I'm disappointed at this book, especially from Malorie Blackman. There was literally no plot other than a uni boy taking care of his baby. ( )

I'm disappointed at this book, especially from Malorie Blackman. There was literally no plot other than a uni boy taking care of his baby. ( )

CW: Suicide attempt ( )

Dante is a seventeen year old boy who is waiting for his A-level results. He's hoping they'll be good so he'll get into the university he wants to get into. He's already been planning his university life for weeks now. But instead of the postman, his ex-girlfriend shows up. She's seemingly babysitting a baby, which confuses Dante a bit. Why is she bringing the baby to visit him? Well, he's kind of wondering why she's visiting him in the first place; they haven't spoken since she suddenly moved away more than a year ago.

It isn't until she asks him to babysit the baby so she can head out and buy more diapers that he founds out. She's gone for nearly an hour when she finally calls... to tell him it's their daughter. He's the father of the baby in the stroller in his living room. She's had enough, afraid she'll hurt Emma because of the frustration and pressure she feels over her life as a single teenaged mum.

There's nothing he can do. Nobody seems to know where she's gone, or how to contact her relatives. Even though his father insists on him keeping Emma, as she is his, Dante has his doubts; trying to hold onto the dream of going to university with his girlfriend. Besides, there is a possibility the baby isn't his, right?

I more or less borrowed this book on impulse, figuring What the hell? when I saw it. The topic is quite interesting, especially as I'm less than a year away from being a teenager which means I've missed my window to be a teenage parent. It feels a lot more fun and interesting to read those kind of books now, not that I ever worried about being pregnant, but the thought of having a kid was a lot more terrifying two years ago. I've become quite a family-orientated sap lately. It's an interesting subject.

But I will admit I was about to put the book down and return it during the first few chapters. It felt like such a mainstream book with stereotypical characters at first. But it didn't take long before it started to pick up and become quite interesting. The book is written from Dante's perspective but also occasionally from his younger brother Adam's. It definitely helped the book a lot, as half of it was about the struggles about being a teenage father and the other, almost, half was about Adam's struggle with his sexuality and a secret relationship that goes wrong. It was written quite beautifully and it was hard not to care for all the characters. ( )

OH MY GOD I FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK. It was so so lovely! This is the first book I have read of Malorie and I can’t wait to start another of her. You will not regret it. I absolutely adored Dante and Adam. I felt so so sorry for Dante and I just wanted to drag him out of the book and give him a massive hug. If you haven’t read this one just yet: GO READ THIS ONE, NOW! ( )