Good morning everyone and happy weekend. To celebrate Only Child by Rhiannon Navin bring published in paperback last week, I’m re-sharing my review of this fantastic book. Its been months since I first read this book and I’m still thinking of it now.
You can buy you copy of this fantastic book here.
Book Synopsis:
We all went to school that Tuesday like normal. Not all of us came home.
When the unthinkable happens, six-year-old Zach is at school. Huddled in a cloakroom with his classmates and teacher, he is too young to understand that life will never be the same again.
Afterwards, the once close-knit community is left reeling. Zach’s dad retreats. His mum sets out to seek revenge. Zach, scared, lost and confused, disappears into his super-secret hideout to try to make sense of things. Nothing feels right – until he listens to his heart . . .
But can he remind the grown-ups how to love again?
Narrated by Zach, Only Child is full of heart; a real rollercoaster of a read that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page.
My Review:
Only Child is an incredible, hard hitting and emotional story that I know will stay with me for a long time.
Firstly I don’t think I’ve ever read such a thrilling and haunting opening chapter! The description of Zach and his class hiding from the gunman was so vivid I felt like I was right there in the cupboard experiencing it along side of them. Their fear is almost palpable and I felt my heart beat racing as I kept reading hoping they wouldn’t be discovered. The pop sounds used to describe shots from a gun I almost felt physically as the descriptions of them were so brilliant. Truly an amazing opening.
The story is narrated by six year old Zach who survives the shooting that kills his brother. The reader follows him as he struggles to cope in the aftermath and especially with all the different feelings he has. It was so sad to see him dealing with so much on his own as his parents are too self absorbed to help him with it. I simultaneously wanted to give Zach a hug and his parents a shake!
The book is fairly fast paced as there is always something happening to keep the reader hooked. It’s very easy to fall in love with Zach which makes you emotionally involved in the story. I wanted to keep reading to check he was ok.
The ending was just perfect and I had tears running down my face as I read the last few pages.
This is the authors’s debut novel which is hard to believe at times as the writing is just exquisite! I really look forward to reading more from her in the future.
Huge thanks to Ellis Keene and Pan Macmillan publishers for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
German by birth, Rhiannon Navin now lives in New York. She is married, with three children and two cats. This is her first novel.
Over The Rainbow Blog 
Wow this one sounds fab! You do read some epic books! Lol
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Its great really recommend lovely xx
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