It was an absolute privilege to be able to read a proof copy of Girl Friends. Holly Bourne never ceases to amaze me with her writing and storytelling. Girl Friends follows the story of Fern in a past and present storyline covering her friendship with her best friend Jessica, and how her sudden reappearance in Fern's life affects her.

Its such a relatable book, with relatable characters and realistic events that happen to most girls. It's something I related to even though I'm ten years younger than the characters.

Girl Friends is a commentary on the perception on girls growing into women and the preconceptions girls have about how they need to present themselves to men. It sparks a conversation on the insecurities that most, if not all, girls and women feel around each other: the "there's always someone prettier," the "why can't it be me," and "do I look okay in this?" It comments on the judgements girls make without knowing the full story because they see what they want to see. And this is why Fern's perspective is so important because we are only seeing it through her eyes, all the events she remembers, and the old insecurities that resurface along with Jessica's reappearance in her life.

This writing is so purposeful and clever. I found myself judging Jessica, thinking she was a villain, that she was out to get with Ben. These thoughts I was having were Fern's doubts. It's this that I find extremely clever and an important discussion to be had: why do we, as girls and women, have these thoughts and judgments about each other? I would have loved to have been able to read Jessica's perspective but that would totally have given the whole story away and would have taken away from the conversation that Holly Bourne is having with her readers.

I cannot wait to read the final copy when it is released. Again, it was such a privilege to be able to read a proof copy of this book. I have been reading Holly Bourne's books since I was sixteen. Seeing her progression from YA to adult fiction has been amazing.