Not bad although at times, I felt this was a rather depressing read and had to put the book down. Lexi is angry because her Mum is about to marry someone that Lexi can't stand but...it will mean that Lexi's stepsister will become part of her family forever. This is a book about emotional blackmail and how some men are just pigs and can't ever commit or stand to not get their own way. The portrayal of Lexi's soon-to-be stepfather made me want to punch something. For older readers due to swearing and Lexi throwing herself naked at her soon-to be step brother, Kass. ( )

A copy of this book was given by in exchange for review. All opinions stated are my own."I Don't Want to be a monster"
Alexandra, or Lexi for short, is angry. She isn't sure why, but she just cannot control the surge of rage that comes out of nowhere. She is sorry. She is remorseful. She isn't sure why she can't just be patient and obedient like her saintly mother, and her angelic little sister. She feels like a monster, just as her stepfather-to-be likes to reminds her - "Bad things happen when you are around Lex."
Jenny Downham is quickly making her mark with lending a voice to hard topics in the YA genre. In this book she tackles the way society demands girls act and feel, while highlighting the legitimate sources of anger and trauma that girls and women face daily.

‘I’ll change,’ the girl said. ‘I’ll be good from now on, I promise.’She wanted it to be true.She wanted her family to love her.But fury sat in her belly like a vicious snake. And some promises are hard to keep.

I was ecstatic for the release of this book, I had been watching it since its release in the UK in May last year, so I am especially grateful to Scholastic and David Fickling Book for the review copy. I am so passionate about giving attention to examples of suppressed voices, and recently I have noticed society is acknowledging the suppression of female anger as a real and legitimate issue (Book Rec: Rage Becomes Her).
Especially for teenage girls.

This story really highlighted a form of domestic violence that a lot of people dismiss. When questioned about her awful stepfather, Lex is routinely asked if she has been hit or touched inappropriately. But domestic and family violence is not limited to physical assaults, as this story so perfectly demonstrates. Gas-lighting is the term Lex is constantly trying to describe, and I believe so many readers will be able to relate and empathise with her struggle of being on the receiving end of this form of abuse, particularly as she tries to articulate it so she can rationalise her feelings.
On top of this, Lex is struggling with a form of abandonment by her mother, and the grief of losing her grandfather. She acts out in violent ways, and as she nears her 16th birthday her actions are leaning toward promiscuous and include the use of alcohol.
The use of drama was a delight, in chapters of fantasy stories that explain Lex's past and representing her current fears and weakness. I personally love when YA books have characters interested in drama- the safe outlet to express feelings they cannot yet understand.
While I love the topic this book discusses, and how seemingly unlikeable Lex is at times, I did struggle with the ending. I am torn- I cannot fault the ending at all and in light of the topics that were raised it is actually a good and hope-inspiring ending. I am leaning towards myself having a biased, cynical point of view, so this means everyone will need to read and decide for themselves.
I was not entirely comfortable with Lex's relationship with Kass, though I applaud the author for being able to demonstrate generational cycles of abuse, and using this as a subtle education to budding red flags. I wish we had a bit more time with some of the secondary narratives in the book, such as Sophie and Iris.
Overall, I highly rate Furious Thing - the story is undeniably entertaining and important for its target audience, and I don't doubt this will be another award nominee in 2020.

This book is based on instances of domestic violence, verbal, emotional, psychological and gas-lighting. Also nudity, kissing for YA readers.






I hope you enjoyed my thoughts on Furious Thing, but now I would love to hear what you think about this book!
Feel free to comment below or on my 'bookstagram' at @ReadWithWine .
 This review was originally posted on ReadWithWine ( )