Joe loves playing football and is a promising player, now Captain of the team. Joe’s a good student, studying hard for his exams, and he’s a good son to his loving parents.

Then there’s his other side.

Joe is different now, complain his friends. Even since he started going out with a pretty girl at school, he’s hardly around any more. He even stops turning up to football practice.

Imogen comes from a wealthy but broken family, loves being the centre of attention and soon has Joe wrapped around her little finger.

Their relationship is tense. On. Off. Gentle. Angry. Confusing. Manipulative. Beautiful.

A devastating accident brings it all to a head. Joe must make a life-changing decision amongst a trail of hurt, horror and loss.

Wow! Told in verse format, the words are spare but the meaning is rich, raw and real. I felt for Joe, rallied and cheered for him, shook my head one moment and wanted to shout at him in the next.

His pain and confusion was so clear on the page, and his predicament so believable. Brilliant.

Author – Louisa Reid

Age – 14+

(2020, Hardie Grant, Harper, Football, Girlfriend, Mates, Choices, Manipulation, Control, Love, Crime, Accident, Smash, Illness, Family, Sick, Grief, Soccer, Exams, School, University, Future, Life, Growing Up, Verse, Poetry, Poem, Betrayal, Secret, Friendship, Romance, )