Thank you so much to the publishers and Netgalley for sending me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! I later bought myself a copy of the finished book.
Rosie is ready for her life to begin, because nothing says new life like going to university. After years of waiting and working hard, she’s finally on the road that will secure her future.
Except university turns out to be not what she hoped or imagined, and although she’s not exactly unhappy – really – she might be a little bit worried that she doesn’t really like her course much. Or her flatmates. Or, really . . . anything? But it’s normal to be homesick (right?) and everything will have settled in a month or two, and it’s totally fine that her friends seem so much happier than she is, and that the doctors don’t seem to know what’s wrong with her mother.
And then she meets Jade, and everything starts to look a little brighter. At least, it does if she’s only looking at Jade. But is first love enough when everything else is falling apart?
Something Certain, Maybe is a companion novel to two of Sara Barnard’s other novels, Beautiful Broken Things and Fierce Fragile Hearts. The trio of Suzanne, Caddy and Rosie are back and in Something Certain, Maybe we follow Rosie’s story.
Rosie is on her way to university and she is ready for her life to begin. She has waited so long for this and is ready to see what it holds. Problem is, university turns out to be different to what she had hoped and she doesn’t feel particularly happy. Then, she meets Jade and things seem to look a little brighter. Does that stop everything else from falling apart though?
I loved being back with Rosie, Caddy and Suzanne. I feel like I’ve seen them grown up throughout this series and I truly adore the trio. It was interesting to get even more insight into Rosie’s life and the things she is going through. It was also compelling to see more of the trio’s friendship and the ups and downs they are going through with both as a group and individually.
I feel as though this book shows a university experience that we don’t often get to see. The experience of those who don’t feel happy at university and don’t know if it is the right path for them. As someone who also left university after struggling with it all for a year I felt like I was finally having a similar experience to my own seen. As readers we get to see that university is not for everyone and the fact that that is perfectly okay. I would have loved to have this book whilst I was at university.
Sara Barnard’s writing is always so lovely and easy to read. It feels like comfort in a book even when heavier topics are being discussed. I’ve loved all her books that I’ve read and Something Certain, Maybe is definitely one of my favourites. I would highly recommend picking up her books.
This book discusses so many things I love seeing in YA. It realistically shows what it is like to grow up, let go of plans that have not worked out and how you can deal with the curveballs life throws at you. I loved how we see the character navigate friendships, romance and family dynamic throughout the story too.
Overall, Something Certain, Maybe is comforting, coming-of-age story that I adored. It continues a series that I will forever hold close to my heart. I cannot recommend it enough!
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