Book Review - Lola Offline by Nicola Doherty

Amazon UK

Title: Lola Offline

Author: Nicola Doherty

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Orion's Children's Books

Publication Date: 10th August 2017

Rating: 5 Stars

On the internet, there are no take-backs... LOLA OFFLINE is a teen romantic comedy set in Paris, perfect for fans of Holly Bourne, Sophie Kinsella and Stephanie Perkins.

Delilah Hoover has gone dark. She's quit social media, moved to Paris and changed her name to Lola Maxwell. Because she made a mistake - one she can't take back. It was all over Twitter, and it's still the first thing that comes up when you Google her.

Paris is a fresh start, in a new school with new friends including smooth student politician Tariq. With awkward dates, tipsy afternoons and a perfect kiss, Lola's life as a normal teenager could be back on track ... But can she ever tell people who she really is? And what happens if they find out first?

Such a believable story and incredibly contemporary featuring issues that could potentially affect any modern teenager. If you are a young adult, or have a young adult then this is worth reading, as it deals with after effects of when you make a mistake online and it goes viral. 

In Delilah Hoover's case, the level of notoriety she gained, left her feeling friendless, alone and in need of an escape. So she persuades her parents to let her go to an International boarding school in Paris, France, for her to study for the IB (International Baccalaureate) instead of her A-Levels. 

Not only does she change her country but she becomes Lola Maxwell, a girl with no social media accounts at all, and a fear that everyone at her new school will find out her biggest secret.  I loved seeing a boarding school in Paris, and meeting all the various children that go there.  

As Lola's time in Paris progresses, we are introduced to a variety of potential friends for her, each with their own personality quirks, and also we are shown Paris, not the major tourist attractions as such, but some of the hidden gems of the city too. 

I enjoyed seeing how Lola overcame her experience and starts to learn new things not only in her school subjects but also about herself too. She never was the most outgoing or popular sort of girl, has some geekish tendencies and as a result the way she copes is even more admirable. 

Although I'm an adult, I still found myself completely able to empathise with Lola and her predicament, possibly because you need to be so careful with social media or it can be a nightmare, that and I've always loved stories set in schools. 

Lola Offline is a captivating story that actually anyone who deals with social media could gain something from. 

Thanks to Orion and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Guest Post & Giveaway - My Campaign for less sport in school by Nicola Doherty - Booklympics

In the past few years, there have been various campaigns to get more women involved in sport, or to have more sport in schools. I'd like to start a campaign of my own for LESS sport in school – but more exercise.

My secondary school, like many girls’ schools in Dublin, basically offered two options for PE: hockey in winter or tennis in summer. I was totally useless at both so I spent most weeks either ‘forgetting’ my kit, or thinking up new ways to be ‘unwell’. However, when we were 16 we had Transition Year in which zaniness reigned and we did things like aerobics and trampolining. It was fantastic; we loved it. But then came fifth year (Year 12) and it was straight back to hockey-and-tennis. So I really did no exercise – bar running away from the ball – for the whole of my teenage years. Exercise was associated with cold, misery and feeling bored and really embarrassed.

But then, when I left school, something magic happened. I realized that I didn’t hate exercise; I just hated competitive sport. I took up yoga, and running, and started swimming more regularly and cycling everywhere. Now I’ve run three half marathons and I’ve done everything from Bikram yoga to ballet barre. And I’m not the only one. One of my fellow skulkers on the sidelines is now a triathlete; another is a dancer and keen open-air swimmer. In my latest book Love and Other Man-Made Disasters, the main character, seventeen-year-old Juno, is terrible at sport – but discovers an unexpected love of skiing. Not that all schools can offer skiing, but the principle is the same.

That’s why I wish there was a little less emphasis on ‘sports’ in schools and more on helping teenagers to enjoy exercise, by offering a real, all-round physical education. I understand that schools have to work within budgets but surely things like aerobics or dance or even yoga would be more cost-effective than sports, which require expensive equipment and extensive grounds? I also suspect these things would also appeal a lot more to teenage girls than the current regime which seems like a hangover from Victorian public school days. 

I’m not for a minute arguing that we should chuck out all sports. I understand that it’s important to invest in future athletes, and provide resources for a new generation of Andy Murrays and Jessica Ennnises. But we also owe something to the kids who are never going to make it to the Olympics, but still deserve to have fun developing a healthy, happy, active body.     

Nicola Doherty grew up in Dublin and now lives in London; she writes both contemporary and teen romance. You can follow her @nicoladoherty_ or at nicoladohertybooks.com. Her latest book Love and Other Man-Made Disasters is published by Orion. Order it from your local bookshop or buy it in paperback or kindle here. 

Thank you so much Nicola for this interesting but potentially controversial view point.

What you think, should schools offer less sport? More variety? Scrap it altogether? We would love to hear your views.

Anyone who offers an opinion on this post in the comments I will enter into a draw to win a signed copy of Nicola Doherty's Love and Other Man-Made Disasters (open Internationally). Please include an email or twitter handle so I can contact you if you in.  

If you are struggling to comment on this giveaway and I know some of you do, tweet your thoughts on the subject and I will copy you over to be entered.

Giveaway closes 23:59 on 26th August. Winners will be announced via email or twitter, and will have 7 days to respond.

Good luck. 

Book Review - Love and Other Man-Made Disasters by Nicola Doherty - Booklympics

Amazon UK

Title: Love and Other Man-Made Disasters

Author: Nicola Doherty 

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Orion Children's Books

Publication Date: 2nd June 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

Juno is scared of a lot of things. Climate change, urban foxes, zombies - the usual. So when she goes on a skiing holiday with her mum's adrenaline-mad new husband and his tearaway twins, she doesn't hold much hope of surviving. Then she meets Boy. Gruff, hairy and thrill-seeking, he's everything Juno doesn't like. Or is he? Juno's about to discover there's nothing more scary than falling in love.

