This Raging Light

This Raging Light – Estelle Laure – HMH Books for Young Readers – Published 22 December 2015

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Synopsis

Her dad went crazy. Her mom left town. She has bills to pay and a little sister to look after. Now is not the time for level-headed seventeen-year-old Lucille to fall in love. But love—messy, inconvenient love—is what she’s about to experience when she falls for Digby Jones, her best friend’s brother. With blazing longing that builds to a fever pitch, Estelle Laure’s soulful debut will keep readers hooked and hoping until the very last page.

My thoughts

I didn’t know what to expect when I started this book. From the brief blurb it had infinite possibilities. I was pleased to find that it fulfilled many possibilities for greatness. Like poetry trapped in prose body, this book sings.

What is this book really about? Well, it’s just like the blub says- it’s about a girl, a strong, brave, wild girl who is left alone to care for her younger sister. It’s about finding and fighting for love. It’s about friendship. It’s about everyday magic and the people in life who share it. It’s about keeping on keeping on and then looking back and finding that you were strong enough after all.

When Lucille’s mother leaves for a vacation and doesn’t return, Lucille knows it is up to her to look after her little sister. But the bills are piling up, people are asking questions and Lucille knows that no one must find out if she wants to keep what’s left of her family together. Lucille relies upon her best friend Eden and Eden’s twin brother Digby to keep her secret, but this gets more complicated as it becomes harder to hide her growing feelings for Digby.

I really enjoyed this book. At first I was confused as I began reading, but also totally intrigued. The writing style is rather choppy. Short sentences. Slightly abstract. But it works. It so works. As I kept reading, because I couldn’t stop, I was more and more drawn into the story. The romance – awkward and dangerous and sweet. The friendship, which is so strong between Lucille and Eden, but which is challenged as Lucille struggles to survive. Wren, Lucille’s younger sister, who is a fantastic character. She loves the food network and is smart and hilarious and heartbreaking.

Honestly, I think it’s best to start this book knowing only a little about the plot line. The freshness of the writing style, the clever symbolism, is what then captures your attention. Beautiful.

The publishers provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

More information

Category: Young adult fiction

Genre: Contemporary.

Age guide: 14 and up.

Advisory: Infrequent coarse language.

Themes: Sisters. Family. Social issues. Romance. Friendship. Art.

Published: 22 December 2015 by HMH Books for Young Readers

Format: Hardcover, ebook. 384 pages.

Find it on Goodreads