#BLOGTOUR: The Truants by Kate Weinberg #AgathaChristie #5STAR #ProvidedForReview #Gifted #20BooksOfSummer #TheTruants #KateWeinberg @BloomsburyBooks @annecater

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for The Truants by Kate Weinberg.

I loved it.

I also LOVE the beautiful cover design, don’t you?

Book Blurb:

A captivating debut about obsession, rivalry and coming of age – an Observer and i Book of the Year

Jess Walker, middle child of a middle class family, has perfected the art of vanishing in plain sight. But when she arrives at a concrete university campus under flat, grey, East Anglian skies, her world flares with colour.

Drawn into a tightly-knit group of rule breakers – led by their maverick teacher, Lorna Clay – Jess begins to experiment with a new version of herself. But the dynamic between the friends begins to darken as they share secrets, lovers and finally a tragedy. Soon Jess is thrown up against the question she fears most: what is the true cost of an extraordinary life?

I only finished The Truants this morning and I was sad to turn the final page. SAD. I wanted more – for no other reason than I was utterly gripped by the characters lives, loves and tragedies.

I usually read a book and then sit down to write the review straight away, but I think The Truants is a book I probably should have let sit for a day or two because right now my head is buzzing – I love that feeling thou when a book excites you, when characters come to life and when the story is just so clever.

*5*stars*from*me*

The Truants was a smart novel. A book that would make for an interesting book club debate, a lot goes on and I am sure I probably missed quite a few of the more subtle points. I LOVED all the Agatha Christie references, I loved the parallels between Agatha Christie’s life and one of the characters – I won’t say who for spoilers. But it worked.

In some ways, the book brought up nostalgic longings for my university years. I loved attending university. I loved the studying, the ability to explore interesting scientific topics and questions and I loved the social life. I met my closest friends at university. And as the story follows Jess, growing, experiencing and living I was hooked. But The Truants isn’t just a coming of age story, it is a literary mystery. It was a book FILLED with secrets. A compelling read – nothing like my happier university days. I didn’t want to put it down.

The writing was great, I loved all the settings – and Lorna’s island house sounded amazing. When I was reading I did at times feel the pacing of the story was off, but having finished I feel that it all sort of worked. It suited the story, the book ebbed and flowed – much like a friendship, love or life in general. I also loved the cast of characters – I especially liked Jess even if at times I thought that Jess (the main character) felt a little meek or passive, but she was finding herself. It read true.

And the last chapter – the ending – I thought was brilliant. A hint, a glimpse at something or nothing. I want to discuss the book with friends!

Have you read it? What did you think of that ending?

I apologise if the above isn’t a very well laid out or written review, I feel a bit like I’ve just let the words flow. I very much enjoyed The Truants and I can’t wait to read whatever Kate Weinberg writes next.

I received a copy of the book to review from the publisher, which was all arranged by the blog tour organiser – THANK YOU.