LOVER BIRDS by Leanne Egan

When Isabel Williams moves to Liverpool, she criticises seemingly everything in Eloise Byrne’s life – her city, her accent, her trademark boldness – so if, when she catches Isabel staring, Eloise feels her pulse race, it must be because they hate each other. It surely couldn’t be for any other reason, could it? Eloise needs to get her ADHD under control in time for A-Levels, but when she meets Isabel, school becomes the least of her concerns. What begins as outright contempt turns into an oddly satisfactory rivalry, but for their rivalry to shift further into romance, their relationship must withstand Isabel's classism, Eloise’s distrust, and whatever secrets their friends are hiding from them.

I just loved Eloise’s character – her boldness, her vulnerability, and her loyalty. Her ADHD was wonderfully represented, as was her burgeoning relationship with Isabel, and her friends. The representation of toxic masculinity and the challenges of school (and exams) are excellent. This is also a love song to Liverpool. This is a tender, funny read and I would strongly recommend this book.

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