Close Your Eyes

I bought this book because it looked "alright", something to pass the time while I was travelling back from my holiday. I downloaded it to my kindle and it didn't even make it on the plan with me. I read the book in roughly 6 hours. I couldn't put it down. From start to finish, it grabbed my attention and it didn't make me feel like I was reading a YA book. The characters were well thought out, relatable and easy to get along with. Im sure I spent a good 2/3 out if the 6 with my mouth open, the twists and turns. And the shooting was stretched out in a way that both annoyed me (I wanted to know how it all turned out) and amazed me. I would definitely recommend this book.

This book had me gripped from start to finish. A book that makes you look at things from another perspective and shows you things aren't as simple as they first seem it the media might have you believe. Great characters.

Didn't enjoy the lay out of the book it may just be my age I might be to old for it (26). But I couldn't get to far through it.

Struggled to get into it, maybe not my kind of book but found myself interested in it however scrolling through it to skip quickly but to find out what happens. Never did finish it. Sure it's a good book just not my cup of tea.

amazing! could not put it down.beautifully written with so many plot twists. a must read. cannot recommend enough.this bok had me on the edge of my seat from the first page and kept me hooked until the very last. fantastically thoughtful and cleverly written

A great take on the issue of school shootings. Having so many different characters points of view kept it interesting but also kept you guessing

interesting read

4.5 starsI've read such stories before, but never one set in Britain. From the start, you know what the ultimate end of the story must entail, but not the details. And there are secrets and surprises ahead.It begins as a story of teenagers approaching their GCSEs, a group of close friends, with newer arrivals amongst them, each well characterised enough to tell them all apart.Events build quite quickly to the event the book revolves around. The narrative splits itself between a year after the shooting, with some of the group interviewed for their views on why it all happened, and each character before the event narrating. There are snippets from online conversations that add to the viewpoints, and make it feel very current and shockingly close.When the event takes place, and everything clicks into place, you realise why everything led to this terrible climax. There are backstories to characters that explain their mindsets, and sadly bullying plays a huge role in more than one character's story.It moves very quickly, the pages almost turn themselves as you race to get to the day of the shooting and find out who is caught up in it. There are surprises along the way and there are some behaviours that shock - even those characters we are following are not above abhorrent acts.Friends seem to turn on friends so easily, teenagers can be cruel. This is a powerful tale of how easily we can become disconnected from each other, can disconnect from the feelings of others and consequences of our actions. Nobody is innocent.While there is nothing overtly graphic (violence, sex), both are featured in the book, and bullying forms a key theme of the novel. It will bring out excellent discussions among teenage book groups or classes.Recommended for ages 14 and above.With thanks to Hot Key Books for the advance reading copy, sent for review purposes.