You Against Me by Jenny Downham

3.5 out of 5 Stars!

“Was this love? Because it hurt. It was like a bit of glass stuck somewhere important - his heart or his head, and it was throbbing.” 

So I am guessing that most of us have massive To Be Read piles/lists that we are trying to work our way through especially with it being the end of the year. Well this book wasn't actually on my list but while picking up a couple of other books from the library this one called out to me. I stood there in the library and read what it was about and I was still 50/50 about if I should get it out. Well obviously I did end up getting it out and I have to say I enjoyed the book from the start. I liked how the story changed from Mikey to Ellie and the way that it all matched up and came together. The two main characters were quite likeable which always helps and you did find yourself wanting to read more about them. I did find that the book maybe went for a little bit too long and was a little predictable but overall it was an enjoyable book.

Mikey's family is very poor and just getting through the day is a struggle for them. When his sister Karyn is sexually assaulted by a rich kid named Tom, Mikey knows he needs to do something about it. He knows that this rich kid is going to get let off and that it will be Karyn that pays for what happened to her. Mikey has a plan though he is going to protect his sister and go and beat the living crap out of Tom but when he get's to Tom's house he isn't there. His sister Ellie answers the door instead and doesn't recognise Mikey she thinks he must be one of Tom's friends. Tom's family are planning a party for Tom because his bail hearing was successful and he will be getting released later on that day, it's obvious to everyone that Tom will not have to pay for what he did.

Ellie's family is rich and they have many issues of their own. When Ellie's brother Tom is accused of sexually assaulting a poor girl she is devastated and convinced that her brother didn't do it. He has been let out on bail after two weeks in jail and Ellie is so happy that he is coming home. She is also very nervous about the upcoming trial especially because she was in the house that night when the rape happened and therefore will have to take to the witness stand.

Ellie and Mikey hit it off at the party and a week later Ellie messages Mikey so that they can hang out. Mikey runs it past his mate Jacko and it is decided that Mikey will hang out with her so that they can get info from her on Tom. Mikey has a lot of fun when he is hanging out with Ellie, but with problems at home and his phone constantly going off it becomes harder and harder to keep his identity a secret.

This book had you gripping the edge of your seat especially when Mikey and Ellie started hanging out and you could tell that they both really liked each other. The problem being that you just knew what was going to be coming and knew that it would shatter you when it happened.

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