Shift by Em Bailey

Review Time! Shift by Em Bailey is an Aussie ( *squeal*) YA 2011 Debut! I'm so excited to review this because I don't think many of you know about this book right? Well, just a heads up - it's amazing! Shift is released next month and thanks so much to Hardi Grant for the review copy!

(Goodreads) Olive Corbett is definitely NOT crazy.

Not anymore. These days she takes her meds like a good girl, hangs out with her best friend Ami, and stays the hell away from the toxic girls she used to be friends with.

She doesn’t need a boyfriend. Especially not a lifesaver-type with a nice smile. And she doesn’t need the drama of that creepy new girl Miranda, who has somehow latched on to Olive's ex-best friend.

Yet from a distance, Olive can see there's something sinister about the new friendship. Something almost... parasitic. Maybe the wild rumours ARE true. Maybe Miranda is a killer...

But who would believe Olive? She does have a habit of letting her imagination run away with her...

The Short Story? - A mind-blowing debut! Seriously, my own level of enjoyment took me by surprise but this is seriously one heck of a good book! A psychological thriller that will haunt you long after the last page! For lovers of all things mystery and suspense! Excellent plot, fantastic characters and well-written. Edgy and original, Shift by Em Bailey is one of my favourite debuts of the year!

The Long Story? - This took me completely by surprise. It's one of those hidden treasures that I left on the shelf for too long, should have read this ages ago! I was surprised to find that I actually really, really, enjoyed this novel! Would definitely recommend everyone to check it out! Mind-blowing!

I loved the plot, loved it so so so much. It was exciting, edgy, original and had this dark appeal to it. I'm not a huge fan of psychological thrillers although I have read a few good ones but Shift was amazing. A novel filled with mystery, suspense and a touch of paranormal. A novel that will haunt your thoughts long after the last page, mind-bending story line! I don't know how Bailey comes up with all this stuff but it's pure genius! I was hooked onto every word and couldn't get enough. A captivating novel about friendship, betrayal, deception, loss and grief.

The characters were great! Fantastic characterisation! Olive is a nut case, she's mentally troubled but she's kind, witty and quirky. Miranda, is slightly disturbing, a real mystery. No one really knows who she is but she's popular, beautiful and just not quite normal. Bailey's developed her characters perfectly and portrayed them so that they all have captivating personalities! While the plot was brilliant without these characters to keep it going, I would have lost interest. The character's were essential, they're all well developed yet they hold this air of secrecy and mystery. They all have their dirty secrets that don't want to be found. Very intriguing cast!

Bailey's writing was another highlight of the novel. I look forward to reading more of Bailey's work as she sure can write! Her words flow nicely together, it's a comfortable pace and the language is easy to understand. Her narrative voice is strong and enticing, I was hanging onto every word! Very, very well-written, this is one of those rare novel where the plot, the characters and the writing are all excellent! Definitely one not to be missed!

Shift is a psychological thriller that's both engrossing and chilling. A novel where the line between reality and fantasy is blurred and readers are kept guessing. Mind-bending plot that's highly original and intriguing characters that give 'air of mystery' a whole new definition. Wonderfully written, exciting, edgy, dark and filled with mystery and suspense. Shift is a remarkable debut!

Rating - 5/5

Badass Bookie xx