The Cement Garden (Ian McEwan)

This post will essentially be Spoiler Free (except where marked in the "Where it disappoints" section), however comments by other users may possibly contain information that spoils portions of the plot, so read at them your own risk.

goodreads.com

What it's about:

After the long illness of their mother leaves them orphans, four siblings fear for their separation, and decide to hide her death. Yet, this also means hiding her body, which they choose to bury in cement in the cellar. Each of them deals with this drastic change in their lives in very different ways, and to varying degrees of success - Julie takes over the household, Jack stops bathing, Sue spends hours reading and writing in her diary, and Tom starts to wear dresses. But what happens when the precarious balance they have developed in disturbed once again?

YA in Review: Catalyst (Laurie Halse Anderson)

This post will essentially be Spoiler Free, however comments by other users may possibly contain information that spoils portions of the plot, so read at them your own risk. Catalyst is a companion novel to Speak, occurring in the same environment, but with an entirely different set of characters.

tpl.ca

What it's about:

Kate Malone is a straight-A student, preacher's daughter, member of the track team, and has a gorgeous, brainiac boyfriend. Yet, more than all of that, there is one thing that defines her - she belongs at MIT - she just has to wait for her acceptance letter. Yet, even though Kate might be waiting, life is still zooming forwards. After her classmate's house burns down Kate is forced to share her room with bully Teri Litch and her young brother while they rebuild. Now, Kate is dealing with classes, relationships, waiting to get into school, sharing her home, taking care of her own brother, getting noticed at cross-country meets, and helping kleptomaniac Teri. But she can handle it for a few more months...can't she?

The Child in Time

This film is based on a 1987 novel by British writer Ian McEwan, of Atonement fame. It was adapted into a movie of the same name in 2017.

pbs.org

What It's About:

In the work of a moment, Stephen's daughter Kate goes missing at the grocery store - gone without a trace. Wracked with guilt and devastation, Stephen's marriage falls apart under the strain, and he and Julie live separate lives. All that remains of the life Stephen once knew, is his career writing children's books, his friend Charles and Charles' wife Thelma. But when even his friend changes in ways that he can't understand, Stephen is forced to come to terms with the shadow of grief that has been hanging over him.

The Next Person You Meet in Heaven (Mitch Albom)

This post will essentially be Spoiler Free, however comments by other users may possibly contain information that spoils portions of the plot, so read at them your own risk. This book is the sequel to The Five People You Meet in Heaven. Although it is not necessary to read that first, I would definitely recommend that you do, as you will get quite a bit more out of Annie's story if you have followed both her and Eddie's journeys.

harpercollins.com

What it's about:

After being saved in a horrifying amusement park accident, Annie's life is never the same. She loses her left hand, and bears the scars of its reattachment everywhere she goes. When years later she eventually gets to heaven, she meets five people whose lives intersected hers, to help her comes to terms with the tragic events of her childhood. Annie's journey is one of great love, and great loss, and she must learn that embracing her death starts with embracing her life.

YA in Review: A Monster Calls (Patrick Ness)

This post will essentially be Spoiler Free, however comments by other users may possibly contain information that spoils portions of the plot, so read at them your own risk. This book is the sixth one that I've completed for my 2018 TBR Challenge. I'm finally getting through them at a decent pace, which is making me feel so much better. There's a chance in heck I could actually finish now.

booktopia.com.au

What it's about:

Conor is dealing with a problem - a really big problem. His mother is very ill and has to go in for treatment once again, he's being bullied at school, and, worst of all, he is having the nightmare of all nightmares. But all of those things Conor can face - he has to. Until one day the yew tree from behind his house lifts up its roots and comes walking. As time passes and Conor's problems get worse and worse, the tree shares with him three important tales of when he has come walking before. But for this, he demands one story from Conor in return - the story of truth that he cannot face.