’s own and those that they hold out of loyalty for others. In each case, keeping those secrets has the opposite effect to that intended: the person to be protected turns out to be the one most damaged. One by one the secrets are revealed, and the repercussions for some are catastrophic. There are subtle hints throughout the book as to what has happened, and as a result not too many big surprises – until the end. You always hope that your suspicions were unfounded, and there is plenty to keep you very interested as to the possible outcomes. The book finishes with a humdinger of a twist that I doubt anyone would have guessed.
As you get further and further into the book, the more compulsive it becomes. Any thoughts of sleep go out the window – you just have to read through to the last page.
You don’t find out who are labelled deviants are until right near the end of the story – and a more unjustly, misnamed group of people is difficult to imagine. The ending is not what you would want, but there is enough justice done that the remaining characters have some hope of a happy future.
This is an outstanding book. Not a fun read, but compelling and deals with some very important and thorny issues.