Girl, Nearly 16, Absolute Torture

The cheerfully lurid cover of this book – the sequel to Girl, 15, Charming but Insane – will unfailing draw female readers to its quirky and entertaining contents.

Jess and Fred, friends since childhood, have made the transition to a romantic relationship – but without the knowledge of Jess’s Mum, whose cynical viewpoint on romance stems from her divorce and who would not approve. Add to the mix an eccentric gay artist father, a collection of friends whom Jess feels are all far more desirable than she is and a grandmother who can’t quite decide what to do with her husband’s ashes so carries them with her in an urn, and you have a highly entertaining blend which is guaranteed to appeal to older readers.

The epicentre of the book is its rich and humorous dialogue which is given an admirable counterpoint by the resolution of real and painful dilemmas: a hard-hitting narrative with a deceptively frivolous style.