I'm the first to admit that I don't tend to read YA books, or anything aimed at the younger market, and often when I do take the plunge, I find myself thinking that I am the wrong audience for them. I am delighted to say that I had none of those reservations while reading Love and Other Man-Made Disasters, which is a great story of young love, and learning not to be scared. 

I will also admit that I was laughing at the first couple of pages, which is Juno's huge list of things she is scared of, most of which are out of her control. She is a real worrier and can't think of much worse than the family ski holiday that is about to start. Her mother has recently remarried and she now has twin 8 year old step-brothers, and a step-dad to contend with, while all she wants to do is study for her A-Levels in the Easter holidays. 

However within a day or two in Austria, the differences are really noticeable in Juno, and she starts to gain in confidence which is wonderful to see. As Juno's attitude changes, as does the level of description we get about the small village they are taking their holiday in, and in amongst learning how to ski, I also was treated to what its like to be a chalet girl, thanks to Tara who is only slightly older than Juno. 

There is also Boy (at least that is how he wants to be known) who is a ski instructor, and is just the right side of odd. As he and Juno are thrown together for various reasons and various intervals, there is some great banter, that shows the growing feelings between them. 

I wasn't too keen on Juno's family initially, the mother is probably the reason that Juno is so scared of things as she also errs on the cautious side, as well as very over protective. The way Juno is treated made me wonder if she was really 17, as she was at times treated at though she was 12. Her step-father doesn't appear to want her around either, which is a shame for the new family dynamic. 

What a lovely and fast book to read, was a pleasant easy read perfect for a lazy afternoon. 

Love and Other Man-Made Disasters is a wonderfully sweet romance, that is definitely suitable for young adults (personally I would have enjoyed it equally when I was about 13 too!), and that I think readers of chick lit generally would like. At no point did I feel too old to read this which was a concern, and I can see why Nicola Doherty is now writing for this audience, as she is brilliant at it. I am already looking forward to her next book.

Thank you to Orion Children's Books and Netgalley for this review copy. This was my honest opinion. 

Release Recap - 23rd April 2015

Just in-case you missed out on seeing all of yesterday's simply amazing new releases, I have listed them all for you in one easy place. I am just amazed at the quality of yesterday's release schedule, and think you will be too, once you pick and choose what you want to read.

Love Shack by Jane Costello
One Small Act of Kindness by Lucy Dillon
Girls on Tour by Nicola Doherty
The Doris Day Vintage Film Club by Fiona Harper
Wild and Free by Wendy Holden
The Cake Shop in the Garden by Carole Matthews
When We Were Friends by Tina Seskis
The Lie by C.L. Taylor


Reviews of most of these have been posted in the last week. If you take up any of my suggestions, please let me know, as I would love to know what you think of these books. 

Book Review - Girls on Tour by Nicola Doherty

Amazon UK

Title: Girls on Tour

Author: Nicola Doherty

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Headline

Publication Date: 23rd April 2015

Rating: 5 Stars

Four girls. One year.

Five fabulous destinations.

Poppy is bound for Paris, the City of Love. Could this be her chance to end her epic dry spell?

Lily is en route to her cousin's wedding in LA, where she's willing to break a few rules to land her dream role.

Maggie can't wait for her romantic ski holiday in Meribel - until it goes seriously off-piste.

Rachel packs for a glamorous Roman holiday, but a blast from the past is about to sabotage la dolce vita.

The girls get together and fly to Manhattan. But someone's been hiding a big secret in the Big Apple...

Hilarious, romantic and unputdownable, Girls on Tour is an irresistible series of interlinked stories about four ordinary girls who have extraordinary fun in faraway places. Follow them in an unforgettable year that includes breaking up, making up, new jobs and some big surprises ...

This is the ultimate feel good, light hearted chick lit book. Friendships, relationships, glorious destinations and lots of fun. 

We meet Poppy, who is on her way to Paris to try and land a new deal for the publisher she works for. She has to take her colleague Charlie, who is younger than her and incredibly flirty. 

Then there is Lily, an aspiring actress that is heading to LA for her cousin Alice's wedding, and is asked to help with last minute bridesmaid duties. Poppy is best friends with Alice and also a bridesmaid too.  Alice's fiancée is a casting agent, and Lily is desperate to get him to help, for her stalled acting career. However things don't always turn out like you would expect.

Maggie is best friends with Lily, and is off to Meribel, with her boyfriend Leo, for a few days skiing, and romance. It is a group holiday, with two other couples plus a single girl, Jenny. Watch out in this section for the incredibly sexy ski-instructor.

Rachel, who met Maggie in Meribel, after her boyfriend has to attend a conference on Valentines weekend, decides she will have a weekend break in Rome, along with Maggie and Lily. This trip secures their friendships, and you see just how different the girls approaches to holiday are.

I will admit I was a bit worried as to how five previously released novellas would be combined and work as one full feature length book, but I needn't have. The transitions from each story were incredibly smooth, and the girls stories do interlink very well.

The sections of emails between Maggie and Lily are a great touch, and help move the story along and give you more info about both those characters and their friendship, in a very easy to follow way.

In all the destinations the girls go to, there are gorgeous men, hilarious situations and an all round feeling of fun. There is such a lively tone to the whole book, that I kept looking forward to having time to pick it up to continue reading, as I was enjoying it so much.

Girls on Tour is out today