Bishop's debut novel is a 5 star success!

     Have you ever read a book that just hits you and leaves you wanting more? That was me with A Heavy Dose of Allison Tandy by Jeff Bishop. This YA novel, which comes out July 12th, mixes reality with a touch of the supernatural to weave a gorgeous, moving, and funny story.
     The summer after senior year should have been a time for Cam to party and hang out with his friends. It should also have been a time for him to win back the love of his life, Allison Tandy, who'd dumped him so brutally the year before. But it quickly becomes clear that this summer is going to be worse than a failure for Cam. It's going to be a tragedy. Ally is left comatose after a terrible car crash, then Cam tears his ACL in a basketball accident. The operation leaves him in agony, confined to his couch and ruminating over the fact that his ex may not survive. But when (after taking his medication) Cam starts seeing Ally, he starts to think: 1. He may be headed for a complete mental breakdown and 2. This summer might just be interesting after all.
      Wow wow WOW was this book one of the best books I’ve read in a while! I absolutely adored Cameron’s narration. It made the story that much more relatable and entertaining, especially when he spoke directly to the reader. The supernatural element gave this YA coming-of-age contemporary novel a fun twist that will have you flipping the pages to see what is going to happen next.
     However, this book isn’t just about teens ending high school and one guy still dealing with the breakup with his ex from months earlier; it’s about first love, heartbreak, and living life despite knowing things could go wrong at any moment and weaving your way through the unpredictable. This story is so much deeper than two exes trying to get over one another and Bishop really makes you feel invested in the story and I’m not ashamed to admit that I bawled like a baby during certain parts of the story.
     Simply put: I adored this novel and I’m very happy that a sequel seems to be in the works! For anyone looking for a unique and fantastic YA book this summer, READ. THIS. BOOK!

*I received an ARC from Penguin Teen in exchange for my honest opinion.

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