EDEN SUMMER

A British teen still recovering from her own trauma is wracked with panic when her closest friend goes missing.

Tattooed, pierced Jess and golden, tanned Eden are on the surface an odd pair. Yet the best friends have had each other’s backs for years—even more so in the wake of a brutal beating Jess sustained at the hands of strangers and the recent death of Eden’s older sister in a car accident. Flashbacks are strategically placed throughout the contemporary narrative, which takes place over the course of just one day, very effectively drawing out the suspense. Eden’s binge drinking and wildly unpredictable behavior since her sister’s death have left Jess very unsure of her friend’s state of mind. Her quick decision to duck out from the protection of her loving and understanding mum and set out with Eden’s boyfriend, Liam, to look for her propels the novel forward. While some readers will appreciate the straightforward winding up of the many loose ends, others may find the conclusion too neat. Main characters Jess, Eden, and Liam are white, and several secondary characters are black. Jess’ mum is a lesbian; her dad has remarried, and Jess has two biracial (black/white) stepsisters.

High drama and a breathless pace make this a riveting read