Review: Beads, Boys and Bangles - Sophia Bennett

*Please note this is the second book in the series so there may be spoilers for the first book below*

Published: May 3rd 2010, Chicken House
Pages: 304 pages, paperback
Series?: Yes, this is book two in the series. Sequins, Stars and Spotlights (book three) is out now.
Acquired: Kindly sent for review by the publisher

Summary (from Goodreads): Crow is in designer heaven; Nonie's caught the eye of a gorgeous boy; Jenny has a new play. But poor Edie's in trouble ...the rumours are that slave children in India have been making their high-street collection. It's up to the girls to save their fashion dream.

My review: Threads was one of the first books I ever reviewed (I think it was the first ARC I ever got sent) and I absolutely fell in love with everything about it. Without a doubt, Threads is one of my favourite YA series and each installment manages to be even better than the last.

Beads, Boys and Bangles picks up shortly after where Threads left off and, even though it had been six months or so since I read Threads, I was instantly back in Nonie and co's world and very, very happy to be there. Sophia Bennett has such a natural, easy way with words that makes everything seem so effortless, despite the fact it's clear so much research into fashion went into this series to keep it authentic. Well, that sounds like fun research to me!

Even though I love the plot of Beads, Boys and Bangles it's definitely the characters that make this such a wonderful book (and a wonderful series). Nonie is just great, so easy to relate to and I love her voice. She provides some real laugh out loud moments but can have you crying just a moment later. I always shed a few tears during one of the Threads books and I love how the stories always make me cry, it's a testament to how well-written they are.

We learn a little more about each of the girls in this installment and I loved getting to know them all a little better, especially Crow, who continues to fascinate me. All four of the girls are so wholly formed and well developed that it's easy to get pulled into their world, worry about their problems and swoon at the pretty artsy boys right alongside them.

If you enjoyed Threads then you'll absolutely adore Beads, Boys and Bangles and if you haven't yet started the series - get cracking on it now, you're really missing out on a corker!

First line: 'I've never seen Crow look so scared.'

Rating:
Plot: 4/5
Writing: 5/5
Characters: 4/5
Cover: 4/5
Total: 17/20 (A)