Audre and Bash are Just Friends is a spin off of sorts from Tia Williams novel Seven Days in June, which focuses on Eva and Shane.  In it, Audre featured heavily and the reader was able to experience a chapter from Audre’s perspective. I was incredibly eager to be able to get a whole book that focuses on Audre.  This book didn’t disappoint, it was a coming of age story that touches on teenage angst, family complexities and being an age gap sister.

I liked Audre, I thought she was witty and insightful.  Whilst at times I thought her behaviour was a bit bratty, I also think it was a more than valid response to the massive upheaval that had occurred in every aspect of her life, with her most sacred rituals and routines discarded by both sets of parents.  Having read from Eva’s perspective, it was also interesting to see just how sheltered and innocent Audre really was.  Bash too, was a likeable character.  I particularly liked his style, his outfit descriptions were always so vivid and unique and I enjoyed his attitude towards tattoos.  From his very first POV his melancholy really leapt up from the page and spent much of the book hoping someone would give him the hug he needed.

The writing was excellent, it felt like each word was carefully chosen (sometimes with the aim and purpose of punching me directly in the feelings) and each character was given such a unique voice.  The snippets of Eva and Shane were such a treat, I loved getting to see them exist in their happily ever after.  The dialogue sounded realistic to my interactions with teens, I didn’t feel like it was adults talking and it also didn’t make me cringe to my core.

I loved the story and strongly recommend it.  Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher Quercus Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review, these thoughts are all my own