Title: The Places I’ve Cried in Public
Author: Holly Bourne
ISBN: 9781474949521
Publisher: Usborne Publishing Ltd
Pages: 368
Source: Private copy
Amelie loved Reese. And she thought he loved her. But she’s starting to realise love isn’t supposed to hurt like this. So now she’s retracing their story and untangling what happened by revisiting all the places he made her cry.
Because if she works out what went wrong, perhaps she can finally learn to get over him.
Official Summary
14 February 2024
Okay, so this story was not what I thought it would be. I figured it was Young-Adult and the dramatic title was just that but boy was I wrong. This story was so dark and depressing, I fully thought it would be a sweet little book but no. This book follows our main character Amelie as she looks back on her relationship that she thought was amazing. However, when she goes back she realizes she was manipulated and abused throughout the whole relationship and you see how she has to come to terms with that.
I don’t know why I was so shocked as this is the third Holly Bourne book that I have read. There is always some sort of lesson to be learnt and an underlying message behind these teenage girls’ lives. However, this has been the saddest one so far.
I loved how Bourne depicted this toxic relationship, it seemed realistic. Realistically, Amelie would never see any of the red flags that we saw as she was romanticising everything at the time and just wasn’t thinking straight. I feel like this book showed just how easy it is for someone to fall victim to abuse.
I would recommend anyone who picks this book up to check trigger warnings first as there are many sensitive topics covered in this book.
I would honestly recommend this book to everyone, more so younger people as I feel like there is so much to learn from this book and it is a very important message that should be heard.
Also by Holly Bourne
The Yearbook
The dramas, the traumas, the rumours – it’s time to expose it all… The Perks of Being a Wallflower meets Mean Girls in this scathingly funny and relatable high-school takedown from the queen of UKYA.
Most likely to…be forgotten
Working on the school newspaper, Paige is used to dealing with fake stories. How popular girl Grace is a such an amazing person (lie). How Laura steals people’s boyfriends (lie). How her own family are so perfect (lie).
Now, Grace and friends have picked their “best” high-school moments for Paige to put in the all-important Yearbook. And they’re not just fake. They’re poison.
But Paige has had enough of all the lies in her life. And with the help of Elijah – the only boy who could ever understand her – she’s going to reveal the truth.
About The Author
Author Bio from the Author’s Site
Holly Bourne is a bestselling and critically acclaimed author. Inspired by her work with young people, and her own experiences of everyday sexism, Holly is a passionate mental health advocate and proud feminist.
Holly started her writing career as a news journalist and was nominated for Best Print Journalist of the Year. She then spent six years working as an editor, a relationship advisor, and general ‘agony aunt’ for a youth charity – helping young people with their relationships and mental health. Inspired by what she saw, Holly started writing teen fiction, including the best-selling, award-winning ‘Spinster Club’ series which helps educate teenagers about feminism. When Holly turned thirty, she wrote her first adult novel, How Do You Like Me Now? examining the intensified pressures on women once they hit that landmark.
Alongside her writing, Holly has a keen interest in women’s rights and is an advocate for reducing the stigma of mental health problems. She has helped create online apps that teach young people about sexual consent, works with Women’s Aid to spread awareness of abusive relationships, and runs Rethink’s mental health book club.
Holly lives in London, but dreams of the day she has a garden, a dog, chickens, and a beehive.
Thanks for reading let me know what you think in the comments below….
See you soon….
