Royals

Imagine this. It’s a regular day. You’re at the mall waiting for your brother to show up so you can buy your parents a birthday gift. Next think you know you’ve fallen asleep. You awake to see your phone has frozen at 5:17pm and all the people have disappeared. What do you do?

Royals tracks a group of six teenagers who find themselves in this exact scenario. Throw a baby into the mix and you have a mysterious mall full of open shops, never ending food, no adults, and no rules.

This was honestly a fun read to start with, then it got a little spook, and then I couldn’t put it down. Like The Breakfast Club, you get a bunch of teens who may not have anything in common on the surface, but when thrown together they find similarities and form bonds which grow stronger over time.

I enjoyed how each character developed as the story unfolded. The way the mall slowly started to change. The way the characters embraced their new world. The way they opened up about life before the mall and life in the mall. The discoveries they made.

Thanks to @netgalley and @simonandschuster for the chance to read this before it’s release on May 3!

The story was immersive, especially in its language and descriptions. I was able to clearly picture the shopping centre, it seemed to incorporate all the classic features of Australian shopping centres, so it felt incredibly familiar. Additionally, the voice was spot on for representing teenagers, way the characters interacted with and spoke of technology in particular felt authentic and not overly forced.

The characters were diverse, which was great, I can’t stand reading about the same character six times with only one little difference in each. Representation is so important so it was great to see here, I found all the characters interesting and likeable, though I think it seemed to resort to stereotypes at times. I found the premise of the story interesting, though I found the plot frustrating (particularly in its pacing) at times.

Ultimately, while I enjoyed this book and had a pleasant enough experience reading it, I was not its intended audience and thats why I simply enjoyed it and didn’t love it. The cover looks great and the length of the story is perfect for a YA audience, especially those intimidated by a lengthy read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for giving me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

ARC Review of Royals by Tegan Bennett Daylight
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This is a read I would not typically go to, however, I was compelled by the storyline and interested to know its contents...and was left with a read that I enjoyed as well became satisfied with. A young supernatural/paranormal mystery that did not burn up on the energy right off the bat, took it slow, and left us with more of the characters' backstories than most stories do in one book.

Shannon was supposed to meet her brother, now she was trapped and confused in the mall with Jordan, James, Grace, Tiannah, Akira and little Juno - their clocks stuck on the same time with no Wi-Fi, no connections, no service and no one else in sight beyond the glass doors.
There is no way out.
Is there anyone coming to look for them?
Are they missing? Trapped forever? Is the answer to their troubles so simple?

We are introduced to all the characters, some with connects but mostely from completely different backgrounds and cultures and circles. We dive into all these diverse people through the eyes of Shannon, in a setting that is very calm for teenagers stuck in a odd situation. Not to forget little Juno, who provides another obstacle for all of them. Even as they endulge during their stay, they open themselves up. Connect fac-to-face unlike most young people these days.
I very much liked how this was read was not rushed, and allowed me to just take in the characters and their stories - trauma, sexuality, race, stereotypes, personalities - and how they all take to themselves and with a group with such a challenge.

This was a very quick and easy read. Essentially a bunch of teens get stuck in a time loop and have to try workout how to get out but set in 2020/2021 Australia. Personally I was picturing Melbourne with how they talked about lockdowns but don’t know if there was ever a specific reference. Good representation in what could have been a very basic book but turned out better than your average YA. Personally, I enjoyed the book. It was a good mix of struggles and fun in a short time span. Would definitely recommend more towards teenage readers.