How It Feels To Float
Author: Helena Fox
Publisher: Pan MacMillan Australia
Release date: 23rd April 2019
Pages: 372 pages
R.R.P: $17.99
Biz knows how to float. She has her people her loses, her mum and the twins. She has Grace. And she has her dD, who tells her about the little kid she was, and who shouldn't be here but is. So biz doesn't tell anyone anything. Not about her dark, runaway thoughts, not about kissing Grace or noticing Jasper, the new boy. And she doesn't tell anyone Bout her dad. Because her dad died when she was seven. And Biz knows how to float, right there on the surface-normal okay regular fine.
My Review
Thoughts on the book: How It Feels To Float is the debut novel from a new voice in YA fiction, Helena Fox. Biz has been floating along in life since her father died. She goes through the the motions of school and family life but hides the fact that she sees her dad at momentous times in her life. Whenever Biz seems to be having a bad day he just magically pops in and offers some advice or tells a story. But one wrong move and Biz's whole life turns upside down causing her to lose her friends and lose her father all over again so Biz retreats into herself. As she slowly works through her issues, Biz discovers that she's so much more than she thought and that life can lead you down so many different routes.
A massive thank you to Hannah from Pan MacMillan for getting in touch with me about How It Feels To Float. I had heard a few people talking around the bookstagram community about this new debut YA book that was being released and of course I wanted to see what all the hype was about. I started the book with great earnest and thoroughly enjoyed the first part of the novel. I loved learning all about Biz's life with her friends and family. I especially loved the new boy Jasper who added the mysterious stranger we needed and her best friend Grace who was her everything.
But when the incident happened that lead to Biz's downfall I found that I wasn't enjoying the story as much. I think this was ultimately because I just couldn't seem to warm to Biz as a character and because of my love for Grace as a character and her departure lead to the story lacking some exciting element because I felt she was the dynamic character in the book that brought life to every scene she was in. Although I was severely confused throughout most of the book and was left with so many questions at the end, it's not to say that there weren't some fabulous moments in the book. Of course my favourite would have to be Biz's relationship that she develops between her older camera loving friend Slyvia and herself. It was refreshing to see a positive relationship between an older person and a young person and seeing them sharing something that they both enjoy and could explore further together. I also loved the added extra suprise that she happened to be Jasper's grandmother and through the relationship that developed between Biz and Slyvia we learnt more about the very mysterious Jasper.
This book may not have been for me but it could definitely be for you. So go out and grab a copy of How It Feels To Float and make your own opinions.
Rating: 3/5
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