Review of Just Kids from LoveReading:

A twisting and compelling coming-of-age story filled with suspense.

Just Kids by Rachel Jackson follows Sarah and her group of friends as they take their first steps into adulthood. At sixteen Sarah is discovering first love, while also being introduced to the riskier world of alcohol and strangers all too willing to take advantage. Throughout the story Sarah feels a pull towards Nick, their relationship sparking, fiery and chaotic. She’s also drawn to Andy, the older brother of one of her friends, his presence offering more calm while being distant and equally confusing for Sarah to navigate. Just Kids is filled with the excitement of stepping into a more grown up world, while the risks are woven into a believable and simmering thriller underneath the teen frivolity. 

I think Just Kids is a compelling read. The turbulence of emotions as teens experience their first loves is well-written and drew me in. I found Sarah to be an engaging character, cringing, laughing and my heart breaking alongside her. Meanwhile Emma’s storyline explores the risks to teens at this part of early adulthood, the relationship with someone older and more dangerous both believable and an interesting way to subtly establish then develop the thriller and suspense elements of the storyline. The writing caught and held my attention, the clever connection from the ending to the prologue made me keen to find out what happens next. Just Kids is a subtle thriller, with a compelling coming-of-age narrative.